Upon the restoration of the French monarchy in 1814, Napoleon's Imperial Guard was reluctantly re-styled "Garde Royale"; but after proving itself loyal to its old master during the 'Hundred Days' it was disbanded, and a new Royal Guard, loyal to the monarchy, was formed. The new Guard (not including the "Maison du Roi", the immediate Household troops) was similar in composition to Napoleon's though embracing more 'arms of service': eight regiments of Foot Guards, each of three battalions (the 7th and 8th Regiments being Swiss), Horse and Foot Artillery, Artillery Train, one regiment of Gendarmes d'Elite and eight of cavalry --- two regiments of cuirassiers, two of horse grenadiers, and one each of Dragoons, Lancers, Hussars and Chasseurs a Cheval. This organization remained largely unchanged until the Royal Guard was disbanded after the 1830 Revolution. One of the most striking uniforms was that of the Royal Guard Chasseurs a Cheval, here illustrated in a print by 'Canu', engraved and published in 1816. Crimson shako with white lace interlocking-ring decoration around the top; gilt chinscales with large lion-head bosses, black peak edged gilt; shako-plate in the form of a crowned, reversed "L" cypher (as on the shabraque), in gilt; white cockade secured by a gilt button, above which a white plume rises from a dark green ball pompom. White caplines, looping around the neck. Dark green, short tailed jacket with crimson lapels; dark green collar piped crimson on the upper and front edges; dark green cuffs with pointed crimson piping and crimson turnbacks with crimson piping, bearing a white huntinghorn badge in the corners. Three-pointed vertical pockets with crimson piping. White epqulettes, with a white aiguilette attached to the left epaulette. Crimson overalls with a double dark green stripe White pouch-belt, bearing a gilt crown and grenade badge, connected by two gilt chains. White sword-belt and slings; brass-hilted sabre with white knot and steel scabbard. Dark green sabraque with white lace border, piped on the outer edge in crimson; white crowned cypher. Crimson circular valise bearing a white lace ring and a white huntinghorn badge on the end. Black sheepskin holster-caps. Black leather harness with all fittings brass, except for steel stirrups. All buttons white metal; note the butt of a carbine is visible to the rear of the rider. Back to Empire, Eagles, & Lions Table of Contents Vol. 1 No. 86 Back to EEL List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1985 by Emperor's Headquarters 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