Napoleon's Mamelukes

Osprey Men at Arms #429

by Ronald Pawly, Patrice Courcelle (Illustrations)

The most exotic of all the troops of Napoleon's Imperial Guard were undoubtedly the Mamelukes - the bodyguard of Oriental cavalry which followed him home after the Egyptian expedition of 1798-1801, and remained with his Mounted Chasseurs regiment throughout the First Empire. For the first time in English, this book tells the Mamelukes' story, from Austerlitz (1805) to Waterloo (1815). Quoting from the original nominal rolls and battle casualty returns, the author brings individual members of this extraordinary unit to life. His text is illustrated with rare early engravings and paintings, and the full-colour plates show the development of the unit's romantic Turkish uniforms.

Genres: History, Military History, Nonfiction

48 pages, Paperback

First published March 28, 2006

Reviews

[Sean Chick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Might be the best book in the series, as it gives a run-down of recruitment and career of Napoleon's oddest military outfit. I loved the short biographies on the colorful soldiers and officers of the Mameluke squadron.