Discover the DRAGON À PIED - 180mm, an extremely rare Napoleonic figure from the renowned French brand Le Cimier!
Very detailed authentic colors of the Dragon uniform with the dark green jacket with white center, red jacket franges and beige trousers. The helmet wears red plumet and leopard headband, specific to Dragons uniform.
This captivating foot Dragon is museum-quality, meticulously acrylic painted by an expert artist collector from France's acclaimed Napoleonic collection.
Le Cimier produced very few 180mm - 1/10 scale figures, making this piece exceptionally rare. Despite its size, it boasts intricate details that will enhance any figure display. Perfect for discerning collectors, this exquisite piece is ready to be the centerpiece of your Napoleonic figures collection.
DRAGON À PIED - 180mm ***
French Dragons à Pied—a fascinating but short-lived experiment in Napoleonic military organization.
🐉 Origins and Formation
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Created in 1803 at the Camp of Boulogne, the Dragons à Pied were formed from mounted dragoon regiments who were temporarily dismounted due to a shortage of horses.
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Napoleon envisioned them as mobile infantry, capable of riding into battle and then fighting on foot—essentially a hybrid between cavalry and infantry.
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By 1805, a full division was created under General Baraguay d’Hilliers, consisting of around 7,200 men organized into provisional battalions.
🛡️ Role and Importance
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These troops were meant to support light cavalry in advance or rear guard actions, and to hold strategic positions like bridges or defiles until reinforcements arrived
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Napoleon saw them as a flexible force, ideal for rapid deployment and temporary defense.
Integration into the Imperial Guard
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In September 1806, Napoleon created two regiments of Dragons à Pied attached to the Imperial Guard, though they weren’t formally part of it.
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These regiments were formed from depot troops and led by officers from elite Guard units like the Grenadiers and Chasseurs.
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They were quickly re-mounted using horses captured from Saxons and Prussians and reabsorbed into their original dragoon regiments by late 1806
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