French Infantryman, 1807

Infantry was the main element of all European armies during the centuries reaching a tipping point during the early XIX century and, in particular, during the Napoleonic Wars. Infantrymen were easier and cheaper to train, as cavalry and artillery units required additional technologies, supplies, and logistics. Instead, any group of able-bodied men was relatively easy to equip and train in the use of muskets and made to operate as a cohesive infantry formation in a relatively short amount of time.

During the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic periods, France had plenty of enemies just beside its frontiers, essentially all the Ancient Regime monarchies that were shocked by the turn of events and the political evolution of the country. So, keeping in mind that countries such as Prussia, Austria, or Russia had huge land forces, France ended up having the largest number of infantry units of any army of the period.

Our bust portrays a Grenadier from a line regiment, wearing the 1806 regulation uniform.

Note: This is a resin miniature kit that requires assembly and painting.