Company's Name (1 Viewer)

[King's Man]

Matt,

Where did the name "First Legion" come from? Does it have a special meaning? I have heard of Cesar’s Tenth Legion, but haven’t been able to place the origins of “First Legion”.

Is it because being first go with being in first place therefore the best, which First Legion certainly is.

King’s Man

 

[FirstLegion]

Matt,

Where did the name "First Legion" come from? Does it have a special meaning? I have heard of Cesar’s Tenth Legion, but haven’t been able to place the origins of “First Legion”.

Is it because being first go with being in first place therefore the best, which First Legion certainly is.

King’s Man

You know, that's a very good question and one that I'm almost embarassed to answer. The reality is that my partner really liked the name and I didn't care enough one way or another to argue about it. I wanted something more specific to Napoleonics but he felt, and rightly so, that we should keep it generic military. I think his reasoning was that the term "Legion" is used in some capacity all throughout military history and, well, "first" is because it's the best of course. It was something of a working title that we always intended on revisiting that we just got used to and it ended up sticking. Now that I'm used to it, though, it's grown on me quite a bit and I couldn't imagine it being anything else at this point. I particularly like the logo which has REALLY grown on me. It has a very Napoleonic feel to it without actually being Napoleonic and is equally applicable to all sorts of ranges that we might come up with.

Sorry it's not some interesting tale, but there you have it.

 

[Spitfrnd]

...I particularly like the logo which has REALLY grown on me. It has a very Napoleonic feel to it without actually being Napoleonic and is equally applicable to all sorts of ranges that we might come up with.

Sorry it's not some interesting tale, but there you have it.

Actually I think it is rather interesting. Interestingly enough, it has more than just a Napoleonic feel. Napoleon established the Ordre National de la Legion d'Honneur in 1802. It is the Highest decoration in France and it is divided into 5 classes, the highest or First being the Grand Cross. Of course the period also featured many legions, including the King's German Legion and Napoleon's Irish and Polish Legions. Maybe the association with the Napoleonic period was subliminal.

 

[King's Man]

I think it is a great name. I just needed to be reassured I wasn't missing somethng. I didn't want to be the only one not understanding the hidden meaning.

King's Man

 

[VanguardFC007]

Dont forget Cobb's Legion from the ACW! You know, for when First Legion turns its considerable talents to that range.

 

[Fusilier]

I think it is a great name. I just needed to be reassured I wasn't missing somethng. I didn't want to be the only one not understanding the hidden meaning.

King's Man

I felt the same way! Still, First Legion is a great company name for a line of excellent figures. For many of us, it is now synonymous with great quality and superb craftmanship.

Noah

 

[marco55]

Don't forget the French Foreign Legion.
Mark

 

[FirstLegion]

I felt the same way! Still, First Legion is a great company name for a line of excellent figures. For many of us, it is now synonymous with great quality and superb craftmanship.

Noah

Thanks Noah. At the end of the day, this is all that matters. Regardless of the name, the goal has always been to build a brand that is synonomous with unsurpassed quality, historical accuracy, and innovation. Building a brand takes time, but we feel that the First Legion brand is already widely recognized for these attributes especially when viewed relative to our very short existence as a company.

 

[FirstLegion]

See, the term Legion is just universally applicable!

Let's see how many "Legion's" you all can throw out here.....

Tarleton's Legion for another to get an AWI reference in.

 

[Spitfrnd]

See, the term Legion is just universally applicable!

Let's see how many "Legion's" you all can throw out here.....

Tarleton's Legion for another to get an AWI reference in.

I rather fancy my original Napoleonic observations but you will love this one. Turns out there there were four Catalonian Legions raised in Spain in 1810. The First Legion had scarlet lapels, collars, cuffs and piping. It sounds as though the Peninsula has even more relevence than I thought.

 

[marco55]

American Legion

 

[FirstLegion]

I rather fancy my original Napoleonic observations but you will love this one. Turns out there there were four Catalonian Legions raised in Spain in 1810. The First Legion had scarlet lapels, collars, cuffs and piping. It sounds as though the Peninsula has even more relevence than I thought.

Catalonian Legion huh? Now that's one I've never heard of. You certainly are steadfast and resolute in your desire for Penninsula representation....

Since you like the Penninsula so much, how about the "Condor Legion?" They fought on the penninsula.

 

[theBaron]

See, the term Legion is just universally applicable!

Let's see how many "Legion's" you all can throw out here.....

Tarleton's Legion for another to get an AWI reference in.

Very good point!

"Legion" was revived as a military term in the middle of the 18th Century and applied to mixed-arms units that were raised, usually around a core (I don't mean corps) of infantry and cavalry, and often with some light artillery. It was the same concept as the Freikorps in the Prussian army. Such a corps (here, I do mean "corps") could be employed for missions that the line units weren't really suited for, like large-scale foraging expeditions into enemy territory.

Given the revival of study of authors from classical antiquity at the time, the use of the term "legion" isn't too surprising.

Prost!
Brad

 

[Spitfrnd]

Catalonian Legion huh? Now that's one I've never heard of. You certainly are steadfast and resolute in your desire for Peninsula representation....

Since you like the Peninsula so much, how about the "Condor Legion?" They fought on the peninsula.

Let's just say when the facts are with you, you argue the facts. Since you refer to my Peninsula fascination, there was also a Napoleonic Portuguese Legion.

The Condor Legion is only interesting to me for what they flew and the aerial combat they foreshadowed. Of course if you do end up doing a Bf109 C-1, you are only a small hop from a Spitfire, a weapon of war truly worthy of representation.

 

[Spitfrnd]

Just to add to the Napoleonic legions there was of course the Vistula Legion.

 

[FirstLegion]

Just to add to the Napoleonic legions there was of course the Vistula Legion.

But of course. The Vistula is one of my favorite legions and, what's more, they were present at Borodino and several 1813 affairs. A regiment of the Portuguese Legion was also at Borodino...

For some other periods, how about the Czech Legion to give it a WWI tie in and the Arab Legion for some WWII.

It goes on and on and on...there's just no stopping the Legion.

 

[DCN1898]

And for a really cool ethnic angle that sells.... The Irish Legion in French service. The green uniforms would be a nice addition. Some Vistula Lancers would be an awesome addition. Maybe fighting some Cossacks?

 

[Spitfrnd]

And for a really cool ethnic angle that sells.... The Irish Legion in French service. The green uniforms would be a nice addition. ....

Indeed, you could add the "Devil's Own" Connaughts and have the Irish fighting the Irish, as in the ACW. Both units did campaign extensively in Spain; no how about that, there is another Peninsula connection.

 

[FirstLegion]

Indeed, you could add the "Devil's Own" Connaughts and have the Irish fighting the Irish, as in the ACW. Both units did campaign extensively in Spain; no how about that, there is another Peninsula connection.

So, if I'm hearing you correctly, we should focus on the Irish fighting each other in Spain? I bet there's some guidance that NO napoleonic figure make has ever heard!

 

[Spitfrnd]

So, if I'm hearing you correctly, we should focus on the Irish fighting each other in Spain? I bet there's some guidance that NO napoleonic figure make has ever heard!

Well of course that is not at all what I said. In response to the Napoleonic Irish Legion request, I simply noted the most notable British Napoleonic Irish unit; both of which just happened to fight in the Peninsula. I actually don't think the units ever faced off but they were both at the Battles of Bussaco and Fuentes d'Onoro. Given how many Irish troops were in the regular British units if the Irish Guards fought there, they likely did fight other Irish. Of course neither were at Waterloo. However if you want to take my meaning as focusing on battles in Spain, that will work for me.