D'Este Milizia

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Origin and History

This militia regiment originated from the provincial militia whose 12 battalions were reorganised in 8 regiments in 1704. More precisely, it was raised from the Biella and Vercelli provincial militia battalions. Despite its designation as militia, it was actually a real infantry regiment, well equipped, dressed and drilled and not a simple militia.

In 1704, the regiment counted one battalion.

During the War of the Spanish Succession, the colonel of the regiment was:

• since 1704: Gontardo Gabriele d'Este Marquis of Dronero (from the famous noble family of d'Este)

Service during the War

In 1704, the regiment was assigned to the garrison of Vercelli and took part in the defence of this place. When Vercelli surrendered, on 20 July, 220 men of the regiment became prisoners of war.

The regiment does not seem to have been re-raised afterwards.

Uniform

Privates

Uniform in 1705 - Copyright: Richard Couture

Uniform Details as per Michel Savasta Fiore

Headgear	Musketeer black tricorne, laced white and with a white cord around the crown; the brim was already turned upwards (by 1709 the brim was firmly fastened to the crown in three points, a blue cockade appeared on the left side of the tricorne and the cord around the crown of the tricorne had been removed) Grenadier bearskin cap, called bonnet, with a red hanging bag
Neck stock	white, wrapped several times around the collar of the shirt to keep it closed, and knotted with the ends hanging freely on to the breast (from 1714 the ends were fastened behind the neck and were not hanging freely)
Coat	grey-white with pewter buttons on the right side Collar none Shoulder Straps none Lapels none Pockets horizontal pockets placed low on the coat, each pocket flap was fastened with 3 pewter buttons Cuffs red, each with 3 pewter buttons Turnbacks none
Waistcoat	red with pewter buttons
Breeches	grey-white
Stockings	grey-white fastened under the knee with a natural leather strap
Gaiters	???
Leather Equipement	Crossbelt natural leather (often whitened with pipe-clay) with a brass buckle Waistbelt natural leather (often whitened with pipe-clay) with a brass buckle Cartridge Pouch natural leather grenadiers had a bigger black pouch to carry grenades Bayonet Scabbard blach with a brass tip Scabbard black with brass metal fittings Footwear black shoes with a brass buckle

Armaments consisted of a musket and a bayonet. Fusiliers carried a sword (brass hilt) while the grenadiers had a sabre. Grenadiers also carried a pistol.

NCOs

Uniforms of NCOs were almost identical to those of privates but had a silver lace edging each cuff.

NCOs carried a halberd.

Officers

Until 1750, officers didn’t have to wear any official uniform. In fact, they usually wore a uniform similar to the one of the troops but of better quality, probably decorated with golden lace on the edges of the coat and with gilt buttons.

Officers always wore a blue sash around the waist.

Musicians

no information found yet

Colours

Colonella Colour (same for all militia regiments): blue field with a white cross; bordered with a wide blue frame.

Ordinanza Colour: red field with a white cross; bordered with a wide red frame; the arms of d'Este in the first canton (upper left canton)

Colonella Colour - Copyright: Michele Savasta Fiore

Ordinanza Colour - Copyright: Michele Savasta Fiore

References

Boeri, Author Gian Carlo: The Army of the Duke of Savoy 1688 - 1713

Cavalieri, Giorgio: Uniformi Piemontesi 1671- 1798, L'Arciere - 2004 - Riva di Chieri

Deputazione Sopra gli Studi di Storia Patria per le Antiche Provincie e la Lombardia: Le Campagne di Guerra in Piemonte (1703- 1708) e l'Assedio di Torino (1706), Vol. I, Torino Fratelli Bocca Librai di Sua Maestà

Fiorenti, Fabio: A me i miei dragoni, Gaspari Editore, Udine, 2006

Gariglio, Dario: 1706 L'Assedio di Torino, Cherasco: Blu Edizioni, 2005

Gentile, L.C. and T. Ricardi: L’Ordine in difesa del duca. Il reggimento Croce bianca in «Gentilhuomini christiani e religiosi cavalieri». Nove secoli dell'Ordine di Malta in Piemonte, Milano, 2000

Mola di Nomimaglio, Gustavo with Roberto Sandri Giachino, Giancarlo Melano, Piergiuseppe Menietti: L'esercito ducale sabaudo nel 1706. Organizzazione, uniformi, bandiere., Turin: Centro Studi Piemontesi, 2006

Acknowledgements

Michele Savasta Fiore for the initial version of this article