After the disastrous invasion of Russia, Napoleon had to rebuild his armies in Germany. By 1 May 1813, the French emperor was ready to lead an army numbering 226,177 troops and 457 artillery pieces. However, his cavalry was its weakest element. Between mid-April and 1 May, it was organized into the I Cavalry Corps with 3,515 officers and men, the II Cavalry Corps with 3,293 sabers, and the III Cavalry Corps with 3,895 troopers. On 25 March, General Jean Antoine de Collaert was assigned to lead the 1st Brigade of General Samuel-François Lhéritier's 4th Cavalry Division in General Jean-Toussaint Arrighi de Casanova's III Cavalry Corps. After a reorganization, the division became part of the V Cavalry Corps on 10 August. From that day until 5 October, Collaert became the acting commander of the 5th Dragoon Division.