I Cavalry Corps (Grande Armée)

I Cavalry Corps
Cuirassiers of the I Cavalry Corps attacking Russian infantry squares at the Battle of Borodino in 1812
Active	1812-1814, 1815
Country	First French Empire
Branch	Army
Type	Cavalry corps
Size	2-4 cavalry divisions
Engagements	Russian campaign War of the Sixth Coalition War of the Seventh Coalition
Commanders
Notable commanders	Jean-Pierre Doumerc Joachim Murat Étienne de Nansouty Pierre Claude Pajol Victor de Fay de La Tour-Maubourg

The I Cavalry Corps of the Grande Armée was a French military unit that existed during the Napoleonic Wars.

History

For one month in 1806–1807, Emperor Napoleon I split his Reserve Cavalry Corps into the I and II Cavalry Corps. At that time, Marshal Joachim Murat took command of the short-lived I Cavalry Corps before resuming leadership over Napoleon's Reserve Cavalry when the experiment ended. The I Cavalry Corps was not recreated until 1812 for the invasion of Russia when command was exercised by General Étienne Marie Antoine Champion de Nansouty. The corps fought at Borodino and Tarutino. After being destroyed during the retreat from Russia, the I Cavalry Corps was reconstituted in 1813 and General Victor de Fay de La Tour-Maubourg was appointed to lead it. The corps fought at Lützen, Bautzen, Dresden, and Leipzig. At Leipzig, Latour-Maubourg was seriously wounded and replaced by General Jean-Pierre Doumerc who led the corps for the remainder of the War of the Sixth Coalition which ended with Napoleon's abdication in 1814. After Napoleon returned from exile and retook power in France in 1815, the main French Army was baptised as the Armée du Nord. The army included the I Cavalry Corps led by General Pierre Claude Pajol which fought at Ligny and Wavre, while one detached division fought at Waterloo.

Order of Battle, Waterloo

Because the majority of the corps were attached to Grouchy's Group, only 2 divisions were present at Waterloo.

I Cavalry Corps Order of Battle at Waterloo

1st Cavalry Corps, commanded by Lieutenant Général Claude Pierre Pajol, Comte de Pajol 4th Cavalry Division, commanded by Général de Division Pierre Benoît, Baron Soult 4éme Cavalerie Ambulance Divisionnaire (4th Cavalry Divisional Ambulance) 1st Brigade (1ére Brigade), commanded by Maréchal de Camp Benjamin Lénor Auguste, Baron Houssin de Saint-Laurent 1er Régiment de Hussards (1st Regiment of Hussars), 471 Troops in 3 Squadrons, commanded by Colonel Clary 4ème Régiment de Hussards (4th Regiment of Hussars), 304 Troops in 3 Squadrons, commanded by Colonel Blot 2nd Brigade (2éme Brigade), commanded by Maréchal de Camp Auguste Jean Joseph Gilbert, Baron de Ameil 5ème Régiment de Hussards (5th Regiment of Hussars), 417 Troops in 3 Squadrons, commanded by Colonel Baron Liégeard 4th Cavalry Division Artillery (4éme Artillerie Divisionnare de Cavalerie) 1ère Compagnie du 1er Régiment d'Artillerie à Cheval (1st Company, 1st Horse Artillery Regiment), 2 Officers and 70 Troops, equipped with Four 6-pounder cannons and Two 5.5-pounder howitzers 1ère Compagnie du 1er Escadron du Train d'Artillerie (1st Company, 1st Artillery Train Squadron) 5th Cavalry Division, commanded by Général de Division Jacques Gervais, Baron Subervie 5éme Cavalerie Ambulance Divisionnaire (5th Cavalry Divisional Ambulance) 1st Brigade (1ére Brigade), commanded by Général de Brigade Louis Pierre Alphonse, Comte de Colbert 1er Régiment de Chevaux-Légers Lanciers (1st Regiment of Lancers), 40 Officers and 375 Troops in 4 Squadrons, commanded by Colonel Jacquinot 2ème Régiment de Chevaux-Légers Lanciers (2nd Regiment of Lancers), 41 Officers and 379 Troops in 4 Squadrons, commanded by Colonel Sourd, Baron Sourd 2nd Brigade (2éme Brigade), commanded by Général de Brigade Antoine François Eugène, Chevalier de Merlin 11ème Régiment de Chasseurs à Cheval (11th Regiment of Mounted Chasseurs), 27 Officers and 458 Troops in 3 Squadrons, commanded by Colonel Baron Nicolas 5th Cavalry Division Artillery (5éme Artillerie Divisionnare de Cavalerie) 3ème Compagnie du 1er Régiment d'Artillerie à Cheval (3rd Company, 1st Horse Artillery Regiment), 2 Officers and 74 Troops, equipped with Four 6-pounder cannons and Two 5.5-pounder howitzers 4éme Compagnie du 1er Escadron du Train d'Artillerie (4th Company, 1st Artillery Train Squadron), 2 Officers and 89 Troops