Périgord Infanterie
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Origin and History
The regiment was created on September 7 1684 and took the name of the province of Périgord. Indeed, expecting a Coalition to soon form against France, Louis XIV raised 30 new regiments from September 1 to 30 for the defence of the various places of the realm. By raising one regiment a day, he avoided any problem of precedence among these new regiments.
The regiment initially garrisoned places in Northern France.
In 1690, during the Nine Years' War (1688-97), the regiment joined the Army of the Alps. The same year, it contributed to the capture of Cahours, fought in the Battle of Staffarda and participated in the submission of Saluzzo, Barges and Susa. In 1691, it took part in the sieges of Villefranche, Montalban, Nice, Veillane, Carmagnola and Montmélian. In 1692, the regiment was transferred to Flanders where it participated in the capture of Namur, in the Battle of Steenkerque and in the bombardment of Charleroi. In 1693, it served on the Rhine. At the end of 1694, it returned to Piedmont and was placed in garrison in Pinerolo where it remained until 1696. In 1696, it took part in the siege of Valenza before being transferred to Catalonia. In 1697, it opened the trenches in front of Barcelona.
In December 1700, on the eve of the War of the Spanish Succession, the regiment was sent to Italy.
During the War of the Spanish Succession, the regiment was commanded by
- from 2 February 1697: Henri-François, Marquis de Lambert de Saint-Bris
- from 28 April 1711 to 6 March 1714: N. de Boisset de Geaix
The second battalion was disbanded in 1715 and used to complete the first.
Service during the War
On 1 February 1701, the regiment, which initially counted a single battalion, was increased to two battalions. These two battalions served independently for most of the war.
First Battalion
On 1 September 1701, the first battalion fought in the Battle of Chiari where it was brigaded with Royal Vaisseaux Infanterie in the second line of the centre.
On 15 August 1702, the first battalion took part in the Battle of Luzzara. It later took part in the capture of Luzzara, Guastalla and Borgoforte.
On 4 January 1704, the first battalion took part in storming of the entrenchments of Stradella. It later fought in the combat of Castelnuovo de Bormia, in the capture of Nago, Arco, Asti and Villanova d’Asti, and in the siege of Vercelli, Ivrea and Verrua.
On 1 March 1705, the grenadiers of the first battalion supported the assault of Fort de l’Isle at Verrua. In August the first battalion fought in the Battle of Cassano.
In 1706, the first battalion took part in the siege and battle of Turin, suffering heavy losses and being reduced to only 142 men.
In 1707, the first battalion was sent to Spain where it initially joined the army under the command of M. de Legall in Navarre. It was later transferred to the army of the Duc d’Orléans and, in October, contributed to the capture of the city and castle of Lérida.
In 1708, the first battalion once more served under the Duc d’Orléans. On 1 June, it was detached from the camp of Ginestar to drive the enemy out of Falcete which was defended by 2,400 foot and migueletes and 400 horse. On 2 June at 5:00 a.m., the French troops arrived in front of Falcete and immediately attacked, killing 500 men and capturing 600 men, including 33 officers, and all baggage. From there, the first battalion went to the siege of Tortosa where it often guarded the trenches along with Normandie Infanterie and La Couronne Infanterie. In September, the battalion was once more detached from the camp of Agramont to attack the migueletes. In October, it made itself master of Ager.
In 1709, the first battalion served once more in Catalonia under the Maréchal de Bezons.
In 1710, the first battalion was sent to Dauphiné and returned to Spain before the end of the year to take part in the siege and capture of Girona.
In 1711 and 1712, the first battalion campaigned once more in Dauphiné where it remained in the camp of Sault-d'Oulx.
In 1713, the first battalion was sent to the Rhine where it effected a junction with the second battalion. Together, they took part in the sieges of Landau and Freiburg.
Second battalion
From 1701 to 1713, the second battalion assumed garrison duty in various places in Flanders and Alsace. In 1708, it took part in the unsuccessful defence of Lille.
In 1713, the second battalion rejoined the first on the Rhine and took part in the sieges of Landau and Freiburg.
In 1715, the second battalion was disbanded.
Uniform
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Colours
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References
This article incorporates texts from the following books which are now in the public domain:
- Susane, Louis: Histoire de l'ancienne infanterie française, J. Corréard, Paris, 1849-1856, Tome 7, pp. 114-118
