Citizens to Arms!

Napoleon’s army was born from the multiple French revolutionary armies. These were a merger of the old royal troops and a mix of volunteer and conscripted units. Raw recruits filled with patriotic enthusiasm marched forward alongside royal veterans and rogue adventurers eager for loot. By 1799, the French armies had been battle-tested and hardened. They provided the human material with which Bonaparte put an end to the revolutionary wars and prepared for his future imperial successes.

The bewildering array of uniforms worn by the revolutionary soldiers is much less documented than those of their imperial successors. In 1943, Henry Boisselier produced a series of 56 plates providing a broad coverage of the troops which fought from 1792 to 1799.

Citizens to Arms! presents this series with comprehensive comments for each plate as well as a discussion on the artist, the sources he used and the citizens, men and women, who answered the call to arms. It fills a gap for anyone with an interest in the 1792–1815 period and its uniforms.

"Renowned French historian Yves Martin has brought us the absolutely wonderful Citizens to Arms! Uniforms of the French Revolutionary Armies, 1792-1799. It is a collection of glorious colour plates completed by French artist Henry Boisselier in 1943....For anyone like me who has a fascination, or obsession even, for the French Revolutionary Wars, then this book is highly recommended." carryingsonupthedale.com

"The text describes the uniforms each figure in considerable detail and often includes an anecdotes about one historical figure or another or maybe the unit that fielded the troops with a particular uniform. Overall: Excellent and sharp reproductions. If the 1792-1799 period is your interest, I can see this propped on a painting table as source material." Historical Miniatures Gaming Society

"Citizens to Arms! brings together fifty-six uniform plates produced by Henry Boisselier in 1943....All of this is accompanied by excellent commentary and notes by Yves Martin. In short, this is an indispensable work if you wish to field a "miniature army" from this chaotic period." Vae Victus Magazine No184 (translated from French)