The Anatomy of Glory

Napoleon and His Guard

Henri Lachouque, Anne S. K. Brown

• Publisher: Frontline Books
• Year: 2017
• Print ISBN:
  9781526703415
• eBook ISBN:
  9781526703439
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Napoleonic Wars
• Index: History

Napoleons Imperial Guard was arguably the most famous military formation to tread the battlefields of Europe. La Garde Imperial was created on 18 May 1804, and from its origins as a small personal escort, the Guard grew in size and importance throughout the Napoleonic era. Eventually, it became the tactical reserve of the Grande Arme, comprising almost a third of Napoleons field forces. The men of the Imperial Guard were the lite of the First Empire, its officers and men the military aristocracy of post-Revolutionary France.Used only sparingly, the Guard acquired a reputation of invincibility. Such had become its prestige, when the attacks of the Guard were repulsed at Waterloo, they signaled not only the defeat of the French army but also the end of an era.In this magnificent study, unparalleled in depth and scope, the renowned French historian Commandant Henry Lachouque has produced a lavish and sumptuous work. It combines vivid narrative with valuable and unique uniform illustrations, including seventy-four full color plates from the Anne S.K. Brown collection, to make The Anatomy of Glory one of the most important and most sought-after books on military history ever published.

PLATE 1

Bonaparte protected by grenadiers of the Legislature at Saint-Cloud

(From a contemporary engraving published chez Basset)

PLATE 2

Trumpeter of the horse grenadiers, Guard of the Consuls

(After Hoffmann)

PLATE 3

GRENADIERS OF THE GUARD OF THE CONSULS

a) Drummer, full dress

(After Hoffman)

b) Officer, full dress

(After Chataignier)

PLATE 4

The French Army on campaign in 1800

(From an aquatint by Bartsch after Wilhelm Kobell)

PLATE 5

Colonel Eugène Beauharnais and the chasseurs à clieval, Guard of the Consuls

(After Hoffmann)

PLATE 6

Lieutenant of lieht artillery, Consular Guard

(After Hoffmann)

PLATE 7

Trumpeter of light artillery, Consular Guard

(After Hoffmann)

PLATE 8

a) Drummer, elite gendarmes, 1803

b) Costume of Roustam, Mamcluk of the First Consul

(Contemporary engravings publish...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• CONTENTS
• List of Plates
• Maps and Plans
• Introduction
• Translator’s Preface
• November Night
• I. THE GUARD IS BORN
• II. THE GUARD KEEPS WATCH
• III. THE GUARD SUFFERS
• IV. THE GUARD IN SPLENDOR
• V. THE GUARD IN ACTION
• VI. THE GUARD TAKES CHARGE
• VII. THE GUARD AT BAY
• VIII. THE GUARD STAGGERS
• IX. THE GUARD FALLS
• X. THE GUARD DIES
• APPENDIX
• Notes on Illustrations
• Notes on Artists
• Author’s Bibliography
• Acknowledgements
• Plates section