Napoleon’s Imperial Guard Organisation, Uniforms and Weapons

A detailed analysis of the organisation, uniforms and weapons of the French Imperial Guard created by Napoleon I. The author describes how this large military body evolved from the Consular Guard created by Bonaparte as early as 1799 and how this came to include dozens of different military units belonging to each branch of service (infantry, cavalry, artillery, specialist corps). The Imperial Guard was a ‘miniature army’ made up of veteran soldiers, who were dressed with the most spectacular and elegant uniforms ever seen on the battlefields of Europe. The Guard also included several ‘exotic’ non-French units that are also covered in the text: Egyptian Mamelukes, Polish and Lithuanian lancers, Tatar scouts, Dutch grenadiers and lancers. The way in which Napoleon employed the Guard in battle is discussed and also how it differed from the rest of the French Army in terms of military dress and weaponry.

Esposito produces good, solid books on his subjects and presents the targets of his focus in a defined clear way.
The units are: The Consular Guard, The Foot Grenadiers and Foot Chasseurs, Infantry of the Middle Guard and Young Guard, Mounted Grenadiers, Mounted Chasseurs, Empress’ Dragoons, Polish Lancers, Dutch Lancers, German and Lithuanian Lancers, Guards of Honour and Scouts, Mamelukes and Tartars, Sailors and Gendarmerie, Artillery and Train.