GENDARMES, or GENS D'ARMES, in the French armies, a denomination given to a select body of horse, on account of their succeeding the ancient Gendarmes, who were thus called from their being completely clothed in armour; (see Scots GENDARMES, infra.) These troops are commanded by captain-lieutenants, the king and the princes of the blood being their captains: the king's troop, besides a captain-lieutenant, has two sublieutenants, three ensigns, and three guidons.