Incomparable: Napoleon's 9th Light Infantry Regiment

by Terry Crowdy

France's 9th Light Infantry regiment was created as an elite battalion in Louis XVI's Royal Army. After the aristocratic officers fled from the Revolution, command of the battalion fell to a close-knit group of grizzly ex-NCOs, idealistic revolutionaries and a young, battle-scarred captain, Mathieu Labassée. In 1799, as First Consul of the Republic, Napoleon needed a military victory to cement his political power. He drove a hastily gathered army across the Swiss Alps to recapture northern Italy from the Austrians. It was a risky gamble which very nearly failed. At Marengo Napoleon is taken by surprise. His army were in open retreat when the Ninth arrived late on the field. As Napoleon's last hope they were launched forward to stop the Austrians and give the rest of the army time to recover. Their charge was so ferocious it breaks Austrian morale and precipitates their headlong flight from the battlefield.

With the crown of France within his reach, Napoleon was generous in his praise for the Ninth, dubbing them 'Incomparable'. They were feted as celebrities in Paris, but success went to their heads, some officers turned to drink, others fought duels against rivals in Napoleon's Guard. A new commander, Claude Meunier was brought in to bring about change: The Ninth's prestige was now at its peak.

From such heady heights, the fear of failure became a powerful motivator. Through successive campaigns in Austria, Prussia, Poland and Spain, the regiment proved its worth. Eventually the strain began to show. The misery of guerrilla war sucks the life and soul out of the regiment. By the time the Allies reached Paris in 1814, the regiment could muster only a handful of men capable of holding their place in the line. They fight on, regardless.

In 1815 Napoleon returns from exile in Elba. The Ninth immediately acclaim his return and take their cherished Eagle out of hiding, promising once again to conquer or die. The climax of the book comes ten miles from Waterloo on a bridge over the River Dyle. The Ninth spearheaded the charge to rejoin Napoleon. Like Marengo, their late arrival might save the day. Unlike Marengo, they fail. Even in defeat their story is extraordinary - even by the standards of the dramatic and turbulent years in which they lived.

This is not a traditional regimental history. It is the story of people who were caught up in the blazing trail of Napoleon's epic career. It describes the Napoleonic war machine from within, shedding light on the lives and feats of soldiers on whose toil a spectacular Empire was built and lost.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, War, Military History, France

416 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Terry Crowdy was born in London in 1970. Initially a re-enactor, his interest in the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars led to writing for specialist magazines, and then to book authorship.

Reviews

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book concentrates on 9th Light Infantry regiment during the Napoleonic Wars. At the battle of Marengo in 1800 their valor earned them the 'nickname' Incomparable'. Unfortunately, it's not easy to live up to such a title for long. They fought well in the battles of Europe, but then had the misfortune to be assigned to the Peninsula, that graveyard of Napoleonic ambitions. Eventually some of their battalions were sent back to Germany and Poland, but were never the same as Spain continued to bleed men.

This is an interesting book about a small portion of the Grande Armee. The author details the service of some of the officers and men who fought with the 9th. In the epilogue he brings the reader up-to-date with what happened to them after Waterloo.

[Paithan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Provided some interesting anecdotes into the careers of the soldiers of the 9th, but after reading this book I can't say the 9th is the legendary regiment some make it out to be. They peaked in their first battle and rode the wave on that reputation.

[Shane · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look into just one small part of Napoleon's war machine. It shows the loyalty that was there in most of his soldiers, but it also shows how bloody and rather horrifying war of this era usually was. The book does touch a little on the broader history of the Napoleonic wars, but since the book is only about the history of one single regiment, don't expect a comprehensive history lesson, because that's not the point of this work.

[Jaro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book about Napoleon's 9th Light Infantry Regiment from perspective of its soldiers. The part about battle of Marengo was especially very exciting. Towards the end the author rather rushed and it was not as good, but still great read. Recommended.

[Ian Willey · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the better regimental histories I have read for the Napoleonic Wars, the micro detail was very interesting