I must confess that I am slightly in favor of the Swiss in French service. One of my ancestor was a Swiss Guard in 1755 ... At least now you know why I further comment on them. I think that many things I have published in the last article (issue 26) are new for many of you. Uniform: Swiss Demi-Brigade circa 1798-1800, as per Malibran, p. 323. The French Revolution in 1791 kept the 11 Swiss regiments that were in the Royal French Army prior to that date. The Swiss regiments kept the names of their colonels and took in the infantry the ranks they had in the Royal Army (regiments 66, 67, 69, 72, 79, 88, 89, 98, 102 etc.). They also kept the same uniforms. That state of affair did not last long. On August-20, 1792 the Swiss troops were disbanded. The next Capitulation between France and Switzerland did not take place until 19 December, 1798. However, one should not conclude that no Swiss troops served in the French Army between 1792 and 1798. That would be too simple. Some of the troops disbanded in 1792 became one "Independent Company for the City of Geneva" called Compagnie Franche Genevoise and one of Swiss Chasseurs called Chasseurs Suisses. They were incorporated in the French Army shortly after. In 1793 and 1799, the City of Basel and Geneva became the French departments of "Mont-Terrible" and of the "Leman". Several battalions of volonteers were recruited in the new departments. Furthermore, when the King of Sardinia transferred all his rights on the Piedmont, he also transferred all his Swiss troops to French service. They were one Companie of Cent-Suisses raised back in 1579 and five regiments of infantry: Bellemont, Ernest, Peyerimhoff, Bachmann and Zimmermann. The Company of Cent-Suisses remained in Torino until 1802 and was disbanded on 20 June, 1802. The five regiments were incorporated in the French Army by General Joubert and reorganized on 6 November, 1798 in two Legions Helvetiques. They were commanded by Bellemont and Andermatt both Chef de Brigade. Both were annihilated or taken prisoner the next year at the battle of Verona. The Capitulation of 19 December 1798 between Switzerland and France, raised 6 Half-Brigades in early 1799, commanded by the Chefs de Brigade Perrier, Schwitzer, Swicki, de Watteville, Turtaz and Dobler. The levy could not exceed 18000 men. On 21 January, 1800, the 6 Half-Brigades were reduced to 3 commanded by Perrier, de Watteville and Raquetly. The first Half-Brigade sent part of the unit to Guadeloupe and Saint-Domingo. The 1st battalion of the 3d Half-Brigade was sent to Saint-Domingo on 4 February, 1803 and latter was incorporated in the 5th Light Infantry Half-Brigade. The remainder of the 3 Half-Brigades formed the 1st Swiss Regiment in 1805. (see part 1) Malibran, page 323, describe their uniforms as it follows: "Coat blue, yellow facings, piped red (lapels and cuffs). The cuff flaps green piped yellow. Red collar piped yellow. The lining, vest and pantaloons were white. Pockets with yellow piping. No mention of the turnbacks. It is possible that they were also yellow. The buttons were brass or yellow. Headgear and shoes as for the French infantry. The cockade were the Swiss colors: red, green and yellow. To be complete (at least to the best of my knowledge) we should also mention the following Swiss Units: The so-called "Bataillon du Leman", a reserve or garrison battalion raised on 30 May, 1800 on a decree of the First Consul, to guard the Saint-Bernard pass, to escort convoys and assure the security of the communications with France. The battalion was disbanded in 1801. The commander was an officer by the name of Bourgeois. Two companies of "Chasseurs-carabiniers eclaireurs" were also raised from the department of the Leman in 1800 and were disbanded in 1804. Captains Thomas and Girard were the commanders. Two companies of Swiss hussars were incorporated together to form the "Compagnie Helvetique de chasseurs a cheval", i.e."Swiss company of chasseurs a cheval" on 18 April, 1803. The company was incorporated on 21 April 1804 into the 19th Regiment of Chasseurs a cheval. We already spoke in the last issue about the "Compagnie d'artillerie helvetique", i.e. "Swiss company of artillery", raised in 1803 to be attached to the above infantry regiments. The company commanded by captain Burnand, was attached exclusively to the 1st Swiss. Perhaps I should not have mention some of the above units since they were raised from departments perhaps of Swiss origins, backgrounds etc. but technically not part of the Swiss Confederation but part of the French Republic then Empire. Neuchatel and the Valais were not part in 1800-1805 part of the Swiss Confederation. Prior to 1806, Neuchatel was under Prussian rule and the Valais was an independent Canton not a part of the Swiss Confederation but was incorporated in the French Empire in 1810. To be more exact, the Valais was made a Canton of the Helvetic Republic in 1798, an independent republic in 1802. We should cover both the Valais battalion and the Neuchatel battalion in separate articles. They were three Capitulations between France and the Helvetic Confederation between 1791 and 1812. These Capitulations were treaties of alliance. Following is the detail of the Capitulation of 19 December 1798. Art. #1. Immediately after the ratification of the present agreement there will be a corps of Swiss troops which will act in concert with the French troops as auxiliary, against the enemy designed by the French government to Swiss government, as per the article 2 of this treaty of alliance. Art. #2. This corps will be formed of volunteers freely incorporated in Switzerland, and will not exceed 18,000 men; the duration of service will be two or four years at the choice of the recruit; the depots will be located in Switzerland. Art. #3. It will be divided in 6 half-brigades, commanded by a chief with the rank of colonel. Art. #4. The chefs de brigades (generals of brigades?), major, captains, and other officers will be nominated by the Swiss Directoire, Which will also design the advancement or promotion system. Art. #5. The French government will pay to each recruit a bounty of 24 French pounds. The money will be made available to French Army Treasurer in Switzerland. The French government will also subsidize the invalids. Art. #6. The French government will furnish free of charge to each non-commissioned officer and soldier recruited and fitted for active duty, a suit of clothes, a coat, a vest and trousers of the Swiss colors, a hat, shoes and all the rest of the small equipment. Art. #7. The weapons necessary for the six half-brigades will be furnished by the Swiss government within the capacity of the existing facilities, but, as soon as weapons become available in France, the French government will loan weapons to Switzerland according to the needs of that country. Art. #8. The Swiss officers and soldiers will receive a pay equal to the pay received by French officers and soldiers of equivalent ranks. Art. #9. The chefs de brigade and of battalion, and also the captains and lieutenants, will receive three quarters of their pay when the third of the half-brigade for the first ones, the third of the battalion for the second ones, and the third of the company for the latest will be present in the units. Full pay will given when the units will be completely formed. Art. #10. Not listed in article--RL Art. #11. Means of shelter etc. will be provided to the auxiliary troops in the cheapest possible and best suitable fashion acceptable to the means of the Swiss government, however if these means were not adequate the French government would help by special disposition to complement them. Art. #12. All the details necessary to the implementation of the treaty requiring the help of the French government will be negotiated with the Swiss government as the need arise. Art. #13. The individuals members of these units will be only judged for matters of discipline and of law by Swiss military tribunals. Art. #14. It is agreed that, under no circumstances etc., no Swiss soldier will beincorporated in French companies, nor Swiss companies in French battalions, or Swiss battalions in French brigades. Art. #15. The exchange and subsidy of the Swiss prisoners of war will be carried out on an exact parity and proportion with the exchange and subsidy of French prisoners. Art. #16. The French government will assure by its good offices to the six Swiss half-brigades a permanent and advantageous service with the other republics allies of the French. I think that the full text of the Capitulation of 1798 was of interest to fully justify the very special status of Swiss troops in Foreign Service. It is easy to see that the Swiss troops were not mercenaries but fill allies. Their rights were the rights of Swiss citizens to be judged in case of needs exclusively by Swiss tribunals etc. Such a privilege is, as far as I know never given to mercenaries which become dependent of the law and tribunals of the country they serve. The Capitulations of 1803 and 1812 were not very different. Only small details were charged. The Capitulation of 1803 eliminated the provision for a two year contract and also made provision for one battalion to become part of the Consular Guard. The second provision was never carried oat. Farther more in 1803, the function of Colonel genaral of the Swiss was reestablished. The Colonel general was Lannes in 1807 and Berthier in 1810. Also were created two Swiss generals of brigade. Back to Empire, Eagles, & Lions Table of Contents Vol. 1 No. 27 Back to EEL List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1978 by Jean Lochet This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com