Peninsular War: Spanish Cavalry Painting Guide
Covers the Spanish Cavalry of the Peninsular War:
Line Cavalry / Heavy Cavalry
In 1806 the Spanish Line Cavalry exchanged their long skirted white coat for a dark blue coat with red turnbacks (Rafferty, 1992). Officially they wore the 1806 regulation uniform throughout the Peninsular War (1808-14). Rafferty (1992), Funcken (1973), Haythornthwaite (1995) and Sapherson (1991) largely agree about the uniform.
| Item | Description |
|
Headgear |
Black Bicorn |
| Decoration |
Regimental hat lace Red Cockade * White loop |
| Fatigue Cap | |
|
Decoration |
|
| Jacket | Dark blue Long tailed coat |
|
Facings: |
Regimental |
|
Piping: |
Regimental |
|
Collar Piping |
Regimental |
|
Collar decoration |
Regimental Rampant lion |
| Cuff Flap | - |
| Cuff decoration | Regimental Three fleurs-de-lys |
|
Turnbacks |
Red |
| Other Ranks Shoulders | Dark blue straps |
| Officer Shoulders | Silver epaulettes |
|
Buttons |
Regimental |
| Waistcoat | Buff |
|
Trousers |
Buff |
| Boots (or shoes+gaiters) | Black |
| Straps and belts | White |
| Sword Sheath | White metal |
| Cartridge Box | - |
| Musician | ?? |
| Shabraques |
Dark blue Regimental edging |
| Horse harness | Black |
* The trooper from Rey illustrated in Funcken (1973) also has a red plume. In contrast, the trooper from Reina in Haythornthwaite (1995) doesn't have a plume, and neither Sapherson (1991) nor Rafferty (1991) mention a plume.
Rafferty (1992), Funcken (1973), Haythornthwaite (1995). and Sapherson (1991) agree on the regimental differences, although:
- Funcken occasionally uses the term "Jonquil" instead of "yellow".
- Haythornthwaite and Sapherson both call the forth regiment "Infante" but Rafferty and Funcken calls it "Infanta".
- Sapherson gives the Numancia regiment a Red collar but Funcken says Black.
- Sapherson gives the Voluntarios de Espana a Dark brown doman but Haythornthwaite says Light Green.
| Regiment | Lapel | Cuff | Collar | Piping: Lapel, Collar, Cuff | Decoration: Lapel, Collar | Pocket Piping |
Buttons, Hat-lace, Shabraques edging |
Lace loops on Lapels |
| Rey | red | red | red | white | white | red | yellow | Yellow |
| Reina | sky blue | sky blue | sky blue | red | white | red | white | White |
| Principe | red | red | red | white | white | red | white | White |
| Infante/Infanta | white | white | white | yellow | yellow | white | yellow | Yellow |
| Borbon | red | red | red | white | white | red | white | - |
| Farnesio | red | red | red | yellow/Jonquil | white | yellow/Jonquil | white | - |
| Alcantara | Green | red | red | green | white | red | white | - |
| España | crimson | crimson | yellow/Jonquil | crimson | white | red | white | - |
| Algarve | yellow/Jonquil | yellow/Jonquil | yellow/Jonquil | yellow/Jonquil | white | red | white | - |
| Calatrava | sky blue | sky blue | red | sky blue | white | red | white | - |
| Santiago | crimson | crimson | crimson | crimson | white | red | white | - |
| Montesa | crimson | crimson | crimson | white | white | red | white | - |
Fig 237 in Kannik (1968) is a trooper from the "Prince's" regiment. "Prince" could be either Principe or Infante. The figure has white lapels with red piping, and yellow buttons and hat lace, which corresponds closely to Infante in the description above. There are differences, however, as the figure in Kannik has red piping on the lapels (not yellow) and no lace button holes on the lapels. Haythornthwaite (1995) also mentions that in pictures by Suhr Infante is shown with red facings, and speculates that this may have been as a result of shortages in Denmark.
Dragoons
The Spanish Dragoons adopted a yellow uniform in 1805 and wore it throughout the Peninsular War (1808-14) (Funcken, 1973).
The Villaviciosa and Almanza Dragoons serving with La Romana in Denmark wore the Cazadore uniform in 1807-08 (Haythornthwaite, 1995), but as these units didn't fight in the Peninsular in those uniforms I have not included details.
Rafferty (1992), Funcken (1973), Haythornthwaite (1995) and Sapherson (1991) largely agree about the uniform.
| Item | Description |
|
Headgear |
Black Bicorn * |
| Decoration |
White hat lace Red Cockade White loop |
| Fatigue Cap | |
|
Decoration |
|
| Jacket | Yellow Long tailed coat |
|
Facings: |
Regimental |
|
Piping: |
White |
|
Collar Piping |
Regimental |
|
Collar decoration |
White crossed sabre and palm frond |
| Cuff Flap | Regimental |
| Cuff decoration | |
|
Turnbacks |
Red |
| Other Ranks Shoulders | Yellow straps |
| Officer Shoulders | Silver epaulettes |
|
Buttons |
White |
| Waistcoat | Yellow (possibly Buff) |
|
Trousers |
Yellow (possibly Buff) |
| Boots (or shoes+gaiters) | Black |
| Straps and belts | White |
| Sword Sheath | White metal |
| Cartridge Box | Black |
| Musician | Possibly reversed colours |
| Shabraques | Yellow edged white |
| Horse harness | Black |
* Numancia and Lusitania wore a Dragoon uniform but a Hussar Shako (not the Mirliton Cap).
Rafferty (1992), Funcken (1973), Haythornthwaite (1995). and Sapherson (1991) agree on the regimental differences, although:
- Sapherson gives the Numancia regiment a Red collar but Funcken says Black.
| Regiment | Lapel | Cuff | Collar | Collar Piping | Pocket Piping |
| Rey | Crimson | Crimson | Crimson | White | Crimson |
| Reina | Light Red | Light Red | Light Red | White | Light Red |
| Almanza | Sky Blue | Sky Blue | Sky Blue | White | Sky Blue |
| Pavia | Red | Red | Yellow | Red | Red |
| Villaviciosa | Light Green | Light Green | Light Green | White | Light Green |
| Sagunto | Light Green | Light Green | Yellow | Light Green | Light Green |
| Numancia | Black | Black | Black or Red | White | Black |
| Lusitania | Black | Black | Yellow | White | Black |
Light Cavalry: Hussar and Cazadore
The Light Cavalry regiments were either Hussars (Husar) or Cazadore, although some authors use the French equivalent of Cazadore, i.e. Chasseurs á Cheval. Although similar in style these uniforms had little in common in terms of colour. Key differences were that the Hussars wore a Pelisse and a Mirliton Cap, whereas the Cazadores lacked the Pelisse and wore either a helmet or a shako.
The Villaviciosa and Almanza Dragoons serving with La Romana in Denmark wore the Cazadore uniform in 1807-08 (Haythornthwaite, 1995). The Numancia and Lusitania Dragoon regiments also wore elements of the Cazadore uniform.
Rafferty (1992), Funcken (1973), Haythornthwaite (1995) and Sapherson (1991) largely agree about the uniforms.
| Item | Description |
|
Headgear |
Regimental |
| Dolman and Pelisse | Regimental |
|
Facings: |
Regimental |
|
Piping |
White (Officers had silver braid) |
|
Collar decoration |
White crossed sabre and palm frond |
|
Buttons |
White |
| Waistcoat | Regimental |
|
Trousers |
Regimental |
| Boots (or shoes+gaiters) | Black |
| Straps and belts | White |
| Sword Sheath | |
| Cartridge Box | Black |
| Musician | |
| Shabraques | Regimental |
| Horse harness | Black |
Rafferty (1992), Funcken (1973), Haythornthwaite (1995). and Sapherson (1991) agree on the regimental differences, although:
- Haythornthwaite gives the Maria Luisa Hussars a red plume but Funcken shows it as white over red.
- Sapherson gives the Voluntarios de España a Dark brown doman but Haythornthwaite says Light Green. Sapherson compounds this confusion by saying the Olivenza regiment worth the same uniform (i.e. Dark Brown) as the Voluntarios de España but with red facings. In contrast Funcken has this unit in Green faced red. Rafferty has the explanation ... the colour was changed from dark brown to mid green for both regiments in 1808. Although Rafferty doesn't do it himself, the colour of the shabraque would have changed to match.
| Regiment | Pelisse | Dolman | Waistcoat | Breeches | Barrel Sash | Headgear | Shabraques |
| Maria Luisa Hussars | Sky Blue with red collar and cuff, and black fur trim | Scarlet with sky blue collar and cuff | ?? | Sky Blue trimmed white | Red with red and white knots | Black Mirliton cap with red wing trimmed white, red (or white over red) plume, red cockade, white loop | Sky blue edged white |
| Españoles (or España) Hussars | Sky Blue with emerald green collar and cuff, and black fur trim | Emerald Green with sky blue collar and cuff | ?? | Sky Blue trimmed white | Emerald green with red and white knots | Black Mirliton cap with sky blue wing trimmed white, red plume, red cockade, white loop | White sheepskin edged red |
| Voluntarios de España Cazadores | - | Light or mid Green with sky blue facings and black fur trim | Sky blue | Light Green | Horizontally striped white and sky blue | Black Fur crested helmet with brass fittings *, red cockade and plume | Green edged white |
| Olivenza Cazadores | - | Green with Red facings | Red | Green | Horizontally striped white and sky blue | Black Fur crested helmet with brass fittings *, red cockade and plume | Green edged white |
| Estremadura |
* The Cazadore helmet was changed to a shako at some point (Rafferty, 1992). Not sure when ??.
New Units
Sapherson (1991) mentions that some of the new light cavalry units wore French style uniforms, some units carried lances with red pennons, and some pennons were swallow-tailed.
Almansa Hussars
Haythornthwaite (1995) mention these guys were with Whittingham's Spanish Divsion when it joined the Eastern army. Dressed like the British 10th Hussars.
I assume they are different to the Almanza Dragoons.
Olivenza Dragoons
Haythornthwaite (1995) mention these guys were with Whittingham's Spanish Divsion when it joined the Eastern army. They wore yellow jackets faced red, 'Tarleton' style helmet with a red plume.
I assume they are different to the Olivenza Cazadores who were on the establishment in 1808.
Sources
Bunde, P. (2005). 1st Volunteers of Aragon. Wargames: Soldiers & Strategy, 9, 24-26. Revistas Professionales: Madrid, Spain.
Funcken, L. and F. (1973). The Napoleonic Wars (Part II). London: Ward Lock.
Haythornthwaite, P. (1995). Uniforms of the Peninsular Wars 1807 - 1814. London: Arms and Armour Press.
Kannik, P. (1968). Military Uniforms in Colour. London: Blandford.
Rafferty, J. (1992). Painting Guide to Napoleonics: Spain. Active Service Press.
Sapherson, C. A. (1991). Peninsular Armies 1808 - 1814. Leeds, UK: Raider Books.