Each of these legions were recruited from an geographical area (Languedoc, Brittany…), on the model of the Franc-archers.
The supervisory staff was abundant and slikke (for 42000 légionnaires, 7 colonels, 35 capitains, 84 lieutenants, etc.). The discipline was strict. Regular manoeuvres were planned.
At first, the result was satisfactory, but Monluc noticed that, after some time, « tout s’abâtardit » once the ordonnances weren’t followed as strictly as at the beginning.
In 1536, 12 000 legionaries were recuited to serve in Italy, led by the sire de Montjean. Likewise, in 1537, 10 000 « hommes de pieds français » were raised.
Historian Ph. Contamine stated in his Histoire militaire de la France : « While the institution of the legions lasted quite a bit, it failed to give full satisfaction ».
According to Venetian Ambassador Matteo Dandolo in 1642, the outcome was far from being exciting, except for the Gascon legionaries who were « inured to fatigue, full of heart and skillfull ».
Domestic infantry would remain an issue for some time.
I guess P&S would qualify them of being « Raw »
