GUARD

THE IMPERIAL, in the armies of the Emperor Napoleon, was formed from a small corps of lifeguards (as they might be termed) which had served to defend the Convention, the Corps Leg is lat if of 1795, the Directory, and afterwards the Consulate. In 1805, when Napoleon became emperor, the consular guard had already been increased to 3300 infantry and 2100 cavalry, besides artillery and marines. Its augmentation and equipment became afterwards one of Napoleon's favourite pursuits; and as soldiers could not be enrolled except after serving four campaigns in the line with distinction or from the preparatory corps called the young guards, it was an institution of the highest military policy. In the end of 1812, the Imperial Guard, old and young, consisted of 56,000 men; and its farther increase was only prevented by the calamities of the following years. At the Restoration, the soldiers of the young guard returned to the line; those of the old guard were formed into royal regiments. GUARD, YEOMEN OF THE, were first raised by Henry VI I. in 1485, and appear to have been the first 532 GUELFS. standing military corps ever set on foot in this coutrtry. They were at first fifty men, half armed with bows and arrows, and half with arquebu es; afterwards some carried halberds. The arquebu es were exchanged for partizans (which they now carry) in the reign of William [s. 545]