From the Roman eagle to the standards of the Grande Armée: an emblem of glory, victory and loyalty to the Napoleonic regime.
The eagle, inherited from Roman legions, became under the Consulate and Empire the foremost emblem of the French armies. Napoleon chose it to embody continuity with antiquity and military greatness.
Regimental eagles, cast from 1804 onward, were solemnly entrusted to units; they symbolize the honour of the regiment and the rallying of troops around the state and the Emperor.
Lost in battle, an eagle is a tragedy for the regiment; captured by the enemy, it becomes a trophy heavy with meaning in coalition propaganda.
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Recommended books to dig deeper (affiliate links)
Napoleon — A magisterial biography
An exhaustive biography of the Emperor, the fruit of rigorous research.
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Organization, tactics and daily life of the Grande Armée soldiers.
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The detailed account of the Battle of the Three Emperors.
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