2st Portuguese Legion

2nd Portuguese Legion

May 18, 1808 Emperor Napoleon signed a decree which established the Portuguese Legion. He was supposed to include six infantry regiments, 2 regiments of cavalry and artillery battery. But to 1809 they could only form 5 infantry regiments. Due to the different circumstances in 1811the legion was reduced to three regiments of the infantry and one cavalry chasseurs’ Regiment.

The Second Legion was organized in 1808.

There were mostly Spaniards, and only 180 people of the Portuguese.

Under the command of Colonel J. Candido Xavier there were 49 officers and 1,432 enlisted men to July 1, 1812. They were in service of a battalion of grenadiers and battalion of Voltigeur.

The Second Legion was a part of the first Brigade of 11th Infantry Division of Major-General Baron Jean Nicolas Razu of the Third Army Corps of Marshal Ney. The decree of May 26, 1812 was allowed to include two elite companies in each battalion.

The regiment participated in the following battles: Smolensk, Valutina Gora, Borodino, Krasny.

In the battle in Smolensk the second legion was resisted Russian General of the Likhachev. Once and again the Portuguese forced an entrance the outskirts of the town, but they were driven out by Russian counterattacks. After fierce fighting from August 16 to August 19 the regiment had only lost 11 officers. Already to August 23, 1812 there were 35 officers and 277 enlisted men in the Second Portuguese Legion.

In Borodino the Regiment also suffered from heavy losses. They lost 22 officers of the regiment.

To October 1 there were only 32 officers and 184 lower ranks. Considering the total loss of the 1st and the 2nd legions it was decided to create a combined regiment of double-battalion composition along with 24th regiment to form of them The Infantry Brigade of Brigadier General Henri-Pierre Dellazha. In the second Battle in Krasny this division was virtually destroyed.

In the propulsion units that were heading to Russia were:
- The 4th marching battalion of the Third Army Corps - 10 lower rank.
- The 1st marching company of the Third Army Corps - 19 lower ranks.

2nd Portuguese Legion was disbanded in 1813.

Metall  Tin Alloy

Size      18 mm

Metall  Tin Alloy