French Imperial Naval Corps

The French Imperial Naval Corps (French: Corps des Marines Impériaux) was the branch of the French Imperial Navy responsible for administering the infantry and artillery which was tasked with manning and utilising the weapons on the Navy's ships. The corps comprised two 'official' branches, Naval Infantry and Naval Artillery and one 'unofficial branch' (Coastal Artillery). The Naval Infantry and Naval Artillery formed the 'official' branches as they were under the direct control of the navy and Naval corps. However, the Coastal Artillery was de facto an 'unofficial' branch, as it remained under control of the army for operational duties, while administration and supply was given to the Navy (those troops defending the naval bases were under control of the naval artillery).

Background

The Royal Corps of Cannoneers-Sailors was disbanded on 14 June 1792. On the same day, four regiments of Naval Infantry and two regiments of Naval Artillery were decreed to be raised, which signalled the end of the 'soldier-sailor' experiment, which had seen sailors trained as artillery and infantry. Personnel from the cannoneers-sailors and the colonial artillery were to be incorporated into the new organisation. Each regiment had two battalions of eight companies, each having 87 men and three officers, for a total of 2,880 officers and men plus staff. The establishment strength was obviously never reached since some of the colonial artillery corps continued to exist until absorbed into the army as the 8th Artillery Regiment in 1793.

By decree of 28 January 1794, the Naval artillery and infantry regiments were abolished and absorbed into battalions of the National Volunteers, which were to provide the sea-soldiers for the ships of the Republic.