Du Villar 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. It was created from the former Nizza Provincial Militia. In fact, 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: no information found

After its capture at the surrender of Vercelli in 1705, the regiment was not re-established.

Service during the War

In 1705, the regiment took part in the defence of Vercelli. When the place surrendered, the 277 remaining men of the regiment became prisoners of war.

Uniform

Privates

Uniform in 1705 - Copyright: Richard Couture

Uniform Details as per Michel Savasta Fiore

Headgear	Musketeer black tricorne, laced white (maybe unlaced) with a white cord around the crown; the brim was already turned upwards 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
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	probably red with pewter buttons
Breeches	probably grey-white
Stockings	probably red fastened under the knee with a natural leather strap
Gaiters	???
Leather Equipment	Cross-belt natural leather (often whitened with pipe-clay) with a brass buckle Waist-belt 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 black 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 crowned arms of Du Villar in the first canton (upper left canton)

Colonella Colour Obverse - Copyright: Michele Savasta Fiore

Ordinanza Colour - Copyright: Michele Savasta Fiore

References

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