La Grande Armée (Episode 2) - The Infantry & Officer Corps [86:44-88:16]

infidelity did file as harm to one's own standing amongst their peers than cuckoldry or indebtedness. Naturally these wings were a source of friction, one among many. Julling was outlawed by Napoleon, but that only meant it was conducted in secret. The French preferred sore jewels, though a bayonet would do in a pinch. Deaths were common despite Napoleon's ruling, and it was an issue he never effectively clamped down on. Such distractions died down on campaign, basics like food, clothing and equipment were the major concerns outside of combat. A good officer's funds were stretched as they purchased, as a precaution, anything they felt their men might need, including the considerable expense of extra wagons or horses. Difficult these aside, officers of La Grande were good at what they did, remaining effective and cohesive all throughout the wars of the coalition. But bound them was a strong sense of personal loyalty to Napoleon, to whom they were required to swear an oath. Nationalism, and they believed in the superiority of French arms, were near universal too. Undoubtedly though the true connective tissue for the officers was their irrepressible espoir du corps, a shared professionalism and camaraderie born of mutual hardships under arms. Despite some high profile refusals, thousands of officers defected to Napoleon's side during the 100 days campaign. And even long after his death, Bonapartism was endemic to former imperial officers, remaining a potent force in French politics for the rest of the 19th century.