Régiment

Régiment is the French term for a regiment, a military unit that in many armed forces serves as a core administrative and, in some cases, tactical formation. Traditionally commanded by a colonel, a régiment has historically been composed of several battalions (infantry) or squadrons (cavalry) and carries its own regimental traditions, insignia, and battle honors. The word originates from the Italian regimento and a Latin root meaning to govern or rule.

Historically, regiments emerged in medieval and early modern Europe as permanent, identity-bearing units that combined multiple companies or troops under a single commander. In the 17th to 19th centuries, many armies organized their infantry and cavalry around regimental structures, making regiments both administrative units and frontline fighting formations. The regimental system facilitated recruitment, training, supply, and cohesion, and it often preserved long-standing local, regional, or national loyalties.

In contemporary armed forces, the status of the régiment varies by country. Some armies maintain regiments as active tactical units comprising multiple battalions; others treat regiments primarily as ceremonial or historical entities with the battalion as the principal operational unit. France, the United Kingdom, and several other European forces retain regimental identities that survive in regimental associations, museums, and traditions, even when the battalion or group is the main combat element.

See also Regiment, Battalion, Brigade.