In 1676, Louis XIV chose the bravest grenadiers from his line infantry regiments and formed a 250-man guard cavalry regiment named the Grenadiers à Cheval de la Garde. Their task, as bravest of the brave, was to spearhead the charges of the infantry or cavalry of the Maison du Roi.

After the end of the French Revolutionary Wars, in which France had resisted all the attacks of the First Coalition and strengthened its army, the first consul, Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821), took total power into his hands. Two guard units were formed: the Foot and Mounted Grenadiers of the Consular Guard. They had very similar uniforms, and identical headgear – the distinctive tall black bearskin hats. After Napoleon was crowned emperor in 1804, the mounted regiment was renamed the Grenadiers à Cheval de la Garde Imperiale.

On the day of the renaming, the regiment had 1,018 troopers in four squadrons, with two companies each. Distinction in military service, personal bravery and the recommendation of high-ranking officers were necessary conditions for joining this unit, as was a minimum height of 176 cm/5 ft 9 in. The men were paid 300 francs a year and had the status of an elite. The regiment was mounted on heavy black horses, mostly of the Norman or Anglo-Norman breeds; only the 30 trumpeters rode grey or white horses.

Two events occupy special places in the regimental history. At the Battle of Austerlitz (1805), the Russian cavalry guard led by Grand Duke Constantine, brother of Emperor Alexander I, succeeded in breaking several of the French lead infantry battalions and stopping Napoleon’s attack on the centre of the allied formation. The emperor ordered his Grenadiers to counter-attack. The white-coated Russian Chevaliers-Gardes met the French charge, but suffered heavy losses, and Grand Duke Constantine barely escaped with his life.

At the winter Battle of Eylau (1807), a charge against the Russian positions through a raging blizzard led the Grenadiers behind enemy lines. When their commander, Colonel Lepic, appraised the situation, he realized that he had no choice but to reorganize his men and charge back out. The double charge through enemy lines brought Lepic the rank of general, and a prize of 50,000 francs in gold, which he divided among his men.

The Grenadiers took part in all the major battles of the Napoleonic Wars. Three hundred of them were decorated with the Legion of Honour, while all the officers were given the rank of Officers of the Legion of Honour.