The 1st Marine Infantry Regiment () is a French regiment heir of the colonial infantry. The regiment is one of the regiments of the Troupes de Marine, with the 2nd Marine Infantry Regiment 2<sup>e</sup> RIMa, the 3rd Marine Infantry Regiment 3<sup>e</sup> RIMa, as well the 4th Marine Infantry Regiment 4<sup>e</sup> RIMa (dissolved in 1998). Along with the 1st Marine Artillery Regiment 1<sup>er</sup> RAMa and the 2nd Marine Artillery Regiment 2<sup>e</sup> RAMa, the 1st Marine formed the Blue Division. The 1<sup>er</sup> RIMa is a light armoured unit, since 1986, alike with the régiment d'infanterie-chars de marine RICM.
Heir to the Compagnie Ordinaire de la Mer created in 1622 by Richelieu, the regiment was created by a Royal Decree in 1822 at the corps of the French Naval Ministry (). It was part of the of the marine infantry which garrisoned the military ports ready to embark: the , le , the and the .
Designated as the 1st Colonial Infantry Regiment (1<sup>er</sup> RIC) in 1900 when the colonial infantry was created as part of the Ministry of War (), the regiment was redesignated as a régiment d'infanterie de marine in 1958, when the colonial infantry was redesignated as marine infantry.
The evolution of the unit's name:
The regiment is heir to the 1st Free French Division and the battalion of the Pacific which combat engaged at Bir Hakeim. The Marine Infantry and Pacific Battalion () was issued from the merger, in July 1942, of the 1st Marine Infantry Battalion () and the Pacific Battalion ().
In 1846, elements of the 1<sup>er</sup> RIMa were at Tahiti. The regiment was present in the battle of Fatahua (inscribed on the regimental colors of the 2<sup>e</sup> RIMa) of December 17, 1846 (3rd Company, Captain Masset).
On August 17, 1870, the 1st Marching Marine Infantry Regiment was part of the Armée de Châlons (1870) () of Marshal de MacMahon.
During the Paris Commune in 1871, the regiment participated with the Armée Versaillaise.
In 1914, at the eve of the great war: the 2<sup>e</sup>, 3<sup>e</sup>, 7<sup>e</sup> and 1<sup>er</sup> RIC, were part of the 1st brigade under the orders of général Montignault, the 3rd colonial infantry division under the orders of général Raffanel.
The 3<sup>e</sup> DIC: Generals Raffanel, Leblond, Goulet (1914), Gadel (1915), Puypéroux (1916âÂÂ1918). Engaged in the same sectors as the 2nd Colonial Infantry Division 2<sup>e</sup> DIC (4<sup>e</sup>, 8<sup>e</sup>, 24<sup>e</sup> R.I.C), to the first battle of Champagne (Ville-sur-Tourbe) and the second battle of Champaign (Ville-sur-Tourbe and Massiges).
On May 10, 1940, the 1st Colonial Infantry Regiment was under the command of colonel Fauchon and part of the 3rd Colonial Infantry Division which reinforced the sector of Montmédy.
The 3rd Colonial Division, général Falvy, consisted of the 1st, 21<sup>e</sup>, 23<sup>e</sup> R.I.C and 3<sup>e</sup> and 203<sup>e</sup> R.A.C. The 3rd Colonial Division disappeared. The division immediately engaged the theatre, in the sector of Sun-sur-Meuse, Stenay, Martincourt, Aviot, Breux north of Verdun, at the level of cote 304 and Mort Homme, lieu of harsh combats in 1916âÂÂ1917, where combats concentrated. On June 14, the 1<sup>er</sup> and 23<sup>e</sup> RIC were engaged in the ravine which separated cote 304 from Mort Homme. At 0630, the cote was crowned, despite a relentless resistance, the armoured contingents crossed the bridge of Bethoncout in direction of Esnes. The bridge was blown-up in the evening and redressed in the same night. The 1st company of the 1<sup>er</sup> RIC of captain Bertrand counter-attacked. At 17 hours, attacks were ceased. At 19 hours, the French Marines () gave their part to other engagements.
The regiment was made compagnon de la Libération, June 28, 1945.
The regiment was found in A.F.N from 1952 to 1962. Garrisoned in several places, the regiment was part of the 9th Brigade, then 9<sup>e</sup> DIMa, then 9<sup>e</sup> BLBMa.
The regiment was deployed to Lebanon at the corps of the Multinational Force in Lebanon in 1983, then United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon UNIFIL in 1984.
In 1986 the regiment transitioned to the armored role.
In July 2009, the regiment joined the 3rd Mechanised Brigade which became designated in March 2014 as 3rd Light Armoured Brigade.
The regiment has participated in all major operations of the French Army (Lebanon, Bosnia, Kosovo, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Central African Republic, Afghanistan). In 2010 members of the regiment were deployed in Guadeloupe and Djibouti or in operations in Kosovo and Afghanistan.
The anniversary is celebrated for combats in Bazeilles, the village which was apprehended and abandoned four consecutive times under orders, respectively on August 31 and September 1, 1870.
In the Name of God, vive la coloniale !
The Marsouins and the Bigors have for Saint, God. This war calling concludes intimate ceremonies which part life in the regiments. Often also at origin as an act of grace to Charles de Foucauld.
The regimental colors are decorated with: