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Old Guard (France)
| Old Guard | |
|---|---|
| Vieille garde | |
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| Active | 1804–1815 |
| Country |  France |
| Branch | French Imperial Army |
| Engagements | Napoleonic Wars |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Dorsenne Bessières Davout Soult Cambronne |
The Old Guard (French: Vieille garde) was a formation of the French Imperial Army's Imperial Guard. Consisting exclusively of veteran troops, it was the most prestigious formation in Napoleon's Grande Armée.[1][2] French soldiers often referred to Napoleon's Old Guard as "the Immortals".[3][4]
Famously devoted to the Emperor,[5] who even referred to them as "my children";[6] the members of his Old Guard were selected based on physical traits, most notably above-average height.[3][7] Their imposing stature was likely impressive to foes and allies alike. Awards as well as veterancy were also taken into consideration when selecting troops for the Old Guard.[3][7]
- ^ Nafziger, George Francis (30 April 1998). The role of Napoleon's Imperial Guard in the Empire, 1799-1815 (PhD). ProQuest Dissertations Publishing. Cincinnati, Ohio, United States: The Union Institute – via ProQuest.
- ^ Hémardinquer, J.J. (1 August 1965). "La Garde Impériale " in colour "" [The Imperial Guard «in color»]. Annales. Histoire, Sciences Sociales (in French). 20 (4). Paris, France: Les Éditions de l’EHESS/Cambridge University Press: 843–845. doi:10.1017/S0395264900111576. ISSN 0395-2649. LCCN 49012430. OCLC 436601008. S2CID 195484837.
- ^ a b c Lachouque 2015, pp. 91–100, Chapter 1 — The Imperial Guard (Book II — The Guard Keeps Watch).
- ^ Georges Blond, La Grande Armée, trans. Marshall May (New York: Arms and Armor, 1997), 48, 103, 470
- ^ Klaf, Franklin (1 June 1960). "Napoleon and the Grand Army of 1812: A Study of Group Psychology". The Psychoanalytic Review. 47C (3). New York City, New York, United States: National Psychological Association for Psychoanalysis: 69–76. ISSN 0033-2836. OCLC 1624251 – via Psychoanalytic Electronic Publishing.
- ^ Lachouque 2015, pp. 706–711, Chapter 5 — ‘Farewell, my children’ (Book VII — The Guard Staggers).
- ^ a b Headley 1851, pp. 11–28, Chapter I. The origin of the Imperial Guard—Plan on which it was first constituted—The Consular Guard of Napoleon—The moral character of the Old Guard.
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