Dragoons of the Imperial Guard

 

Napoleon added dragoons to his Imperial Guard in 1806.

Soon Empress Joséphine became the godmother of the unit which would therefore also be known under the nickname "Dragoons of the Empress".

Farrier

The Dragoons of the Imperial Guard wore green coats like the ordinary dragoon regiments but the white lapels were unique to the Guard's dragoons. Like their colleagues of the Horse Grenadiers, dragoon troopers wore a pair of yellow contre-epaulettes. Also, all troopers (except sappers wearing bearskins) would wear a leopard-fur (or imitation) turban around their helmet.

The dragoons' weapons were a long straight sword (the characteristic weapon of the heavy cavalry) and a musket as well as pistols, at least for officers.

Being theoretically at least considered mounted infantry, the dragoons had sappers (or pioneers) in their ranks. As horsemen, the dragoons' sappers did not carry a backpack but they had all the distinctive pioneer gear: bearskin, white leather apron, white leather gauntlets (like the other Guard dragoons) and of course an axe. Our two sappers here have opted for a large and impressive earlier axe model instead of the regulation pioneer axe later handed out to most sappers. 

(Unlike what the first photo shows, sappers were supposed to ride first in front of the troop; in the field for practical reasons such as clearing obstacles and on parade as a privilege reflecting these duties.) 

Sappers of the Dragoons of the Imperial Guard

Two sappers escorting company officers

Outside the Imperial Guard, when horses were in short supply for regular dragoon regiments, troopers had no choice but to go on foot for a time. Although not technically part of the Imperial Guard, these short-lived Foot Dragoon units were administratively attached to it.

Officer in charge of the company

Trumpeter