The Consular Guard or Garde consulaire was created by Bonaparte on November 28, 1799, through the amalgamation of various units charged with protecting republican institutions and bodies.

In Year XII, the artillery of the Garde Consulaire, under the command of Brigadier General Nicolas-Marie Songis des Courbons, included a squadron under Colonel Joseph Christophe Couin, a train under Captain Edmé Devarenne[1] and a park.

[4] On June 17, 1815, after the Battle of Quatre Bras, he personally led the mounted batteries in pursuit of the British troops retreating to Brussels.

In 1803, following studies carried out by the "Artillery Committee", which he had set up on December 29, 1801 and chaired by General François Marie d'Aboville, Napoleon decided to simplify the Gribeauval system by limiting the number of calibres used.

[10] On March 9, 1806, Colonel Joseph Christophe Couin was promoted to brigadier general commanding the Guard artillery.

On January 3, 1807, he was promoted to second colonel, with Jean Ambroise Baston de Lariboisière, made division general the same day by the Emperor, replacing him in command of the corps.

On December 15, 1808, Antoine Drouot was appointed by the Emperor to command the foot artillery regiment, which he reorganized the following year.