List of Regiments of the Army of the Kingdom of Naples (Napoleonic) facts for kids
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Coat of Arms of the Kingdom of Naples under Joachim Murat.
The Army of the Kingdom of Naples was a very large fighting force for its time. In 1815, it had almost 95,000 soldiers! This huge army was designed much like the famous French Grande Armée (Grand Army) of Napoleon. Even though its success in the Peninsular War was sometimes debated, the Neapolitan Army is remembered as one of the best-organized armies among the countries that were allied with Napoleon.
This article lists many of the different units that served in the Neapolitan Army under King Joachim Murat during the Napoleonic Wars. The units are grouped by their type, like Guard infantry or engineers. It's important to know that all units belonging to the Royal Guard had "della Guardia Reale" (which means 'of the Royal Guard' in Italian) added to their official name. This showed they were part of the King's special household guard.
Royal Guard
The Royal Guard was the elite part of the army, made up of the best soldiers.
Guard Infantry
In 1815, the Guard Infantry had 57 companies organized into 4 regiments (with 9 battalions in total). There were 8,135 men in this division.
| English Name | Italian Name | Formation Date | Disbanded | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regiment of Foot Grenadiers | Reggimento di Granatieri a Piedi | 11 July 1806 | 20 May 1815 | These were the King's personal guards, like the French Old Guard. |
| 1st Regiment of Vélités of Foot | 1° Reggimento di Veliti a Piedi | 15 July 1811 | May 1815 | Formed from the Vélité Hunters. |
| 2nd Regiment of Vélités of Foot | 2° Reggimento di Veliti a Piedi | 15 July 1811 | May 1815 | Formed from the old Guard Voltigeurs. |
| Regiment of Vélité-Hunters | Reggimento Veliti Cacciatori | 22 September 1808 | 15 July 1811 | Started as a small civic unit, then became a regiment. |
| Voltigeur Battalion | Battaglione Volteggiatori | 30 May 1806 | 15 July 1811 | Disbanded in 1811, then re-formed later. |
| Regiment of Voltigeurs | Reggimento di Volteggiatori | 29 September 1814 | May 1815 | Originally the 12th Infantry Regiment. |
| Company of Chosen Civilian Hunters | Compagnia Caccciatori Civici Scelti | 1806 | 22 September 1808 | A civilian unit that later joined the Guard. |
Guard Cavalry
These were the mounted soldiers of the Royal Guard.
| English Name | Italian Name | Formation Date | Disbanded | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regiment of Honour Guards | Reggimento delle Guardie d'Onore | 5 August 1809 | 10 March 1813 | Later renamed the Regiment of Life Guards. |
| Regiment of Life Guards | Reggimento Guardie del Corpo | 10 March 1813 | 28 July 1814 | Renamed back to Honour Guards, then mostly merged into Lancers. |
| Regiment of Lancers | Reggimento dei Lancieri | 1 October 1814 | May 1815 | Formed from squadrons meant for the Honour Guards. |
| Regiment of Cuirassiers | Reggimento Corazzieri | 18 March 1813 | May 1815 | |
| Regiment of Chevaulegers (1st) | Reggimento Cavalleggeri | 30 July 1806 | 10 July 1808 | An early cavalry regiment, later disbanded. |
| Regiment of Chevaulegers (2nd) | Reggimento Cavallegeri | 6 September 1808 | May 1815 | Not to be confused with the first Chevauleger regiment. |
| Regiment of Hussars | Reggimento Ussari | 11 April 1813 | May 1815 | Formed from the Mounted Velites. |
| Regiment of Mounted Velites | Reggimento Veliti a Cavallo | 22 September 1808 | 11 April 1813 | Started as a corps, not a regiment. |
| Company of Mounted Velites of Clary | Compagnia Veliti a Cavallo Clary | 22 November 1806 | September 1808 | Bodyguard for King Joseph Bonaparte's wife, Marie Julie Clary. |
| Selected Squadron of Gendarmerie | Squadrone Gendarmeria Scelta | 30 September 1806 | 18 March 1813 | Used for military police duties. |
Supporting Arms
These units helped the main fighting forces.
| English Name | Italian Name | Formation Date | Disbanded | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Halberdiers of Naples | Alabardieri Reali di Napoli | Palace guards for King Joseph Bonaparte. | ||
| Battalion of Veterans | Battaglione dei Veterani | 21 April 1809 | May 1815 | For older soldiers not fit for active combat. |
| Royal Guard Sailors Battalion | Battaglione Marinai | 30 September 1806 | 10 July 1808 | |
| Horse Artillery of the Royal Guard | Artiglieria a Cavallo della Guardia | 22 September 1809 | May 1815 | A large artillery unit. |
| Foot Artillery of the Royal Guard | Artiglieria a piedi della Guardia Reale | 30 September 1806 | 10 July 1809 | Later became two separate artillery regiments. |
| Artillery Train of the Royal Guard | Treno di Artiglieria (della Guardia Reale) | 30 September 1806 | May 1815 | Responsible for moving artillery. |
Cavalry of the Line
In 1813, the light cavalry units were changed to become line cavalry.
Light Cavalry
These were faster, more mobile cavalry units.
| English Name | Italian Name | Formation Date | Disbanded | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Regiment of Horse Hunters | 1° Cacciatori a Cavallo | 18 February 1806 | 10 March 1813 | Became the 1st Regiment of Chevaulegers. |
| 2nd Regiment of Horse Hunters | 2° Cacciatori a Cavallo | 4 June 1806 | 10 March 1813 | Became the 2nd Regiment of Chevaulegers. |
| English Name | Italian Name | Formation Date | Disbanded | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Regiment of Chevaulegers | 1° Reggimento Cavallegeri | 25 December 1810 | 10 March 1813 | Formed from the old 1st Horse Hunters. |
| 2nd Regiment of Chevaulegers | 2° Reggimento Cavallegeri | 10 March 1813 | May 1815 | Formed from the old 2nd Horse Hunters. |
| 3rd Regiment of Chevaulegers | 3° Reggimento Cavallegeri | 10 March 1813 | May 1815 | Formed from the old 1st Cavalry Regiment. |
| 4th Regiment of Chevaulegers | 4° Reggimento Cavallegeri | 7 July 1814 | 10 March 1813 | |
| Municipal Guard Squadron of Naples | Squadrone Guardia Municipale di Napoli | 26 September 1809 | 25 December 1810 |
Infantry of the Line
These were the main foot soldiers of the army.
Line Infantry
These regiments formed the backbone of the Neapolitan Army.
| English Name | Italian Name | Formation Date | Disbanded | Title (if any) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Regiment of the Line | 1° Reggimento di Linea | 13 June 1806 | 1811 | "del Re" | Formed during King Joseph's rule. |
| 2nd Regiment of the Line | 2° Reggimento di Linea | 13 June 1806 | 1811 | "della Regina" | Also formed during King Joseph's rule. |
| 3rd Regiment of the Line | 3° Reggimento di Linea | 10 March 1809 | May 1815 | "del Principe Real" | Created by King Murat. |
| 4th Regiment of the Line | 4° Reggimento di Linea | 27 August 1809 | May 1815 | "Real Sannita" | Also created by King Murat. |
| 5th Regiment of the Line | 5° Reggimento di Linea | 12 September 1809 | May 1815 | "Real Calabria" | The first regiment to get a special title. |
| 6th Regiment of the Line | 6° Reggimento di Linea | 10 December 1810 | May 1815 | "di Napoli" | |
| 7th Regiment of the Line | 7° Reggimento di Linea | 17 December 1810 | 1812 | "Real Africano" | Formed from a unit of soldiers from Saint-Domingue. |
| 8th Regiment of the Line | 8° Reggimento di Linea | 14 October 1811 | 1814 | "Principe Luciano" | Made up of Neapolitan battalions from Spain. |
| 9th Regiment of the Line | 9° Reggimento di Linea | 28 June 1813 | May 1815 | Formed from the "Provisional Regiment." | |
| 10th Regiment of the Line | 10° Reggimento di Linea | 8 March 1814 | May 1815 | ||
| 11th Regiment of the Line | 11° Reggimento di Linea | 3 May 1814 | May 1815 | ||
| 12th Regiment of the Line | 12° Reggimento di Linea | 29 June 1814 | 29 September 1814 | "della Marca" | Later joined the Royal Guard as the Voltiegeurs Regiment. |
| Neuchatel Battalion | Battaglione Neuchatel | 4 October 1808 | 19 May 1815 | Swiss mercenaries who joined the Neapolitan Army. | |
| MacDonald's Elite Regiment | Reggimento scelto MacDonald | 12 January 1813 | 10 June 1813 | Formed from elite companies of Neapolitan troops serving in Germany. |
Light Infantry
These infantry units were designed for faster movement and skirmishing.
| English Name | Italian Name | Formation Date | Disbanded | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Corsican Legion | Legione Real Corso | 30 June 1806 | 16 February 1813 | Transferred from French service. |
| 1st Light Infantry Regiment | 1° Reggimento Leggero | 16 February 1813 | May 1815 | Formed from the old Corsican regiment. |
| 2nd Light Infantry Regiment | 2° Reggimento Leggero | 16 February 1806 | May 1815 | Originally the 1st Light Regiment. |
| 3rd Light Infantry Regiment | 3° Reggimento Leggero | 16 February 1806 | May 1815 | Originally the 2nd Light Regiment. |
| 4th Light Infantry Regiment | 4° Reggimento Leggero | 20 February 1812 | May 1815 | Originally a temporary light infantry regiment. |
Reserve Units
In 1815, the Reserve Army had 91 companies, including various police and gendarmerie units. These units were often used for local defense or to support the main army when needed.
Provincial Infantry
These units were raised from specific provinces or districts.
| English Name | Italian Name | Formation Date | Disbanded | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Provincial (District) Chosen Companies | Compagnie Scelte Provinciali (Distrettuali) | 12 June 1812 | ||
| Provincial Battalions | Battaglioni Provinciali | 10 January 1815 | May 1815 | Formed for the Neapolitan War. |
| 1st Provincial Regiment of the Line | 1° Reggimento Provvisori di Linea | March 1815 | May 1815 | Formed for the Neapolitan War. |
| 2nd Provincial Regiment of the Line | 2° Reggimento Provvisori di Linea | March 1815 | May 1815 | Formed for the Neapolitan War. |
| 3rd Provincial Regiment of the Line | 3° Reggimento Provvisori di Linea | March 1815 | May 1815 | Formed for the Neapolitan War. |
| 4th Provincial Regiment of the Line | 4° Reggimento Provvisori di Linea | March 1815 | May 1815 | Formed for the Neapolitan War. |
| 5th Provincial Regiment of the Line | 5° Reggimento Provvisori di Linea | March 1815 | May 1815 | Formed for the Neapolitan War. |
Royal Gendarmerie
The Gendarmerie acted as military police and helped maintain order.
| English Name | Italian Name | Formation Date | Disbanded | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Legion (of Naples) | 1° Legione di Napoli | 3 March 1809 | 13 September 1816 | Expanded from an older unit. |
| 2nd Legion (of Bari) | 2° Legione di Bari | 3 March 1809 | 13 September 1816 | Expanded from older units. |
| 3rd Legion (of Salerno) | 3° Legione di Salerno | 3 March 1809 | 13 September 1816 | Expanded from an older unit. |
| Legion of Naples | Legione di Napoli | 5 January 1808 | 3 March 1809 | Formed by merging two older legions. |
| Calabrian Armiger Hunters | Armigeri Cacciatori Calabresi | 16 April 1807 | Formed to fight bandits and rebels in Calabria. | |
| Auxiliary Gendarmerie | Gendarmeria Ausiliaria | 23 November 1807 | Originally formed to fight bandits. | |
| Provincial Infantry Companies | Compagnie Provinciali di Fanteria | 4 May 1810 | ||
| Gendarmerie of the Royal Navy | Gendarmeria Reale di Marina | 30 March 1810 |
Provisional Units
These were temporary units formed for specific needs.
| English Name | Italian Name | Formation Date | Disbanded | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italian Volunteers Brigade | Brigata Volontari Italiani | April 1815 | May 1815 | Formed for the Neapolitan War. |
| Calabrian Free Corps | Corpo Francho Calabrese | September 1806 | April 1808 | Formed to fight bandits in Calabria. |
| Regiment of Veterans | Reggimento Veterani | 22 December 1806 | May 1815 | Originally a corps for older soldiers. |
| Selected Battalion of Italian Officers | Battaglione Scelto degli Ufficiali Italiani | April 1815 | May 1815 | Formed for the Neapolitan War from officers of the former Kingdom of Italy. |
Supporting Arms
These units provided specialized support to the army.
Artillery
Artillery units operated cannons and other large weapons.
| English Name | Italian Name | Formation Date | Disbanded | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Regiment of Foot Artillery | 1° Reggimento di Artiglieria a Piedi | December 1810 | May 1815 | Formed from the old Foot Artillery Regiment. |
| 2nd Regiment of Foot Artillery | 2° Reggimento di Artiglieria a Piedi | 5 January 1814 | May 1815 | Formed by expanding the 1st Foot Artillery. |
| Regiment of Foot Artillery | Reggimento Artiglieria a Piedi | 31 July 1806 | December 1810 | Formed by expanding older artillery companies. |
| Companies of Artillery | Compagnie d'Artiglieri | March 1806 | July 1806 | Expanded to form the new Regiment of Artillery. |
| English Name | Italian Name | Formation Date | Disbanded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Artillery Companies of Castelnuovo | |||
| 1st Artillery Company | 1° Compagnia Artiglieri | 11 March 1806 | May 1815 |
| 2nd Artillery Company | 2° Compagnia Artiglieri | 14 July 1813 | May 1815 |
| 1st Company of Gunsmiths | 1a Compagnia di Armaioli | 16 December 1808 | May 1815 |
| Artillery Companies of Castelnuovo | |||
| 2nd Company of Gunsmiths | 2a Compagnia di Armaioli | 30 October 1809 | May 1815 |
| 3rd Company of Gunsmiths | 3a Compagnia di Armaioli | 30 October 1809 | May 1815 |
| Coastal Artillery Companies | |||
| Gaeta Company | Compagnia di Artiglieria di Gaeta | 18 August 1807 | May 1815 |
| Baia Company | Compagnia di Artiglieria di Baia | 18 August 1807 | May 1815 |
| Pozzuoli Company | Compagnia di Artiglieria di Pozzuoli | 18 August 1807 | May 1815 |
| Castellammare Company | Compagnia di Artiglieria di Castellammare | 18 August 1807 | May 1815 |
| Sorrento Company | Compagnia di Artiglieria di Sorrento | 18 August 1807 | May 1815 |
| Salerno Company | Compagnia di Artiglieria di Salerno | 18 August 1807 | May 1815 |
| Calabrian Company | Compagnia di Artiglieria di Calabria | 18 August 1807 | May 1815 |
| Taranto Company | Compagnia di Artiglieria di Taranto | 18 August 1807 | May 1815 |
| Otranto Company | Compagnia di Artiglieria di Otranto | 18 August 1807 | May 1815 |
| Bari Company | Compagnia di Artiglieria di Bari | 18 August 1807 | May 1815 |
| Manfredonia Company | Compagnia di Artiglieria di Manfredonia | 18 August 1807 | May 1815 |
| Pescara Company | Compagnia di Artiglieria diP escara | 18 August 1807 | May 1815 |
Artillery Train & Supply
These units were responsible for transporting artillery and supplies.
| English Name | Italian Name | Formation Date | Disbanded | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Artillery Train Regiment | Reggimento del Treno d'Artiglieria | 26 May 1814 | May 1815 | Formed by merging two battalions. |
| 1st Battalion of the Artillery Train | 1° Battaglione del Treno d'Artiglieria | 30 July 1807 | 26 May 1814 | Formed by expanding artillery train companies. |
| 2nd Battalion of the Artillery Train | 2° Battaglione del Treno d'Artiglieria | 2 December 1813 | 26 May 1814 | |
| Companies of the Artillery Train | Compagnia del Treno d'Artiglieria | 7 October 1806 | 30 July 1807 | Expanded to form the 1st Artillery Train Battalion. |
| Company of Military Equipment | Compagnia di Equipaggi Militari | 21 May 1813 | 2 December 1813 |
Engineers & Miners
Engineers built and destroyed fortifications, while miners dug tunnels.
| English Name | Italian Name | Formation Date | Disbanded | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regiment of Sappers and Miners | Reggimento Zappatori e Minatori | 26 May 1814 | May 1815 | Formed by merging two battalions. |
| 1st Battalion of Sappers and Miners | 1° Battaglione Zappatori e Minatori | 21 April 1809 | 26 May 1814 | Formed by expanding sappers and miners companies. |
| 2nd Battalion of Sappers and Miners | 2° Battaglione Zappatori e Minatori | 2 April 1814 | 26 May 1814 | |
| Sappers and Miners Companies (6 coys) | Compagnia Minatori e Zappatori | 25 July 1806 | 21 April 1809 | Expanded to form the 1st Battalion. |
| 7th Company of Sappers | 7° Compagnia Zappatori | 25 December 1810 | 1814 | Formed for service in Corfu, French Ionian Islands. |
Internal Security Guard
These units helped keep peace and order within the country.
| English Name | Italian Name | Formation Date | Disbanded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civic Guard of Naples | Guardia Civica di Napoli | 15 July 1806 | 8 November 1808 |
| Selected Volunteers of the City of Naples | Volontari Scelti della Città di Napoli | 16 June 1809 | 31 July 1809 |
| Home Security Guard | Guardia d'Interna Sicurezza | 18 March 1813 | May 1815 |
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