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Regiments / 21ème Regiment d'Infanterie de Ligne [EU] - RIP
« on: October 14, 2014, 06:58:02 pm »
 21e motto: I will pass anyway. | History The 21ème Regiment d'Infanterie is one of the oldest regiments in the world. It was raised in Lorraine in 1598 by Henri de Vaubecourt at the time when Henri of Navarre became King Henry IV of France. The regiment was destined the 21ème Regiment d' Infanterie de Ligne in 1803. In 1804 it formed part of the Armée d' Angleterre when the concept of the Grande Armée was first created by Napoleon. In 1805 the regiment marched under Marshal Louis Nicoholas Davout as part of the 3ème Corp d' Armee to fight the combined might of Austria and Russia at Austerlitz. In 1806 Davout's Corps found itself facing the main Prussian army under the Duke of Brunswick at Auerstadt, whilst Napoleon was defeating what he believed to be the main army at Jena. The 21ème defended the village of Hassenhausen in the centre of the French line. Corporal Boutloup of the Voltigeur company, along with six men, took a Prussian gun and caisson and turned it on the Prussians. These men, having killed the gun crew, manned the cannon for over half an hour until ammunition was exhausted. Losses were heavy but the three divisions of the 3ème Corp became famous through the Armée as "Les Trois Immortelles".The 21ème saw further action at Custrun, Pultusk and Eylau and later still at Eckmul and Wargram. It was at Custrin, a single company bluffed the fortress into surrendering and took 4,000 Prussian prisoners. In 1812 the regiment was once again with Davout as part of the crack 1er Corp. The 21ème now comprised 6 battalions (4 veteran battalions, the depot battalion and the new 6th battalion led by graduates from St. Cyr and volunteers from the Garde.) It fought at Smolensk, Valoutina Gora and Borodino in the bitter Russian campaign. The regiment then faced the winter retreat from Moscow. From a strength of over 4,200, only 92 remained in arms by the 1st of February 1813.The 21ème was later reformed in the same year and saw action including the battle of Dresden. It was here the regiment was left behind while Napoleon moved back to Leipzig. It fought at Hellendorf where Lieutenant Doignon and the Grenadier company took some 70 Russian prisoners. Inevitably, the 21ème passed into captivity at Dresden. In 1814 the regiment was reformed from the depots in France and fought the British army for the very first time at Bergen op Zoom in the Netherlands. It was here that the Colour of the Foot Guards was taken. (Now on display at the Invalides in Paris) Now following the Emperor's abdication, the 21e Regiment de Ligne continued as a reluctant regiment of the monarchy. Napoleon's return from exile in 1815 marked the start of a campaign that was to become known as the 100 Days. He re-instated himself as Emperor of France, banished the Bourbons and brought back the tricolour flag. As the storm clouds gathered over Europe his imperial army formed up below the eagles once again. During this period the 21ème formed part of the 3ème Division in the 1er Corp commanded by the Compte Drouet d' Erlon. The regiment missed both actions at Ligny and Quartre Bras to the confusion of orders between Napoleon and Marshal Ney. Two days later they formed part of the French right wing on the field of Waterloo. Here the 21ème took part in the early stages of the battle during the advance on the Allied centre. With shouts of "Vive L' Empereur!" they descended into the valley under the fiery vault of French and English shells which arched over their heads. With drums beating the advance in massed formation up the slopes of Mont Saint Jean to meet Wellington's army. Before the crest D'Erlon's Corp were stopped by a hedge, in front of which the leading ranks were forced to deploy. Here they were surprised by the Highlanders and became involved in a fierce melee. This was only broken as the French heavy cavalry charge by Wellington's Union Brigade. The 21ème retired as best it could. The regiment was later involved in the capture of the farmhouse of La Haye Saint but never fully recovered from this onslaught. Following the arrival of the Prussians and defeat of the Old Guard the day was lost. The remnants of the regiment regrouped at Laon but Waterloo was the last baffle in the Napoleonic Wars and spelt the end of the era in Europe. |
Rank Structure Commanding Officers Capitaine Senior command Lieutenant Company senior command Sous-Lieutenant Company junior command Non-Commissioned Officers Sergent Major Drill Sergeant Sergent Senior NCO Eleve Sous-Officier Junior NCO Enlisted Men Caporal Fourrier de Premiére An experienced and battle-hardened veteran Caporal Fourrier Clerk and assistant to the Adjudant Caporal An experienced member Soldat de Première An advanced private Soldat Deuxième Standard private Recrue Private-in-training Attached Duties Adjudant Head clerk, deals with forms and muster roll Porte Aigle Eagle bearer Tambour Drummer Flutist Flute player |   | Event Schedule
 What We Expect As we will be doing up to 7 events per week we expect that all members attend a specific target number of events per week dependent on whether you are EU or NA. The 21e also follows a strict code of conduct which explains what is expected of you as a ranker. We are a semi strict regiment which demands the use of PTS through out events. For organizational purposes we require all members to join the regiment website. All of the above describe prerequisites for joining the 21e.Muster Roll
Recruits will be added to the muster roll upon promotion Current Average Attendance: 20-25 1v1 History
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