"The Polish squadron of the Imperial Guard at the battle " Topic

….of Waterloo

"During the 100 days after the return of Napoleon Bonaparte from Elba in 1815,Napoleon's army, which was created rapidly, was largely composed of inexperienced and insufficiently trained units. Insufficiently trained soldiers stepped into the shoes of the veterans that were killed during previous campaigns. Although the Imperial Guard was re-established, it did not match up to the experience of the units during their time of greatness. Against this background, the Polish lancers of the Guard were distinguished, as soldiers of one of the greatest units of cavalry in Napoleonic Europe – the First Regiment of Lancers of the Imperial Guard.

The regiment had been organized on special request of the Emperor. He was impressed with the actions of the Poles during the campaign in 1806-1807. On April 6, 1807 Bonaparte issued a decree establishing a Regiment de Cheveau-Legers Polonais de la Garde Imperiale. It was to composed of four squadrons with two companies each, 51 officers and 976 rank-and-file. The unit, although comprised of Poles, was to be formally a part of the French army and not the Duchy of Warsaw which caused concerns among a part of the Polish officers. Prince Józef Poniatowski was also reluctant to surrender these prominent soldiers to foreign command. This conflict evoked difficulties and a delay in forming the unit which did not manage to begin formation until after the Peace of Tilsit in 1807…."
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