Trinità 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. The regiment was entirely raised in Turin. For this reason, it was the only militia regiment to have blue cuffs and copper buttons on its uniform, to recall the colours of Turin, the capital of the duchy. 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: Colonel Count Vittorio Amedeo Costa di Trinità

Service during the War

In 1705, the regiment was assigned to the defence of Turin.

In 1706, during the siege of Turin, the regiment comprised 500 men in one battalion.

Uniform

Privates

Uniform in 1705 - Copyright: Richard Couture

Uniform Details as per Michel Savasta Fiore

Headgear	Musketeer black tricorne, laced yellow and with a yellow 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 copper 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 copper buttons Cuffs Savoy blue, each with 3 copper buttons Turnbacks none
Waistcoat	Savoy blue with copper buttons
Breeches	Savoy blue
Stockings	Savoy blue 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 blach 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.

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 arms of Trinità in the first canton (upper left canton)

Colonella Colour - Copyright: Michele Savasta Fiore

Ordinanza Colour - Copyright: Michele Savasta Fiore

N.B.: it is possible that the Colonella colour carried the arms of the colonel proprietor of the regiment on its obverse or reverse.

References

Acknowledgements

Michele Savasta Fiore for the initial version of this article