When the French Revolution broke out on 14 July 1789, France had a number of colonies spread over three continents. Nearly all owed their wealth to the exploitation of resources by slave labour and commerce. To defend and keep the peace in these territories, a small army of colonial troops, distinct from the metropolitan line regiments or marines, had existed since the days of Louis XIV. RenГ© Chartrand examines the history and uniform of Napoleon's overseas army, covering such topics as the profound repercussions of the Revolution in Saint-Domingue and the rise of Toussaint L'Ouverture.