Spanish Army
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Contents
Introduction
When Philip V, the first Bourbon, was crowned, the Spanish army amounted to a balanced force of nearly 20,000 men. Out of this limited force, 8,000 men were garrisoning the Netherlands (Pays-Bas) and 6,000 were gathered around Milan (Italy). Only 6,000 men remained to defend Spain.
The king himself had a part-time guard (practically acting as an honour guard only for special occasions) composed by “artisans” living in Madrid and voluntary serving at the Palace with a turn system.
In 1701, Philip began a sort of reorganization, but the levies were poorly conducted. The cooperation of the priests and alcaldes was low. Most of all officers were not put in charge of their men. Mass desertion of recruits was unavoidable with consequent loss of weapons and equipments.
After 1706, however the situation improved and for example, the region of Estremadura alone, gave 12,000 men. Even after 1711, a year of military disasters, Vendôme found the army in a “respectable” shape and after a rapid reorganization of the units he was able to employ them and to win the battles of Brihuega and Villaviciosa. Indeed, Spain had made an immense effort. At its peak, the army consisted of 120 battalions and 103 squadrons while artillery reached a maximum of 300 guns and 40 mortars. (Coxe, t.I- Lettre de Tesse’ a Chamillarl). This army was organised along French lines. Officers were now in charge of their company’s equipment (fondo de masita), armament and dress (fondo de mesa). Furthermore, for each unit a War Council (conseil de guerre) was created. Similarly, charges of commissaries, ordonnateurs and intendants d’armée were created .
On January 31 1734, a totally new concept of “second line” army of Reserve was introduced. This army consisted of 33 regiments of Provincial militia (Antequera, Historia de la legislacion espanola.- Barado, Museo Militar).
Ferdinand VI, who succeeded Philip V had a peaceful reign. In 1751, a proposal was made to the Sovereign for an augmentation of the army, consisting of 57 squadrons and 41 battalions, in order to reach, in case of mobilisation a total force of 100 battalions and 100 squadrons. The proposal included a request for the acquisitions of a total of 20 foreign battalions from Swizerland and little German states. Even if Ferdinand VI rejected the proposed plan, thereafter, under the direction of the War Minister Don Sebastian Eslava, of the Marquis de la Mina, of the Count de Revillagigedo, of Don Jayme Masones de Lima, of Don Antonio Manso and others, a series of reforms were elaborated.
On October 22 1768, after 20 years, the results of this Commission were published in Madrid in a 2-volumes in-quarto edition with the Title: Ordonnances Royal pour le gouvernement, la discipline, la subordination et le service de ses armées. (See Clonard). Charles III completed the military reorganisation with a reform of the militia and of the War Council.
Household Units
Household Infantry
Real Guardia de Alabarderos
Regimiento de Guardias Españolas
Regimiento de Guardias Valonas
Household Cavalry
Reales Guardias de Corps
Brigada de Carabineros Reales
Line Infantry
Spanish Line Infantry Regiments
Organisation
Generalities about the uniform
Generalities about the colours
| Castilla (Rey in 1766) |
Guadalajara Sevilla |
Murcia Leon |
N.B.: Some authors also list Princesa, Fijo de Badajoz (later renamed Fijo de Extremadura), Principe and Real America as part of the Spanish line infantry. However, these regiments were raised after the Seven Years' War: Real America in 1764, Princesa in 1765, Fijo de Badajoz in 1767 and Príncipe in 1767.
Italian Line Infantry Regiments
Irish Line Infantry Regiments
Walloon Line Infantry Regiments
Swiss Line Infantry Regiments
Antiguo de Reding
Nuevo de Reding
Dunant
Buch
Other units
Marines
Even though the Marines administratively belonged to the Navy, they often acted in conjunction with units of the Spanish line infantry regiments.
Cuerpo de Batallones de Marina (8 battalions since 1753)
Colonial troops
Fijo de la Habana, in Cuba
Regimiento del Rey, in the Philippine Islands
...
Militias
On January 31 1734, a totally new concept of “second line” army of Reserve was introduced. This army consisted of 33 regiments of Provincial militia (Antequera, Historia de la legislacion espanola.- Barado, Museo Militar).
Organisation
Generalities about the uniform
Generalities about the colours
| Antequera Málaga |
Soria Orense |
Lugo Granada |
Cavalry
Line Cavalry
Spanish Line Cavalry
Organisation
Generalities about the uniform
Generalities about the colours
| Reina Principe |
Brabante Flandes |
Colonial units
Guardia de à caballo raised at Manila in Philippines in 1755
Dragoons
Organisation
Generalities about the uniform
Generalities about the colours
| Reina |
Sagunto |
Artillery
Real Artilleria
Corps of Engineers
Light Troops
Light Cavalry
Voluntarios á caballo de Castilla
Voluntarios á caballo de Aragon
Voluntarios á caballo de Andalucia
Voluntarios á caballo de Extremadura
Light Infantry
In 1762, two additional light units were raised in preparation for the war against Portugal:
Voluntarios de Aragon
Voluntarios de Cataluña
Logistic
Medical services
References
- ETAT general Des Troupes Espagnoles, sur pié en 1760. Jacques Andre Frederic, Augsbourg
Acknowledgments
Juan José Torres and the Asociación Cultural de Modelismo Histórico Alabarda as well as Dr. Marco Pagan for the information and advices provided for this article.
