WSS - THE ARMY OF THE DUCHY OF PARMA AND PIACENZA: THE PARMA REGIMENT

The two regular Infantry regiments, Parma and Piacenza (see my previous post) which were otherwise entirely similar, were in fact distinguished by their buttons: silver or gold. Indeed, the details concerning everything else are very precise and derived from reliable sources. I therefore had to proceed — as usual — with my own uniformological investigations. And sometimes I do not understand myself. Merely to clarify this minimal detail, I bought the splendid publication L'Esercito del Ducato di Parma e Piacenza - Le Truppe dei Primi Borbone - 1732-1736 / 1748-1802, published by Casa Editrice Alessandro Farnese, Author Mario Zannoni (a real "must to buy book") in the hope of finding information that might resolve the issue.

In fact, still bearing in mind that military tradition tends to preserve such details, in this publication I identified a painting from the State Archives of Parma in which the two regiments (Parma and Piacenza) are depicted in 1763. 

Left Parma Regiment. Right Piacenza Regiment

Now, although one of them had changed the colour of its uniform, what is striking is that the regiments had retained their distinctive metal colours: Parma in silver and Piacenza in gold. From this it was easy to determine the metal colours of these two regiments, correcting one of my earlier mistakes and producing the regiments correctly.

Duchy of Parma and Piacenza 1705. The Parma Regiment
Copyright Michele SAVASTA FIORE

WSS - THE ARMY OF THE DUCHY OF PARMA AND PIACENZA: THE PIACENZA REGIMENT

It may seem surprising, but there are quite a few historical sources concerning this army and its uniforms, making it possible to reconstruct what it was actually like during the War of the Spanish Succession (WSS).

On the other hand, it must be emphasised that this army, unlike that of the House of Este, was never engaged in combat, as the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza remained within the French sphere of influence and under the protection of the Papacy.

Ultimately, the consequences for the fortunes of the ruling dynasty were decidedly unfavourable. 

Duchy of Parma 1705 - Regiment Piacenza
Copyright Michele SAVASTA FIORE

This regiment, together with its sister unit, the Parma Regiment, was raised in 1701 in response to the emerging threats of war (see next post for details on this topic). 

In 1704, each company consisted of 3 officers, 3 sergeants, 4 corporals, 1 "under-corporal", 4 grenadiers, 2 drummers and 70 soldiers.The regiment was progressively reduced from 14 companies to 7, and eventually to just 5, its strength declining from approximately 1,200 men to only about 425.

Its duties consisted almost exclusively of garrisoning the two fortified cities of Parma and Piacenza, with the exception of a minor skirmish with troops from the Duchy of Modena and Reggio.

1848 - BATTLE OF SANTA LUCIA: THE 5th RADEZTKY HUSSAR REGIMENT

 A brief return to my passion for paper soldiers: this time, the charge of the 5th Radetzky Hussar Regiment at the Battle of Santa Lucia (1848), during the First Italian War of Independence. (With improved details.)

BATTLE OF TURIN 1706: THE GENERAL BERNHARD OTTO VON REHBINGER (1662 - 1742)

For quite some time, I had in my collection an old drawing depicting a senior officer who took part in the Battle of Turin on 7 September 1706. I felt that the time had finally come to do justice to this historical figure, transforming the original drawing into a more detailed and evocative illustration while preserving the distinctive appearance of a senior officer of the early eighteenth century.

The officer I have chosen to depict is General Bernhard Otto von Rehbinder (1662–1742), a distinguished military commander whose career spanned several decades and whose name became closely associated with the Savoyard army.

Born on 21 November 1662 in Reval (present-day Tallinn, Estonia), then part of the Swedish Empire, Rehbinder belonged to an old Baltic German noble family of Lutheran faith. He embarked upon a military career at an early age, initially serving in the Swedish army and subsequently gaining experience in the military service of other European powers.

During the War of the Spanish Succession, he distinguished himself as an experienced and capable commander. At the Battle of Turin on 7 September 1706, he commanded the centre of the Allied army, including Palatine and Imperial troops. His leadership proved particularly valuable during the assault on the Franco-Spanish defensive positions. Contemporary accounts describe his determined conduct and the repeated attacks carried out by his troops against the enemy entrenchments. His courage, tactical judgement and composure earned him the admiration of Duke Victor Amadeus II of Savoy, who subsequently secured his services.

Rehbinder continued to distinguish himself in the following campaigns, taking part in the expedition into Provence and the siege of Toulon in 1707. He later held important military appointments in the Savoyard army, eventually rising to the highest ranks of the kingdom's military establishment. In 1711, his name became associated with a newly raised German infantry regiment in Savoyard service, the Rehbinder Regiment, which would continue its military history long after the conclusion of the War of the Spanish Succession. He was subsequently appointed Governor of Pinerolo and rose to the rank of Field Marshal in the service of the House of Savoy. Rehbinder died in Turin on 12 November 1742, after a long and distinguished military career.

Through this illustration, I have attempted to bring back to life one of the less frequently portrayed commanders of the 1706 campaign. 

General Bernahard Otto von Rehbinder (1662 - 1742), as Gouvernor of Pinerolo
Copyright Michele SAVASTA FIORE

THE MAP OF MASSAUA IN 1888. A UNIQUE GEM

I have finally received this 1937 book, which traces the development of cartography in Italian East Africa, starting from its very beginnings, namely 1885. It contains many maps, and I thought I would share one as a little gift as better expalined furhter.

This book is a truly unique work, providing access to the military maps used by the Regio Esercito throughout its campaigns from 1885 onwards.

In fact, topographical surveys in Eritrea began almost immediately after the occupation of Massawa in 1885. The need for an accurate survey of the small island on which the town stood, as well as the adjoining coastal terrain, prompted the Istituto Geografico Militare (Italian Military Geographical Institute) to dispatch Lieutenant Lavallea as early as 1885 to carry out the necessary topographical work at a scale of 1:10,000.

The survey was based on a small measured baseline and a graphical triangulation derived from it. The area surveyed included the islands of Massawa and Taulud, together with the adjacent coastline.

In 1888, Lieutenant Lavallea himself used this original survey to produce a revised map of the area at a scale of 1:25,000, incorporating the first construction works undertaken by the Italian colonial authorities.

It was from this pioneering cartographic work that the map reproduced here originated. I have now brought it to life in colour, revealing the extraordinary detail of the area as it appeared during the earliest years of the Italian presence in Eritrea.

I wanted to share this little historical gem with all of you through my blog: a rare and, I would venture to say, truly unique piece of military cartographic history.

Copyright Michele SAVASTA FIORE

Here at bigger size to have a full vision of the details.

I have also the Assab's map, original dating 1885, that will be reproduced in my booklet.

ITALIAN COLONIAL CAMPAIGNS 1885 - 1887

The Italian colonial adventure began not at Massawa (Massaua in Italian), but in the small village of Assab, much further to the south. Initially, it was intended simply to serve as a coaling station for Italian ships passing through the Red Sea following the opening of the Suez Canal.

This remarkably detailed map once again reflects the almost obsessive attention to detail characteristic of the Royal Italian Army, whose officer corps, including its senior officers, was still overwhelmingly of Piedmontese origin. This background was reflected in a meticulous approach to surveying and cartography, with virtually every geographical feature carefully recorded.

Assab territories 1880

Copyright Michele SAVASTA FIORE

Of particular interest are the three short exploratory expeditions undertaken to gain a better understanding of the surrounding territory. The map even identifies areas inhabited by ostriches and others where white antelopes could be found.

Rubattino's Farm may be regarded as the very first Italian colonial settlement of all. 

BATTLE OF DOGALI 1887. THE MAP OF MASSAWA (MASSAUA) IN 1885

My booklet on the Battle of Dogali (1887) is gradually taking shape, alongside the other booklets I am preparing on the War of the Spanish Succession (WSS).

For the first time in my work on historical military cartography, I have used contemporary maps to reconstruct a detailed map of the city of Massawa (Massaua in Italian) and its various fortifications as they stood in 1885. To the best of my knowledge, no other maps of the area exist that are either as detailed or as extensive in their geographical coverage.

My next step will be to identify the landing sites and trace the occupation of the various forts and outposts, although the complete collection of maps will eventually be included in the booklet itself. I hope this work will be appreciated.

It is also interesting, particularly for my British friends, to understand how Italy's intervention in this region was, in effect, partly motivated by a desire to assist the British Empire, which was then facing serious difficulties in Sudan. In doing so, Italy acted in a spirit of European solidarity avant la lettre. Indeed, after some initial hesitation, the British themselves came to look favourably upon Italy's colonial venture in Abyssinia. 

Map of Massawa/Massaua and Environs in 1885
Copyright Michele SAVASTA FIORE