1st Cuirassier Regiment (France)
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| 1er Régiment de Cuirassiers | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1635-1815 1816-1920 1939-1940 1943-1999 |
| Country | France |
| Branch | French Army |
| Type | Cavalry |
| March | Le Regiment de Fer (Eng: The Iron Regiment) |
| Battles/wars | Thirty Years' War War of the Spanish Succession French Revolutionary Wars Napoleonic Wars World War I World War II |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne, Vicomte de Turenne |
The 1st Cuirassier Regiment (French: 1er Régiment de Cuirassiers) (1er RC) was the oldest armoured regiment in the French Army, until it was amalgamated with 11th Cuirassiers Regiment. Today its traditions are carried on by the 1st Cuirassier Squadrons Group of the 1st-11th Cuirassier Regiment.
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] Origins
The regiment was a part of a small army raised by Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar in 1631 to help Gustavus Adolphus against the emperor during the Thirty Years' War. The regiment fought together with the Swedish Army at Breitenfeld, Rain and Lützen. With the death of Gustavus Adolphus and the disaster at Nördlingen the army of Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar entered French service on 26 October 1635. During this time the regiment was commanded by colonel Trefsky and carrise his name: Trefsky regiment.
With Saxe-Weimers army France began involving itself directly into the war, instead of only subsidize the Swedes. The Trefsky regiment takes part in the victories of Rheinfelden and Breisach, but with Saxe-Weimers death in the summer of 1639 the army losses its master. Some men want to return to Swedish service, but Guébriant, a future Marshal of France, persuades the army, with the help of strong pensions, to remain permantatly in French.
It was renamed Colonel-General in 1657.
The regiment was a part of the great cavalry charge in the Battle of Eylau.
[edit] Regimental war record during the revolution and empire
(Battles and Combats)
- 1792: Jemmapes, Anderlecht, and Tirelemont.
- 1793: Maestricht, La Roer, Nerwinden, and Maubeuge.
- 1794: Mouscron, Pont-a-Chin, Rousselar, and the Capture of Malines.
- 1796: Rivoli and Tagliamento.
- 1799: Le Trebbia, La Secchia, Novi, and Genola.
- 1800: Mozambano.
- 1801: San-Massiano and Verone.
- 1805: Wertingen, Ulm, Hollabrunn, Raussnitz, and Austerlitz.
- 1806: Jena and the Capture of Lubeck.
- 1807: Hoff and Eylau.
- 1809: Eckmuhl, Ratisbonne, Essling, Wagram, Hollabrunn, and Znaim.
- 1812: La Moskowa and Winkowo.
- 1813: La Katzbach, Leipzig, Hanau, and the defense of Hambourg.
- 1814: La Chausee, Vauchamps, Bar-sur-Aube, Sezanne, and Valcourt.
- 1815: Ligny, Genappe, and Waterloo.
[edit] Honours
[edit] Battle Honours
- Jemmapes 1792
- Austerlitz 1805
- Eylau 1807
- La Moskowa 1812
- L'Avre 1918
- La Marne 1918
- Colmar 1945
- Stuttgart 1945
- AFN 1952–1962
[edit] Decorations
- Croix de guerre 1914-1918 with one palm and one star.
- Croix de guerre 1939-1945 with three palms.
[edit] External link
- (French) Website about the Regiment
