Fanteria di Linea Italiana delle Guerre Napoleoniche, 1807–1814

1:72 Scale Units for Wargames e Dioramas

Regno d’Italia, 1o Reggimento Fanteria, based for Volley & Bayonet

The soldatini pictured here are from the 1^o Reggimento Fanteria, Regno d’Italia ca. 1812. I fucilieri sono soldatini di Italeri, painted straight from the box, without conversion. The line grenadier is un granatiere della vecchia Guardia francese di ESCI con his trousers painted over, to resemble the long gaiters worn by the other soldatini. Volteggiatori may be converted by mounting dei shakos degli fucilieri di linea sui soldatini dei granatieri della Guardia.

Soldatini Disponibili

Fanteria Francese, 1:72 Italeri 6002
Fucilieri Francesi, 1:72 ESCI P-227
Granatieri a piedi, 1:72 ESCI P-214
Granatieri a piedi, 1:72 Revell 02570

Struttura

Italian fanteria di linea was originally organized on the 1805-1807 pattern francese. I battaglioni di linea had nine companies, seven of fusiliers, ed one each of granatieri e volteggiatori. Company strength was set at 123 men each, but this was rarely achieved on campaign. Fanteria regiments consisted of due battaglioni di linea plus one depot battalion of quattro fusilier companies. In 1808, Italian fanteria di linea organisation changed to the pattern francese of 1807. Company strength remained unchanged, but the battaglioni di linea now had only quattro companies of fusiliers, ed one each of granatieri e volteggiatori. Jim Getz e Scott Bowden, authors of the popular Empire simulation game, rate Italian fanteria di linea as veteran troops in the 1810-1812 period, con granatieri e volteggiatori di linea one level above the fusiliers.

Fusiliers

In 1806, fanteria italiana di linea adopted the uniforme francese con pointed lapels, changing its uniform colour from green to white at the same time. Fusiliers continued to wear the bicorn until is was replaced by the shakò francese in 1807. Shakò cords were white, but they were not worn in the field after 1810. Cockades were green-red-white, e pompoms francese were worn to distinguish the companies fucilieri. Equipaggiamento was of typical pattern francese.

New flags similar to the 1804 pattern francese were authorized to replace the old republican flags, but they don’t seem to have been issued until 1808. Accordingly, from 1805-1808, Italian Fanteria di Linea may not have carried flags at all. The flags issued in 1808 had red e green corner triangles, ed a white center. Due types existed, one con Italian, e the other con standard devices francese like those issued to fanteria della Guardia italiana stationed in Francia at the time.

Italian fusiliers may be recruited by painting Italeri fucilieri francesi (No. 6002) in the correct colours. The new uniforme del 1812 pattern francese (habit-veste) was not introduced in the Italian army until 1813, e then only in small numbers. Italian troops marched into Russia in 1812 still wearing the older uniform e the long gaiters. In the course of the Russian campaign, the gaiters were made more comfortable by cutting them down to below the knee. They were worn above o below loose fitting trousers, then a popular fashion in most armies. It would be perfectly acceptable to employ the Italeri soldatini as Italian fusiliers in the period from 1807–1814. Italian fusiliers of 1806 may be created by mounting bicorno hats on these same soldatini. Another alternative would be to convert soldatini della vecchia Guardia francese di Revell to fanteria di linea Italiana in cappotto.

Granatieri

Granatieri were shock troops attached to the fanteria di linea battalion. The granatieri company deployed on the right of the line, o on the right flank of an attack column. Granatieri of several battaglioni in a brigade might be converged on occasion to form un battaglione d’élite for an assault o strongpoint defence. If Italeri fusiliers are used to form a battalion, the most compatible grenadier types will be the granatieri della Guardia vecchia francese di ESCI. These soldatini are obviously created by the same sculptor, e they mix very well.

I granatieri italiani di linea adopted the new uniforme bianca of cut francese con red epaulettes, e the bearskin bonnet in 1806. If Italeri fusiliers e ESCI granatieri are mixed, one obvious inconsistency will be that the latter already wear the short gaiters underneath loose trousers. This mixture of styles would be acceptable in the Russian campaign of 1812. If used prior to 1812, the easiest conversion would be to paint long gaiters over the trousers dei granatieri. The result looks very convincing, as can be seen in the picture above.

Volteggiatori

Volteggiatori were trained fanteria leggera attached to the line battalion as skirmishers. Volteggiatori italiani wore the same 1806 uniforme francese as the granatieri italiani, but con green epaulettes, ed a fusilier shakò instead of the bearskin bonnet. The conversion is very easy: Select the required grenadier pose, cut the grenadier’s head off above the collar, insert 0.3 mm piano wire into the figure’s neck, e mount a similarly cut fusilier shakò on the figure. The seam between the head e the figure may be disguised con PVA glue. i volteggiatori are probably the first soldatini to adopt the more comfortable short gaiters. For a more uniform look, paint long gaiters over the trousers as before.

Italian Fanteria di Linea Regimental Distinctions, 1806-1815
Regiment	Collar	Lapels	Cuffs	Cuff Flaps	Turnbacks	Buttons
1st	green piped white	red piped white		green piped white	red piped white	yellow
2nd	white piped red	red piped white	white piped red	red piped white	white piped red	yellow
3rd	red piped white					yellow
4th	red piped white	white piped green		green piped white	white piped green	white
5th	red piped white	green piped white		red piped white	white piped green	white
6th	white piped green	green piped white	white piped green	green piped white	white piped green	yellow
7th	green piped white	white piped green	red piped white	n.a.	white piped green	white
Fucilieri wore shakò con brass plates, white cords (until 1810), green-red-white cockades, e company pompoms francese (1st green, 2nd sky-blue, 3rd orange, 4th violet). Granatieri wore bearskin bonnets con brass plates, red plumes, e white cords (until 1810). Line fanteria uniform con red epaulettes, e white sabre straps. Volteggiatori wore shakò con brass plates, green plumes tipped yellow, e green cords. Line fanteria uniform con green epaulettes con yellow crescent, e green sabre straps. Drummers had uniforms con swallow’s nests in the facing colour, edged con green-white-red lace which was also worn on cuffs e collars. Ufficiali wore the same uniform as the men in their company, con silver epaulettes.

Utilizzo Storico

1806 - Prussia (1^o Reggimento Fanteria di Linea, Pietro Teulie’s Division)
1807 - Prussia (1^o e 4^o Reggimento Fanteria di Linea)
1808 - Spagna (4^o - 8^o Reggimento Fanteria di Linea)
1809 - Spagna (4^o - 8^o Reggimento Fanteria di Linea)
1809 - Austria (1^o - 4^o, e 7th Reggimento Fanteria di Linea)
1810 - Spagna (4^o - 8^o Reggimento Fanteria di Linea)
1811 - Spagna (4^o - 8^o Reggimento Fanteria di Linea)
1812 - Spagna (4^o - 8^o Reggimento Fanteria di Linea)
1812 - Russia (2^o e 3^o Reggimento Fanteria di Linea, 4 battaglioni each, IVth Corps)
1813 - Germania (1^o, e 4^o - 7^o Reggimento Fanteria di Linea, IVth Corps)
1813 - Defence of Italia contro l’Austria
1814 - Defence of Italia contro l’Austria, until Napoleon’s abdication
2 maggio 1815 – Battle of Tolentino

L’armata del Regno d’Italia served in most of the important campagne delle guerre napoleoniche, even if it was a relatively small contingent. Many more italiani served in the 30 fanteria francese e 16 reggimenti di cavalleria which were assigned recruiting districts in Italia. Giocatori Wargame e collezionisti will find the Italian army very attractive, because it includes a nice variety of Napoleonic troops types, ed it is not too large to complete in a lifetime. Most historic campaign require fewer than cinque reggimenti fanteria di linea, of which the 4th Reggimento Fanteria is the most actively involved unit.

Domande più frequenti

Per ulteriori informazioni, per favore contatta la redazione di Rivista Military Miniatures nel Miniatures Forum.

Soldatini Napoleonici

– Pubblicato: 1996 – Aggiornato: 31.05.1999
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