Osprey [Men at Arms 077] Flags.of.the.Napoleonic.Wars.(1)

kl$iQ;Ji1 MILITARY MEN-AT-ARMS SERIES 77 . FLAGS OF THE NAPOLEONIC WARS (1) COLOURS, STANDARDS AND GUIDONS OF FRANCE AND HER ALLIES TERENCE WISE, GUIDO ROSIGNOLI FlagsoftheNapoleonic !Mrs @ Introduction Throughout this book the various parts of the flags are referred to by their correct terms; i.e. the part nearest the pole is known as the hoist, the opposite edge being the fly. A canton is a square or corner of a flag, and always that corner next to the top of the pole. When the pole appears on the left edge of a flag, you are viewing the front or obverse of that flag; when it appears on the right edge you are seeing the rear or reverse of the flag. The pole is known as the stave, the metal 'spearhead' as the finial, and the metal shoe at the bottom end as the ferrule. The cords ending in tassels and tied beneath the finial are simply called cords, and the wide ribbons similarly placed are known as cravats. The main part of a flag is its field, and the various designs or devices are placed upon that field. The placing of devices on the field is sometimes described heraldically: the top left and bottom right are referred to as 1 and 4, the top right and bottom left as 2 and 3. SOURCES Ales, S. L'Esercito del Regno Italico Andolenko, C. R. Aigles de Napoteon contre Drapeaux du Tsar Bahrynowski, J. Polish Infantry Uniforms if the Napoleonic Wars (Article, Modelworld, February 1974) Blankenhorn, E. Guide to the Arrrry Museum if Schloss RastaU, Vol. 3 Brunon, J. & R. French Imperial & Italian Royal Eagles 18°4-15 (Article, Alti Congresso ,0 Intemazionale) Chelminski,J. L'Armee du Duche de Varsovie, 18°7-15 Crociani, P. Napoleon's Italian Army (Series of articles in Tradition magazine) Die Welt in Bildem. Historische Fahnen (Album 8) Fallou, 1. La Garde Imperiale 18°4-15 Galliani, Parisini & Rocchiero. La Cavalleria di linea Italica 1796-18[4 Ghisi, E. Tricolore Italiano Hollander, O. Nos Drapeaux et Etendards Lemonofides, D. Standards from the Battlefield: Borodino (Article, Battle magazine, December 1975) Morris, R. O. Colours and Standards if the Grand Duchy of Baden (Article, Tradition, No 72) Morris, R. O. Colours if the Army if the Grand Duchy if Wurzburg (Article, Tradition, No 57) Over, K. Flags and Standards if the Napoleonic Wars Pivka, Otto von. Napoleon's German Allies: [ (Men-at- Arms series) Pivka, Otto von. Napoleon's German Allies: 2 (Men-at- Arms series) Plumet. Plate Nos 52, 36, 34 Rawkins, W. J. Infantry Standards, Kingdom if Wurt- temburg,18[[-14 Rawkins, W. J. Infantry & Cavalry Standards, Kingdom if Saxony, 1810-13 Regnault, J. Les Aigles Imperiales, [8°4-15 Rigondaud, A. Lancers if the Vistula in Spain (Article, Tradition, No 55) Schild-Verlag. German flags through history (series of postcards) The author also wishes to acknowledge the extensive research carried out on his behalf by Furio Lorenzetti of Milan on Italian and Neapolitan flags; and the assistance given by Otto von Pivka on flags of Bavaria and Saxony. France During the 1804-15 period the regiments of the French Army received flags of three patterns, each of which varied primarily in the individual inscriptions for each regiment and the shape or size according to the branch of the army, i.e. infantry, dragoons or cavalry. The first of these patterns was issued in 1804 but this issue took place simul- taneously with that of the famous Napoleonic eagles, which relegated the flags to a comparatively 3 I and 2. France: Front and rear of the 1804 JDocIe! eagle of the lOth Regim.ent of Line Infantry. minor role. We will therefore deal first with the eagles. The eagle was chosen as the symbol ofthe French Army in the summer of 1804 by Napoleon himself, in preference to the ancient Gallic symbol of a cockerel. The Emperor's sculptor, Chaudet, made the original model, based on the Roman eagles, and from this were cast bronze copies in the workshop of Thomire. Each eagle was made of six parts: the body and head of two parts, joining face to back and including the left claw; the right claw; Jupiter's spindle; the hollow-section plinth, which was secured to the eagle by three screws; and the bottom of the plinth, with a 6cm socket into which fitted the stave, which was secured to the rest of the plinth by four screws. Each part was engraved with identification marks and· individually finished with fine chisel work. Finally the numbers of the regiments were added to the front and back of the plinth. The plinth was about 4cm high by 12cm long and the eagle and plinth together had an overall height of 308-3 IOmm and a maximum width of 4 255mm. Weight was 1850 grams, or nearly four pounds. The eagle was carried on a blue stave approximately two metres in length. The first of 560 eagles made in 1804 were presented on 5th December at the Champ de Mars in Paris by the Emperor, each regiment which received eagles making a solemn oath to defend them. The Guard was entitled to nineteen eagles and received thirteen at this presentation. (It i doubtful if the 2nd Regiments of Grenadiers and Chasseurs, raised in 1806, received eagles, while the Young Guard battalions were not entitled to them.) Line and Legere infantry regiments re- ceived one eagle per battalion, cavalry regiments one per squadron. Other eagles were presented to regiments from time to time by the Emperor in the yard of the Tuileries, and it was very seldom that a general or even corps commander was allowed to make a presentation. Some regiments, particularly tho e formed in 1813 (all ofwhich did not receive eagles) did, however, receive their eagles from the Ministry of War. During the 1805 campaign some of the Hussar regiments, whose dispersed role was not conducive to confidence that they could honour their oath to defend the eagles, returned most of their eagles to their depots; and in September 1806 it was officially laid down that Hussar, Chasseurs a Cheval and Light Infantry regiments should hand in all their eagles at the beginning ofa campaign. It is known that at least the 4th and gth Hussars ignored this order and carried four eagles until 1812, and a Legere regiment's eagle was lost in battle a late as 1814. The order was soon extended to include the dragoon, who were allowed to keep only one eagle in the field; and in 180g the Army ofGermany was in tructed to return all eagles except one per regiment, this one to be carried by the I st Battalion or 1St Squadron. The Guard was expanded in 18IO-1 I to include the grd (Dutch) Grenadiers and the 2nd Regiments of Grenadiers and Chasseurs, disbanded in 1808. Each of these new regiments now received one eagle at a parade in the yard of the Tuileries on 15 August 181 I. An investigation of the number of eagle present in the regiments of the army at this time yielded a total of53 I eagles still being carried. On 25 December 181 I an official decree was issued which stated in Article II: 'The eagle is only granted to the Infantry Corps having over 1200 effectives, or to the Cavalry Corps of not less than 600 horses.' This had the effect ofofficially reducing all infantry and cavalry regiments to one eagle apiece, and in April 1812 all regiments were ordered to return their extra eagles to the Ministry ofWar in Paris. In fact some regiments ignored the order. ometime in 181 I a hollow eagle was made by Thomire and when in 1812 the heavy, embroidered colours and standards were issued (see below) there is some indication that a number of these hollow eagles were produced, although perhaps not issued. They lacked the beautiful workmanship ofthe 1804 model but must have made the eagle bearers' role ea ler. Early in 1813 the cavalry regiments in Spain were ordered to return all their eagles to Paris, and the Line Infantry regiments were reduced to one eagle per brigade, carried by the senior regiment. By now only a few heavy cavalry regiments carried their eagle on campaign, and in the Guard cavalry only the Horse Grenadiers and Chasseurs aCheval carried them in the field. 3. France: The 8" Ligne's eagle with wreath, taken by the British 87th Foot in Spain. The wreaths were to be presented by the city of Paris to those regiments involved in the Austerlitz ClUIlpaign, and 378 were tnade. The first nineteen were presented on ~5Novetnber 1807 to the Guard, and a further 39 were issued in 1808. In 1811 the retnainder were still in the Hotel de Ville, Paris, hut their subsequent history is unknown, and the only surviving evidence of their appearance is this sketch !Dade by Lt Pytn of the 8']th. Most of these eagles were destroyed by order of the Royal Government on the restoration of the monarchy in 18 I 4, and few survived this de- struction. When Napoleon returned from Elba, therefore, it was necessary for new eagles to be rapidly manufactured and as a result the eagles of 18 I 5 were ofa simplified style with less chisel work. Basically, however, the eagle was as the 1804 model, but with a more tightly crouched stance and a closed beak, and the regimental number now appeared only on the front of the plinth. The eagles of the Guard bore GARDE IMPERIALE instead of a number or badge. The eagles still consisted of six pieces and weighed approximately the same as in 1804. The first presentation of these eagles was 5 made on I June 1815 at the Champ de Mai, when 206 eagles were issued: eight to the Guard, I g2 to the Infantry, and sixty-six to the Cavalry. Regi- ments received one eagle, carried on a blue stave as before. The Guard Infantry received only two eagles; one each to the 1st Regiments ofGrenadiers and Chasseurs. On 4th June a further eighty-six eagles were issued to the ational Guard. apoleon ordered that the eagles ofall regiments should be carried on the Belgian campaign. However, some regiments carried not the eagles just issued but old eagles which had been preserved and had a far greater value for the men. Regiments which are known to have carried 1804 model eagles in 1815 include the 7th, 8th, 29th and 9grd Line Infantry, 7th Cuirassiers, 5th Chevaux-leger- lanciers, and grd and 7th Hussars, the last having the eagle of the 2grd Chasseurs a Cheval, com- manded by Colonel Marbot, who was given command of the 7th Hussars in 1815. 4- France: Guidon of the Chasseurs a Cheval de Ia Garde, 1805-13. (Note: throughout illus- trations, only black has been shaded solid, all other colours being left unshaded and de- scribed in the body of the ten.) 6 In September 1815 ninety-three eagles were delivered to the Arsenal de Bourges and destroyed, together with their flags. In France there remain today fifty-nine of the 1804 eagles, three of 181 I, and twelve of the 1815 model. Some sixty eagles have survived in other countries, though few of these were taken in battle: for example, only three were lost in the Russian campaign of 1812, two or possibly three at Leipzig, and two at Waterloo. When the first eagles were ordered in 1804, new flags were designed to be carried on the staves. In keeping with the superior importance of the eagles these new flags were ofsimple design, painted on a single layer of silk, without fringe, cravat or cords. (As usual, exceptions occurred, and it is known that in 1806 the 21st Dragoons adopted cravats thickly embroidered in gold, and carried these until at least 181g. Other regiments may also have adopted such unofficial extras.) Each battalion and squadron received one of these new flags, which were 80cm square for infantry, 60cm square for cavalry, and in a wallow-tailed guidon form, 60 by 70cm, for dragoons and horse artillery. In the centre of both faces was a white diamond, surrounded by four corner triangles; on the obverse and reverse these were blue at the top next to the stave and at the bottom of the fly, the other two corners being red (see Plate AI). For Line regiments the obverse bore on the white diamond the dedication L'EMPEREUR/DES FRANCAIS/AU me REGIMENT/D'INFANTERIE/DE LIGNE (or LEGERE), cavalry regiments bearing their respective titles in the bottom two lines. The central diamond on the reverse bore vALEUR/ET DISCIPLINE/ me BATAIL- LON (or ESCADRON). The corner wreaths on both sides bore the regimental number. The flags of the Guard differed in that the white diamond on the reverse bore an Imperial eagle, in a slightly different posture for each corps, with the inscriptions on either side of it: VALEUR .....ET DISCIPLINE and below it me BATAILLON. On the obverse the inscription ended DE LA GARDE/IMPERIALE. At this time there was only one regiment of Grenadiers and one of Chasseurs and their titles were therefore 'Au Regiment de Grenadiers' and 'Au Regiment de Chasseurs'. The eagle on the reverse of the flag of the Marins de la Garde (issued in I80g) was superimposed over an anchor. Each corps of the Guard also carried in the corner wreaths of its flags the appropriate badge instead of a number, i.e. a grenade for the Grenadiers, a bugle horn for the Chasseurs, and an anchor for the Marines. (The eagles and flags of the 2nd Battalions of the Grenadier and Chasseur Regiments were probably used by the Ist Battalions of the 2nd Regiments of those corps raised in April 1806 and disbanded in October 1808.) The flags ofboth Line and Guard regiments were carried on the blue stave mentioned previously. The Guard was expanded in 1810-1 I and eagles were presented to the new regiments in August 181 I. New flags ofa different design were presented to the Guard regiments at the same time, partly because the old flags were showing signs of wear, partly because the introduction of new regiments necessitated changes to regimental titles. These new flags were basically of the 1804 pattern but now bore the regimental number within the corner wreaths, and the eagle disappeared from the reverse. The dedications now read: obverse, GARD E / IMP E RIA LE / L' EM P E RE UR /DES FRANCAIS/AU er REGIMENT/DES GRENADIERS/A PIED (or other regimental title); reverse, VALEUR/ ET DISCIPLINE/ er BATAILLON (or ESCADRON.) In 181 I, when plans had already been made to withdraw the majority of eagles from the regi- ments, a new pattern of flag. was recommended which was to be the exact opposite of the simple 1804 model and, as if to compensate for the loss of eagles, would not only be of the finest silk, richly embroidered with gold wire, but would also sport gold cords, gold fringes on all four sides, and have a velvet cravat, g2cm long by 16cm wide with gold fringes. In the words of Napoleon, 'Price is immaterial.' The decree of 25 December 181 I, by which the regiments lost most of their eagles, laid down the specification for these flags and men- tioned that henceforth battle honours would be carried on the reverse of the flags. This was a revolutionary step in the design of flags, although an isolated example of a battle honour being carried on a French flag had occurred in the mid- 18th century (Regiment de Couronne); and in I80g the 84th Line had been ordered to carry UN CONTRE DIX on its flags and on plates beneath its eagles in honour of the battle of St Leonard, near Graz, when two battalions of the regiment had held off 10,000 Austrians for fourteen hours. (Two small lines of script on the eagle plates, below UN CONTRE DIX, read 'Devise accordee par L'Empereur/combat de S.Leonard-sous-Graz/25 et 26juin I80g.' The design of the 1804 pattern had prevented Napoleon carrying out this idea of ba~tle honours on flags (which he had first introduced in his Army ofItaly), but in early 1812 new flags were designed, based on the tricolour, which enabled battle honours to be displayed: see Plate A2. The new flags were ordered on loth February and the first were delivered to Line regiments in April. Each regiment received one flag, the battle honours restricted to those battles at which Napoleon had commanded in person, i.e. VIm, Austerlitz, jena, Eylau, Friedland, Eckmuhl, Essling and Wagram. The battle honours each regiment was entitled to carry up to this date are listed in the following tables (after Hollander): 7 Friedland. Eckmiihl, Essling, Wagram. Vim, Friedland. Wagram. Vim, jena, Eylau, Friedland, Essling, Wagram. jena, Eylau, Eckmiihl, Wagram. Wagram. Vlm, Friedland, Essling, Wagram. Vim, Austerlitz, jena, Eylau, Eckmiihl, Essling, Wagram. Friedland. Austerlitz,jena, Eylau, Eckmiihl, Wagram. Austerlitz, Eckmiihl, Wagram. jena, Eylau, Friedland, Essling, Wagram. Vim, Austerlitz, Essling, Wagram. Vim, Wagram. Essling, Wagram. Wagram. Vim, Austerlitz,jena, Eylau, Eckmiihl, Essling, Wagram. Vim, jena, Eylau, Friedland, Essling, Wagram. Vim, Austerlitz,jena, Eylau, Eckmiihl, Essling, Wagram. Austerlitz, Jena, Friedland, Essling, Wagram. Essling, Wagram. 3e 4e se 6e 7e 8e ge lOe 12e 21e 67e Eckmiihl, Essling, Wagram. 6ge Vlm,jena, Eylau, Friedland, Essling, Wagram. 72e Friedland, Eckmiihl, Essling, Wagram. 7Se Vim, Austerlitz,jena, Eylau. 76e Vim, jena, Eylau, Friedland, Essling, Wagram. 7ge Wagram. 8le Wagram. 84e Vim, Wagram. 8se Austerlitz,jena, Eylau, Eckmiihl, Wagram. 88e Vim, Austerlitz, Essling, Wagram. 92e Vim, Wagram. 93e Eckmiihl, Essling, Wagram. 94e Austerlitz, jena, Friedland, Essling, Wagram. 9Se Austerlitz,jena, Friedland, Essling, Wagram. 96e Vim, Friedland, Essling, Wagram. 100e Vim, Essling, Wagram. 102e Wagram. 103e Vlm, Essling, Wagram. lOse jena, Eylau, Eckmiihl, Essling, Wagram. 106e Wagram. 108e Austerlitz, jena, Eylau, Eckmiihl, Wagram. II Ie Austerlitz, jena, Eylau, Eckmiihl, Wagram. 112e Wagram. lrifanterie Legere. Regiment 2e The 6th, 7th, 10th, 22nd, 26th, 47th, 66th, 70th, 82nd, 86th and 10Ist Regiments had no battle honours on their flags: the 31st, 38th, 41st, 49th, 68th, 71st, 73rd, 74th, 77th, 78th, 80th, 83rd, 87th, Bgth, 90th, 91 st, 97th, 98th, 99th, 104th, 107th, 109th and I lOth RegimenlS' numbers were vacant in 1812. The Ist, 14th, 19th, 22nd, 31st and 32nd Regiments had no battle honours on their flags: numbers I I, 20, 29 and 30 were vacant in 1812. ler Wagram. 2e Eckmiihl, Essling, Wagram. 3e Vim, Austerlitz, jima, Friedland, Eckmiihl, Essling, Wagram. 4e Vim, Austerlitz, jena, Eylau, Eckmiihl, Essling, Wagram. se Wagram. 8e Austerlitz,jena, Friedland, Essling, Wagram. ge Wagram. lie Vim, Wagram. 12e Austerlitz,jena, Eylau, Eckmiihl, Wagram. 13e Wagram. 14e Vim, Austerlitz,jena, Eylau. Ise Friedland. 16e Eckmiihl, Essling, Wagram. 17e Austerlitz,jena, Eylau, Eckmiihl, Wagram. 18e Vim, Austerlitz,jena, Eylau, Eckmiihl, Essling, Wagram. 1ge Wagram. 21e Austerlitz,jena, Eylau, Eckmiihl, Wagram. 23e Wagram. 24e Jena, Eylau, Friedland, Essling, Wagram. 2se Austerlitz, jena, Eylau, Eckmiihl, Wagram. 27e Vim, Jena, Eylau, Friedland, Essling, Wagram. 28e Vim, Austerlitz, jena, Eylau. 2ge Wagram. 30e Austerlitz, jena, Eylau, Eckmiihl, Wagram. 32e Vim, Friedland. 33e Austerlitz,jena, Eylau, Eckmiihl, Wagram. 34e Vim, Austerlitz. 3Se Vim, Wagram. 36e VIm, Austerlitz,jena, Eylau. 37e Eckmiihl, Essling, Wagram. 3ge Vim, jena, Eylau, Friedland, Essling, Wagram. 40e Vim, Austerlitz, Wagram. 42e Wagram. 43e Vim, Austerlitz,jena, Eylau. 44e jena, Eylau. 4Se Austerlitz,jena, Friedland, Essling, Wagram. 46e Vim, Austerlitz,jena, Eylau, Eckmiihl, Essling, Wagram. 48e Austerlitz,jena, Eylau, Eckmiihl, Wagram. soe Vim, J ena, Eylau, Friedland. Sl e Austerlitz, jena, Eylau. S2e Wagram. S3e Wagram. S4e Austerlitz,jena, Friedland, Essling, Wagram. sse Vim, Austerlitz, jena, Eylau. s6e Eckmiihl, Essling, Wagram. S7e Vim, Austerlitz,jena, Eylau, Eckmiihl, Essling, Wagram. s8e VIm, Friedland. Sge Vlm,jena, Eylau, Friedland, Essling, Wagram. 60e Wagram. 61e Austerlitz, jena, Eylau, Eckmiihl, Wagram. 62e Wagram. 63e jena, Eylau, Friedland, Essling, Wagram. 64e Vim, Austerlitz, Essling, Wagram. 6se Eckmiihl. lrifanterie de Ligne. Regiment 8 The 7th and 30th Regiments had no battle honours. Carabiniers. Regiments ler et Austerlitz,jena, Eylau, Friedland, Eckmi.ihl, 2e Wagram. Cuirassiers. Regiment Ier VIm, Austerlitz, jena, Eylau,