Uniforms of the
Neapolitan Army 1806-1815

Naples City Guard

by Colin Allen, U.K.

This final part of the series will deal with the second line units consisting of the City of Naples Guard, the Provincial Legions, the Provincial Companies, the Voluntary Chasseurs of the Three Abruzzi, the Internal Security Guards and the Gendarmes.

These units were formed for two main reasons, one political and one military. The political aim was to bind people to the new regime: this was achieved by recruiting the members of the units from among those who had something to lose in the event of a Bourhon return, namely the liberal, property owning classes and the newly emancipated serfs who gained much from the arrival of the Bonapartist kings. On the purely military side the units were intended to combat the Bourbon guerillas and to attempt to create a martial spirit amongst the distinctly non-military Neapolitans.

viii) Naples City Guard Origins

In its first incarnation, the City Guard consisted of a battalion of infantry and a squadron of cavalry, both being organised on the standard line pattern. In 1810 the infantry battalion was converted into the 6th Line Regiment while the cavalry squadron formed the cadre of the Cavalleggeri formed in the same year.

The unit was then re-raised, again with a mixture of infantry and cavalry and continued with this organisation until the fall of Murat's kingdom in 1815.

First Uniform

The first uniform of the corps, worn up to 1810, was that which has previously been described for the 6th Line Regiment and the Cavalleggeri in issues 13 and 14 of this magazine, so I will not describe them here. If you have not got the relevant issues, then I am sure that Mr Watkins will be ready to oblige.

Second Uniform Coat

Until 1811 the coat was the habit veste and after this date the Spencer as issued to the line regiments at this date.

Both coats were dark green with amaranth collar, lapels, cuffs, cuff flaps and turnbacks, the latter being decorated with dark green grenades. All of the facings were piped dark green and buttons were brass. From 1810-1811 the infantry wore square ended lapels while the cavalry squadron sported the pointed version.

Both infantry and cavalry wore amaranth epaulettes.

Trousers

The infantry wore dark green breeches with undecorated hussar style boots while the cavalry legwear was similar but with yellow Hungarian Knots and seam piping on the breeches and gold braid and tassels on the boots.

Headgear

The infantry style shako with a shield shaped, brass plate bearing a grenade was worn by all members. The infantry sported amaranth cords, flounders and plume while the cavalry had the cords and flounders in yellow and the same plume as their foot-slogging colleagues. The standard amaranth and white cockade was worn and chin-straps were brass.

Equipment

Infantry equipment was identical to that carried by the grenadier companies of line regiments while the cavalry squadron was equipped in the same fashion as the line cavalry regiments before the introduction of the lance. No details of horse furniture are known.

Officers' Uniforms

These followed the usual system with gold epaulettes, shako cords and gorges, the latter bearing a silver grenade. Infantry officers carried a brass hilted epee with a gold strap and knot in a black, brass mounted scabbard while their mounted brethren were armed with a brass hilted sabre carried in a white metal scabbard.

Musicians

Unfortunately. no evidence exists as to what uniforms were worn by the musicians, either mounted or foot.

More Uniforms of the Neapolitan Army 1806-1815

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