Peri Infanterie

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Origin and History

The regiment was raised on 26 September 1690 by Gio-Batista (Jean-Baptiste) Peri, officer in the former Peri-Corse (1673-1682) and, later, in Royal-Roussillon. The new regiment was constituted of Corsican and Sardinian soldiers who were previously serving in regiments of the House of Savoy.

In 1691, during the Nine Years' War (1688–97), the regiment took part in the siege of Mons; in 1692, in the siege of Namur and in the Battle of Steenkerque; in 1693, in the capture of Huy, in the Battle of Landen and in the siege of Charleroi; in 1697, in the siege of Ath before leaving Flanders.

By the time of the War of the Spanish Succession, the regiment counted 1 bn battalions.

During the War of the Spanish Succession, the regiment was commanded by:

• since 1690: Colonel Gio-Batista (Jean-Baptiste) Peri

The regiment was disbanded on 28 January 1715 and its troops were incorporated into Nice Infanterie and Royal Roussillon Infanterie.

Service during the War

In 1701, the regiment joined the Army of the Rhine.

In 1702, the regiment served once more with the Army of the Rhine. The same year, Peri was promoted to brigadier.

In 1703, the regiment campaigned in Bavaria. On 30 September, it took part in the Battle of Höchstädt where it distinguished itself. It was later transferred to Lorraine.

In 1704, the regiment campaigned in Lorraine. On 26 October, Brigadier Peri was promoted to maréchal de camp.

In 1705, the regiment took part in the defence of Haguenau. It then retired to Saverne.

In 1706, the regiment served in Alsace. On 11 May, it took part in the recapture of Haguenau. On 22 October, Maréchal de Camp Peri was promoted to lieutenant-general.

From 1707 to 1711, the regiment was posted in the Lines of the Lauter.

In 1713, the regiment took part in the recapture of Landau and in the siege of Freiburg.

Uniform

Privates

Uniform in 1710 - Copyright: Richard Couture

Uniform Details as per
Hall

Headgear	Musketeer black tricorne without lace with a white cockade Grenadier black tricorne without lace with a white cockade
Neck stock	white
Coat	grey-white with green lining; pewter buttons on the right side and 1 pewter button on each side in the small of the back Collar none Shoulder Straps grey-white fastened with a pewter button Lapels none Pockets horizontal pockets, each with 3 pewter buttons Cuffs green, each with 3 pewter buttons Turnbacks none
Waistcoat	green with pewter buttons
Breeches	white
Stockings	white fastened under the knee with a natural leather strap
Gaiters	none at the beginning of the war, white later
Leather Equipment	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 Box natural leather Bayonet Scabbard n/a Scabbard black with white 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.

NCOs

n/a

Officers

n/a

Musicians

n/a

Colours

Colonel Colour: white field with a white cross.

Ordonnance Colour: a white cross; aurore (light orange) and green cantons; black wavy border covering the extremities of the cross

Colonel Colour - Copyright: Gilbert Noury

Ordonnance Colour - Copyright: Gilbert Noury

References

Hall, Robert: Flags and Uniforms of the French Infantry under Louis XIV, 1688-1714 (for the uniform)

Susane, Louis: Histoire de l'ancienne infanterie française, J. Corréard, Paris, 1849-1856, Tome 8, pp. 262-263

Acknowledgement

Jean-Pierre Loriot for the initial version of this article