Carabinier Uniform 1801-1809

The Ordinance of 1 April, 1791, replaced the carabiniers' tricorn hats with an infantry grenadier's bearskin recognizing their elite status as grenadiers of the cavalry. The top of the bearskin had a circle of red cloth decorated with a white cross. It was ornamented with a white cordon and a red plume on the left. The Ordinance called for red cords but contemporary sources show many carabiniers still wearing the earlier white cords until 1809.

The carabiniers kept their traditional blue and red uniforms with yellow colored belts edged in white. Basically, it was a modernized cavalerie habit-veste of dark blue cloth with scarlet lapels, cuffs, and turnbacks piped in dark blue, and dark blue collar piped in scarlet. The turnbacks had a dark blue grenade which became white in 1809.

The two regiments were distinguished only by their cuff-flaps: scarlet piped in dark blue for the 1st Regiment; dark blue piped in scarlet for the 2nd. In the field that distinction was invisible since carabiniers wore gloves. With the title Grenadiers of the Cavalry, the carabiniers now wore scarlet epaulettes edged with white lace, and pewter buttons.

The surtout was more frequently worn on service. It was entirely blue with the exception of the traditional scarlet turnbacks. The collar was also blue with scarlet piping, as were the cuffs. Scarlet piping also extended along the breast. The traditional red epaulettes were also worn with the surtout. A white vest was worn under either the habit-veste or the surtout. In the field, the carabiniers sheep's-hide breeches were covered by charivari or overalls of dark blue or unbleached linen.

The trumpeters wore a tunic of reverse colors with the addition of seven rows of white lace to the facing. They, like the officers, were armed only with the saber.

The horse furniture remained unchanged until 1809 with a blue saddle-cloth lined with a single white stripe before 1808 and two white stripes and a white grenade after 1808. Carabinier troopers rode black horses and the buglers grays.

Carabinier Uniform 1810-1815

Heavy losses in 1809 may have motivated altering their uniform, but the carabiniers apparently did not initially like the change, deeming the cuirass an insult to their courage. An Imperial Decree dated 24 December, 1809, provided them with a helmet and cuirass. Save for details, the uniform was now similar to that of the cuirassiers.

There were two clearly distinct visual differences between the two types of heavy cavalry. The 1804 pattern iron cuirass -- essentially identical to that of the cuirassiers -- was covered with a thin sheet of brass which left about 1 inch of steel around the edges, into which yellow copper rivets were inserted. The waistbelt and shoulder straps were of natural leather color with brass fittings. The cuirass was doubled padded with light blue cloth.

The helmet was yellow copper for officers, with iron chin straps scales and roses, and a headband of white metal. The cuirassier style mane was replaced by a scarlet comb for the troopers and scarlet or light blue for the trumpeters. The new helmet had no plume.

The 1810 habit-veste was now white and single breasted of the same pattern as that worn by the cuirassiers after 1812. The collar, cuffs and turnbacks were sky blue (bleu celeste), piped white, and light blue piping decorated the breast and the false pockets of the skirt. The cuff-flaps still differentiated the two regiments: 1st Regiment white flaps piped light blue; 2nd light blue piped white. The Reglement of 1812 gave the 1st Regiment scarlet cuffs piped white in place of the sky blue. As before, the trumpeters wore reverse uniform colors, but had no cuirass.

Before the 1812 campaign, the carabiniers were issued the Year IX cavalry musketoon with bayonet, cartridge pouch, and musket cross belt.

The color of the horse furniture was also changed. The saddle-cloth and portemanteau became sky blue with white grenades and stripes. According to the regulations, the portemanteau should have been square but for some reason remained round. The shabraque remained white but now had sky blue teeth.

More Carabiniers

Carabiniers Section 1: 1679-1791
Carabiniers Section 2: 1792-1811
Carabiniers Section 3: 1812 and After
Carabiniers Uniforms 1801-09, 1810-15
Carabiniers Uniform Colors 1788-1815 (slow: 114K)
Carabiniers Postings: 1792-1815
Issue Cover: Carabiniers at Borodino (very slow: 224K)