Spanish uniforms of the Napoleonic Wars

The Napoleonic Wars was a series of wars lasting from 1803 to 1815. Spain was just one of the many countries which resisted the expansion of the French Empire under Napoleon I. The general population fought as guerrillas, preventing the occupying French forces from obtaining supplies or safe passage.

Line Infantry edit

The Spanish Line Infantry uniform changed several times during the Napoleonic wars. Both officially with the introduction of new model uniforms, the supply of British made uniforms, locally produced clothing and those captured as the spoils of war.

The M1797 uniform was officially listed as being white with collars, cuffs and facings according in the regimental facing colours and distinguished by their pattern combination. Three regiments were recorded as still wearing this uniform as late as May 1808.

The M1802 uniform was dark blue, with black facings piped red and red turn backs on the jacket. It was recorded as being issued with white trousers, and bicorns with red feathers or plumes. The main difference to separate regiments using this uniform was the buttons stamped with regimental symbols or numbers. Twelve regiments are recorded as still wearing this uniform in May 1808.

The issue of the M1805 uniform restored the official uniform's jacket colour to white and brought back the coloured facing colours.[clarification needed] These were used to distinguish between regiments, by a combination of cuffs, collars and facings in either facing colour piped white or white piped with the facing colour. Buttons were also used, either silver or brass. Turnbacks on the jackets were always the facing colour.[1][2]

Uniforms Issued edit

Regiment Collar Cuffs Lapel Buttons Notes Ref
1st, Rey Purple Purple Purple piped white Brass M1802 uniforms were still in use in May 1808 and may have continued beyond this date.
2nd, Reina White metal
3rd, Principe White piped purple Purple piped white Purple piped white Brass Use continued to at least May 1808
4th, Saboya Black piped white Black piped white Black piped white
5th, La Corona White metal M1802 uniforms were still in use in May 1808 and may have continued beyond this date
6th, Africa White piped black Brass
7th, Zamora White metal
8th, Soria White piped purple Purple Purple
9th, Cordoba Red piped white Red piped white Red piped white Brass
10th, Guadalajara White metal
11th, Sevilla Black piped white Black piped white White piped black
12th, Granada Light blue piped white Light blue piped white Light blue piped white Brass M1802 uniforms were still in use in May 1808 and may have continued beyond this date.
13th, Valencia Sky blue piped white Sky blue piped white Sky blue piped white White metal
14th, Zaragoza Green piped white Green piped white Green piped white Brass M1802 uniforms were still in use in May 1808 and may have continued beyond this date.
15th, España White metal
16th, Toledo White piped sky blue Sky blue with white piping Sky blue with white piping Brass
17th, Mallorca White with red piping Red piped white Red piped white
18th, Burgos White piped green Green piped white Green piped white
19th, Murcia White piped sky blue Sky blue piped white Sky blue piped white White metal
20th, Leon White piped red Red piped white Red piped white M1802 uniforms were still in use in May 1808 and may have continued beyond this date.
21st, Cantabria Sky blue piped white Sky blue piped white White piped sky blue
22nd, Asturias White piped green Green piped white Green piped white
23th, Fijo de Ceuta Green piped white White piped green M1797 uniforms were still in use in May 1808: green lapels, turnbacks, and cuffs; cream collar; and brass buttons.
24th, Navarra Dark blue piped white Dark blue piped white Dark blue piped white Brass
25th, Aragón Red piped white Red piped white White piped red White metal M1802 uniforms were still in use in May 1808 and may have continued beyond this date.
26th, America Dark blue piped white Dark blue piped white Dark blue piped white
27th, Princesa Purple piped white Purple piped white White piped purple
28th, Estremadur Crimson piped white Crimson piped white Crimson piped white Brass M1802 uniforms were still in use in May 1808 and may have continued beyond this date.
29th, Málaga White piped dark blue Dark blue piped white Dark blue piped white White metal M1797 uniforms were still in use in May 1808: red lapels, turnbacks and cuffs; black collar; and white metal buttons.
30th, Jaen Dark blue piped white White piped dark blue Not issued with M1802 uniforms.
31st, Ordenes Militares
32nd, Voluntarios de Castilla Crimson piped white Crimson piped white Crimson piped white M1802 uniforms were still in use in May 1808 and may have continued beyond this date.
33rd, Voluntarios de Estado White piped crimson Brass
34th, Voluntarios de Corona White metal
35th, Borbón Crimson piped white White piped crimson

Foreign Regiments in Spanish Service[1][2] edit

Regiment Jacket Collar Cuffs/turnbacks Lapels Trousers Buttons Notes Ref
36th, Irlanda Sky blue Yellow piped white Yellow Yellow piped white White Brass
37th, Hibernia Sky blue piped yellow White metal
38th, Ultonia Yellow piped white
39th, Napoles Sky blue piped white
1º Suizo de Wimpffen M1796 or M1805 uniforms
2º Suizo de Reding Snr
3º Suizo de Reding Jnr
4º Suizo de Betschartd
5º Suizo de Tazler
6º Suizo de Courten/Preux

Light Infantry Regiments edit

The original Cazadores uniform of a black bicorn, green jacket with red lapels and cuffs was replaced with the M1800 issue of a dark blue jacket with red facings and maintaining the other equipment.

The M1802 uniform was styled after the hussar uniform of the time. A green jacket with yellow lace, red collars and cuffs with the Suhr (a type of leather & brass hat) replacing the bicorn for ordinary ranks.

The M1805 uniform returned to the bicorn, styled after the infantry uniform the colour of the jacket was changed to dark blue, with facing colours, combinations and button colour depending on regiment.

In 1808 some regiments were issued with French style shakos, including La Romana's division de norte. It is unclear which regiments, if any, in Spain were issued with shakos.

Uniforms Issued[3][2] edit

Regiment Collar Cuffs Lapel Turnback Pockets Buttons Ref
1º de Aragón Red piped white Red piped white Red piped white Red Red piping White metal
1º de Cataluña Yellow piped white Yellow piped white Yellow piped white
2º de Cataluña Dark blue piped white Yellow piped white with yellow cuff flaps Yellow Yellow Yellow piping Brass
Tarrogona Yellow Yellow Dark blue piped yellow
Gerona Yellow piped white White metal
2º de Aragón Dark blue piped white Red piped white Red piped white Red piped white Red piping
1º de Barcelona Yellow Yellow Dark blue piped white Yellow Yellow piping
2º de Barcelona
Barbastro
Voluntarios de Valencia
Campo Maior
Voluntarios de Navarra

Militia Infantry Regiments edit

Guard Infantry Regiments edit

Heavy Cavalry Regiments[1][4] edit

M1802 Uniforms edit

All regiments received the same uniform which was considered unpopular with the units themselves. Bicorns edged yellow with red plumes. Dark blue coats with white lapels piped red, crimson facings (collars, cuffs and turn-backs) with blue cuff flaps piped red and yellow lions on their collars. Waist coats and trousers were batched dyed a lemon colour, however this quickly bleached in the sun. The jacket used brass buttons, much like the infantry uniform of the time. The cavalry were issued long boots and blue breeches re-enforced with leather.

Horses were rare in Spain during the war, but those which could be located were issued with blue saddleclothes laced with yellow.

M1805 Uniforms Issued edit

Regiment Collar Cuffs Lapel Pockets Buttonholes Buttons Ref
1º Rey Red piped yellow Red piped yellow Red piped yellow Red piping Yellow Brass
2º Reina Sky blue piped red Sky blue piped red Sky blue piped red White White metal
3º Príncipe Red piped white Red piped white Red piped white
4º Infante White piped yellow White piped yellow White piped yellow White piping Yellow Brass
5º Borbón Red piped white Red piped white Red piped white Red piping White metal
6º Farnesio Red piped yellow Red piped yellow Red piped yellow Yellow piping
7º Alcántara Red piped green Red piped green Green piped white Green piping
8º España Yellow piped red Red piped yellow Red piped yellow Red piping
9º Algarve Yellow piped red Yellow piped red
10º Calatravia Red Sky blue piped red Sky blue piped red
11º Santiago Crimson piped red Crimson piped red Crimson piped red
12º Montesa Red Red White piped red

Dragoon Regiments edit

Changes of 1803 edit

In 1803 all eight of the dragoon regiments raised in Spain were converted to light cavalry, with the first six converted to Cazadores a Caballo while Numancia and Lusitania were converted to Hussars (See these sections for Uniform during this time period). These were converted back to Dragoons in 1805.

M1805 Uniforms edit

Regiment Collar Cuffs Lapel Pockets Tricorn edge Plume Buttons Ref
1º Rey Crimson piped white Crimson piped white Crimson piped white Crimson piping White Red White metal
2º Reina Scarlet piped white Scarlet piped white Scarlet piped white Scarlet piping
3º Almansa Sky blue piped white Sky blue piped white Sky blue piped white Sky blue piping
4º Pavia Yellow piped white Yellow piped white Scarlet piped white Scarlet piping
5º Villaviciosa Green piped white Green piped white Green piped white Green piping
6º Sagunto Yellow piped white
7º Numancia Black piped white Black piped white Black piped white Black piping
8º Lusitania Yellow piped white

M1811 Uniforms edit

Regiment Collar Cuffs Lapel Pockets Tricorn edge Plume Buttons Ref
1º Rey
2º Reina
3º Almansa
4º Pavia
5º Villaviciosa
6º Sagunto
7º Numancia
8º Lusitania
9º Granada
10º Madrid

Hussar Regiments edit

In 1803, the 7º Numancia and 8º Lusitania dragoons were converted to hussars. In 1805, 1º Numancia and 2º Lusitania hussars were converted to dragoon; the 3º Olivenza and 4º España regiments were converted back to Cazadores a Caballo; 5º Húsares de Maria Luisa became 1º Húsares de Maria Luisa; and 6º Húsares Españoles became 2º Húsares Españoles in 1805.

Guard Cavalry Regiments edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Bueno, José María (1982). El Ejercito y la armada en 1808. Spain: J.M. Bueno. pp. 78–79. ISBN 84-300-6421-4.
  2. ^ a b c Summerfield, Stephen (2014). Spanish Infantry of the Early Peninsular War. Huntingdon, England: Ken Trotman Publishing. p. 133. ISBN 978-1-907417-42-9.
  3. ^ Bueno, José María (1982). El Ejercito y La Armada en 1808. Spain: J.M. Bueno. pp. 72–73. ISBN 84-300-6421-4.
  4. ^ Summerfield, Stephen (2016). Spanish Cavalry of the Early Peninsular War. Huntingdon, England: Ken Trotman Publishing Ltd. pp. 53–54. ISBN 978-1-907417-74-0.