Regiment of infantry of national ordinance
GARDES
1659 - 1798
par Jean Cerino
Badone
Duke Charles Emmanuel II in 1636 gives
order to raise a new regiment with the name of Regiment
de la Garde or Regiment aux Gardes. It is
originally organized in 12 companies. In 1664 it is the
1th regiment in order of seniority. During its
operational history the regiment Gardes has two or
three battalions. Since 1704 and during all the kingdom of
Charles Emmanuel III it has two battalions. The two
battalions of the Regiment Gardes are regarded as the
best units of the Piemontese Army.
Service during the Polish
Succession War
Gardes in 1733 takes its first
action at the siege of Gera-Pizzighettone (18 november
&emdash; 8 december). Gardes is present in the
trenches around Castello Sforzesco (16 december 1733
&emdash; 2 january 1734). In the spring of 1734
Gardes is present at the battle of Parma (29 june)
where it fights on the right wing. After a manouvred
campaign, Gardes fights at Guastalla (19 september);
it helds with Rgt. Piemont at the centre of allied
front, entrenched in a farm. The austrian concentrated
artillery fire can do little damage against these
protected positions. In 1735 Gardes is campaigning in
the east of Lombardy. In september it is present on the West
side of lake of Garda supporting the french action on the
East side. at the end of the year, the 8 november,
Gardes takes winter quarters in the country around
Cremona and Brescia.
Service during the Austrian
Succession War
Gardes' reports of the War of
Austria Succession are a monoment of the particular intense
operational history of this elite unit. In 1742
Gardes is campaigning in north-east Italy in the Po
plains. In September Gardes marches on the Alps; from the
camp in La Thule in Aosta Valley the Regiment takes action
in Savoy during the counter-offensive against an invading
Spanish army. In jenuary 1743 Gardes returns again in
Piedmont. Under the shadows of Monviso in Varaita Valley
Gardes is waiting for the main french-spanish
invasion of Piedmont. On the mountains around Casteldelfino
Gardes has a bitter fight against a enemy column the
8 october. The follow year Gardes is one of the units
that fight at the redoubt of Mount Cavallo (19 july 1744).
During the harder combat of this war in Italy, the luky
2nd battalion of Gardes losts only 36 men.
The whole regiment is present at Madonna dell'Olmo (30
september 1744). The two battalions are situated on the
right wing, first line. It fight with the enemy cavalry
helding firmly its position. In 1745 Maillebois' offensive
gives no match to the Piedmontese hope to stop it. At the
battle of Bassignana (27 september) Gardes is in the
right wing of Sardinian line. The follow year Gardes
is at the head of the Leutrum's counter offensive and
the regiment takes a action under the walls of the city of
Valenza (17 april-3 may 1746). Then the two battalions fight
in the south-west in the mediterranean theatre; the
1st battalion fights during the offensive in
Provence. The 2nd battalion of Regiment
Gardes is employed at the siege of the fort Priamar
in Savona (1 december &emdash; 18 december 1746) and at the
siege of Genoa, where the 21 may 1747, with Rgt.
Piemont, it beats off an enemy attack at Madonna
della Misericordia. Then it leaves the siege to defend the
south frontiers of Piedmont. The 1st battalion,
after the Provence's adventure is recalled in Piedmont on
the Alps where a french army is crossing the Montgeneve.
This battalion alone helds the centre of the
austrian-piedmontese front at the Assietta ridge (19 july
1747).
Commanders of Regiment des
Gardes under Charles Emmanuel III
Filippo Tana Marquise
d'Entraque
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9- 9- 1719
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Carlo Giuseppe Ignazio Asinari
du Mombercelli
|
20- 9- 1734
|
Giuseppe Ottavio Cacherano
Osasco Compte della Rocca
|
1- 3- 1744
|
Carlo Emanuele Valesa Compte du
Montaldo
|
28- 4- 1769
|
Uniforms
1730-1750: Dark blue coat with
yellow laces, red lining, cuffs, waistcoat with yellow
laces, breeches. White gaiters for fusilier, black for
grenadiers. Seven brass buttons on each side of the coat,
three on the cuffs. Horizontal pockets. Tricorne with dark
blue cockade on the left brim and yellow hem for fusiliers,
bearskin cap for grenadiers. All soldiers gird a
sword.
1750-1773 (only principal differences
from the previous issue): Dark blue coat with white
pointed laces, red lapels and collar. Waistcoat with white
pointed laces. Seven tinned buttons on lapels. Tricorne with
white hem and yellow and red pompon. Bearskin cap with red
tail and red-yellow-blu pompon.
Colours
Colonel's Colour: Blue with two
rampant lions holding up the Great Savoy's Coat of Arms,
overhanged by royal crown.
Regimental Colour: White cross
over red. Royal crown and monogram in all the quarters. Blue
decorated hem.
Jean Cerino Badone
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