Saber of Infantry Officer of the Young Imperial Guard
Aug 28, 2021 17:44:57 GMT
Post by jack88 on Aug 28, 2021 17:44:57 GMT
Happy Saturday, everyone!
Today, I will write about my favorite and most precious sword and all of the research I have been able to dig up surrounding the lesser-known but vaunted Young Guard of Napoleon's Imperial Guard. This sword was a lucky find peak covid, I have seen few of similar quality floating around, but they are rare nonetheless. Without further adieu
Napoleon's Garde Imperiale:
Created as the Directory Guard in 1796, in 1799 became the Consular Guard, and finally, the Guard changed its name to the quantifier "Imperial" in 1804 after Napoleon's coronation. In 1804 at the time of Napoleon's coronation, the Guard was made up of 8,000 men but had vastly increased in size by Napoleon's invasion of Russia in 1812 to nearly 100,000 men! Approximately 12,000 men of the Guard were left to take action in Waterloo(assuming each of the 12 Regiments that took place were roughly made up of 2 battalions of 500 men each). Napoleon intended the Guardsmen to be models for the entire army; they had the following requirements: a veteran of 3 campaigns, literate, and at least 5'10 to be a grenadier 5'7 chasseur. In 1810 the Guard was officially divided into the Young, Middle, and Old Guard units.
A system of merit:
Napoleon instituted a successful system of advancement throughout the three types of Guardsmen. Recruits of the highest tier would start in the Young Guard, move to the Middle Guard after gaining veteran status and eventually end in the Old Guard with the following requirements: at least 35 years old, ten years of service, and at least three campaigns. Battle-hardened veterans led the Young Guardsmen, their officers were taken from the Old Guard and NCO's from the Middle Guard as described here by Napoleon to Berthier: "I intend that the Young Guard subalterns and NCOs should rank with those in the line, its NCOs shall be drawn from fusiliers of Middle Guard, and those of fusiliers from the Old Guard. In the line, I shall use the Young Guardsmen as corporals and Middle Guardsmen as sergeants. Therefore the best conscripts should go to the Young and Middle Guard." Therefore my Young Guard Officer's sword once belonged to a veteran of the Old Guard.
Both the Young Guard and Old Guard took part in the defeat at Placenoit in Waterloo.
While searching for honorable actions of the Young Guard, it should be of note that they fought ferociously at the Battle of Paris, groups of them refusing to surrender and perishing.
A sword for the elite:
This specific model of sword comes in a multitude of variations across all the units of the Guard. Most Guard units have the blade inscribed with the unit they are attached to.
An incredible example of a Grenadier of the Old Guard.
Young Guardsmen rarely had "Garde Imperiale" inscribed across the blade, and more generally, the usual talismanic symbols generally found on First Empire officer's blades of all types. This simplistic model is often under dispute as the model itself has been found tied to other infantry officers not of the Guard like this Solingen made an example:
The addition of Napoleon's likeness over the acanthus leaves gives precedent to the sword, and generally, only Old Guardsman had this feature on their swords. There is some variation to the make of the sword, most of the measurements are close, but there is a wide variation of the make of the grip. I have seen both leather and wire.
My sword came with a certificate of authenticity from Mr. Pharamond of Paris:
I, the undersigned Jean-Luc Pharamond, expert near the Court of Appeal of Montpellier, hereby certify the characteristics and origin of the following object: SABER OF INFANTRY OFFICER OF THE YOUNG IMPERIAL GUARD, FIRST EMPIRE (1812 -1814). Bronze frame, guard with a branch "à la hunter" chiseled with bay leaves and acanthus leaves. Cruise in the shape of a mound engraved with oak leaves on which is fixed the large head profile of the Emperor Napoleon crowned with silver laurel leaves. Crown with long tail decorated in relief with bay leaves. Wooden handle entirely filigree with copper wires. Curved blade with hollow sides engraved blued and gilded on its first third of military and floral trophies. Blade length 76 cm. Scarlet cloth tie. Black patent leather scabbard with two bronze fittings. Cope decorated with simple threads with oval button for wearing on a belt, lower part cut into a scallop. Bouterolle decorated with simple threads cut in the shape of a brass dart. festoon in the upper part and finished in a very good condition, leather of the scabbard with a repair. France. First Empire (1812-1814).
This model of sword is widely faked and composited due to the high demand for Imperial Guard weapons. I have now had it looked at by a couple of people and can confidently say that it is authentic. The main point of contention is Napoleon's likeness, as this sword was used for years later and by the National Guard in the Restoration era. Napoleon's likeness has been known to be added to such blades to give false provenance. Mine shows appropriate wear and aging.
These swords were known to be made domestically in France and by Solingen. Mine has a nice Solingen rose on the spine of the blade. It is marked S&K for Schnitzler & Kirschbaum (on the ricasso, which is impossible to get a clear photo of) who registered as furbishers in Solingen in 1808.
The opposite side of Napoleon's likeness has the basic acanthus leaves.
The stats of the swords are as follows:
Overall 36 1/2" in length
Grip 5 1/2' grip
Blade 29 1/2" long
POB 4 1/2" from hilt
1.51 lbs or 686 grams in weight
It is the only infantry sword I own, but I can say it handles magnificently. It is without a doubt the epitome of Napoleonic Infantry Officer swords. I doubt any British Flank Officer sword or any other Prussian/Russian/Austrian sword could match it in the genre. It retains an in-period service sharpened edge (it has blunted mostly), but all the proper aging is uniform to the rest of the blade. I find myself handling this sword far more than any other. It has a majesty to it and likely a story to tell if it could only tell us its past. It is undoubtedly one of the most precious historical items I own and easily could warrant a display of its very own.
Thanks for the read!
My sources which have everything you'd ever want to know about Napoleon's Imperial Guard, I highly recommend the read:
www.napolun.com/mirror/web2.airmail.net/napoleon/Imperial_Guard_at_Waterloo.htm
napoleonistyka.atspace.com/BATTLE_OF_WATERLOO.htm#_bloodbath_in_Plancenoit
www.napolun.com/mirror/web2.airmail.net/napoleon/IMPERIAL_GUARD_infantry_1.htm
napoleonistyka.atspace.com/Paris_1814.htm