General Mortier, governor of Hannover, creates the Hanoverian Legion on August 12th 1803. This legion was intended to include both infantry and cavalry troops.

Infantry

Following the final formation decree of April 15th 1804, the infantry component of the legion is raised as a Light Infantry Regiment of two battalions, each composed of one grenadier and four chasseurs companies. Difficulties of recruitment led to reorganize it in 1806 as a single battalion of eight companies.

The regiment is first posted in Germany and transferred to Avignon in France at the end of 1805 and to the Atlantic coast in 1807. In August 1807 it becomes part of the Gironde Observation Corps which leaves to Spain with the Army of Portugal in January 1808. It takes part in the battles of Benavente and Oporto.

A voltigeur company is raised in the battalion on February 25th 1809 and on September 30th 1809 the remnants of Regiment Westphalia are incorporated in Hanoverian Regiment as its second battalion.

The regiment then takes part in the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo and battles of Busaco and Fuentes d’Onoro. Finally the regiment is disbanded in August 1811 and the remaining strength dispatched between other German speaking regiments (3rd and 4th Foreign and 127th, 128th and 129th Line Regiments).

Unit commander

• 12 August 1803 : Louis Striffler

Battles

• 1809 : Oporto
• 1810 : Ciudad Rodrigo, Busaco
• 1811 : Fuentes de Onoro

Chasseurs

• Until 1808, German cut then French cut coat in red cloth. Dark blue collar piped white. Green fringed epaulets. Dark blue lapels (square cut for French cut coat) piped white. Dark blue rounded cuffs piped white then with French cut coat dark blue cuffs with red flaps piped white. White turnbacks bearing blue horn patches and vertical pockets simulated by a blue piping. White metal buttons.
  Some sources indicate collar, cuffs and cuffs flaps without piping, lapels piped red and blue turnbacks bearing white horns.
• White vest and breeches. Black short gaiters and shoes.
• Black felt shakos with black leather top and bottom bands bearing a white metal rhomboid plate stamped with imperial eagle. White cords and breeches. Green plume and spherical pompon above tricolour cockade with white strap. White metal chinscales.
• French infantry equipment, white leatherwork and black leather cartridge pouch. French infantry sabre, white leather strap with green knot.

Carabineers
Troopers dress with white epaulets. Black fur bearskin bearing a white metal or brass plate stamped with imperial eagle. Red plume, white cords and flounders. Red sabre strap. White metal chinscales.
Some sources indicate red epaulets and chasseur shako with red plume, cords and flounders.

Voltigeurs
Troopers dress with green epaulets with yellow crescents. Green plume with yellow top, green cords and flounders. Green sabre strap with yellow knot.

NCOs
Troopers dress with white or silver piped blue rank laces.
For sergeants, epaulets with silver crescent and fringes mixed with silver.

Officers
Troopers dress with long tails with silver or silvered ornaments. Silver rank insignias (epaulets and shako band).
Sword with swordbelt worn on right shoulder.

Drummers
Troopers dress in reversed colour, dark blue with red collar, lapels, cuffs and turnbacks. Collar and lapels laced white and white chevrons on both sleeves.

Flags
It seems probable that Legion infantry was granted with a flag of Picot type at the end of 1804 or at the beginning of 1805. Flag with a simple gilded pike finial and 150x150cm silk with red and blue corner triangles surrounding the central white diamond painted with the words :

In gold on obverse and :

On reverse. Hollow corner wreath with silver background.

Cavalry

Following the final formation decree of April 13th 1804, the cavalry component of the legion is raised as a Light Horses Regiment of three squadrons of 120 men each.
The regiment is at first based in Germany and transferred to Avignon in France at the end of 1804. He is then assigned to the Army of Italy in September 1805 and to the Army of Naples in 1806.
The regiment returns shortly in Germany to be posted in Spain in 1808.
In September 1809 the strength is augmented to four squadrons.
The regiment is disbanded on August 9th 1811 and the remaining strength dispatched between 1st Hussars and 9th Light Horses Regiments.

Unit commander

• 24 October 1803 : Charles Evers

Battles

• 1809 : Coruna

Light horses

• Single breasted coat in dark green cloth closed down by a row of nine buttons. Green shoulder straps piped buff. Buff piping in front of coat. Buff pointed cuffs. Buff turnbacks. Copper buttons.
• Buff breeches with green Hungarian knots and side bands. Black leather Hungarian boots with buff lace and tassel.
  In campaign dress, green overalls with black leather insert.
• Black felt shako with black leather top and bottom bands bearing a brass rhomboid plate stamped with imperial eagle. Green ball pompon over tricolour cockade with yellow strap. Brass chinscales.
• Light buff leatherwork and black leather cartridge pouch. At first Hanoverian dragoons sabre then French hussars sabre with single bar brass hilt and iron scabbard. Light buff sabre strap.
• Black leather light cavalry harness. White sheepskin shabraque with buff wolf teeth and green cloth cylindrical portmanteau laced buff

NCOs
Troopers dress with yellow or gold piped yellow rank laces.

Officers
Troopers dress with long tails with gold or gilded ornaments. Gold rank insignias (epaulets and shako band). Knötel and Carl show officer, maybe belonging to staff, wearing a black fur colpack with red, yellow or red bag and white plume with yellow or red top..

Drummers
Troopers dress with buff buttonholes laces across chest. Green plume with red top. Brass trumpet with green cord.

Standards
Each squadron may have been granted at the end of 1804 with a standard of Challiot type with a simple gilded pike finial. 60x80cm silk with red and blue corner triangles surrounding the central white diamond painted with the words :

In gold on obverse and :

On reverse. Hollow corner wreath.