Uniform

Dress was the heavy cavalry uniform as worn by the Garde cheval du Directoire, with only slight differences. Thus, under the Consulate the blue coat was almost identical to that worn by the Grenadiers a Pied. It had a scarlet collar, cuffs and pocket piping, white lapels (cut square), turnbacks and cuff patches; red turnback grenades; aurore trefoil epaulettes, and aiguilettes on the right shoulder; and brass buttons. A white waistcoat was worn with white hid breeches and cuffed riding boots (with bronzed steel spurs).

Trooper, Grenadiers a Cheval, service dress, 1807

Later, the collar was changed to blue and the turnbacks to scarlet, the latter decorated with aurore grenades on a white backing, and in 1806 aurore contre epaulettes lined scarlet replaced the trefoils. The plain singlebreasted surtout could be worn other than for full dress, of blue with red skirts as for the coat; it was withdrawn in 1808. Finally, white leather gauntlets were worn.

NCOs wore the same dress with, in addition to rank bars, epaulettes and aiguilette of mixed scarlet/gold. Officers had gilded buttons and gold replaced aurore; epaulettes of rank. Trumpeters wore the same uniform in sky blue with crimson cuffs, lapels and turnbacks, with mixed crimson/gold epaulettes and aiguilettes. There was gold lace edging to collar, cuffs, lapels and pockets, besides gold buttonhole lace on the lapels.

On campaign, grey overalls were worn, often blue for officers. In 1815, a short-tailed surtout was worn, with red cuffs and piping down the front.

Hair was powdered and queued but unlike the Grenadiers a Pied, moustaches were not worn.

Headdress

A black fur cap was worn, without a plate but with brass chinscales and a red rear patch bearing a yellow cross. A scarlet plume rose from the tricolour cockade, but was only worn in full dress, as were the yellow cords. However, the cords and cross were soon changed to aurore, and later a grenade replaced the cross, as for Grenadiers a Pied. In addition a small yellow eagle was embroidered in the centre of the pompon under the Empire. NCOs had mixed scarlet/gold cords and patch decoration. These were gold for officers (with a white plume for staff officers), and mixed crimson/gold for trumpeters, who had white fur caps with sky blue plumes for full-dress.

The velites had a black bicorn to distinguish them from the rest of the regiment, it had a cockade, aurore loop and ties. The forage cap was of the coat colour with trim and grenade badge in the colour of the cap cords.

Top: Grenadiers a Cheval Pistol, Officer's sabre, Bonnet, Cartridge pouch plate

Equipment

Belts were white and stitched along the edges in the manner of Old Guard units. A black cartridge pouch was carried, with a brass grenade on the flap (lozenge plate stamped with a crowned eagle from 1806). The sabre and bayonet were carried from a waistbelt which had a brass buckle bearing a grenade. The regiment was initially armed with straight-bladed sabre (brass hilt and scabbard, red knot), long carbines (suspended on a shoulder belt) and pistols. Under the Empire, a curved sabre (with a grenade incorporated into the hilt) with white knot (gold or mixed for officers, NCOs and trumpeters) was adopted. Trumpets were brass with mixed crimson/gold cords.

The cloak (manteau) was white with blue collar and red lining; it was blue with gold edging to the shoulder cape for officers and wholly sky blue for trumpeters. This was replaced in 1813 by a voluminous greatcoat (manteau-capote). This was an off-white colour, being made of white cloth with a small amount of blue thread interweaved, with blue lace along the edges. It was fastened by six cloth-covered buttons and the cape bore three uniform buttons with aurore tasselled loops.

The square-cut shabraque had double holster-covers and a rectangular valise (on top of which the cloak could be fastened).

These were blue for officers and men with gold and aurore lace trim respectively and a crown in the rear corner. Trumpeters had goldtrimmed crimson furniture. The regiment rode black horses except for officers and trumpeters who rode white or greys.

Imperial Guard Cavalry

Grenadiers a Cheval
Chasseurs a Cheval
Mamelukes
Gendarmes d'Elite
Dragons de l'Imperatrice
Gendarmes d'Ordonnance
Chevau-Leger Lanciers
Lanciers de Berg and Tartares Lithuaniens
Gardes d'Honneur
Eclaireurs