NOTE:  Regiments of the Imperial Guard were classified as a member of the "Old, Middle, or Young Guard".  This was a distinctive honor and each class enjoyed higher pay, privileges, and equipment access than the rest of the French Army.   A "Young Guard" regiment received slightly better pay than the line; a "Middle Guard" regiment slightly more than the "Young Guard"; and, the "Old Guard" received a huge benefit out of all proportion to their actual use in battle which was exceptionally rare.  Napoleon considered the "Middle Guard" regiments, especially the Fusiliers-Grenadiers and the Fusiliers-Chasseurs, as his best infantry but relied heavily on the "Young Guard" regiments in combat.

The "Old Guard" infantry were only the 1st Grenadier, the original 2nd Grenadier, and 1st Chasseur Regiments.  All of the other Grenadier and Chasseur regiments were considered as part of the "Middle Guard".  The "Young Guard" infantry regiments embraced a myriad short-lived series of names starting in 1809 with the Regiments of Tirailleurs-Grenadiers, Tirailleurs-Chasseurs, Conscrits-Grenadiers, and Conscrits-Chasseurs.   These regiments were renamed as either a Tirailleurs or Voltigeurs regiment  of which there were eventually 19 regiments of each type by 1815.   They were originally raised to provide skirmish cover for the "Old and Middle Guard" regiments but became a force unto themselves and were the principle Guard infantry that Napoleon used in combat.  The Flanquers-Grenadiers and the Flanquers-Chasseurs were raised as two-battalion regiments clothed in green and specifically meant to protect the flanks of the "Old and Middle Guard" infantry.  They were disbanded in 1814 upon Napoleon's first abdication.