The uniforms of the French Army under Napoleon I. (1800 - 1815) - (Old) Imperial Guard - Grenadiers on Foot (1st and 2nd Regiment)

Imperial Guard. 1804-14. Grenadiers on Foot. Older French printed graphic.

Philipp Haythornthwaite writes of the Guard Grenadiers: "The Grenadiers of the Imperial Guard were without doubt the most famous of all the corps fighting in the Napoleonic Wars. A mystique surrounded them, the sheen of loyalty, of bravery, of experience, of invincibility" (Uniforms of the Battle of Waterloo, p. 146)..

Uniforming of the Guard Grenadiers. Drawing by the author, mainly after Grammont and John Fabb.

Formation history

The famous Grenadiers on Foot of the (Old) Imperial Guard trace their origins back to those of the Consular Guard.

The Grenadier regiment there was reorganized accordingly on 29.07.1804 and thereafter consisted of two grenadier battalions and one voltigeur battalion.

The former battalions counted eight companies and the latter battalion five companies.

Officer of the Guard Grenadiers on Foot. Original watercolor as facsimile by Eduard Wagner after a template by Martinet (from the work: Galerie des enfants de mars, offrande à sa Majesté l'impératrice et Reine).

In the year 1810 a second regiment of Grenadiers on Foot was formed from the former Dutch Guard.

However, on 18.05.1811 a second regiment of Grenadiers on Foot was created and the Dutch grenadiers then received the number 3.

Officer of the Guard Grenadiers on Foot. Original watercolor by P. A. Leroux. Scan provided by Fabrice Delamare.

Of the costly Russian campaign (1812) only 369 (previously 1,346) men of the 1st Grenadiers survived and only 234 (previously 1,117) men of the 2nd Grenadiers (status: 10.10.1812).

Grenadier in parade uniform (front). Original watercolor by an unknown hand.

Grenadier in parade uniform (reverse). Original watercolor on tracing paper by an unknown hand.

In the spring of 1813 only 408 of these grenadiers were able to take part in the new campaign.

Napoleon in the final phase of the Battle of Waterloo. Original watercolor from the mid-19th century.

Four grenadier regiments took part in the Battle of Waterloo, numbering respectively 1,000 men (1st), 1,000 men (2nd), somewhat larger (3rd) and 500 men (4th).

Fallen Guard Grenadiers. Taken from: Tours, La Vieille Garde Impériale, Illustrations de Job, Paris 1900.

The losses were considerable; entire battalions were wiped out during the bloody fighting. In particular, the destruction of the 2nd battalion of the 3rd grenadier regiment is among the most famous episodes of this decisive battle.

Grenadier on Foot in full dress. After an older print after a colored drawing by Maurice Toussaint (1882 - 1974

Grenadier on Foot in full dress after 1807. After an original watercolor sketch by Maurice Toussaint (1882 - 1974).

The above illustration by Maurice Toussaint (1882 - 1974) shows the classic uniform of the Grenadiers on Foot of the Old Imperial Guard, namely the blue "habit-veste" with white lapels, red sleeve cuffs and red skirt turnbacks as well as red epaulettes.

Grenadier and officer of the French Imperial Guard. Original lithograph from the 19th century (from the series: Gallery of Costumes).

The parade and summer uniform included white "breeches" and white gaiters.

Guard grenadiers on the march (in Russia in the year 1812). Lithograph by Albrecht Adam (detail):

Black gaiters were worn with the field and winter uniform.

Guard grenadier in field dress. After an original lithograph from the 19th century by Ch. Vogt.

In the field long (over-)trousers were also customary.

Guard grenadiers in cloak in combat. Taken from: Tours, La Vieille Garde Impériale, Illustrations de Job, Paris 1900.

The double-breasted coat was blue.

Non-commissioned officer of the Grenadiers on Foot of the Imperial Guard in walking out uniform (Tenue de Ville). Taken from the original edition: La Garde Impériale (1804-15) par L. Fallou, 1901.

The black bearskin cap displayed on the front a copper cap plate with the imperial eagle flanked by two flaming grenades. Officers had a gilded cap plate.

On the left side of the bearskin cap a red plume was worn. Beneath it was the cockade in the colours of the French tricolor.

The cloth patch of the bearskin cap showed until 1807 a white cross and thereafter a white or golden grenade.

Drum major and musicians of the Grenadiers on Foot of the Imperial Guard. Taken from the original edition: La Garde Impériale (1804-15) par L. Fallou, 1901.

Drum major from the 1st Regiment of Grenadiers on Foot. After the original card from the series: Les Uniformes du 1er Empire.

The leather equipment was white. The cartridge box was adorned with an eagle and two grenades.

Guard Grenadiers in parade dress. Print after a watercolor by Pierre Albert Leroux (1890 - 1959).

Grenadiers on Foot of the Imperial Guard in parade formation. After an original lithograph probably from the 19th century (G. David lith,/ Imp. Lemercier/ Paris).

For the undress uniform or marching dress one wore a hat with a red pompom, which otherwise was fastened to the knapsack in a white-and-blue striped cover. The latter was made of cowhide.

Alternatively, the camp cap could also be worn.