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French Uniforms (Imperial Guard) in 1859

The French Imperial Guard under Napoleon III in 1854. After a colored lithograph. Taken from: Martin Lezius, Das Ehrenkleid des Soldaten, 1936, p. 331.
The French Imperial Guard under Napoleon III in 1854. After a colored lithograph. Taken from: Martin Lezius, Das Ehrenkleid des Soldaten, 1936, p. 331.

Modeled on the Imperial Guard of his uncle, Napoleon III (b. April 20, 1808 in Paris; d. January 9, 1873 in Chislehurst near London) established a similar guard formation in 1854 in the form of a mixed division. This initially comprised 2 infantry brigades, 1 cavalry brigade, gendarmerie, artillery and engineers. From 1855 an additional transport squadron, 1 foot artillery regiment and 1 Zouave regiment were added. In that year the Imperial Guard was also reorganized into two infantry divisions together with 2 cavalry brigades. In 1865 a regiment of Carabiniers was added. The Imperial Guard also took part in combat, e.g. in the Crimean War (1855, 1853–56), in the Italian campaign (1859) and the Franco-Prussian War (1870/71). It suffered heavy losses in places. Also to be mentioned are the Hundred Guards (Cent-Gardes), which were established on March 24, 1854. They were intended for escort duty with the Emperor and for guarding the imperial palaces and gardens. Thus they were a purely court guard.

The infantry of the French Imperial Guard of the Second Empire. After an original illustration in The Illustrated London News of August 19, 1854. Image cropped.
The infantry of the French Imperial Guard of the Second Empire. After an original illustration in The Illustrated London News of August 19, 1854. Image cropped.
The cavalry of the French Imperial Guard of the Second Empire. After an original illustration in The Illustrated London News of August 19, 1854. Image cropped.
The cavalry of the French Imperial Guard of the Second Empire. After an original illustration in The Illustrated London News of August 19, 1854. Image cropped.

Below are 24 plates — lithographs — showing the French Imperial Guard in the year 1859. Taken from an original small-format portfolio: 1859. L`Armèe - La Garde Impériale.

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