Did the Swiss infantry wear bicornes like the French infantry prior to 1807?
Thanks!
Bob
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Guy & Hans -
Thanks!
Bob
Yes it is form the Cronica Rovatti, I see however well a possibility that the hat was worn in 1805 - 1806 and 1807 being a transition period. Hahlo shows his Suisse soldier with shako in about 1807 /08,
A recruting poster of 3e de suisse shows a soldier with shako.
According to Ede - Boerrett the Suisse regiments should have been equipped from the start with a shako, however he fails to give a source.
The image from the Vinkhuizen collection is a tracing of a watercolor done by a cleric named Rovatti who lived in Modena, Italy. The watercolor depicts a soldier of the 1st Swiss Demi-brigade, which was a predecessor unit of the 1st Swiss regiment formed by Napoleon in 1805.
It is unlikely that the bicornes were worn by soldiers of the 1st Swiss regiment (other than the officers).
According to a Rigo plates, cave secondary source and Rigo was of old school, Le Plumet plate U 40 - Infanterie de Ligne 1er Suisse - yes, as in the French infantry the shako replaced the hat from 1807 onwards, I could also find this illustration which seems to be a Suisse for me.