Regiment of swiss infantry
ROQUIN
1733 - 1798
King Charles Emmanuel III signs the 14
november 1733 a convention with Colonel Albert Louis Roquin
de Suerdon to raise a swiss infantry regiment called Roquin.
The men are assembled from the country around the City of
Berne. In 1734 the Regiment is ready in Turin with a force
of two battalions.
Service during the Polish
Succession War
Roquin, after garrison duties, in
september 1735 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, Roquin takes winter quarters in
the country around Cremona and Brescia.
In 1737 the regiment changes its
commander; since 17 may 1737 the new Colonel is Jean Rodolfe
de Diesbach. The regiment changes its old name in Diesbach.
This unit is not disbanded but the capitulation between the
King and Jean Diebach is renewed for other twelve years. At
the end of 1742 a 3rd battalion is raised. Each battallion
has 4 companies.
Service during the Austrian
Succession War
In 1742 Diesbach is campaigning in
north-east Italy in the Po plains. During the spring of that
year we find Diesbach in the City of Piacenza. In September
the regiment is divided; the 1st and the 2nd battalions stay
in garrison in Po cities, such as Modena, while the 3rd
battalion marches on the Alps; from the camp of Novalesa in
Susa Valley the Regiment pass the Mount Cenise gap an it
takes action in Savoy during the counter-offensive against
the invading Spanish army. In jenuary 1743 3rd Diesbach
returns again in Piedmont. The 1st and 2nd battalions fight
at Camposanto (8 february 1742). The whole regiment is
reunify and marches to the west front. Behind the trenches
in Varaita Valley Diesbach is waiting for the main
french-spanish invasion of Piedmont. During the combats of
Chateau Dauphin (8 october 1743) Diesbach is entrenched
around the village of Chateau. The follow year its principal
task is the control of the Alpine frontiers. The 10 april
Colonel Agustine Roquin is the new commander of the regiment
renamed Roquin. The Prince Conti's action reaches again the
Varaita Valley. This regiment is one of the units that fight
at the redoubt of Mount Cavallo during the battle of Pierre
Longue (17 july 1744). During the hard combat, the 1st and
2nd battalion make a fierce defence inside the redoubt but
at the end they are drived out during the last successful
french attack losing 372 men. The brave Colonel Roquin,
while defending with his officier's spontoon the palissade,
is shot down hit at the head. Yet the 22 july the regiment
has a new colonel, Charles Antoine Roy, and a new name, Roy.
After the defeat the whole piedmontese army is concentrated
in south west Piedmont in order to break the siege of the
Place Fort of Cuneo. So the three battalions of the regiment
are present at Madonna dell'Olmo (30 september 1744). Roy is
situated on the right wing, first line. In 1745 the great
Maillebois' offensive gives no match to the Piedmontese hope
to stop it. After the battle of Bassignana (27 september
1745) Roy leaves its 3rd battalion to defend the new bult
powerful Citadel of Alessandria. It helds the block of the
fortess for six month (11 november 1745 &endash; 11 march
1746). The other two battalions of Roy are in the order of
battle of Leutrum's army in the well planned counter
offensive that clear the piedmontese landscape. Then the
regiment marches in the south-west in the mediterranean
theatre. But in 1747 the regiment is urgently recalled on
the Alpine front. Again the 3rd battalion takes a day of
glory. The battalion helds the redoubt of Gran Serin,
defending it against the extremely dangerous french assault
of the Marquise de Villemur's right column. The trench were
defended by two battalion of Kalbermatten and the 3rd Roy
against 14 enemy battalions. The defence is successful and
the day is saved.
In 1751 the capitulation is extended for
other twelve year. In 1760 the Regiment becomes Regiment
Tscharner. In 1763 the previous capitulation is
confiermed.
Commanders of Regiment Fusiliers
under Charles Emmanuel
III
Albert Louis Roquin de
Suerdon
|
14 - 11- 1733
|
Jean Rodolfe de
Diesbach
|
17 - 5- 1737
|
Agustine Roquin
|
10 - 4- 1744
|
Charles Antoine Roy
|
22 - 7- 1744
|
Hemanuel Tscharner
|
14- 4 - 1760
|
Uniforms
1730-1750: Dark blue coat with
white laces, red lining, cuffs, collar, dark bluewaistcoat
with white laces, breeches. White gaiters for fusilier,
black for grenadiers. Eight tinned buttons on each side of
the coat, four ranks of two, four with lances 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, lining and collar. Seven tinned buttons on lapels,
in ranks of two and one on the top. Tricorne with white hem
and black and white pompon. Bearskin cap with black tail,
white hem and black 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:
Diesbach
- White cross with black, red and yellow flames.
Roy
- White cross over blue, yellow, black, red flames. Coat of
armes of the City of Berne in the first quarter.
Jean Cerino Badone
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