NAPOLEON I: (1769-1821) Emperor of the French 1804-14, 1815. Manuscript Document, unsigned, with four passages struck through in bold, dark ink in Napoleon's hand, five pages (all edges gilt and featuring circular watermarks of the French Imperial Eagle and Napoleon in profile), folio, n.p., August 1810, in French. The document is a draft of the Emperor's decree on the dissolution of the Dutch Guard and is set out in fourteen numbered articles, in part, 'Napoleon, Empereur des Francias, Roi d'Italie et protecteur de la Confederation du Rhin. Nous avons decrete et decretons  ce qui suit: Article 1er La Garde hollandaise fera partie de notre garde imperiale sous la denomination de garde hollandaise. Article 2e La premiere compagnie des gardes du corps restera organisee telle qu'elle est, avec la denomination de velites hollandais. Les officiers a la suite de cette compagnie, les sous-officiers et les velites qui ont rang d'officier seront places dans la ligne. Article 3e La 2e, la 3e et la 4e compagnies des gardes du corps seront incorpores savoir: la 2e dans le regiment des grenadiers de la garde hollandaise, la 3e et la 4e dans les regiments de grenadiers et de chasseurs a pied de notre garde. Les officiers a la suite des sous-officiers de ces 3 compagnies qui ont rand d'officier seront places dans la ligne........Article 7e La compagnie d'artillerie legere de la garde hollandaise conservera sa denomination, et restera attachee a l'artillerie legere de notre guarde. Article 8e La compagnie du train d'artillerie de la garde hollandaise conservera egalement sa denomination sera attachee au bataillon du train d'artillerie de notre garde. Article 9e Les veterans de la garde hollandaise conserveront leur organisation. Ils seront employes a la garde de notre palais imperial de notre bonne ville d'Amsterdam. Article 10e Les officiers de tout grade qui par l'effet de la nouvelle organisation de la garde hollandaise se trouveront a la suite ou sans emploi, seront places dans la ligne.......Article 13e Ne seront admis dans notre vieille garde que les Francais et les Hollandais d'origine. Les etrangers qui se trouvent dans ce corps seront places dans les fusiliers de notre garde ou dans la ligne. Ils pourront meme etre incorpores dans une des gardes royales de Westphalie, de Naples, ou d'Espagne. Article 14e La solde, les masses de toute espece resteront les memes comme par le passe, jusques au 1er janvier 1811, epoque a laquelle il sera fait un changement a cet egard' (Translation: 'Napoleon, Emperor of France, King of Italy and Protector of the Confederation of the Rhine. We have decreed and we decree as follows: Article 1 The Dutch Guard will form part of our Imperial Guard under the denomination of Dutch Guard. Article 2 The first company of bodyguards will remain organised as it is, with the denomination of Dutch velites.The officers following this company, the non-commissioned officers and the velites who have the rank of officer will be placed in the line. Article 3 The 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th companies of bodyguards will be incorporated, namely: the 2^nd in the regiment of grenadiers of the Dutch Guard, the 3^rd and 4^th in the regiments of grenadiers and chasseurs a pied of our guard. The officers following the non-commissioned officers of these 3 companies who have the rank of officer will be placed in the line…..Article 7 The light artillery company of the Dutch Guard will retain its denomination, and will remain attached to the light artillery of our guard. Article 8 The company of the artillery train of the Dutch Guard will also retain its denomination will be attached to the battalion of the artillery train of our guard. Article 9 The veterans of the Dutch Guard will retain their organisation. They will be employed in guarding our Imperial Palace in our good city of Amsterdam. Article 10 Officers of all ranks who, by the effect of the new organisation of the Dutch Guard, find themselves out of service or unemployed, will be placed in the line……Article 13 Only the French and the Dutch of origin will be admitted into our old guard. The foreigners who find themselves in this corps will be placed in the fusiliers of our guard or in the line. They could even be incorporated into one of the royal guards of Westphalia, Naples or Spain. Article 14 The pay, the masses of all kinds will remain the same as in the past, until 1^st January 1811, when a change will be made in this respect'). With blank integral leaf. An interesting document demonstrating the Emperor's talent for organisation. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG

The Dutch Guard had been created in 1808 by Louis Bonaparte, King of Holland, at the request of his elder brother to take part in the Peninsular War. Following the annexation of the Kingdom of Holland by the French Empire in 1810, the brigade was officially disbanded and its personnel (who had become French citizens) and soldiers distributed amongst the different existing military bodies, as confirmed in the present document. The decree would be promulgated in the following month, September 1810.