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The Contingents of the Ducal Houses of Saxony

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The Contingents of the Ducal Houses of Saxony   The Ducal Houses of Saxony are located to the west of Saxony, i.e. Central Germany   The Confederation of the Rhine states ALL had military contingents they were forced to give to Napoleon. Most Confederation of the Rhine states maintained extra military units for internal service, along with some type of militia. During 1807-1810 these troops gradually shed their old Prussian-style uniforms, with their long tailed cutaway coats and black bicorne hats , to adopt this thoroughly French style.   White trousers might be worn for summer, with short black gaiters .   Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg   Fusilier Corporal, 1812 This corporal has a French-type shako and the habit-veste . Note the white crossbelts, and his briquet scabbard behind his left leg.   Saxe-Meiningen Officer, 1812 Meiningen was slower than Gotha to change uniforms, retaining some of its black leather belts for some years. For both states the
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1809-1813 King Joseph's Army (Cavalry, Guard, Civic Guard)

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1809-1813 King Joseph's Army (Cavalry, Guard, Civic Guard) The whole subject of the uniforms of Joseph’s Army remains vague despite intensive and devoted research. Little so far published is really reliable.  When King Joseph was forced to flee into France in November 1813, his guard and some Spanish elements of his Army followed him loyally and so passed in one way or another into the French service.    Cavalry 1st Regiment Chasseurs à Cheval, Full Dress, Private, 1809   Being the first Spanish regiment of line cavalry recruited, the 1st Chasseurs à Cheval had been given this showy red pelisse (here worn over the green dolman ) to attract recruits. Its trumpeters reportedly had all- crimson uniforms .   Royal Guard Royal Guard, Fusilier Regiment, Private, 1810 Formed of select Spaniards, this organization was considered more efficient than the royal guard’s mostly French grenadier and voltigeur regiments. Claiming to be the legal king o
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1809-1813 King Joseph's Army ( Regular Infantry)

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1809-1813 King Joseph's Army ( Regular Infantry) Joseph’s uniforms remain a dubious and poorly documented subject, with much confusion as to the regiment’s numbers, names, and actual clothing. The one generally accepted idea is that most, if not all, of Joseph's infantry wore brown coats . 3rd Line Infantry Regiment (Seville), Officer, Field Uniform, 1811 At least two sources give Seville black facings , though another shows its coat as brown , with white waistcoat and breeches. Possibly this is summer dress. Claiming to be legal king of Spain, Joseph adopted Spain’s traditional red cockade . 4th Line Infantry Regiment (Soria), Grenadier, 1811 Note the red “flaming grenade” on his forage cap.  There is one uniform, tentatively identified as that of 5th Line Infantry Regiment (“Granada”), in the Musée de l’Armée in Paris - brown with yellow collar , lapels , round cuffs , and lining , and white button-hole tabs (one on each side of collar, 8 on each l
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1808-1810 Duchy of Oldenburg Infantry Battalion

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Oldenburg Infantry Battalion  Oldenburg is situated in North West of Germany.  On the map below you can see West to Kgr. Niederlande (Kingdom of Holland) and bits of it in Denmark "Hzm. Oldenburg" which is the Duchy of Oldenburg, which existed from 1774 till 1810.  Since the Duchy of Oldenburg joined the  Confederation of the Rhine (14 October 1808) it had to contribute 800 men. Which was this battalion, which was organized like a French contemporary one (1 Grenadier company, 4 Fusilier company, 1 Voltigeur company). In 1810 , Napoleon decided to incorporated them into his French Empire and by doing that he took their this battalion and incorporated it into the 129th French Infantry Regiment. Infantry Battalion, Voltigeur Private, 1810 Fusiliers and voltigeurs alike wore this “round” hat, its brim turned up on the left, like that of the Lippe troops. Grey trousers or breeches were worn in winter with short black gaiters. Note that he carries his sword in the
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