les gardes d'honneur
After his defeat in Russia and the loss of the cavalry arm, Napoleon
decided to call upon the sons of the leading and wealthly classes from
all over the Empire. This was a military and a political necessity to
ensure the loyalty of the families playing a part in the Empire
administration, and as consequence these units were nicknamed 'the
hostages'.
Four regiments of Gardes d'Honneur (Guards of Honour) were raised by a
decree of 3 April, 1813 to be recruited in all parts of the French
Empire. They were uniformed in bright red and green 'hussar style'
uniforms provided by themselves. Initially, their perfomance was so poor
that Napoleon decided that each Regiment of Gardes would be attached to
one Regiment of Guard Cavalry.
The Gardes d'Honneur fought indifferently during the Campaign of Leipzig
in 1813. However, they covered themselves in glory during the campaign
of 1814 in France.
UNIFORMS AND MINIATURES
The Gardes d'Honneur wore a typical hussar costume with dark
green dolman and pelisse (edged with black fur), scarlet hungarian breeches,
scarlet collar and facings, red and
white sash, white leather and lace cords. Red covered sahko with wite
piping and white cords. The plume was dark green tipped with teh
regimental color: red, blue, yellow and white for the Regiments 1-4
respectively. The horse furiniture was black with a dark green shabraque
For the figures, I have used REVELL 02575 Seven Years War Prussian Hussars
with heads taken from HÄT Set 8042 French Light Infantry, with
the plumed shako. See the head exchanging
section for details of the 'surgery'
I only need four figures to be mounted in pairs and making two bases
representing the 1 and 2 squadrons of the 2nd Gardes d'Honneur Regiment
attached to the Empress Dragoons and the 1 squadron of the 3rd Gardes
d'Honneur Regiment attached to the Grenadiers a Cheval., that were
involved in Sellerhausen.
The pictures below are taken from First Empire magazine (No. 90) or from
the Osprey MAA 378 book.
| UNIT | FIGURES | COLOR SCHEME | PICTURES |
| FRENCH 'GARDES D'HONNEUR' | REVELL 02575 Seven Years War Prussian Hussars with heads taken from HÄT 8042 French Light Infantry |
|
 |
 |
|||
 |
|||
 |
|||
 |
|||
| Charging with the Grenadiers a Cheval de la Garde |
 |
||
 |
|||
Links of interest:
Napoleon's
Guards of Honour 1813-14. Ronals Pawley-Patrick Pourcelle. Osprey MAA
378 (2002)
| The full movie: French 'Gardes d'Honneur' |
|
|