SABRE OF THE ENSIGN SUB-LIEUTENANT ÉTIENNE FRANÇOIS LÉVÊQUE OF THE GRENADIERS À CHEVAL OF THE CONSULAR GUARD, Consulate (1800-1803). 32216

SWORD OF ENSIGN SUB-LIEUTENANT ÉTIENNE FRANÇOIS LÉVÊQUE OF THE GRENADIERS À CHEVAL OF THE CONSULAR GUARD, Consulate (1800-1803). Item No. 32216

Gilt bronze hilt. Five-branched guard composed of a vertically grooved main branch with a lozenge in the center decorated with a fluted floret, a secondary branch shaped like a rooster's head ending in scrolls and palmettes, three secondary branches forming a shell at the front, each decorated at the top with a rooster's head, curling up into a palmette with acanthus leaves. The shell is pierced in a cobweb design with a sandblasted background, with a relief molded bursting bomb. Eagle-head quillon. Cap with a short tail adorned with a palmette surmounted by an octagonal crown of stars with a lion's head in relief at the top. Handle in wood covered with black waxed calf, filigreed with copper and gilt brass. Ferrule composed of a curved rod with a lower molding in the shape of a rope.
Curved blade with hollow facets, back with a fish spine ending in a fishtail, length 92 cm, entirely damascened. Near the hilt, a rectangular cartouche with a gold background, bordered by two flat moldings and a beaded rod, H 4.2 cm. Above, on the front face, a second cartouche with a matte gold background, H 21 cm, decorated with a shield on a polished gold background bearing the inscription "Guard of the Consuls Grenadiers à Cheval" set on a bundle of fasces with standards, trumpets, oak crown, and laurel branches, this design is left polished white. On the back, near the hilt, the same cartouche as on the other side, H 4.2 cm, and on the upper part, on a gold background, a 22 cm high cartouche with a matte gold background presenting an oval medallion engraved and gilded with the intertwined initials "EFL" on a blue background, the medallion is set on a crown of oak leaves, laurel branches, fasces and military trophies, with a sheaf in the background; this design is left polished white. Lame back with fish spine engraved in gold on a background "Manufacture de Klingenthal Coulaux Frères".
Wooden scabbard covered in black waxed shagreen with two large gilt bronze fittings with a matte bottom and polished protruding parts in agate stone. 14 cm long chape with a carrying ring strap, richly decorated in relief with geometric moldings, pearls, and laurel leaves. Tip of the scabbard 65 cm long featuring the same decorations as the chape, plus medallions with military trophies (axe, oak leaf crown, laurel branch and oak branch / mace and arrows tied with a ribbon), and a series of alternating round medallions with palmettes and diamond-shaped with florets; the lower part represents molded rods tied together by two ribbons. Steel blade with a molded steel tip.
Total length: 108.5 cm

France.
Consulate.
Very good condition, gilding remains intact with some dirt, handle and scabbard in perfect condition, some surface oxidation on the blade, slight surface oxidation on the tip.

NOTE:
Among the approximately 88 subaltern officers who served in the Regiment of the Grenadiers à Cheval of the Consular Guard, 16 swords are currently known.
Among the approximately 12 senior officers who served in the Regiment of the Grenadiers à Cheval of the Consular Guard, 7 swords are currently known.

BIOGRAPHY:
Étienne François LÉVÊQUE was born in Coblentz in the department of Rhin and Moselle. He was a mounted guide in the Army of Italy on the 18th of frimaire year 5, promoted to brigadier on the 28th of thermidor following, then to chief marshal of lodgings on the 4th of nivôse year 6. He was admitted with his rank to the Consuls' Mounted Guard on the 13th of nivôse year 8 (January 3, 1800). He was appointed ensign sub-lieutenant by decision of the First Consul on the 4th of brumaire year 9. He participated in the campaigns of year 5, year 6, and year 7.

HISTORY:
The Consular Mount Guard comprised approximately a hundred officers during its existence from 1799 to 1804, including 13 ensigns.
These ensigns held ranks of sub-lieutenant, second lieutenant, or lieutenant.


ORGANISATION DU RÉGIMENT :
Composition au 28 novembre 1799
ÉTAT-MAJOR
1 capitaine
2 chefs d'escadrons
1 adjudant-major
2 adjudants sous-lieutenants
1 capitaine sous-inspecteur d’équitation
1 quartier-maître
1 chirurgien de deuxième classe
1 porte-étendard
1 artiste vétérinaire
1 maître tailleur
1 maître culottier
1 maître bottier
1 maître armurier
1 maître sellier
1 maître éperonnier
1 trompette-major
1 brigadiers trompettes"
DEUX ESCADRONS DE DEUX COMPAGNIES
1 capitaine
1 lieutenant en premier
1 lieutenant en second
1 sous lieutenant
1 maréchal des logis chef
4 maréchaux des logis
1 fourrier
8 brigadiers
96 grenadiers
2 trompettes
1 marécdhal-ferrant"

À partir du 8 mars 1802
ÉTAT-MAJOR
1 chef de brigade
4 chefs d’escadrons
1 capitaine instructeur
2 chefs d'escadrons
1 adjudant-major
1 sous-instructeur
1 quartier-maître payeur
2 adjudants sous-lieutenants
4 porte-étendard sous-lieutenants
2 officiers de santé
1 vaguemestre maréchal des logis chef
1 artiste vétérinaire
1 trompette-major
1 brigadiers trompettes
1 timbalier
7 maître ouvriers
1 aide-artiste vétérinaire
QUATRE ESCADRONS DE DEUX COMPAGNIES
1 capitaine
1 lieutenant en premier
1 lieutenant en second
1 sous-lieutenant
1 maréchal des logis chef
4 maréchaux des logis
1 fourrier
8 brigadiers
96 grenadiers
3 trompettes
1 maréchal-ferrant
2 enfants de corps à demi-solde"