Cuirassiers
Organisation and uniforms
Organisation
Decree of October 10, 1801 establishes the organisation of the twenty-third heavy cavalry regiments of French army, named Cavalry Regiments. Each was composed of a staff:
1 Brigade chief
3 Squadron chiefs
1 Quartermaster
1 Master-surgeon
1 Assistant-surgeon
2 Administrative officer
2 Administative NCOs
1 Master-trumpeter
1 Veterinary-surgeon
1 Saddler
1 Tailor
1 Boots maker
1 Gunsmith
1 Breeches maker
And three squadrons of two companies each with:
1 Captain
1 Lieutenant
1 Second-lieutenant
1 Master-sergeant
2 Sergeants
1 Quartermaster-corporal
4 Corporals
1 Trumpeter
66 Troopers (58 in peace time)
This Decree also converts two regiments to Cavalry-Cuirassiers regiments: 1st and 8th, the last one being already equipped with cuirasses. 24th regiment is disbanded.
The Order of October 12, 1802 converts the 2nd, 3rd and 4th regiments to Cavalry-Cuirassiers regiments, followed by 5th, 6th and 7th on December 23, 1802. This last order also disbands the 23rd Cavalry Regiment.
The order of December 31, 1802 disbands 19th to 22nd regiments and raises the strength of 9th to 18th regiments to four squadrons.
The Order of September 24, 1803 finally disbands all eighteen Cavalry regiments and strength is used to raise twelve Cuirassiers Regiments with four squadrons and to reinforce other cavalry units.
The Decree of August 31, 1806 raises the strength of each companies to 82 cuirassiers and creates a fifth quadroon t be raised in war time.
The Decree of March 10, 1807 raises the strength of Cuirassiers Regiments to five squadrons of two companies each with:
1 Captain
1 Lieutenant
2 Second-lieutenants
1 Master-sergeant
4 Sergeants
1 Quartermaster-corporal
8 Corporals
2 Trumpeters
84 Cuirassiers (comprising a farier)
A 13th regiment is raised in October 1808 and a 14th on August 18, 1810.
The Decree of December 24, 1809 suppresses the fifth squadron (except for 13th regiment), but it is re-established by Decree of January 10, 1812.
Short tailed, single breasted coat of dark blue cloth closed by a row of ten buttons. Regimental collar. Scarlet fringed epaulets. Front of coat piped in regimental colour. Regimental cuffs and cuff flaps. Turnbacks in regimental colour with horizontal or vertical pockets simulated by a piping in regimental colour. White buttons.
From 1806, short tailed lapelled coat (habit à la française) with same fittings. Squared lapels in regimental colour.
From 1810, short tailed, single breasted coat (habit-surtout) closed by a row of ten buttons. Regimental collar. Scarlet fringed epaulets. Front of coat piped in regimental colour. Regimental rounded cuffs. Turnbacks in regimental colour. It appears that these coat are often shown with unregulated cuff flaps and simulated pockets.
From 1813, short tailed, single breasted coat (habit-veste) closed by a row of nine buttons. Regimental collar. Scarlet fringed epaulets. Front of coat piped in regimental colour. Regimental cuffs and cuff flaps. Turnbacks in regimental colour with vertical pockets simulated by a piping in regimental colour.
White vest. Fawn coloured leather breeches and black high cuffed boots. In field dress, grey cloth overalls. Light grey sleeveless riding mantle with half-cape and facing coloured trim.
From 1813, light grey sleeved overcoat with half-cape.
Helmet with steel crown and brass crest bearing a black horsehair mane. Black horsehair tuft. Around crown, black fur turban. Scarlet plume. Black leather peak with brass strengthenings. Brass chinscales.
From 1813, scarlet plume is replaced by company coloured tuft.
Steel cuirass with black leather shoulder straps covered with brass scales.
White leatherwork. Black leather cartridge pouch bearing a brass grenade badge. Heavy cavalry sabre with brass three bars hilt and steel sheath.
Black leather heavy cavalry harness. French saddle with white sheepskin saddle cover trimmed with facing coloured wolf teeth and blue cloth half-schabraque laced white bearing a white cloth grenade badge in rear corners. Blue cloth square portmanteau laced white bearing in white cloth either regimental number or grenade badge.
NCOs
White or silver rank laces over both cuffs. Sergeants sometimes wear epaulets with silver laced strap and fringes mixed with silver.
Officers
Troopers’ dress with silver thread rank epaulets. Saddle covers and pistol holsters in blue cloth laced silver.
Trumpeters and musicians
Dress of trumpeters and musicians, when known, is detailed in regimental plates.
Trumpeters usually wear troopers’ helmet with white horsehair mane and tuft.
With first dress, they wear troopers’ dress with collar and cuffs laced white and white lace square trim around waist buttons and sometimes white buttonhole laces on front of coat.
With lapelled coat, they wear troopers’ dress in reversed colours with white collar, lapels, cuffs and waist buttons lace trim.
From around 1808, lapelled coat is replaced by a single breasted coat in facing colour with white buttonhole laces.
From 1813, short tailed habit-veste in green cloth closed by a row of nine buttons. Regimental collar bearing two buttonhole laces in imperial livery, sometimes with livery lace trim. Facing colour piping on front of coat, bearing five livery buttonhole laces ending with white tassel. Livery laces trim to cuffs and turnbacks. Livery buttonhole laces to pockets buttons. Green and yellow trumpet’s cord.
Cuirassiers
1st Cuirassiers Regiment
The cavalry regiment Colonel-General raised in 1657 is renamed 1st Cavalry Regiment in 1791. It serves from 1792 to 1794 in the Army of the North then in the Army of Italy from 1795 to 1801.
The 1st Cavalry regiment is renamed as 1st Cuirassiers-Cavalry Regiment by order of October 10, 1801 and 1st Cuirassiers Regiment by decree of September 24, 1803.
It takes part in the campaigns in Germany from1805 to 1807, in the Reserve Cavalry Corps of the Grande Army, and in Austria in 1809, in the 3rd Cavalry Corps. Assigned in 1811 to the Observation Corps of the Elbe, he serves in Russia in 1812, then in Germany and France in 1813 and 1814 in the 2nd Cavalry Corps.
In 1814, regiment is renamed King’s Cuirassiers. It is disbanded in 1815, strength being transferred in the new Queen’s Cuirassiers (2nd).
Unit commanders
1803 : Adrien Guiton
1805 : Sigismond de Berckheim
1809 : Antoine de Clerc
1814 : Philippe Christophe de la Motte-Guery
1815 : Michel Ordener
Battles
1805 : Austerlitz
1807 : Eylau
1812 : Borodino
Standards
Each squadron is granted in 1804 with an eagle and a Challiot type standard.
Regiment is granted in 1812 with a standard of 1812 model with the following battles names:
ULM AUSTERLITZ
IÉNA EYLAU
ECKMÜHL ESSLING
WAGRAM
that is taken on October 18, 1812 during battle of Taroutino.
Cuirassiers
2nd Cuirassiers Regiment
The cavalry regiment Royal-Cavalerie raised in 1635 is renamed 2nd Cavalry Regiment in 1791. It serves from 1792 to 1798 in the Army of the Rhine and then in Reserve Army.
The 2nd Cavalry regiment is renamed as 2nd Cuirassiers-Cavalry Regiment by order of October 12, 1802 and 2nd Cuirassiers Regiment by decree of September 24, 1803.
It takes part in campaigns in Germany from 1805 to1807, Austria in 1809, Russia in 1812, Germany in 1813 and France in 1814.
In 1814, regiment is renamed Queen’s Cuirassiers. It is disbanded in 1815, strength being transferred in the new Angouleme’s Cuirassiers (3rd).
Unit commanders
3 September1799 : Jean Yvendorff
26 December 1805 : Claude Chouard
7 September 1811 : Pierre Rolland
5 November 1813 : Léonard Morin
17 March 1814 : Pierre Labiffe
28 September 1814 : Louis Grandjean
Battles
1805 : Wertingen and Austerlitz
1807 : Friedland
1809 : Eckmuhl, Ratisbonne, Essling and Wagram
1812 : Borodino
1813 : Dresden
1814 : La-Rothiere, Champaubert, Vauchamps and Fere-Champenoise
1815: Quatre-Bras and Waterloo
Standards
Each squadron is granted in 1804 with an eagle and a Challiot type standard.
Regiment is granted in 1812 with a standard of 1812 model with the following battles names :
AUSTERLITZ
IENA
EYLAU
FRIEDLAND
ECKMÜHL
WAGRAM
Cuirassiers
3rd Cuirassiers Regiment
The cavalry regiment Commissaire-General raised in 1645 is renamed 3rd Cavalry Regiment in 1791. It serves from 1792 to 1794 in the Army of the North, campaigns in 1795 in the Army of Sambre-et-Meuse, from 1796 to 1799 in the armies of the Rhine and Moselle, of Mainz, Germany et Helvetia and leaves for Italy in 1799.
The 3rd Cavalry regiment is renamed as 3rd Cuirassiers-Cavalry Regiment by order of October 12, 1802 and 3rd Cuirassiers Regiment by decree of September 24, 1803.
It takes part in the campaign of Austria in 1805 in the Reserve Cavlry Corps. It then campaigns from 1807 to 1809 in 1st and 4th Reserve Corps. Assigned to Observation Corps of the Elbe in 1811, it takes part in the campaign of Russia in 1812 and in Germany and France in 1813 and 1814 in the 1st Cavalry Corps.
In 1814, regiment is renamed Heir Prince’s Cuirassiers. It is disbanded in 1815, strength being transferred in the new Conde’s (or Colonel-General) Cuirassiers (6th).
Unit commanders
6 March 1801 : Claude de Préval
31 December 1806 : Jean-Louis Richter
7 September 1811 : Charles Lalaing d’Audenarde
13 May 1813 : Jean Delacroix
Battles
1805 : Austerlitz
1806 : Jena
1807 : Heilsberg and Friedland
1809 : Eckmuhl, Essling and Wagram
1812 : Borodino
1813 : Dresden and Leipzig
1814 : Champaubert
1815: Fleurus and Waterloo
Standards
Each squadron is granted in 1804 with an eagle and a Challiot type standard.
Regiment is granted in 1812 with a standard of 1812 model with the following battles names :
AUSTERLITZ
IENA
EYLAU
FRIEDLAND
ECKMÜHL
ESSLING
WAGRAM
Cuirassiers
4rd Cuirassiers Regiment
The cavalry regiment of the Queen raised in 1643 is renamed 4th Cavalry Regiment in 1791. It serves in 1792 in the Army of the Centre, in 1793 and 1794 in the Army of Moselle and Sambre-et-Meuse. Assigned in 1795 to the army of Rhine and Moselle, it campaigns from 1796 to 1800 in the armies of Mainz, of the Danube and of the Rhine.
The 4th Cavalry regiment is renamed as 4th Cuirassiers-Cavalry Regiment by order of October 12, 1801 and 4th Cuirassiers Regiment by decree of September 24, 1803.
It takes part in campaigns in Italy in 1805, Germany in 1806 and 1807, Austria in 1809, Russia in 1812 in the 3rd Reserve Corps, Germany in 1813 and France in 1814 in the 1st Cavalry Corps.
In 1814, regiment is renamed Angouleme’s Cuirassiers. It is disbanded in 1815, strength being transferred in the new Queen’s Cuirassiers (1st).
Unit commanders
2 Septembre 1803 : Fulgent Herbault
25 June 1808 : François Aldobrandini-Borghèse
28 January 1812 : Michel Dujon
11 May 1815 : Jean Habert
Battles
1805 : Caldiero
1807 : Heilsberg
1809 : Essling and Wagram
1812 : Polotsk and Berezina
1813 : Bautzen, Dresden and Leipzig
1814 : Brienne-le-Chateau, La-Rothiere, Champaubert, Vauchamps, Laon and Fere-Champenoise
1815: Ligny and Waterloo
Standards
Each squadron is granted in 1804 with an eagle and a Challiot type standard.
Regiment is granted in 1812 with a standard of 1812 model with the following battles names :
ESSLING
WAGRAM
that is taken on December 7, 1812 during battle of Malodetchko.
Cuirassiers
5th Cuirassiers Regiment
The cavalry regiment Royal-Pologne raised in 1653 is renamed in 1791 as 5th Cavalry Regiment. It serves in 1792 in the Army of the South, in 1793 in the Army of Vendee. Assigned in Italy in 1794, it campaigns there until 1801.
The 5th Cavalry Regiment, reinforced by a squadron of the 23rd Cavalry Regiment, is renamed as 5th Cuirassiers-Cavalry Regiment by order of December 23, 1802 and 5th Cuirassiers Regiment by decree of September 24, 1803.
It campaigns in Germany from 1805 to 1807, in Austria in 1809, in Russia in 1812, and in Germany in 1813. Besieged in Hamburg, it returns in France in July 1814.
In 1814, regiment is renamed Berry’s Cuirassiers. It is disbanded in 1815, strength being transferred in the new Orleans’ Cuirassiers (5th).
Unit commanders
30 December 1802 : Jean-Baptiste Noirot
30 December 1806 : Jean Quinette
7 September 1811 : Philippe Christophe de la Motte-Guery
9 September 1814 : Armand Gobert
Battles
1805 : Hollabrunn and Austerlitz
1806 : Jena
1807 : Hoff and Eylau
1809 : Eckmühl, Ratisbonne, Essling and Wagram
1812 : Borodino
1813 : Leipzig and Hanau
1814 : Montmirail and Bar-sur-Aube
1815: Ligny and Waterloo
Etendards
Each squadron is granted in 1804 with an eagle and a Challiot type standard.
Regiment is granted in 1812 with a standard of 1812 model with the following battles names :
ULM AUSTERLITZ
IENA EYLAU
ECKMÜHL ESSLING
WAGRAM
Cuirassiers
6th Cuirassiers Regiment
The cavalry regiment of the King is renamed as 6th Cavalry Regiment in 1791. It serves in 1792 and 1793 in the Army of the North, from 1795 to 1797 in the Army of Sambre-et-Meuse. Assigned to the Army of Germany in 1798, it campaigns there until 1801.
The 6th Cavalry Regiment is renamed as 6th Cuirassiers-Cavalry Regiment by order of December 23, 1802 and 6th Cuirassiers Regiment by decree of September 24, 1803.
It takes part in campaigns in Italy in 1805, Germany in 1806 and 1807 in 3rd Reserve Corps of the Grande Army, Austria in 1809 in Reserve Cavalry Corps of the Army of Germany. Assigned to the Observation Corps of the Elbe in 1811, it takes part in the campaign of Russia in 1812 and in Germany and France in 1813 and 1814 in the 1st Cavalry Corps.
In 1814, regiment is renamed Colonel-General’s Cuirassiers. It is disbanded in 1815, strength being transferred in the new Heir Prince’s Cuirassiers (2nd).
Unit commanders
2 January 1799 : Léonard Cacatte
24 February 1805 : Archange Rioult d’Avenay
25 June 1807 : François d’Avrange D’Haugeranville
6 August 1811 : Jean-Baptiste Martin
Battles
1805 : Caldiero
1807 : Heilsberg
1809 : Eckmühl, Essling and Wagram
1812 : Borodino and Malojaroslawetz
1813 : Dresden and Leipzig
1814 : Champaubert
1815: Waterloo
Standards
Each squadron is granted in 1804 with an eagle and a Challiot type standard.
Regiment is granted in 1812 with a standard of 1812 model with the following battles names :
ESSLING
WAGRAM
