par Emmanuel Desanois
et Brice Devif - Kriegspiel Rhône-Alpes Club.

 The Portuguese Legion

When Junot conquered Portugal in 1807, about eight thousand of its soldiers were sent to France, where a Portuguese Legion was formed in May of 1808. Commanded by the Marquis d'Aloma, the legion included

• six regiments of light infantry (only five were actually raised)
• two regiments of mounted chasseurs
• one artillery battery.

All these units were organized in the French manner.

In 1809 the Portuguese formed a brigade (three infantry battalions and two squadrons of mounted chasseurs) under General Carcome-Lego in the division Grandjean of the II Corps (Oudinot).

In 1811 the legion was reduced to three infantry regiments which took part in the Russian campaign:

• the third regiment in the sixth division Legrand of the II Corps commanded by Oudinot
• the first regiment in the tenth division Ledru of the III Corps commanded by Ney
• the second regiment in the eleventh division Razout of the same corps.