The Forces of King Charles III Infantry and Household Troops Don Carlos III of Spain

The Forces of
King Charles III

Infantry and Household Troops

By Danny O'Hara

The Royal Ordnance of 30 December 1707 instructed that all Spanish infantry were henceforth to be uniformed in white, as opposed to the various colours then in use. This was intended to be distinguishable from the light gray of the French Army. The tricorne was black with white lace and (normally) a red cockade. Natural leather belting and harness in French style was worn. There was no standardised pattern of knapsack until 1763, with individual use of slung cloth or leather pouches to transport personal effects. A natural-leather cartouche, worn on the waistbelt at the front, bore the Royal insignia in brass. The uniform was overall in a French style, with front and rear turnbacks on the coat - which did not carry lapels until 1763. The musket was similarly a French pattern, made at the Placencia Arsenal from 1715, but using Frenchmanufactured firing mechanisms until Spanish manufacture was established in 1789! The paper cartridge was probably in general use by this period, with iron ramrods from about 1757. All infantry bore swords. Grenadiers carried a larger cartouche (initially for carrying grenades), and wore the French-style grenadier bearskin hat with coloured cloth bag.

Prior to the Royal Decree of 1760, Regiments were formed from two 600man battalions. Each battalion held 11 Fusilier and 1 Grenadier companies. From 1760 the battalion organisation was laid down as 1 Grenadier company of 60 men, and 8 Fusilier companies each of 74 men. The Regiment was largely an administrative grouping, with most battalions operating independently.

The Spanish Infantry in 1760 numbered 31 Spanish Regiments, plus 12 composed of foreigners (Walloons, Irish, Italians and Swiss).The white-coated and trousered Spanish infantry were:

Regiment Cuffs &
Turnbacks Waistcoat Collar Buttons

Rey Violet White None Silver

Lombardia Red White None Silver

Galicia Red Red Red Silver

Saboya Blue Blue Blue Silver

Corona Blue Blue None Silver

Africa Blue Blue None Silver

Zamora Red Red None Silver

Soria Red Red Red Silver

Cordoba Red Red Red Gold

Guadalajara Red Red None Silver

Sevilla Blue Blue Blue Silver

Granada Green White None Gold

Vitoria Red Red None Silver

Lisboa Red Red None Gold

Espana Light Green White None Gold

Toledo Blue Blue None Gold

Mallorca Red Red None Gold

Burgos Red White None Gold

Murcia Blue White Blue Silver

Leon Red Red Red Silver

Cantabria Blue White None Silver

Asturias Light Blue Light Blue None Silver

Navarra Red Red Red Gold

Aragon Red Red White Gold

Fijo de Ceuta Red Red Red Silver

Fijo de Oran Green Green Green Silver

Fijo de Badajoz Yellow? White Yellow? Silver

Real America* Yellow Yellow Yellow Silver

Reina* Red Red None? Silver

Princesa Carmine? White Carmine? Gold

Principe Carmine White Carmine Silver

* Blue coat and trousers.

Italian Regiments

The two Italian Regiments, similarly with white coats and trousers:

Regiment Cuffs &
Turnbacks Waistcoat Collar Buttons

Napoles Red Red None Silver

Milan Blue Blue None Silver

Irish Regiments

Three Irish Regiments, all with red coats and trousers:

Regiment Cuffs &
Turnbacks Waistcoat Collar Buttons

Irlanda Blue Blue Blue Gold

Hibernia Green Green Green Gold

Ultonia Black Black Black Gold

Waloon (Belgian) Regiments

Three Waloon (Belgian) Regiments, with white coats and blue facings:

Regiment Trousers Waistcoat Collar Buttons

Flandes Blue Blue Blue Silver

Brabante Blue Blue Blue Gold

Bruselas White White None Silver

Swiss Regiments

Four Swiss Regiments, all in dark blue coats and trousers (with different patterns of buttons):

Regiment Cuffs &
Turnbacks Waistcoat Collar Buttons

"Antiguo" de Reding Yellow Yellow None Silver

"Nuevo" de Reding Red Red None Silver

Dunant Red? Red? None Silver

Buch Red Blue None Silver

Household Troops

The Spanish monarchy had various guard units at their disposal. Some were obviously of more use than others! These were dressed in blue coats and trousers, with red waistcoat, collars and cuffs, and much elaborate white lacing around buttonholes, borders, etc. They included:

The Forces of King Charles III

Introduction

Infantry and Household Troops

Light Infantry and Provincial Militia

Cavalry: Line, Light, and Dragoons

Artillery, Engineers, and Standards

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