x) Provincial Companies Origins The Provincial Companies were formed from discharged veterans or those unsuited to military service and were responsible tor guarding public buildings and the maintenace of order. Uniform The only uniform for which I can find any information is that worn in 1813-15. Coat The coat was a dark brown Spencer with epaulettes, collar, lapels, turnbacks and pointed cuffs in the facing colour according to Table 3. TABLE 3 PROVINCIAL COMPANIES 1813-15 Province Facing Colour Napoli Yellow Capitanata Bari Lecce Scarlet Aquila Teramo Chieti Contado di Molise Dark Pink Basilicata Calabria Citra Calabria Ultra Green Buttons were brass while the turnbacks bore grenade badges in either yellow or the coat colour. As an alternative, a white surtout could be worn, this having the same distinctions as the surtout and facing coloured piping down the front. Trousers White breeches were worn with short gaiters. Headgear The shako was worn with all metal work in brass. Over the amaranth and white cockade was worn a dark brown plume with the tip in the facing colour. Equipment All equipment was as worn by the grenadier companies of the line regiments with the sabre strap and knot in the facing colour. Officers' Uniforms As usual, officers wore the same uniforms as the men but with gilt epaulettes and gorgets and a gold pompon below the plume. Their armament consisted of a brass hilted epee with a gold strap and knot carried in a brass mounted, black leather scabbard. In addition, they also wore hussar style boots with black braid and tassels. Musicians No information is available. 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 #16 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