The French Foreign Legion (French: Légion étrangère) is a unique elite unit within the French Army established in 1831. It was created as a unit for foreign volunteers, because foreigners were forbidden to enlist in the French Army after the July Revolution in 1830.

It was primarily used to protect and expand the French colonial empire during the 19th century, but has also taken part in all of its wars with other European powers such as the Franco-Prussian War and both World Wars.