 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (February 2015) |
| Empress's Dragoons of the Imperial Guard | |
|---|---|
| Dragons de l'Impératrice de la Garde Impériale | |
 Dragoon of the regiment by Hippolyte Bellangé | |
| Active | 1806 – 1814, 1815 |
| Country |  First French Empire |
| Branch | French Imperial Army |
| Type | Dragoons |
| Size | Regiment of 1,032 men |
| Part of | Imperial Guard |
| Engagements | Napoleonic Wars |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Jean-Thomas Arrighi de Casanova Raymond-Gaspard de Bonardi de Saint-Sulpice Philippe Antoine d'Ornano Louis-Michel Letort de Lorville Laurent Hoffmayer |
The Empress's Dragoons of the Imperial Guard (French: Dragons de l'Impératrice de la Garde Impériale) was a heavy cavalry unit formed by Napoleon I through the decree of April 15, 1806. The "dragoon" regiments of the line had distinguished themselves in the German campaign of 1805, and therefore Napoleon decided to reorganize the cavalry of the Guard and create within it a regiment of dragoon guards. This regiment was colloquially known as the Dragons de l'Impératrice (Empress' Dragoons), in honor of Empress Joséphine. Following the Bourbon Restoration, they were renamed as the Royal Dragoon Corps of France (Corps Royal de Dragons des France) but were disbanded shortly afterwards. The Empress' Dragoons were reformed during the Second Empire (1852-1870).