- This article discusses the group of soldiers who acted as Napoleon Bonaparte's personal guard. For other uses of the term, see Imperial Guard (disambiguation)
The
Imperial Guard (French:
Garde Impériale) was originally a small group of
elite soldiers of the
French Army under the direct command of
Napoleon I, but grew considerably over time. It acted as his bodyguard and tactical reserve, and he was careful of its use in battle. The Guard was divided into the staff, infantry, cavalry, and artillery regiments, as well as battalions of sappers and marines. The guard itself as a whole distinguished between the experienced veterans and less experienced members by being separated into three sections: the
Old Guard,
Middle Guard and
Young Guard.