Portuguese Legion (Napoleonic Wars)
Encyclopedia
The Portuguese Legion was the 30 000 men strong Portuguese military force integrated in the Napoleon's Imperial Armies, mobilized after the occupation of Portugal
by the army of General Junot, in 1807.
The Legion was created by direct order of Napoleon from the November 12, 1807. It started to be organized in February, 1808, with the best units of the disbanded Portuguese Army
, including the elite Legion of Light Troops. It left to Salamanca
in April 1808, crossing Spain
until arriving in France
. During the crossing of Spain, many legionnaires defected, returning to Portugal and joining the Portuguese resistance against the French occupation.
At the service of Napoleon, the Portuguese Legion fought in the campaigns of Germany
, Austria
and Russia
, suffering heavy casualties. It was present in the battles of Wagram
, Smolensk
, Vitebsk
and Borodino
(Moscow). Being highly regarded by Napoleon, the troops of the Legion were referred by him as the "Black Infantry".
The Legion was disbanded at May 5, 1814, with only about 1000 of it's soldiers surviving and returning to Portugal.
, originally including:
For the 1809 campaign, the 13th Elite Demi-brigade was created, with three battalions, made from elements of the several infantry regiments of the Legion. The 13th Demi-brigade was part of Oudinot
's II Corps.
In 1811, the Portuguese Legion was reorganized in:
In 1813, after suffering heavy casualties, the remains of the Legion were organized as:
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
by the army of General Junot, in 1807.
The Legion was created by direct order of Napoleon from the November 12, 1807. It started to be organized in February, 1808, with the best units of the disbanded Portuguese Army
Portuguese Army
The Portuguese Army is the ground branch of the Portuguese Armed Forces which, in co-operation with other branches of the Portuguese military, is charged with the defence of Portugal...
, including the elite Legion of Light Troops. It left to Salamanca
Salamanca
Salamanca is a city in western Spain, in the community of Castile and León. Because it is known for its beautiful buildings and urban environment, the Old City was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. It is the most important university city in Spain and is known for its contributions to...
in April 1808, crossing Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
until arriving in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. During the crossing of Spain, many legionnaires defected, returning to Portugal and joining the Portuguese resistance against the French occupation.
At the service of Napoleon, the Portuguese Legion fought in the campaigns of Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and Russia
French invasion of Russia
The French invasion of Russia of 1812 was a turning point in the Napoleonic Wars. It reduced the French and allied invasion forces to a tiny fraction of their initial strength and triggered a major shift in European politics as it dramatically weakened French hegemony in Europe...
, suffering heavy casualties. It was present in the battles of Wagram
Battle of Wagram
The Battle of Wagram was the decisive military engagement of the War of the Fifth Coalition. It took place on the Marchfeld plain, on the north bank of the Danube. An important site of the battle was the village of Deutsch-Wagram, 10 kilometres northeast of Vienna, which would give its name to the...
, Smolensk
Battle of Smolensk (1812)
The Battle of Smolensk, the first major battle of the French invasion of Russia took place on August 16–18, 1812, between 175,000 men of the Grande Armée under Napoleon Bonaparte and 130,000 Russians under Barclay de Tolly, though only about 50,000 and 60,000 respectively were actually engaged...
, Vitebsk
Battle of Vitebsk (1812)
The Battle of Vitebsk, sometimes spelled Witepsk, was a military engagement that took place on 26 and 27 July 1812 during the French invasion of Russia...
and Borodino
Battle of Borodino
The Battle of Borodino , fought on September 7, 1812, was the largest and bloodiest single-day action of the French invasion of Russia and all Napoleonic Wars, involving more than 250,000 troops and resulting in at least 70,000 casualties...
(Moscow). Being highly regarded by Napoleon, the troops of the Legion were referred by him as the "Black Infantry".
The Legion was disbanded at May 5, 1814, with only about 1000 of it's soldiers surviving and returning to Portugal.
Organization
The Portuguese Legion was organized as a divisionDivision (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
, originally including:
- Five regiments of light infantryLight infantryTraditionally light infantry were soldiers whose job was to provide a skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of infantry, harassing and delaying the enemy advance. Light infantry was distinct from medium, heavy or line infantry. Heavy infantry were dedicated primarily to fighting in tight...
; - A battalion of chasseurs à pied;
- Three regiments of chasseurs à cheval;
- A battery of artilleryArtilleryOriginally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
; - An infantry depot battailon;
- A cavalry depot squadron.
For the 1809 campaign, the 13th Elite Demi-brigade was created, with three battalions, made from elements of the several infantry regiments of the Legion. The 13th Demi-brigade was part of Oudinot
Nicolas Oudinot
Nicolas Charles Oudinot, 1st Comte Oudinot, 1st Duc de Reggio , was a Marshal of France.-Early life:...
's II Corps.
In 1811, the Portuguese Legion was reorganized in:
- Three regiments of infantry;
- A regiment of chasseurs à cheval;
- A depot battailon.
In 1813, after suffering heavy casualties, the remains of the Legion were organized as:
- A battailon de guerre;
- A depot battailon.