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Stucture of Italian Guard Battalions??
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Author:  Theron Lambert [ Mon Oct 12, 2015 3:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Stucture of Italian Guard Battalions??
Gentlemen,

Does anyone know how the Italian Guard battalions were structured? The classic French model for line infantry was first 9 companies per battalion with one being grenadiers which changed to 6 companies with four fusilier companies, one grenadier company and one voltigeur company. The Italian line and light infantry followed this pattern of 6 company battalions.

But the French Guard was structured with 8 companies in the Old Guard and 4 companies in the Middle and Young Guard. The 8 company battalions deployed in the same fashion as the 4 company battalions. The question is, did the Italian Royal Guard mirror the French Guard or the line??

The reason for the question is to determine the proper battalion column -- the 4 company battalions deployed in column with two companies across and two companies deep, whereas the 6 company battalions also deployed with a two company front (though often with the Grenadiers added on the right flank) with a depth of 3 companies (unless voltigeurs were forward as skirmishers and grenadiers were formed up on the right).

Regards,

Theron Lambert
Commander IV Corps
Author:  Christian Hecht [ Mon Oct 12, 2015 7:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Stucture of Italian Guard Battalions??
Helpful would be to know from which year you want to know the structure, I'm sure there were changes to them that made them look different over the years.
And you mean the Guard and not the "Guards de Honour" or the "Velites"?
Author:  Theron Lambert [ Mon Oct 12, 2015 7:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Stucture of Italian Guard Battalions??
The Kingdom of Northern Italy only existed from 1805 to 1814; during this period many units were added, but I don't believe the battalion structure changed. Napoleon was king with stepson Eugene as viceroy. They adopted the same structure as Napoleon had decreed in France. But was the Guard patterned after the French Guard as well? Since they did not have separate elite companies within each battalion it may not have made sense to follow the line pattern of 6 companies and I expect that Napoleon would have created both Guards under the same pattern, but I haven't been able to confirm this.

I'm interested in all infantry of the Guard - Grenadiers, Chasseurs, Velites and Conscripts.
Author:  Colin Knox [ Tue Oct 13, 2015 1:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Stucture of Italian Guard Battalions??
Hi Theron
I recall they mirrored the structure of the French so the line troops were similar and the guard like the old and young guard. But its an old memory so I may be wrong. I am sure Bill will know
regards
Colin
Author:  Bill Peters [ Tue Oct 13, 2015 1:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Stucture of Italian Guard Battalions??
Concerning the Guard:

http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=225236

You might pick up the Osprey book on the Italian troops:

http://www.amazon.com/Napoleons-Italian ... ian+Troops

Each unit type in the Osprey text is usually given an organization outline.

Paco actually would have better resources to draw on than me. When I was doing my research the main thing was:

1. Name
2. Size
3. Can it skirmish?
4. Was it regular, Guard or militia

That kind of thing.

I don't think we did any company level scenarios that included the N.Italian troops. Wagram has a company level scenario but it doesn't feature the Italian troops.

I haven't had to research to this level since I painted miniatures! :russianveryhappy:

The Mayflower was en route to America when I was painting my Russians, MacDonald's X Corps and other miniatures forces.! :frenchlol1:
Author:  Christian Hecht [ Tue Oct 13, 2015 11:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Stucture of Italian Guard Battalions??
You could also check out http://www.napoleon-series.org/military ... html#italy (beware some stuff in Italian or French) and you could also ask on their forum.
Author:  Cezary Pluskwa [ Wed Oct 14, 2015 1:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Stucture of Italian Guard Battalions??
:frenchsalute:
Regiment d'Elite Napolitain,

as part of 31 Division, General de division Francois Ledru des Essart,
XI Corps, Marechal d'Empire Macdonald.

Italians 1 and 2 baon, 24 officers, 470 NCOs and privates.

15 June 1813, at that time Silesia, Friedeberg, now Lower Silesia, Mirsk, Poland.
:frenchvive:
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