Vieille Guard
The Vieille Garde (dt .: Old Guard ) was an elite unit of the Garde impériale within the Napoleonic Grande Armée . Often referred to as "l'élite de l'élite" or "la crème de la crème", it had its origins in the Garde des consuls of 1799. In 1804, after Napoléon Bonaparte's coronation, it became the "Imperial Guard “Renamed. After the constant expansion of the Imperial Guard, it became so extensive that subdivisions were made. The most highly respected units were the Old Guard, alongside which there was the Middle Guard (Moyenne Guard) and the Young Guard (Jeune Guard).
Composition of the Vieille Garde
When it was set up, it consisted only of two infantry and two cavalry regiments:
- the one he régiment de grenadiers à pied de la Garde impériale
- the one he régiment de chasseurs-à-pied de la Garde impériale
- the regiment de grenadiers à cheval de la Garde impériale
- the Régiment de chasseurs à cheval de la Garde impériale
In addition, over time:
- the 1st company of the Mamelouks de la Garde impériale
- the régiment des gendarmes d'élite
- the Dragons de l'Impératrice
- the one he régiment de chevau-légers polonais lanciers de la Garde impériale
- the NCOs, sergeants and veterinarians, the ironmongers and the riders of the 1st Escadron des 1 er régiment des éclaireurs de la Garde impériale (all others belonged to the Young Guard)
Conditions for registration
(were watered down more and more over time and later no longer adhered to at all):
- Proof of at least ten years of service
- good appearance and good health
- Proof of Commendation for Valor
- a height of at least 1.76 m
- Ability to read and write
literature
- Émile Marco de Saint-Hilaire: Histoire anecdotique, politique et militaire de la Garde impériale. Eugène Penaud, Paris 1847 ( digitized on Gallica ).