Uniforms of the Napoleonic Wars, 1796-1814

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Haythornthwaite, Philip & Cassin-Scott. Uniforms of the Napoleonic Wars in Colour 1796 – 1814. Blandford, 1973.

The following items and extracts from the Museum's collections are highlights from one of the most popular periods of British naval history. British Naval Officer's Uniform: Napoleonic War (1803–1815) Trumpeters wore reversed colors, facing sometimes edged with white lace, a coat often single-breasted with white buttonholes in front, no cuff flaps, white epaulettes, and a white of red mane on the helmet. The same dress was used for the Foot Dragoons but with brass drums with blue hoops instead of trumpets. They rode white and grey horses.Napoléon was a master in propaganda: his simple uniform + the great coat + the little hat were just a genius idea! Everybody could recognize him, even the lowest soldiers, and, he seemed very “modest” compared to his officers with their shining uniforms and feathered hats… The book and plates of Rousselot's uniform study are valuable, though even if you have the new book, still try and get the plates. Captains' dress uniform was similar to that of flag officers but without laced buttonholes and with two rows of lace on cuffs. Epaulettes were plain. Troops of the Imperial Guard [ edit ] Grenadiers of the Imperial Guard (private and officer) Infantry of the Imperial Guard [ edit ] Grenadiers of the Old Guard [ edit ] One of Napoleon’s chasseur uniforms is in the Musée de l’Armée at Les Invalides in Paris, along with Napoleon’s hat and greatcoat. Although originally green, the chasseur uniform now appears blue, due to changes in the dye over time. This change in colour also afflicts the chasseur uniform that Napoleon wore on St. Helena, which is part of the collection of the Musées de Sens. That uniform, and the bicorne hat that Napoleon wore at the Battle of Waterloo, have been expertly conserved thanks to a public appeal launched by the Fondation Napoléon. The Fondation Napoleon also has other items of Napoleon’s, including this waistcoat and trousers worn by Napoleon on St. Helena.

Colombe Samoyalt-Verlet, “The Emperor’s Wardrobe,” in Katell Le Bourhis, ed., The Age of Napoleon: Costume from Revolution to Empire, 1789-1815 (New York, 1989), p. 204. One thing that has been left out of the books, and is in Col. Elting's collection, are the group prints by Knötel which are breathtaking with all the color and sweep of the period. These have been left out because of the parameters of the book, which is understandable, yet it would have been ideal to have these reproduced in their own section. Having personally viewed these prints, oozing character and the gregariousness of military men, I can assure you that these are undoubtedly Knötel's best work. Undress: Blue cloth coat, blue lappels and round cuffs, fall down blue collar; waistcoat and breeches of white or blue cloth as may be convenient. The buttons worn by the masters to bear the arms of the Navy Office, and by the pursers those of the Victualling Office... Warrant officersChevron = 10–15 Years service. 2 Chevrons = 15–20 Years service. 3 Chevrons = 20–25 Years of service. The M1797 uniform was officially listed as being white with collars, cuffs and facings according in the regimental facing colours and distinguished by their pattern combination. Three regiments were recorded as still wearing this uniform as late as May 1808. See our productions of hussar sabres and all our sabres with blue and gold blades, nobody else can do the same at the moment! Since Napoleon’s son was living with his grandfather, Emperor Francis I of Austria (an enemy of Napoleon), it was not possible for him to receive the clothes before his death in 1832, at the age of 21. Instead the clothes were given to Napoleon’s mother, Letizia Bonaparte, who distributed them among Napoleon’s siblings. Most of Napoleon’s clothes that were preserved by the imperial family are in the Napoleon I Museum at the Château de Fontainebleau, including Napoleon’s only surviving grenadier uniform.

Adjudant: the left epaulette with thin fringes and the right epaulette without fringes + red shoulder straps with two gold (or silver) stripes along each strap Sergent-major (infantry) or Maréchal des logis (cavalry): two gold (or silver) stripes (or chevrons) Sergent (infantry) or Maréchal des logis (cavalry): one gold (or silver) stripe (or chevron) Caporal-fourrier (infantry) or brigadier-fourrier (cavalry): two yellow stripes (or chevrons) + one gold (or siler) stripe on the upper left sleeve Caporal (infantry) or brigadier (cavalry): two yellow stripes (or chevrons) Soldat (infantry) or cavalier (cavalry): No insignia Galons d'ancienneté [ edit ] Grenadier of the Old Guard wearing on his left shoulders two veteran chevrons representing 15 to 20 years of service These persons are very efficient using internet, but quality of their work is not at the same level, and you are not sure to get the fruit of your money.Napoleon restored slavery in 1802 and attempted to crush the republic of former slaves established by the Haitian hero Toussaint L’Ouverture. In 1808, decrees were published putting in place special rules for Jewish people, and Napoleon’s attitude towards Jews and antisemitism continues to be discussed by historians. With undress uniform, captains wore a plain hat, and epaulettes only some of the time. Captains with less than three years seniority wore only one epaulette on the right shoulder. When you say “He established detailed and extravagant dress codes for his court and his army”, it was an attempt to mimic the royal courts but I think it was also to support and foster the French industry of fabric, clothes, laces…At the court, the ladies were not allowed to wear English fabrics (even if they did, especially Joséphine! ) There are a plethora of uniform collections throughout the world, both public and private. Many are highly reliable, some of these not the most artistic in nature, but cold, hard, and accurate representations of the men, and women, who have fought wars down through the ages. Not the least of these collections are those which depict the fighting men of many nations who followed the rolling drums and thundering guns through twenty-five years of unimaginable hardship, horror, and bloodshed that was the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars.

Captains and commanders both wore two epaulettes: captains over three years' seniority with a silver crown and anchor, captains under three years with a silver anchor, commanders plain. Lieutenants' dress uniform was the same as captains but without any lace and with one plain epaulette on the right shoulder. Undress uniform for captains, commanders and lieutenants was the same as the 1795 captains' undress uniform but with the same buttons and epaulettes as in full dress. Masters and midshipmen's uniform was unaltered apart from the buttons, which were the same as captains'. The midshipmen's uniform remained officially the same from 1787 to 1891 but in practice, changed in cut. Items in the collection He said there was huge interest in Napoleon in the US and Asia because he was a figure who transcended his social status. Following his second abdication after the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, Napoleon was exiled to the remote South Atlantic island of St. Helena. He wore his chasseur uniform on the British ships that conveyed him first to Plymouth Harbour (the Bellerophon) and then to St. Helena (the Northumberland). Napoleon continued to wear this uniform during his first six weeks on the island, when he was staying with the Balcombe family while his residence of Longwood was being prepared. He then abandoned it for a green hunting uniform and other garb, as described by his second valet, Louis-Étienne Saint-Denis.Napoleon’s hat and greatcoat at the Musée de l’Armée in Paris, photographed by Damian Entwistle Napoleon’s greatcoat The two volumes of John R Elting\'s Napoleonic Uniforms crashed onto my desk with an impact that tumbled my 28mm Romans and shook the battleship Iowa from the top of my monitor. Before this date surgeons wore the same uniform as warrant officers. Items and information from the collection: A pair ofA4 tomes bound in red cloth and held in a similar slipcase, the books contain over 900 illustrations depicting the uniforms of every regiment within the Grande Armée. Painted by Herbert Knötel in a sketchy watercolour style, the color plates perfectly capture the feel of the era and the figures they contain are imbued with a sense of character and nobility. All of the illustrations are accompanied by a short commentary by John R Elting discussing the regiment and its uniform. Jean Arida, of the Napoleonic society of Compiègne, who will be part of a group of men and women dressed in Napoleonic costume at a special film screening with a historians’ debate, exhibition of historic artefacts and imperial throne for selfies, said he thought the film would boost the work of Napoleonic re-enactment groups.