II Corps (Grande Armée)

II Corps
II Corps
Active	1805–1807; 1812–1814; 1815
Country	First French Empire
Branch	French Imperial Army
Size	Corps
Engagements	War of the Third Coalition; Russian Campaign; War of the Sixth Coalition; War of the Seventh Coalition
Commanders
Notable; commanders	Jean-Baptiste Bessières; Jean Lannes; Auguste de Marmont; Nicolas Oudinot; Claude Victor-Perrin; Honoré Charles Reille; Jean Reynier; Jean-de-Dieu Soult

TheII Corpsof theGrande Arméewas a French military unit that existed during theNapoleonic Wars.

Campaigns[edit]

At its formation in 1805, GeneralAuguste de Marmontwas appointed commander of the II Corps.

Batavian Division,commanding officer Général de DivisionCount Jean-Baptiste Dumonceau^[1]

1st Batavian Dragoon Regiment (2 Squadrons)
1st Batavian Hussar Regiment (2 Squadrons)
1st & 2nd Battalions, 1st Batavian Regiment
1st & 2nd Battalions, 2nd Batavian Regiment
1st & 2nd Battalions, 6th Batavian Regiment
1st & 2nd Battalions, Waldeck Regiment
1st Battalion, 1st Batavian Light Regiment
2nd Battalion, 2nd Batavian Light Regiment
1st Foot Artillery

War of the Third Coalition[edit]

The corps participated in theUlm campaignbefore advancing southeast to serve as a flank guard. Still under Marmont, the troops then served as the garrison of theIllyrian Provincesuntil 1809 when they became theArmy of Dalmatiaand laterXI Corps.

War of the Fifth Coalition[edit]

Meanwhile, a parallel II Corps was created in 1809 to fight against Austria. The formation was led first by MarshalNicolas Oudinot,then by MarshalJean Lanneswho was fatally wounded atAspern-Essling.Oudinot then took over II Corps again and won his marshal's baton atWagramin July 1809.

Order of battle, 1809[edit]

Order of battle in 1809 during the Peninsular War^[2]

Commanding General, MaréchalJean-de-Dieu Soult

Corps Artillery
- 1^er,10^émeCompagnies du {3^émeRégiment d'Artillerie à Pied
- 6^émeCompagnie du 3^émeRégiment d'Artillerie à Cheval
- 1^er,3^éme,et 4^émeCompagnies du 6^éme(part) Bataillon du Train
- 9^émeArtisan Compagnie d'Artillerie
1st Division,commanded by Général de DivisionPierre Hugues Victoire Merle
- 1st Brigade
  - 1^er,2^e,and 3^eBataillons du 15^émeRégiment d'Infanterie de Ligne
  - 1^er,2^e,3^e,and 4^eBataillons du 4^émeRégiment d'Infanterie Légère
- 2nd Brigade
  - 1^er,2^e,and 3^eBataillons du 36^émeRégiment d'Infanterie de Ligne
  - 1^er,2^e,3^e,and 4^eBataillons du 2^émeRégiment d'Infanterie de Ligne
- Divisional Artillery
  - 15^émeCompagnie du 3^émeRégiment d'Artillerie à Pied
  - (detachment) 1^erCompagnie du 3^émeRégiment d'Artillerie à Pied
  - 2^émeEscadron du Train d'Artillerie de la Garde Imperiale
  - 5^émeCompagnie du 6^éme(part) Bataillon du Train
  - (detachment) Train d'Artillerie de la Garde Imperiale
2nd Division,commanded by Général de DivisionJulien Augustin Joseph Mermet
- 1st Brigade
  - Bataillon du Paris
  - 1^erBatiallon du 2^émeRégiment d'Infanterie de Ligne
  - 2^émeBataillon du 3^émeRégiment d'Infanterie de Ligne
  - 3^émeBataillon du 4^émeRégiment d'Infantertie de Ligne
  - 1^er,2^e,and 3^eBataillons du 31^émeRégiment d'Infanterie Légère
- 2nd Brigade
  - 1^er,2^e,3^e,and 4^eBataillons du 47^émeRégiment d'Infanterie de Ligne
  - 1^er,2^e,3^e,and 4^eBataillons du 122^émeRégiment d'Infanterie de Ligne (from 1st and 2nd Reserve Legions)
- Divisional Artillery
  - 15^eand 20^émeCompagnies du 3^émeRégiment d'Artillerie à Pied
  - 3^eand 5^eCompagnies du 6^éme(part) Bataillon du Train
3rd Division,commanded by Général de DivisionJean-Pierre-François, Comte Bonet
- 1st Brigade
  - 119^émeRégiment d'Infanterie de Ligne (formed inSpain)
  - 120^émeRégiment d'Infanterie de Ligne (formed in Spain)
- Divisional Artillery
  - 7^émeCompagnie du 3^émeRégiment d'Artillerie à Cheval
  - 20^émeCompagnie du 3^émeRégiment d'Artillerie à Pied
  - (detachment) Train d'Artillerie de la Garde Imperiale
4th Division,commanded by Général de DivisionHenri François Delaborde
- 1st Brigade
  - 1^er,2^e,and 3^eBataillons du 70^émeRégiment d'Infanterie de Ligne
  - 1^er,2^e,and 3^eBataillons du 86^émeRégiment d'Infanterie de Ligne
- 2nd Brigade
  - 4^émeBataillon du 15^émeRégiment d'Infanterie Légère
- Divisional Artillery
  - 8^émeCompagnie du 3^émeRégiment d'Artillerie à Pied
  - Staff, 1^er,5^e,and 6^eCompagnies du 11^émePrinciple Train d'Artillerie
1st Cavalry Division,commanded by Général de DivisionArmand Lebrun de La Houssaye
- 1st Brigade
  - 1^er,2^e,and 3^eEscadrons du 17^émeRégiment de Dragons
  - 1^er,2^e,and 3^eEscadrons du 27^émeRégiment de Dragons
- 2nd Brigade
  - 1^er,2^e,and 3^eEscadrons du 18^émeRégiment de Dragons
  - 1^er,2^e,and 3^eEscadrons du 19^émeRégiment de Dragons
2nd Cavalry Division,commanded by Général de DivisionJean Thomas Guillaume Lorge
- 1st Brigade
  - 1^er,2^e,3^e,and 4^eEscadrons du 13^émeRégiment de Dragons
  - 1^er,2^e,3^e,and 4^eEscadrons du 22^émeRégiment de Dragons
- 2nd Brigade
  - 1^er,2^e,3^e,and 4^eEscadrons du 15^émeRégiment de Dragons
  - 1^er,2^e,3^e,and 4^eEscadrons du 25^émeRégiment de Dragons
- Divisional Artillery
  - 4^émeCompagnie du 6^émeRégiment d'Artillerie à Pied
  - 9^émePrinciple Bataillon Train

Russian campaign[edit]

Still commanded by Oudinot, the corps took part in theinvasion of Russiain 1812, at which point its size was roughly 40,000 men.

6th Division(Legrand)

Joseph Jean-Baptiste AlbertBrigade
- 26th Light Infantry Regiment (4 battalions)
Moreau Brigade
- 56th Line Infantry Regiment (4 battalions)
Nicolas Joseph MaisonBrigade
- 19th Line Infantry Regiment (4 battalions)
Pamplona Brigade
- 128th Line Infantry Regiment (2 battalions)
- 3rd Portuguese Regiment (2 battalions)

8th DivisionJean-Antoine Verdier

Raymond-Vivies Brigade
- 11th Light Infantry Regiment (4 battalions)
- 2nd Line Infantry Regiment (5 battalions)
Pouget Brigade
- 37th Line Infantry Regiment (4 battalions)
- 124th Line Infantry Regiment (3 battalions)

9th Division(Swiss)Pierre Hugues Victoire Merle

François Pierre Joseph AmeyBrigade
- 4th Swiss Regiment (3 battalions)
- 3rd Provisional Croatian Regiment (2 battalions)
Condras Brigade
- 1st Swiss Regiment(2 battalions)
- 2nd Swiss Regiment (3 battalions)
Coustard Brigade
- 3rd Swiss Regiment (3 battalions)
- 123rd Line Infantry Regiment (4 battalions)

Corps Cavalry

Bertrand Pierre CastexBrigade
- 23rdChasseurs-à-ChevalRegiment (4 squadrons)
- 24thChasseurs-à-ChevalRegiment (4 squadrons)
Jean-Baptiste Juvénal CorbineauBrigade
- 7thChasseurs-à-ChevalRegiment (4 squadrons)
- 20thChasseurs-à-ChevalRegiment (4 squadrons)
- 8thChevau-Légers-Lanciers(4 squadrons)

Sources:Les effectifs de la Grande-armée pour la campagne de Russe de 1812- Paris 1913Adjutant's Callof the Military Historical Society Vol. III - U.S.A.

War of the Sixth Coalition[edit]

The II Corps was reorganized in Germany in 1813, with MarshalClaude Victor-Perrinappointed to lead it.

War of The Seventh Coalition[edit]

The corps was headed by GeneralHonoré Charles Reillein 1815 and took part in theBattle of Waterloo.

References[edit]

^George Nafziger,Batavian Division French II Corps 29 November 1805,United States Army Combined Arms Center
^George Nafziger,French II Corps 15 January 1809,United States Army Combined Arms Center.

[1] George Nafziger,Batavian Division French II Corps 29 November 1805,United States Army Combined Arms Center

[2] George Nafziger,French II Corps 15 January 1809,United States Army Combined Arms Center.

[1]

[2]

v t e Corpsof theGrande Armée
Regular	I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV
Cavalry	Reserve I II III IV V VI