VALOR & DISCIPLINE

Drapeaux of the French Army  •  1804-15  •  Line & Light Infantry

Images Added June 2017  Battalion Fanions, 8th, 45th & 100th Line Infantry

Line & Light Infantry Regiments  •  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 (drapeaux).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. Light infantry was distinguished from line infantry by a white backing to the numbers in the corners. 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. In 1809 Napoleon ordered that henceforward each regiment would have only one Eagle and color, to be carried by the 1st Battalion. The remaining battalions were to carry plain fanions de bataillon 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. They were carried on a staff with a spearhead finial and were the same size as the drapeaux. These fanions de bataillon should be distinguished from the smaller fanions d'alignement  (company marker flags) used to dress the line. Apparently not all regiments complied with this directive before 1812. Some failed to turn in their surplus Eagles and others added inscriptions and insignia to their fanions, though the practice was specifically prohibited. Examples of these unofficial fanions are shown below.
2nd Battalion, 3rd Line Infantry	3rd Battalion, 54th Line Infantry
2nd Battalion, 8th Light Infantry	1st Battalion, 22nd Light Infantry
4th Battalion, 8th Line Infantry  •  Fanion de bataillon	4th Battalion, 100th Line Infantry  •  Fanion de bataillon
2nd Battalion, 7th Light Infantry  •  Fanion de bataillon
Line & Light Infantry Regiments  •  1812-14
In 1812, colors of a new pattern, based on the Tricolor, were issued to all line and light infantry regiments. These showy new drapeaux  were the same size as the 1804 model 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 victorious battles where the Emperor had commanded in person were permitted to be borne, 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 carry plain fanions de bataillon as before. Once again, however, many regiments ignored the regulations and embellished their fanions with inscriptions and insignia, as shown below for the 2nd Line Infantry. Also shown is a typical example of an unofficial line infantry fanion. After Napoleon's abdication in 1814, the restored Bourbons decreed the destruction of the 1812 Eagles and colors, replacing them with new white colors. A few, however, survived to reappear during the Hundred Days.
2nd Line Infantry

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