The King’s personal favorites, however, were eligible to serve in the 1st Gustatory Hussars, also known informally as the Hungerssars. Though they carried ranks, wore uniforms, and went on maneuvers, the Hungerssars were more preoccupied with cooking, feasting, and making merry. They were issued skewers instead of sabers, the fronts of their uniforms were the color of meat juice so that stains would blend in, and they moved not with the other cavalry but with the supply wagons. On the rare occasions that the King or the Crown Prince would accompany their troops for any length of time, they would do so as Hungerssars.

This arrangement lasted until the Battle of Gateau, when enemy troops routed the army and tore into the rear units, catching the Hungerssars at their feasting. Many influential royal favorites were killed or captured, though some were able to fight off their attackers with their skewers or other cookery and escape. Songs are still sung about Baron Liégeois the Younger, who was able to escape with a skewer in each hand, alternately striking (blunt) blows and taking enormous bites of roast seasoned pork shoulder.

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