PAPAL ARMY - 1708 THE REGIMENT FALCONIERI

 At the beginning of 1708, a battalion was formed under the command of Don Federico Colonna, the senior Captain of the Guards. It consisted of several companies of the Guards and was accordingly known as the “Colonna Battalion.” In April 1708, the battalion was sent to Malta, as it was feared that the island might be attacked by the Ottomans. In July 1708, once the threat of an Ottoman attack had subsided, the battalion left Malta and returned to Rome, where it was disbanded that same month.

In the following month, August 1708, however, some of the knights who had returned from Malta formed the cadre of a new regiment. This unit was raised with “soldiers of the militia”—and therefore not with men from the Guards—by the Knight of the Order of Malta, Fra’ Chiarissimo Falconieri, brother of a cardinal.

The regiment was also known as the Reggimento Croce Bianca (Regiment White Cross) since all of its officers were Knights of Malta. It remained stationed in Rome throughout its existence and was disbanded in February 1709.

Precisely because of the regiment’s close connection with the Order of the Knights of Malta, all its soldiers, including the rank and file, wore a white embroidered Maltese Cross sewn onto the uniform on the right side.

Lieutenant-Colonel: Cav. Fra’ Secondo Felice Busca.

Sergeant-Major: Pietro Andrea Ducanet, later Cav. Fra’ Papirio Bussi (ad interim).

1708 - Regiment Falconieri aka Croce Bianca
(Copyright Michele L. SAVASTA FIORE)

Rgt Falconieri. Standard Bearer for Company Colour
(Copyright Michele L. SAVASTA FIORE)

The regiment was organised into 8 companies, each numbering around 60 men. The companies were as follows:

1708 Regiment Falconieri - Bandiera Colonnella
(Copyright Michele L. SAVASTA FIORE)

Rgt Falconieri. Drummer
(Copyright Michele L. SAVASTA FIORE)

Rgt Falconieri. Standard Bearer for Colonnella Colour
(Copyright Michele L. SAVASTA FIORE)

Rgt Falconieri. Officer
(Copyright Michele L. SAVASTA FIORE)