School of Applied Artillery

The School of Applied Artillery (French: École d'application de l'artillerie) is an applied military academy of the French Army. It is based in Draguignan. Pre-Revolutionary history During the 18th Century, there were several artillery schools. The first was created by Louis XIV in Douai in 1679. Later schools were created in Metz and Strasbourg. In 1671 the king created a Royal Fusilier Regiment responsible for artillery, composed of four companies: gunners, sappers and entrenchers, carpenters, and other artillery laborers who were used as bridge-builders. Other artillery schools were founded in Besançon, Grenoble, Auxonne, Metz, Perpignan and Valence. Thus, according to Mau of Jaisse, there were five schools by 1680. According to the General Map of the French Monarchy of 1720, they were then located in Metz, Fère, Strasbourg, Perpignan and Grenoble. According to the Royal Almanac, in 1789 there were seven artillery schools, in Valence, Douai, Auxonne, Fère, Metz, Besançon and Strasbourg. In 1693, the Royal Fusilier Regiment took the name "Royal Artillery", and in 1755 they were joined with companies of sapper s and engineers to create the Royal Corps of Engineers and Artillery. In 1758 the corps of engineers and the artillery were separated.