The Origins of the Regiments Granatieri The Grenadiers of the Neapolitan Guard were organised on a single battalion basis by Joseph when he asssumed the throne, but Murat, eager to have a guard that fitted his perceived status, added another battalion, probably in 1808. Veliti The Veliti regiments were of Murat's creating, being set up as a two battalion regiment in 1808. By 1809, the regiment had grown to three batlalions and a second regiment of two battalions was formed in 1811 from the Volteggiatori (?) and the extra battalion of the 1st Regiment. This remained the organization until the fall of the Napoleonic Kingdom in 1815, although Weil lists three regiments as being in existance for the Tolentino campaign of that year. Volteggiatori The Volteggatori regiment would appear to have been established in 1809/10 as a two battalion regiment. However, this formation was, apparert1y, short lived as by 1811 it appears to have been converted into a second Veliti regiment. The apparent ending of the wars in 1814 led the regiment being reformed in time for the final calamitous campaign, when, again according to Weil, it consisted of three battalions. However, there is some doubt over this and it may be that the regiment was first formed in 1814. Marinari The Marines were inherited from the Bourbon regime and served until the end of the Napoleonic kingdom in 1815. UNIFORMS Granatieri First Uniform The first uniform worn by this regiment appears to have been very similar to that worn by their predecessors under the Bourbon regime and may indeed have been a slightly modified version of this uniform, worn while the new uniforms were being prepared. However, it must be pointed out that this uniform is somewhat conjectual, being based on incomplete data. Coat The coat was scarlet and similar to the Spencer in cut although with long tails. It had black or very dark blue facings, these being borne on the lapels, cuffs, cuff flaps and turnbacks, all of tbese being piped white. The collar was scarlet and was also piped white as were the pockets, while the epaulettes were white. Buttons were made of brass. Trousers Breeches were white and were worn with either black or white gaiter, these coming to above the knee and being fastened with brass buttons. Headgear That worn before 1807 is unknown, although it is probable that caps of the Russian guard pattern introduced by Paul I with a transverse "catapillar" were worn. However, by 1807 bearskin caps similar to those worn in the French army had been introduced, these being plateless and having a scarlet rear patch bearing a white grenade, a scarlet plume and white cords, flounders, and tassel. The French tricolor cockade was worn. The fatigue cap was scarlet with white piping and tassel. Equipment All belts were of whitened leather with brass metalwork and the sabre-strap was also white. The actual equipment was identical to that used by the elite companies of the line, thecartridge pouch being undecorated at the time. Officers' Uniforms As for the men except that the bearskin cords, flounders and tassel were gold as was the grenade on the rear patch. Field officers had all white plumes while those of the junior ranks were scarlet tipped with white. A gilt gorges was worn and epaulettes followed tbe same system as for the line regiments. NCO distinctions followed the same patterns as in the line regiments. Musicians Drummes probably wore the same uniforms as the men and the body of the drum was brass with the rims being painted in white, scarlet and black diagonal stripes. Second Uniforms Murat, having occupied the throne, introduced a new uniform, probably in 1809, although the exact date is, as far as I can discover, unknown. Coat The coat was a long-tailed, dark blue Spencer of the same general style as the previous coat. The collar, cuffs, cuff flaps, pocket piping, lapels, and turnbacks were amaranth, the latter bearing yellow grenade badges. The buttons were brass and all button holes were decorated with yellow lace batons, two of which also appeared on the collar. The epaulettes were now amaranth. However, according to Aloja, in 1815 the cuffs were now pointed, although they continued to bear yellow lace batons around the two button holes. Based on the history of the cuff patterns of the line regiments, it is possible that this style replaced flapped cuffs in 1814. At this time an undress surtout was also introduced for all ranks, this being dark blue with the same collar, cuffs and turnbacks as the dress coat and amaranth piping down the front. No lace batons were worn on the chest although they were carried on the collar and cuffs. Trousers Legwear remained as before althougb, on campaign, trousers and off-white bmeches may have been worn. Headgear The same pattern of bearskin was still worn, although everything tbat had previous been scarlet was now amaranth as were the tassel, cords and flounders, while the amaranth and white cockade, adapted in 1808, is worn in place of the French version. The grenade on the rear patch also became yellow at this time. The fatigue cap was dark blue with amaranth piping and a white tassel. A figure in the background of plate 13 of Aloja's album shows a grenadier in undress wearing a shako with a carrot shaped amaranth plume, amaranth and white cockade, brass plate (possibly in the form of an inverted, five pointed star) and brass chinscales. Another figure wears a bicorne with amaranth stiffeners and the same plume and cockade. Equipment All belts were now of buff leather edged white and the cartridge pouch sported a large central brass grenade with a smaller grenade at each corner. Sabre straps changed to amaranth. Greatcoats were dark blue, possibly with an amaranth collar. Officers' Uniform Officers wore the same uniform as the men with all yellow distinction, being in gold. Plumes were now amaranth for company officers and white for field officers. Officers' brass hilted swords were worn on a buff belt edged white (gold edged silver for parade dress) and sported a gold sabre-strap. They were carried in black leather scabbards with brass fittings although mounted officers carried similar weapons in steel scabbards with brass fittings. Rank distinctions remained as before as did those for NCOs. Officers' boots appear to have been of various types including the "English" pattern and hussar style with gold trim and tassel. Aloja shows an officer wearing the surtout and a bicorne with gold stiffeners and cockade strap, carrot shaped plume and the standard cockade. Mounted officers wore heavy riding boots and horse furniture consisted of a square cornered, dark blue shabraque edged in gold with a gold grenade in the rear comer. The portmanteau was square ended and edged in a similar fashion as were the pistol holsters. Musicians The new drummers' coats were essentially the same pattern as those of the men but in reversed colours with the standard musicians' lace edging to the collar, cuffs, cuff flaps and lapels while the epaulettes were amaranth with yellow crescents. The drum was carried on a buff belt edged white and the rims were now painted in amaranth and white diagonal stripes. Veliti The Velite regiments are almost unique in that they appear to have worn basically the same uniform throughout their history. Coat The coat was a white Spencer which seems to originally have had long tails, these becoming short by 1815 at the latest. The collar, pointed cuffs, lapels and turnbacks were scarlet for the first regiment and amaranth for the second. Buttons were brass and all button holes were outlined with yellow batons, as in the Grenadier regiment, and there were two horizontal batons on the cuffs. In addition, the turnbacks bore badges of a flaming grenade and hunting horn. Some sources show the collar, cuffs ant lapels as being piped with a very thin trace of white. The colour of the epaulettes is debatable; Aloja shows both regiments with all green epaulettes while others show green straps and fringes with amaranth crescents. In addition, Aloja shows velite of the 1st Regiment in 1815 wearing a surtout similar to that of the grenadiers but in white with scarlet collar and cuffs, these bearing lace batons, and scarlet piping down the front. Trousers Breeches were white, worn with over-the-knee gaiters before about 1811 and short gaiters after tbis date. In addition, white or off-white trousers were also worn on campaign. Headgear Full dress headgear was a plateless bearskin with a scarlet or amaranth rear patch sporting a yellow grenade and green cords, plume and tassels (some sources show a red tip to the plume for the 1st regiment). Aloja shows officers and men of the 1st Regiment in 1815 wearing shako in undress, these having a green plume and pompon, brau chin scales and a brass shako plate consisting of a crowned, inverted five poinnd star with the royal monogram at its centre. Equipment Eqiupment was as for the grenadiers, all belts being of buff leather edged white. Cartridge pouches bore the same grenade badges and sabre straps and knots were green. In bad weather, dark grey greatcoats were worn with epaulettes. Officers' Uniform These followed the same pattern as those of the men with all yellow lace being gold. Epaulettes and bearskin cords etc were gold and the gorges was gilt. Plumes were green tipped white for junior officers and all white for field officers. The brass hilted epee was canted in a brass mounted, leather scabbard and had a gold strap and knot. Officers appear to have worn gold laced hussar pattern boots. Aloja shows a gorgeously dressed officer of the 1st Regiment in 1815 wearing a shako as described above with white over green plume, gold pompon and lace around the top consisting of interlinked gold hoops. His tunic is a white surtout with scarlet collar and cuffs, both of these being piped white, scarlet tunbacks and piping down the front. No lace batons are worn on this coat. He wears the badges of his rank and scarlet trousers with two gold stripes down the outside seam and carries the epee described earlier. He also depicts a battalion commander of the 2nd Regiment in full dress with an amaranth shabraque, this having pointed rear corners, gold lace edging and a crowned royal monogram in the rear corner. Musicians Drummers probably wore uniforms in reversed colours with the standard musicians' lace around the collar, cuffs and lapels. Drums were of the same pattern as for the grenadiers. Volteggiatori The only uniform for which there is any firm evidence is that of 1814-15, possibly lending support to the theory that the unit was only formed in 1814. Coat Identical to that of the 2nd Velites but with yellow collars and bugle horns on the turnbacks. Epaulettes were green with yellow crescents. Trousers As for the velites. Headgear The headgear was a black, line infantry style shako which appears to have had a buff flamme wrapped around it in the style of Revolutionary French hussars. This sported a drooping green horsehair plume over a green pompon with an amaranth center, this being the company number in yellow. The standard amaranth/white cockade was worn and the shako plate was of the same pattern as that worn by the velites. Brass chinscales were worn. The fatigue cap was white with green trim and tassel. Equipment Equipment was the same as for the velites except that the cartridge pouch badge was a large hunting horn with a smaller horn in each corner. Sabre straps and knots were green. Officers' Uniforms These followed the mens' uniforms and, hence, were similar to those of the velites but with the regimental distinction. The plume was green for company officers and white for their juniors while the pompom was gold with a green centre, bearing the company number in gold for junior officers. The same decoration was worn as on the Velite officers shako. The gorges was gilt and bore a white metal hunting horn. Musicians Drummers wore reversed colours and the same shako as the men. From the one illustration that I have beeb able to find, it does not appear that the usual musician lace was worn. Epaulettes were as for the men. The drums had a brass body with rims painted in amarath and white diagonal stripes. Marinari I can find no reliable information on what was worn before 1815 so this description will be of the uniform worn in that year, however it is probable that this uniform was also worn earlier. Coat This was a long tailed, dark blue Spencer with amaranth collar, pointed cuffs, lapels and tussels, these bearing a yellow grenade. All buttons were brass and the button holes were laced, this being in the form of a heavily decorated yellow anchor. This lace was also worn on the collar in the same fashion as in the other guard regiments and in three vertical stripes on the cuffs. Amaranth epaulettes were worn. As an alternative, a dark blue tailless jacket, similar to that worn in undress by the French Guard Marines, could be worn, this being piped in amaranth and having dark blue pointed cuffs piped amaranth. No lace batons were worn on this jacket, but the epaulettes were worn. Trousers In full dress white breeches were worn with short black gaiters and while dark blue trousers could also be worn. Headgear The headgear was a line infantry style shako with an amaranth plume over an amaranth pompon and amaranth cords and founders (the pompon alone was worn in undress). The usual cockade was worn with a yellow cockade strap and the brass shako plate was shield shaped and bore an anchor and flaming grenade. Brass chinscales were worn. Equipment Equipment was as for the other guard regiments although the cartridge pouch badge was the same shield as worn on the shako surrounded by four brass grenades. Aloja shows a marine with a white pouch cover bearing a naturally coloured anchor and grenade. Sabre straps and knots were amaranth. The greatcoat was brown and apparently worn without epaulettes. Officers Uniform As usual, officers' uniforms followed those of the men with all yellow trim in gold. In addition the collar, cuffs, lapels and turnbacks were piped in gold. The usual epauletts were worn and Aloja shows a Cpatain wearing gold epaullettes on the right shoulder. As an alternative, a long tailed, dark blue surtout with unpiped amaranth unpiped turnbacks could be worn in undress. This had a blue collar and cuff piped in amaranth which colour also appeared on the front seam. The head gear was as for the men with gold cords and pompon although a bicorne with gold stiffeners could also be worn. Officers wore breeches with gold laced hussar style boots in full dress or dark blue trousers in undress and the same epee was carried as in the velite regiments, although for senior officers this could have an ivory grip. NCOs wore the normal rank markings including mixed gold and amaranth shako cords, pompon and epaulettes. Spada d'Onore Aloja shows a marine and NC0 of the Spada d'Onore (Sword of Honour), these wear the uniform described above except that the shako and cartridge pouch plates are shield shaped being an anchor and crossed cannon. In addition they carry a short straight bladed sword with a basic, cross shaped hilt, this being of brass with a black grip, rather than the usual sabre. The sabre belt carries a brass moulded black plaque bearing the inscription: SPADA D' ONORE Whether this was an elite sub-unit or just a distinction awarded to outstanding marines is something that I have been unable to discover. Musicians I have been unable to uncover any information on the uniforms worn by the musicians of this formation. More Uniforms of the Neapolitan Army 1806-1815 Part 1: Line Infantry Part 1: Light Infantry Part 2: Cavalry Part 2: Artillery Part 3: Guard Infantry Part 3: Guard Cavalry Part 3: Guard Artillery Part 4: Naples City Guard Part 4: Provincial Legions Part 4: Provincial Companies Part 4: Cacciatori Volontari dei Tre Abruzzi Part 4: Internal Security Guards Part 4: Gendarmeria Back to Table of Contents -- First Empire #15 Back to First Empire List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1995 by First Empire. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com