Emperor Napoleon's Imperial guard was the most famous and combative force in the French army of the 19th century.
The Emperor's Guard was formally established in 1804, when Napoleon took control of France following a coup in 1799, according to War History Online. The reputation of the Emperor's Guard began here.
The Imperial Guard, which included infantry, cavalry, and artillery troops, was known for being the best-trained, most disciplined, and directly commanded by Napoleon.
During the 1808 invasion of Spain, the entire sea fighting force of the Imperial Guard was annihilated.
The Imperial Guard was renowned for being a group of France's top warriors. In actuality, though, not all were French. Elite warriors came from Napoleon's conquered nations or other allies European nations were also incorporated into the Imperial Guard as part of this army expansion.
Not just combat soldiers, but all warriors entering the Imperial Guard must be proficient readers and writers.
In order to ensure the prestige and reputation of the Imperial Guard, all members must adhere to strict regulations, especially regarding behavior related to women. They are not allowed to go to places that could damage their reputation, even during their leave.
All Imperial Guard members are required to abide by stringent rules, especially when it comes to how they treat women, in order to maintain the organization's prestige and reputation. Even while on leave, they are not permitted to visit locations that might harm their reputation.
As for women in high positions, they must behave with extreme caution. When escorting a woman, the Imperial Guard soldier must not let the woman touch their hands.
The Imperial Guard infantry had to march while carrying additional equipment weighing up to 35 kg, compared to the 26 kg that French soldiers had to carry. A week's worth of food, outfits, and rifle ammo was all packed in the luggage.
The Imperial Guard was only open to a select few qualified individuals. These soldiers received more rights than regular soldiers as a result.
Compared to ordinary soldiers, they were paid more and had superior food and living conditions. When the food supply decreased during the military campaign, the Emperor's Guard still maintained the best treatment, ensuring the army was always ready to fight.
The Imperial Guard was initially made up of 5,000 troops and 24 cannons. This army increased to 17,300 troops by 1810, and it peaked in 1814, during the final years of Napoleon's rule, with 112,000 men.
As Napoleon's most elite force, the Emperor's Guard played a distinctly political role. Napoleon had great confidence in the generals of the Imperial Guard.
The Emperor's Guard, Napoleon's most elite force, had a decidedly political function. Napoleon put a lot of faith in the Imperial Guard's generals.
These generals received many medals and became widely known to the public, becoming symbols of leadership and heroism.
Napoleon was the Imperial Guard's top priority, and he used them to protect him from political enemies. Any coup attempt at the time was crushed by the very existence of this most elite army.
Napoleon didn't frequently send the Imperial Guard to the front lines of battle due to a number of factors, including their political role. This force could be transformed into a reserve army that could be released on the battlefield when it's necessary to change the complexion of the war.
Maintaining the Imperial Guard's reputation also aids in this force's transformation into a mysterious army. This force is also less defeated when it only participates in combat at the right time. They have continued to uphold their status as Europe's most elite military ever since.
The final battle of the Imperial Guard was also the bloody Battle of Waterloo, marking the total defeat of Napoleon. This force helped the French Emperor maintain his position on the fierce battlefield in Belgium at that time.
At the end of the battle, Napoleon hurriedly ordered the Imperial Guard to attack the British line. Napoleon did not anticipate that the British established an ambush on his elite army.
The Imperial Guard was forced to retreat for the first time on the battlefield after taking significant casualties from British fire. This destroyed the fighting spirit of the entire French army.
During this exit, many of the soldiers of the Imperial Guard were recruited by the Coalition. Legend has it that they responded with the famous saying: "The Guards only die, not surrender!" ("La Garde meurt, elle ne se rend pas!").
Napoleon's safe exit from the battlefield amidst the mayhem was the Imperial Guard's last act. Napoleon was compelled to accept his second abdication a few days following the Battle of Waterloo. Until his death, he was banished to the Atlantic Ocean island of Saint Helena.
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