Carvajal Cavalry

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Origin and History

The regiment was raised on 19 January 1704 in Extremadura, at his own expense, by Gonzalo de Carvajal with the royal authorisation.

During the War of the Spanish Succession, the successive colonels of the regiment were:

• since 12 January 1704: Gonzalo Balthazar de Carvajal y Valencia (promoted to brigadier on 12 January 1707, would be the sole colonel of the regiment)

The regiment was disbanded in 1717.

Service during the War

On 12 December 1710, the regiment took part in the Combat of Villaviciosa.

Uniform

Very little is known about the uniform of this regiment to the exception that the uniform was blue with red as its distinctive colour. We don't know the metal colour of the regiment.

Privates

Uniform in 1704- Source: Copyright Kronoskaf

Uniform Details

Headgear	black tricorne laced yellow or white, with a red cockade fastened with a golden or silver clip and a brass or a pewter button
Neck stock	white
Coat	blue with brass or pewter buttons on the right side Collar none Shoulder straps no information found Lapels none Pockets no information found, we assume horizontal pockets, each with 3 buttons Cuffs red, each with an unknown number of buttons Turnbacks none
Waistcoat	probably red
Breeches	probably red
Leather Equipment	Bandolier natural leather Waistbelt natural leather worn above the coat Cartridge Box natural leather ventral cartridge box Scabbard black leather with a white metal tip Footgear natural leather boots
Horse Furniture	Saddlecloth probably red edged with a wide white or yellow braid Housings probably red edged with a wide white or yellow braid Blanket roll no information found

Troopers were armed with a sword, a pistol and a carbine.

Officers

Uniforms of officers differed from those of privates and NCOs by the finer material used. Their waistcoat, saddle cloth and housings were edged with a wide golden braid. They always wore a tricorne notwithstanding the headgear worn by soldiers.

The regulation of 30 December 1704 specified the distinctive of each military rank:

• colonel: a baton with a gold knob
• lieutenant-colonel: a baton with a silver knob
• sargento mayor: a baton with a silver topped knob
• captain: silver or golden epaulettes (according to the metal colour of the regiment) on both shoulders
• lieutenant: silver or golden epaulette (according to the metal colour of the regiment) on the right shoulder
• cornet: silver or golden epaulette (according to the metal colour of the regiment) on the left shoulder

NCOs

The regulation of 30 December 1704 specified the distinctive of each military rank:

• sergeant : baton without knob and halberd
• mariscal de logis (quartermaster): small woolen epaulette (red or of the distinctive colour of the regiment)
• brigadier: swagger stick
• corporal of squadron: swagger stick
• second corporal of squadron (rank suppressed in 1706): swagger stick

Musicians

no information found yet

Standards

no information found yet

References

Dragonas Magazine

Acknowledgement

Jean-Pierre Loriot for the initial version of this article.