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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
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01- 8- 1713
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Joachin Sallon di
Soubiras
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19- 3- 1735
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Jean Augustin Gouett
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16- 4 -1739
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Giuseppe Antonio Saluzzo Miolans
Spinola Marquis de Garessio
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03- 3- 1745
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Charles Hyacinthe De
Condray
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0- 4- 1746
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Comte Camille
Richelmi
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17- 7 - 175?
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Maurice Canal Comte de
Cumiana
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19- 4 -1757
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Claude Alli Marquis de
Maccarani
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01- 7 -1768
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Charles Thaon Comte de St.
Andrea
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15- 12 -1771
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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
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