"Point d'argent, point de Suisses" — a phrase meaning "No money, no Swiss" — this diorama captures a battalion of Swiss soldiers advancing into battle. Using high-quality, unofficial Lego minifigures from AliExpress, I was struck by the craftsmanship of these pieces despite their unofficial origins. Originally designed as grenadiers of the 1st Swiss Regiment in Napoleon's Grande Armée (circa 1805), they wore fur caps; however, I customized them with tricornes to depict the Swiss troops who served the French Crown throughout the 1700s.
This diorama reflects the Swiss mercenaries' reputation as elite soldiers, valued for their discipline and courage, as noted by figures like Prussian King Frederick II. Inspired by René Chartrand's historical work, "Louis XV's Army: Foreign Infantry and Artillery," and the stunning soldier illustrations by Eugène Lelièpvre, I also included two flags: the royal standard, with its white field and golden fleur-de-lis, and the Swiss regiment’s Flammé flag. These elements honor the foreign regiments who were indispensable to French military power during the 18th century.
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