Uniform

The uniform of Napoleon's Guides was retained. It consisted of a green coat with scarlet collar, pointed cuffs and piping (on pointed lapels, turnbacks and pockets). Aurore hunting horns on scarlet backing decorated the turnbacks; the collar and cuffs were piped green and buttons were brass. A scarlet waistcoat was also worn, with aurore braid and three rows of buttons in full-dress, plain and double-breasted otherwise. An aurore trefoil epaulette and aiguillettes were also worn. Green Hungarian breeches with aurore trim or green buttoned overalls with scarlet stripes could be worn, with aurore-trimmed Hungarian boots with bronzed iron spurs. This was the dress worn at Marengo and on campaign in 1806-7.

Left: Chasseurs a Cheval swordbelt, sabretouche, and sabre
Right top: officer's pelisse
Right bottom: saddle and pistol holster

At the end of 1800, hussar dress was introduced, a green dolman with scarlet cuffs, and a scarlet pelisse, which was not worn on campaign after 1808, with white flannel lining and black sheepskin trim. Both garments had aurore lace and braid, and five rows of 18 buttons.

The sash was green with scarlet barrels. Fulldress breeches now became scarlet, still with aurore lace, but were replaced by plain buckskin breeches two years later. In 1808, new overalls were adopted, of green with aurore stripes. In 1811 overalls were still green, but had aurore double stripes and no leather strapping. At the end of 1813 they were grey with scarlet double stripes. Finally, in 1815, the original style of overalls had been restored. After 1808, the pelisse was not worn of campaign.

NCOs had gold rank bars, mixed scarlet/gold lace on dolman, breeches and sash barrels, and mixed green/gold lace to pelisse, waistcoat, boots and trefoil and aiguillettes (on the coat). The pelisse was edged with brown fur. Officers wore the same dress as the men with gold lace. With the coat, the aiguillettes were on the right and an epaulette replaced the trefoil. The pelisse was edged with white fur. Overalls were green with gold stripes piped scarlet and gold buttons; in 1808 they had a scarlet stripe, and in 1813 a gold stripe. Trumpeters also wore the same uniform as the men, but sky blue replaced green and crimson replaced scarlet. Gold lace trimmed the collar, cuffs and lapels of the coat, the aigu illettes were mixed crimson/gold, the waistcoat bore sky blue/gold braid. The pelisse had sky blue/gold braid; this was crimson/gold on the dolman. The boots had sky blue/gold trim and tassel, the sash was crimson with mixed sky blue/gold barrels. Crimson and gold replaced the aurore stripes on the overalls.

Headdress

A black fur colpack was worn, although until about 1803 it was fairly small. It had brass chin-chain, aurore cords and a green plume with scarlet tip on the left. In 1801 a fur-covered peak and a detachable scarlet bag with aurore piping and tassel was added, and the plume was moved to the front. The large colpack introduced in 1803 had the same decoration, but the plume was moved back to the left side and had a cockade at the base (with yellow eagle from 1805) and flounders. NCOs had mixed green/gold bag trim and cords, officers had these in gold. Trumpeters wore white colpacks (for fulldress only, after 1803), a crimson bag with mixed sky blue/gold trim, crimson/gold cords and a crimson over sky blue plume.

Equipment

Belts were white with stitched edges. The pouch was of black leather and undecorated until 1809, when a brass crowned eagle was affixed; the sabre was slung from a waistbelt fastened by a S-clasp. Carbines were carried and, as of 1803, a bayonet (carried in a frog on the waistbelt), along with a pair of pistols. The sabre was originally the light cavalry issue, but with brass hilt and black leather scabbard. A special Guard-pattern sabre was issued in 1803, with brass hilt and brass-covered scabbard; the sword-knot was white. NCOs did not carry the carbine or bayonet. Officers had a pouch and belts of red or green leather edged gold, and gold sword-knots. The pouch bore a gold hunting horn, latterly a crowned eagle. With the introduction of hussar dress all ranks adopted an ornately decorated sabretache, nearly always kept in a black leather cover. Cloaks and greatcoats were green.

Originally, white sheepskin shabraques with scarlet wolf-tooth edging were used. In late 1800 a green pointed shabraque was adopted, edged with aurore lace and scarlet outer piping. The corners bore an aurore hunting horn, replaced with crowned eagles in 1806. The cylindrical green valise had aurore trim and scarlet piping.

Officers had green pointed shabraques with gold edge and scalloped outer trim of scarlet; this gave way to one as for the men with gold replacing aurore, and a pantherskin saddle cover. Trumpeters had the same horse furniture as the men, in sky blue and crimson instead of green and scarlet, although the full-dress shabraque was crimson with gold trim. Trumpets were brass with green and gold cords (crimson and gold from 1806).

The Young Guard Squadrons

Green dolman with madder red cuffs, aurore lace, yellow buttons; madder red pelisse, aurore lace, black fur (probably only worn for full dress, if at all); green sash with madder red barrels. Madder red breeches with aurore lace trim; green overalls with aurore side-stripes and leather strapping. Madder red cylindrical shako with mixed green/aurore cords and cockade strap, black peak and black neckcover turned up at the rear, aurore pompon. Madder red shabraque with aurore trim and crowned eagles. Officers had the same, with gold replacing aurore; they did have the pelisse, with crimson lining and black astrakhan fur. Madder red trousers with green double stripes with piping in between.

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