Imperial Guard (Minifigure)

The Imperial Guard soldier or trooper is a minifigure from the Pirates theme, first released in 1992. It was re-released in 2008 with a fresh new version of the uniform and with different faces. 
== Description ==
These serve aboard ships and forts of the Imperial Guards. They are based off the British colonial soldiers and Royal Marines (collectively known as "redcoats") during the Napoleonic era (early 1800s). However under Admiral Horatio Nelson around the Battle of Trafalgar (1805), Royal Marines had a distinctive round hat made of lacquered felt, instead of the shako hat worn by the rank and file of the British Army, although during the peacetime after those wars the Marines did re-adopt the shako hat for their dress uniform.
The original version used to have brown backpacks, however in 2008, the new version had a back-printing on torso which resembled a small backpack. The new version also allowed to have bearded faces.
== Notes ==
* Imperial Guard troopers are very similar to the troopers ("bluecoats") from the Imperial Soldiers faction, sharing the shako hat and backpack while the only difference is the blue epaulettes and red uniform, and using the same weaponry which is usually the musket and often the sabre. 
* Interestingly, the redcoat troopers are less common than their bluecoat predecessors, as out of all sets only 6277 Imperial Trading Post and 6263 Imperial Outpost (the latter released in 1995 which was the last year of the Imperial Guards) have two while all other sets have one; interestingly the Imperial Guard officer is more common than the trooper. By contrast there are four bluecoat troopers in 6276 Eldorado Fortress and even smaller sets like 6265 Sabre Island have two.
== Appearances ==
* The Original Version
** 1872 Soldiers Forge
** 6247 Bounty Boat
** 6252 Sea Mates
** 6263 Imperial Outpost
** 6266 Cannon Cove
** 6271 Imperial Flagship
** 6277 Imperial Trading Post
** 6279 Skull Island
* The New Version
** 6239 Cannon Battle
** 6242 Soldiers' Fort
** 8396 Soldier's Arsenal
** 10210 Imperial Flagship
== Gallery ==
Imperial guards.jpg|The new versions of Imperial Guards
GuardGreyBeard.PNG|Unlike the original version, the new version also allowed minifigures to have bearded heads
Imperial Guard - back.PNG|The back printing resembeling a small backpack
File:Imperial Guard.jpg|The original (1992 - 1995) Imperial guard minifigure
== See Also ==
* Imperial Guards
* Imperial Guard - Officer
* Lieutenant
* Imperial Soldier
Category:Pirates minifigures
Category:Minifigures introduced in 1992
Category:Articles in need of expansion