Napoleon's Imperial Guard
1800-1815

Garde du Directoire (Nov. 1795)

by Tony and JF Broughton

The Directory decided in November 1795 to form a Guard, its function being to act as Garde d'Honneur to the Directory and provide protection to its members. Each Director was to have two guards to protect him. The title given to this force was Garde du Directoire and it was formally established on the 4th October 1796, the force was to consist of 120 Infantry and 120 mounted. The guard was to consist of the following:

Garde du Directoire

Staff

    1. Officier General Commandent en Chief.
    1. Commandent en second.
    2. Aides de Camp.
    4. Adjutants.
    1. Quartier-Maitre Tresorier.
    1. Chirurgien-Major.
    1. Tambour-Major.
    1. Maitre Tailleur.
    1. Maitre Cordionnier-Bottier.
    1. Maitre Armurier.
    1. Maitre Sellier.
    1. Maitre Eperonnier.
    2. Compangnies de Gardes a Pied.
    2. Compangnies de Gardes a Cheval.

Grenadiers a Pied

There were to be two Companies of Grenadiers a Pied with Staff organised in the following manner.

Staff

    1. Chef de Bataillon.
    1. Porte Drapeaux

Company Formation

    1. Captaine.
    1. Lieutenant.
    1. Sous-Lieutenant.
    1. Sergeant Major.
    2. Sergeants.
    1. Caporal-Fourrier.
    4. Caporaux.
    2. Tambours.
    55. Gardes.

Giving a total compliment for Staff and Two Companies of 112 men.

Gardes a Cheval

Staff.

    1. Chef d'Escadron
    1. Porte Drapeaux.

Company Formation

    1. Captaine.
    1. Lieutenant.
    1. Sous-Lieutenant.
    1. Marechal des Logis chef.
    2. Marecheaux des Logis.
    1. Brigadier-fourrier.
    4. Brigadiers.
    2. Trompettes.
    1. Marechal-ferrant.
    41. Gardes.

Giving a total compliment for Staff and Two Companies of 112 men. Total compliment for Staff, two companies of Grenadiers a Pied and two companies of Garde a Cheval being 242 men.

Napoleon's Imperial Guard 1800-1815

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