The Régiment d'Agenois was a French infantry regiment created under the Ancien Regime in 1595. It participated in the American War of Independence.

History

The Régiment d'Agenois saw extensive service during the War of the Spanish Succession

War of the Spanish Succession

The War of the Spanish Succession was fought among several European powers, including a divided Spain, over the possible unification of the Kingdoms of Spain and France under one Bourbon monarch. As France and Spain were among the most powerful states of Europe, such a unification would have...

, being present at the Battle of Fridelingen (1702), the Battle of Blenheim

Battle of Blenheim

The Battle of Blenheim , fought on 13 August 1704, was a major battle of the War of the Spanish Succession. Louis XIV of France sought to knock Emperor Leopold out of the war by seizing Vienna, the Habsburg capital, and gain a favourable peace settlement...

 (1704) and the Siege of Kehl

Siege of Kehl

The Siege of Kehl may refer to one of four sieges of the fortress above the town of Kehl, located in present-day southwestern Germany, across the Rhine River from Strasbourg:* Siege of Kehl , during the Franco-Dutch War...

 (1707).

The regiment, commanded by Baron de Cadignan, suffered heavy casualties in d'Estaing

Charles Hector, comte d'Estaing

Jean Baptiste Charles Henri Hector, comte d'Estaing was a French general, and admiral. He began his service as a soldier in the War of the Austrian Succession, briefly spending time as a prisoner of war of the British during the Seven Years' War...

's unsuccessful assault at Savannah

Siege of Savannah

The Siege of Savannah or the Second Battle of Savannah was an encounter of the American Revolutionary War in 1779. The year before, the city of Savannah, Georgia, had been captured by a British expeditionary corps under Lieutenant-Colonel Archibald Campbell. The siege itself consisted of a joint...

 (1779). Two of its battalions were among forces under Saint Simon brought from the West Indies to Yorktown

Siege of Yorktown

The Siege of Yorktown, Battle of Yorktown, or Surrender of Yorktown in 1781 was a decisive victory by a combined assault of American forces led by General George Washington and French forces led by the Comte de Rochambeau over a British Army commanded by Lieutenant General Lord Cornwallis...

 (1781). Under its commander, Comte d'Autichamp, it participated in capturing a British redoubt on 14 October. Its principal engagements in that theatre also included St Christophe, Pensacola

Battle of Pensacola (1781)

The Siege of Pensacola was fought in 1781, the culmination of Spain's conquest of the British province West Florida during the American War of Independence.-Background:...

 and Les Saintes.

In 1791 the Agenois lost its traditional title and was retitled the 16e Regiment. In 1794 all regular infantry regiments of the old Royal Army were amalgamated with newly raised volunteer battalions, thereby losing their former identity.

According to the 1776 dress regulations, the Agenois Regiment wore the usual off-white uniform of the French line infantry with light red (effectively pink) lapels and cuffs and green collars. Buttons were of white (silver or pewter) metal. On the eve of the French Revolution

French Revolution

The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...

(1789) their facing colour had changed to a deep shade of purple.