Dragons de la Garde Impériale

The Dragons de la Garde impériale (Dragoons of the Imperial Guard) was a heavy cavalry unit formed by Napoleon I through the decree of the 15 April 1806. The dragoon regiments of the line distinguished themselves in the German Campaign of 1805, and so Napoleon decided to reorganize the cavalry of the Guard and create within it a regiment of dragoon guards. This regiment was colloqually known as the Dragons de l'Impératrice (Empress' Dragoons), in honour of Empress Joséphine. Following the Bourbon Restoration, they were renamed Corps royal des Dragons de France (Dragoons of France Royal Corps) but was disbanded shortly afterwards. The Empress' Dragoons were reformed during the Second Empire (1852-1870).

Composition
The regiment was made up of three squadrons, headed by 60 officers personally selected by Napoleon. The first squadron was to have 296 men, and be made up of "vélites", whilst the other two were regular squadrons of 476 horsemen. To complete this new unit, each of the 30 dragoon regiments of the line provided 12 men, each of whom had done 10 years of service, and the brigadier, chasseur, and dragoon line regiments provided the sous-officiers.

The unit's numbers rose to 1269 in 1807 with the addition of two new squadrons, and on December 9, 1813, it was attached to the Guard's 3rd regiment of éclaireurs. The dragoons' uniform and weaponry was the same as those of the Guard's mounted grenadiers, only in green rather than blue, and (in place of the bonnet à poil) a copper helmet with a hanging mane in the Neo-Greek Minerve style, and a red plume.

Campaigns
They distinguished themselves at the battle of Friedland (1807), at the battle of Wagram (1809) and they suffered heavy losses at the battle of Maloyaroslavets and at the Battle of Berezina (1812). They took part in the battles of Leipzig and Hanau (1813) and captured 18 guns at the battle of Saint-Dizier (1814). They were part of Marshal Ney's charge at Waterloo (1815), which was their last battle.

Uniform
The Dragoon Guards wore green coats with white lapels and red turnbacks. They also wore aurore (light orange) aiguilettes and epaulettes. They wore brass helmets with a long black mane, a simulated leopard fur turban and a red plume. They rode chestnut horses.

The trumpeters wore a light blue tunic with white lappels and crimson turnbacks and collar. The mane on their helmets was white and the plume was light blue. They wore grey horses. They also had a white uniform for parade, consisting of a white coat with light blue lappels and collar lined with gold.