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French Imperial Army unit (1807–1814) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Portuguese Legion (French: Légion portugaise; Portuguese: Legião Portuguesa) was a 9,000 men strong Portuguese military unit integrated in the army of the First French Empire, formed after the French occupation of Portugal in 1807.
 | This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (March 2022) |
| Portuguese Legion | |
|---|---|
Cavalry soldier of the Portuguese Legion | |
| Active | 12 November 1807 |
| Disbanded | 5 May 1814 |
| Country |  France |
| Branch | French Imperial Army |
| Size | Largest at 17 infantry battalions, 16 cavalry squadrons, and 2 artillery companies |
| Part of | Imperial Foreign Troops |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Pedro de Almeida Portugal[1] |
The Legion was created by order of Napoleon from 12 November 1807. Organization began in February 1808, with the best units of the disbanded Portuguese Army, including the elite Legion of Light Troops. It set out for Salamanca in April 1808, crossing Spain until arriving in France. During the crossing of Spain, many of its soldiers defected, returning to Portugal and joining the Portuguese resistance against the French occupation.
The Portuguese Legion took part in the French campaigns in Germany, Austria and Russia, suffering heavy casualties.[citation needed] It fought at the battles of Wagram, Smolensk, Borodino (Moscow) and Berezina.[1]
The Legion was disbanded on 5 May 1814, with only about 1,000 of its original 9,000 soldiers surviving and returning to Portugal.
The Portuguese Legion was organized as a division, originally including:
For the 1809 campaign, the 13th Elite Demi-brigade was created, with three battalions, made from elements of the several infantry regiments of the Legion. The 13th Demi-brigade was part of Oudinot's II Corps.
In 1811, the Portuguese Legion was reorganized in:
In 1813, after suffering heavy casualties, the remains of the Legion were organized as:
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