"Empire Basing Questions? 1809" Topic

I am looking at an 1809 project. Won't be using Empire rules, but wanting to use their basing conventions. I had a bunch decades ago, trying to remember figure counts, as Empire has ranges for some. Any input appreciated.

My main question is as to the Hungarian vs Austrian line. I seem to recall I based my Hungarians as 18 and Austrians as 12, but not positive.

Here is what I come up with -

FRENCH
French Ligne/Legere – 12 figures
Chasseurs – 16
Hussars – 18
Dragoons -20
Cuirassiers – 24

Since I am doing 1809, I might do some Italians, Bavarian

AUSTRIANS
Grenadiers – 12
Jagers – 12
Austrian – 12
Hungarians – 18
Chevauleger -18
Hussars – 20
Uhlans -18
Dragoons -16
Cuirassiers – 22

Duke, the guy I game Empire with uses the following:
The Fench infantry btn- 12
French cav Regiment – 6-9
Austrian Germans btn- 16
Hungarians-18
Horse Regiments 6-9

According to E3 looks like you have it correct

Shagnasty & 14Bore are correct, completely agree. Cavalry regiments are intended to look smaller than infantry battalions.

I recall almost all cavalry units were 2-12 figures with 8 being the standard.

In 1809 the French cavalry runs from 8-12 in the line, larger in the Garde. Looking at some detailed books, the Austrians started the war with 1000 per line battalion, regardless of Austrian or Hungarian. So our group are all 18s to match the six company battalion.

I remember everyone doing six stands of 3 for 18 figures

Only have French, Russian and Austrian

French Infantry either 12 or 9 per battalion, Cavalry 10 or 8

Austrian Infantry 15 to 12, Cavalry Maximum of 16 always use 'Battale Groups'

Russian Infanry 8 Figs Cavalry 8 (Heavy) up to 16 (Light) Only meant for 1812

With cavalry its the number of fit horses that matter not men. French poor horse keepers.

Based on numbers from Wagram I'd suggest
French infantry 7-12
French cavalry 8-12
Austiran Germans 15-18
Hungarians Inf or Grenzer 12-15
Landwehr or Jagers 9
Grenadiers 12
Heavy cavalry 10-12
Light cavalry 9-16
or you could get the Osprey Wagram book and look up the regiments you're planning on painting

"German" battalions had a nominal company strength of 160 privates, so company strength of about 180 and battalion strength of 1080.

"Hungarian" companies theoretically had 180 privates, so about 200 per company, or 1200 in the battalion.

Grenadier and Jäger were supposedly 120 privates, so about 840 in the battalion.

Looking at orders of battle, the 'theoretical' nature of these numbers becomes apparent. On average therefore Jäger and Grenadiers should be smaller (often around 6-700, 'German' battalions around 800-1000, 'Hungarian' battalions a bit bigger. Landwehr and Freikorps battalions in 1809 were often quite big, similar in strength to a 'German' battalion. Grenz should have been equivalent to Hungarians (or Germans for the Siebenbürgen regiments) but in reality were often only about the size of a Jäger battalion. Hope that helps.

Cheers,
John