Esposito, Gabriele Imperial Guard of Napoleon 1799-1813

The main aim of this book is to present a detailed overview of the history, organization and uniforms of Napoleons Imperial Guard. The latter was created in 1799 with the official denomination of Consular Guard, soon after Bonaparte became the "First Consul" of France. In 1804, with the proclamation of the French Empire, it assumed the new denomination of Imperial Guard with which it became famous. During most of its history, the Imperial Guard of the French Army comprised three main echelons: the Old Guard, the Middle Guard and the Young Guard. The Old Guard was formed by veteran units that already existed before 1805 and whose soldiers had followed Napoleon since his first military campaigns of 1796/1797. The Middle Guard was made up of younger veterans, who fought per Napoleons orders during the first victorious campaigns of the Empire (1805-1809). The Young Guard comprised units that were organized after 1809 and whose members were young recruits; these were chosen from the annual intake of conscripts and volunteers who were recruited for the French Army.

For most of its history, the Imperial Guard of the French army comprised three main sections: the Old Guard, the Middle Guard and the Young Guard. The Old Guard was made up of veteran units that had existed before 1805 and whose soldiers had followed Napoleon since his first campaigns of 1796/1797. The Middle Guard was made up of younger veterans who had fought under Napoleon's command during the first victorious campaigns of the Empire (1805-1809). The Young Guard consisted of units that were organised after 1809 and whose members were young recruits; they were recruited from the annual call-up of conscripts and volunteers for this part of the Guard.