By imperial decree , Napoleon creates in april 1806 a dragoon regiment in the imperial guard. It will be soon be named "Empress dragoons", Joséphine being its godmother. They will fight in Spain in 1808, in Essling and Wagram in 1809. In 1812, they are in Russia, and will follow the Emperor till Waterloo, where they will loose 325 officers and troopers.

As it is traditionnal since the XVIIIth century, the dragoons wear a brass helmet, with a horsehair tail. Its form is called "à la Minerve", for it remembers some classical roman helmets. The bowl is surrounded by a leather turban, covered with a painted veal fur, in a panther fashion. The left side of the skull has a red feathered plume, and the chinstraps are covered with embossed brass scales.

(inner size 18.5 x 22 cm).

Pictures

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Pictures

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At the beginning of the napoleonic time, cuirassier still wear a tricorn hat. If Kellermann and Bourcier suggest in 1798 to provide them with a helmet, they will wait until 1801 to receive one. The 8th regiment is the first equipped, soon followed by the 1st.

This helmet was never considered very practical. It was not very stable, gave not a good protection, for a saber hit could smash it, and a lot of troppers kept complaining about the horsehair mane, which made the armor rost. Its look his nevertheless typical, and remembers the greatest battles of the napoleonic time.

The helmet is made of a thin iron bowl, on which a large leather band is fixed. This band is covered with bearfur. A buckle in the rear is used to tighten the leather part. The peak is made of leather, with a brass edge. The chin straps are rivetted on the leather turban by two star buttons. They are made from brass scales. The brass comb is richly decorated with palmetto patterns on the sides, and a small medusa head on the front. Under it is a small cuirass with the number of the regiment. Above it is an intricately designed holder called marmouset that contains a short black horsehair brush. Cascading from the top of the comb is a massive black long horsehair tail. The left side of the skull has a red feathered plume.

(inner size 18.5 x 22 cm). You may order the number of the regiment you wish.