THE BIGHEELS
 

Standards of the Mameluks of the Guard (1804 Pattern) & the Polish Light Horse Lancers of the Guard (1812 Pattern)
 

The reorganization of the French Army in 1803-04 included the transformation of the Guard of the Consuls into the Imperial Guard. Initially, the cavalry component of the Guard consisted of one regiment of Horse Grenadiers and one of Chasseurs-on-Horse, each with four squadrons, plus two squadrons of Elite Gendarmes and a half-squadron of Mamelukes. In 1806 a regiment of dragoons was added and in 1807 a regiment of Polish Light Horse that in 1809 was converted into a regiment of Light Horse Lancers. These units constituted the cavalry of the Old Guard; regiments added later belonged to either the Middle Guard or the Young Guard.

The Guard cavalry received standards similar to those of the line and light cavalry regiments, but with grenades or hunting horns in the corners and the imperial eagle and crown on the reverse. All standards were made of oiled silk. Dimensions were 60cm square or 60cm x 70cm for the tailed standards of the Chasseurs-on-Horse, Mamelukes and Dragoons.  The basis of issue was one per squadron. As was the case with the line and light cavalry regiments, the cloth flag was secondary in importance to the gilded bronze Eagle that topped the staff. In 1811 new standards were issued with modified inscription but in 1812-13 these were replaced by a showy new design bearing battle honors of the reverse, with all inscriptions within a frame of imperial symbols. The 1812 standard were 60cm square plus a narrow gold fringe. Cavalry regiments of the Guard added after 1804 received standards of the model current at the time. Some sources indicate that standards of the 1811 model were not issued to the Guard cavalry, and that the 1804 models were used until being replaced by 1812 models.

Regiment of Horse Grenadiers  •  1804-14

Model of 1804-11

Model of 1811-12

Model of 1812-14

Legion of Gendarmerie  •  1804-14

Model of 1804-11

Model of 1811-12

The Regiment des Grenadiers à Cheval of the Imperial Guard was the senior cavalry regiment of the Army, nicknamed the "Bigheels" from the tall riding boots worn. It was one of the two Guard cavalry regiments to bear the battle honor MARENGO on its 1812-pattern standard. The regiment's blue uniform was similar to that of the Grenadiers à Pied, complete with the bearskin bonnet. The Legion Gendarmerie d'Élite was the military police corps of the Guard; its uniform was similar to that of the Grenadiers à Cheval. The corps was nicknamed, somewhat derisively, the "Immortals"—this because its duties did not at first include participation in battle. In later campaigns, however, the Gendarmerie d'Élite was attached to the Grenadiers à Cheval and fought as heavy cavalry. Both units were mounted on black horses; troopers were armed with a sword, a pair of pistols and a dragoon musket with bayonet.

Model of 1804-1811

Model of 1811-12

Model of 1812-14

The Regiment de Chasseurs à Cheval was the light cavalry regiment of the Imperial Guard. Like the Grenadiers à Cheval it originated as a unit of the Consular Guard, called the Guides. It shared with the Grenadiers à Cheval the distinction of bearing the battle honor MARENGO on its 1812-pattern standard. Magnificently uniformed in the hussar style, the Chasseurs à Cheval provided the Emperor's personal escort on campaign: a detachment consisting of a lieutenant, a sergeant, two corporals, a trumpeter and twenty-two troopers. On campaign the green hussar jacket and scarlet hussar pelisse were replaced by a green coatee; this uniform was often worn by Napoleon himself. Troopers were armed with a saber, a pair of pistols, a carbine and a bayonet.

Model of 1806-11

Model of 1811-12

Model of 1812-14

The Regiment des Dragons was added to the Imperial Guard in 1806. It had the same establishment and wore the same uniform as the Grenadiers à Cheval except that the coat was green, not blue, and the bearskin bonnet was replaced by a brass dragoon helmet. Troopers were armed with a sword, a pair of pistols and a dragoon musket with bayonet. The Empress Josephine became the patroness of the regiment in 1807 and thereafter it was nicknamed the Dragons de l’Imperatice (Empress Dragoons). For many years after the wars the survivors of the regiment held an annual reunion on the anniversary of Josephine's death.

Model of 1804-12

The Compagine de Mamelukes (expanded to a squadron in 1813) traced its origins to Napoleon's Egyptian campaign of of 1798-99. Originally it was formed with deserters from the service of the Egyptian pasha, supplemented by by a miscellany of fugitive slaves. When the Imperial Guard was set up in 1804, the Mamelukes were attached to the Chasseurs à Cheval.  Over the years its ranks were refilled with recruits from wherever they could be obtained and when the squadron was disbanded in 1814 only eighteen real Mamelukes remained. Armed and equipped similarly to the Chasseurs à Cheval, the Mameluks wore an exotic oriental-style uniform.

Polish Light Horse & Light Horse Lancers  •  1807-14

Model of 1807-09

Model of 1809-11

Model of 1811-12

Model of 1812-14

When he entered Warsaw in December 1806 Napoleon was given a mounted escort of Polish nobles. Their smart military bearing so impressed him that he decided to add a regiment of Chevau-Legers Polonais (Polish Light Horse) to his Imperial Guard. The uniform was blue with crimson plastron lapels and a Polish-style shako, called the czapka. In 1809 the Chevau-Legers Polonais became the Chevau-Legers Lanciers (Light Horse Lancers). When a second lancer regiment was added to the Guard in 1810 the Polish regiment became the 1st Regiment of Light Horse Lancers of the Imperial Guard. Troopers were originally armed with a saber, a pair of pistols, a carbine and a bayonet, to which the lance was added in 1809.

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