- History of the Old Guard - The Arrete (Law) of 23 Brumaire An X [14 November 1801] established the staff of the Guard with four generals. The men selected to fill these
positions would later become Marshals of France. This assignment of duties to these specific men indicates that Napoleon was seeking to bind
the principal generals of the French army to himself personally. By assigning them to supervise his personal guard, he was demonstrating his
trust in them as individuals and simultaneously he was elevating their status within the new French social structure. It was also the first
instance where Napoleon used the Guard to build personal links between himself and a specific element of society.
When Napoleon became First Consul he wrote that his plans for the Guard were for it to become the model of the Army and he would permit
admission to the Guard any person who through his actions or wounds or by experience gained in many campaigns, his bravery and love of
their country; their attachment to discipline and their good conduct.
In 1804 after his crowning, Napoleon transformed the Consular Guard into the Imperial Guard (Garde Imperiale). A decree of July 29, 1804,
stated: “The Consular Guard will take the title of Imperial Guard". Napoleon selected the men for the Old Guard (grenadiers and chasseurs)
carefully and the requirements were not easy to meet for the candidates. In 1806 only one man from each infantry battalion was admitted to
the Guard. In 1809, after the battles of Aspern-Essling and Wagram, Napoleon took 456 best NCOs from the infantry, and they became
privates in the Old Guard.
In 1811 in the Old Guard were 532 veterans from Egypt and Italy, the rest were younger. In the next years the number of
veterans decreased and Napoleon was forced to accept 500 soldiers with only 5 years' service.
The long winter retreat from Russia in 1812 destroyed the Old Guard. Majority of the died. In the end of the campaign only 408 grenadiers
and 415 chasseurs were still in the ranks. Many were frost bitten, or died of hunger and exhaustion. Their tattered uniforms and their feet
being enveloped in shreds of coarse cloth made a sad sight. That "column of granite" had melted away!
- History of the Regiment - One of the two regiments who were the old of the Old Guard, the sine pari, were the 1st Grenadiers. They were the creme de la creme of
Napoleon's infantry. Of all the infantry regiments of the Imperial Guard only the two units carried Eagles. They enjoyed the highest pay and
the greatest prestige. In 1811 Napoleon wrote to Marshal Berthier (chief-of-staff of the army) "I wish it clearly understood that this priviledge
doesn't apply to the 2nd Grenadiers and 2nd Chasseurs, nor to the Fusiliers (Middle Guard), ... Keep this decision for your guidance alone."
Only few survived the campaign in Russia in 1812. In 1813 the Old Guard was rebuild, 250 battalions in Spain furnished 6 veterans each with
at least 8 years' service. These men went into the 2nd Grenadiers and 2nd Chasseurs. The 1st Grenadiers and 1st Chasseurs accepted only
those with at least 10 years' service. In January 1814 Napoleon wrote to his brother Joseph, "The Old Guard alone stood firm - the rest
melted like snow." In 1815 the 1st Regiment of Foot Grenadiers was filled with men with 12
years' service and with the men of Elba Battalion. Almost 30 % of the I/1st Grenadiers were veterans of 20-25 campaigns, one third was
awarded for bravery. They averaged 35-years of age and 5'11" in height.
After Waterloo, the 1st regiment was disbanded on 11 September 1815 but a large number of grenadiers, NCO's and some junior officers
transferred to the successor formation, the 1e Infantry Regiment of the Royal Guard. Over 50% of the 1e regiment had served in the
Imperial Guard
- Structure of the Regiment - 
- Maréchal de Camp
- Sergent-Major
- Major
- Sergent
- Chef de Battalion
- Caporal-Fourrier
- Capitaine
- Caporal
- Lieutenant
- Soldat Vétéran
- Sous-lieutenant
- Soldat
- Contact Information - Discord - MavvydeKorner#4911
Steam -
https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198970053260/
