Newbie considering a Guard army under Black Powder rules

[Ronald Delval]

Wasn t the garde d honneur linked to the old aristocracy families specifically or am i thinking of another unit?

[Skaby]

Ronald Delval, you are thinking about the right unit.

[Ronald Delval]

A lot of Napoleonic info stuck in my head but i’ve neglected the topic for quite a while. Although it is one of my favourite periods Antiquity and the Dark Ages tend to have first place.
Been reading like crazy lately to reignite the knowledge somewhat. The detail and accumulation of facts is crazy compared to antiquity. Logical too given the progression of time.
But it sometimes seems the player’s obsession with detail has grown along with it. 🙂

[invisible officer]

Well, one of many myths that stuck. At the time of creation the old aristocracy families had long been part of the Napoleonic system. Many had come back and the sons wanted officer posts, not being a trooper in a unit of small prestige.

It was more for the son of the new more or less wealthy bourgeois that was able to pay someone serving for him to avoid conscription. Families with no military tradition.

[Steve Burt]

Napoleon fought his 1814 campaign in France almost entirely with the Imperial Guard as that was pretty much all he had left. So plenty of scope for an ‘all guard’ force.

[invisible officer]

A typical Young guard action was that at Laubressel, 4th March 1814. 20.000 French, including 2.700 Young guard Tirailleurs. 2.600 Line horse. Allied victory at ca. equal losses.

Craone 3 days later was more like a guard action. With Mortier’s Old Guard and Victor’s Young guard Corps. And Ney’s mixed Young GUard and Line one. The French being led by the “master” himself and at least 3 to 2 stronger in numbers. Loosing! The Russian shot the “Elite” into pieces. Napoleon lost around 50% more than the Allies.
In Young Guard many had been raw recruits in that action. The remaining line units had more veterans at that time.

[Ronald Delval]

@Steve Burt hmm I think i’ll do that. The 1814 France campaign might together with Italy be Napoleon at his best.
And a lot of action to tackle there.
I think i’ll go for that! Thanks for the inspiration to get the brainjuices flowing. 🙂

[Dr Dave]

I’m not keen on Victor, whilst Croanne is a corking battle. The problem with Victor, and I suppose with so many of the French marshals coming up through the ranks, is that they’re probably not gentlemen, and certainly not proper chaps.

[Author]

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