Pre-Lot Text
A Collection of Uniform and other items of the Escadron des Cent-Gardes de la Maison Militaire de l'Empereur Napoleon III
Established by Imperial decree of the 24th March 1854, this cavalry unit was designated as the Emperor's bodyguard and at the service of the Imperial household. Its personnel were selected from officers and NCOs of cavalry regiments, and were to have had at least three years service and to be not less than 5ft.10in. in height. The Squadron of Cent-Gardes consisted of 13 officers and 208 NCOs and men. During the campaign of 1870, the squadron escorted the Emperor and Prince Imperial. Following the French capitulation at Sedan, the Cent-Gardes were despatched to Coblenz to be disarmed before returning to Paris, where they were disbanded on 5th October 1870