Regiment of Infantry of Provincial Ordinance

NICE
1713 - 1796
 

The 24 September 1713 King Victor Amadeus II decides to raise new regiments of conscripts. The units are raised in april 1714, about them there is the new Regiment Nice. Raised at Lucerame, it takes its soldiers from the the countries of Nice, Cuneo and Oneglia. It has a total strenght of six companies in a single battalion. .  

Service during the Polish Succession War

During this war Nice, in 1733, has 10 companies of 90 men each. 8 companies are ready for active service, 2 are in reserve. Then it has 10 companies of 70 men for active service and 2 in reserve. In 1735 the regiment has again 10 companies. During the War of Polish Succession Nice has principally garrison duties.

Service during the Austrian Succession War

The 12 march 1742 the Regiment of Provincial Infantry Nice is mobilized. At the beginning of the war Nice has a total strenght of 9 companies ready to fight and one company in reserve, all in one battallion. During the first years of the war Nice has few occasions to fight, and while the main Army is campaign in Savoy, Padanian Plains and Varaita Valley, this units has onl garrison duties. In 1744 the combined french-spanish army is able to break the front of the Alps in the Stura Valley. Some companies of Nice is inside the fortress of Demonte. The Army of Prince de Conti arrives under the stronghold in august. Marquise Maulevrier de Longeron has the chef of the besieging force, abou 14 battallions and 30 cannons and mortars. The bombardment of the Fortress of Demonte begins the night of 13 august, and, since there were no casemates and few bomb proofs, the will of combat of the garison soon disappears. The 16 august a great fire burns near the gun powder magazine. The powder is in safety but the garrison wants immediatel to surrend. The Governor of the Place, Chevalier de Viallet, wants to surrend and he sends two officiers to negotiate a truce. The soldiers deceive the Governor; they tell him that Maulevrier want him to negotiate outside the walls. When he was out he finds nobody, but the garrison had closed the gate. Then the Fotress is inglouriosly consigned to the enemy: surely this is considered one of the darkest page of the History of the sabaudian Arm (and promptly forgetten). The Fortress is evacued but the french decide that the fire near the poxder magazin is still too dangerous. Only the 19 august, when all the fires has extinguished, they enters in the Place: Major Borrello with 10 men is entrenched on the roof of the so feared powder magazin, still intact! Maulevrier, surprized, leave him and his soldiers free to join the Palcefort of Cuneo. This city is the next Conti's objective; in oder to break the siege, the 30 september 1744 the battallion of Nice is lined up in the centre, second line, of the piedmontese battle line during the Battle of Madonna dell'Olmo.

In the june 1745 the French-Spanish offensive is advancing on the ligurian shores. In order to destroy french strorage magazines, Nice, with Regiments Mondevì and Pignerol, under Lieutenant Colonel Alfieri, the 27 june is present on the raid against Veintemille. The action has success, and the damage inflicted are over 2 millions Livres. In september 1745, while Maillebois wins the piedmontese Army at Bassignana, Nice is transferred in Susa Valley, under the old General Giacomo de Rossi. The siege of the Fotress of Exilles is brocken, but the little piedmontese force (4300 men, about three battallions and militia units) is sadly defeated at the Camp of Joussad (11-12 october 1745). After this sad defeat the battalion of Nice fights in the west; the unit is transferred at the camp of Trino, under the more able General Leutrum. The battallion is present at the great counter offensive of the winter-spring of year 1746. Nice the 8 march 1746 is present at the conquest of the City of Asti. The Regiment reaches so the mediterranean front; in the november 1746 Nice is present at the offensive in Provence. In february 1747 it is lined up the positions of Breglio, over the western ligurian shores. In may is attached to the austrian Army besieging Genoa. Then, when the siege is brocken, is immediately transferred in the west, at the entenched line over the Roya Valley. Nice helds this line until the end of the war.

 

Commanders of Regiment Fusiliers under Charles Emmanuel III      

Louis Borriglione Compte D'Apremont

01- 8- 1713

Joachin Sallon di Soubiras

19- 3- 1735

Jean Augustin Gouett

16- 4 -1739

Giuseppe Antonio Saluzzo Miolans Spinola Marquis de Garessio

03- 3- 1745

Charles Hyacinthe De Condray

0- 4- 1746

Comte Camille Richelmi

17- 7 - 175?

Maurice Canal Comte de Cumiana

19- 4 -1757

Claude Alli Marquis de Maccarani

01- 7 -1768

Charles Thaon Comte de St. Andrea

15- 12 -1771

Uniforms 

 

1730-1750: Grey-white coat, blue lining, cuffs, waistcoat, breeches. White gaiters for fusilier, black for grenadiers. Six tinned buttons on each side of the coat, a rank three on the bottom, two, an a single button under the collar. Three buttons 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 with white lapels and collar. White lining, cuffs, dark blue waistcoat, breeches. Tricorne with a white and blue pompon on the right brim. Bearskin cap with blue tail, white hem; white and blue 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: White cross over red. Coat of arms of County of Nice in the first quarter.

 

 

Jean Cerino Badone