Maison-du-Roi

( Fr. ). The king’s household. Certain select bodies of troops were so called during the monarchy of France, and consisted of the gardes-du-corps , or body-guards, the gendarmes , chevaux-legèrs , or light-horse, mousquetaires , or musketeers, la gendarmerie , grenadiers à cheval , or horse-grenadiers, the regiments belonging to the French and Swi guards, and the cent Sui es , or hundred Swi guards. The maison-du-roi , or king’s household, was not considered a separate establishment from the rest of the army until the reign of Louis IV. This establishment was succe ively formed by different kings out of militia companies, which they took into their body-guard.