1858: portraits of the last surviving veterans of the Napoleonic Wars

The Battle of Waterloo in 1815 was Napoleon Bonaparte's last defeat. But even after his death in 1821, the surviving soldiers of the Grand Army (Grande Armée) deeply respected and revered their commander. And every year on May 5, the day of Napoleon's death, veterans in full uniform marched to the Place Vendome in Paris to pay tribute to their emperor. 

These impressive portraits are almost the only remaining images of French veterans who participated in the 1803-1815 years in the Napoleonic Wars. Presumably, the photos were taken on May 5, 1858. All the men, who at that time were already 70-80 years old, are dressed in the uniform in which they fought. You can also see that on the chest of the soldiers hangs the St. Helena medal, which was awarded in August 1857 to all veterans of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars. 

Monsieur Verlinde, 2nd Lancers.

Monsieur Vitry, departmental security.

Monsieur Dupont, 1st Hussars.

Quartermaster Fabry, 1st Hussars.

Monsieur Schmit, 2nd Mounted Rifle Regiment.

Grenadier Berg.

Monsieur Maire, 7th Hussars.

Quartermaster Sergeant Delignon.

Sergeant Taria in the uniform of the Grenadier Guards.

Monsieur Ducel, Mameluke.

Monsieur Loria, 24th Infantry Regiment. Knight of the Legion of Honor. According to the photo, Loria had lost an eye in battle.

Monsieur Mauban, 8th Dragoons.

Monsieur Lefebre, Sergeant, 2nd Engineer Regiment.

Monsieur Moret in the uniform of a hussar, 2nd Regiment.

Monsieur Dreuse, 2nd Lancers.