École de cavalerie, Saumur

The École de cavalerie is a French military training establishment at Saumur in Western France. Originally set up to train the cavalry of the French Army, it now trains the troops of France's Arme blindée et cavalerie (Armoured Cavalry Arm) in reconnaissance and armoured warfare.

History
In 1763, Louis XV (via the Duc de Choiseul) reorganised the French cavalry. A new school for officers from all the cavalry regiments was set up at Saumur, managed and supervised by the "Corps Royal des Carabiniers" - since its inception the school has been hosted in the carabinier regiment's quarter of the town, latterly in a magnificent 18th century building. This functioned until 1788.

At the end of 1814, after the First Restoration, Louis XVIII set up the "École d'Instruction des Troupes à cheval" in Saumur. Its activities declined from 1822 onwards so it was regenerated by Charles X under the name of the "École Royale de Cavalerie" (later renamed the École impériale de cavalerie de Saumur). Most of its building complex was taken up with a military riding area and a riding-academy training hall.

From 1830, with the disappearance of the École de Versailles, Saumur became the capital and sole repository of the French equestrian tradition, and its knowledge (such as in the Cadre Noir and its training regime in dressage) is still recognised throughout the world. At the end of the Second World War the French mounted cavalry (reduced to several squadrons of North African spahis retained for patrol work and ceremonial duties by this date) and armoured troops merged to form the 'Arme blindée et cavalerie' (ABC), with the École de Saumur becoming the new branch's training centre.

After a 1985 reorganisation, the 12th Light Armoured Division (12 DLB) was planned as a mobilisation division of the French Army, with its headquarters to be formed on the basis of the staff of the École d'application de l'Arme blindée et de la cavalerie (EAABC) at Saumur. The division comprised the 507 RCC at Saumur (AMX-30s), the 3 RCh(T), also at Saumur and also attached to the EAABC, the Legion's 4th Foreign Regiment at Castelnaudary, and the 33rd Regiment of Artillery (RA), at St Maixent, attached to an NCO school.

Commandants of the Cavalry School
Date of entering post and surname :


 * 1919 Thureau
 * 1925 Lafont
 * 1929 (de) Marin de Montmarin
 * 1931 (de) Fornel de La Laurencie
 * 1935 Petiet
 * 1938 Bridoux
 * 1939 La Font
 * 1940 Michon
 * 1940 Méric de Bellefon
 * 1944 Préclaire
 * 1945 Lecoq
 * 1945 Miquel
 * 1946 Durosoy
 * 1947 de Langlade
 * 1950 Noiret
 * 1952 du Breuil
 * 1955 de Clerck
 * 1958 de Menditte
 * 1961 de Boisredon
 * 1962 Marzloff
 * 1965 de Galbert
 * 1968 Crémière
 * 1971 Boucher
 * 1973 Guinard
 * 1976 de Launay
 * 1979 de La Motte
 * 1981 Robert
 * 1984 Codet
 * 1987 Arnold
 * 1991 Bonavita
 * 1994 Boucher
 * 1996 Pelletier
 * 1998 Lafontaine
 * 2000 Galineau
 * 2002 Garrigou-Grandchamp
 * 2005 de Parseval
 * 2007 Bot
 * 2009 Rives
 * 2012 Sainte-Claire Deville
 * 2014 Saint Priest
 * 2016 De Barmon
 * 2017 Paris