Vladimir Brnardic was born in Zagreb in 1973. After graduating from the University of Zagreb with a History degree, he trained as a journalist. He has a keen interest in the history of Central and Eastern European military organisations, especially during the Napoleonic period. Vladimir is married and currently lives and works in Zagreb, Croatia.

Darko Pavlovic was born in 1959 and currently lives and works in Zagreb, Croatia. A trained architect, he now works as a full-time illustrator and writer, specialising in militaria. Darko has illustrated a number of books for Osprey and has also written and illustrated titles for the Men-at-Arms series on the Austrian army of the 19th century.

South-east Europe is one of the most neglected fronts of the Napoleonic Wars; yet on the coast of the Adriatic Sea - broadly, former Western Yugoslavia and the Ionian Islands - France struggled to hold a vital strategic outpost dominating Austrian and Russian access to the Mediterranean. Here she took into imperial service former Austrian frontier regiments, which fought with distinction in Russia in 1812; and raised irregulars from among the exotic warrior populations to guard the Turkish frontier inland, and the coasts and islands from British naval raids. This detailed review of all such troops is illustrated with rare prints and meticulous colour plates.