TheFrench Imperial Eagle (French:Aigle de drapeau,lit. 'flag eagle') was a figure carried into battle as a standard by theGrande Armée ofNapoleon I during theNapoleonic Wars.
Although they were presented withregimental colours, Napoleon's regiments tended to carry at their head the Imperial Eagle.
On 5 December 1804, three days after hiscoronation, Napoleon I distributedaigles based on theeagle standards of theRoman legions. The standards represented the regiments raised by the variousdepartments of France, and were intended to institute feelings of pride and loyalty among the troops who would be the backbone of Napoleon's newImperial regime. Napoleon gave an emotional speech in which he insisted that troops should defend the standards with their lives. This event was depicted inThe Distribution of the Eagle Standards, an 1810 painting byJacques-Louis David.[1]
The original design was sculpted byAntoine-Denis Chaudet and then copies were cast in the workshop ofPierre-Philippe Thomire, with the first eagles presented on 5 December 1804.[2] It was abronze sculpture of aneagle on a plinth, with one claw resting on "Jupiter's spindle".[2] weighing 1.85 kg (4 lb), mounted on top of the blue regimental flagpole. They were made from six separately cast pieces designed alongRoman lines and, when assembled, measured 310 mm (12 in) in height and 255 mm (10 in) in width.[2] On the base would be the regiment's number or, in the case of theImperial Guard,Garde Impériale. The eagle bore the same significance to French Imperial regiments as the colours did to British regiments - to lose the eagle would bring shame to the regiment, who had pledged to defend it to the death. Upon Napoleon's fall, the restored monarchy of KingLouis XVIII ordered all eagles to be destroyed; only a very small number were preserved. When the former emperor returned to power in 1815 (known as theHundred Days), he immediately had more eagles produced, although the quality did not match the originals. The workmanship was of a lesser quality and the main distinguishing changes had the new models with closed beaks and they were set in a more crouched posture.[3]
The first capture of an eagle was most likely during theBattle of Austerlitz in 1805 when the Russian cavalry of the guard underGrand Duke Konstantin overran the French4thRégiment d'Infanterie de Ligne, taking their flag. Although Napoleon won the battle, the Russians were able to retreat in good order and the eagle was not recovered, much to the emperor's regret.[4]
In 1807, atHeilsberg, the55thRégiment d'Infanterie de Ligne [fr] was overthrown by Prussian cavalry and Russian infantry. An eagle was lost and several officers, including a colonel, were killed. The eagle was captured by NCO Anton Antonov of thePernau Musketeers [ru]. Prussian historians dispute this, claiming that thePrittwitz Hussars captured the eagle.[5]
In 1807, nearEylau, the18thRégiment d'Infanterie de Ligne [fr] lost its flag and eagle to the RussianSt. Petersburg Dragoons [ru].[6] In 1812, atKrasnoi, the 18thRégiment d'Infanterie de Ligne again lost its eagle and was "virtually destroyed" by the RussianLife Guard Uhlans [ru].[7]
In 1808, at theBattle of Bailén, an entire French corps led by GeneralPierre Dupont surrendered after being defeated by a Spanish army led by generalsFrancisco Javier Castaños andTheodor von Reding; this was the first surrender of an Imperial field army. As part of thecapitulation terms, the French gave up their flags and banners, including three eagles. These eagles were kept in theCathedral of Seville until they were recovered by the French in 1810 and sent back toParis.[8]
The first French eagles to be captured by the British were taken during theInvasion of Martinique island, including the Eagle of the 82nd French Regiment of the Line. Subsequently the87th Regiment of Foot took an Imperial Eagle at theBattle of Barrosa on 5 March 1811. At Barrosa, Ensign Edward Keogh and Sergeant Patrick Masterson captured the French Imperial Eagle of the8thRégiment d'Infanterie de Ligne [fr]. Keogh only managed to get a hand on the shaft when he was shot, bayoneted, and killed. Masterson took over and, after killing several men, wrenched the Eagle from the dying hands of its bearer, Lieutenant Gazan.[9] (His great grandson was decorated with the Victoria Cross 90 years later.[10])
The eagle was taken back to theUnited Kingdom and put on display in theRoyal Hospital Chelsea. It was around 10 inches tall, set on a plinth marked with the numeral8. It was made of silver, but gilded, which led many to think it was solid gold. In fact, the only golden part of the eagle was alaurel wreath which hung around its neck. This wreath was an honour conferred upon the 8th Regiment by Napoleon himself, and was not common to all eagles at the time. The gold leaves were presented to a number of regiments that were present at the Battle of Austerlitz by the city of Paris. The eagle's right claw was raised. Beneath it should have been a thunderbolt but, on the 87th's trophy, it was missing. It is believed to have been dislodged during its capture.[11]
Several years later, the eagle was stolen from the Royal Hospital. It was broken from its staff and smuggled away to an unknown fate. Many rumours abounded, the strongest being that it had been repatriated by a Frenchman. More likely it was melted down and sold. The original staff is still held in theRoyal Irish Fusiliers Museum, located in the Sovereign's House onThe Mall inArmagh,Northern Ireland.[12]
The British took two eagles at theBattle of Salamanca in July 1812. Ensign John Pratt of the Light Company of the30th Regiment of Foot (later 1st Battalion,East Lancashire Regiment) captured the eagle of the22ndRégiment d'Infanterie de Ligne [fr] (displayed today in theLancashire Infantry Museum atFulwood Barracks inPreston, Lancashire),[13] while Lieutenant William Pearce of the 2nd Battalion of the44th Regiment of Foot took the eagle of the62ndRégiment d'Infanterie de Ligne [fr][14] (displayed today in theChelmsford Museum inEssex).[15]
Following the surrender of the French at the capture ofMadrid on 14 August 1812, two eagles were found belonging to the13thRégiment de Dragons and the51stRégiment d'Infanterie de Ligne [fr].[16]
Two of the newer French regimental eagles were captured during theBattle of Waterloo in 1815. The FrenchI Corps under the command of theComte d'Erlon wascharged by the British heavy cavalry, commanded by theEarl of Uxbridge; the1st The Royal Dragoons captured the eagle of the105thRégiment d'Infanterie de Ligne [fr]; (now held at theNational Army Museum, Chelsea)[17] and SergeantCharles Ewart of theRoyal Scots Greys captured the eagle of the45thRégiment d'Infanterie de Ligne [fr] (now held at theRoyal Scots Dragoon Guards Museum inEdinburgh Castle).[18]
Before theDuke of Wellington died in 1852, he had asked that all his battle trophies be carried at his funeral. As the eagle captured by the 87th Regiment of Foot was not available, it was decided to make a replica. The mould was made byGarrard's and was designed from a sketch of the original drawn by an officer of the 87th at the time of Barrosa.[19]
The capture of an eagle was celebrated through the addition of the eagle as a symbol or accoutrement to a regiment's colour or uniform. TheBlues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1st Dragoons) (descended from the 1st Royal Dragoons) and theRoyal Anglian Regiment (descended from the 44th Foot) both wear the eagle as an arm badge,[20][21] while the cap badge of theRoyal Scots Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers and Greys) (descended from the Royal Scots Greys) is an eagle.[22] TheRoyal Irish Regiment wear the eagle of the 8th on the back pouch of the officers' black cross belt.[23]
A French Imperial Eagle, which had belonged to the1stRégiment de Grenadiers à pied de la Garde Impériale [fr], was among the items stolen in 1990 from theIsabella Stewart Gardner Museum inBoston,Massachusetts.[24] The 1stRégiment de Grenadiers had formed two squares at the Battle of Waterloo, one of which was formed around Napoleon himself.[25] In May 2015, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum offered a reward of $100,000 for the safe return of the Eagle which remains missing.[26]
