SIEGE OF TURIN 1706 - FRENCH REGIMENT LA FARE - SOUSTELLE

The regiment was raised on 7 May 1702 by Charles-Auguste, Comte de La Fare-Soustelle, who remained its colonel until its disbandment on 7 October 1714.

Its first recorded service during the War of the Spanish Succession came in 1703, when it was employed against the Camisard insurgents in the Cévennes. Two years later, in 1705, the regiment took part in the conquest of Savoy.

In the following year, it was sent to Piedmont and participated in the Siege of Turin from May to September 1706. On 7 September, it also fought in the disastrous Battle of Turin, which ended in a crushing defeat for the Franco-Spanish army.

In 1707, the regiment was stationed in Guyenne. From 1708 to 1711, it served with the Army of Dauphiné, remaining deployed on the south-eastern frontier of France.

In 1712, the regiment was transferred to Flanders. On 24 July, it was present at the Battle of Denain, although it was not directly engaged in the fighting. It subsequently took part in the Siege of Douai during August and September, and was later present at the Siege of Le Quesnoy. In October, it also participated in the Siege of Bouchain.

The regiment continued in service until 7 October 1714, when it was finally disbanded. 

Drapeau d'Ordonnance

Regiment La Fare Soustelle.
(NB: the vest of privates was grey/white and not red like NCO and Officers)

Regiment La Fare Soustelle - Officer

For the first time, I am beginning to depict an NCO of this regiment. All the others will be published in the book I intend to write.

Regiment La Fare Soustelle - NCO

Regiment La Fare - Soustelle. Drummer

Drapeau Colonel

Starting with this regiment, and thanks to the discovery of an old map, I have been able to identify its exact position within the siege lines and determine precisely where it was stationed.

After identifying the unit’s exact position on the original 1706 map, I then plotted it onto my own map (below).

Exact position of the Rgt. La Fare Soustelle during the siege

The unit was positioned near the Ospedale Maggiore, which served as the main reception centre for all Franco-Spanish soldiers wounded during the siege. Its proximity to the hospital, together with the small number of men composing the battalion, suggests that it was assigned to protect the hospital and provide services for its patients, at least during the initial phase of the siege.