Portuguese Legion (Napoleonic Wars)

The Portuguese Legion (French Légion portugaise and Portuguese Legião Portuguesa) was the 30 000 men strong Portuguese military force integrated in the Napoleon's Imperial Armies, mobilized after the occupation of Portugal by the army of General Junot, in 1807.

The Legion was created by direct order of Napoleon from the November 12, 1807. It started to be organized in February, 1808, with the best units of the disbanded Portuguese Army, including the elite Legion of Light Troops. It left to Salamanca in April 1808, crossing Spain until arriving in France. During the crossing of Spain, many legionnaires defected, returning to Portugal and joining the Portuguese resistance against the French occupation.

At the service of Napoleon, the Portuguese Legion fought in the campaigns of Germany, Austria and Russia, suffering heavy casualties. It was present in the battles of Wagram, Smolensk, Vitebsk and Borodino (Moscow). Being highly regarded by Napoleon, the troops of the Legion were referred by him as the "Black Infantry".

The Legion was disbanded at May 5, 1814, with only about 1000 of it's soldiers surviving and returning to Portugal.

Organization

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

1. Five regiments of light infantry;
2. A battalion of chasseurs à pied;
3. Three regiments of chasseurs à cheval;
4. A battery of artillery;
5. An infantry depot battailon;
6. A cavalry depot squadron.

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:

1. Three regiments of infantry;
2. A regiment of chasseurs à cheval;
3. A depot battailon.

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

1. A battailon de guerre;
2. A depot battailon.

References

• 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, 497pp., Paris, 1897