Book review: l'Infanterie de ligne 1796–1810 by André Joineau and Jean-Marie Mongin

I love uniform books; especially Napoleonic and particularly about the French army (doubt that I am alone in that amongst readers of this blog). When I saw this book promoted in an e-newsletter from Éditions Heimdal it took only a quick look at the description on their website before I decided to purchase it. It arrived last week and did not disappoint.

This book is largely a compilation of material from two issues of Soldat magazine (also published by Éditions Heimdal) into a lovely, hardcover, A4 format. True to the title, the book covers French line infantry from 1776 to 1810 with about a quarter of the 160 pages devoted to  pre-1789, around another quarter to uniforms of the revolution and consulate (including the Egyptian campaign, see later) and the remaining half to those of the early to mid-Imperial period. The book is a visual feast with a plethora of pages of full colour drawings of troops in assorted uniforms. I'll summarise these later, but firstly a bit of background that may be of interest.

Readers may recognise André Jouineau's name from the marvellous, soft-cover Napoleonic uniform books that were published by Histoire et Collections. Sadly, that publisher went into receivership in 2012#. Fortunately, the void that they left was filled by Éditions Heimdal. Based in Bayeaux, Éditions Heimdal. originally focussed on the middle ages and world war two, but since 2015 have expanded their range to "... cover history from the bronze age (1800 BCE) through to conflicts of the 21st century." Since that time they have been prolific in the publication of books about uniforms, campaigns and military history, ten of them of the Napoleonic era (a trilogy about the Imperial Guard, French artillery, Dictionary of the Grande Armée, Italians of the Empereur, Swiss in the service of France, Arcole & Rivoli, Egyptian campaign and now line infantry). I recommend them all. Most are in French only, but the trilogy of the Guard, published in 2017–18, has been translated into English. For this recent book, Jouineau combined with Jean-Marie Mongin, with whom he co-authored the magnificent trilogy about the Guard.
[#Pleasingly Histoire et Collections was brought out of receivership by Sophia publications (now renamed Sophia Histoire et Collections) and has been back in operation since 2016, specialising in "...current affairs and military history, vehicle collection and vintage fashion." Their focus are their magazines: Raids, Raids Aviation, Militaria Magazine WingMasters, SteelMasters, Charge Utile, Tracteurs Passion & Collection, Figurines, GBM et Styles Vintage, but they also publish books in both French and English, including their back catalogue.]

Jouineau's illustrations of uniforms, a full 120 pages of them, are the main feature of this book. These show various units, ranks and modes of dress of the line infantry. Images are presented from front side and rear, along with detail of equipment, flags and items of uniform.

Beginning with the late Bourbon era, the initial pages of illustrations show the units that served in America in 1780. This is followed by pages devoted to the regulations of 1786. The uniforms of every unit are illustrated along with accompanying pages showing the uniforms for privates, NCOs, musicians and officers and some of specific uniform items. We then move to the republic with illustrations of each of the initially white-uniformed units, during the 'transition' from the King's army—all shown in profile across nine pages, then to the blue-coated l'infanterie de la republique. This is followed by eleven pages devoted to the special uniforms adopted by the troops in Egypt 1798–1801; a fantastic inclusion for mine.

The uniforms and flags of all regiments according to the provisional regulations of 1791 are illustrated in profile.

Two of the eleven pages of illustrations of demi-brigades in Egypt 1798–1801.

A couple of pages of illustrations show the troops of the consulate before the second half is taken up with the early to mid Empire. Six pages illustrate regulation uniforms before this final section concludes with 50 pages devoted to each of the 3e, 4e, 6e, 7e, 8e, 9e, 12e, 14e, 16e, 17e, 18e, 19e, 21e, 22e, 24e, 26e, 27e, 30e, 33e, 42e, 45e, 46e, 57e régiment d'infanterie de ligne illustrating the variety of dress across time, rank and troop types.

Examples of the pages showing regiments in detail; here we have the 14e and 15e régiment d'infanterie de ligne in their white uniform.

Two of the pages devoted to the 18e régiment d'infanterie de ligne.

Illustrations of items of equipment and uniform add greatly to those of the troops.

Along with these beautiful illustrations, the book features 25 pages of text (in French) interspersed with reproductions of paintings of battles and illustrations of troops (some full-page), along with the bibliography, contents and publication details. The text packs in a lot of detail in support of the images including a brief history of the development of French infantry formations and organisation from the middle ages to the consulate and 1st empire. This is followed by details of the uniform and equipment of the infantry of the early to mid Imperial period, including key changes over that time.

An example of one of the reproductions of paintings included in the book; this of a grenadier in Spain with covered bearskin.


This is a fabulous publication that I plan to enjoy leafing through, reading and generally drooling over for years to come. My only complaint is that I would have liked more(!)—that greedy perception is the only thing preventing my giving it a score of a perfect ten! I look forward excitedly to the publication of tome 2.


Additional

I recently 'stumbled' across André Jouineau's website, Images de Soldats which has plates of uniforms and planes drawn by him that can be downloaded as thumbnails, or purchased for 2,50 € per plate. A book is cheaper, but this could be a good way to purchase specific examples.

Sample plate, available as a free download from Images de Soldats.

References



Jouineau, A and Mongin, J-M (2020) L'infanterie de ligne 1776-1810. Tome 1. Éditions Heimdal, St Martin-des-Entrées, Bayeux, France. 160 pp.

Rating

Book Review: Napoleon's Imperial Guard Uniforms and Equipment: The Infantry

A few months ago, I reviewed my all-time favourite Napoleonic book; The Anatomy of Glory*. It is unlikely that Lachouque’s magnificent study of this legendary formation will ever be moved from this mantle, but every now and again a book is published that threatens to do so. Paul Dawson’s new book comes close.

(A relevant aside, Lachouque’s book is on a magnificient special at Naval and Military Press at the moment)

Now, you can never have too many books about the Imperial Guard(!), in my opinion, but this new tome by Paul Dawson is not another history of the units nor beautiful presentation of uniform plates. Rather, he has produced a novel and significant piece of research that is compiled into a beautifully presented book. Something that offers new insights as well as a feast for the eyes.

Dawson has combined a detailed study of the Archives Nationales and Service Historique Armée de Terre with extant uniforms and equipment from museums and private collections, as well as documentary evidence from memoirs and period artists’ representations to produce a detailed analysis of the uniforms of the infantry of the Guard—down to the piping on the lapels and stitching on the cross-belts! He uses this combined evidence to challenge some of the accepted representations of the uniforms and equipment of this most famous force, including such giants of modern Napoleonic uniformology as Rousselot, and Boucquoy, who have influenced many of the books that fill the shelves of wargamers and modellers.

The book begins with the briefest of chapters describing the formation and history of the Guard (a mere four pages). This is followed by a chapter on the organisation and equipment of the Guard infantry followed by a third, brief chapter describing the cloth and colours of the period. In the second chapter, Dawson includes important comments about the limitations of the archival records. He notes that the records are not complete for all regiments—those for the chasseurs being non-existent. He acknowledges that Rousselot filled this void with artists’ representations (such as David and Hoffmann). His own approach is similar, but focusses more on the archival material and existing uniform items, referring to the documentary and artistic evidence to complement them. His detailed and tooth-combed approach has yielded some important observations but, as he notes “We will never know exactly what some regiments wore”.

The majority of the book comprises chapters describing in minute detail the uniform and equipment items of each regiment of the Guard infantry. Dawson leads the reader through his research into the specifics and developments of uniform and equipment of each unit, complimenting his text with numerous tables and lists from the archives detailing the numbers of uniform items and materials to make them.

A visual feast: the book is filled with numerous plates of photographs of uniforms and items of equipment from museums and private collections, all shown in great detail and from various viewpoints.

For me, the piéce de resistance of this book are the photographs of the uniform items from private collections, the Musée de l’armée, the Musée de l’Empéri, Musée municipal de Pontarlier, Borodino museum and National Militair Museum Soesterberg. These are numerous, clear and include separate zoomed photos of the detail of each item, from a range of angles.

In addition there are some 88 plates of paintings of guardsmen by Hoffmann, Otto, Martinet and others. Then, in the centre pages six full-pages plates of paintings by Keith Rocco.

Orders articles and decrees notwithstanding, the reality ‘on the ground’ was often quite different, even amongst the privileged ranks of the guard. An example is this habit of a voltigeur of the guard, which includes epaulettes from the chasseurs.

Dawson provides detailed tables and lists of information from archival documents. My one gripe with the book is that the asterisks beside the names of commanders are not explained. I searched and searched, but could not find the explanation. I suspect that they indicate those who receive the legion of honour, but it is frustrating the the explanation is either missing or buried somewhere in the book.

This is a weighty book, in all respects. Its hard-bound 475 pages are printed on lovely, heavy, gloss stock. The photographs and plates are clear and 99.5% in full colour (417 out of 419 images by my count). It is a magnificent book to own, to admire and to read through. I recommend this for your book-shelf whether to leaf through, admiring the photographs of the equipment, the reproduced prints or Rocco’s artwork, reading about the equipment of a specific unit of the Guard infantry, seeking detail to paint, or simply to know more about the uniforms of the soldiers of this ‘immortal’ formation.

I shall enjoy leafing through and ‘drooling’ over this book again and again.

Book review: The Anatomy of Glory, (still) a favourite

In a previous review, posted on our group's blog, I rated the Napoleonic Army Handbook as a valuable and valued resource because of its combination of detail and general content. No glitz, just full of useful information (albeit with a few minor errors). The Anatomy of Glory is at the other end of the spectrum. This is a gorgeous and valued book due to the subject material, the delightful presentation and the brilliant story-telling of its author—making it a truly treasured tome of mine.

As a boy, I received a copy of the 1978, third edition of this book, published by Arms and Armour Press. It immediately became the favourite in my small, personal collection and remains with the books that Dad kept chez-il. Finding out that Frontline (Pen & Sword) had published a fifth edition (2017) I jumped at the opportunity to receive a copy to review.


I was delighted to be ’reunited’ with the same, wonderful book that I remembered; although with one exception. This version has only 20 colour plates compared with the "over 180 illustrations, including 86 in full colour” of the earlier edition. I am sure that this is a way to reduce the price of the book, but it is a great shame and the only reason that I have given one of my all-time favourite Napoleonic books a mere 9 1/2 / 10!

 One of the black and white plates that was in colour in the third edition.

A glorious painting reproduced in full colour; one of twenty.

The Anatomy of Glory is a fabulous history of Napoleon's Guard: it's men, leaders, campaigns and uniforms. Illustrated with numerous colour and black and white plates (mentioned above), it is replete with fascinating details and comments all told in a witty, conversational fashion. As Anne SK Brown says in her introduction, “Commandant Lachouque has told the story, built around quotations from the letters and reports of the participants, in pithy soldier’s speech. This I have tried to render into colloquial English.” She did a fine job.

The book traces the life, and death, of the guard. The titles of the book’s sections show how the famous formation was linked directly to the fortunes of it’s founder and master: The Guard is Born, The Guard Keeps Watch, The Guard Suffers, The Guard in Splendour, The Guard in Action, The Guard Takes Charge, The Guard At Bay, The Guard Staggers, The Guard Falls, The Guard Dies.

The formation of every unit of the guard is described. Here you will find fascinating details including foundation dates, cost of uniforms and pay; plus interesting observations and insights. Some examples will serve to illustrate.
The Mameluks,

..must cost no more that a chasseur; therefore, since his oriental kit was elaborate and expensive, his pay had to be reduced.” Later though, “the squadron was costly but magnificient—so much so that Bonaparte had to give the Mameluks a bonus over and above their allotment to pay for their kit (pp. 30–31).

The Marines,

Bonaparte, as was his habit, relied principally upon Bonaparte… While he doubted whether soldiers could be made into sailors, he believed he could make sailors into soldiers—provided they were never referred to as such! (p. 33).

Empress Dragoons

Twelve troopers and several officers were levied from each dragoon regiment of the Line to form the first two squadrons, and a third was composed of vélites. The rest of the cadres came from the cavalry of the Guard (p. 71).

Vélites

Napoleon kept this [losses in battle] in mind when planning the Guard’s organisation for 1806. ‘In case of war two companies of vélites will march with each battalion of the Guard … while 420 old chasseurs and grenadiers would be left at the depot in Paris (p. 74).

Polish chevau-légers

On the 30th, before leaving Warsaw for Willenberg, preceded by the Guard, the Emperor directed Berthier ‘to raise a corps of Polish light-horse to be composed of mend with sufficient education to guarantee their morality (p. 86).

Indeed, the reputation and morality of the Guard was of great importance. “The Guard’s renown required that its discipline be severe. A grenadier caught sleeping out of barracks got fifteen day’s arrest and thirty more ‘on bounds’. A second offence was punished by imprisonment. For misconduct a Guardsman was ‘drummed out’ and expelled from the Corps” (p. 74). Naturally, they had to be impeccable on parade. Prior to the Austrian surrender at Ulm “They had to groom their bearskin bonnets, to brush and brush the fur and hang them up by their chin straps so that when they wore them again they could be trimmed and puffed out in the proper Guard style. Forming single file, each man dressed the hair of the man in front, tied his queue just two inches from the end, stuck the eagle pin into the knot, and spread the powder with a brush” (p. 56). On the battlefield was no exception. Such as at Eylau,

By the light of the fires, with soap melted in the embers, the barbers shaved their comrades. Whatever the circumstances, a grenadier of the Guard must present himself shaved on the battlefield (p. 86).

Also at Friedland,

Behind were the big bearskins of the horse grenadiers and élite gendarmes. Noon. The foot Guard arrived, marching to battle in parade dress with plumes and gloves (p. 99).

They were not impressed at being left as observers,

‘A good day’, the Emperor remarked to the grenadiers.

‘For you perhaps… The bulletin will say we have put on full dress to stand with folded arms.’ grumbled an old-timer (p. 99).

It is well-known that Napoleon took personal interest in everything to do with the guard. There are numerous examples detailed in the book. Here is but one,

The Emperor rewarded individual merit with promotion, the Legion of Honour, or gifts of money. Sometimes he even paid men’s debts. … Nothing was too good for the Guard. Cloth for their overcoats cost 29 francs a metre. (p. 72)

Despite this, the Guard’s uniforms were not always up to scratch. As early as 1805, “even the Guard was wearing pantaloons of every colour of the rainbow—Austrian, Russian, and whatnot” (p. 58). By 1808, “the uniform problems was becoming serious. ‘The colour blue is the best… Besides, it is known as our colour throughout Europe’, the Emperor wrote Dejean on 11 July. But because of the blockade, there was no more indigo. Now that the grenadiers’ coats were dyed ‘with plants grown in the Empire’ (principally woad), their colour was quite unpredictable” (p. 130). By 1815 “…rifle [musket] straps were replaced by string… uniforms resembled those of the provincial national guard… not twenty men could be found wearing the same uniform in any company of the 3rd or 4th Chasseurs” (p. 469). These illustrate the myth of the idea of ‘uniforms’ amongst soldiers of the period, even in the Guard.

In Spain, the Guard Marines “…arrived destitute, lacking shoes, uniforms, equipment, and funds. A dispute between the Ministries of War and Marine left them suspended in mid-air” (p. 112). Of course, it was worse for the conscripts in the line, “…neither uniformed nor paid, whose equipment was stamped: ‘Rejected by the Grande Armée’” (p. 116).

It seems that the best ‘public servant’ mentality was alive and well in the early 19th C. Lachouque provides several other examples.

On 7 March [1807], 45 caissons of furnishings for the Guard left the École Militaire. Everything was packed, tied, and tagged, with detailed invoices in duplicate and papers carrying enough signatures and stamps to make the most punctilious commissary swoon from joy (p. 94).

In 1806, Arrighi complained that his dragoons (the Empress Dragoons) did not have overcoats. He wrote to Archchancellor Cambacérès who supported his request in a letter to Dejean (minister of war for administration). Dejean’s response is pure ‘gold’.

… I hasten to reply to the letter Your Highness did me the honour to write me concerning the request of M. the Colonel Arrighi, colonel of the Dragoons of the Guard, for overcoats for 200 dragoons who left yesterday on foot for the Grande Armée. Were the dragoons going to campaign on foot, doubtless I should have granted them the overcoats indispensable to such service. I should equip any cavalry in a similar situation; however, their situation is quite different. On a journey… conditions are not the same as on campaign where bivouacs and night marches make it mandatory to equip foot soldiers with overcoats. On the contrary, this garment, though useful, has never been considered indispensable on a journey, however long… (p. 83).

So much for asides.

The campaigns, marches and battles, naturally, form a major part of the book. They are told largely from the viewpoint of the Guard and its leaders, so there is more detail as the Guard becomes utilised more in combat—Moscow, 1812 is the half-way mark of the book. Lachouque’s style, using numerous quotes from memoirs, draws the reader into the action. A few extracts will serve to illustrate.

Krasnoi

‘Sire’, Mortier replied, ‘I shall hold the enemy back throughout the day. … By placing his troops in two lines instead of three he was able to extend his front by a third. ‘And very thin it is’, a Grumbler observed, ‘like a bone thrown the Muscovites to chew on…’ …The Duke of Treviso, on horseback in the thick of the fire, would hold out until night. … Meanwhile, on the left, the Old Guard had been fighting gloriously to save the fusiliers and clear a path for Davout who was driving a Cossack horde before him. Krasny was on fire, revealing Dante’s inferno. The Russian troopers, yelling like banshees, were sabering everyone they met. The battalion of the 3rd Grenadiers made several charges in the crowded streets, being the last to retire behind the Young Guard and Roguet’s division. … The Old Guard had covered itself with glory. The Russian infantry had never dared attack it (pp. 257–259).

Berezina

While leading his 5th Tirailleurs, Colonel Hennequin’s horse was suddenly decapitated. Officers and soldiers rushed to his aid as he went down in the snow with the bloody carcass; but he was already on his feet. ‘I am at my post, monsieurs’, he said. ‘Let others remain at theirs.’ Hennequin, of whom it was said that he ‘would laugh only if he were burning’, was very rude, but also rather pathetic. As his servant was saddling another horse a piece of bread fell out of one of his holsters. ‘If one of you needs this more than I’, he said to his soldiers, ‘you are welcome to it’ (p. 263).

Lützen

‘The young troops were throwing away their arms which strewed the ground over which we galloped’, wrote Major Chlapowksi of the lancers. … Napoleon’s arrival had an electric effect, filling both veterans and recruits with enthusiasm and reassuring their commanders. … General Lanusse and Dumoustier’s first brigade took Kaya with a charge, overwhelming the Russian and Prussian guards defending the village (p. 293).

The over 180 images on 173 plates are grouped close to the sections to which they are most relevant.

Leipzig

At 9 pm the firing ceased. In their bivouacs behind Liebertwolkwitz the soldiers of the Young Guard saw the Emperor arrive on horseback, preceded by two chasseurs with torches. He ordered Mortier’s divisions to keep fires going to deceive the enemy and march by stealth to Leipzig, relieving Bertrand’s corps at Lindenau and the Elster bridges. …a retreat was now inevitable. … On the morning of the 18th the sentries on the front line peered into a cold mist. They kindled fires with the muskets of the dead while waiting for the enemy attack. … Schwarzenberg was making a determined attempt to cross the river at Connewitz to cut off the French line of retreat. He did not succeed; nor did Wittgenstein at Probstheida, a centre of resistance where Curial’s division covered itself with glory. Nor did Blücher at Reudntiz, though reinforced by Benningsen and the renegade Bernadotte, whose arrival provoked the French army to fury, and in spite of the Saxons and Württemberg cavalry who suddenly turned against their comrades-in-arms. … The shock of forces let loose was tremendous. The ensuing struggle was fought to the death, desperately and without mercy, amid the deadening din of artillery, falling masonry, cries of rage against the traitor whose marshal’s baton was bought with French blood, and shouts of ‘Vive l’Empereur!’ pp. 317–318.

The changing make-up of the grande armée is an interesting bit of detail that Lachouque includes as part of his description of the various campaigns. In 1805, “The Grande Armée now included 180 000 Frenchman, 22 000 Bavarians, 3 000 Württembergers and 2 500 Badeners” (p. 57). By 1806 “On 7 October the Grand Army of 190 000 French and 33 000 Bavarians and Germans were gathered in the Rhine valley…” (p. 78). “In 1812 the Grand Army of Europe consisted of eleven infantry and four cavalry corps totalling 350 000 men with 1 300 guns. These included 270 000 French in 15 divisions, 40 000 garrison troops, and 15 000 foreign mercenaries serving in Swiss, Illyrian and Croatian regiments and the Portuguese Legion. All these wore the French cockade. The 170 000 troops of the European Confederation were divided between Polish, Bavarian, Saxon and Westphalian army corps; Italian, Neapolitan, Württemberg, and Danish divisions; and brigades from Baden, Berg, Hesse, and Mecklenberg. Finally an Austrian corps and several Prussian divisions contained 60 000 allies” (p. 217). A chapter is devoted to the rebuilding of the army in 1813, focussing on the guard as it became an army in its own right.

While clearly admiring and glorifying the Guard, Lachouque is not completely blinded. For example, the irony is clearly intended in his repeating of Napoleon’s comment to Mack at the surrender of Ulm, ‘All empires come to an end’, Napoleon told the vanquished general (p. 56). Then, by the end of 1807,

Drunk with glory, the Guard went into winter quarters. It was the keystone of the arch supporting the Imperial edifice; the order founded by the living god who held dominion over the world and who had assigned it, as a rule, the cult of honour. Napoleon had founded this lay religion on French pride, and raised it to sublime height of virtue and sacrifice. It imbued the soldiers of the Guard with the self-confidence, self-respect, and fidelity that the old aristocracy had acquired by education and tradition” (pp. 106–107). In late 1812, “He had some illusions on the subject, for he did not realise that the peoples of Europe—who only understood later what he had done for them—were about to rise against him p. 275).

I have said much about Lachouque’s colourful prose. Perhaps his best is left for his description of the relationship of Napoleon and the Guard. “The Emperor alone commanded the Guard. No one had the right, nor the power, to touch this prerogative. Whoever belonged to the Guard was under his authority and protection. His gratitude to those who gave him loyalty and devotion conferred grandeur upon the word ‘service’ which the vain and the mediocre consider demeaning” (p 124). Finally, “Napoleon, a citizen of France, was a universal genius. From the Frenchman of his day he fashioned the Imperial Guard and led it to immortality” (p. 505). What an ending to a book.

I cannot recommend this highly enough.

About this blog

I have been thinking of creating this blog for sometime.

Statue of Napoleon at Les Invalides (Wikimedia Commons)

Napoleon Bonaparte (1769–1821), First Consul of France 1800–1804, Emperor of France 1804–1814 & March–July 1815, soldier, general, brilliant strategist, enlightened ruler, usurper, visionary, power-hungry autocrat, inspirational leader, ahead of his time. He is probably all of these things and more, depending on your reading of history and what particular propaganda, pro- or anti- Napoleon has influenced you. 

Le Serment de l'armee fait a l'Empereur (Wikimedia Commons)

No matter your personal attitude, it is evident that the man had a huge and lasting impact and provides a continuing fascination to this day. One only has to consider the number of books about him and/or the period that bears his name that have been published and continue to be. Not to mention the numerous reforms, scientific discoveries and ideas from that time that are still with us, or impacting us, today.

Mort de Napoleon (Wikimedia Commons)

I like to, somewhat flippantly, call myself "a chauvinist in the original sense of the word". I have had an interest/fascination/obsession with Napoleon and the Napoleonic era for over forty years. My grandfather, who died long before I was born and so I sadly never met, had collected much about the period. My interest was stimulated as a boy by a gift of du Garde Peach's Ladybird book The Story of Napoleon. David Howarth's Waterloo followed soon afterwards, along with several boxes of Airfix 'Battle of Waterloo' 1/72nd figures. My father too had an interest in the period so, when we began planning wargaming, at Dad's suggestion, in the late 1970s (first game 1980), it was the Napoleonic period that was to be the starting point (and remained the primary focus).

My ability to be active in wargaming has drifted in and out somewhat, due to the time and resources available to spend on it, but my 'study' of Napoleon has been steady. In more recent times, fuelled by the ready access to reasonably priced books, not to mention internet resources, it has increased asymptotically.

In my professional life, which focusses on applied research related to agricultural systems, I like to say that "I know enough to be dangerous in many areas". It is completely the opposite when it comes to my hobby. Seventy per cent of my figures are Napoleonic and around 3/4 of the books that I own are of the period. In this case I am a Napoleonic 'specialist'. I know enough of a few other, selected periods to be somewhat dangerous!

So, this blog is going to 'service' my Napoleonic obsession. I intend to post book reviews, interesting articles, points of discussion, links to items on other blogs or websites; anything Napoleonic here. Posts about Napoleonic wargames will appear either here, or on the Avon Napoleonic Fellowship, with links made between the two.

Hopefully my self-indulgence will be of some interest to other Napoleonic devotees.


A note: the title image for the blog, "Reddition d'Ulm, 20 octobre 1805" by René Théodore Berthon (1776–1859) was downloaded from Wikimedia commons and has been included on the blog under its public domain licence.