"Napoleon's Foreign Allies (Peninsular War)" Topic

Hello everyone,

I'm looking for a source of orders of battle for the French army during the Peninsular War. I'm particularly interested in learning which foreign allied regiments (such as those from the Swiss army) fought during that campaign. I don't mind if the sources are online, recommneded books, or just from your learned selves.

I have two books on the Peninsular War, and both detail the British army in depth, all regiments named, etc., but none go into nearly as much detail on the French.

Thanks in advance.

We must have the same books. I would love to find the same information.

-W

Here's a start

link

link

link

link

link

You'll see that the 4e Suisse were at Rolica and Vimiero

Charles Oman's multi-volume "History of the Peninsular War" has what you need even if it is larger investment than you might like to make.

link

Trouble is a lot written about this aspect covers a specific campaign.

Part of the issue is that French units tended to come and go while the British army was much more stable…

I am a newbie in Napoleonics so I don't know whether the books I use are any good or not. My main stay for the Peninsular War ids 'Uniforms of the Peninsular War1807-1814' by Philip Haythornwaite and Michael Chappell, published by Blandford Press in 1978. Although it was only £4.25 GBP when new I paid £20.00 GBP for a second hand copy from one of the booksellers at Triples a couple of years ago.

It has an ISBN number 0 7137 0841 7.

One of my mates spotted it and told me to buy it. (He is more into the Napoleonic Wars than myself so I trusted his judgment.)

Benedict – Hawthorn's work is fine. Granted the age the price is within the bounds of what I would consider acceptable.

I second that-a most useful book.

George Nafzinger has done some wonderful studies of the various armies for the Napolionic wars. He's done a couple on the German minor allies which give you most of the information you need. Here's a page from Bookfinder, and you could probablt try Amazon. If you're at any of the east shows in the US you can get them straight from him at his booth. I believe he goes to some of the mid-west shows as well. link

Baden, Berg, Nassau, Frankfurt-am-Main, Irlandais Etranger, Hanoverian Legion, Legion du Midi, the Rheinbund Regiments of the Saxon Duchies and Lippe-Detmold, Kingdom of Holland, Duchy of Warsaw, Italian Kingdom, Vistula Legion, Swiss mercs, Naples all jump to mind.

To the best of my knowledge you will not find troops from Bavaria, Wurttemburg and Saxony there.

Two fine books to add for overviews and color plates is Napoleon's War in Spain by Henry Lachouque, Jean Tranie and J-C Carmigniani. ISBN 0-85368-506-1; and Military Dress of the Peninsula War by Martin Windrow and Gerry Embleton, ISBN 0-88254-273-7.

21eRegt that's a fair assesment of what went to Spain.

I'd add Hesse-Darmstadt to your list.

The three powers you mention I don't recall going to Spain

The Irandais Etranger is referred to as the Irish Legion prior to 1809.

My main painting sources are Haythornwaite, LaCchouque's and Windrow's books. I also have some Osprey that I use as well.

You also should add the Joseph Napoleon's Pro-French Spanish army. A very colorful bunch. I also understand that another French Marshall had a large Pro-French Spanish army but I cannot find any information to confirm that.

Thanks for all the suggestions gents.

I took delivery of the Chris McNab book 'Armies of the Napoleonic Wars' this morning (got it cheap on pre-order). There are no orders of battle, but some great information on the organisation and uniforms of the major foreign allies.

Will check out Haythornthwaite too.

@ Connard – those links were great! Quite a bit in there about the Italian forces if you scour the lists.

Angel you can find Haythronthwaite book in several editions. One is a small Blandford hard cover small size style original edition. Later a second white cover edition was released with larger plates and easier to read. I am not sure who that publisher was. I seem to remember a hardcover option in the later style as well.

Baden, Berg, Nassau, Frankfurt-am-Main, Irlandais Etranger, Hanoverian Legion, Legion du Midi, the Rheinbund Regiments of the Saxon Duchies and Lippe-Detmold, Kingdom of Holland, Duchy of Warsaw, Italian Kingdom, Vistula Legion, Swiss mercs, Naples all jump to mind.

Now..who makes figures for these armies in 28mm (or at least with uniforms that are close enough)? I know Perry and Front Rank makes Nassau troops.

Schogun,

In 28mm you're more likely to get nit-picked than with smaller scales (personally I use 10mm) but must of those wore standard French Uniforms.

The problems come with Duchy of Warsaw & Vistula Legion where you'll need Polish headgear.

The Kingdom of Holland had its own uniform with the straighter sided shako with the plume on the side not on the front, so that will give you problems.

"I'd add Hesse-Darmstadt to your list."

Ah yes 138SquadronRAF, how could I forget der Graf und Erbprinz regiment? Tough troops, ask the stormers at Badajoz. I recall one story about Spanish guerillas looking to ambush the end of a "French" column. They took one look at the "Hessios" and decided another day would be better.

The Swiss had side plumes also IIRC. But yes, mostly French uniforms in what would be called the short "Habit-veste." Obviously some expections like the Italians. This would make a fun and colorful project.

Front Rank do Duchy of Warsaw and Vistula Legion as well as the aforementioned Nassau troops.

I suggest "Peninsular War: A New History: Esdaile, Charles", I read it and got from Amazon enough cheaply.

This is the book you want for this kind of thing: link

It is a bit expensive at the moment, but I have definitely seen it much cheaper.

Nafziger OoBs will provide the answers – some kind soul has extracted by area & time period:
Spain 1807-08 link
Spain 1809 link
Spain 1810 link
Spain 1811-14 link

For the full Napoloenic/Revolutionary period listings by year etc
"George F Nafziger will be known to many already. Over the last forty years he has produced a mass of extremely detailed Orders of Battle totaling nearly 8,000 different OOB's ranging from 1600 to 1945 and produced a number of books on various aspects of military history. Having retired, George donated his entire collection to the US Army Command and General Staff College. Some of this collection is available online, but not the Napoleonic collection of over 1,600 OOB's. Therefore, George Nafziger has very kindly provided his complete Napoleonic collection to the Waterloo Association who have arranged for it to be placed on the Napoleon Series website to ensure that it is maintained for the future."
link

Bonjour Prince d'Essling,

C'est bizarre j'ai un autre lien sur lequel on trouve en plus « Espagne 1807-1808 », problème d'affichage ?
link

Bonjour Prince d'Essling,

C'est bizarre j'ai un autre lien sur lequel on trouve en plus « Espagne 1807-1808 », problème d'affichage ?
l'adresse est : https:@//www.napoleon-series.org/resources/the-nafziger-collection-of-napoleonic-orders-of-battle/

Édition : le lien est transformé par le site ! J'ai ajouté un @ que vous devez ôter avant de coller le lien.

@Flint and Bayonet,

Indeed bizarre – for Spain 1807-1808 now try link

Bonjour Prince d'Essling,
J'ai testé avec Chrome, Safari et Firefox (sur Mac), c'est la même chose.
Il faut supprimer : #1600853045705-03d8a0f9-7ac3 à la fin de l'adresse et recharger pour avoir un affichage normal.
Encore un mystère de l'informatique ! ;-)
Bonne journée !