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N140 - Ordinant gendarme. France

ref. EK Castings N140

EK Castings N140 - Ordinant gendarme. France, 1806-07
The body of the ordinance gendarmes was created by Napoleon with the aim of enlisting the representatives of the old nobility at the age of 18 to 40, the offspring of ancient French surnames, emigrants who had been subjected to the persecution of the revolution in the recent past. The place of formation of the corps was the German city of Mainz. The condition for admission to the service was the availability of sufficient funds to provide themselves with expensive outfits, weapons and horses.
By decree of October 1, 1806, the corps of ordinance gendarmes was established as part of the Imperial Guard. Five mouths of ordinance gendarmes were formed: four horse and one foot. Horse companies consisted of two squadrons, two companies each. The corps inspector-general was Marshal Kellerman, and the immediate commander was Brigadier-General Baron de Montmorency-Laval. Already at the beginning of 1807, ordinance gendarmes took part in hostilities in the territory of Prussia. In the battle of Friedland, thanks to their courage, they deserved a lot of praise from the emperor himself.
June 30, 1807 After the signing of the Peace of Tilsit, a large banquet took place. Ordinance gendarmes were commissioned to honor Russian cavalrymen, who were also representatives of the best noble families of Russia. By decree of October 23, 1807, the Corps was disbanded, and the gendarmes were asked to enlist in the guard regiments of horse rangers, grenadiers, dragoons, etc. According to one of the gendarmes, they were the ones who "at the time of the severe trials for France, having replaced the royal lilies with a tricolor, stood in one unit with their people, with their emperor, who opened the way to glory once and for all."
Ordinance gendarmes were prescribed a dark green uniform of a horse-jaeger pattern without piping. Buttons, aiguillette, epaulettes-shamrocks, as well as bridge piercing are silver. Red vest with silver lacing. Ligature of a lacquered leather lacquered leather with a red edging and silver fittings. A shako with a silver plaque, an ethoskelette and a white sultan. Saber in steel scabbard.