Nous sommes Hollandais! Nous sommes le 3eme!

One of the earliest of the French vassal states was Holland.
Though originally an enemy of Revolutionary France, there was considerable pro-French feeling in the country. After General Pichegry drove the British and Austrians out of Holland in 1795, the country was reorganized as the Batavian republic. Dutch troops shared in Brune's defeat of the 1799 British-Russian invasion.

In 1806, wanting to bring Holland into even tighter alliance, Napoleon made it a Kingdom. However, Holland being a nation of overseas traders, Napoleon's Continental System caused great hardship. King of Holland, Napoleon's brother Louis, was reluctant to enforce the Continental System and would not introduce conscription. It angered the Emperor. In 1810 he annexed Holland to France.

When Louis became king, the Goverment organized The Royal Guard from veterans from the army. Between 1806-1810, the only campaign they fought in was the campaign against Prussia, which only lasted a few weeks for them: Louis and Napoleon quickly started a quarrel, and Louis returned to Holland.

In 1810, when Holland was annexed by Napoleon, The Royal Guard became the 2nd Grenadiers in the French Old Guard. A few months later, another regiment was raised, which became the 2eme. The Dutchmen then became 'Le 3eme Regiment Grenadiers à Pied de la Garde Imperiale'. On 20 Juny, they were given their Eagle

Officialy part of the Old Guard, the other (French) Guardmen saw them as 'Middle Guard'. Their first meeting didn't turn out that good, when the Dutchmen were given wine. They were not used to that kind of strong alcoholic drinks, and quickly they almost riot in Paris, together with their French colleagues. French line-soldiers tried to stop them, but even outnumbered and drunken, the Guardsmen beat the linesoldiers up and didn't stop the riot until the next morning. They had to apologize in public, and 25 soldiers were transfered to the Line for bad conduct.

Their uniform was quite different from the other Grenadier-regiments. They had white uniforms, with red facings. Their 'bonnet a poil' (the bearskin hat) had, in contrast with 1eme and 2eme, no plate in front, like the chasseurs.

From 1810 to 1812 they were placed in Versailles. They followed Napoleon to Russia, with 1400 men.
Eventually, when they reaced Moskou, there were just over 1000 soldiers left; desertion and heat had done their share.
During the retreat, they had 500 soldiers left. Together with the other Guard, they hold of 35.000 Russians.
The regiment ceased to exist

After Christmas 1812, of the 1480 soldiers, 24 officer and 16 soldiers were left. According to an French sergeant, serving in the line, all the survivors travelled on one sledge, pulled by two horses.

Vive L'empereur!