"?31st French Chasseurs with lance?" Topic

On page 303 of Robert Burnham's book "Charging Against Wellington," there is a footnote stating that…

"The 31st Chasseurs (a cheval) were formed on 7 September, 1811, when the 1s Provisional Light Cavalry Regiment was dissolved (in Spain). The new regiment would consist of the 4th Squadrons from the 11th and 12th Chasseurs (both crimson facings) and the 5th Hussars. In November 1813, while the regiment was in Italy, one of the squadrons was armed with a lance."

Makes an interesting possibility for an "imaginations" unit, with a squadron in sky blue hussar dolman, with barrel sash, no pelisse, and with scarlet "shako rouleau" and armed with lance. 1813 is probably to early for the shako rouleau, and the whole unit might have been re-uniformed in the Bardin style, faced ??buff??

I seem to remember another 31st Chasseurs -the Hamburger Uhlans – armed with the lance. Green Polish jacket and a Czapka, red overalls, Germans from the Hamburg area.

GdeP

Da bug strikes! Tried to talk Trek and ended up on this thread…

31st CaC – Elite company with lance:

31st CaC with lance:

According to Digby-Smith's "Napoleon's Regiments" page 281 etc (some of this sounds odd date wise but I am quoting the actual text):

The 31st was raised in Spain on 7 September 1811 from the 1st and 2nd provisional Light cavalry (5th Hussars, 11th, 12th & 14th Chasseurs a Cheval). It was joined in early 1811 by the Hamburg Dragoons and the cavalry of the Hannoverian Legion. On 18 June 1811 it became the 9th Chevaulegers.

Also see Frederic Berjaud's article and illustrations at: link

Lots to choose from! Lots to further confuse the Napoleonic period!

The first picture looks a great deal like the Hamburg Uhlans, which I recall seeing as the 30th. Hourtoule Plate as I recall?

The second is odd with the long-tailed coat, replaced early in the period by the Kinski. But the Lancier Gendarmes wore a uniform of similar cut – beautiful in dark blue faced scarlet with white edging.

Under the last picture, the Hannoverian Legion is mentioned, but I thought that had been folded into the 1st French Hussars in Spain.

I've reached the point that I cannot finish my planned 36-battalion French "corps" in Spain. Perhaps converting a single figure of each of these! More room for 1 of a kind figures than 36 figures of infantry.

Thank you, Prince of Essling!

As far as I know ….

August 1811 : Hamburg "Red" Dragoons (Uhlans) + cavalry of the Hanoverian Legion ---> 30th Chasseurs ---> 9th Light Horse Lancers
And did not serve in Spain

September 1811 : 1st and 2nd Provisional Light Cavalry regiments + depot detachments --->31st Chasseurs
Go by Frederic Berjaud's article for their uniformes

I have a Hourtoulle illustration of the 30th, Hamburg Chasseurs, showing green kurkta with chamois facings, red czapska and red trousers with black stripe, red saddle cloth with black stripe, and chamois lance pennon. Trumpeter in red with blue facings. Nice looking unit, I'm in the midst of painting some.

Having looked at other sources, it is clear Digby Smith's book is not correct on the 31st Chasseurs a Cheval and also on the 30th Chasseurs a Cheval as "…. vacant throughout the Empire" . I agree with Le Breton that the Hannoverians were incorporated into the 9th Chevauleger lanciers.

According to "Tradition Magazine – Hors Series 21 – Cavalerie De Napoleon"

30th Chasseurs a Cheval were formed by the decree of 3 February 1811 becoming the 9th Chevaulegers Lanciers by the decree of 18 June 1811.
Boisselier's drawings:

Knotel:
link

31st Chasseurs a Cheval served in Spain departing for Italy in 1813.

I concur with the always helpful and well-informed Prince.
(I gave the dates of "ready for service" – a bit after the decree dates.)

Further Knotel plate for 30th CaC/9th Lancers

a mysterious bunch at time