SIEGE OF TURIN 1706. FRENCH REGIMENT PISANCON

 A search through all my sources, however, ruled out the existence of any regiment bearing that name. Further research proved equally fruitless, even in sources that preserve at least some trace of regiments raised from local militias. There was absolutely nothing.

This naturally raised the suspicion—and in cases such as this it is entirely legitimate—that the original handwritten sources had been misread and incorrectly transcribed. The non-existent “Besançon” might therefore have been another name beginning with the same letter, ending in a similar way, and with an illegible central portion.

SIEGE OF TURIN 1706. FRENCH REGIMENT TARNAULT

 This was one of the lesser-known regiments raised in 1702 during the War of the Spanish Succession. It was formed on 14 May 1702 by N. de Tarnault, who became its first colonel.

On 16 February 1707, command of the regiment passed to Louis de Frétat, Comte de Boissieux, under whom it continued to serve until its disbandment on 10 December 1714.

The regiment was assigned to the Army of Italy in 1702. In 1706, it took part in the Siege of Turin  with 1 battalion and was deployed in the sector between the Dora Riparia and the River Po. However, it does not appear to have participated in the Battle of Turin on 7 September. In 1707, the regiment took part in the defence of Toulon. The following year, it joined the Army of the Rhine, and from 1709 to 1713 it served with the Army of Dauphiné.

Regiment Tarnault - Drapeau d'Ordonnance

Regiment Tarnault - Drapeau Colonel

The reconstruction of the uniform has, of course, required a certain degree of historical flexibility. The starting point was a number of secure elements: the regiments raised in 1702 all wore the usual grey-white coat, while the facings were commonly red. The choice of red is further supported by the ordonnance flag, which has a red field, and by the cavalry regiment of the same name, which likewise had red facings. To complete the picture, the family coat of arms was also based on red, with distinctive devices in gold.

Regiment Tarnault - Officer

Regiment Tarnault - Drummer

Regiment Tarnault

SIEGE OF TURIN 1706 - FRENCH REGIMENT BEAUCE

 The regiment was created on 23 September 1684 and took the name of the Province of Beauce. Its formation was part of the extensive military expansion ordered by Louis XIV in anticipation of a new coalition against France. Between 1 and 30 September 1684, the king raised thirty new regiments for the defence of the principal strongholds and strategic positions of the realm. By creating one regiment on each successive day, he also avoided disputes over precedence among the newly formed units. The regiment was initially entrusted to N. de Pompadour, Marquis de Laurière.

During the Nine Years’ War, from 1689 to 1697, the regiment remained employed in coastal defence. At the outbreak of the War of the Spanish Succession, it continued under the command of the Marquis de Laurière. On 20 January 1708, the colonelcy passed to Joseph-Pierre Dejean de Manville.

In 1701, the regiment was assigned to the Army of Italy and participated in the blockade of Mantua, where it subsequently performed garrison duty. It later took part in the operations surrounding Turin in 1706, participating in the siege of the Piedmontese capital. During the battle of 7 September, the regiment was positioned in the sector between the Dora Riparia and the River Po, where French troops were deployed to protect the eastern part of the siege lines and the camps established in that area.

In 1707, the regiment was transferred to the Army of Flanders. On 11 July 1708, it fought at the Battle of Oudenarde. In the following year, it was sent to the Army of the Rhine, before returning to Flanders in 1710. In 1711, it took part in the combat of Arleux, and in 1712 it participated in the Siege of Douai and in the recapture of Le Quesnoy and Bouchain.

The regiment continued to exist after the conclusion of the War of the Spanish Succession. It was finally disbanded on 10 February 1749. Its grenadier companies were incorporated into the Grenadiers de France, while the remaining companies were transferred to Talaru Infanterie.

Naturally, as this was a “provincial” regiment, its drummers wore the royal livery, as shown below.

Regiment Beauce - Drumme in Royal Livery

Regiment Beauce in a print dating 1706

There were several different versions of the regiment’s uniform. Fortunately, I found a print dating from 1706 (see above) in which the regiment is depicted in a manner consistent with one of my sources. I therefore decided to reconstruct it accordingly, as shown below.

Regiment Beauce (note buttons on the pocket as distictive sign of the Regiment)

In this case, the red waistcoat has been retained, as the sources are consistent on this point. The stockings, however, have been depicted in white, in accordance with the image reproduced above. A certain concession has been made by showing the breeches in red, a colour commonly associated with officers and also consistent with the alternative source that was not adopted for the rank-and-file soldiers.

Regiment Beauce - Officer

Drapeau Colonel

Drapeau d'Ordinnance

BATTLE OF TURIN 1706 - FRENCH REGIMENT MARSILLY

The regiment was raised on 25 July 1702 by Achille Poulet, Marquis de Marcilly, who remained its colonel throughout most of the War of the Spanish Succession. On 28 October 1710, command passed to François Perron de Belleisle, under whom the regiment continued to serve until 12 November 1714. On that date, it ceased to exist as an independent unit and was incorporated into Touraine Infanterie.

The regiment first saw active service in 1703, when it was employed against the Camisards in the Cévennes. In the following year, it was assigned to the Army of the Alps and took part in the siege of Annecy. In 1705, it was transferred to the Italian theatre. During June and July, it participated in the siege of Chivasso in Piedmont, and on 16 August it was present at the Battle of Cassano.

From May to September 1706, the regiment took part in the Siege of Turin, serving with the Franco-Spanish army engaged in the operations against the Piedmontese capital with 1 battalion. After the failure of the siege and the French withdrawal from Piedmont, it participated in the defence of Toulon in 1707.

In 1709, the regiment served with the Army of Dauphiné, before being transferred to Flanders in 1710. On 24 July 1712, it was present at the Battle of Denain, although it does not appear to have been directly engaged in the fighting. Later that same year, it took part in the siege and capture of Le Quesnoy. 

Regiment de Marsilly - Drummer (reconstruction)

This is one of those regiments for which comparatively little information has survived. Fortunately, its ordonnance colour has been identified, and its colours correspond exactly to those appearing in the arms of the de Marcilly family. This provides a valuable basis for reconstructing the regiment’s appearance.

Drapeau d'Ordonnance

The predominance of black seems beyond doubt and supports the use of black facings on the soldiers’ uniforms, together with gilt buttons matching the gilded hilts of their swords. The close correspondence between the colours of the ordonnance flag and those of the family coat of arms also helps to remove any uncertainty concerning the livery worn by the regimental drummers.

Regiment Marsilly

In several surviving representations, when a black livery had to be depicted for drummers, artists tended to use a very dark grey rather than absolute black. The same approach has therefore been adopted in this reconstruction, with the main coat rendered in dark grey while the facings remain black.

Drapeau Colonel

Regiment Marsilly - Officer

BATTLE OF TURIN 1706 - FRENCH REGIMENT BRESSE

 The regiment was created on 14 September 1684 from a battalion of Normandie Infanterie and took the name of the Province of Bresse. Its formation formed part of the extensive military expansion ordered by Louis XIV in anticipation of a new coalition against France. Between 1 and 30 September 1684, the king raised thirty new regiments, one on each successive day. This unusual arrangement was intended to prevent disputes over precedence among the newly created units. The regiment was entrusted to René-Alexis Le Sénéchal, Comte de Carcado-Molac.

During the Nine Years’ War, the regiment initially served with the Army of Germany in 1691 before being transferred to the Army of the Alps in 1692. In the following year, it participated in the defence of Pinerolo and fought at the Battle of Marsaglia. In 1694, it served in Provence and then embarked for Catalonia, where it took part in the relief of Palamós. The regiment returned to Italy in 1696 and participated in the siege of Valenza, before being transferred to the Army of Flanders in 1697.

At the outbreak of the War of the Spanish Succession, the regiment remained under the command of René-Alexis Le Sénéchal, Comte de Carcado-Molac, who had held the colonelcy since its creation. On 10 October 1706, command passed to François, Marquis de Montmorency-la-Neuville.

In 1700, the regiment was assigned to the Army of Italy. On 1 September 1701, it fought at the Battle of Chiari, where it was deployed in Carcado’s Brigade on the extreme left of the second line of infantry. On 26 July 1702, the Comte de Carcado-Molac commanded a brigade of grenadiers at the Combat of Santa Vittoria, and in August the regiment participated in the capture of Luzzara.

Drapeau d'Ordonnance

The regiment remained active in northern Italy throughout 1703, taking part in the capture of Nago and Arco and, in November, in the occupation of Asti. On 4 January 1704, it participated in the assault on the entrenchments of Stradella, which were defended by the rearguard of Starhemberg’s army. A week later, on 11 January, it fought at Castelnuovo de Bormia. During the remainder of the campaign, it took part in the sieges of Vercelli, Ivrea and Verrua.

Regiment Bresse - Officer
NB: the Officer as distinctive sign had usually the breeches of the same colour of the socks, like here

At the beginning of 1705, the regiment participated in the final capture of Verrua. On 16 August of the same year, it fought at the Battle of Cassano. On 19 April 1706, it was engaged at the Battle of Calcinato and, from May onwards, took part in the Siege of Turin with 1 battalion.

Regiment Bresse - Private
NB: the waiscoat was light blue edged yellow with laced buffonholes with copper buttons. Not visible here, because usually the coat was kept closed

Following the withdrawal of the French army from Piedmont, the regiment served with the Army of Dauphiné from 1707 to 1709. In 1709, it was transferred to the Army of Flanders. On 24 July 1712, it fought at the Battle of Denain and subsequently participated in the Siege of Douai during August and September. After the fortress was captured, the regiment was placed there in garrison.

Drapeau Colonel

BATTLE OF TURIN 1706 - FRENCH REGIMENT DE MENOU

 This regiment was raised on 25 July 1702 by Charles, Marquis de Menou de Cuissy. During the War of the Spanish Succession, it campaigned in the Cévennes in 1703 and formed part of the French occupation forces in Savoy in 1704. In 1705, it took part in the Battle of Cassano, and in 1706 it participated in the Siege of Turin, during which its colonel lost a leg.

Drapeau d'Ordonnance

On 27 June 1706, the regiment was given to his son, Louis-Joseph, Comte de Menou de Cuissy. It subsequently served with the Army of Flanders in 1707 and fought at the Battle of Harelbeke in 1711. The regiment was disbanded on 21 December 1713.

Drapeau Colonel

Regiment de Menou - Drummer

Regiment de Menou - private

Drapeau Colonel

BATTLE OF TURIN 1706 - FRENCH REGIMENT BUGEY

The regiment was raised under the name Bugey on 4 October 1692 and entrusted to Antoine Dreux d’Aix, Marquis de La Chaize, who retained its colonelcy until 1695. La Chaize belonged to a well-connected family: he was the nephew of François de La Chaize, the Jesuit confessor of King Louis XIV, and the son of François d’Aix, Comte de La Chaize, a captain in the Gardes de la Porte. According to Saint-Simon, he acquired the regiment for 42,000 livres, in addition to a royal gratification of 100,000 livres.

During the Nine Years’ War, the regiment joined the Army of Flanders in 1693. In October 1695, the Marquis de La Chaize obtained the colonelcy of Beauvoisis Infanterie and relinquished command of Bugey. On 4 October of that year, the regiment was purchased for 70,000 livres by Hyacinthe de Montvallat, Comte d’Entraigues. Under his command, it took part in the siege of Ath in 1697.

In June 1699, the Comte d’Entraigues gave up the regiment after obtaining the lieutenant-colonelcy of Royal Vaisseaux Infanterie. He was succeeded by Jean de Mathan, a former page in the King’s Chamber and an ensign in the Gardes-françaises. Mathan was only nineteen years old when he became colonel of Bugey Infanterie. His command was brief, however, as he died of dysentery at Mantua in August 1701.

At the beginning of the War of the Spanish Succession, the regiment passed to Jacques de Bérenger, Comte du Gua et de Charme. He had previously commanded a militia regiment raised in the généralité of Grenoble and had also formed a regiment of his own in 1695, although that unit was disbanded in 1698. He became colonel of Bugey in September 1701 and was promoted to maréchal de camp in 1704.

On 10 February 1704, the colonelcy passed to his son, Charles, Comte de Bérenger. Charles remained in command until he was killed during the defence of Saint-Venant on 24 September 1710. The regiment was then entrusted, on 4 October 1710, to Pierre Bérenger, Comte du Charmes et du Gua, another son of Jacques de Bérenger. Pierre later became colonel of Vivarais Infanterie in May 1731, was promoted to brigadier in 1734 and lieutenant-general in 1744, and was made a Chevalier du Saint-Esprit in 1746.

Bugey Infanterie continued to exist until 7 October 1714, when it was incorporated into Champagne Infanterie.

In 1701, the regiment’s first battalion was assigned to the Army of Italy. On 15 August 1702, it fought at the Battle of Luzzara and subsequently participated in the capture of Luzzara and Gonzaga. During the same year, the second battalion campaigned separately in Flanders.

In 1703, the first battalion remained in the Italian theatre, taking part in the combat of Stradella, the combat of Castelnuovo, the expedition into Tyrol and the combat of San Sebastiano. The second battalion again served in Flanders.

The first battalion participated in the sieges of Vercelli, Ivrea and Verrua in 1704, followed by the siege of Chivasso in 1705. In 1706, it took part in the siege of Turin, serving with the Franco-Spanish army engaged in the operations against the Piedmontese capital.

In 1707, the regiment participated in the defence of Toulon against the Allied invasion. It was later placed in garrison at Saint-Venant in 1709 and took part in the defence of that town in 1710, during which its colonel, Charles de Bérenger, was killed.

The regiment’s final major operations occurred in 1713, when it participated in the sieges and capture of Landau and Freiburg.

The colours of Bugey Infanterie are particularly interesting because they recall the Savoyard history of the region from which the regiment took its name.

Drapeau d'Ordonnance

Over the centuries, the House of Savoy had expanded its territories through dynastic marriages, alliances and local conflicts, often at the expense of neighbouring regions such as Dauphiné and Genevois. By the beginning of the seventeenth century, the possessions of the House of Savoy included Piedmont, Savoy, Bresse, the Dombes, Bugey, the Marquisate of Saluzzo, the County of Nice and several other territories and lordships.

Drapeau Colonel

The loss of Bugey arose from the conflict between France and Savoy over the Marquisate of Saluzzo. Following the extinction of its ruling dynasty in 1548, the French Crown claimed sovereignty over the marquisate and eventually incorporated it into France. The Duke of Savoy opposed this arrangement because French control of Saluzzo separated Piedmont from the County of Nice and disrupted the territorial continuity of his possessions.

After negotiations failed, war broke out between France and Savoy in 1600. French forces rapidly occupied a large part of the Savoyard territories, including several fortresses and citadels. Under the Treaty of Lyon of 17 January 1601, the Duke of Savoy ceded to France the territories situated to the west of the Rhône, including Bresse, Bugey, Valromey and the Pays de Gex. In return, Savoy obtained full sovereignty over the Marquisate of Saluzzo.

Regiment Bugey - Private

As this was nevertheless a regiment of provincial origin, its drummers, like those of the other former Savoyard regiments, wore the royal livery.

Regiment Bugey - Drummer

Regiment Bugey - Officer