V Corps (Grande Armée)

The V Corps of the Grande Armée was a French military unit that existed during the Napoleonic Wars. The corps was originally formed in 1805 and was reorganized several times until it was dissolved in 1815.

For the similarly numbered formation in World War I and World War II, see 5th Army Corps (France).
V Corps
Active1805–1815
Country First French Empire
BranchArmy
TypeCorps
Size2-3 infantry divisions, along with cavalry and artillery elements
EngagementsWar of the Third Coalition
War of the Fourth Coalition
Peninsular War
War of the Fifth Coalition
Russian campaign
War of the Sixth Coalition
War of the Seventh Coalition
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Jean-Baptiste Drouet
Jean Lannes
Jacques Lauriston
François Joseph Lefebvre
André Masséna
Édouard Mortier
Józef Poniatowski
Jean Rapp
Anne Jean Marie René Savary

Service history

From 1805–1807, the corps composed mostly of French troops, and was commanded by Marshals Jean Lannes, Édouard Mortier, François Joseph Lefebvre, and André Masséna as well as Général de Division Anne Jean Marie René Savary.

Polish Corps d'Armée

In 1812, the V Corps was made up entirely of Polish soldiers from the Duchy of Warsaw under the command of General Józef Poniatowski. It was one of several non-French corps of the Grande Armée and at its peak consisted of around 36,000 soldiers. The corps took part in Napoleon's invasion of Russia and fought in the Battle of Smolensk and the Battle of Borodino.[1]

The corps suffered heavy casualties during the retreat, but managed to reach Warsaw and was later reinforced with new recruits. In 1813, the corps was sent to Saxony, passing Bohemia. The corps was temporary disbanded with the remaining troops and Poniatowski reassigned to the VIII Corps.

Revival

After the disastrous Russian campaign, the V Corps was rebuilt in Magdeburg from newly formed French units in the spring of 1813. These troops were under the command of General Jacques Lauriston. Participating in the War of the Sixth Coalition the corps was disbanded again after Napoleon's abdication.

War of the Seventh Coalition

In March 1815, the V Corps was again rebuilt and placed under the command of General Jean Rapp. Ordered to defend the north-eastern frontier of France, it missed the Battle of Waterloo instead winning the Battle of La Suffel.

Organization

The V Corps varied in strength and organization. In the beginning of each campaign it had:

  • 14,000 French in 1805
  • 18,000 French in 1806–1807
  • 36,000 Polish in 1812
  • 20,000 French in 1813
  • 20,000 French in 1815

1805

1806–1807
  • Infantry Division – General Louis-Gabriel Suchet
  • Infantry Division – General Gazan
  • Light Cavalry Division – General Trelliard

1812
  • 16th Infantry Division – General Józef Zajączek, then Izydor Krasinski and Franciszek Paszkowski
  • 17th Infantry Division – General Jan Henryk Dąbrowski
  • 18th Infantry Division – General Ludwik Kamieniecki, then Karol Kniaziewicz
  • Cavalry Division – General Michal Ignacy Kamieński

1813

1815
  • National Guard Division – General de Berckheim
    • Haut-Rhin/Bas-Rhin National Guard (6 battalions)
  • 15th Infantry Division – General de Rottembourg
    • 1st Brigade
      • 39th Line Regiment
      • 40th Line Regiment
    • 2nd Brigade
      • 36th Line Regiment
      • 103rd Line Regiment
  • 16th Infantry Division – General Joseph Albert
    • 1st Brigade
      • 10th Light Regiment
      • 32nd Line Regiment
    • 2nd Brigade
      • 18th Line Regiment
      • 57th Line Regiment
  • 17th Infantry Division – General Charles Grandjean
    • 1st Brigade
      • 2 Infantry Regiments
    • 2nd Brigade
      • 2 Infantry Regiments
  • Light Cavalry Division – General Antoine François Eugène Merlin
    • 1st Brigade
      • 2nd Chasseurs-à-Cheval
      • 7th Chasseurs-à-Cheval
    • 2nd Brigade
      • 11th Dragoons
      • 19th Dragoons
    • 3rd Brigade
      • Mixed Cavalry (2-4 squadrons)

References
  1. Badone, Jean Cerino; et al. "Battle of Borodino, 1812 – Armies. "French and Russian Orders of Battle"". Retrieved 2007-08-16.

Sources
  • Rapp, Jean, comte (1823). Memoirs of General Count Rapp, first aide-de-camp to Napoleon. London, UK: Rapp family.
  • Town notes of Strasbourg
  • Letters of Napoleon
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