Term: Troupes de la Marine (Compagnies Franches de la Marine)
Definition: Official name of the Canadian colonial regular troops in New France. Created in France in 1674 for overseas duty, the first detachments were sent to Canada in 1685 to supplement the local militia and were quickly staffed with Canadian-born officers. They figured prominently in Great Lakes history. Still in existence in France, they serve in former colonies to establish order.
[Source: Chartrand, René, Canadian Military Heritage, Volume I (1000-1754) (Art Global, Montreal, 1993).]
