III Corps (Grande Armée)

The III Corps of the Grande Armée was a military unit during the Napoleonic Wars. The III Corps came to prominence between 1805 and 1809 under the command of Marshal Louis Nicolas Davout, when it repeatedly scored impressive victories single-handedly or in conjunction with other French forces. Napoleon called it "My tenth legion", in reference to Julius Caesar's finest unit, the X Equestris.

Size

By the time of Napoleon's invasion of Russia in 1812, it was under the command of Marshal Ney. The corps, like the rest of Napoleon's forces, suffered heavy casualties as the campaign progressed: at the crossing of the Niemen River in 1812, the III Corps' size was estimated at around 44,000 men; by the Battle of Smolensk, only 22,000 men remained. [cite web|last=Badone|first=Jean Cerino et al|title=1812 - Invasion of Russia|url=http://napoleonistyka.atspace.com/FRENCH_ARMY.htm#french1812|accessdate=2007-08-16]

Battles

The III Corps participated in a number of battles, including Austerlitz, Auerstadt, Eylau, Teugen-Hausen and Eckmuhl. The III Corps also fought at Borodino. [cite web|last=Badone|first=Jean Cerino et al|title=Battle of Borodino, 1812 - Armies. "French and Russian Orders of Battle"|url=http://napoleonistyka.atspace.com/Borodino_battle.htm#borodinofrench|accessdate=2007-08-16]

Commanders

*General Louis Nicolas Davout (1805 through 1809)
*General Louis Friant
*General Etienne Gudin
*General Charles Morand
*General Saint-Hilaire
*Marshal Michel Ney (1812 through 1813)

ee also

References and notes

Further reading

External links