Mounted Carabiniers (France)

1er et 2e Carabiniers-à-Cheval
An officer from the 1st Carabiniers-à-Cheval in 1812, by Carle Vernet.
Active	1788-1871
Country	France
Branch	French Army
Type	Heavy cavalry
Role	Shock action
Engagements	French Revolutionary Wars Napoleonic Wars
Commanders
Notable commanders	Jean-Louis-Brigitte Espagne Joseph Piston Jean-Marie Defrance Amable-Guy Blancard

The Carabiniers-à-Cheval were mounted troops in the service of France.

Their origins date back to the mid-16th century, when they were created as elite elements of the French light cavalry, armed with carbines but then gradually evolved towards semi-independent status during the XVIIIth century. They only became independent units as late as 1788, when a two-regiment heavy cavalry corps was created. From the French Revolutionary Wars onwards, they were the senior heavy cavalry regiments in the French army, rose to prominence during the Napoleonic Wars and were disbanded in 1871, after the fall of the Second French Empire.

Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars

The 1st and 2nd Carabiniers-à-Cheval were created in 1787, as regiments of heavy cavalry. They participated with distinction to the French Revolutionary Wars and Napoleonic Wars. Their uniform was described by the Etat militaire de l'an X (1802): "National blue costume and scarlet lapels, blue collar, bearskin hat, yellow bandolier and belt, with white plait on the edges. Horse equipage: saddle à la française, blue cover with white plait on the edges, a grenade in the corners, the ornaments of the bridle stamped with a grenade."

The decree of 24 December 1809 altered the uniform of the carabiniers: white costume, double steel cuirass (breastplate and backplate) covered with a copper sheet, helmet with eyeshade and which covered the back of the neck, with a golden-yellow copper crest decorated with a chenille made of scarlet bristle. Their armament included a carbine, a sabre and a pair of pistols.

Uniform evolution

• 
  Pre-revolutionary Carabinier-à-cheval (1787).
• 
  Trooper of the Carabiniers-à-cheval in pre-1809 uniform.
• 
  Trooper of the Carabiniers-à-cheval in post-1809 uniform
• 
  General Lariboisière and his son, an officer of the Carabinier-à-cheval who died during the battle of Borodino.
• 
  Cuirass and helmet of the French Carabiniers-à-Cheval, Bourbon Restauration, 1816-1824.

See also

Uniform of the 1st squadron of the 1st regiment of Carabinier-à-cheval, in 1815, on "Les uniformes pendant la campagne des Cent Jours"