#french republic

French cockade on the left (called "La cocarde tricolore"), English one on the right

Bonaparte at Arcole, 1796, 1896 by M. Haider

"Napoleon arrived at the bridge at Arcole just as Augereau’s attempt to capture it had been beaten off. He ordered another attack, which stalled under heavy fire. Augereau then seized a flag and walked out fifteen paces in front of his skirmishers, saying, ‘Grenadiers, come and seek your colour.’ At that point Napoleon, surrounded by his aides-de-camp and bodyguard, grasped another flag and led the charge himself, haranguing the troops about their heroism at Lodi. For all his statements to the Directory two days earlier about not exposing himself to danger, he certainly did at Arcole. Yet it failed – the men displayed ‘extraordinary cowardice’ according to Sulkowski – and they didn’t rush the body-strewn bridge, although his aide-de-camp Colonel Muiron and others were killed on it at Napoleon’s side." [Robert's Napoleon: A life]

Model 1907-15 Berthier Rifle from the French Republic dated to 1917 on display at the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History in Brussels, Belgium

The Berthier was a replacement service rifle for the Lebel in the French Republic though the initial rifle only housed three rounds. The rifle was issued to some French and allied or colonial troops during the First World War. Later improvements expanded the magazine to include five rounds as the three were not sufficient for modern fighting in the early 20th century. Another improvement was the turned down bolt. Early 20th century bolt action rifles had to include numerous improvements to increase the rate of fire. One was turned down or curved bolt handles that led the users hand smoothly back to the trigger. Later Berthier rifles and carbines included this feature but not the 1907.

A Drawing of my French OC, Michel Beltoise, when he was a 16-year-old ranker.

Michel Beltoise is an Officer in the French Army, who was involved in the daring escape from the Cannibal-infested city of San Sebastián in 1813, but prior to this, he was involved in Napoleon's Egyptian Campaign from 1798 to 1801. At this time, he was a Ranker, and was promoted to a Field Officer by 1810 or 1812.

Beltoise was 15 when he first enlisted in the French Army, and was lucky to have been transferred to an army bound for North Africa. He was placed in the 13th demi-brigade Line Infantry, and there he befriended a French Soldier. He was nearly killed in his first engagement, then contracted an illness when in Egypt. Napoleon cradled him when he encouraged the men to continue fighting, and he idolized him after the future Emperor of the French moralized the men into continuing the fight. He didn't care about Napoleon leaving for France very early, but nonetheless, he idolized the Emperor.

In 1799, he had a relationship with an Egyptian woman one year older than him. After several engagements in the Middle East, the French surrendered to the Anglo-Ottoman force. Many Frenchmen were left stranded, and some resorted to becoming civilians of Egypt. 1801 saw the opportunity of many Frenchmen to return home, and Beltoise chose to return to France, while his friend chose to stay in Egypt. Two days prior to leaving, he eloped with his Egyptian lover, and unbeknownst to him, he accidentally conceived an illegitimate child.

Beltoise and his French friend kept in touch through writing letters, and when he learned about the birth of his illegitimate son, the very first thing he thought of was to have his French friend-turned-Egyptian citizen take care of the child and marry his former lover to to become the father.

In an alternate timeline (Our world), Beltoise returned to Egypt in 1829 when he delivered wine to his French friend and to an Egyptian customer. There, he met his illegitimate son all grown up. His Egyptian lover named him Mehmed, and Michel would affectionately call him "Medy".

Liberty Leading the People

Eugene Delacroix (1830)

The painting represents Lady Liberty leading the French people during the July Revolution (a.k.a. the Second French Revolution) of 1830. She holds the flag of the French Republic, a musket with bayonet, and wears a Phrygian cap, a symbol of liberty during the first French Revolution.