Albigeois Infanterie
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Origin and History
There have been several regiments known as “Albigeois” during the reign of Louis XIV. The present regiment was created on 4 October 1692 and raised in the Archdiocese of Albi. On 4 November from companies of Navarre Infanterie and consisted of a single battalion of 13 companies. It was given to Jérôme-François de Lécuyer, Comte de Muret, who remained colonel of the regiment until May 1699.
In 1693, during the Nine Years' War (1688-97), the regiment joined the Army of Italy and took part in the Battle of Marsaglia. In 1695, it was transferred to the Army of Catalonia but soon returned to the Rhine where it formed part of the garrison of Strasbourg.
On 4 March 1701, 78 militia companies were raised in Languedoc, 13 of these companies were incorporated in Albigeois Infanterie to bring it to two battalions.
During the War of the Spanish Succession, the regiment was commanded by:
- from May 1699: Jean-Baptiste de Bressac (died from wounds received in the Battle of Cassano (16 August 1705)
- from 6 September 1705: Paul Covet, Comte de Marignane (promoted to maréchal de camp on 29 March 1710)
- from 29 March 1710 to 7 October 1714: Jean Baptiste du Deffend de la Lande, Marquis de La Châtre, Comte de Quenay
At the end of the War of the Spanish Succession, a decree, dated 10 April 1715, maintained the regiment at two battalions of 13 companies each. However, each of these companies was reduced to only 40 men. On 20 September 1715, another decree definitely disbanded the regiment and transferred its men to La Marine Infanterie.
Service during the War
In 1701, the two battalions of the regiment were allocated to the Army of Italy. In August, the second battalion of the regiment formed part of the garrison of Mantua. On 1 September, the first battalion took part in the Battle of Chiari.
By March 1702, the first battalion was at Lodi and the second at Mantua.
By May 1703, the first battalion was at Guastalla and the second at Carpi.
In 1706, the regiment took part in the siege of Turin and in the disastrous Battle of Turin.
In 1707, the regiment took part in the defence of Toulon.
From 1708 to 1713, the regiment served with in the Alps.
Uniform
To do
Colours
Our description of the colours of the regiment is taken from the “Recueil des drapeaux de Du Vivier” of 1715 which reproduced nearly 200 colours of the French infantry at the time of the War of the Spanish Succession. The manuscript was dedicated to the Duc du Maine, a legitimate son of Louis XIV. Copies of this manuscript still exist at the “Musée de l’Armée” and at the “Musée de L’Empéri.” It is often designated as the manuscrit du Maine.
Colonel Colour: white field with a white cross.
Ordonnance Colour: first and fourth quarters black with a yellow dented band; second and third quarters yellow with a black dented band; a white cross.
 Colonel Colour - Copyright: Gilbert Noury |
 Ordonnance Colour - Copyright: Gilbert Noury |
References
This article incorporates texts from the following books which are now in the public domain:
- Susane, Louis: Histoire de l'ancienne infanterie française, J. Corréard, Paris, 1849-1856, Tome 8, pp. 269-270
