Spanish uniforms of the Napoleonic Wars facts for kids

The Napoleonic Wars were a series of big conflicts that happened from 1803 to 1815. During this time, Spain was one of many countries that fought against the growing power of the French Empire, led by Napoleon I. Ordinary people in Spain became guerrillas. They used surprise attacks to stop the French soldiers from getting supplies or moving safely.

Spanish Army Uniforms

During the Napoleonic Wars, the uniforms of the Spanish army changed many times. This happened for several reasons. Sometimes, new official uniform designs were introduced. Other times, uniforms came from Britain as supplies, or they were made locally. Soldiers even wore uniforms they captured from the enemy!

Line Infantry Uniforms

The Line Infantry were the main foot soldiers. Their uniforms changed quite a bit:

• M1797 Uniform: This uniform was usually white. It had collars, cuffs, and other parts (called "facings") in different colors. These colors and patterns helped tell different regiments apart. Some regiments were still wearing this uniform in May 1808.
• M1802 Uniform: This uniform was dark blue. It had black facings with red edges and red turn-backs (the folded-back parts of the jacket). Soldiers wore white trousers and hats called bicorns with red feathers. Regiments were identified by buttons with their symbols or numbers. Many regiments still used this uniform in May 1808.
• M1805 Uniform: This design brought back the white jacket. It also used colored facings again to show different regiments. The colors on the cuffs, collars, and facings, along with silver or brass buttons, helped identify each group. The turn-backs on the jackets were always the facing color.

Examples of Line Infantry Uniforms

Here are a few examples of how different regiments looked:

• 1st Regiment, Rey: They used the M1802 dark blue uniform. If they had received the M1805, it would have been white with purple collars, cuffs, and lapels, and brass buttons.
• 3rd Regiment, Principe: They wore the M1805 uniform. It was white with purple lapels and cuffs, and white collars with purple edges. They had brass buttons.
• 23rd Regiment, Fijo de Ceuta: This regiment was still using the older M1797 uniform in May 1808. It had green lapels, turn-backs, and cuffs, with a cream-colored collar and brass buttons.
• 30th Regiment, Jaen: They wore the M1805 uniform. It had dark blue cuffs and collars with white edges, and white lapels with dark blue edges. They used white metal buttons.

Foreign Regiments in Spanish Service

Spain also had regiments made up of soldiers from other countries, like Ireland and Switzerland. Their uniforms were often a bit different.

Irish Regiments

• 36th Regiment, Irlanda: These soldiers wore sky blue jackets with yellow collars and lapels. Their cuffs and turn-backs were also yellow. They had brass buttons and white trousers.
• 37th Regiment, Hibernia: Their jackets were sky blue, with sky blue collars edged in yellow. They had yellow lapels, cuffs, and turn-backs, and used white metal buttons. They also wore white trousers.

Swiss Regiments

Swiss regiments had their own uniform styles, including M1796 and M1805 uniforms. One example was the 3rd Swiss Regiment, Reding Jnr.

Light Infantry Regiments

Light Infantry soldiers, called Cazadores, were faster and more flexible than line infantry. Their uniforms also changed:

• Early Cazadores: They first wore black bicorn hats, green jackets, and red lapels and cuffs.
• M1800 Uniform: This changed to a dark blue jacket with red facings.
• M1802 Uniform: This uniform was inspired by the hussar style. It featured a green jacket with yellow trim and red collars and cuffs. They wore a special leather and brass hat called a Suhr instead of a bicorn.
• M1805 Uniform: This design brought back the bicorn hat. The jacket color changed to dark blue, and the facing colors and button types varied by regiment.
• 1808 Changes: Some regiments started using French-style shakos (tall, cylindrical hats).

Examples of Light Infantry Uniforms

• 1st Regiment, Aragón: They had red collars, cuffs, and lapels with white edges. They also had red turn-backs and red pocket piping, with white metal buttons.
• 1st Regiment, Cataluña: Their uniforms featured yellow collars, cuffs, and lapels with white edges. They had yellow turn-backs and pocket piping, with brass buttons.

Heavy Cavalry Regiments

Heavy Cavalry soldiers rode large horses and were used for powerful charges.

M1802 Uniforms

All heavy cavalry regiments received the same uniform, but it wasn't very popular.

• They wore bicorn hats with yellow edges and red feathers.
• Their coats were dark blue with white lapels edged in red.
• Collars, cuffs, and turn-backs were crimson, with blue cuff flaps edged in red.
• They had yellow lion symbols on their collars.
• Their waistcoats and trousers were a lemon color, but this color faded quickly in the sun.
• They used brass buttons, long boots, and blue breeches reinforced with leather.
• Horses had blue saddlecloths with yellow lacing.

M1805 Uniforms Issued

The M1805 uniforms for heavy cavalry varied more by regiment:

• 1st Regiment, Rey: Red collars, cuffs, and lapels with yellow edges. Red pocket piping and yellow buttonholes with brass buttons.
• 2nd Regiment, Reina: Sky blue collars, cuffs, and lapels with red edges. Red pocket piping and white buttonholes with white metal buttons.
• 7th Regiment, Alcántara: Red collars and cuffs with green edges. Green lapels with white edges. Green pocket piping with white metal buttons.

Dragoon Regiments

Dragoons were soldiers who could fight both on horseback and on foot.

Changes of 1803

In 1803, all eight Spanish dragoon regiments were changed into light cavalry. Six became Cazadores a Caballo, and two (Numancia and Lusitania) became Hussars. However, they were converted back to Dragoons in 1805.

M1805 Uniforms

When they became Dragoons again in 1805, their uniforms were:

• They wore bicorn hats with white edges and red feathers.
• The main jacket color was dark blue, but the collars, cuffs, and lapels varied by regiment.

Examples of Dragoon Uniforms

• 1st Regiment, Rey: Crimson collars, cuffs, and lapels with white edges. Crimson pocket piping with white metal buttons.
• 2nd Regiment, Reina: Scarlet collars, cuffs, and lapels with white edges. Scarlet pocket piping with white metal buttons.
• 7th Regiment, Numancia: Black collars, cuffs, and lapels with white edges. Black pocket piping with white metal buttons.

Hussar Regiments

Hussars were light cavalry known for their flashy uniforms and daring tactics.

Changes of 1803

In 1803, the 7th Numancia and 8th Lusitania dragoon regiments were changed into hussars. Other hussar regiments also existed.

• 1st Húsares de Numancia (1803): This regiment was changed back to dragoons in 1805.
• 2nd Húsares de Lusitania (1803): This regiment was also changed back to dragoons in 1805.
• 3rd Húsares de Olivenza (1803): This regiment was changed back to Cazadores a Caballo in 1805.

Guard Cavalry Regiments

These were elite cavalry units responsible for protecting important people or places.