GENDARMES, or CENS 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 were commanded by captain lieutenants, the king and the princes of the blood being their captains; the king's troop, besides a captain-lieutenant, had two sublieutenants, three ensigns, and three guidons.