 A platoon of the Gendarmes d'élite was in charge of the execution of the Duke of Enghien in 1804.The same year a detachment of the Gendarmes d'élite escorted Napoleon in the street of Paris for his coronation.The Gendarmes d'élite were nicknamed "The Immortals" because, as a military police, they were less engaged in combat than other units and had less personnel killed in action.