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