"VALOR & DISCIPLINE"

Drapeaux of the French Army

1804-15

Line & Light Infantry Regiments

Images Added October 2004

54th Line Infantry & 22nd Light Infantry (1804-12)
2nd Line Infantry Color & Fanions (1812-14)
92nd Line Infantry & 15th Light Infantry (1812-14)
70th Line Infantry & 6th Light Infantry (1815)

The Line & Light Infantry Regiments of 1804-12

The transformation of the French Republic into the Empire of the French in 1804 brought about a reorganization of the Army. In 1803 the infantry demi-brigades had become line and light infantry regiments, and the following year they all received new colors. The Tricolor cravat was abolished and the design was standardized for the whole Army, the only distinctions being regimental designations on the obverse and battalion designations on the reverse. The basis of issue for infantry regiments was one color per battalion. Thus, for example, a regiment with three battalions received three colors, each with the appropriate battalion designation on the reverse. The 1804 colors were 80cm square, made of oiled silk, and carried on a staff surmounted by a gilded bronze eagle with spread wings that was actually the primary standard of the regiment. The cloth flag was considered of secondary importance, and in fact the Eagle (as the standard was known) was frequently carried in action with no color attached to the staff. French soldiers' half-mocking, half-affectionate nickname for their regimental Eagle was coucou (cuckoo). The Eagles and colors of light infantry regiments were not supposed to be taken into the field, but this rule was often ignored.
 

Left: 2nd Battalion, 3rd Line Infantry     Right: 3rd Battalion, 54th Line Infantry
 

Left: 2nd Battalion, 8th Light Infantry     Right: 1st Battalion, 22nd Light Infantry
 

1st Battalion, 4th Swiss Infantry

The Line & Light Infantry Regiments of 1812-14

In 1812, colors of a new pattern, based on the Tricolor, were issued to all line and light infantry regiments. They were the same size as the 1804 colors, but a narrow gold fringe was added and the Tricolor cravat was reintroduced. The inscriptions on the obverse were similar to those on the 1804 colors, but now battle honors appeared on the reverse. Only those battles where the Emperor had commanded in person were permitted to be borne on the colors, so that some regiments had no inscriptions on the reverse of their colors. The inscriptions appeared within a border of Imperial insignia. The basis of issue for the 1812 colors was one per regiment, to be carried by the 1st Battalion. The other battalions were to have plain fanions (marker flags) made of bunting: white for the 2nd Battalion, red for the 3rd, blue for the 4th, green for the 5th and yellow for the 6th. Many regiments added additional inscriptions and insignia to these marker flags, though the practice was specifically prohibited. The six battalions of the 2nd Line Infantry carried blue and red fanions with white inscriptions, again without official sanction. Fanions were carried on a staff with a spearhead finial.

After Napoleon's abdication in 1814, the restored Bourbons decreed the destruction of the 1812 Eagles and colors. A few, however, survived to reappear during the Hundred Days.
 

2nd Line Infantry
 

                   

                   

Battalion Fanions, 2nd Line Infantry
 

Left: 19th Line Infantry          Right: 92nd Line Infantry
 

Left: 15th Light Infantry          Right: 32nd Light Infantry

The Line & Light Infantry Regiments of 1815

When Napoleon escaped from Elba and returned to France, he immediately set about reconstituting the Grand Army. New Eagles and colors were issued to the line and light infantry regiments. These 1815 colors reflected the haste with which the Army was expanded, being of a much simpler design than previous patterns. The inscriptions were the same those of the 1812 colors, but now there was only a narrow ornamental border with no insignia or fringe. They were however, larger than previous patterns, being 120cm square. The basis of issue was one color per regiment. After Waterloo, the 1815 Eagles and colors were abolished and the infantry was completely reorganized into eighty-six "Departmental Legions," each with three battalions.
 

Left: 45th Line Infantry          Right: 70th Line Infantry
 

Left: 2nd Light Infantry          Right: 6th Light Infantry

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