Fucilieri Infantry

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Origin and History

The regiment was raised in 1690, the same year where the Savoyard Army suppressed pikemen from its ranks. The regiment was named "Fucilieri" (fusiliers) because its soldiers were armed with the new flintlock muskets instead of more traditional matchlock muskets. Indeed the regiment had been created to escort and protect artillery, a role where the use of matchlock muskets would have presented serious danger of explosion when fighting near the powder barrels of the artillery.

On 18 August 1690, during the Nine Years' War (1688–97), the regiment took part in the Battle of Staffarda. On 4 October 1693, it fought at the Battle of Marsaglia.

Later on, the role of the regiment became the same as for other infantry units. Meanwhile, the use of flintlock muskets spread to all infantry regiments.

The regiment consisted of 16 coys, including 1 grenadier coy. It was usually stationed in the Town of Vercelli.

At the outbreak of the War of the Spanish Succession, the regiment counted one battalion and was under the command of:

• in 1701: Giuseppe Costa della Trinità (same family as the proprietor of Trinità Regiment).

Service during the War

On 3 July 1701, during the campaign in Northern Italy, the regiment, as part of the Savoyard Contingent, arrived at Cerea to join the Franco-Spanish army. By 17 August, the regiment was deployed in the centre of the second line of infantry. On 1 September, it was present at the Battle of Chiari. On 17 November, Duke Victor Amadeus II of Savoy quit the Franco-Spanish army with his entire contingent, marching back to his duchy before the end of the campaign.

In 1704, the regiment was stationed in the Town of Ivrea.

In 1705, the regiment counted only 381 men.

In 1706, the regiment (1 battalion totalling 540 men) was present at the siege of Turin.

Uniform

From 1701 to 1709, the unit wore the model 1691 uniform described hereafter.

Privates

Uniform in 1701 - 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	grey-white 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 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 cuffs, and with gold buttons.

Officers always wore a blue sash around the waist.

Musicians

no information found yet

Colours

Colonella Colour (same for all line infantry regiments to the exception of the Guardie): blue field with a white cross; bordered with a wide blue frame; centre device consisting of the crowned cipher of Duke Victor Amadeus II.

Ordinanza Colour: red field with a white cross; bordered with red and white flames; the crowned arms of ???? in the third canton (lower left canton).

Colonella Colour - Copyright: Michele Savasta Fiore

Ordinanza Colour - Copyright: Michele Savasta Fiore

References

Bona, Federico: Bandiere e Uniformi Sabaude

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

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

N.B.: the section Service during the War is mostly derived from our articles depicting the various campaigns, battles and sieges.

Acknowledgements

Michele Savasta Fiore for the initial version of this article