Napoleon's Imperial Guard The Old Guard Infantry

[@morningstar9233]

The thought of the old veterans of The Guard turning out to salute their emperor one last time on his final journey brought a tear to the eye.

[@raymondacbot4007]

Legendary men. Their reputation echoes through history

[@BMWtphs]

I just love the picture of the old guy in his old guard uniform. Still such a badass. Much respect no matter what

[@dr.wisdom7917]

Nice narrative, I’m very fond of the history of the Napoleon’s Imperial Guard!! 🙌

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Thanks! Check out my videos on the Russian Guard too for a similar video!

[@TheLoxapac]

When a grognard from the old guard retiered , he was called "un vieux de la vieille" (an old from the old... i have no better translation, sorry for my english). This expression is still in wide use today in France to qualify a very respected senior man.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

That's super cool! And I'm the last person you need to apologise for your language skills! 😂

[@TheLoxapac]

@@NapoleonicWargaming No you are doing a good job with french accent, on some words it is almost perfect (when you say "Chasseur à cheval" for exemple, very good accent). The expression "un vieux de la vieille" (So: an Old -soldier- From the old -Guard- the feminin and masculin words in french helps to understand the sentence) apply to very respected senior men, but also a very experienced or ancient person in an association, a club or a company, and of course a veteran in the army. It is still used a lot. That shows the impact these wonderfull soldiers have on french culture, 200 years after their glorious days. Thanks for your videos, very good work, we can feel your passion for this period.

[@jeffsstt]

Napoleon is max legend in Australia

[@davidcollins2648]

excellent! You deserve a medal for bravery as an Englishman taking on the pronunciation of so many French names. I nominate you as an honorary member of the guard. You covered it all and did it well. You did fail to mention Zvezda making a very fine old guard in 1/72 though good luck finding any for sale. I have 3 boxes and wouldnt part with them for any price. I feel rather sad that your channel has covered nearly all the units but hopefully you have at least 1 more to make. Thanks for all your hard work putting these together, I found them most informative and enjoyable. Cheers, Rex

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Haha. Thanks. I thought after the Scharnhorst video, and my absolutely appalling attempts at German I couldn't do any worse, so just went full tilt at it! 😂

[@paintinghistory1475]

I might have to pick a pack up next time I visit Russia

[@paintinghistory1475]

Probably you're best video and Defenatly one of the best videos on the old guard I've ever seen stay strong Tim

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Thank you buddy

[@rugratrik]

Really did a nice job at explaining the rise and fall of the Old Guard, got goosebumps several times. Keep it up :D

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Thanks man! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@scottanderson5581]

Steiger's speech bidding farewell to his Guard is an awesome scene. Love your videos, great channel.

[@paulbrockhurst8397]

Top banana, well voiced, got to love les grognards. Loved the mention where they were described as tattooed gold ear ringed pirates! Awesome. More please.

[@emmettmeacham5005]

Always loved the uniform, I think thats what interested me into the napoleonic wars, and then, I got into everything else

[@countalma9800]

A photograph of a member of the Old Guard?! That's pretty unique. Thanks for sharing it with us, and as always, your presentations are very professional, informative, and entertaining. Keep them coming! Good luck with everything!

[@ColinTheFurryYT]

And a sergeant major nonetheless

[@danielmccarthy4062]

Great video. Thanks. My 15mm French army has a corps of guard infantry.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Ah nice! Bet it looks amazing all laid out!

[@vincentbergman4451]

I could hear Rod Steiger lol I’m an American, I love the Napoleonic Wars, one of the most epic times in all of history. I’ve just switched from model tanks to Napoleonic Figurines. Im almost done with Guard Arty, about to do Dragoons and then 60 OG. Can’t wait for the movie, also can’t wait to see Steven Spielberg’s miniseries

[@dutchplanderlinde9582]

This makes me want to play total war napoleon again

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Do it!

[@dutchplanderlinde9582]

@@NapoleonicWargaming wanna play 2gother?lol

[@kmorton54]

I really enjoy all your Napoleonic army videos. You provide excellent history along with how to create and use the various units you have discussed. Makes me wish I lived in the UK instead of CA in the US. Just don't have the same level excellent wargaimg

[@kshatriiya2046]

Thank you for the historically accurate information, I love how you actually described what the old guard wore in Waterloo.

[@stephenbanks8780]

Very informative. I'll have to review my collection to get The Old Guard updated.

[@panzerfaust6797]

Thanks for this amazing video! I think this is my 5th time watching/listening to it while I paint.

[@gromit368]

In BP, the Old Guard should give a stamina bonus to all units within X inches to reflect the 'thickening' effect.

[@paintinghistory1475]

Amazing video painted my old guard listening to this!

[@goose5423]

I really enjoy the Napoleonic wars you're a channel i like to watch to get info!

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Thanks buddy!

[@edwardkim8972]

At Waterloo it was the same echelon formation as at Ligny. The Middle Guard and battalions of Old Guard chasseurs (mostly 2nd regiments) in support. 1st battalion of grenadiers were the reserve of the reserve, guarding the baggage train and Napoleon himself.

[@vanpallandt5799]

from my reading, only one battalion (2/2 Grenadiers) went forward on the final attack as the rest were either at Plancenoit or moving up in support. In a way at Waterloo by keeping them back (3 of the 4 Grenadier ones anyway), you wonder if its a bit like still having a striker on the bench one minute before the World Cup final ends. Also slightly confused by the whole Foot Guards routed the OG and as they wore bearskins, became the Grenadiers Guards thing at Waterloo. From my reading, Maitlands Guards were confronted by Middle Guard units and the 2/2 Grenadiers were on the section of the attack (2nd attack), that came up against the Dutch Belgians and the British of Halkett. It seems it was the DB of Detmer's Brigade that routed the OG Grenadiers at least. Where it appears Maitland's Guardsmen may have confronted people in bearskins is the 3rd and final attack which was a column led by the Middle Guard Grenadiers supported behind by 2 btns of OG Chasseurs who were parted of the column raked in the flank by the fire of Adams Brigade esp the 52nd Foot. Perhaps from this is where the Guards fought the OG Grenadiers came from? Happy to be corrected but i can't see anywhere where any OG Grenadiers were in a position to have engaged the Foot Guards

[@rhysnichols8608]

@@vanpallandt5799 It’s propaganda and rumours. Good for morale the British guards beat the immortals etc. Load of nonsense tho

[@adamfox1669]

I got my start in wargaming with napoleonic figures (1989!🤫) Also, today is October 14....a beautiful day for our emperor

[@NZAce13]

Awesome video man very informative i was looking for old guard information and this video blew my mind . Long live the emperor!! Thank you for a great video keep up the good content

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Glad I could help!

[@lexevo]

No wonder Texans are some of the best in the U.S. military. Remnants of the old guard.

[@Robin-fp6sx]

" moth eaten....one last time". wow!

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Thanks dude. Thought they deserved some drama!

[@edwardkim8972]

Not mentioned is the fact that Napoleon usually used the Young Guard, then the Middle Guard, but he rarely used the Old Guard. Even at Waterloo, Napoleon kept four battalions of Old Guard in reserve.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

That's fair. Remember it is part of a series though, there are separate videos on thr Young and Middle guard, we talk a bit more about them and that point in those!

[@stewarthayhurst1079]

I have a signature off Cambronne when he was a captain at the camp of bourgogne so around mid 1805 before Auersterlitz

[@adamfox1669]

If i heard napoleons army marching through my local town , i too would drop everything ,leave everyone, and happily march across Europe and the steppe of Russia... (part of a quote by Manuel Komroff)

[@SNP-1999]

Had Napoleon bothered to get off his backside during the massed cavalry attacks on Wellington's infantry squares, to then ride forward to estimate the situation, he could well have there and then won the battle of Waterloo by sending his Guard forward to finish the job. Instead, he relied entirely upon the reports sent by Ney and others, waited too long sitting around doing nothing and in the end lost the battle. Of course, many other factors participated in Napoleon's defeat, but his neglect of seeing for himself how the cavalry attacks were going on - and the actual strength of Wellington's defence (he actually believed that there were only four British squares facing his cavalry - in fact there were 26!). Ten years earlier, he would have done exactly that, but he had gone to seed, was overweight and not healthy. Age was no excuse, he was no older than the majority of commanding officers on the battlegrounds, on all sides, and even Blücher with his 72 years of age, who had taken a nasty knock at Ligny, still rode at the head of his army - so what was Napoleon's excuse?. He should have known by then that he couldn't rely on Ney, who wasn't the brightest light in his army when it came to strategy and tactics, so he should have joined the cavalry himself to recce the whole situation on Wellington's ridge.

[@dan97526]

Well argued. I've considered the same; Napoleon displayed an uncharacteristic lethargy at Waterloo.

[@Sinistercabbage]

I do wonder how ill he was during that battle....

[@jonathanowen9917]

There is a great romance to the Old Guard. Austerlitz and Waterloo make great bookends, although they were raised in 1804 and had their final salute to the Emperor in 1840. My favorite non-battle parts were the description of the Old Guard looking like pirates with tattoos, ear rings, and powdered white queues, and the grognards final farewell to Napoleon during his funeral procession in 1840.

[@andrewrobinson3030]

That was really great presentation of the subject learned a lot thank you

[@eversauceda3361]

Best history video about the Grognards on KZbin yet. Thank you.

[@TheKilo0123]

Late to the party, but I'm here now. Great information and presentation, wished I had found your site earlier.

[@thekameleon9785]

Great stuff again! Thanks for these.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Thanks for watching!

[@whydoesyoutubeallownamesth5598]

insane content you can get free nowadays

[@patavinity1262]

I'm English and live and work in France as a translator. If you want some free guidance with French pronunciation, I'd be happy to help. Just hit me up.

[@elchapito4580]

*Bloody hell...! I'm not a stickler for a pitch-perfect French accent but, yeah, this is pushing things a bit far! No one is forced to speak French, but given the subject of the video, you could spare 10 seconds to, for example, type "Sauvons nos aigles!" (**47:35**) in Google Translate, you'd have a pretty good idea of how to pronounce it! Same for the "Chasseurs" or "Grenadiers à pieds"...!* 😐

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@johnwayneeverett6263]

WOW THANK YOU BUDDY ...... WELL DONE ...

[@BaronsHistoryTimes]

You should also do podcasts maybe - great narration style! - or a Premier League soccer or darts TV commentator! Nicely done on the vivid description of the Imperial Middle Guard attack-squares at Waterloo. The 2nd battalion of the 3rd Grenadiers was actually posted in a tactical reserve position by Napoleon, to the east of the Hougoumont woods. 73rd Line was a regular British-uniformed infantry unit. The most furthest Guard unit in the rear was the 1st battalion of the 1st Chasseurs that was in reserve at farm of Le Caillou guarding the Imperial baggage. The French Lancers of the Guard were involved as advance guard probes ahead of Ney's wing and withdrew from contact they met at Quatre Bras against elements of Perponcher's Netherlands Division. The Old Guard was in action at Ligny playing a major role in the attack against the Prussian center. The Young Guard was also in action at the battle too.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Yeah, I kinda skipped over that for some reason. Check out my video on Ligny (I think it's the Prussian part 3? 4?) I go into extra detail on the OG there because I left it out here!

[@BaronsHistoryTimes]

@@NapoleonicWargaming I'll do that :)

[@vanpallandt5799]

i like the quote from the Waterloo Association (and obviously the account here doesnt omit the Dutch Belgians like the tendency of some and of course the film which he mentions) 'Meanwhile, Chasse had finally formed up his 1st Brigade under Colonel Detmer in a line of six battalion columns and ordering the drummers to beat the ‘storm charge’ a great roar bellowed out from his troops as they drove forward at the double in one great bayonet charge. The French Grenadiers had seen enough and they quickly retired down the slope in some disarray.' Not quite the image of the DB forces that for some years tended to be propagated - you would have missed the DB in the film Waterloo, as much as I like it as an epic story Also as to the order of the attacks, the Waterloo Association gives it as the attack on Maitland's Guards first, then the attack (perhaps more or less simultaneously) on the Brits of Halkett leading to the counterattack of Detmers and then Adams Brigade incl the overstrength 52nd *1000 plus, raking the flanks of column of MG Grenadiers and OG Chasseurs. So if seems if anyone routed OG in bearskins it was the 52nd esp and also potentially Detmers DB as the 2/2 Grenadiers were right over by the DB side and as far away as possible to be from the Foot Guards www.waterlooassociation.org.uk/2018/05/31/attack-of-the-imperial-guard/

[@BaronsHistoryTimes]

@@vanpallandt5799 52nd Regiment actually faced the 4th Chasseur MG column that followed up after the 3rd Chasseurs were routed. The Grenadier MG columns had already been beaten back by that time by Halkett, Chasse and the various German contingents on the western end of Mont St.Jean hill. The sequence of attacks hit the Allied line by way of how the Middle Guard was arrayed to attack in echelon towards the center - where a dent in the Allied line was ongoing at that time. Subsequently, the echelon attack veered to a broad frontal attack across the plateau. Although one of the 3 Old Guard battalions that was in tactical reserve was smashed, and another disintegrated after a fighting retreat, the last one was not routed as it retreated, and the other Old Guard battalions in strategic reserve did retreat very orderly. The initial Allied units that first hit the Old Guard and French cavalry and artillery back up positions, were Adam's Brigade ( which had taken many casualties during the French cavalry attacks when it was deployed forward of the hill northeast of Hougoumont, and during the counter attack phase), alongside elements of Hugh Halkett's Hanoverian brigade, and Vivian and Vandeleur's Light cavalry brigades. Recommended reading; H.Siborne's 'Waterloo Letters' / Erwin Muilwijk's 'Standing Firm at Waterloo' (DB battle survivor accounts) / Andrew Field's 'Waterloo;French Perspectives'.

[@JonnyWatsonGaming]

Great video. Really enjoyed the content thank you.

[@alonzocalvillo6702]

I item on my bucket list is seeing the Republican Guard march down Champs Elysses on Bastille Day.

[@paintinghistory1475]

Maybe a short story from the russian campaign next, idk im russian so im biast but There's nothing like a russian anecdote

[@ryleeculla5570]

“WITH THIS KISS… REMEMBER ME… GOOD BY MY SOLDIERS… GOOD BY MY SONS… GOOD BY…. MY CHILDREN…..”

[@jeffsstt]

This amazing 10x

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Thanks man!

[@jeffsstt]

@@NapoleonicWargaming thanks for outlining the genius

[@marcoeire44]

This is a top notch video, ill be subscribing to you

[@granapriego]

Great stuff I enjoyed it a lot. Think eventually I may well add a Battalion as a guest unit to my III Corps.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

I can highly recommend it! I'm sure Davout would appreciate the help (though he doesnt need it!)

[@Lemonhead209]

Loving this.. : )

[@rhysnichols8608]

Very interesting video sir

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Belsen85]

Excellent narration!

[@zuto96]

Great vid man!

[@and_riv7007]

Very nice 👌

[@russelll970]

Where can the Lord of the Sharp rules you mentioned in the video be found? I've been trying to find some good skirmish rules

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

It's a set of home brew rules. Tbf I've been meaning to type them up!

[@rosslambda9613]

have a hat army with units of italeri and mixed make the guard i have built up nicely on cardboard bases with green tuff for the final finish

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Ah nice! HaT make some lovely minis!

[@rolo8950]

The requirements were only that you needed to be 5'6 in height which was much more rare back then. They needed to be literate. Veteran requirements were wrong in this video. You could get in if you had been wounded twice. You could get in if you had atleast been on two campaigns or you had distinguished yourself in battle. That was all.

[@rhysnichols8608]

Imperial french measurements are different from modern day. 5’10 is the same as 5’6, depends if you’re reading the modern equivocal or the exact numbers used at the time. For example we know Napoleon was 5’6, but french records have him as 5’2 as they were used differently. This often leads to confusion

[@romainfr2981]

No no no the infanterie or the old guard is composed of two regiment : the 1er regiment de grenadier à pieds de la garde and the 1er regiment de chasseur à pieds de la garde

[@gandigooglegandigoogle7202]

the French Empire is really the object of my passion. I would give the rest of my life to go back for a day to that time! Napoleon is the greatest man the earth has ever produced! I hate these old European monarchies, stuck in their little privileges. The French Empire brought success to the most deserving, and the most capable, it was the policy of Merit with a capital M.

[@tigertank3024]

Yes, finally

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Hahaha. I've been working on it for a while

[@Vivi-xn9iz]

Are there any records on how many Old Guard veterans (those that started in italy) fought in waterloo ?

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Not that I'm aware of, but it's an interesting question!

[@robertfletcher4065]

He pampered them too much, when in came to the real crunch at Waterloo they broke. With the exception of Austerlitz, Napoleon did not use them that much in battles. At Borodino he could have used them but did not.

[@jayimperator8088]

Fantastic video.

[@JohnsonTheSecond]

"A line battalion was commanded by a colonel, in the guard this was a general" ? also grenadiers A LA PEED

[@robowisanveithasung6022]

a line battalion was actually commanded by a chef de bataillon, same thing with the 1st and 2nd battalions of the 1st grenadiers.

[@JohnsonTheSecond]

@@robowisanveithasung6022 yeah thats what i was trying to point out - wtf how did he get this

[@robowisanveithasung6022]

@@JohnsonTheSecond lol, good point.

[@lubobaricakbaricak7724]

Why you dont put sources to the description of video or to the coments? its good for someone who want to know more.

[@liveseldiesel2628]

bro i love my family 8 years they posiond me and know finely going jail thats a war i wished i did not survive

[@awesome1996]

nice video man

[@thomasvertommen9526]

Try to pronounce it like "Chassirs ah Pjay"... not "...à peat" =D Great vid on the history behind this unit :)

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Cheers bud. And a good pointer!

[@thenapalmbrothershq5585]

Hi, great vid but bad audio (my problem too) what is your source for the 'tattooed skin' comment? Thanks.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Yeah I've got a new mic since, I do keep meaning to rerecord and update this video

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Tbh, I can't remember, it was a long time ago!

[@thenapalmbrothershq5585]

Thanks@@NapoleonicWargaming

[@sdtamarinera]

What about the Prussians flanking the guard ? Always omitted by Britts...

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

They didn't flank three Old Guard specifically, they did flank the French army though, fighting the Young Guard at Placenoit. I'll talk about it at length in this video! kzbin.info/www/bejne/kIrMY5Wurb2opsU

[@sdtamarinera]

@NapoleonicWargaming my understanding was that Von Bülow ends up overrunning the French right by the end of the battle. That's why the middle and old guard assault is in a wide square formation due to the possibility of a cav charge. Not a missed given order, as some claimed. Would be good to learn more.

[@impootus1976]

What is the difference between the grenadiers and the chasseurs?

[@lordkarlfrantz4002]

Grenadier are taller than the chasseur and are the elite of the elite in the guard

[@baronbrutality757]

Why on earth did Napoleon invade Russia? It just seems such a foolish thing to do, when you consider the appalling supply situation.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

It's a question that's been argued ever since! I'm not sure to be honest, hubris? I certainly think them flouting the continental system is a lame cassus belli

[@baronbrutality757]

@@NapoleonicWargaming From what I know of Napoleon I think it was a mixture of pride and hubris. To me, an invasion of Russia is completely baffling.

[@francissemyon7971]

@@baronbrutality757 He did not want to invade Russia, at first it was the Campaign of Poland but he only wanted a decisive strike in battle in order to force the Tsar to come back to their deal. He simply could not imagine the Russians could scorch even Moscow. He did not do it during the Campaign of France, unlike the Russians or the orders of the Führer to Speer in early 1945... Napoleon is a hero from the antiquity injected into the XIX century, simple.

[@rhysnichols8608]

It was a preemptive strike against 2 amassing armies threatening the dutchy of Warsaw, Russia wanted to partition Poland again and was in secret trade and talks with Britain. Napoleon has previously smashed Russia, and a combination of pride and common sense told him he could best Russia again in 6 weeks, but he was wrong. It’s a common myth that he invaded due to ‘ego’ and ‘glory’ etc.

[@alonzocalvillo6702]

Seems like a lesson that wasn't learned by Hitler either! Both were defeated by General Winter.

[@liveseldiesel2628]

how can i delet it i was drunk i am an idiot

[@michaelbrett3749]

The "Old Guard" , very romantic. The "immortals", truly inspiring title. At the moment of their greatest destiny they ran away from the thin red line. A frog can only be a prince in fairy tales.

[@pinkpenzu]

Wasnt that debunked? It was the midguard that retreated

[@michaelbrett3749]

No they all ran away young, old, except Nappy he took a coach.

[@williamballangarry2995]

At Waterloo? The Old Guard formed square and were forced to surrender. That’s where the famous line was supposedly said “The Guard dies but never surrenders.” Just before they surrendered, but still 😂

[@jiridrapal7512]

@@williamballangarry2995 they did not surrender, they were scattered by shooting with survivors having no means how to keep fighting.

[@williamballangarry2995]

@@jiridrapal7512 that 100% sounds like the fairy tale the original post is alluding to.

[@michaelbrett3749]

Always the French try to change history about the battle of Waterloo. The fact is whether the young guard the middle guard the old guard or the French army when they faced the British thin red line and the bayonets of the British army they ran away . This is history and this is fact.

[@liveseldiesel2628]

fuck life i wish i had a wife

[@liveseldiesel2628]

@Cesar Retamoza i drink ang get drunk ur aq idiot

[@arkhammemery4712]

Loved the video, but your narration changes in volume WAY too frequently. You're either too close to the mic or whispering, and adjusting the audio all the time is a chore

[@gbennett69]

the sound sucks

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

That's just my voice 🤣

[@gesus44]

The audio makes this unwatchable.

[@Emperor1G]

this would have been a lot better if the audio quality had been even remotely decent

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

I'm sorry you found that. What was the issue?

[@dr.barrycraiggarneauesq.]

2 dollar microphone. Before you post it review and clean up or toss it.Oh you get paid only for posted.

[@NapoleonicWargaming]

Yeah, it was not a great purchase :( I've got a better one now, and when I get chance, I will be re-recording this!

[@Super_tramp142]

Currently researching the guard for my next tattoo