The Uniforms of the French Army under Napoleon I (1800 - 1815) - The Cavalry - Carabiniers (Karabiniers)

According to Knötel, the origin of the Carabiniers goes back to 1679, when two mounted carbineers were assigned to each company. From 1690 there was even a whole company of Carabiniers in each regiment. In 1693 the Royal-Carabiniers regiment was formed.

In 1788 two corresponding regiments were established.

By the Napoleonic era the French cavalry ultimately included two regiments of Carabiniers, which were classed as heavy cavalry.

The Carabiniers suffered enormous losses in the Russian campaign (1812) and in the Battle of Waterloo (June 18, 1815).

In the latter battle the two Carabinier regiments belonged to the 3rd Cavalry Corps under the command of Comte Kellermann, and there to the 12th Cavalry Division under the command of Baron Roussel.

Both commanders were wounded at Waterloo.

On June 15, 1815 the regiments (each 3 squadrons) had the following strengths:

Regiment: 30 officers and 403 horsemen
Regiment: 29 officers and 380 horsemen.

After the rallying of the troops during/after the retreat the strengths of the mentioned formations were as follows:

Regiment: 15 officers and 121 horsemen
Regiment: 15 officers and 180 horsemen.
Numbers according to: Detlef Wenzlik, Waterloo II. The Campaign of 1815. Waterloo and Wavre., 2008, p. 185.

French Carabinier (Carabinier) in 1805. After an original 19th-century lithograph (Bellangé).

The Carabiniers initially wore the traditional blue uniform.

In 1810 there was then a clear break in uniforming: at that time a completely different — namely a white — uniform was introduced.

The first uniform was a dark-blue coat with a likewise red turned-forward collar, red lapels and red sleeve cuffs edged in blue.

Carabinier still in the old uniform. Drawing from 1830 by Tasso von Zehmen for his mother's birthday.

The 1st regiment had red pocket-flaps edged in blue.

The 2nd regiment had blue pocket-flaps edged in red.

The pocket-flaps were set transversely and had a red edging.

The red tail-flaps showed a blue grenade from 1804–1808 and then a white grenade from 1808–1815.

The red epaulettes were bordered in white.

The buttons on the coat were white.

A white waistcoat and white leather breeches were worn with this, together with heavy cavalry boots.

Carabiniers in old (right) and new (left) uniform. Colored sketches by the French military painter Pierre Albert Leroux (1890–1959).

The headdress was a black bearskin cap without a frontal plate, but with a white plume and a red pompon on the left side. This was now higher than before.

The cap top was red with a white cross.

The leather equipment was yellow with white trim.

The original uniform of the Carabiniers including armament. Drawings by the author after various sources. In addition to the saber or pallasch of the heavy cavalry, the Carabiniers also carried a carbine and two pistols.

Carabinier in the old uniform around 1805. After Funcken.

As a field uniform a single-breasted surtout was often worn. This was dark blue with red facings and matching tail-flaps.

French Carabinier (Carabinier) in 1812. After an original 19th-century lithograph (Bellangé).

In 1810 the Carabiniers' uniform was completely changed and, for the two regiments, essentially a kind of cuirassier uniform was prescribed.

Schematic representation of the uniforming of the Carabiniers in the First Empire (and afterwards). Original plate from the well-known uniform work: Lienhard-Humbert, Les uniformes de l'armée française depuis 1690 jusqu' à nos jours, Leipzig: Verlag Ruhl.

The tailcoat was now white with light-blue insignia.

Collar, facings and tails of the coat were light blue. In the latter there were white grenades.

The coat no longer had lapels.

The buttons were white.

The 1st regiment had red sleeve cuffs with a white cuff-flap edged in light blue.

The 2nd regiment had light-blue sleeve cuffs and cuff-flaps with a white edging.

Officer of the Carabiniers. 1809–15. After a small original watercolor by Cdt. Landret.

The Carabiniers now wore a yellow helmet in the Roman style with white fittings.

The yellow crest on the comb of the helmet was red.

The helmet was very heavy.

Carabinier in full dress. 1811. After a small original watercolor by Cdt. Landret. 1947.

A yellow full cuirass = double cuirass with white fittings was worn with this.

The iron or steel cuirass was covered with brass or brass plates, for the officers with copper.

Its suspension straps were also yellow.

The cuffs of the cuirass were dark blue with white braid.

Carabinier in full dress. 1810–15. After a small original watercolor by Cdt. Landret. The horse equipment included a light-blue half-shabraque, and a sheepskin shabraque cover with a zigzag light-blue edge.

The Carabiniers had white leather breeches, together with heavy boots and the leather equipment described above.

Trumpeter of the Carabiniers in the red coat. 1804–1809. After a small original watercolor by Cdt. Landret.

Right: Trumpeter of the Carabiniers. Right before 1810, left after 1812 in the imperial livery. Original watercolor from 1956.

Trumpeters of the Carabiniers wore the bearskin cap, together with a red pompon topped in white. In the 1st regiment the coat was red, the collar blue with white braid. The coat's facings were dark blue with white braid. The sleeve cuffs were also dark blue with white edging and a blue flap. The pocket edging and tail-flaps were dark blue. The latter showed a red — later white — grenade. The epaulettes were blue with white braid. In the 2nd regiment the collar was red and the cuff-flaps of the sleeve cuffs were red, while the epaulettes were entirely white.