The Gendarmes d'élite de la Garde impériale (English: "élite gendarmes of the Imperial Guard") was a gendarmerie unit formed in 1801 by Napoleon as part of the Consular Guard which became the Imperial Guard in 1804. In time of peace, their role was to protect official residences and palaces and to provide security to important political figures. In time of war, their role was to protect the Imperial headquarters, to escort prisoners and occasionally to enforce the law and limit civil disorder in conquered cities. The unit was renamed Gendarmes des chasses du roi during the First Bourbon Restoration but was disbanded in 1815 during the Second Restoration.
A squadron of Gendarmes d'élite was raised in 1801 and integrated into the Consular Guard. In 1804, the unit comprised two cavalry squadrons and two companies of infantry which were now part of the Imperial Guard. At full strength they were 632 men, but the infantry companies were disbanded in 1806 and only 456 cavalrymen remained in the unit. The men should be at least 1.76 metres (5 ft 9 in) tall in order to enter the unit.
A platoon of the Gendarmes d'élite was in charge of the execution of the Duke of Enghien in 1804.[1] The same year a detachment of the Gendarmes d'élite escorted Napoleon in the street of Paris for his coronation.[2]
Campaigns
Gendarme d'élite
The Gendarmes d'élite were nicknamed "The Immortals" because, as a military police, they were less engaged in combat than other units and had fewer personnel killed in action. However, when committed into combat they fought bravely and earned several battle honours.
The Gendarmes d'élite fought at the battle of Borodino and covered the French retreat at the battle of Berezina (1812). Despite the losses endured during the Russian campaign, the gendarmes fought at the battle of Leipzig in 1813. In a notable episode, general Fournier-Sarlovèze was sent to the Mayence prison by Napoleon for his defeatist attitude, following defeat at Leipzig. En route to Mayence, his carriage was escorted by a detachment of Gendarmes and was attacked by a group of Russian Cossacks. A gendarme was killed, but the general grabbed the sword of the dead, took the reins of the carriage and with the help of the remaining gendarmes routed the Cossacks. He then returned to his seat and stated "Go on! To Mayence!".[3]
The first Bourbon Restoration saw the replacement of their bearskin caps by crested helmets which was partially completed when the war of the Seventh coalition broke out. The unit last saw action at the battles of Ligny and Waterloo (1815), before being disbanded during the second Bourbon Restoration.
Uniform
The Gendarmes d'élite wore a blue coat with red lapels, cuffs and turnbacks. The collar and cuff flaps were blue piped red. They wore buff breeches, waistcoat and gloves. They had white aiguillettes and clover-shaped epaulettes. They wore a tall bearskin cap with a visor, topped by a red round cloth patch nicknamed cul-de-singe ("monkey bottom") with a white grenade embroidered on it. They rode black horses. Belting was buff with white edges.
The trumpeter wore the same uniform but with reversed colours. They rode grey horses.
In 1815, crested helmets with black manes (red for trumpeters) were introduced but not completed, so the Gendarmes d'élite fought their last campaign with mixed headgears.
Gendarme
Trumpeter
Dismounted service dress
See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gendarmerie d'élite de la Garde impériale.
Uniform of the Gendarme d'élite, in 1815, on "Les uniformes pendant la campagne des Cent Jours"
References
^Isidore Marie Brignole Gautier, "Conduite de Bonaparte relativement aux assassinats de Monseigneur le duc d'Enghien et du Marquis de Frotté", Paris, 1823, p.32 [1]
^Bernard Picart, "Histoire des religions et des moeurs de tous les peuples du monde, Volume 5", Paris, 1819, p.293 [2]
^Béatrice Capelle et Jean-Claude Demory, Maréchaux d'Empire, E/P/A, 2008, 288 p. (ISBN9782851206985), « Fournier-Sarlovèze, le sabreur extravagant ».
December 31, 2022
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The Gendarmes d elite de la Garde imperiale English elite gendarmes of the Imperial Guard was a gendarmerie unit formed in 1801 by Napoleon as part of the Consular Guard which became the Imperial Guard in 1804 In time of peace their role was to protect official residences and palaces and to provide security to important political figures In time of war their role was to protect the Imperial headquarters to escort prisoners and occasionally to enforce the law and limit civil disorder in conquered cities The unit was renamed Gendarmes des chasses du roi during the First Bourbon Restoration but was disbanded in 1815 during the Second Restoration Gendarmes d elite de la Garde imperialeGendarme d elite by Hippolyte BellangeActive1801 15Country FranceAllegianceFrench Consulate First French EmpireBranchFrench ArmyTypeGendarmerieSizeOne legion of two squadrons and two infantry companies 632 men at full strength Part ofImperial GuardNickname s The Immortals Les Immortels EngagementsNapoleonic Wars Battle of Medina de Rioseco Battle of Montmirail Battle of WaterlooCommandersNotablecommandersAnne Jean Marie Rene Savary Contents 1 Organisation 2 Campaigns 2 1 Peninsular War 2 2 Invasion of Russia and Sixth Coalition 2 3 Hundred Days 3 Uniform 4 See also 5 ReferencesOrganisation EditA squadron of Gendarmes d elite was raised in 1801 and integrated into the Consular Guard In 1804 the unit comprised two cavalry squadrons and two companies of infantry which were now part of the Imperial Guard At full strength they were 632 men but the infantry companies were disbanded in 1806 and only 456 cavalrymen remained in the unit The men should be at least 1 76 metres 5 ft 9 in tall in order to enter the unit A platoon of the Gendarmes d elite was in charge of the execution of the Duke of Enghien in 1804 1 The same year a detachment of the Gendarmes d elite escorted Napoleon in the street of Paris for his coronation 2 Campaigns Edit Gendarme d elite The Gendarmes d elite were nicknamed The Immortals because as a military police they were less engaged in combat than other units and had fewer personnel killed in action However when committed into combat they fought bravely and earned several battle honours Peninsular War Edit Further information Peninsular War About 105 Gendarmes d elite took part in the repression of the revolt of Madrid in 1808 A detachment of 56 gendarmes were part of Lassalle s great charge against Spanish positions at Medina de Rioseco 1808 They fought also at the siege of Astorga and the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo 1810 Invasion of Russia and Sixth Coalition Edit Further information French Invasion of Russia and War of the Sixth Coalition The Gendarmes d elite fought at the battle of Borodino and covered the French retreat at the battle of Berezina 1812 Despite the losses endured during the Russian campaign the gendarmes fought at the battle of Leipzig in 1813 In a notable episode general Fournier Sarloveze was sent to the Mayence prison by Napoleon for his defeatist attitude following defeat at Leipzig En route to Mayence his carriage was escorted by a detachment of Gendarmes and was attacked by a group of Russian Cossacks A gendarme was killed but the general grabbed the sword of the dead took the reins of the carriage and with the help of the remaining gendarmes routed the Cossacks He then returned to his seat and stated Go on To Mayence 3 The gendarmes fought the Russians again at Montmirail and Vauchamps during the invasion of France 1814 Hundred Days Edit Further information Hundred Days The first Bourbon Restoration saw the replacement of their bearskin caps by crested helmets which was partially completed when the war of the Seventh coalition broke out The unit last saw action at the battles of Ligny and Waterloo 1815 before being disbanded during the second Bourbon Restoration Uniform EditThe Gendarmes d elite wore a blue coat with red lapels cuffs and turnbacks The collar and cuff flaps were blue piped red They wore buff breeches waistcoat and gloves They had white aiguillettes and clover shaped epaulettes They wore a tall bearskin cap with a visor topped by a red round cloth patch nicknamed cul de singe monkey bottom with a white grenade embroidered on it They rode black horses Belting was buff with white edges The trumpeter wore the same uniform but with reversed colours They rode grey horses In 1815 crested helmets with black manes red for trumpeters were introduced but not completed so the Gendarmes d elite fought their last campaign with mixed headgears Gendarme Trumpeter Dismounted service dressSee also Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gendarmerie d elite de la Garde imperiale Uniform of the Gendarme d elite in 1815 on Les uniformes pendant la campagne des Cent Jours References Edit Isidore Marie Brignole Gautier Conduite de Bonaparte relativement aux assassinats de Monseigneur le duc d Enghien et du Marquis de Frotte Paris 1823 p 32 1 Bernard Picart Histoire des religions et des moeurs de tous les peuples du monde Volume 5 Paris 1819 p 293 2 Beatrice Capelle et Jean Claude Demory Marechaux d Empire E P A 2008 288 p ISBN 9782851206985 Fournier Sarloveze le sabreur extravagant Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Elite Gendarmes of the Imperial Guard amp oldid 1129934765, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
