February 5, 2010

Legion du Midi

I finished another battalion of the Legion Hanoverienne and I'll post pics of the unit after I get it based, but it's time to start on another obscure unit that served with them in Spain... the Legion du Midi.

There were two units known by the name Legion du Midi. The first was formed of volunteers from Cette, Narbonne, Nimes and Perpignan on 27 April 1792. It served in the Vendee and existed for just over a year. The other was Franco-Italian and descended ffom the Legion Piemontaise which was raised on 18 May 1803 from the French departments of Italy. In the event only the 1er Legion Piemontaise was raised and in July 1804 it took the name Legion du Midi. It consisted of three battalions. The 1er and 2e were posted to the Caribbean where they were incorporated into the 82e de ligne in June 1805.

The 3e Bataillon, and the one we're concerned with, remained in France and was renamed 1er battalion. In 1807 it was posted to the 3rd Division of Junot's Army of Portugal, and served alongside the Legion Hanovrienne throughout its Peninsular service It remained in Spain and until August 1811 when it was disbanded and remaining personnel incorporated into the 11e and 31e legeres. 

I decided to use some Perry models for this unit, with the minor conversion and addition of a Victrix arm (the musket on a sling over his shoulder) for the grenadier on the end. The uniforms won't be as accurate since the Perry models are post 1812, but they will work fine for my table. The Legion du Midi wore brown coats with sky blue facings and were considered a light infantry unit, though their undistinguished service record doesn't suggest they were any more than drilled troops. They were, however, issued an eagle, unlike the Legion Hanoverienne (their standards are topped with simple spear points).

I'll be posting WIP pics of this unit every day I manage to accomplish something!

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