Greek volunteers from Wallachia in the military corps “Les Chasseurs d'Orient” during the campaign of the French Army in Dalmatia (1808–1809)

Abstract

In the present paper the author discusses the organization of the
two corps of volunteers known as «Les Chasseurs d’Orient» and the
«Greek Corps» — the first set up by the French in 1798 and the second
by the Russians in 1807 — and their activities in Dalmatia and
Wallachia successively during the French and Russian armies military
operations in these areas in the period 1807 - 1809. The author then
recounts the dissolution of the «Greek Corps» by the Russians (January
1808), and the attempts of a number of volunteer members of the
«Greek Corps» to be transferred to Dalmatia in order to enrol in the
«Chasseurs d’Orient». Finally, on the basis of centain documents he
has at his disposal, the author proves that a number of officers and
ordinary soldiers of the «Greek Corps» - who were of Greek origin -
with the help of the French consul in Bucharest D. Lamare, left
Wallachia for Dalmatia in June 1808 to swell the ranks of «Les Chasseurs
d’Orient».