Foreign legion
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A foreign legion is a military force originally established by a monarch, consisting of foreigners who are not normally subjects of the king/queen. As their members are on duty all the time, they are not of the same structure as a regiment. Many countries, including the United Kingdom (sc., King's German Legion) had these before the twentieth century. The only remaining ones are those of France and Spain; the phrase foreign legion in English generally refers to the French one.
Other nations maintain military forces whose members are not citizens, such as the Gurkha regiments of the British and Indian armies.
See also: International Brigades
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