Napoleon's Balkan Troops

An extract from ‘Ionian/Seven Islands Corps’,

Septinsular Battalion

The ‘Seven Islands Battalion’ (Bataillon Septinsulaire) was a six-company light infantry unit raised on 13 September 1807 from the men of a former Venetian regiment, who had then been in Russian pay. Each company’s strength stood at about 150 men, who were to be recruited exclusively from the Ionian Islands population. In January 1808 the battalion was reorganized into nine companies and the number of soldiers reduced to 100 per company. Nevertheless, the battalion had constant problems with recruiting enough men, and resorted to filling its ranks with Austrian prisoners of war in 1809, and later with Dalmatians, Italians and Neapolitans while it was briefly stationed in Dalmatia. Another proposal to take in Spanish prisoners was rejected by Napoleon. The battalion was deployed in the defence of the Ionian Islands, but after the detachment under Col Piéris on Cephalonia surrendered to the British without firing a shot in 1809, Napoleon took the view that they did not justify their cost and the Septinsular Battalion was disbanded in 1812; the remnants were incorporated into the Sapeurs Ioniens.

The uniform was in French light infantry style, comprising a shako with a brass plate, plume and cords, a dark blue jacket (with epaulettes for elite companies), waistcoat and trousers, together with short black gaiters. The jacket was also lined in dark blue, although faced with sky-blue on the collar and cuffs with the same colour piping. (However, Forthoffer claims they had red facings.) Officers wore gold epaulettes and shako cords.