Friday, April 8, 2022

PAPAL STATE 1848 2nd REGIMENT SWISS INFANTRY

After the riots occured in 1830-1831 in the Pontificial State, the Governnament, seen the very low level of national troops and their personal involvements it the liberal riots decided to go back to the past and enroll Swiss troops, considered as high professional and not involved in any national feeling and for this reason very liable.

The Regulation was issued in 1833 and the task to enroll the troops was given to two trustfull and catholic Swiss nobles that had to close single contract with every Swiss recruit (while in Bourbon State of Two Sicily were issued "capitolazioni" with sigle Swiss Cantons) for a period of 4 years.

The Swiss Troops - called "Fanteria Estera" were on 2 regiments (the first and the second) on 4.232 infantry and 171 artillerymen. They were enlisted for 4 years.

Each Swiss Regiment was on 2 battalions, each of 6 companies (1 voltigeurs, 1 granadiers and 4 fuciliers);

The uniform was a mix of French (mostly for Swiss troops) and Austrian (new tendence).

I did some futher researches and I was able to rebuild in details the sigle units:


GRENADIER COMPANY

Stato della Chiesa - 1848 
2nd Regiment - Grenadier

The Grenadiers company of the 1st and 2nd Regiment had red epaulettes as well as red tessel and pompon.




VOLTIGEUR (CACCIATORI) COMPANY

Stati della Chiesa - 1848 
2nd Regiment - Voltigeur/Cacciatore

The Voltigeurs company of the 1st and 2nd Regiment had green epaulettes as well as green tessel and frontal pompon.



FUCILIERI COMPANY

Stati della Chiesa - 1848 
2nd Regiment - Fuciliere

The Fucilieri company of the 1st and 2nd Regiment had blue epaulettes as well as blue tessel and frontal pompon.


The yellow lining was the same for all 3 types, as a colour of the Pope; the 2 regiments were distuiguished just by the number in the top of the rucksack; in this case I represented the 2nd Swiss Regiment.

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