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II Corps (Grande Armée)

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Active
  
1805–1815

Branch
  
Army

Engagements
  
Napoleonic Wars

Country
  
First French Empire

Type
  
Army Corps


Size
  
Two to four infantry divisions

The II Corps of the Grande Armée was a military unit that existed during the Napoleonic Wars.

Contents

The Campaigns

At its formation in 1805, Auguste de Marmont was appointed commander of the corps.

The War Of The Third Coalition

It participated in the Ulm Campaign before advancing southeast to serve as a flank guard. Still under Marmont, the troops then served as the garrison of the Illyrian Provinces until 1809 when they became the Army of Dalmatia and later the XI Corps.

The Peninsular War

A new II Corps was created in 1808 in northern Spain from the troops under Marshal Jean-Baptiste Bessières. Soon after, Marshal Nicolas Soult took command of the formation. In 1810, Jean Reynier assumed command of the corps in Spain until 1811 when the unit was suppressed.

The War Of The Fifth Coalition

Meanwhile, a parallel II Corps was created in 1809 to fight against Austria. The formation was led first by Nicolas Oudinot, then by Marshal Jean Lannes who was fatally wounded at Aspern-Essling. Oudinot took over the corps again and won his marshal's baton at Wagram in July 1809.

The Invasion Of Russia

Still commanded by Marshal Nicolas Oudinot, the Corps took part in the 1812 invasion of Russia, at which point its size was roughly 40,000 men.

6th Division (Legrand)

  • Joseph Jean-Baptiste Albert Brigade
  • 26th Light Infantry Regiment (four battalions)
  • Moreau Brigade
  • 56th Line Infantry Regiment (four battalions)
  • Nicolas Joseph Maison Brigade
  • 19th Line Infantry Regiment (four battalions)
  • Pamplona Brigade
  • 128th Line Infantry Regiment (two battalions)
  • 3rd Portuguese Regiment (two battalions)

    • 8th Division Jean-Antoine Verdier

  • Raymond-Vivies Brigade
  • 11th Light Infantry Regiment (four battalions)
  • 2nd Line Infantry Regiment (five battalions)
  • Pouget Brigade
  • 37th Line Infantry Regiment (four battalions)
  • 124th Line Infantry Regiment (three battalions)

    • 9th Division (Swiss) Pierre Hugues Victoire Merle

  • François Pierre Joseph Amey Brigade
  • 4th Swiss Regiment (three battalions)
  • 3rd Provisional Croatian Regiment (two battalions)
  • Condras Brigade
  • 1st Swiss Regiment (two battalions)
  • 2nd Swiss Regiment (three battalions)
  • Coustard Brigade
  • 3rd Swiss Regiment (three battalions)
  • 123rd Line Infantry Regiment (four battalions)

    • Corps Cavalry

  • Bertrand Pierre Castex Brigade
  • 23rd Chasseurs à Cheval Regiment (four squadrons)
  • 24th Chasseurs à Cheval Regiment (four squadrons)
  • Jean-Baptiste Juvénal Corbineau Brigade
  • 7th Chasseurs à Cheval Regiment (four squadrons)
  • 20th Chasseurs à Cheval Regiment (four squadrons)
  • 8th Chevau-Légers-Lanciers (four squadrons)

    • Sources: Les effectifs de la Grande-armée pour la campagne de Russe de 1812 - Paris 1913 Adjutant's Call of the Military Historical Society Vol. III - U.S.A.

    The War Of The Sixth Coalition

    The corps was reorganized in Germany in 1813 and Marshal Claude Perrin Victor was appointed to lead it.

    The War Of The Seventh Coalition

    The corps was headed by Honoré Charles Reille in 1815 and fought at Waterloo.

    References

    II Corps (Grande Armée) Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA


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