Cerino-Badone, Swiss Regiments - Libreria Militare Ares

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indirect instrument of policy. The raise of foreign regiments was adjusted with the system of "capitulation", the actual contracts between the Crown, the colonels in command and the cantonal authorities. With this agreement the regiments were kept in service for several years (from four to twelve years) and not for the duration of a campaign alone. Every unit was to procure the uniforms, but the armament and ammunition were supplied directly by the Sabaudian arsenals 6 . There were many privileges: the choice of recruits was at the discretion of the commander, without rigid religious constraints 7 . From a legal point of view, the Swiss were "almost independent", even for ordinary crimes, except those of "high treason and false money, affecting the King himself or his Honour, or the public peace and tranquillity of the State” 8 . At the outbreak of hostilities three regiments, for a total of 7 battalions, had already signed their capitulation with the king: - Regiment Diesbach (two battalions). Capitulation of twelve years, signed on 22 November 1738; - Regiment Rietman (three battalions). Capitulation of eight years, signed the 27 February 1741; - Regiment Guibert (two battalions). Capitulation of ten years, signed the 18 August 1741, with the raise of two companies to form the 3rd Battalion. The operational necessities of the new conflict persuaded the king to enlist another six Swiss battalions: - Regiment Reydt, raised the 12 January 1742, on one battalion. In May was raised a 2 nd Battalion, followed by a 3 rd Battalion the 22 February 1743; - Regiment Keller, raised the 27 February, on two battalions; - Regiment Meyer, raised the 1 June 1744, was composed of a strong battalion of four companies of 175 men each, two of which were raised in the Canton of Glarus, and two in that of Appenzell; - 4 th Bn. Regiment Kalbermatten (formerly Rietman), raised in the course of 1744. During the war the Swiss battalions rose from seven (1740) to 16 (1747), while the troops had increased by 62,5%, rising from 4.200 to 11.200 men 9 : 6 About Sabaudian firearms: Francesco Sterrantino Le armi da fuoco del Vecchio Piemonte 1683-1799, 2 vols., Torino 2002. 7 Loriga, Soldati cit., p. 36. 8 ASTO, Corte, Materie Militari, Levata Truppe Straniere, Mazzo 1 da inventariare, Rappresentanza umigliata a S.M. il di 15 luglio 1736 sul punto della giurisdizione de Regimenti Svizzeri. 9 ASTO, Corte, Memorie politiche per rapporto all’interno, Storie della Real Casa, Mazzo 21-22, Daniel Minutoli, Relation des Campagnes faites par S.M. et par ses Généraux avec des Corps Séparés dans les années 1742 et 1748, 5 vols., 2 Atlas; Torino, Biblioteca Reale [by now BRTO], Manoscritto Militare 155; Ilari, Boeri, Paoletti, La Corona di Lombardia, pp. 86-97. 6
Swiss infantry of the Sabaudian Army 1740-1747 1740 1743 1744 1747 Regiment Bns Men Bns Men Bns Men Bns Men Rietman, Kalbermatten 3 1.800 3 2.100 4 2.800 4 2.800 Guibert, Utiger 2 1.200 3 2.100 3 2.100 3 2.100 Diesbach, Roguin, Roi 2 1.200 3 2.100 3 2.100 3 2.100 Keller - - 2 1.400 2 1.400 2 1.400 Reydt, Salis - - 3 2.100 3 2.100 3 2.100 Meyer - - - - 1 700 1 700 Total 7 4.200 11 9.800 16 11.200 16 11.200 The regiments organized their battalions in four great companies of 175 men each, like the Louis XV’s Armée Royale. Each company was organized as a small independent unit, with its flag and its own rate of grenadiers, usually reorganized into a separate company during war campaigns 10 . Regiment Diesbach on Parade, about 1750. You can notice the presence of the five regimental flags, one for each company, and the blue colonel’s flag. (Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection) The Swiss infantry regiments became, during the conflict, real separate brigades. The Regiment Kalbermatten in 1744 counted 4 battalions, for a total force of 2,800 men. Similarly other three regiment-brigades were raised, Reydt/Salis, Diesbach/Roguin/Roi, Guibert/Utiger, each organized in three battalions. However, it was quite rare that these units should operate with all their battalions together. The combat doctrine of the Sabaudian army provided no more than two battalions of the 10 Every battalion had four company flags. This feature was seen as unnecessary since “le superflue de deux drapeaux par Battaillon ne serve que pour agrandir le trophée des enemis an cas de malheur, comm’il est arrivé au Regiment de Keller, qui fur pris prisonier de guerre à l’affaire de Villefranche”. ASTO, Memoria per provare gli avvantaggi dei Reggimenti stranieri. 7
Page 3 and 4: An Army inside the Army The Swiss r
Page 5: After the campaign in Savoy in 1742
Page 9 and 10: colonel to his cousin Gabriel Augus
Page 11 and 12: who had to kick a party of six or s
Page 13 and 14: Holland 2 0,1% 9 0,5% Great Britain
Page 15 and 16: Succession, the Reglement remained
Page 17 and 18: - Low effectiveness in attack. The
Page 19 and 20: Strength of Regiment Diesbach-Rogui
Page 21 and 22: enemy behind solid trenches on fiel
Page 23 and 24: Appendix. List of Regiments and Bio
Page 25 and 26: in 1718, L 1719, LC in 1722 and C i
Page 27 and 28: him the command of a regiment in Au
Page 29 and 30: was officer in the regiments of mig
Page 31 and 32: Governor of the fortress, Marquis I
Page 33: obtaining the patent BG the 15 Janu

Cerino-Badone, Swiss Regiments - Libreria Militare Ares

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