User:Aalt/Light Troop Legion

The Portuguese Light Troop Legion(Legião de Tropas Ligeiras) - also known as Light Legion or as Alorna Legion, due to the name of his commander 3º Marquis of Alorna - was one of the elite units of the Portuguese Army, created by decree of August 7 of 1796. The Legion was created to act as a rapid reaction modern force. It had Infantry troops, Cavalry e Artillery, specially organized, trained and equipped to make a fast relocation to any place of the country. His concept was extremely new in terms of European armies of that time, even though the Portuguese Army already had, a few years before, a unit with similar characteristics, the Royal Volunteer Regiment(Regimento de Voluntários Reais).

The Light Troop Legion had such a good reputation that was immediately integrated on the Napoleonic Portuguese Legion, one of the legions of the Grande Armée after the failed Napoleonic Invasion of Portugal in 1808. At the service of the Portuguese Legion, the Light Troop Legion had a remarkable participation on the campaign of Austria and Russia, being then given the nickname of "Black Infantry" by Napoleon.

Organization
The Light Troop Legion included:
 * 1 Estado-Maior
 * 1 Battalion of Riflemen
 * 3 Cavalry Squadrons(including 6 Companies of Hussars)
 * 1 Battery of Cavalry Artillery

On the Portuguese Legion the former Light Troop Legion became essentially integrated on a light infantry battalion.