# List of commanders of the Foreign Legion

The following is a list of all of the commanders of the Foreign Legion (Légion étrangère)

## Commanders of the Foreign Legion
### Commanders of Foreign Legion Command (COMLE)

| No. | Rank | Name | Command began | Command ended | Country of Origin |
| 11 | Général de brigade | Christophe de Saint Chamas | 2011 | 201x | France |
| 10 | Général de division | Alain Bouquin | 2009 | 2011 | France |
| 9 | Général de brigade | Louis Pichot de Champfleury | 2006 | 2008 | France |
| 8 | Général de brigade | Bruno Dary | 2004 | 2006 | France |
| 7 | Général de brigade | Franscheschi | 2002 | 2004 | |
| 6 | Général de brigade | Bernard Grail | 1999 | 2002 | |
| 5 | Général de brigade | Christian Piquemal | 1994 | 1999 | |
| 4 | Général de brigade | Bernard Colcomb | 1992 | 1994 | |
| 3 | Général de brigade | Raymond Le Corre | 1988 | 1992 | |
| 2 | Général de brigade | Jean Louis Roué | 1985 | 1988 | |
| 1 | Général de brigade | Coullons | 1984 | 1985 | |

### Commanders of Groupement de la Légion étrangère (GLE)

| Rank | Name | Command began | Command ended | Country of Origin |
| Général de brigade | Coullons | 1982 | 1984 | |
| Général de brigade | Paul Louis Joseph Lardry | 1980 | 1982 | |
| | Bernard Goupil | 1976 | 1980 | |
| | Gustav Fourreau | 1973 | 1976 | |
| | Marcel Letestu | 1972 | 1973 | France |

## Commanders of the 1st Foreign Regiment
### Commanders of the 1st Foreign Regiment of the Foreign Legion (1841-1856)

| No. | Rank | Name | Command began | Command ended | Country of Origin | Campaign |
| 9 | Colonel | Martenot de Cordoue | 1855 | 1855 | | |
| 8 | Colonel | Levy | 1855 | 1855 | | |
| 7 | Colonel | Vienot | 1854 | 1855 | | |
| 6 | Colonel | Bazaine | 1851 | 1854 | | |
| 5 | Colonel | Lesueur de Givry | 1850 | 1851 | | |
| 4 | Colonel | Émile Henry Mellinet | March 15, 1846 | December 2, 1850 | France | |
| 3 | Colonel | Mouret | 1843 | 1846 | | |
| 2 | Colonel | Despinoy | 1842 | 1843 | | Algeria |
| 1 | Colonel | de Mollenbeck | 1841 | 1842 | | |

## Commanders of the 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment

| No. | Rank | Name | Command began |
| Commandant(Major) | Jeanpierre | 1955 | 1956 |
| Lieutenant Colonel | Brothier | 1956 | 1957 |
| Lieutenant Colonel | Jeanpierre | 1957 | 1958 |
| Lieutenant Colonel | Brothier | 1958 | 1959 |
| Lieutenant Colonel | Dufour | 1959 | 1960 |
| Lieutenant Colonel | Guiraud | 1960 | 1961 |

## Commanders of the 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment

The 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment existed from 1939 to 1940 and 1946 to 1962; during its existence the regiment was led by ten different officers.
| Rank | Name | Command began | Command ended |
| Lieutenant-Colonel | Baldini | 1961 | 1962 |
| Lieutenant-Colonel | de Coatgoureden | 1960 | 1961 |
| Lieutenant-Colonel | Ogier de Baulny | 1957 | 1960 |
| Lieutenant-Colonel | Legendre | 1955 | 1957 |
| Lieutenant-Colonel | Renucci | 1953 | 1955 |
| Lieutenant-Colonel | Berchet | 1952 | 1953a |
| Lieutenant-Colonel | de Chazelles | 1948 | 1952 |
| Lieutenant-Colonel | Lennuyeux | 1946 | 1948 |
| Regiment disbanded in 1940. Regiment reestablished in 1946. ||||
| Commandant (Chef d'Escadrons) | Billon | 1940 | 1940 |
| Colonel | Farine | 1939 | 1940 |

## Commanders of the 2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment

The 2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment is the youngest of all the regiments of the Foreign Legion having been established on July 1, 1999.
| No. | Rank | Name | Command began | Command ended |
| 6 | Colonel | Philippe Kirscher | 2009 | --- |
| 5 | Colonel | Chavanat | 2007 | 2009 |
| 4 | Colonel | Boucher | 2005 | 2007 |
| 3 | Colonel | Fradin | 2003 | 2005 |
| 2 | Colonel | Autran | 2001 | 2003 |
| 1 | Colonel | Nebois | July 1, 1999 | 2001 |

## Commanders of the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment
### Commander of the 2nd Foreign Regiment

Following the Crimean War, the elements of the two regiments which had participated in the war returned to Algeria and were consolidated into a single regiment thereafter referred to as the 2nd Foreign Regiment.
| No. | Rank | Name | Command began | Command ended | Country of Origin |
| 4 | Colonel | Pierre Joseph Jeanningros | 1862 | 1862 | France |
| 3 | | Butet | 1859 | 1862 | |
| 2 | | | 1859 | 1859 | |
| 1 | Colonel | Marie Louis Henry de Granet-Lacroix de Chabrières | 1856 | 1859 | France |

### Commanders of the 2nd Regiment of the Foreign Legion (1841-1855)

| No. | Rank | Name | Command began | Command ended | Country of Origin | Campaigns/Battles |
| 9 | | Marie Louis Henry de Granet-Lacroix de Chabrières | May 29, 1855 | 1855 | France | |
| 8 | Colonel | de Caprez | 1851 | 1855 | France | Crimean War |
| 7 | | Cœur | 1851 | 1851 | France | |
| 6 | Colonel | Jean-Luc Carbuccia | 1848 | July 17, 1851 | Bastia | |
| 5 | | de Noue | 1848 | 1848 | | |
| 4 | Colonel | François Certain de Canrobert | March 31, 1849 | 1848 | France | Algeria |
| 3 | Colonel | Caries de Senilhes | 1844 | 1848 | | Algeria |
| 2 | | Patrice de Mac Mahon | 1843 | 1844 | France | |
| 1 | Colonel | Caries de Senilhes | 1841 | 1843 | | |

## Commanders of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment

| No. | Rank | Name | Command began | Command ended | Country of Origin | Campaign |
| 30 | Colonel | Benoît Desmuelles | 2012 | 201x | France | Mali- Operation Serval |
| 29 | Colonel | François Plessy | 2010 | 2012 | France | |
| 28 | Colonel | E. Bellot des Minières | 2008 | 2010 | France | Afghanistan- Task Force Altor |
| 27 | Colonel | B. Houdet | 2006 | 2008 | France | Chad- Operation Epervier |
| 26 | Colonel | Paulet | 2004 | 2006 | | RCI Opération Licorne |
| 25 | Colonel | Maurin | 2002 | 2004 | | 2002-2003: RCI Operation Licorne |
| 24 | Colonel | Alain Bouquin | 2000 | 2002 | France | 2001: Kosovo - Mitrovica |
| 23 | Lieutenant-colonel | Prevost | 1998 | 2000 | | 1998: Chad - Operation Epervier 1999: Bosnia - Operation Salamander and Operation West Star 1999: Senegal - Operation Caya |
| 22 | Colonel | Benoît Puga | 1996 | 1998 | France | 1996: Brazzaville - Operation Malebo 1996 - 1997: Bangui - Operation Almandin II 1997: Brazzaville - Operation Pelican |
| 21 | Colonel | Bruno Dary | 1994 | 1996 | France | 1995 - 1996: Bosnia - Operation SALAMANDER 1996: Chad - Operation EPERVIER |
| 20 | Colonel | Chicken | 1992 | 1994 | | 1992-1993: Somalia - Operation Restore Hope 1992-1993 : Former Yugoslavia - UNPROFOR 1994: Chad - Operation Epervier |
| 19 | Colonel | Gausseres | 1990 | 1992 | | 1990: Rwanda - Operation Noroit 1990-1991: Chad - Operation Epervier 1991: Iraq - Operation Daguet 1991: Djibouti - Operation Godoria 1992: Djibouti - Operation Iskoutir |
| 18 | Colonel | Coevoet | 1988 | 1990 | | 1988: Operation EPERVIER 1990 : GABON - Operation Requin |
| 17 | Colonel | Wabinski | 1986 | 1988 | | |
| 16 | Colonel | Germanos | 1986 | 1988 | | 1986: Chad - Operation EPERVIER |
| 15 | Lieutenant-colonel | Janvier | 1984 | 1986 | | 1982: Lebanon - Operation Killer Whale 1984: Chad - Operation Manta |
| 14 | Colonel | Guignon | 1982 | 1984 | | |
| 13 | Lieutenant-colonel | Jean Louis Roué | 1978 | 1980 | | |
| 12 | Lieutenant-colonel | Erulin | 1976 | 1978 | | 1978: Kolwezi - Operation Bonite 1978: Chad - Operation Tacaud IV |
| 11 | Lieutenant-colonel | Brette | 1974 | 1976 | | |
| 10 | Lieutenant-colonel | Goupil | 1972 | 1976 | | |
| 9 | Lieutenant-colonel | Dupoux | 1970 | 1972 | | |
| 8 | Lieutenant-colonel | Jeannou Lacaze | 1967 | 1970 | French Indochina | 1969 : Chad - Operation Tacaud 1 1967: Arrival in Calvi |
| 7 | Lieutenant-colonel | Paul Arnaud de Foïard | 1965 | 1967 | France | |
| 6 | Lieutenant-colonel | Caillaud | 1963 | 1965 | | |
| 5 | Lieutenant-colonel | Chenel | 1961 | 1963 | | |
| 4 | Lieutenant-colonel | Darmuzai | 1960 | 1961 | | |
| 3 | Colonel | Jacques Lefort | 1958 | 1960 | | |
| 2 | Chef de bataillon | Masselot | February 1958 | April 1958 | | |
| 1 | Lieutenant-colonel | Devismes | 1955 | 1958 | | |

## Commanders of the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment
### Commanders of the 3rd REI from 1945 to Present

| No. | Rank | Name | Command began | Command ended | Country of Origin | Campaign |
| | Colonel | Bourdoncle de Saint-Salvy | 2009 | --- | | |

### Commanders of the 3rd REI between 1920 and 1942

| No. | Rank | Name | Command began | Command ended | Country of Origin |
| 8 | Colonel | Levêque | 1941 | 1942 | |
| 7 | Colonel | Lales | 1939 | 1941 | |
| 6 | Colonel | Mantoz | 1936 | 1939 | |
| 5 | Colonel | Brillat-Savarin | 1932 | 1936 | |
| 4 | Colonel | Michet de la Baume | 1928 | 1932 | |
| 3 | Lieutenant-colonel | Blanc | 1926 | 1928 | |
| 2 | Lieutenant-colonel | François | 1925 | 1925 | |
| 1 | Lieutenant-colonel | Paul Frederick Rollet | 1920 | 1925 | France |

## Commanders of the 4th Foreign Regiment
### Commanders of the 4th Foreign Regiment

| Rank | Name | Command began | Command ended |
| Colonel | Mistral | 2009 | Present |
| Colonel | Pau | 2007 | 2009 |
| Colonel | Roqueplo | 2005 | 2007 |
| Colonel | Kochin | 2003 | 2007 |
| Colonel | Thiebault | 2001 | 2003 |

## Commanders of the 5th Foreign Infantry Regiment
### Commanders of the 5th Foreign Infantry Regiment (1931-1945)

| No. | Rank | Name | Command began | Command ended |
| | Colonel | Jean Belloc | 1943 | |
| | Colonel | Marcel Alessandri | 1941 | 1943 |

## Commanders of the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment
### Commanders of the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment (1939-1941)

| No. | Rank | Name | Command began | Command ended |
| 3 | Lieutenant-colonel | Delore | October 1941 | December 31, 1941 |
| 2 | Lieutenant-colonel | Ferdinand Barre | December 20, 1939 | October 1941 |
| 1 | Colonel | Imhaus | October 1, 1939 | December 20, 1939 |

### Commanders of the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment (1949-1955)

| No. | Rank | Name | Command began | Command ended |
| 3 | Chef de Battalion | Georgeon | | July 7, 1955 |
| 2 | Lieutenant-colonel | Rossi | | |
| 1 | Lieutenant-Colonel | Babonneau René | April 1, 1949 | |

## Commanders of the Old Legion

The Old Foreign Legion was established on March 9, 1831 and for the next several years the Legion quickly cycled through a number of officers until it was deployed to Spain to fight in the First Carlist War, after that deployment the pace of the change of leadership slowed down as the Foreign Legion enjoyed the leadershiper of able and skilled officers. However following taking catastrophic losses in Spain the French government at the time thought it best to disband this organization.
| No. | Rank | Name | Command began | Command ended | Country of Origin | Campaigns/Battles |
| | Lieutenant-colonel | Andrè Camille Ferray |
| | Colonel | Joseph Conrad (French colonel) | November 1836 | June 2, 1837† | | Algeria First Carlist War Battle of Barbastro |
| | Colonel | Jean-Louis Lebeau | | | | First Carlist War |
| | Colonel | Joseph Jean-Nicolas Bernelle | | | France | Algeria First Carlist War |
| 3 | Colonel | | |
| 2 | Colonel | Michel Combe | April 1, 1832 | September 1832 | |
| 1 | Colonel | Baron Christophe Anton von Stoffle | 1831 | April 1, 1832 | Switzerland |

## Commanders of 13th Demi-Brigade

| Rank | Name | Command began | Command ended |
| Colonel | Burkhart | July 29, 2008 | |
| Colonel | Marchand | July 29, 2006 | July 29, 2008 |
| Lieutenant-colonel | Henry Billaudel | 2004 | July 29, 2006 |
| Colonel | Chavancy | 2002 | 2004 |
| Colonel | Jean Maurin | 2000 | 2002 |
| Lieutenant-colonel | Debleds | 1998 | 2000 |
| Lieutenant-colonel | Emmanuel Beth | 1996 | 1998 |
| Colonel | JP Perez | 1994 | 1996 |
| Colonel | Ibanez | 1992 | 1994 |
| Lieutenant-colonel | Le Flem | 1988 | 1990 |
| Lieutenant-colonel | Champeau | 1986 | 1988 |
| Lieutenant-colonel | Rideau | 1984 | 1986 |
| Lieutenant-colonel | Vialle | 1982 | 1984 |
| Lieutenant-colonel | Loridon | 1980 | 1982 |
| Lieutenant-colonel | Gillet | 1978 | 1980 |
| Lieutenant-colonel | Jean-Claude Coullon | 1976 | 1978 |
| Lieutenant-colonel | Paul Lardy | 1974 | 1976 |
| Lieutenant-colonel | Jean Pêtre | 1972 | 1974 |
| Lieutenant-colonel | Alexis Bounfils | July 14, 1970 | July 17, 1972 |
| Lieutenant-colonel | Gustave Fourreau | 1968 | July 14, 1970 |
| Lieutenant-colonel | Hugh Geoffrey | 1965 | 1968 |
| Lieutenant-colonel | Robert Lacôte | 1962 | 1965 |
| Lieutenant-colonel | Dupuy de Querezieux | July 11, 1961 | August 23, 1962 |
| Lieutenant-colonel | Albéric Vaillant | February 7, 1961 | July 11, 1961 |
| Lieutenant-colonel | Robert Roux | 1958 | 1961 |
| Lieutenant-colonel | Maurice Senges | 1957 |

## Commanders of the Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte

| Rank | Name | Command began | Command ended |
| Lieutenant-colonel | Schiffer | 2009 | Present |
| Lieutenant-colonel | Compin | 2007 | 2009 |
| Lieutenant-colonel | Broda | 2005 | 2007 |
| Lieutenant-colonel | Denis Belivard | 2003 | 2005 |
| Lieutenant-colonel | Patrick Munoz | 2001 | 2003 |
| Lieutenant-colonel | Patrick Esteve | 1999 | 2001 |
| Lieutenant-colonel | Mauguen | 1997 | 1999 |
| Lieutenant Colonel | George Bernard Bon | 1995 | 1997 |
| Lieutenant-colonel | Henri Cormier | 1993 | 1995 |
| Lieutenant-colonel | Bernard Dufour | 1991 | 1993 |
| Lieutenant-colonel | Philippe Bouvattier | 1989 | 1991 |
| Lieutenant-colonel | Bourgogne | 1987 | 1989 |
| Lieutenant-colonel | Caseneuve | 1985 | 1987 |
| Lieutenant-colonel | Savalle | 1983 | 1985 |
| Lieutenant-colonel | Pingault | 1981 | 1983 |
| Lieutenant-colonel | Bargoin | 1979 | 1981 |
| Lieutenant-colonel | Sabarrere | 1977 | 1979 |
| Lieutenant-colonel | Racaud | 1976 | 1977 |
| Captain | Grandjean | 1973 | 1976 |