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Regiment of swiss infantry GUIBERT par Jean Cerino Badone
King Charles Emmanuel III signs the 6 november 1733 a convention with Colonel Alexandre Guibert de Saissac to raise a swiss infantry regiment called Guibert. The men are assembled from the country around the city of Lucerna. In 1734 the Regiment is ready in Turin. This military unit proved to be probably the best fighting formation in the sabaudian Army. Service during the Polish Succession War Guibert in 1734 has a total strenght of two battalions. Its partecipation in this war is clearly limitated. After garrison uties, in september 1735 it is present on the west side of lake of Garda supporting the french action on the East side. At the end of the action, the 8 november, Guibert takes winter quarters in the country around Cremona and Brescia. In 1737 the regiment is not disbanded but the capitulation between the King and Alexander Guibert is renewed for other two years. In 1741 the capitulation is again extented for ten years. In 1742 the 3rd battalion is raised. Each battallion has 4 companies. Service during the Austrian Succession War At the overture of Austrian Succession War this regiment raises a third battalion. In 1742 Guibert is campaigning in north-east Italy in the Po plains. During the spring of that year we find Guibert in the city of Piacenza toghether with Saluces and Gardes. In September the whole regiment marches on the Alps; from the camp in La Salle in Aosta Valley the Regiment takes action in Savoy during the counter-offensive against the invading Spanish army. In jenuary 1743 Guibert returns again in Piedmont. Under the shadows of Monviso in Varaita Valley Guibert is waiting for the main french-spanish invasion of Piedmont. On the mountains around Casteldelfino Guibert is entrenched at the Battagliola Peak where, after a bitter fight against a enemy column, the 8 october stops with fire and steel an outflanked movement. In the sector defened by Guibert the spanish units lose over 500 men. The follow year Guibert fights both with its guns and with its legs! In the spring the Regiment is in the Mediterranean theatre and it is lined up the enthrenched camp of Villefranche. During the Conti's offensive, the 20 april Guibert with Saluces, Bourgsdorff, Tarentaise is able to stop the first terrible strike of the french-spanish attackers against the trenches of Mont Rouge. The grenadiers of the four regiments make a a counter-attack taking from the rear the french position at Mount Gros and at the Collet de Villefranche regaining the original positions. The Place is evacued the next day and Guibert's battalions return in Piedmont. The Conti's action reaches again the Varaita Valley. This regiment 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 2nd battalion makes a victorious defence inside the partially occupied redoubt but it is drived out during the last successful french attack losing 166 men. After the defeat the Place of Cuneo is besieged (12 september-22 october 1744). The 3rd battalion of Guibert is among the defenders. The two other battalions of the regiment are present at Madonna dell'Olmo (30 september 1744). The two battalions are situated on the centre, first line. In 1745 the great Maillebois' offensive gives no match to the Piedmontese hope to stop it. At the battle of Bassignana (27 september 1745) Guibert is again reunified in the centre of Sardinian line. A wrong tactical movement leaves Guibert alone to face the attack of the Dumontal's column. The Regiment is sorrounded by odds of enemy but it is able to fight off a road to escape the encirclement after 200<500 losses. Alexander Guibert, now lieutenant general, is badly wouded and taken prisoner. The follow year Guibert loses its commander; Alexander Guiber, who has one thigh-bone broken by a shot during the Bassignana affaire, deads. The new colonel is Beth Gaspar Outtiger, who gives to the units the new name of Outtiger. The newly renamed regiment is in the order of battle of Leutrum's army in the well planned counter offensive that clear the piedmontese landscape. Then the regiment is divided: a battalion marches in the south-west in the mediterranean theatre; the 1st battalion fights during the offensive in Provence. The two others battalions of Regiment Outtiger are employed at the siege of the Fortess of Tortone (30 october &endash; 27 november 1746). The whole regiment is lined up in the mediterranean front in Baron Leutrum's army until the end of the ostilities. After the ASW, in 1749 the regiment has a total strenght of only six companies. In 1751 the capitulation is extended for other fuor year. In 1753 the Regiment becomes Regiment Fatio. In 1755 it has a new capitulation of eight years. In the 1774 this glorious unit is disbanded. Commanders of Regiment Fusiliers under Charles Emmanuel III
Uniforms  1733-1750: Dark blue coat, red lining, lapels, cuffs, waistcoat, breeches. White gaiters for fusilier, black for grenadiers. Six tinned buttons in ranks of two on each side of the coat, four on the cuffs. Horizontal pockets. Tricorne with dark blue cockade on the left brim and white hem for fusiliers, bearskin cap for grenadiers.  1750-1773 (only principal differences from the previous issue): Dark blue coat, red lapels and collar. Seven brassed buttons on lapels, in ranks of two and one on the top. Tricorne with white hem and black and white pompon. Bearskin cap with red tail, white hem and white pompon. Colours  Colonel's Colour: Blue with black eagle in the centre decorated with the Savoy's cross and overhanged by royal crown.  Regimental Colour: Guibert - White cross over blue. Yellow flame Blue decorated hem. Red edge.
Jean Cerino Badone
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