History glossary
the Grande Armée
Napoleon's main field army, especially the large multinational force used in major campaigns.
- Category
- Military force
- Region
- Napoleonic Europe
- Date range
- 1804-1815
What it means
The Grande Armée was Napoleon's main field army, famous for its speed, corps organization, and battlefield effectiveness. By 1812 it included large numbers of troops from France's allies and subject states, and its destruction in Russia broke much of Napoleon's military power.
