Old Guard (France)

"La Vieille Garde" (*The Old Guard*)
"La Vieille Garde" (The Old Guard)
	Grenadier of the Old Guard wearing two veteran chevrons representing 15 to 20 years of service
Active	1804–1815
Country	France
Branch	French Army
Patron	Napoleon
Engagements	Napoleonic Wars Battle of Lodi; Battle of Austerlitz; Battle of Wagram; Battle of Dresden; Battle of Ligny; Battle of Waterloo;
Commanders
Notable; commanders	Dorsenne; Bessières; Davout; Soult; Cambronne

The Old Guard (French: Vieille Garde) were the veteran elements of the Emperor Napoleon's Imperial Guard. As such it was the most prestigious formation in Napoleon's Grande Armée.^[1]^[2] French soldiers often referred to Napoleon's Old Guard as "the Immortals".^[3]^[4]

Famously devoted to the Emperor,^[5] who even referred to them as "my children";^[6] the members of his Old Guard were selected based on physical traits, most notably above-average height.^[3]^[7] Their imposing stature was likely impressive to foes and allies alike. Awards as well as veterancy were also taken into consideration when selecting troops for the Old Guard.^[3]^[7]

^ Nafziger, George Francis (30 April 1998). The role of Napoleon's Imperial Guard in the Empire, 1799-1815 (PhD). ProQuest Dissertations Publishing. Cincinnati, Ohio, United States: The Union Institute – via ProQuest.
^ Hémardinquer, J.J. (1 August 1965). "La Garde Impériale " in colour "" [The Imperial Guard «in color»]. Annales. Histoire, Sciences Sociales (in French). 20 (4). Paris, France: Les Éditions de l’EHESS/Cambridge University Press: 843–845. doi:10.1017/S0395264900111576. ISSN 0395-2649. LCCN 49012430. OCLC 436601008. S2CID 195484837.
^ ^a ^b ^c Lachouque 2015, pp. 91–100, Chapter 1 — The Imperial Guard (Book II — The Guard Keeps Watch).
^ Georges Blond, La Grande Armée, trans. Marshall May (New York: Arms and Armor, 1997), 48, 103, 470
^ Klaf, Franklin (1 June 1960). "Napoleon and the Grand Army of 1812: A Study of Group Psychology". The Psychoanalytic Review. 47C (3). New York City, New York, United States: National Psychological Association for Psychoanalysis: 69–76. ISSN 0033-2836. OCLC 1624251 – via Psychoanalytic Electronic Publishing.
^ Lachouque 2015, pp. 706–711, Chapter 5 — ‘Farewell, my children’ (Book VII — The Guard Staggers).
^ ^a ^b Headley 1851, pp. 11–28, Chapter I. The origin of the Imperial Guard—Plan on which it was first constituted—The Consular Guard of Napoleon—The moral character of the Old Guard.

[1] Nafziger, George Francis (30 April 1998). The role of Napoleon's Imperial Guard in the Empire, 1799-1815 (PhD). ProQuest Dissertations Publishing. Cincinnati, Ohio, United States: The Union Institute – via ProQuest.

[2] Hémardinquer, J.J. (1 August 1965). "La Garde Impériale " in colour "" [The Imperial Guard «in color»]. Annales. Histoire, Sciences Sociales (in French). 20 (4). Paris, France: Les Éditions de l’EHESS/Cambridge University Press: 843–845. doi:10.1017/S0395264900111576. ISSN 0395-2649. LCCN 49012430. OCLC 436601008. S2CID 195484837.

[FOOTNOTELachouque201591–100[httpsbooksgooglecombooksidY81vCwAAQBAJpgPT106_Chapter_1_—_The_Imperial_Guard_(Book_II_—_The_Guard_Keeps_Watch)]-3] Lachouque 2015, pp. 91–100, Chapter 1 — The Imperial Guard (Book II — The Guard Keeps Watch).

[4] Georges Blond, La Grande Armée, trans. Marshall May (New York: Arms and Armor, 1997), 48, 103, 470

[5] Klaf, Franklin (1 June 1960). "Napoleon and the Grand Army of 1812: A Study of Group Psychology". The Psychoanalytic Review. 47C (3). New York City, New York, United States: National Psychological Association for Psychoanalysis: 69–76. ISSN 0033-2836. OCLC 1624251 – via Psychoanalytic Electronic Publishing.

[FOOTNOTELachouque2015706–711[httpsbooksgooglecombooksidY81vCwAAQBAJpgPT718_Chapter_5_—_‘Farewell,_my_children’_(Book_VII_—_The_Guard_Staggers)]-6] Lachouque 2015, pp. 706–711, Chapter 5 — ‘Farewell, my children’ (Book VII — The Guard Staggers).

[FOOTNOTEHeadley185111–28[httpsbooksgooglecombooksid4wwZAAAAYAAJpgPA11_Chapter_I._The_origin_of_the_Imperial_Guard—Plan_on_which_it_was_first_constituted—The_Consular_Guard_of_Napoleon—The_moral_character_of_the_Old_Guard]-7] Headley 1851, pp. 11–28, Chapter I. The origin of the Imperial Guard—Plan on which it was first constituted—The Consular Guard of Napoleon—The moral character of the Old Guard.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]