WAR OF SPANISH SUCCESSION: ARMY OF THE DUCHY OF MANTUA - REGIMENT BELTRAMBI

The second regiment of the Duchy of Mantua that took part in the Siege of Turin and, in a more secondary role, in the Battle of Turin itself (as it was not deployed in the front line but rather assigned to the defence of the lines of contravallation) was the Beltrambi Regiment.

According to the limited uniformological evidence collected so far, this regiment also wore yellow facings, like the more prestigious Regiment des Gardes du Duc de Mantoue, together with a grey coat made of a less expensive cloth than that used by the Guards. The regiment also wore grey breeches, thereby distinguishing itself from the Guards.

The proprietor-colonel belonged to the Beltrambi family, Counts of Castelrocchero, an Astigian-Monferrine noble house from a territory then subject to the Duchy of Mantua.

The partial information concerning their coat of arms was discovered in the heraldic compilation Armoriale delle Famiglie Italiane, although the entry is incomplete. Nevertheless, by applying the established principles of heraldic blazonry, it has been possible to reconstruct the arms. The reconstruction presented here is believed to be the first example ever published on the Internet.

This coat of arms has been incorporated into a flag, with the colours of Monferrato, the cross typical of the French regiments, and the coat of arms of the Beltrambi family. It must be considered that this family - like many others in the Province of Asti -  originated from a lineage of merchants who were later ennobled, as frequently occurred among the Asti nobility (the Roero family being a notable example). Consequently, owning a proprietary regiment represented a source of immense prestige within the Monferrato.

Although this territory was formally subject to the House of Gonzaga, it regarded itself as a genuinely autonomous entity with a strong sense of its own identity and traditions. For this reason, the regimental colour adopts the traditional colours of Monferrato.

Furthermore, the decorative elements featured on the ordonnance flag of the Gardes du Duc de Mantoue Regiment have been deliberately omitted, as it is unlikely that what may be described as a second-line regiment could have afforded flags of such elaborate workmanship. The central shield incorporates several decorative and heraldic motifs characteristic of the Monferrato region during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

The Colonel's like the reverse side of the Guardes but on both sides

Drapeau Colonel 

Regiment Beltrambi

The regiment took part in the Southern Piedmont campaign of 1705–1706. During the summer of 1706, it was employed to counter the incursions of the Duke of Savoy in the Luserna Valley, after which it was transferred to garrison duty, first at Avigliana and subsequently at Pinerolo, where the 1st Company was stationed.

The 2nd Company was detached to garrison the Fort of Bard, where it surrendered to the Imperial forces on 22 September 1706.

The regiment nevertheless took part in the Siege and Battle of Turin, albeit with these two companies absent—the 1st and 2nd Companies—and therefore fielded ten companies of fusiliers and one company of grenadiers. During the battle, it was deployed in the defence of the French lines of contravallation.