Napoleonic First French Empire Carabinier Officer Helmet – Battle of Waterloo 1815 New Made Items

New Made Item: Top Quality Replica. It was by a decree dated 24 December 1809 that Napoleon I decided to provide cuirasses for the two regiments of Carabiniers. These were elite heavy cavalry regiments, dating from pre-1789, very similar to the British Dragoon Guards. They were the best, and took pride in their station and appearance.

The Carabinier in the first Imperial campaigns in blue capes and bearskin busbies. These busbies were symbolic of the two regiments’ elite status but they were not very practical as they frequently fell off during combat, lacking as they did chinstraps, thereby exposing their owners to serious head injuries. The particular violence of the Austrian Campaign persuaded Napoleon that his Caribiniers needed helmets and cuirasses, which they wore for the campaigns during 1812-1815.

Both the 1er Régiment de Carabiniers and 2e Régiment de Carabiniers took part in the Battle of Waterloo as part of the 1st Brigade of the 12th Cavalry Division. They fielded a total of 847 soldiers in total under Colonels Rogé and Beugnat.

The helmet is “Greek-style”, and offered in a wearable head size of up to approximately 7 1/2. The domed part (or “bombe” in French) of the helmet is made from brass, ending in a nape cover (“couvre-nuque” in French). The crest (“cimier” in French) is made of brass stamped with palmettes, the whole topped with a scarlet horsehair plume. The front part of the helmet is decorated with a triangular silvered metal plate bearing an imperial crowned letter “N”, and on either side of this there is an embossed palm decoration. The front has full leather backed brass chin scales attached, held in place by starbursts.

Adjustable full leather liner to the interior make this a ready to wear Military Trophy for your display!