Another dip into Posties collection, painted by myself. Today’s unit The Neapolitan Gardes d'Honneur, circa 1812. The figures are made by Essex Miniatures, but are not specific Neopolitans, they were a unit he bought unpainted on Ebay and the figures just happened to fit the description of the unit, not really sure exactly what they are based on.
The Gardes d'Honneur are another difficult unit to find info about, Postie does pick 'em!!
They served in the Grand Army on their tour of Russia in 1812, in the 11th Corps, 33rd Division under General Destrees. At the end of 1813 they had a name and uniform change becoming the Neapolitan Gardes du Corps. Their uniform changed to a Bicorn with a white plume, a red tunic with red cuffs, yellow turnbacks and lace, white epaulettes and breeches, with a blue saddlecloth.
Digby Smith talked about them in his OB or OBs for Leipzig 1813. He wasn't sure there were enough left to count at that point, well after Russia, like they supposed to be there, but he was comparing different lists.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what they'd have thought if they known a) they'd have miniatures made of them one day and b) we'd have a hard time finding out anything about them already. It's happy and sad that all knowledge vanishes eventually. Like tears in the rain, to borrow a phrase.
ReplyDeleteThis is not the Guardia di Honore,this is the veliti a cavallo della gaurdia reale which became the Ussari in 1813. They should have amaranth shakos and the trousers/breeches should be amaranth in full dress. The green dolman and breeches was the 2nd uniform which replaced the previous white dolman and amaranth breeches, when they became the Ussari.
ReplyDeleteWell it is according to my Osprey book, Napoleon's Italian Troops, Men at Arms No88, from where I painted the unit!
ReplyDeleteI really like these man! I see you give much respect to the details :)
ReplyDeleteDid they see much action outside Italy?
ReplyDeleteunreal job..these things must keep ya busy
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments lads!
ReplyDelete@ Suchio - As they were in the Grand Armee they must have seen some action in Russia and according to Mekelnborg above they were at Leipzig in 1813. Other than that, I dunno!!
There were 5 squadrons of Neapolitan guard cavalry. The Guardia Honore dressed as the Polish Guard Lancers but armed with sabres rather than lances and in white tunics with amaranth facings and breeches. The Veliti a Cavallo, despite having their uniform changed to a white and amaranth hussa uniform in 1809, apparently wore their previous uniform (a blue with yellow facings lancer outfit). They did see action in Russia although only during the retreat, they escorted napoleon westwards after Knovo. Unfortunately about 150 froze to death during their first night in the open and many more as the retreat continued, mainly due to Murats insistence of them wearing full dress uniform. By the time they reached Danzig they were down to little more than a score of troopers. theyd id serve along with the Elite Regt made from the elite companies of the 5th,6th & 7th neapolitan line regiments and the remainder of the veliti and marini della guardia
ReplyDeleteand the guard horse artillery battery. I have the osprey book and I have no idea where they get their information, but compared to the Histofig plates and various italian and other magazine articles, they are wildly inaccurate as regards the guard cavalry.
Thanks for the info, that's a lot more info than I could find. Have you a link as to where you found this info??
ReplyDeleteHi ray, most of it is in the Histofig site, there was also the 4 part series on the Neapolitan army in the early numbers of First Empire. I also have 2 italian publications on the line cavalry and infantry which also provide much detail. if you check TMP i have detailed quite a lot of unknown facts about the capabilities and uniforms etc of the neapolitan army.the guardia dell corpo also had an interim uniform which was a red uniform with yellow facings topped off by a similarly coloured czapka. It is probaly fair to say that the evolution and uniforms of the neapolitan army and the guard especially is obscure and full of false trails, such as the all yellow guard hussars and the guides de Murat in Knotel. If you need any information on amything you can always e-mail me at angus.sutherland@ntlworld.com
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