THE DUCHY OF AQUITAINE HAS ALWAYS HAD A GENDARMERY SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN AD 862. THE KNIGHTS SENECHAUX WERE RECRUITED TO BE THE MULTI-BRANCH MILITARY ARMS OF THE SOVEREIGN'S APARATUS OF GOVERNANCE. THE KINGHTS SENECHAUX PROTECTED THE ASSETS OF THE SOVEREIGN AS WELL AS THE COMMON SUBJECTS FROM RAIDS EXECUTED BY ROAMING BANDS OF OUTLAWS. THE GENDARMERY WASA REAL APARATCHIK OF THE CROWN, BUT THE SENECHAUX WERE FLUID IN THEIR SERVICE MOST OFTEN BEING PASSED DOWN THE SUCCESSOR APPARENT OF THE DUCHY, HOWEVER, THE SENECHAUX SERVE AT THE WILL AND PLEASURE OF THE SOVEREIGN AND CAN BE REPLACED BY ORDER OF THE SOVEREIGN AT ANY TIME.

 

THE ROYAL AQUITAINE GENDARMERY IN ITS CURRENT FORM HAS EXISTED SINCE THE TIME OF ELEANOR OF AQUITAINE, THE 19TH GREAT GRANDMOTHER OF THE INCUMBENT SOVEREIGN DUKE. THERE WERE ALWAYS AWARDS AND MEDALS ISSUED TO THE SOVEREIGN’S SENECHAUX THAT NORMALLY CHANGED FROM SOVEREIGN TO SOVEREIGN AND WERE ENTIRELY BASED ON THEIR INDIVIDUAL PREROGATIVES.