Corte Cavalry

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Origin and History

The regiment was raised on June 26 1762 for Prince Carl von Mecklenburg-Strelitz.

During the Seven Years' War, the regiment was under the command of:

• since June 26 1762: Prince Carl von Mecklenburg-Strelitz

Service during the War

At the end of August 1762, the regiment left Lisbon to join Lippe-Bückeburg's army. During the campaign of 1762, was initially attached to the main Anglo-Portuguese army where its 3 troops were deployed in the first line of cavalry of the right wing.

Uniform

The following description is based on an illustration in the article “The Portuguese Army - Seven Years War” published by Mike Kirby in the Seven Years War Association Journal, Vol. XII No. 3. Buttons are assumed to be made of brass. The uniform depicted on this illustration is quite similar to the uniform of the regiment after Lippe's reform of 1764. However, the cuffs are of a different style.

Since the regiment was created only in June 1762, we can reasonably assume that its uniform was quite similar to the 1764 uniform, but of course this is only a hypothesis.

Privates

Uniform in 1762 - Source: Ibrahim90

Uniform Details

Headgear	black tricorne laced white
Neckstock	black
Coat	dark blue lined light blue with brass buttons Collar light blue Shoulder straps white epaulettes Lapels none Pockets none Cuffs light blue with 3 brass buttons and 3 narrow white buttonholes Turnbacks light blue
Waistcoat	off white with brass buttons
Breeches	buff leather
Leather Equipment	Crossbelt natural leather Waistbelt natural leather Cartridge Box n/a Scabbard black Footgear black boots
Horse Furniture	Saddlecloth dark blue bordered light blue Housings dark blue bordered light blue Blanket roll n/a

Officers

Officers probably wore uniforms similar to those of the privates with the following differences:

• a red sash with blue tassels under the coat around the waist
• silver epaulettes

Musicians

no information available yet

Colours

The exact pattern of the Portuguese colonel colours during the Seven Years' War is unknown (Kirby's article illustrates a simple white standard with the crowned arms of Portugal as centre device, but we do not know the exact date of this illustration).

The ordonnance colours were chosen by the colonel of the regiment. For the moment, we have found no source depicting specific colours for this regiment.

References

Amaral, Manuel, O Exértico Português em finais do Antiguo Regime

Kirby, Mike, The Portuguese Army - Seven Years War, Seven Years War Association Journal, Vol. XII No. 3

Pereira Sales, Ernesto Augusto; O Conde de Lippe em Portugal, Vila Nova de Famalicao: Publicacoes da Comissao de Historia Militar, 1936

Ribeiro Rodrigues, Manuel A.; 300 Anos de Uniformes Militares do Exército de Portugal 1660-1960, Exército Portugués and Sociedade Historica da Independéncia de Portugal, 1998

Acknowledgment

Manuel Ribeiro Rodrigues and Joseph O'Neill for the information and counselling provided for this article.