"Royal Corsican Legere Regiment" Topic

Hi guys,

I got a real good one for you to figure out for me, I am trying to find out the make-up (organisation) of the Royal Corsican Legere Regiment (Corsican Legion) when it was decreed to enter Neapolitan service in 1806.

Does anyone know the answer to this ?

Regards,
Shane

Shane,

All Corsican battalions in the French army had five companies, one carabinier and five chasseur. The Corsican Legion was organized from five battalions which had been first organized in 1803 by General Morand (not Davout's Morand). They were usually termed either Infanterie legere Corse or chasseurs corse.

They were moved from Corsica to Leghorn in 1804 and reuniformed in deep sky blue and yellow and they were hustled northward in 1805 to join Massena's Army of Italy in 1805. The next year they were transferred to Naples as a foreign regiment, first named Royal Corsica (Royale Corse) in 1807 and then in 1813 the 1st Light Infantry Regiment.

Their companies probably stayed at the five per battalions as first organized but I don't know how many battalions the regiment had in Naples, undoubtedly at least three battalions. The uniform for Naples was a dark blue light infantry uniform originally with green facings which changed to black in 1807.

Sincerely,
Kevin

Hi Kevin,

Thanks for the information. One question I have is; The Corsican Legion, is it a totally seperate body (Regiment) of men than the Corsicans in French service ?

And it is interesting to find out they did not have a Voltiguer company ?

Shane

Hi Shane,

The Corsican Legion was in the French service, as they were a French unit, when formed and when they served with Massena in 1805. They were sent to Naples to give Murat reliable troops. When Murat turned traitor in 1814 most of the regiment mutinied and went to fight with Eugene.

It is interesting that they didn't have a voltigeur company, but they were a light infantry unit anyways, and the Corsican units, especially the Tirailleurs Corses, had excellent reputations as light infantry. Maybe Napoleon didn't think they needed one per battalion like everyone else.

Sincerely,
Kevin

ahh, Kevin, thanks for the infor, very enlightening indeed. I rated them as a Veteran unit with the Carabiniers as "Elite" does this sound ok by you ?

Shane

ohh, also,

What was there make-up ? strength of each company etc ? I know there was 5 btlns which were reduced to 3 in 1807 but thats all I know…

Hi Shane,

They were very effective guerilla hunters in Naples. I'd almost recommend rating the entire regiment as elite (and having common sense in leaving Murat in 1814). The Corsicans were always excellent.

I have no data on company strengths, but they were undoubtedly the same as a regulation French company. Their uniforms in Naples were handsome and they looked like French light infantry.

Sincerely,
Kevin

Shane,

The battalion strength of five companies should read one carabinier and four chasseur companies. I need to pay attention.

Sincerely,
Kevin

Excellent, thank you Kevin, that's what I thought they were.

Regards,
Shane

according to Colin Allen's excellent 1st Empire article the chasseurs pompom had a white outer ring, a blue centre and a white number. Neapolitan light regiments often had their collars in the facing colour rather than just the piping to differentiate between them. Also the officers often wore uniforms in the pre 1811 style and possibly with the old facing colours too. Mounted officers had dark blue saddlecloths with silver lace.