Carignan-Salinieres

The Carignan-Salières Regiment was a legendary French military force sent to New France (Quebec) in 1665 to protect the struggling colony and defeat the Iroquois Confederacy, who had been devastating French settlements and disrupting the fur trade. The regiment, comprised of approximately 1,200 professional soldiers and their officers, successfully campaigned against the Iroquois, leading to a peace treaty in 1667 that secured the colony for two decades.

This regiment's significance lies in its transition from a military to a settler force. After their mission, King Louis XIV, on the advice of Intendant Jean Talon, offered incentives (land grants, livestock, and money) for the soldiers and officers to remain in the colony. Over 400 members accepted this offer, becoming some of Quebec's first established settlers. These former soldiers were key in founding new seigneuries along the Richelieu River (the route of their campaign), providing a crucial defense and demographic foundation that ensured the survival and future growth of the French-Canadian population.

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