Mounted Regiments

Line cavalry and dragoon regiments had foor squadrons, each of two 40-man companies for a regimental total of 320 men. The following table depicts the regimental distinctions of the Neapolitan cavalry and dragoon regiments:

The cut of the coat, vest and breeches was similar to that of the infantry. However, no collars were wom and other ranks had lapels. All ranks had 5 buttons ontheir cuffs and pockets. All belts were in natural leather - a wide one for the carbine and a narrow one for the cartridge box. Officers wore a single belt of the distinctive color over the left sholder, trimmed on both edges in silver matching the buttons.

Dragoons wore an aiguillette, from the right shoulder, of yellow mixed with the distinctive regimental color. Presumably self-colored shoulder straps like those of the infantry were used to hold the crossbelts in position. Ihe dragoons wore black gaiters and shoes while the line cavalry wore leather jackboots. These had metal plates (greaves) worn inside them similar to the "secret" plates hidden under the tricornes. Dragoons were issued with a full-sized musket and a slightly curved saber. The line cavalry were armed with a slightly shorter musket and a straight sword. All officers were armed with a straight sword and, when mounted, a pair of pistols. Also, they are pictured with riding crops.

Horse furniture was in the distinctive color bordered with wide tape trim around the shabraque, and in narrower tape around the holsters, to match the button color, which in this period was white for all regiments.

Note that the Rossiglione Line Cavalry regiment and the Terragona Dragoon regiment were originally in Spanish service. The following table depicts the distinctive uniform characteristics of the Neapolitan cavalry regiments:

Line Cavalry	Coat & Breeches	Vest & Facings	Lace & Buttons
King's (del Re, 1734)	Blue	Red	White
Rossiglione (1703)	White	Blue	White
Dragoon Regiments
Queen's (della Regina 1734)	Yellow	Red	White
Bourbon(Borbone, 1738)	Yellow	Blue	White
Tarragona (1703)	Yellow	Green	White

Conclusions for Wargamers

Concerning figures, the only current option would be to convert French figures by adding a ventral cartidge box while turning the existing shoulder cartrdge box into a haversack (using putty). Rather than removing the outer section of the French waistbelt worn over the waistcoat, I suppose that it could be left on, using the rationale that in the field the men may have preferred to wear it over the coat to stop the coat from getting in the way of their movements.

Remember, though, to clip off the sword. Standard French infantry figures would be fine for the Swiss regiments, while Austrian grenzers would serve for the Reale Macedonia. And perhaps use lapel wearing British for the Madnes with an added ventral cartridge box, but vee-notch cuffs would have to be filled in to make the cuffs round. The only option that I can think of for the Mountain Fusiliers would be to use French in waistcoats, adding small cuffs, a ventral box and if you feel so inclined, a cape. Turn the gaiters into socks that come up to the knee, paint on sandal straps and glue 2 pistols onto the haversack converted from the shoulder box to complete the outfit.

For pickup games by individuals without actual Neapolitan or Spanish figures, there is the option of using your French army instead, maybe with the addition of appropriate flag stands. Who knows, perhaps your Austrian opponent can spare a units of redcoated grenzers for your use too!

For gaming purposes, use the guards, line regiments and cavalry as trained, or Class 2; they were units that had been under arms for ten years and would have had Spanish veterans of the War of the Polish Succession in their ranks. Use the Royal Macedonian regiment as quality, soldier skirmishers. The militia, should be rated raw or Class 1, especially as they had been under arms for only a year or so.

Even then, while Wilson is correct in Miniature Wargames #37 to criticize their behavior at Velletri, let's not forget that any country's militia, upon being surprised sleeping by a night attack, would have reacted in a similar manner. The fact that their officers and generals were able to rally them at all shows that they may have been capable of some good under the right circumstances. If one of your Provincial units manages to capture an enemy flag perhaps you could raise it to trained levels or re-name it, "Royal".

Keep in mind that this was the army of Charles VII (later III of Spain) an energetic monarch with a keen interest in the military and not the one of Ferdinand IV infamy (i.e. dress them in red or blue, dress them in green, they will run away just the same). By the way, one of the reasons for Naples' poor showings in later wars was because Charles left the country to assume the throne of Spain in 1759. His heir was a child, and a corrupt regency that had no interest in things military ruled for him.

Sources

I must thank Gian Carlo Boeri for his informative answers to my many inquiries regarding Italian uniforms. This included giving me the address of a good Italian book dealer - Tuttostoria. Copies of his articles, especially of his and G. Pierce's research on uniform receipts, and critiques and comments on the information in sources.

Divisas y Antiguedades, Anonymous, Rivista Militaire Europea, 1988.
"Divisas y Antiguedades de sodas las Tropas que estan al glodoso servizio de S.M.S....in 1755", GC Boeri and G. Peirce (M. Mannocchi illus.), Rivista Militaire article, 1991.
Uniformi Militari Italiane del Settecento, P. Crociani (M. Brandani Illustrations), Rome 1978.
"Albanian Troops in the Service of Naples", Tradition No. 57, Piero Crociani (M. Brandani illus.)
"Line Battle and Siege of Velletri: June - October 1744" Miniature Wargames No. 37, P.H.Wilson (June 1986).
"Velletri", Miniature Wargames No. 66, R.F. Caddy (November 1988).

More Neapolitan

Introduction and Foot Regiments
Uniform Color Chart

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