French imperial eagle

Creation

On December 5, 1804, three days after his coronation , Napoleon I distributed the eagles created in the image and likeness of the aquilos of the Roman legions . They symbolized regiments originally from various departments of France , and were intended to evoke a sense of pride and devotion among the troops, which would become the basis of Napoleon’s new imperial regime . Napoleon made an emotional speech in which he insisted that the troops protect the eagles at the cost of his life. This event is depicted in the painting of Jacques-Louis David “Distribution of Regimental Eagles” of 1810 ^[1] .

The eagle was designed by Antoine-Denis Chaudet, and then copies were cast in the workshop of Pierre-Philippe Tomir ; the first eagles were introduced on December 5, 1804 ^[2] . It was a bronze sculpture of an eagle on a pedestal, one claw of which rested on the “spindle of Jupiter ” ^[2] , weighing 1.85 kilograms (4 pounds), mounted on top of a blue regimental flagpole. They were made of six separately cast parts, designed by analogy with the Roman eagles, and when assembled, they were 310 millimeters (12 ″) high and 255 millimeters (10 ″) wide ^[2] . On the basis of the regiment number was engraved or, in the case of the Imperial Guard , the inscription Garde Impériale . The eagle had the same meaning for the French imperial regiments as the banner for the British - the loss of the eagle would bring shame to the regiment, vowing to defend it to death. After the fall of Napoleon, the restored monarchy of King Louis XVIII ordered the destruction of all eagles; only a few pieces have been preserved. When the former emperor returned to power in 1815 (an event known as the One Hundred Days ), he immediately ordered the creation of new eagles, although they were inferior to the originals. The work was of less quality, and the main difference between the new eagles was a closed beak; they were installed in a more twisted position ^[3] .

Captured Eagles

The first capture of the eagle most likely occurred during the battle of Austerlitz in 1805, when the Russian guards cavalry under the Grand Duke Constantine defeated the 4th Infantry Regiment, capturing their banner. Although Napoleon won the battle, the Russian troops were able to retreat in battle order, and the eagle was never found, unfortunately the Emperor ^[4] .

In 1807, in Heilsberg , the 55th Infantry Regiment was defeated by the Prussian cavalry and the Russian infantry. The eagle was captured by Sergeant Anton Antonov from the Russian regiment of Pernov's musketeers, and several officers, including the colonel, were killed. Prussian historians disputed this, claiming that the Prussian hussars Pritwitz seized the eagle ^[5] .

In 1807, near Eilau , the banner and eagle of the 18th Infantry Regiment were captured by the St. Petersburg 1st Uhlan Regiment ^[6] . In 1812, in the Red 18th Infantry Regiment again lost its eagle and was "virtually destroyed" by Her Majesty’s Russian Life Guard Regiment ^[7] .

In 1808, at the Battle of Bailen, the French corps led by General Dupont surrendered after the defeat to the Spanish army, led by generals Castagnos and Reading ; it was the first surrender of an imperial field army. Under the terms of surrender, the French handed over to the winners their banners, as well as three eagles. These eagles were kept in the Cathedral of Seville until they were again captured by the French in 1810 and sent back to Paris ^[8] .

The first French eagle captured by the British was captured by the 87th Infantry Regiment at the Battle of Barros on March 5, 1811. In Barros, Warrant Officer Edward Keogh and Sergeant Patrick Masterson captured the French Imperial Eagle of the 8th Infantry Regiment. Keog only managed to take a hand on the pole when he was shot and stabbed with a bayonet. Masterson, having killed several soldiers, tore the eagle from the hands of the dying lieutenant Gazan ^[9] .

The eagle was brought to the United Kingdom and put up at the Chelsea Military Hospital . It was about 10 inches tall, mounted on a base marked with the number 8 . It was made of silver, but gilded, which led many to believe that it was pure gold. In fact, the only golden part of the eagle was a laurel wreath hanging on its neck. This wreath was a special honor assigned to the 8th regiment by Napoleon himself, and at that time not all eagles had it. Golden leaves were granted to a number of regiments that were present at the battle of Austerlitz, the city of Paris. The right claw of the eagle was raised. There should have been lightning under it, but it was not on the trophy. It is believed that she was lost during the capture ^[10] .

A few years later, the eagle was stolen from the hospital. He was torn from the pole and carried away in an unknown direction. There were many rumors, the most insistent of them, that he was captured by the French. Most likely, it was melted and sold. The shaft is still kept at the Royal Museum of Irish Riflemen , located in Armagh , Northern Ireland ^[11] .

The British captured two eagles at the battle of Salamanca in July 1812. Ensign John Pratt from the light infantry company of the 30th Regiment (later the 1st battalion of the East Lancashire Regiment) captured the eagle of the 22nd Infantry Regiment (now on display at the Lancashire Infantry Museum in the Fulwood Barracks in Preston, Lancashire ) ^[12] , at that time how the 2nd battalion of the 44th Infantry Regiment captured the eagle of the 62nd Regiment ^[13] (on display at the Chelmsford Museum in Essex ) ^[14] .

After the surrender of the French during the capture of Madrid on August 14, 1812, two eagles belonging to the 13th Dragoon Regiment and the 51st Infantry were found ^[15] .

Two new French regimental eagles were captured during the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. The French I corps under the command of the Earl of d'Erlon was attacked by the British heavy cavalry under the command of the Earl of Ecbridge ; The 1st Regiment of the Royal Dragoons captured the eagle of the 105th Infantry Regiment (currently stored at the National Army Museum, Chelsea ) ^[16] , while the Royal Scottish Regiment captured the eagle of the 45th Infantry Regiment (currently stored at the Royal Scottish Guards Museum dragoons in Edinburgh Castle ) ^[17] .

In 1852, before his death, the Duke of Wellington asked that all his trophies be brought to his funeral. Since the eagle captured by the 87th regiment was not available, it was decided to make a copy. The uniform was made by Garrard from Asprey based on the original sketch drawn by an officer of the 87th Regiment during the Battle of Barros ^[18] .

The capture of the eagle was marked by the addition of its symbol to the banner or uniform of the regiment. The Royal Blues & Royals Cavalry Guards Regiment (formerly the 1st Royal Dragoons) and the Royal English Regiments (formerly the 44th Infantry Regiment) carry the eagle as a badge on their arm ^{[19] [20]} , while the Royal Scottish Dragoons carry the eagle badge on the headgear ^[21] . The Royal Irish Regiment wears an eagle badge on the back of an officer belt ^[22] .

The French imperial eagle was among the items stolen in 1990 from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, Massachusetts. As of 2019, the fate of the stolen items is unknown, and the case remains unsolved ^[23] .

• Carter, Thomas. Historical Record of the Forty-Fourth, or the East Essex Regiment of Foot . - London: WO Mitchell, 1864.
• Fraser, Edward. The Soldiers who Wellington Led. - London: Methuen, 1913. - P. 129–148.

• French Napoleonic Infantry 1800-1815
• Read more about the French eagles and banners on the site bivouac.ru

[[Category: Birds in the arts]] [[Category: First Empire]] [[Category: Sculptures]] [[Category: Heraldry of France]]