By decree dated
Floréal 28,
Year XII (May 18, 1804), the former horse artillery company of the Garde Consulaire became the horse artillery regiment of the Imperial Guard, retaining its inter-army character but with considerably increased numbers. Couin remained its artillery commander until he was replaced in 1807 by
Jean Ambroise Baston de Lariboisière.
Horse artillery . Heir to the ''compagnie d'artillerie à cheval de la Garde consulaire'', the
Horse Artillery of the Imperial Guard was considered the elite of Napoleon's artillery, and took part in all the campaigns and battles of the
Empire's Wars. At the
Battle of Wagram, the Garde's horse artillery suffered far more casualties than the foot artillery. Decimated during the
retreat from Russia, it was quickly reconstituted. Finally, during the final phase of the
Battle of Waterloo, the last major battle of the Napoleonic Wars, the horse artillery took part with four batteries in
the attack of the Imperial Guard on the
Mont-Saint-Jean plateau. Trained as an artilleryman, Napoleon placed himself at the head of his guns on several occasions. During the
French campaign of 1814, he personally directed the firing of the batteries at the
battle of Montmirail and then
Montereau. On June 17, 1815, after the
Battle of Quatre Bras, he personally led the mounted batteries in pursuit of the British troops retreating to
Brussels.
Dismounted artillery By imperial decree of April 17, 1808, four companies of foot artillery were incorporated into the artillery of the Guard. These were increased to eight in 1810, and to nine in 1812, all organized into a regiment. On October 11, 1811, Napoleon defined the regiment as part of the
Old Guard.
The following year, a second regiment was created and attached to the
Jeune Garde (Young Guard). On May 13, 1814, after the
Treaty of Fontainebleau and Napoleon I's first abdication, the foot artillery of the Imperial Guard was disbanded, but on April 1, 1815, after
Napoleon I's return, the foot artillery regiment of the Imperial Guard was reconstituted, albeit with only six companies. It took part in the
Belgian campaign, and was present at the
battles of Ligny and
Waterloo. On July 16, 1815, following
Napoleon I's second abdication, the regiment was definitively disbanded. It was replaced by the foot artillery regiment of the Royal Guard during the
Bourbon Restoration in France (Second Restoration), under
royal orders dated September 1 and 14, 1815. To be admitted to this elite corps, one had to be a graduate of the artillerie de ligne, have six years' service and be tall
Train The
artillery train comprised six companies forming a battalion in 1806. This was increased to eight companies in 1812. During the
Hundred Days, the train was reorganized into a squadron of eight companies. == Equipment ==