Regiment of infantry of national ordinance
SAVOYE
1636- 1798
par Jean Cerino
Badone
Savoye is raised in 1624 with the name of
Fleury. It has a total strenght of 1500 soldiers, all
Frenches, in 15 companies. In 1640 Fleury becomes
Regiment Francoise du S.A.R. In 1664 it receives the
name of Regiment du Savoye du S.A.R.. It is
2nd in order of seniority. In 1720 it has an
official strenght of two battalions.
Service during the Polish
Succesion War
Savoye takes action at the
beginning of the conflict at the siege of Gera Pizzighettone
(6 november-8 december 1733). The two battalions are in
Milan during the siege of the Castello Sforzesco (16
december 1733-2 jenuary 1734) In 1734 Savoye fights
in the two major clash, Parma (29 june) and Guastalla (19
september) where only 2nd battalion takes a part
in the fight. In 1735 Savoye is campaigning with the
Piedmontese Army in the east of Lombardy and in the west
side of Lake of Garda until the end of the War.
Service during the Austrian
Succession War
In the spring of 1742 Savoye
begins this war marching on the Via Emilia in order to
occupy Parma and Piacenza, driving off a Spanish Army. In
1743 the regiment takes great honours at the battle of
Camposanto (8 february) when, in coordination with Regiment
Piemont and Regiment Rhebinder, it attacks the
Spanish line breaking the right wing. A Spanish battalion,
the 1st of Regiment Guadalaxara, has its
way of retreat cut away and it takes position in a farm near
Camposanto. Lieutenat-Colonel Baron de Chabod at the head of
Savoye, with a good support of artillery fire,
overruns the spanish unit taking three flags and 410
prisoners. In the same year a combined French-Spanish army
is on the offensive on the Alps theatre: Savoye on
the 8 october faces Anjou's brigade at Pontechianale
in Varaita Valley. In 1744 Savoye knows its bleakest
day: again on the Alps, and again in Varaita Valley, in a
terrible bloody struggle around the redoubt of Mount Cavallo
(19 july) Savoye's 1st battalion looses
154 men and its brave commander Charles Filibert Du Verger.
But at Madonna dell'Olmo (30 september) Savoye is again
reunited and it is drew up on the left wigh. The follow year
Maillebois' offensive crushes Charles Emmanuel III's
strategic defensive plan. At the battle of Bassignana (27
september) Savoye is on the right wingh but it is
compelled to retreat with the remainder of the Piedmontese
Army. In 1746 this Regiment has an important role during
Baron Leutrum's counteroffensive expecially at the second
siege of Valenza (17 april-3 may). The same year
Savoye fights at the siege of Priamar fortress in
Savona (1-18 December). The 2nd battalion
eventually takes position on Ligurian theatre until the end
of the war, while the 1st battalion in 1747 is in
on the Alps and it is in the reserve forces on the Assietta
ridge during the battle (19 july).
Commanders
Comm. Joseph Clermont
24 -3-1730
Charles Philibert Du Verger
31 -1-1734
Charles Lodovic Baron du Chabod
20- 7-1744
Janus Comte D'Eutremon
16 -1-1748
Alexis De La Saunière
16- 7 -175?
Giuseppe Della Chiesa Roddi di Cinzano
15- 5 -1767
Henry Marquise du Chabod de S. Maurice
6- 11 -1772
Uniforms
1730-1750: Grey-white coat, dark
blue lining, cuffs, waistcoat and breeches. White gaiters
for fusiliers, black for grenadiers. Seven tinned buttons on
each side of the coat. Three buttons on the cuffs. Vertical
pockets. Tricorne with dark blue cockade on the left brim
and white hem for fusiliers. Bearskin cap for
grenadiers.
1750-1773: Dark blue coat. White
lining, cuffs, lapels, collar. Tricorne with black and white
pompon. Bearskin cap with dark blue tail and blue and white
pompon.
Colours
Colonel's Colour:
Regimental Colour: White cross on
red field with white and blue flames. Savoy's coat of arm in
the first quarter.
Jean Cerino Badone
|