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1804&ndash14
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France
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At its height in 1812, consisted of:<br /> • 300,000 Frenchmen , Belgians and Dutchmen <br /> • 95,000 Poles <br /> • 25,000 Italians <br /> • 24,000 Bavarians <br /> • 20,000 Saxons <br /> • 17,000 Westphalia ns<br /> • 20,000 Prussia ns<br /> • 35,000 Austria ns<br /> • 15,000 Swiss <br /> • 3,500 Croatians
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Napoleon I Of France
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Valeur Et Disipline!
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Le Tricolore
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,<br /> La Marseillaise
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French Imperial Eagle
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Ulm , Austerlitz , Jena-Auerstedt , Eylau , Friedland , Peninsular War 1808-1813 , Somosierra , Aspern-Essling , Wagram , Invasion Of Russia 1812 , Smolensk , Borodino , Berezina , Lützen , Dresden , Leipzig , Vauchamps , Arcis-sur-Aube , Ligny , Waterloo
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Napoleon I Of France
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'' ( French the '''Big''', '''Great''' or '''Grand Army''') is the French Military term for the main force in a military campaign. In practice, however, the term "the Grande Armée" is used in English to refer to the multi-national Armies gathered by Napoleon I in his campaigns of the early Nineteenth Century (see Napoleonic Wars ).
Napoleon first attached the name to the '', an army numbering some 200,000 men that he had assembled at Boulogne on the French coast of the English Channel during the period from 1804 to August 1805 for the proposed invasion of Britain . The Grande Armée originally consisted of six Corps under the command of Napoleon's Marshals and senior generals. When Napoleon discovered that Russia n and Austria n armies were preparing to invade France in late 1805, the Grande Armée was hurriedly ordered across the Rhine into Southern Germany , leading to Napoleon's victories at Ulm and Austerlitz .
The army grew in size as Napoleon's might spread across Europe. It reached its maximum size of 600,000 men at the start of the Invasion Of Russia against the Sixth Coalition in 1812. All contingents were commanded by French generals, except for a Polish and an Austrian corps. The huge multi-national army marched slowly eastwards, with the Russians falling back before it. After the capture of Smolensk and victory in the Battle Of Borodino , Napoleon and a large part of the Grande Armée reached Moscow on 14 September 1812 . However, the army was already drastically reduced in numbers due to disease (principally Typhus ) and hunger caused by the Russian Scorched Earth strategy which left no forage for the French troops. The army spent a month in Moscow, but was ultimately forced to march back the way it had come, into the teeth of the harsh Russian winter. Assailed by cold, starvation and disease, and constantly harassed by Cossack s and Russian irregulars, and the retreat utterly destroyed the Grande Armée as a fighting force. As many as 400,000 died in the adventure and only a few tens of thousands of ravaged troops returned. Insects, Disease, and Military History: Destruction of the Grand Armée
Napoleon led a new army to the Battle Of Nations at Leipzig in 1813, in the furious defence of France in 1814, and in the Waterloo Campaign in 1815, but the Napoleonic French army would never regain the heights of the Grande Armée in June 1812.
of Napoleon I .]]
One of the most important factors in the Grande Armée's success was its superior and highly flexible organization. It was subdivided into several Corps (usually from five to seven), each numbering anywhere between 10,000 to 50,000, with the average size being around 20,000 to 30,000 troops. These ''Corps d'Armée'' were self-contained, smaller armies of Combined Arms , consisting of elements from all the forces and support services discussed below. While capable of fully independent operations, the Corps usually worked in close concert together and kept within a day's marching distance of one another. A Corps, depending on its size and the importance of its mission, was commanded by a Marshal , or ''Général d'Armée'' ( General ) or ''Général de Corps'' ( Lieutenant General ).
Napoleon placed great trust in his Corps commanders and usually allowed them a wide freedom of action, provided they acted within the outlines of his strategic objectives and worked together to accomplish them. When they failed to do this to his satisfaction, however, he would not hesitate to reprimand or relieve them and in many cases took personal command of their Corps himself. Corps were first formed in 1800, when General Moreau divided the Army Of The Rhine into 4 Corps. These were only temporary groupings, however, and it was not until 1804 that Napoleon made them permanent units. He would sometimes form the cavalry into separate Corps, so they would be able to move and mass more quickly without being slowed by the infantry.
The main tactical units of the Corps were the Divisions , usually consisting of 4,000 to 6,000 infantry or cavalrymen. These in turn were made up of 2 or 3 Brigades of 2 Regiments apiece and supported by an Artillery Brigade of 3 or 4 Batteries , each with 4 Field Cannon s and 2 Howitzer s, making 18 to 24 guns in all. The Divisions were also permanent administrative and operational units, commanded by a ''General de Division'' ( Major General ) and likewise capable of independent actions.
France's Imperial Guard (''Garde Impériale'') was the elite military force of its time and grew out of the ''Garde des Consuls'' and ''Garde Consulaire''. It was, quite literally, a ''Corps d'Armée'' itself with infantry, cavalry and artillery divisions. Napoleon wanted it also to be an example for the entire army to follow and as a force that, since it had fought with him over several campaigns, was completely loyal. Although the infantry was rarely committed in mass, the Guard's cavalry was often thrown into battle as the killing blow and its artillery used to pound enemies prior to assaults.
From a single regiment in 1800, it was steadily expanded until it was the size of a field army.
There were three sections:
- ('''''Vieille Garde'''''): This was the crème de la crème of Napoleon's army. The Old Guard was made up of the longest serving veterans (3-5 campaigns) and consisted of two regiments:
- ---'' Uniform of the Grenadiers-á-Pied de la Garde , Accessed March 16, 2006 Foot Grenadiers in the Imperial Guard , Accessed March 16, 2006: The Grenadiers of the Guard was the most senior Regiment in La Grande Armée. During the 1807 Campaign In Poland , the Grenadiers were given the nickname ''les grognards'' ("the grumblers") by Napoleon himself. They were the most experienced and brave infantrymen in the Guard, some veterans having served in over 20 campaigns. To join the Grenadiers, a recruit had to have been under the colours for at least 10 years, have received a citation for bravery, be literate and be over 178cm tall. The Grenadiers à Pied did not see combat as often as the infantry of the Young or Middle guard, but when they did they performed admirably. In 1815, The Old Guard grenadiers were expanded to four regiments. The new regiments, the 2e, 3e and 4e Grenadiers were immediately classed as Old Guard, despite the fact that they were nowhere near the calibre of 1er Grenadiers. In fact, the army referred to them as Middle Guard. It was these regiments which were defeated by the British Guards at Waterloo . The 1er Grenadiers was engaged in fighting the Prussians at Placenoit. The Grenadiers à Pied wore a dark blue ''habit longue'' (coat with long tails) with red turnbacks, epaulettes and white lapels. The Grenadiers most distinguishing feature was the tall Bearskin hat, decorated with an engraved Gold plate, a red Plume and white cords.
- ---'' Uniforms of the Chasseurs-à-Pied de la Garde , Accessed March 16, 2006: The Chasseurs of the Guard were the second most senior regiment in La Grande Armée. The 1er Chasseurs were the sister formation to the 1er Grenadiers à Pied. They had the same entry criteria, however accepted men who were 172cm and taller. The Chasseurs performed just as well as the Grenadiers in combat, seeing action in several crucial battles. Following Napoleon's return in 1815, the Chasseurs was expanded to four regiments also, with the 2e, 3e and 4e regiments being formed from recruits with only four years experience. These regiments, together with 'Middle Guard' regiments of Grenadiers à Pied, formed the assault of the Guard during the final phase of the battle of Waterloo. As with the 1er Grenadiers à Pied, the 1er Chasseurs à Pied was engaged at Placenoit. The Chasseurs à Pied wore a dark blue ''habit longue'' (coat with long tails) with red turnbacks, red epaulettes fringed green and white lapels. On campaign, the Chasseurs often wore dark blue trousers. As with the Grenadiers, the Chasseurs most distinguishing feature was the tall bearskin, decorated with a red over green plume and white cords.
- ('''''Moyenne Garde''''') Napoleon's Guard Infantry - Moyenne Garde , Accessed March 16, 2006: Consisted of veterans of 2-3 campaigns.
- ---'': In 1806, the Fusiliers-Chasseurs was formed as a regiment of middle guard infantry. All members of the Middle guard were veterans of 2-3 campaigns, and were commissioned as NCOs in the Line regiments. Arguably the best infantry of the entire Guard, the Fusiliers-Chasseurs most often operated together with its sister formation, the Fusiliers-Grenadiers, as part of a Guard Fusilier-Brigade. The Fusilier-Chasseurs saw extensive action, proving their worth time and time again, until they were disbanded in 1814 following Napoleon's abdication. The Fusiliers-Chasseurs were not reformed in 1815 for the Waterloo Campaign . Fusiliers-Chasseurs wore a dark blue ''habit'' (or coat) with green epaulettes fringed red, red turnbacks and white lapels. Under this they wore a white waistcoat and either blue or brown trousers. The Fusiliers-Chasseurs Shako had white cords and a tall red over green plume. The Fusiliers-Chasseurs were armed with a Charleville Modele 1777 Musket , bayonet and a short sabre.
- ---'' FUSILIERS DE LA GARDE 1806 - 1814 ARMEE FRANCAISE PLANCHE N" 101 , Accessed March 16, 2006: Formed in 1807, the Fusiliers-Grenadiers was a regiment of middle guard infantry. The Fusiliers-Grenadiers was organised in the same way as the Fusiliers-Chasseurs, being a slightly larger formation. The Fusiliers-Grenadiers most often operated together with it's sister formation, the Fusiliers-Chasseurs, as a part of a Guard Fusilier-Brigade. The Fusilier-Grenadiers saw extensive action, proving their worth time and time again, until they were disbanded in 1814 following Napoleon's abdication. The Fusiliers-Grenadiers were not reformed in 1815. Fusiliers-Grenadiers wore a dark blue ''habit'' (or coat) with red epaulettes, red turnbacks and white lapels. Under this they wore a white waistcoat and white trousers. The Fusiliers-Grenadiers Shako had white cords and a tall red plume. The Fusiliers-Grenadiers were armed with a Charleville modele 1777 musket, bayonet and a short sabre.
- --- ('''''Marins de la Garde'''''): The Marines of the guard were formed in 1803, their initial purpose was to man the vessel transporting the Emperor during the expected crossing of the Musket and bayonet, and many marines were also equipped with Pistols , less cumbersome during their engineering tasks.
- ('''''Jeune Garde''''') Tirailleurs de la Garde Imperiale: 1809-1815 , Accessed March 16, 2006: Initially was made up of veterans with at least one campaign under their belts, together with bright young officers and the best of the annual intake of Conscript s. Later its ranks would be filled almost entirely by select conscripts and volunteers. They were known for their enthusiasm more than their combat abilities.
- ---'': In 1808, Napoleon ordered the most intelligent and strongest recruits to be formed into the first regiments of the Young Guard. The taller of the recruits were inducted into the Tirailleurs-Grenadier regiments (renamed to Tirailleurs in 1810). All officers of the Tirailleurs-Grenadiers were drawn from the Old Guard, and as such were entitled to wear bearskins. The NCOs were drawn from the Middle Guard. Having this leavening of hardened veterans helped to increase the morale and combat abilities of the Tirailleurs-Grenadiers, and its sister formations the Tirailleurs-Chasseurs. Tirailleurs-Grenadiers wore a dark blue ''habit'' (or coat) with red epaulettes and dark blue turnbacks and lapels piped white. The Tirailleurs-Grenadiers' Shako had red cords, with a long red plume.
- ---'': The shorter recruits of the Young Guard were inducted into the Tirailleurs-Chasseurs (renamed to Voltigeurs in 1810). The formation was identical to that of the Tirailleurs-Grenadiers, with all officers being drawn from the Old Guard, and NCOs coming from the Middle Guard. Tirailleurs-Grenadiers wore a dark blue ''habit'' (or coat) with red turnbacks and dark blue lapels piped white. This was further decorated by green epaulettes with red fringing. Their shako was decorated with a large plume, which could be coloured either green or red over green.
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