Royal Sardinian Army

Last updated
Royal Sardinian Army
Flag of the Kingdom of Sardinia (1848-1851).svg
Flag of the Royal Sardinian Army
Active1414–1861
Country Flag of Savoie.svg Duchy of Savoy
Flag of Kingdom of Sardinia (1848).svg Kingdom of Sardinia
BranchArmy
Type Army
RoleDefense of the interior and borders of the Kingdom of Sardinia's continental portion (Piedmont, Liguria, Savoy and the Aosta Valley)
Size79,000 (in 1859)
Engagements War of the Mantuan Succession
Nine Years' War
War of the Spanish Succession
War of the Polish Succession
War of the Austrian Succession
First Italian War of Independence
Crimean War
Second Italian War of Independence
Piedmontese Campaign in Central Italy

The Royal Sardinian Army (also the Sardinian Army, the Royal Sardo-Piedmontese Army, the Savoyard Army, or the Piedmontese Army) was the army of the Duchy of Savoy and then of the Kingdom of Sardinia, which was active from 1416 until it became the Royal Italian Army on 4 May 1861.

Contents

Generally, the term "Savoyard Army" is used for the period when the rulers of Savoy held only the title of Duke, while "Sardinian Army" is preferred for the period after they obtained the title of King of Sardinia in 1720.

History

Origins

Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy was the major reformer of the Savoyard Army in the 16th century Emanuele Filiberto diSavoia.jpg
Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy was the major reformer of the Savoyard Army in the 16th century

The Savoyard Army was officially established in the 15th century when the Duchy of Savoy was created. During this period, the army of the Savoyard lands was concentrated at bases in Piedmont and the Aosta Valley, where it was maintained by the local feudal lords who in exchange for the command of some regiments, maintained them for state service and stationed them on the land in the meantime. It was Duke Emmanuel Philibert who was largely responsible for the radical reforms of the army which made it a stable component of the state and disconnected it from the local feudatories at the same time. As part of this, he created the "peasant militia" on 5 July 1566. With this, the command of the army officially passed into the hands of the Duke of Savoy. Since there were no limits on age or length of service, many soldiers remained in service for a very long time, which had a deleterious impact on the army. There was little or nothing in the way of training and the resulting force left a lot to be desired on the campaign.

17th and 18th centuries

In the seventeenth century, the Piedmontese army underwent notable reforms. The cause of these substantial changes was the foreign policy undertaken by the Savoyard government and new internal conditions. During the first half of the seventeenth century, the Savoyard army was not a solid force, but varied significantly in periods of peace and war and was essentially composed of regiments recruited from the nobility in the pay of the Duke, regiments of mercenaries, and Protestant regiments (mostly consisting of French Huguenots). In 1664, "proprietary" regiments of the Duke were first created, which bore the Duke's coat of arms as a flag rather than the arms of their individual commanders.

Seven years later, in 1671, the army was also given a uniform, which was light grey for almost all units, much like that which had recently been adopted by the French Royal Army, which the Ducal army had frequently encountered (as opponents and allies) in the frequent wars of the era. In this period, the Piedmontese army was very open to innovations and was constantly modernising, especially during the reign of Victor Amadeus II. The two most important reforms of these years were probably the creation of a specialised group of grenadiers and the abolition of the pikemen, both of which took place in 1685. The second of these reforms in particular anticipated the motion of travel throughout Europe – in fact, the French and the Spanish only abolished their pikemen some fifteen years later, while the Swedes still had a third of their infantry equipped with pikes in 1720.

Also important, somewhat later, was the Regulation of 1709, which was inspired by the discipline of the Prussian army observed during the Siege of Turin and by the firing tactics of the English and Dutch forces. Thus, the fire of platoons in serried ranks was adopted instead of files in open ranks. The difference was that when firing in files, the soldiers were deployed in four or more files separated by four metres and all the soldiers in one file fired at the same time, with a set interval between the fire of each file, making a more constant fire possible. However, with the fire in platoons, the soldiers were separated into three close files and their front was divided into platoons, in each of which the soldiers of the three files fired at the same time, followed by the other platoons at a regular interval. This system remained the standard for all units throughout the first half of the 18th century.

Throughout the century, there was a general tendency to the expansion of the army. In 1691, it contained 12 regiments of infantry, 3 of dragoons and 2 of cavalry; in 1747, it exceeded 32 regiments of infantry, but the cavalry continued to be formed of 2 regiments, while the dragoons had expanded to 5 regiments. With respect to numbers, we know that in 1774, the total number of Savoyard troops reached 100,000 individuals. In that year a regulation was introduced concerning the length of permanent military service. The king maintained control of the troops, supported by a defence staff, composed of adjutants and 28 experienced generals, all of aristocratic origin (nobles held 78% of the positions in the officer ranks), while in the various ranks of the infantry and cavalry forces, the bourgeois formed 20%. The rest of the army was manned by the proletariat.

Nineteenth century

Victor Emmanuel I established the Royal Carabinieri in 1814 Bernero - Victor Emmanuel I of Sardinia.jpg
Victor Emmanuel I established the Royal Carabinieri in 1814

After the Armistice of Cherasco in 1796 and the failure of the Kingdom of Sardinia's attempt to prevent the Napoleonic invasion, the Sardinian Army was gradually demobilised and was converted into the forces of the Subalpine Republic and then of the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy.

After the restoration of the kingdom in 1815, Victor Emmanuel I ordered the reconstruction of the Piedmontese army, organised into ten brigades of infantry and supported by cavalry and artillery. These were divided into two large armies, each of which contained two divisions and a reserve division.

Under Victor Emmanuel II, the Royal Sardinian Army was changed in many respects, with an increase in numbers and in the quality of the forces. In 1858, before the outbreak of the Second Italian War of Independence, a new military code was introduced by the king, which regularised the period of military service, establishing it as five years of active service, then 6 years in reserve, up to the age of thirty, with 50 days of obligatory training and instruction per year. The active service was divided into two kinds: ordinanza and provinciale. The first included service in the Royal carabinieri, the armourers, the musicians, the musketeers, and the volunteers, while the second consisted of all the other soldiers who were obliged to remain in the army for 8 years unless the government ordered otherwise.

In this reform, criminals condemned to forced labour, imprisonment, and exile were excluded from military service, as were those guilty of crimes relating to the penal code, men condemned by foreign courts to similar punishments, and the executors of justice, including judges, magistrates, their children, their adjutants and the children of their adjutants.

The Piedmontese army in this period had a total force of 79,000 men (roughly 22,000 of which were officers and 56,000 were regular troops), in addition to around 20,000 officers and soldiers in non-Piedmontese volunteer forces, like the Hunters of the Alps. The volunteers in the regular army numbered around 20,000 men. The conscripts were chosen by lot and could escape by making a payment or substituting a relative. The division took place on the basis of age and the oldest soldiers (provided they were literate) were made corporals. From these, the sergeants were chosen on the basis of merit. After the unification of Italy the army became the Royal Italian Army.

Organisation

In the early nineteenth century, the soldiers of the Sardinian army had the following social composition: 65% farmers, 25% labourers and artisans, 10% bourgeois and aristocrats. Only 20% were literate and a mere 5% had received secondary education. In the regiments, there was a school for the soldiers in which they could learn to read, write, and keep accounts. According to the regulations of 1853, the pay of the average soldier in peacetime was 15 centesimi, rising to 25 in wartime, in addition to a ration of bread, 830g of wood in summer and 1660g in winter (double for junior officers), and a daily subsidy for the wives of the soldiers and two rations of bread per day.

Infantry

Group of infantry at the Battle of Novara, 1849 Battaglia di Novara.jpg
Group of infantry at the Battle of Novara, 1849
Group of Bersaglieri, the special troops of the Sardinian army during the Risorgimento Bersaglieri 1855.jpg
Group of Bersaglieri, the special troops of the Sardinian army during the Risorgimento

The infantry were the backbone of the Sardinian army and were subdivided into different types: National Service Infantry, Light legion, infantry for external security, provincial infantry, legions of the encampments, French corps, and the territorial militia.

National Service Infantry
consisted of unmounted personnel (fusiliers and grenadiers) recruited from the territories of the Duchy of Savoy and were easily employed in the territory. In peacetime, it contained around 20,000 individuals, but in times of war, it could increase to 50,000 men.
Royal Light Legion
was a special force established in 1774 as border guards in order to prevent smuggling and protect the borders. The personnel were mostly foreigners or at least not linked with the territory in which they were stationed, in order to prevent favouritism in their dealings with the local populations. The maximum total number of men serving in this corps was 2,100. When the Royal Sardinian Army became the Royal Italian Army, this corps became the modern Guardia di Finanza.
Foreign Service Infantry
consisted of volunteers from the regions and states bordering the Savoyard domains (i.e. France, Switzerland, Protestants, Germany, Sicily, Lombardy). The total number of men was around 1,270.
Provincial Infantry
was established at the beginning of the seventeenth century, with a fixed period of service of 20 years and non-professional personnel. The fixed period was reduced to 18 years in special cases for Savoyards and to 12 years for Niçards. In 1792, the contingent contained 20,774 men.
Free Corps
were a type of corps shared with several other armies in the 18th century, including the Prussian and Imperial and took their name from the name of the commander who maintained them for the state.
Territorial Militia
was the corps of volunteers recruited from the local area who served predominantly in mountainous regions, especially the Alps, and kept watch over small villages and settlements in rough and flat areas. The corps also carried out scouting and surveying duties for the regular army.

To improve the quality of the operations of the infantry, there was a training system in Piedmont with training camps, modelled on the armed forces of France and Germany. The most important of these training camps was located in Briga Alta and was commanded by a General Inspector.

Cavalry

The Sardinian cavalry, particularly noted for its valour in battle, was entirely of Savoyard extraction. The force which distinguished itself in the War of the Spanish Succession had 2,420 horsemen at its disposal in peacetime, but could rapidly double its numbers in times of war. The Sardinian cavalry included 3 corps of bodyguards to the sovereign (120 in peacetime and 260 during wars) and 6 regular regiments, including the famous "Piemonte Reale Cavalleria" and "Savoia Cavalleria" which were retained during the Kingdom of Italy and then also in the Republic.

On 19 March 1852, a general reorganisation of the cavalry came into force which led to the following arrangement:

Every regiment had a general staff, 4–6 active squadrons and 1 reserve squadron. Each squadron contained 5 officers, 6 junior officers, 2 trumpeters, 2 blacksmiths, 1 saddler, 130 soldiers and 100 horses.

Artillery

The Sardinian artillery was very similar to that of the French, organised in brigades each of which contained 4/6 pieces moved by 300 horses and assembled on-site by soldiers. The artillery was divided into field and mountain artillery, as well as siege artillery (mortars and howitzers). A large number of the artillery personnel were recruited from Biella, which was also where the industry that produced the artillery was located. In battle, five pieces of artillery were assigned to each infantry brigade and four pieces for each cavalry brigade.

Specialists

The regiment of military engineers was based at Casale Monferrato and consisted of two battalions, each containing 5 companies, which each contained: 4 officers, 6 junior officers, 2 trumpeters, and 88 men. The companies were assigned in various arrangements to the divisions and were given various tasks, including the construction of telegraph links. Civilian companies also came to be involved in the work of these engineers.

Armament

The infantry were armed with bayonet rifles and a dagger secured to the body with a leather strap, as well as a bandolier for the rifle. The officers did not have firearms; they only carried melee weapons.

New models of rifles were adopted in 1844, with a first attempt at using percussion rifles. However, the transition from the firearms which used fire strikers to more modern weapons that fired using an "Eggs" capsule was completed only in 1859. All rifles were equipped with bayonets with the Laukart attachment system, which meant that they could be clipped onto the rifle without obstructing fire.

The musket developed in parallel with this. The first nineteenth-century models appeared in 1833 and they were modified in 1844 to make them more like actual infantry rifles, except shorter and more manageable on account of their lighter weight.

The carbine was mainly given to sharpshooters, but was also the distinctive weapon of the carabinieri.

The Sardinian army was first equipped with pistols in 1847 (although some were already in use from 1844). These included the large cavalry pistol which was considered a weapon of last resort as an unsatisfactory compromise between a pistol and a musket. The pistol and cavalry pistol bullets were spherical and hollow with a diameter of 16.6 mm and an explosive payload of 2.5 g.

From the eighteenth century, the cavalry were armed with carbines which were very accurate over short distances. The horses were mostly bay-coloured animals imported from German and they served for 4–6 years. A sixth were female. In the nineteenth century, the carabinieri were introduced and they formed the main cavalry force, especially distinguishing themselves in the First Italian War of Independence with their splendid sabre charges. The dragoons were equipped very differently – with long bayonetted rifles (although they retained the use of the sabre as traditional).

The typical artillery cannon of the Sardinian army was the mod.704 rear-load saker, which was regularly used until 1848. The heavy artillery was characterised by long cannons (8-16-32 pound culverins).

Officers

Junior officers

The junior officers were drawn largely from the ordinary soldiers on the basis of merit and ability. Some of them were trained in various regimental schools, while others were sent to specialist schools for their particular branch. The junior officers who came into the army by desertion from the Austrian army (largely during the first and second Italian wars of independence) were given the same rank they had had in the Austrian army, while older soldiers who deserted from the Austrians were promoted to junior officer class.

Officers

The law regulating the officers was approved on 25 May 1852 by Victor Emmanuel II. As for the junior officers, officers deserting from the Austrian army were given the same rank that they had previously held.

The promotion structure was as follows:

Insignia

Sleeve insignia GeneraleREI-1870.jpg TenenteGeneraleREI-1870.jpg MaggioreGeneraleREI-1870.jpg ColonnelloREI-1870.jpg TenenteColonnelloREI-1870.jpg MaggioreREI-1870.jpg CapitanoREI-1870.jpg TenenteREI-1870.jpg SottotenenteREI-1870.jpg
RankGenerale d'esercitoTenente GeneraleMaggiore GeneraleColonnelloTenente colonnelloMaggioreCapitanoTenenteSottotenente
EnglishArmy generalLieutenant generalMajor generalColonelLieutenant-colonelMajorCaptainLieutenantSub-lieutenant
Sleeve insignia SergenteMaggioreREI-1870.jpg SergenteREI-1870.jpg Rank insignia of caporale maggiore of the Italian Army (1908).png Rank insignia of caporale of the Italian Army (1908).png
RankSergente maggioreSergenteCaporale maggioreCaporale
EnglishSergeant majorSergeantCorporal majorCorporal

See also

Bibliography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cavalry Brigade "Pozzuolo del Friuli"</span> Brigade of the Italian Army

The Cavalry Brigade "Pozzuolo del Friuli" is a brigade of the Italian Army, based in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Veneto regions. The Brigade consists of a command unit, a cavalry regiment, an amphibious infantry regiment, an artillery regiment, an engineer regiment and a logistic regiment.

1st Cavalry Division "Eugenio di Savoia" WW2 Royal Italian Army unit

The 1st Cavalry Division "Eugenio di Savoia" was a cavalry or "Celere" (Fast) division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II. The division was mobilized in 1940 and took part in the Invasion of Yugoslavia. The division was assigned to the XI Corps in Ljubljana and remained in Yugoslavia as occupation force on the Dalmatian coast. After the Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943 the division was disbanded by the Germans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regiment "Nizza Cavalleria" (1st)</span> Active Italian Army cuirassier unit

The Regiment "Nizza Cavalleria" (1st) is a cavalry unit of the Italian Army based in Bellinzago Novarese in Piedmont. The regiment is the reconnaissance unit of the Alpine Brigade "Taurinense". The regiment is named for the County of Nice in France, which makes the regiment, along with the Regiment "Savoia Cavalleria" (3rd), one of two Italian Army units named for a French region, which once was part of the Kingdom of Sardinia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regiment "Piemonte Cavalleria" (2nd)</span> Active Italian Army cuirassier unit

The Regiment "Piemonte Cavalleria" (2nd) is a cavalry unit of the Italian Army based in Villa Opicina in Friuli-Venezia Giulia.The regiment is the reconnaissance unit of the Alpine Brigade "Julia".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regiment "Savoia Cavalleria" (3rd)</span> Active Italian Army cuirassier unit

The Regiment "Savoia Cavalleria" (3rd) is a cavalry unit of the Italian Army based in Grosseto in Tuscany. The regiment is the reconnaissance unit of the Paratroopers Brigade "Folgore". The regiment is named for the Duchy of Savoy in France, which makes the regiment, along with the Regiment "Nizza Cavalleria" (1st), one of two Italian Army units named for a French region, which once was part of the Kingdom of Sardinia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regiment "Genova Cavalleria" (4th)</span> Active Italian Army cuirassier unit

The Regiment "Genova Cavalleria" (4th) is a cavalry unit of the Italian Army based in Palmanova in Friuli-Venezia Giulia. The regiment was formed on 1 August 1821, with troops of the Regiment Dragoons of the King, who had remained loyal during the revolt in Piedmont in spring 1821 and were retained in service after the Regiment Dragoons of the King was disbanded on 1 August 1821. In 1871, when the Royal Italian Army's cavalry regiments were numbered according to their seniority, the regiment was numbered as if founded in 1821 and thus the fourth oldest by seniority. Later the Royal Italian Army allowed the regiment to inherit the traditions and honors of the Regiment Dragoons of the King, which today makes the regiment the oldest Italian Army cavalry regiment and the army's only unit, whose anniversary commemorates a pre-Risorgimento event. The regiment is also the Italian Army's highest decorated cavalry regiment and today assigned to the Cavalry Brigade "Pozzuolo del Friuli" as the brigade's reconnaissance unit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regiment "Lancieri di Aosta" (6th)</span> Active Italian Army lancer unit

The Regiment "Lancieri di Aosta" (6th) is a cavalry unit of the Italian Army based in Palermo in Sicily. The regiment is the reconnaissance unit of the Mechanized Brigade "Aosta". The regiment was formed in 1774 as present to the King of Sardinia's fifteen-year-old son Victor Emmanuel, Duke of Aosta. The regiment fought in the War of the First Coalition against French forces, until 1796 when Napoleon Bonaparte defeated the Royal Sardinian Army in the Montenotte campaign. In October of the same year the regiment was disbanded.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regiment "Lancieri di Novara" (5th)</span> Active Italian Army lancer unit

The Regiment "Lancieri di Novara" (5th) is a cavalry unit of the Italian Army based in Codroipo in Friuli-Venezia Giulia. The regiment is the reconnaissance unit of the 132nd Armored Brigade "Ariete".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regiment "Cavalleggeri Guide" (19th)</span> Active Italian Army cavalry unit

The Regiment "Cavalleggeri Guide" (19th) is a cavalry unit of the Italian Army based in Salerno in Campania. The regiment was the only Guides cavalry unit of the Savoyard state and later the Kingdom of Italy. Today the regiment is the reconnaissance unit of the Bersaglieri Brigade "Garibaldi". The regiment was formed in 1860 by the Royal Sardinian Army with pre-existing units. In 1866, the regiment distinguished itself in the Battle of Custoza. In World War I the regiment fought dismounted on the Italian front. After World War I the regiment was disbanded in November 1919, but then reformed already seven months later in May 1920. In 1934, the regiment operated the army's Fast Tanks School. During World War II the regiment operated as a mounted unit and fought in 1940-41 in the Greco-Italian War. Afterwards the regiment remained in Albania on occupation duty until it was disbanded by invading German forces after the announcement of the Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regiment "Lancieri di Milano" (7th)</span> Inactive Italian Army lancer unit

The Regiment "Lancieri di Milano" (7th) is an inactive cavalry unit of the Italian Army. The regiment was formed after the Second Italian War of Independence and participated in the Third Italian War of Independence. In World War I the regiment fought dismounted on the Italian front. After the war the regiment was disbanded. Shortly before World War II the regiment was reformed. The regiment participated in the Italian invasion of Greece and remained afterwards on anti-partisan duty in Albania, Croatia and occupied Greece. The regiment dissolved in Larissa in Greece after the announcement of the Armistice of Cassibile. During the Cold War the unit served as the reconnaissance group of the Infantry Division "Legnano" and after 1975 of the Mechanized Division "Mantova". In 1986 the group became the reconnaissance group of the Armored Brigade "Pozzuolo del Friuli". At the end of the Cold War the unit was disbanded in 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regiment "Lancieri di Firenze" (9th)</span> Inactive Italian Army lancer unit

The Regiment "Lancieri di Firenze" (9th) is an inactive cavalry unit of the Tuscan Army, French Army, Sardinian Army, and Italian Army. Formed in Tuscany in 1753 the regiment served in the Napoleonic Wars, during which its troops reached Madrid and Moscow. In 1848—49 the regiment fought in the First Italian War of Independence. During the Second Italian War of Independence the regiment switched allegiance from the Grand Duchy of Tuscany to the Kingdom of Sardinia and thus became the only regiment from a pre-unification state to be integrated into the Royal Sardinian Army. The regiment participated in the Third Italian War of Independence and during World War I it fought dismounted in the trenches of the Italian front. In World War II the regiment was assigned to the 2nd Cavalry Division "Emanuele Filiberto Testa di Ferro" and served in annexed Albania, occupied Greece, and occupied Yugoslavia on anti-partisan duty. The regiment was disbanded after the announcement of the Armistice of Cassibile by invading German forces. During the Cold War the unit was assigned to the Armored Brigade "Vittorio Veneto" as a tank unit. After the Cold War the regiment was disbanded in 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Saluzzo" (12th)</span> Inactive Italian Army cavalry unit

The Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Saluzzo" (12th) is an inactive cavalry unit of the Italian Army named for the Marquisate of Saluzzo. In 1848, Provisional Government of Milan formed two cavalry regiments for the First Italian War of Independence. In September of the same year, the two regiments joined the Royal Sardinian Army. In May 1849, the two regiments merged to form the 7th Regiment of Cavalry, which in January 1850 was renamed Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Saluzzo". The regiment fought in the Crimean War, Second Italian War of Independence, and Third Italian War of Independence. In World War I the regiment fought on the Italian Front. During World War II the regiment was assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division "Eugenio di Savoia", which was deployed to occupied Yugoslavia on anti-partisan duty. The division and its units were disbanded after the announcement of the Armistice of Cassibile by invading German forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Lodi" (15th)</span> Active Italian Army cavalry unit

The Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Lodi" (15th) is a cavalry unit of the Italian Army based in Lecce in Apulia. In 1859, the Kingdom of Sardinia, after being victorious in the Second Italian War of Independence, traded the Duchy of Savoy and the County of Nice for the region of Lombardy, which the French Empire had received from the Austrian Empire after the war. In September of the same year, the Royal Sardinian Army formed the Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Lodi", which was named for the city of Lodi in Lombardy. In 1866, the regiment fought in the Third Italian War of Independence and in 1870 in the Capture of Rome. In 1911-13, the regiment was deployed to Libya for the Italo-Turkish War. In World War I the regiment's squadrons fought on the Italian front, Albanian front, Western front, and Macedonian front. After the war the regiment was disbanded. During World War II the regiment was reformed and fought in the Tunisian campaign, during which the regiment was destroyed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Italian Army gorget patches</span>

Italian Army gorget patches are worn by all army personnel on the collars of the shirts and jackets of their service uniforms and formal uniforms. The gorget patches identify the arm, corps, or speciality within an arm or corps a soldier belongs to. Generals wear golden stars instead of a gorget patches, while army recruits wear silver stars until they are assigned to a unit after basic training. Originally made from colored cloth, respectively embroidered cloth for Granatieri, Carabinieri and general staff members, gorget patches have been made since 1973 from enamelled metal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guglielmo Barbò</span> Italian general

Guglielmo Barbò, 8th Count of Casalmorano was an Italian general during World War II, most notable for commanding Italian cavalry troops on the Eastern Front.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Alessandria" (14th)</span> Inactive Italian Army cavalry unit

The Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Alessandria" (14th) is an inactive cavalry unit of the Italian Army named for the city of Alessandria in Piedmont. In 1850, shortly after the First Italian War of Independence, the Royal Sardinian Army formed the regiment. The regiment fought in the Second Italian War of Independence, Crimean War, and Third Italian War of Independence. In World War I the regiment fought on the Italian Front. During World War II the regiment was assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division "Eugenio di Savoia", with which the regiment deployed to occupied Yugoslavia on anti-partisan duty. On 17 October 1942, the regiment conducted the last cavalry charge in Italian military history. After the announcement of the Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943, the regiment rode towards Italy, but the lack of orders and pressure by invading German forces, led to the regiment's commander ordering the regiment to dissolve on 14 September 1943.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Lucca" (16th)</span> Inactive Italian Army cavalry unit

The Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Lucca" (16th) is an inactive cavalry unit of the Italian Army named for the city of Lucca in Tuscany. The regiment was formed shortly after the Second Italian War of Independence by the Provisional Government of Tuscany of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. In 1860, the regiment was incorporated into the Royal Sardinian Army. In 1866, the regiment fought in the Third Italian War of Independence. In 1912-14, the regiment was deployed to Libya for the Italo-Turkish War. In World War I the regiment fought on the Italian front, the Albanian front, and the Macedonian front. After the war the regiment was disbanded and its traditions assigned to the Regiment "Cavalleggeri Guide".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Monferrato" (13th)</span> Inactive Italian Army cavalry unit

The Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Monferrato" (13th) is an inactive cavalry unit of the Italian Army named for the Duchy of Montferrat. In 1850, the Royal Sardinian Army formed the Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Monferrato" with troops raised between the two campaigns of the First Italian War of Independence. The regiment fought in the Crimean War, Second Italian War of Independence, and Third Italian War of Independence. In World War I the regiment fought dismounted on the Italian front. During World War II the regiment participated in the invasion of France. Afterwards the regiment was sent to Albania, where the regiment refused to surrender to invading German forces after the announcement of the Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943. The regiment battled German forces until 14 November 1943, when its remnants were forced to surrender. The regiment's anniversary falls on 20 May 1859, the day of the Battle of Montebello, during which the regiment repeatedly charged Austrian infantry squares and cavalry, for which the regiment was awarded a Bronze Medal of Military Valor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regiment "Lancieri Vittorio Emanuele II" (10th)</span> Inactive Italian Army cavalry unit

The Regiment "Lancieri Vittorio Emanuele II" (10th) is an inactive cavalry unit of the Italian Army. In 1859, the Royal Sardinian Army formed the Regiment Vittorio Emanuele Cavalry with volunteers from Veneto and Romagna, which had arrived in Turin after the outbreak of the Second Italian War of Independence. In 1860, the regiment fought in the Sardinian campaign in central Italy and in 1866, in the Third Italian War of Independence. In World War I the regiment fought on the Italian Front. During World War II the regiment was initially assigned to the 2nd Cavalry Division "Emanuele Filiberto Testa di Ferro", with which it participated in April 1941 in the invasion of Yugoslavia. In 1942, the regiment was equipped with tanks and self-propelled guns and renamed Armored Regiment "Vittorio Emanuele II". In 1943, the regiment was assigned to the 135th Armored Cavalry Division "Ariete". After the announcement of the Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943, the regiment fought against invading German forces. On 14 September 1943, the regiment's officers dissolved the regiment. The regiment's anniversary falls on 19 June 1918, the fourth day of the Second Battle of the Piave River, on which the regiment defeated an Austro-Hungarian attack near Monastier di Treviso, for which the regiment was awarded a Bronze Medal of Military Valor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Sardegna"</span> Inactive Italian Army cavalry unit

The Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Sardegna" is an inactive cavalry unit of the Italian Army named for the island of Sardinia. In 1726, the Royal Sardinian Army formed the Dragoons of Sardinia, which were tasked with maintaining public order on the recently acquired island of Sardinia. In 1776, the unit was renamed Corps of Light Dragoons of Sardinia and in 1808, during the exile of King Victor Emmanuel I on the island, the corps was renamed Chevau-légers of Sardinia Regiment. In 1819, the regiment was merged with the Corps of Musketeers of Sardinia to form the Corps of Royal Hunters of Sardinia. In 1822, the corps was disbanded and its personnel transferred to the Royal Carabinieri Corps of Sardinia. Due to the sharp increase of brigandage on Sardinia, the Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Sardegna" was reformed in 1832. In 1853, the regiment was once more disbanded and its personnel transferred to the Royal Carabinieri Corps of Sardinia. In December 1914, shortly before Italy's entry into World War I, the Royal Italian Army formed the X Sardinian Group in Ozieri, which consisted of two squadrons recruited on the island. In October 1915, the X Sardinian Group was disbanded and the remaining personnel assigned to the 19th Sardinian Squadron, which was sent to the Albanian front. In April 1916, the 19th Sardinian Squadron was attached to the Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Lodi" (15th), with which the squadron served until the end of the war. After the end of the war, the 19th Sardinian Squadron was disbanded.