Led by such enigmatic characters as Murat, Lasalle, d’Hautpoul, and Kellerman, the French cavalry became the most potent in all of Europe during the first decade of the 19th century. However, neglect by previous regimes meant that they boasted a mediocre record during the Revolutionary Wars, and it wasn’t until the time of the Empire that they truly reached their peak. In the following video we track this development, discuss their tactics, and figure out how they became so dominant, rightly earning their spot as part of Napoleon’s most potent weapon, la Grande Armée.

Sources cited in order of appearance:

Battles of the Great Commanders – Anthony Livesey
The French Cavalry – David Johnson
The Art of War – Antoine-Henri Jomini
From Flintlock to Rifle – Steven T. Ross
The Bayonets of the Republic – John A. Lynn
La Grande Armee – Georges Blond
Napoleon’s Cuirassiers and Carabiniers – Emir Bukhari
With Musket, Cannon, and Sword - Brent Nosworthy (Also called Battle Tactics of Napoleon and His Enemies)
Grouchy’s Waterloo – Andrew Field
Imperial Bayonets – George Nafziger
Weapons and Equipment of the Napoleonic Wars – Philip J. Haythornthwaite
Swords Around a Throne – John Elting
Letters From the Battle of Waterloo – Gareth Glover
Armies of the Napoleonic Era – Otto von Pivka
The Age of Battles – Russel F. Weigley
The Campaigns of Napoleon – David Chandler

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