French Imperial Eagle

The Aigle de drapeau (French flags eagle) was the Aquila, a field character that had every regiment of the Grande Armée in addition to the troops flag.

Construction

The eagle was inspired by the Roman legion eagles and consisted of a 1.85 kg heavy bronze eagle on a blue rod. Under the eagle was a sign, on which was the number of the regiment or the Imperial Guard " Imperial Guard ".

History

After Napoleon Bonaparte had appointed in 1804 to the Emperor of the French, he took traditions of ancient Roman military, as the Aquila, the imperial eagle, at the head of the troops flags. Their loss meant for the unit a special disgrace, there will the eagles were donated by Napoleon in person.

During the Napoleonic Wars different eagles were lost. The first could conquer in the battle of Austerlitz when the Russian cavalry under Konstantin Romanov eagle of the 4th Line Infantry Regiment and also defended their retreat. In particular, the British Army was able to conquer a particularly large eagle in the course of the wars.

• Battle of Barossa, March 5, 1811 eagle of the 5th Line Infantry Regiment of the 87th ( Royal Irish Fusiliers ) Regiment of Foot
• Battle of Salamanca, July 22, 1812, Eagle of the 62nd Line Infantry Regiment of the 2nd Battalion 44th ( East Essex ) Regiment of Foot by Lieutenant Pearce
• Battle of Salamanca, July 22, 1812, Eagle of the 22nd Line Infantry Regiment of the Light Company, 2nd Battalion, 30th Regiment of Foot by Ensign John Pratt
• Battle of Waterloo, June 18, 1815 eagle of the 105th Line Infantry Regiment by the 1st The Royal Dragoons
• Battle of Waterloo, June 18, 1815, Eagle of the 45th Line Infantry Regiment of the Royal Scots Greys

During the first restoration from April 1814 to February 1815, the eagles were destroyed. In his reign the Hundred Days was Napoleon make new eagle, but not approach ranged qualitatively to the first. Two of them then went lost at Waterloo. The rest were destroyed in the re- restoration, so that today only a few eagles are obtained.

The British Army has troops that have captured this eagle particularly excellent. So still wear the traditional successor of these regiments a special badge.