Welcome to the Imperial Polish Guard Lancers

Soldiers for the Great Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte

History:
In 1807 Napoleon authorized the raising of a guard regiment of Polish light horse. His main object in so doing was probably political, a first token of his promise to establish an independent Polish state. Whatever his motives,he obtained the services of some of the finest soldiers who ever served under him. Qualifications for enlistment were high. Applicants must be landowners or the sons of landowners. Some financial backing was certainly necessary, as those accepted had to provide their own uniforms, saddlery and horses.

Feats of the Cavalry:
In November 1808, Emperor Napoleon was advancing on Madrid. Across his road lay the Sierra de Guadarrama, crossed by the Somosierra pass defended by 12,000 Spaniards. Marshal Victor, commanding the advanced guard, set about forcing the pass by conventional means, sending infantry to the high ground on either side. Napoleon was impatient. He ordered light cavalry to storm the pass. When one of the French commanders raised not unreasonable difficulties, the Emperor turned to the Poles who were acting as his escort and told them to charge. One hundred and fifty horsemen charged uphill for a mile and a half, storming four successive batteries, two of them covered by earthworks. As they approached the crest the Spaniards fired their cannons and muskets and fled. Eighty-three of the Poles were casualties, including all seven officers. It was an incredible feat for light cavalry.

At that time they were armed only with light cavalry sabers and carbines. They were issued with lances in the following year (in the end of 1809). Their uniform was Polish from the start; the square-topped cap or czapka, jacket or kurtka was dark blue with crimson facing and white piping, the trousers were also dark blue with crimson stripes. Officers were distinguished by silver lace and piping. When lances were issued they had pennants in the Polish colors, red over white.

This group is for players of Empire Total War and the coming Napoleon Total War.

Ranks

Marshal/Marszałek, Casimir the Lancer, Marshal Lannes
General d'Ármee
General de Corps d'Ármee
General de Division
General de Brigade/Generał
Brygady, Boleslaw the Lancer,Pan Wolodyjowski the lancer
Colonel/ Pułkownik
Lieutenant Colonel/Podpułkownik
Chef de Bataillon/Major
Capitaine/Kapitan
Lieutenant/Porucznik
Sous Lieutenant/Podporucznik
Adjutant-Chef,
Adjutant Sous Officier
Sergent/Sierżant
Caporal/Starszy kapral
Soldat/Szeregowy: Sully the Magnificent