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| The uniform also included a blue waistcoat with pewter buttons and white woollen buttonholes. These details cannot be seen in this illustration, just as they would normally have remained concealed on the battlefield, where the soldier’s coat was kept closed and prevented the waistcoat underneath from being visible. |
During the War of the Spanish Succession, the regiment was successively commanded by Louis d’Ornaison, Comte de Chamarande, from 20 March 1693; N. d’Ornaison, Marquis de Buzançois, from 29 January 1702; Louis-Pierre-Maximilien de Sully, Duc de Béthune, from 27 October 1706; and Daniel-François de Gelas de Voisins de Lautrec, Chevalier d’Ambres, from 28 April 1711 until 21 August 1734. When the regiment returned to France in 1715, it absorbed the surviving men of the disbanded Eppeville Infanterie.
In mid-February 1701, the regiment’s three battalions were sent to the Spanish Netherlands, where they occupied Luxembourg in the name of Philip V, the new king of Spain. By 20 July, the regiment had joined the army commanded by the Maréchal de Villeroy. In October it was stationed in Upper Gelderland, and by December its battalions were quartered at Roermond, Weert and Stockem.
On 8 June 1702, the regiment left these positions and marched to join the Army of Germany. In September it departed from Strasbourg with Villars and advanced towards Huningue. On 14 October, it fought at the Battle of Friedlingen, where its brigade formed part of the first line alongside the Champagne and Bourbonnais brigades. After the battle, the regiment took up its winter quarters at Bitche and Homburg.
In February and March 1703, the regiment participated in the siege and capture of Kehl. On 4 March, it took part in the assault on the covered way of the hornwork, during which Captain Lescarmoussier and Lieutenant Chevalier were killed. The regiment subsequently contributed to the attack on the Lines of Stollhofen and followed Villars through the Black Forest into Bavaria. During this advance it fought in the Hornberg Valley and at Munderkirchen. On 20 September, it distinguished itself in the victorious Battle of Höchstädt, after which it took part in the occupation of Kempten, Augsburg and Ulm.
In 1704, the regiment served with Marsin’s Corps in Bavaria. On 13 August, it was engaged in the disastrous Battle of Blenheim. Following the defeat, it withdrew towards the Rhine and spent the winter at Strasbourg. Earlier that year, a detachment had also been sent to defend the Alpine passes in Provence. In June, the company commanded by Captain de Lème held the Castle of Cuébris for seven days .
In 1705, the regiment initially served on the Moselle under Villars. On 17 August, it left the region and began the march towards Italy.
The following year, the regiment took part in the siege of Turin. On 22 June 1706, its grenadiers successfully repelled a sortie by the defenders. On 16 July, however, its colonel, the Marquis de Buzançois, was killed in action. After the disastrous conclusion of the siege, the regiment withdrew from Italy and returned to France. Its 779 surviving officers and men subsequently rejoined Villars in Alsace.
Considering that the regiment was present at Turin with three battalions, amounting to approximately 1,500–1,800 men, the fact that it returned after the defeat with only 779 soldiers—roughly half of its original strength—clearly shows how heavily it had been employed during the siege and how severe its losses must have been.
The fact that its grenadiers repelled a sortie on 16 June, and that its colonel was killed in action on 16 July, suggests that the unit remained continuously engaged in the front line for at least a month, and possibly longer. It was therefore most likely deployed in an advanced position, as indicated in the image.
Details:
In 1707, the regiment participated in the various operations conducted by Villars. It took part in the capture of the Lines of Stollhofen and in the occupation of Ettlingen, Pforzheim, Winhing and Schorndorf.
In 1708, the regiment was transferred to the Army of Flanders. On 11 July, it fought at the Battle of Oudenarde. During the subsequent siege of Lille, it remained in the camp at Meldert under the command of the Marquis d’Hautefort.
In 1709, the regiment served under the Comte d’Albergotti. On 11 September, it fought with great determination at the Battle of Malplaquet. It took part in Villars’ celebrated charge against the British troops holding the Sart Woods. During this action Villars was wounded in the knee, while the regiment’s colonel was also wounded.
The regiment continued to serve in Flanders throughout 1710 and 1711.
In 1712, after the French victory at Denain on 24 July, the regiment’s brigade was among the six brigades sent under the Maréchal de Montesquiou to seize Marchiennes. The regiment also distinguished itself in the capture of the Fort de Scarpe during the siege of Douai and later participated in the siege of Le Quesnoy.
In 1713, the regiment joined the Army of the Rhine. It took part in the siege and recapture of Landau, in the defeat of General Vaubonne near Freiburg and in the subsequent siege of Freiburg itself. On 2 October, a force of 400 defenders launched a sortie against the left of the French trenches. The regiment quickly took position along the line and delivered a devastating volley, bringing the attack to a halt. When the defenders rallied and renewed their advance, a second volley fired at point-blank range forced them to retreat rapidly towards the covered way.
In 1714, the regiment was sent to Spain, where the Catalans still refused to lay down their arms. It took part in the siege of Barcelona and, on 11 September, formed the head of one of the four assault columns that stormed the city.
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| Drapeau d'Ordonnance |
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| Drapeau d'Ordonnance |
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| Drapeau Colonel |
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