Description
During the revolutionary wars (1792-1799) and - especially - in the Napoleonic period (1799-1815), France probably had the most efficient war machine on the Old Continent, which almost led to its lasting hegemony over Europe. It will be a truism to say that the French army will be a key element of this machine. In this army, on the other hand, the Guard played a very important role - initially the Constitutional Guard (1791), then the Consular Guard, and finally the Imperial Guard (from 1804). In 1809 the Guard was divided into the Young and the Old Guard, and in 1812 - shortly before the Russian campaign - also the Medium Guard. It consisted of, among others: soldiers and some of the NCOs from the 2nd Regiment of Foot Grenadiers and Foot Riflemen, the 3rd Regiment of Foot Grenadiers, soldiers and some NCOs of Fusiliers-Grenadiers and Fusiliers-Foot Riflemen, 2 Regiment of Cavalry-Lancers, two battalions an artillery train and the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Regiment of Legia Nadwiślańska. Much of the Medium Guard took part in the Russian campaign of 1812 as part of the four Guard divisions. Although it ended the campaign in better condition than many line infantry regiments, it still suffered enormous casualties. Interestingly, in 1813 Napoleon returned to the division of 1809 and kept only the regiments of the Young and Old Guard, while the Medium Guard ceased to exist.
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