II Corps (Grande Armée)

Military Unit during the Napoleonic Wars

For the similarly numbered formation in World War I and World War II, see 2nd Army Corps (France).

It has been suggested that this article be merged into 2nd Army Corps (France). (Discuss) Proposed since December 2024.

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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

Military unit

* v
* t
* e

Corps of the Grande Armée

Regular|

* I
* II
* III
* IV
* V
* VI
* VII
* VIII
* IX
* X
* XI
* XII
* XIII
* XIV

Cavalry|

* Reserve
* I
* II
* III
* IV
* V
* VI

The II Corps of the Grande Armée was a French military unit that existed during the Napoleonic Wars.

## Campaigns

[edit]

At its formation in 1805, General Auguste de Marmont was appointed commander of the II Corps.

Batavian Division, commanding officer Général de Division Count 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 the Ulm campaign before advancing southeast to serve as a flank guard. Still under Marmont, the troops then served as the garrison of the Illyrian Provinces until 1809 when they became the Army of Dalmatia and later XI 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 Marshal Nicolas Oudinot, then by Marshal Jean Lannes who was fatally wounded at Aspern-Essling. Oudinot then took over II Corps again and won his marshal's baton at Wagram in July 1809.

#### Order of battle, 1809

[edit]

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

* Commanding General, Maréchal Jean-de-Dieu Soult

* Corps Artillery
* 1er, 10éme Compagnies du {3éme Régiment d'Artillerie à Pied
* 6éme Compagnie du 3éme Régiment d'Artillerie à Cheval
* 1er, 3éme, et 4éme Compagnies du 6éme (part) Bataillon du Train
* 9éme Artisan Compagnie d'Artillerie
* 1st Division, commanded by Général de Division Pierre Hugues Victoire Merle
* 1st Brigade
* 1er, 2e, and 3e Bataillons du 15éme Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne
* 1er, 2e, 3e, and 4e Bataillons du 4éme Régiment d'Infanterie Légère
* 2nd Brigade
* 1er, 2e, and 3e Bataillons du 36éme Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne
* 1er, 2e, 3e, and 4e Bataillons du 2éme Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne
* Divisional Artillery
* 15éme Compagnie du 3éme Régiment d'Artillerie à Pied
* (detachment) 1er Compagnie du 3éme Régiment d'Artillerie à Pied
* 2éme Escadron du Train d'Artillerie de la Garde Imperiale
* 5éme Compagnie du 6éme (part) Bataillon du Train
* (detachment) Train d'Artillerie de la Garde Imperiale
* 2nd Division, commanded by Général de Division Julien Augustin Joseph Mermet
* 1st Brigade
* Bataillon du Paris
* 1er Batiallon du 2éme Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne
* 2éme Bataillon du 3éme Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne
* 3éme Bataillon du 4éme Régiment d'Infantertie de Ligne
* 1er, 2e, and 3e Bataillons du 31éme Régiment d'Infanterie Légère
* 2nd Brigade
* 1er, 2e, 3e, and 4e Bataillons du 47éme Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne
* 1er, 2e, 3e, and 4e Bataillons du 122éme Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne (from 1st and 2nd Reserve Legions)
* Divisional Artillery
* 15e and 20éme Compagnies du 3éme Régiment d'Artillerie à Pied
* 3e and 5e Compagnies du 6éme (part) Bataillon du Train
* 3rd Division, commanded by Général de Division Jean-Pierre-François, Comte Bonet
* 1st Brigade
* 119éme Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne (formed in Spain)
* 120éme Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne (formed in Spain)
* Divisional Artillery
* 7éme Compagnie du 3éme Régiment d'Artillerie à Cheval
* 20éme Compagnie du 3éme Régiment d'Artillerie à Pied
* (detachment) Train d'Artillerie de la Garde Imperiale
* 4th Division, commanded by Général de Division Henri François Delaborde
* 1st Brigade
* 1er, 2e, and 3e Bataillons du 70éme Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne
* 1er, 2e, and 3e Bataillons du 86éme Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne
* 2nd Brigade
* 4éme Bataillon du 15éme Régiment d'Infanterie Légère
* Divisional Artillery
* 8éme Compagnie du 3éme Régiment d'Artillerie à Pied
* Staff, 1er, 5e, and 6e Compagnies du 11éme Principle Train d'Artillerie
* 1st Cavalry Division, commanded by Général de Division Armand Lebrun de La Houssaye
* 1st Brigade
* 1er, 2e, and 3e Escadrons du 17éme Régiment de Dragons
* 1er, 2e, and 3e Escadrons du 27éme Régiment de Dragons
* 2nd Brigade
* 1er, 2e, and 3e Escadrons du 18éme Régiment de Dragons
* 1er, 2e, and 3e Escadrons du 19éme Régiment de Dragons
* 2nd Cavalry Division, commanded by Général de Division Jean Thomas Guillaume Lorge
* 1st Brigade
* 1er, 2e, 3e, and 4e Escadrons du 13éme Régiment de Dragons
* 1er, 2e, 3e, and 4e Escadrons du 22éme Régiment de Dragons
* 2nd Brigade
* 1er, 2e, 3e, and 4e Escadrons du 15éme Régiment de Dragons
* 1er, 2e, 3e, and 4e Escadrons du 25éme Régiment de Dragons
* Divisional Artillery
* 4éme Compagnie du 6éme Régiment d'Artillerie à Pied
* 9éme Principle Bataillon Train

### Russian campaign

[edit]

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

6th Division (Legrand)

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

8th Division Jean-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 Amey Brigade
* 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 Castex Brigade
* 23rd Chasseurs-à-Cheval Regiment (4 squadrons)
* 24th Chasseurs-à-Cheval Regiment (4 squadrons)
* Jean-Baptiste Juvénal Corbineau Brigade
* 7th Chasseurs-à-Cheval Regiment (4 squadrons)
* 20th Chasseurs-à-Cheval Regiment (4 squadrons)
* 8th Chevau-Légers-Lanciers (4 squadrons)

Sources:[3]

### War of the Sixth Coalition

[edit]

The II Corps was reorganized in Germany in 1813, with Marshal Claude Victor-Perrin appointed to lead it.

### War of The Seventh Coalition

[edit]

The corps was headed by General Honoré Charles Reille in 1815 and took part in the Battle of Waterloo.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ George Nafziger, Batavian Division French II Corps 29 November 1805, Archived 3 October 2021 at the Wayback Machine United States Army Combined Arms Center
2. ^ George Nafziger, French II Corps 15 January 1809,[dead link‍] United States Army Combined Arms Center.
3. ^ Les effectifs de la Grande-armée pour la campagne de Russe de 1812 \- Paris 1913 Adjutant's Call of the Military Historical Society Vol. III - U.S.A.

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