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Bataillon Chasseurs d'Orient
Bataillon Chasseurs d'Orient
Active	1802–1807
Country	France
Allegiance	French Empire
Branch	French Imperial Army
Type	Light infantry
Size	2,760 (1805); 4,019 (1807)
Engagements	Napoleonic Wars War of the Third Coalition Anglo-Russian invasion of Naples; ; Russo-Turkish War (1806–1812) Second Archipelago Expedition;
Commanders
Notable; commanders	Nikolaos Papazoglou

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The Bataillon Chasseurs d'Orient

Background

At the end of the 18th century, Ottoman Egypt was home to a small community of Egyptian Greeks who numbered from under a thousand to 5000 people.^[1] A small part of the community had entered the service of the Mamluks as mercenaries, their service was valued for their knowledge of artillery and maritime warfare.^[2] The much larger Copt minority also maintained good relations with the French, continuing their service as tax collectors after the beginning of French occupation.^[3] During the course of the War of the Second Coalition France occupied Egypt.^[4] On 3 August 1798, the French fleet was destroyed by the British in the Battle of the Nile. This defeat significantly complicated French military logistics which were already suffering from frequent Bedouin raids; while simultaneously creating a shortage of manpower. This resulted in the recruitment of Greek mercenaries who once served the Mamluks, such as Nikolaos Papazoglou who led unit of 100 men. The outbreak of the Revolt of Cairo, slowed down French recruitment among Muslim Egyptians, focus instead shifted to the region's Christian population.^[5]

The Copts were among the people targeted during the Revolt of Cairo for their alleged collaboration with the French. During the summer of 1800, Copt tax collector moallem Jacoub organized the 750 man strong Légion Cophte (Coptic Legion). The Coptic Legion policed the Christian quarters of Cairo, erected new fortifications in the city and took part in intelligence gathering.^[6] In April 1800, Papazoglou who had distinguished himself in the suppression of Mamluk revolts was promoted to chef de brigade. Jacoub was promoted to the same rank in August 1800. On 27 June 1800, a regular army unit comprised of ethnic Greeks was established under the name Légion Grecque (Greek Legion). Commanded by Papazoglou it numbered 577 officers and soldiers. On 21 March 1801 The Greek Legion suffered heavy casualties during the Battle of Alexandria. A number of Greek soldiers also refused to be evacuated to mainland France after the Capitulation of Alexandria in August.^[7] Less than half of the Coptic Legion boarded French ships, with their leader dying from an illness en route. Jacoub was succeeded by his nephew Gabriel Sidarious.^[8]

Service

The remnants of the Armée d'Orient arrived at Toulon on 11 October 1801. The Coptic and Greek Legions mustered a total of 479 soldiers and 57 officers. On 7 January 1802, the two legions were reorganized into the Bataillon Chasseurs d'Orient a battalion of light infantry. Papazoglou was appointed its commander with the rank Colonel en chef, with Sidarious serving as his deputy. The unit also incorporated all auxiliary foreign personnel that had served in the Egyptian campaign, regardless of their religious background. A translator was attached to each company, attesting to their homogeneous nature. In March 1802, the unit numbered 386 soldiers and 59 officers. The following month 100 of them were deemed unfit for service and dispatched to a reserve unit. On 8 September, Napoleon Bonaparte approved the raising of the battalion's strength to 1,000 men to be recruited from veterans of the Armée d'Orient originating from the eastern Mediterranean. Those officers wishing to return to their homeland were allowed to resign.^[9]

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Footnotes

^ Oikonomou 2016, pp. 51–52.
^ Oikonomou 2016, pp. 58–60.
^ Oikonomou 2016, p. 76.
^ Oikonomou 2016, p. 50.
^ Oikonomou 2016, pp. 63–65.
^ Oikonomou 2016, pp. 76–77.
^ Oikonomou 2016, pp. 72–73, 78.
^ Oikonomou 2016, pp. 80–81.
^ Oikonomou 2016, pp. 105–109.
^ Oikonomou 2016, pp. 109–111.
^ Hatzopoulos 1983, pp. 49–53.

References

Hatzopoulos, Konstantinos (1983). "Greek volunteers from Wallachia in the military corps "Les Chasseurs d'Orient" during the campaign of the French Army in Dalmatia (1808–1809)". Balkan Studies. 24 (2): 425–435. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
Oikonomou, Foivos (2016). Ελληνες Μισθοφόροι στην Υπηρεσία της Επαναστατικής Γαλλίας (1789-1815) [Greek Mercenaries in the Service of Revolutionary France (1789-1815)] (in Greek). Thessaloniki: University Studio Press. ISBN 978-960-12-2251-6.

Category:Military units and formations established in 1802 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1811 Category:1802 establishments in France Category:1811 disestablishments in France Category:Foreign regiments in French Service Category:Regiments of the First French Empire

[FOOTNOTEOikonomou201651–52-1] Oikonomou 2016, pp. 51–52.

[FOOTNOTEOikonomou201658–60-2] Oikonomou 2016, pp. 58–60.

[FOOTNOTEOikonomou201676-3] Oikonomou 2016, p. 76.

[FOOTNOTEOikonomou201650-4] Oikonomou 2016, p. 50.

[FOOTNOTEOikonomou201663–65-5] Oikonomou 2016, pp. 63–65.

[FOOTNOTEOikonomou201676–77-6] Oikonomou 2016, pp. 76–77.

[FOOTNOTEOikonomou201672–73,_78-7] Oikonomou 2016, pp. 72–73, 78.

[FOOTNOTEOikonomou201680–81-8] Oikonomou 2016, pp. 80–81.

[FOOTNOTEOikonomou2016105–109-9] Oikonomou 2016, pp. 105–109.

[FOOTNOTEOikonomou2016109–111-10] Oikonomou 2016, pp. 109–111.

[FOOTNOTEHatzopoulos198349–53-11] Hatzopoulos 1983, pp. 49–53.

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