Ancient history

The 2nd Lancer Regiment of the Red Lancers guard

lancers in waterloo

2nd Imperial Guard Lancer Light Horse Regiment

The 2nd Regiment of Cavalry Lancers of the Imperial Guard, more often called the Red Lancers because of their predominantly vermilion red uniform (or crayfish) is a cavalry regiment of the Imperial Guard, created in 1810 from the Dutch Guard hussars. It was dissolved in 1815.

Creation and different denominations

* September 13, 1810:Creation from the hussar regiment of the Dutch Royal Guard, integrated into the Imperial Guard (Holland is attached to the Empire). It is the second regiment of lancers with the Polish light horses.
* 1814:at the first Restoration, the regiment is dismissed. The Old Guard squadrons form the Royal Corps of Light Horse Lancers of France.
* 1815:recreation of the regiment during the Hundred Days from this Corps and the squadron of Poles which accompanied the Emperor in exile, under the name of regiment of light horse lances of the Imperial Guard.
* end of 1815:dismissal of the regiment

Workforce

* 1810:when it was created, the regiment comprised 4 squadrons and 939 men
* 1812:addition of a fifth squadron, for a total of 1406 men.
* 1813:addition of 5 squadrons, including the squadron of dragoons of the Municipal Guard of Paris, dissolved following the coup d'etat of Malet. The first five are from the Old Guard and mostly Dutch, the others from the Young Guard and mostly French. The workforce was then 2,500 men.
* 1814:the 4 squadrons of the Royal Corps of chevau-légers lancers de France had 643 men.
* 1815:the Polish lancers take rank before the four French squadrons, and keep their name.

Colonels

* 1811:Colbert Chabanais, colonel
* 1813:the same, but with the rank of brigadier general

* 1815:during the Hundred Days, Colbert Chabanais

History of garrisons and battles

* 1810:the barracks are at Versailles
* 1815:decimated at Waterloo

trumpet red lancers