NapFlags: The Kingdom of Italy & Naples

 The Kingdom of Italy

In the year 1805 the former Republic of Italy was declared a kingdom with Napoleon as the self crowned King. There were five line infantry regiments and three light infantry regiments in existance in 1805 and by the end of that year a sixth line infantry regiment had been raised and in 1808 a seventh line infantry regiment was added. A fourth light infantry regiment was raised in 1811. In 1805 the line cavalry consisted of two regiments of dragoons and a regiment of cacciatori a cavallo ( light horse ). In 1808 a second regiment of light horse was raised and in 1810 a third and 1811 a fourth. In 1805 the Royal Guard consisted of two battalions of guard infantry the Granatieri and the Cacciatori - Carabinieri from 1810. A two battalion unit of 'middle guard' status was raised in 1806 and titled Velites, 1st battalion Granatieri, 2nd Cacciatori. In 1810 a two battalion 'young guard' regiment of guard conscripts was raised which was increased to four battalions in 1811. The Royal Guard cavalry consisted of two squadrons of dragoons and five companies of Guards of Honour. It appears that flags and standards were issued to all of these units at a rate of one per battalion or squadron. The Royal Guard infantry recieved their flags in 1806, but owing to Napoleon being displeased with some aspect of the proposed flags, issue to the line regiments did not take place until 1809. The flags and standards were carried below an eagle very similar in design to that of the French army. The flags for the light infantry were identical to those of the line infantry with the exception of the substitution of the word 'leggera' for 'di linea'. The Guard Velites did not carry flags. Infantry flags measured 80cm sq and cavalry standards 60cm sq, there is some evidence that the dragoon regiments carried a single infantry style flag in addition to the normal squadron standards as befits their dismounted role. In 1813 after the disaster in Russia new pattern flags and standards were issued to the reconstituted Italian army

Top to Bottom

Granatieri della Guardia left:1806 - Right: 1813

Cacciatori della Guardia left:1806 - Right: 1813

Next 7 rows Line e Light infantry - left:1806 - Right: 1813

The Kingdom of Naples

The size and compositon of the Neopolitan army changed drastically throughout the period 1806-1815. In 1806 there were a guards battalion, two line regiments and two light regiments all organised as for the French model. By 1815 there were three guards regiments, twelve line regiments and four light regiments. It would appear that only the battalions of the 1st through 4th line and the 1st and 2nd light regiments recieved the 1806 pattern standards. One of these flags was issued to each battalion, they measured 80 x 80 cm and were carried on black staves fitted with a brass ferrule and a plain iron spear-head shaped finial. I have also included a conjectural design for the Guard Grenadier unit standard as I have found no accurate information concerning such a flag but I feel that one must have existed.

In 1810-11 and thereafter new pattern standards were issued to all units, one per battalion. There were two basic patterns of standard, line and guard, all measuring 85 x 78 cm. The exceptions to this norm were the 6th line regiment standard which had a crimson field and the 5th line regiment standard ( captured by the Russians at Danzig ) which measured 150 x 130 cm. The 1811 pattern was carried on a stave painted with white and amaranth spirals and most regiments had a light blue cravat, with gold fringes and sometimes a diced border as on the flags, tied below the finial. The 5th Line had two cravats, green and violet: the 6th Line also had two cravats of white with gold fringes. Cords of gold were now used and the plain finial had been replaced by the prancing horse of Naples on the capital of a Corinthian column all in gilt.

1806 Pattern from top to bottom:

1st through 4th Line Regiments ( and Light )

Conjectural Guards Pattern.

1811 Pattern from top to bottom:

Line/Light Infantry Pattern.

6th Line Infantry Regiment.

Guard Infantry Pattern