Following serious contrasts between Pope Clemente XI and the Austrian emperor Leopold a state of war was soon reached among imperial forces in northern Italy, engaged against the allied armies of France and Spain in the context of the Spanish Succession war and that were under the command of Eugene of Savoy, and those of the state of the Church, that had the task of protecting their borders against the threat of the Austrians.

Under such circumstances the Pope raised an improvised and numerous army by enrolling many foreigners and mercenaries thus bringing his military forces from some thousands to some tens of thousands of men. Unfortunately for the hopes of the Pope an army so hastily gathered did not provide a very good proof faced as it was with the many years and wars seasoned troops of Eugene.

Until that moment the pontificial standing army had been constituted, besides by the Swiss Guards and two companies of chevau-legers of the body-guard of the Pope and of his legates in Avignone, Bologna, Ravenna and Ferrara, by some (5 to 9) companies of infantry in Rome, by a garrison of a few hundreds of men in Civitavecchia (the harbour in the Mediterranean from where the galeys agaist the Turks were dispatched), by a company of Horse (Cuirassiers) and by some companies of foot soldiers quartered in Ravenna, Ferrara, Bologna and Ancona. Small detachments were quartered in other small posts and forts of the state.

Country and urban militia companies, both foot and mounted, were responsible for the public order and defence of their homes against bandits and Turkish and Arab freebooters, very active in the Mediterranean.

Formations of bombardeers (some sort of militia) were entrusted with the task of managing and manning artillery pieces in the forts.

Until 1708 only single companies were serving in the Pope's army, but in 1708 in preparation for the impending war whole infantry and dragoons regiments and a horse regiment were organized, in many instances by the nobles of the Church territory and some foreigners (wages in the papal army were considerably higher than in any other army). Avignon's county, then a papal possession levied 2000 men in two regiments. A regiment was organized with German Catholics and another one with Flemish and Waloons volunteers. Many Irish officers took service in the army

In 1701-1702 there had been a first increase in the number of papal troops due to the need of guarding the borders threatened by the opposing armies of France and Spain in coalition against the Austrian empire, battling over the fields of northern Italy the possession of which territories they disputed one another.

Under those circumstances Francesco Farnese, duke of Parma, as feudatary of the Pope asked protection and some infantry and dragoons companies, created for the need, were dispatched to occupy the fortresses of Parma and Piacenza.

We know that the following units were raised in 1708 and 1709 :

infantry regiments

Ruspoli; Falconieri; Serlupi; Franchi (Corsican); Bufalini; Landini; della Marca; degli Oddi; Marsili; Colonna; Malvezzi; S.Martino; Bonauguri; Spada; Bonaccorsi; Bonaventura; Rasponi; Medici (La Mirandola) ; Bentivoglio; Bevilacqua; Aureli; Maclas; della Volpe; Heister (German); Avignon's regiments del Bianco and d'Urban; de la Motte (Flemish).

dragoons regiments

Fasanini; Balbiani and Albani; Spada (in Romagna). horse (cuirassiers) regiment Autanne

More Church Uniforms 1708-1709

Introduction
Uniform Guide
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