The regiment was directly descended from the Napoleonic Duchy of Warsaw's . After Napoleon lost control of Poland in 1812, the regiment remained loyal to the emperor and fought in battles of Leipzig and Arcis-sur-Aube. After his abdication and exile to the Island of Elba, the remnants of the regiment returned to Russian-controlled Kingdom of Poland with their regimental flags, swore an oath to the Russian Tsar and became the cadre of a newly-formed infantry regiment with the same number. Their old regimental flag was retired and is preserved in the Warsaw-based Polish Army Museum.