grenadier

thumb|upright|Grenadier of Old Guard (France)|Napoleon's Old Guard c.1812 by [[Édouard Detaille]]

A grenadier ( , ; derived from the word grenade) was historically an assault-specialist soldier who threw hand grenades in siege operation battles. The distinct combat function of the grenadier was established in the mid-17th century, when grenadiers were recruited from among the strongest and largest soldiers. By the 18th century, the grenadier dedicated to throwing hand grenades had become a less necessary specialist, yet in battle, the grenadiers were the physically robust soldiers who led vanguard assaults, such as storming fortifications in the course of siege warfare.