Portuguese Legion (Napoleonic Wars)

{{Short description|French Imperial Army unit (1807–1814)}}

{{No footnotes|date=March 2022}}

{{Other uses|Portuguese Legion (disambiguation){{!}}Portuguese Legion}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}

{{Infobox military unit

| unit_name = Portuguese Legion

| image = Knoe04 33.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Soldiers of the Portuguese Legion

| branch = French Imperial Army

| dates = 12 November 1807

| country = First French Empire

| allegiance =

| size = Largest at 17 infantry battalions, 16 cavalry squadrons, and 2 artillery companies

| command_structure = Imperial Foreign Troops

| battles = {{Tree list}}

{{Tree list/end}}

| disbanded = 5 May 1814

| notable_commanders = Pedro de Almeida Portugal

}}

The Portuguese Legion (French: Légion portugaise; Portuguese: Legião Portuguesa) was a 9,000 men strong Portuguese military unit integrated in the army of the First French Empire, formed after the French occupation of Portugal in 1807.

The Legion was created by order of Napoleon from 12 November 1807. Organization began in February 1808, with the best units of the disbanded Portuguese Army, including the elite Legion of Light Troops. It set out for Salamanca in April 1808, crossing Spain until arriving in France. During the crossing of Spain, many of its soldiers defected, returning to Portugal and joining the Portuguese resistance against the French occupation.

The Portuguese Legion took part in the French campaigns in Germany, Austria and Russia, suffering heavy casualties.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}} It fought at the battles of Wagram, Smolensk, Borodino (Moscow) and Berezina.{{cite book|title=La Légion portugaise, 1807-1813|author=Paul Boppe|year=1897|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k322587k|language=fr|page=XI}}

The Legion was disbanded on 5 May 1814, with only about 1,000 of its original 9,000 soldiers surviving and returning to Portugal.

Organization

The Portuguese Legion was organized as a division, originally including:

For the 1809 campaign, the 13th Elite Demi-brigade was created, with three battalions, made from elements of the several infantry regiments of the Legion. The 13th Demi-brigade was part of Oudinot's II Corps.

In 1811, the Portuguese Legion was reorganized in:

  • Three regiments of infantry
  • A regiment of chasseurs à cheval
  • A depot battalion

In 1813, after suffering heavy casualties, the remains of the Legion were organized as:

  • A battalion de guerre
  • A depot battalion

References

{{reflist}}

  • Artur, Ribeiro, Legião Portuguesa ao Serviço de Napoleão (1808–1813), Lisboa, Ferin, 1901.
  • Banha, Teotónio, Apontamentos para a História da Legião Portuguesa, Lisboa, 1863.
  • Boppe, P., La Legion Portugaise 1807–1813, Paris, 1897, p. 497.
  • Esdaile, Charles, The Peninsular War, London, 2003, pp. 28–29.

{{Foreign regiments of the French Imperial Army during the Napoleonic Wars}}

Category:French military units and formations of the Napoleonic Wars

Category:Military history of Portugal

Category:Military units and formations established in 1807

Category:France–Portugal relations

Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1814