Uniforms of the
Neapolitan Army 1806-1815

Light Infantry

by Colin Allen, U.K.

ii) Light Infantry

Formation

The 1st Light Infantry Regiment was raised in 1806, as usual from a combination of ex Bourbon soldiers, conscripts and prisoners and this was the sole light infantry unit in the kingdom until 1809 when the 2nd Light Infantry was raised, again from the usual mix of prisoners and conscripts, except for the third battalion which was formed from the Naples Municipal Guard. However, the same year, all the married men of this battalion were transferred to the Naples City Guard, which was soon to become the 6th Line Infantry.

In 1813 a third regiment of light infantry was raised when the "Royal Corsican" Regiment, a unit formed for service on the island of Corsica, was transferred to the main army. This led to a shuffling of the regimental numbers as King Joachim decided that this regiment should become the 1st Light Infantry; the existing 1st and 2nd Regiments, therefore, became the 2nd and 3rd Light Infantry Regiments respectively.

The 4th Light Infantry Regiment was formed from the same unpromising stock as the 9th Line and was, therefore, of generally similar quality (or lack of it).

Early Uniforms

The original uniform issued to the 1st Light in 1806 was very similar to those worn by the two line units formed in the same year, but in the typical French light infantry cut and colours.

Coat

The coat was identical to the French light infantry coat of the same period, being a dark blue habit coat with pointed lapels and white metal buttons. The pointed cuffs, lapels and turnbacks were also dark blue with all piping being white. The collars were red for the carabiniere and cacciatore companies while the voltiggiatore had the traditional yellow collar. Epaulets were red for the carabiniere companies and green with yellow crescents for the voltiggiatore while the cacciatore wore blue shoulder straps piped white.

Headgear

The first headgear was the bicorne, bearing a pompon which was red for the carabiniere company and green for the voltiggiatore. The colour of the pompon issued to the centre companies is uncertain but there is a possibility that it was also green.

When the 2nd Regiment was raised in 1809, it was issued with a shako of the same design as that issued to the line regiments, as was the 1st Light. The fittings were of the same design as that issued to the line units but were all in white metal. Again, cords were not worn and the elite company distinctions followed the same pattern as the line regiments. It would seem that, at about this time, the carabiniere companies began to adopt the same bearskin as the line grenadier companies but with the rear grenade badge in white.

The fatigue cap worn at this time was dark blue with white piping and a white tassel.

Equipment

The equipment was the same as that issued to the line regiments but the breeches and waistcoats were dark blue, the former being worn with black gaiters. However, there is some evidence that both units wore white waistcoats and breeches at various times.

The 1811 Uniform

The 1811 style coat issued to the light regiments was of the same style as that worn by the line regiments, but retained the light infantry colours. The new facing colours were black for the 1st Regiment, yellow for the 2nd, scarlet for the 3rd and orange for the 4th. According to the regulations these colours should have been worn as piping on the lapels, turnbacks, collars, shoulder straps, cuffs and pockets as well as being the colour of the three pointed cuff flaps.

However, Aloja clearly shows them as being worn on the collar by all four regiments. This may be a mistake by the artist but it is also possible that it was an attempt by the regimental commanders to make the regiments more easily identifiable. In all cases the voltiggiatore companies continued to wear yellow collars. Turnback distinctions appear to have been a white grenade for the carabiniere companies and white bugle horns for the others. NCOs' rank markings followed the same pattern as the line units but in white.

Equipment

Equipment remained as before except that the voltiggiatore companies lost their sabre-briquet and, consequently, were reduced to having only one shoulder strap. The carabiniere companies wore a white metal grenade on their cartridge pouch.

Officers

Officers' rank markings were the same as in the line regiments except that all gilt items were now silver and the gorget was now silver with a gilt badge. There appears to have been a reluctance amongst officers to adopt the new uniform as Aloja shows officers of the 2nd and 3rd Regiments in 1815 wearing the old style coat with the new facings and white waistcoats. Officers' sidearms were officially the same as in the line regiments but the carrying of sabres appears to have been widespread as does the wearing of hussar style boots with silver trim and tassels.

Mounted officers had dark blue saddle cloths with silver lace trim while Aloja also shows a silver grenade in the rear corner.

Musicians

There is no hard evidence as to the uniforms of the drummers and hornists but one rather dubious print appears to show a drummer of the 3rd Light wearing a dark blue coat with scarlet lapels, collar, cuffs and cuff flaps, all of these being piped in white, the whole being completed by white sleeve seam piping and inverted chevrons along the arms. The drum is brass with what appear to be white and amaranth(?) stripes on the hoops.

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