Sunday, April 22, 2018

Caballeria de Linea - Regimiento Algarve

    The Spanish Heavy Cavalry ("Line Cavalry"), like their infantry brethren, saw their uniforms undergo numerous changes in the earlier part of the Napoleonic Wars. in the late 1780's to 1790's, the regimnents wore coats in varied colors by regiment (dark blue, white, or scarlet) with regimental facing colors. In 1796, all regimnents changed to white coats with scarlet turnbacks and regimental facing colors. In 1800, the Cavalry of the Line wore dark blue coats with scarlet turnback and piping, buff breeches and waistcoats, pewter buttons, white lace on the beicornes, and scarlet saddle blankets edged in white. The regimental facing colors were as per the table below.



Spanish Line Cavalry, 1800 facing colors

Regiment
Collar
Cuffs
Lapels
Rey
Scarlet
Scarlet
Violet
Reina
Violet
Scarlet
Scarlet
Principe
Scarlet
Scarlet

Infante
White
Violet
White
Borbon
White
White
Scarlet
Farnesio
Scarlet
Scarlet
White
Alcantara
Green
Green
Green
Espana
Black
Black
Black
Algarve
Sky Blue
Sky Blue
Buff
Calatrava
Scarlet
White
Scarlet
Santiago
Crimson
Crimson
Crimson
Montessa
White
Buff
White
Carabineros
Sky Blue
Sky Blue
Sky Blue


In 1802, the  uniform changed yet again, now with all units dressed the same, namely dark blue coats with white lapels, crimson collars, cuffs,  and turnbacks, all of which were piped in white. The lapels were piped in crimson. The buttons were brass and the waistcoats yellow. The bicorns had a yellow lace edging. The pants were blue with a crimson stripe.

Still another change occurred in the uniforms of the Heavy Cavalry in 1805, with a return to regimental facings on the dark blue coats, and a return to buff breeches and waistcoats. The saddle blankets remained dark blue, with the piping on the shabraques and the lace edging on the bicorns being in the regimental button color (yellow or white).


Spanish Line Cavalry, 1805 facing colors


Regiment
Collar
Cuffs
Lapels
Piping
Turnbacks
Buttons
Rey
Scarlet
Scarlet
Scarlet
Scarlet
Scarlet
Brass
Reina
Sky Blue
Sky Blue
Sky Blue
Scarlet
Scarlet
Pewter
Principe
Scarlet
Scarlet
Scarlet
Scarlet
Scarlet
Brass
Infante
White
White
White
White
Scarlet
Brass
Borbon
Scarlet
Scarlet
Scarlet
Scarlet
Scarlet
Pewter
Farnesio
Scarlet
Scarlet
Scarlet
Buff
Scarlet
Pewter
Alcantara
Buff
Scarlet
Buff
Scarlet
Green
Pewter
Espana
Buff
Crimson*
Crimson*
Scarlet
Scarlet
Pewter
Algarve
Buff
Buff
Buff
Scarlet
Scarlet
Pewter
Calatrava
Scarlet
Sky Blue
Sky Blue
Scarlet
Scarlet
Pewter
Santiago
Crimson
Crimson
Crimson
Scarlet
Scarlet
Pewter
Montessa
Crimson*
Crimson*
White
Scarlet
Scarlet
Pewter

* = piping in the text color (buff or white).


This is the Algarve regiment of Line Cavalry; once again the trumpeter and standard bearer will be added soon.


Being a regiment with Pewter buttons, the lace on the bicorn and the trim on the shabraques is white, as opposed to the yellow seen previously with the Regimiento del Rey. 


These are once again Brigade Games figures, sculpts b y Paul Hicks. 


This shot shows the buff color of the collars better. Curiously, the Algarve is the Southernmost  region of Portugal, now days famous for its beaches. It was occupied by Spain from 1807 - 1808 as part of the joint invasion of Portugal with the French.


They look quite dapper astride their chestnut horses, eh?!

17 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Thank you, Jon. Just needs the command. Looks like they might or might not be available in the next 2 months, so I will probably use the Dragoons command set, there being minimal differences in the uniform aside from colors.

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  2. Lovely job once again Peter. You are painting units up like a dervish at present! Very impressive.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Carlo. I was on vacation this past week and painted up[ a storm; with what I finished (yet to be seen here), my Spaniards are now more than 90% completed.

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  3. Fantastic, great information and nice looking unit, thanks Peter!

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  4. Excellent info and excellent looking figures too.

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  5. Useful background, lovely looking bicorne wearing heavy cavalry!
    Best Iain

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  6. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  7. great, amazing statistics and fine looking unit, thanks Peter! do you know a new site "inditrip" has launched that gives News about India famous tourist places and mountains. do visit it friends

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  8. Nice additions and great infos!

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  9. Another great unit. After having looked forward to you embarking upon your Spanish for the past few years, it is hard to believe you are nearly 90% completed!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Laurence. Done but not yet posted are Garrochistas, Hussars, 2 more Militia infantry units, 24 Guerrillas, and some additional command, etc figures. Left to do are 9 assorted Brigade Games Cavalry when I order the requisite figures, and a unit of Light infantry in the later blue uniform with green plumes. That's it!

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