HM Historex NCO French Revolutionary Wars Infantry 1792-1803

A collage of details from the Historex Series HXH012 and HXH013 kit instructions: left to right, officer, grenadier, and fusilier. Note the "casque" head dress worn by the officer and fusilier.
Historex kits HXH012 and HXH013 model French Line Infantry according to the Regulation of 1791 which replaced Regulation of 1779. The white uniform was retained until the "bleu nationale" color was gradually introduced sometime in 1794. Kit instructions detail the uniform including facing colors under the original regulation of 1791 and a modified facing color directive of early 1792. The Historex Kits HX3012 (Officers & Standard Bearers) and HX3013 (NCOs & Soldiers) represent the uniform changes introduced in 1791 collectively known as the Regulation of 1791. The French Revolution of 1789 was now two years old. At first, the major European powers were embroiled in conflicts but kept a wary eye on the French situation. As these conflicts became resolved, most of the major powers began devoting more time to the French problem and published proclamations and decrees opposing the overthrow of the French monarchy and aristocracy. By 1791 it became apparent to the leaders of France that some of all of the major powers would soon put action behind their words. The French army was backed up by a revitalized Garde Nationale and France was put on a war footing. The French army lost most of its aristocratic officer corps and changes in access to military rank were implemented. So too was the uniform. All vestiges of the Ancien Regime were removed including the abolition of regimental names which were substituted with numbers. The basic white uniform was retained and the hard helmet known as the "casque" was re-introduced. Regiments were grouped into a facing color scheme governed the 1791 regulation. Foreign regiments in the line (11 Swiss, 8 German, 3 Irish, and 1 Walloon or Belgian) maintained their colored uniforms. However, later in 1791 on 21 July, the German, Irish, and Walloon regiments were assimilated into the army and their numbers used to build up new French native regiments. The Swiss regiments lingered on though their numbers dwindled as soldiers left the ranks and returned home. The disaster of the storming of the Tuilleries Palace in Paris on 10 August 1792 resulted in the massacre of most of the Regiment Gardes Suisses and on 20 August 1792 all of the Swiss line infantry (11 regiments) were disbanded. Click here to review uniform distinctions for 1791, 1792, and all foreign regiments 1789 - 1792
*CONVERSION KITS - each includes extra arms and legs*
*ITEM*	*DESCRIPTION*	KIT	PAINTED
HXH012	French Line Infantry Regulation of 1791 - Officer	$24.50	$121.00
HXH012	French Line Infantry Regulation of 1791 - Standard Bearer	$24.50	$161.00
HXH013	French Line Infantry Regulation of 1791 - NCO or Soldier	$24.50	$136.00

A collage of details from the Historex Series HXH030 kit instructions: left to right, front and back view of a fusilier, on right is the grenadier. Note the "bicorne" for the fusilier but the bearskin remains the same for the grenadier..
Historex kit HXH030 includes two soldiers, a grenadier and a fusilier, of the line infantry dressed in the 29 August 1793 decree that prescribed that the coat (habit) would be "bleu nationale" first introduced by the Garde Nationale Parisien in mid-1789 who were influenced by the uniform of the Gardes Francaises who made up a large proportion of the early battalions. The long-standing "habit blanc" of the Ancien Regime was permanently replaced. However, it could not be said that all regiments were fully attired this way even into 1794 and 1795. In fact, most uniforms were in poor shape as was the supply system. The key features of this uniform were, of course, 1) its blue color; 2) the "casque", another Ancien Regime article was replaced by the simple bicorne; 3) facing colors were eliminated on the lapels and turnbacks which were now white piped red; 4) collar and cuffs were red piped in white. Pockets and shoulder straps (for fusiliers) were piped red. Note the long coat skirts. Grenadiers remained the same except for the new blue coat.
CONVERSION KITS - each includes extra arms and legs to build two figures.
ITEM	*DESCRIPTION*	KIT	PAINTED
HXH030	French Republicaine Line Infantry Grenadier and Fusilier 1794	$37.25	$272.00

Detail of Gardes Suisses fusiliers from the plate by Eugene Leliepvre, Serie Ancien Regime No. 8
Historex Series 899 - The Swiss Guards, Gardes Suisses, represented in their uniform 1775-1792, are represented here since they were employed in the corps of the Maison du Roi during the French Revolution. They numbered as a single elite regiment but contained four large battalions. The Gardes Suisses along with the elite Gardes Francaises were used during wartime battlefield infantry much like Napoleon's Garde Imperiale. During peace time, they guarded Royal facilities, the Tuilleries Palace being one of significance. There, on 10 August 1792, a vicious mob of radical extremists and provincial militia stormed the Tuilleries and massacred nearly all of the Gardes Suisses. By 20 August 1792, the Gardes Suisses and all Swiss line infantry regiments were officially disbanded.
*ITEM*	*DESCRIPTION*	KIT	PAINTED
899001	Gardes Suisses 1775-1792 - Officer	$24.50	$131.00
899002	Gardes Suisses 1775-1792 - Standard Bearer	$24.50	$171.00
899003	Gardes Suisses 1775-1792 - NCO	$24.50	$146.00
899004	Gardes Suisses 1775-1792 - Soldier	$24.50	$146.00
899005	Gardes Suisses 1775-1792 - Drummer	$24.50	$156.00
899014	Gardes Suisses 1775-1792 - Fifer	$24.50	$136.00

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ADDITIONAL HELPFUL PAINTING GUIDES

Crowdy, Terry. French Revolutionary Infantry 1789-1802. Osprey Men-at-Arms Series No. 403. London: Osprey, 2004.

Crowdy, Terry. French Revolutionary Infantryman 1791-1802. Osprey Warrior Series No. 63. London: Osprey, 2003.

Detaille, Edouard. L'Armee Francaise. New York: Waxtel & Hasenauer, 1992.

Funcken, Liliane and Fred. Arms and Uniforms: The Lace Wars, Part 1. London: Ward Lock Limited, 1977.

Haythornthwaite, Philip. Uniforms of the French Revolutionary Wars 1789-1802. Poole, Dorset UK: Blandford Press, 1981.