Nizza Provincial Militia

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Origin and History

In 1703, the "Piedmontese Battalion: was reorganised in 12 regiments of Provincial Militia. Each regiment consisting of a single battalion without grenadier. A regiment was formed in Nizza (present-day Nice).

The regiment counted a single battalion of some 400 men.

In 1704, the regiment was reorganised and became the Reggimento di Milizia Scelta Du Villar.

Service during the War

During its brief existence, this unit did not take part in any action.

Uniform

In 1703, the battalion probably wore a uniform quite similar to the one of the future Reggimenti di Milizia Scelta. This section describes such a uniform (the uniform of Du Villar Milizia).

Privates

Uniform in 1703 - Copyright: Richard Couture

Uniform Details as per Michel Savasta Fiore

Headgear	black tricorne, laced white (maybe unlaced) with a white cord around the crown; the brim was already turned upwards
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 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, a bayonet and a sword (brass hilt).

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

It is not clear if each Provincial Militia regiment carried a colonella colour. If so it would have been similar to those later carried by the Reggimenti di Milizia Scelta (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 Nizza in the first canton (upper left canton). The white scroll carried the motto “NICEA CIVITAS” (Town of Nice).

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

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