The Napoleonic Wars was a series of wars lasting from 1803 to 1815. Spain was just one of the many countries which resisted the expansion of the French Empire under Napoleon I. The general population fought as guerrillas, preventing the occupying French forces from obtaining supplies or safe passage. Royal Guard Infantry + Uniforms c.1808 Regiment Collar Cuffs Lapel Buttons Piping Notes Royal Spanish Guards Royal Walloon Guards Royal Guard of Halberdiers
Cavalry Royal Gardes du Corps
Since 1706, the Royal Gardes du Corps consisted of four cavalry companies of around 200 men each; two Spanish companies, an Italian company and a Flemish company. On April 7th, 1793, the second Spanish company was renamed the American company.
Their uniforms consisted of blue jackets and trousers; crimson collars, cuffs, waistcoats, turnbacks all laced with silver, and a black felt bicorne. To distinguish each company, they carried a silver laced bandolier whose quadrant colours varied by regiment; the Spanish Company red, the American Company purple, the Italian Company green, and the Flemish Company yellow. + Bandolier Colour c.1806 Regiment Colour Spanish Company American CompanyAlso referred to as the Italian Company Flemish Company
In 1808, the Royal Gardes du Corps was reorganised into three companies named as the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Company respectively. The uniforms remain the same as the ones in 1805, but the bandolier colours had changed; the 1st Company had red, the 2nd Company had purple, and the 3rd Company had sky-blue.
+ Bandolier Colour c.1808 Regiment Colour 1st Company 2nd Company 3rd Company
Royal Carabiniers Brigade
The Royal Carabiniers Brigade was raised in 1730 and consists of six companies; four of which were line cavalry and two light cavalry. The two light cavalry companies were eventually detached from the brigade to form Manuel Godoy's personal guard under the name of the Admiral's Honor Guard up until his overthrow in 1807, following which they rejoined the Royal Carabiniers Brigade.
The line cavalry companies wore the same uniform as the Royal Gardes du Corps, but with red turnbacks instead. The light cavalry companies in 1806 wore turquoise blue jackets, trousers, and dolmans; crimson waistcoats, collars, cuffs, and turnbacks all laced with silver; a mirliton with white braids and a blue plume.
Infantry Line infantry
The Spanish line infantry uniform changed several times during the Napoleonic wars. Initially beginning with state supplied clothing, locally produced, or war spoils. After 1811, the British began supplying supplies of their own.
The M1797 uniform was officially listed as being white with collars, cuffs and facings according in the regimental facing colours and distinguished by their pattern combination. 3 regiments were recorded as still wearing this uniform as late as May 1808.
The M1802 uniform consisted of a dark blue coat, black facings with red piping, and white trousers. The bicorne remained the same as the previous M1797 uniform, having a red plume and cockade. Additionally, the collar featured 2 Fleur-de-lys on each side. 12 Regiments were recorded to have been using this uniform as late as May 1808.
The unpopular M1802 uniform was replaced by the M1805, which restored the white coats and distinctive regimental colours of the M1797 uniform. These were used to distinguish between regiments, by a combination of cuffs, collars and facings in either facing colour piped white or white piped with the facing colour. Buttons were also used, either pewter or brass. Turnbacks on the jackets were always white, piped with facing colours.
The grenadier uniforms were nearly identical to that of the fusiliers', but with a few distinctive features; the cuffs featured bars known as "Sardines", and featured flaming grenades in facing colours on the turnbacks. The Bearskin was either brown or black, and featured a long cloth device (sleeve) in facing colour with the regimental or provincial emblem and embroidery in button colour.
+ Uniforms c.1808 Regiment Collar Cuffs Lapel Buttons Piping Notes Rey/Immemorial Uniforms issued in 1802 were still in use by 1808 Reyna Uniforms issued in 1802 were still in use by 1808 Príncipe Saboya Corona Uniforms issued in 1802 were still in use by 1808 África Zamora Soria Córdova Guadalajara Sevilla Granada Uniforms issued in 1802 were still in use by 1808 Valencia Zaragoza Uniforms issued in 1802 were still in use by 1808 España Uniforms issued in 1802 were still in use by 1808 Toledo Mallorca Burgos Murcia León Cantabria Asturias Fixo de Zeuta/Ceuta Navarra Aragón Uniforms issued in 1802 were still in use by 1808 América Princesa Extremadura Uniforms issued in 1802 were still in use by 1808 Málaga Uniform issued in 1797 were still in use by 1808; as depicted by the top row Jaén Not issued with the 1802 Uniform Las Órdenes Militares Voluntarios de Castilla Uniforms issued in 1802 were still in use by 1808 Voluntarios del Estado Uniforms issued in 1802 were still in use by 1808 Voluntarios de la Corona Uniforms issued in 1802 were still in use by 1808 BorbónFormed of Royalist French Émigrés
Foreign regiments in Spanish service
+ Uniforms c. 1808 Regiment Collar Cuffs/turnbacks Lapels Buttons Piping Notes Irlanda These regiments had sky-blue coats Hibernia Ultonia Nápoles 1º Suizo de Wimpffen A blue buttonhole could be found on each end of the collar 2º Suizo de Ruttiman/Reding Snr The turnbacks were in the French style, the cuff flaps were blue, and blue buttonholes could be found on each end of the collar 3º Suizo de Reding Jnr 4º Suizo de Betschartd 5º Suizo de Traxler The turnbacks were white 6º Suizo de Courten/Preux
Light infantry
The original Cazadores uniform of a black bicorn, green jacket with red lapels and cuffs was replaced with the M1800 issue of a dark blue jacket with red facings and maintaining the other equipment.
The M1802 uniform was styled after the hussar uniform of the time. A green jacket with yellow lace, red collars and cuffs with the Tarleton replacing the bicorn for ordinary ranks.
The M1805 uniform returned to a dark blue uniform modelled after the infantry with facing colours, combinations and button colour depending on regiment. Instead of a bicorn or a helmet, the new headgear issued was a Shako. Despite this, many of the light infantry of La Romana's Division retained their M1802 uniform and only few received the new uniform, such as 1st Barcelona.
+ Uniforms c.1808 Regiment Collar Cuffs Lapel Turnback Pockets Buttons Ref 1º de Aragón Red piped white Red piped white Red piped white Red Red piping White metal 1º de Cataluña Yellow piped white Yellow piped white Yellow piped white 2º de Cataluña Dark blue piped white Yellow piped white with yellow cuff flaps Yellow Yellow Yellow piping Brass Tarrogona Yellow Yellow Dark blue piped yellow Gerona Yellow piped white White metal 2º de Aragón Dark blue piped white Red piped white Red piped white Red piped white Red piping 1º de Barcelona Yellow Yellow Dark blue piped white Yellow Yellow piping 2º de Barcelona Barbastro Voluntarios de Valencia Campo Mayor Voluntarios de Navarra
Provincial Militia The Provincial Militia were formed in the 18th century from each Spanish province; 28 in 1734 and 14 in 1766.
Their uniforms consisted of nothing more than a white jacket and trousers, red facings, gold buttons inscribed with the province or capital's name, and a felt bicorne.
Cavalry Line cavalry
+ Uniforms c.1808 Regiment Collar Cuffs Lapel Buttons Notes King's Cavalry Regiment Queen's Cavalry Regiment Prince's Cavalry Regiment Infante's Cavalry Regiment Bourbon Cavalry Regiment Farnesio Cavalry Regiment Alcántara Cavalry Regiment Spanish Cavalry Regiment Algarve Cavalry Regiment Calatrava Cavalry Regiment Santiago Cavalry Regiment Montesa Cavalry Regiment
Dragoons
+ Uniforms c.1808 Regiment Collar Cuffs Lapel Buttons Notes King's Dragoon Regiment Queen's Dragoon Regiment Almansa Dragoon Regiment Pavia Dragoon Regiment Villaviciosa Dragoon Regiment Sagunto Dragoon Regiment Numantia Dragoon Regiment Lusitania Dragoon Regiment
Mounted hunters
+ Uniforms c.1808 Regiment Collar Cuffs Lapel NotesOlivenza Mounted Hunter Regiment Spanish Volunteer Hunters Regiment
Hussar regiments
+ Uniforms c.1808 Regiment Pelisse Dolman Breeches Facings Notes Maria Luisa Hussar Regiment Spanish Hussar Regiment
Artillery
Engineers
References