Light Horses regiments
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Light Horses regiments
1st regiment (Polish)
1807 Further to imperial decree of 2 March, a regiment of Guard Light Horses is created. It is comprised of 4 squadrons of 2 companies. Initial establishment, all of polish recruitment, is 968 men.
1809 The regiment is converted to lancer status and renamed regiment of Polish Light-horses Lancers of the Guard and by 1811 1st regiment of Light-horses Lancers of the Guard.
1813 With disbanding of the third regiment establishment is augmented to 6 then 7 squadrons, of which only the first three belongs to Old Guard.
1814 With the First Restoration, the regiment is disbanded but a squadron which goes with the Emperor in exile.
2nd regiment (Dutch)
1810 Further to imperial decree of 13 September, the Dutch regiment of Hussars of the Royal Guard is attached to the French Imperial Guard as 2nd regiment of Light-horses Lancers of the Guard. Initial establishment of 4 squadrons (939 men) is augmented on 11 March to 5 squadrons (1406 men).
1813 Establishment is augmented to 10 squadrons. The first five, of Dutch recruitment, belongs to Old Guard, the others, of French recruitment, to Young Guard.
1814 With the First Restoration, the regiment is disbanded and the Old Guard squadrons renamed Royal Corps of Light-horses Lancers of France.
1815 Resumed Imperial title, and took part at the Hundred Days campaign. The polish squadron which followed Napoleon in exile is included in the regiment.
3rd regiment (Lithuanian)
1812 Further to imperial decree of 5 July, the 3rd regiment of Light-horses Lancers of the Guard is raised. After the Russian Campaign, the regiment is disbanded and his men assigned to the other lancers regiments of the Guard.
1st regiment troopers
- Dark blue kurtka with crimson trimming. Crimson lapels with white edging. crimson collar, turnbacks and pointed cuffs. Vertical skirt pockets simulated by a crimson piping. White fringed epaulette on left shoulder, white trefoiled epaulette and aiguillette on right shoulder. With the adoption of lance, aiguillette was transferred to left shoulder. White buttons.
- Dark blue breeches with crimson side band. Black light cavalry boots.
- Crimson czapska with white piping. White cord and flounders. Czapska emblazoned with sun-rising stamped plate, copper ray, silver centre with copper imperial N. White plume inserted in a tricolour cockade wearing a silver polish cross. Silver chain chinstrap and peak strengthening. Black leather crown and top.
- White leather-work. Black cartridge pouch bearing a copper crowned eagle. Swordbelt with copper buckle. Sabre of Guard light cavalry pattern. Copper hilt and black leather scabbard covered by a copper sheet, white swordknot. Black wood lance, pennon with red top and white bottom.
- Shabraque of dark blue cloth edged with crimson band and white outer piping, embroidered with white imperial eagle in the rear corners and imperial N on holsters. Crimson portmanteau edged with white band and crimson outer piping.
2nd regiment troopers
- Old Guard : scarlet kurtka with dark blue lapels and trimming. Blue collar, turnbacks and pointed cuffs. Vertical skirt pockets simulated by a blue piping. Light orange fringed epaulette on right shoulder, light orange trefoiled epaulette and aiguillette on left shoulder. Copper buttons.
- Young Guard : Dark blue kurtka with scarlet lapels. Vertical skirt pockets simulated by a red piping. Blue shoulder straps with red edging.
- Scarlet breeches with blue side band. Black light cavalry boots.
- Scarlet czapska with light orange piping. Light orange cord and flounders. Czapska emblazoned with sun-rising stamped plate, copper ray, silver centre with copper imperial N. White plume inserted in a tricolour cockade. Silver chain chinstrap and peak strengthening. Black leather crown and top.
- White leather-work. Black cartridge pouch bearing a copper crowned eagle (no plate for Young Guard). Swordbelt with copper buckle.
- Old Guard : sabre of Guard light cavalry pattern. Copper hilt and black leather scabbard covered by a copper sheet, white swordknot.
- Young Guard : sabre of light cavalry pattern. Copper hilt and iron sheath, white swordknot.
- Black wood lance, pennon with red top and white bottom.
- Shabraque of dark blue cloth edged with light orange band and outer piping, embroidered with light orange imperial eagle in the rear corners and imperial N on holsters. Scarlet portemanteau edged with light orange band and outer piping.
3rd regiment troopers
- Dark blue kurtka .Crimson lapels, collar, turnbacks and pointed cuffs with white edging. Vertical skirt pockets simulated by a crimson piping. White epaulettes, aiguillette on left shoulder. White buttons.
- Dark blue breeches with crimson side band. Black light cavalry boots.
- Scarlet czapska with white piping emblazoned with sun-rising stamped plate, copper ray, silver centre with copper imperial N. Short white plume inserted in a tricolour cockade.
- White leather-work. Swordbelt with copper buckle. Sabre of light cavalry pattern. Copper hilt and iron sheath.
- Shabraque of dark blue cloth without edging.
NCO
1st regiment
Troopers’ dress with silver rank stripes over the cuffs. Aiguillette of mixed silver and red thread on right shoulder. Cord and flounders of mixed silver and red thread. NCO carried no lance.
2nd regiment
Troopers’ dress with gold rank stripes over the cuffs. Aiguillette of mixed gold and red thread on right shoulder. Cords and flounders of mixed gold and red thread. NCO carried no lance.
3rd regiment
Troopers’ dress with gold rank stripes over the cuffs.
Officers
1st regiment
Troopers’ dress. All white ornament become silver. Crimson breeches with silver side band. White leather-work with red edging. Schabraque with silver band and crimson piping.
2nd regiment
Troopers’ dress. All light orange ornament become gold. Sash of red cloth with gold stripes. Scarlet breeches, gold side band with blue middle piping. Red leather-work with gold edging. Schabraque with silver band and crimson piping.
3e régiment
Troopers’ dress. All light orange ornament become gold.
Trumpeters
1st regiment
White kurtka, lapels, collar and pointed cuffs crimson with silver edging. Silver buttonhole laces. Crimson epaulettes with silver piping and fringes of mixed silver and red thread. Aiguillette of mixed silver and red thread Crimson breeches with silver side band. White Czapska with red piping. Silver cord and flounders. Crimson plume with silver top. Shabraque edged with silver band and crimson outer piping. Trumpet with cord and tassels of mixed silver and red thread. Crimson pennon embroidered with a silver imperial eagle surrounded by silver laurels.
2nd regiment
White kurtka, lapels, collar and pointed cuffs crimson with gold edging. Gold buttonhole laces. Crimson epaulettes with gold piping and fringes of mixed gold and red thread. Aiguillette of mixed gold and red thread. Scarlet breeches, gold side band with blue middle piping. White Czapska with piping, cord and flounders of mixed gold and red thread. Scarlet plume with silver top. Scarlet shabraque edged with gold band and outer piping. Trumpet with cord and tassels of mixed gold and red thread. Blue fringed pennon embroidered with a imperial eagle under a banderole wearing the regiment’s name.