What is "garde civique"

Garde civique \Garde` ci`vique"\ [F.] See Army organization, above.

The Garde Civique or Burgerwacht ( French and Dutch; "Civic Guard") was a Belgian paramilitary militia created in October 1830 shortly after the Belgian Revolution. The Garde was founded through the amalgamation of various militia groups created by the middle classes during the anarchy following the revolution. It acted as a quasi-military " gendarmerie", with the primary role of maintaining social order within Belgium, until its disestablishment in 1920.