# Spanish uniforms of the Napoleonic Wars

The Napoleonic Wars was a series of wars lasting from 1803 to 1815. Spain was just one of the many countries which resisted the expansion of the French Empire under Napoleon I. The general population fought as guerrillas, preventing the occupying French forces from obtaining supplies or safe passage.

## Line Infantry

The Spanish Line Infantry uniform changed several times during the Napoleonic wars. Both officially with the introduction of new model uniforms, the supply of British made uniforms, locally produced clothing and those captured as the spoils of war.
The M1797 uniform was officially listed as being white with collars, cuffs and facings according in the regimental facing colours and distinguished by their pattern combination. Three regiments were recorded as still wearing this uniform as late as May 1808.
The M1802 uniform was dark blue, with black facings piped red and red turn backs on the jacket. It was recorded as being issued with white trousers, and bicorns with red feathers or plumes. The main difference to separate regiments using this uniform was the buttons stamped with regimental symbols or numbers. Twelve regiments are recorded as still wearing this uniform in May 1808.
The issue of the M1805 uniform restored the official uniform's jacket colour to white and brought back the coloured facing colours. These were used to distinguish between regiments, by a combination of cuffs, collars and facings in either facing colour piped white or white piped with the facing colour. Buttons were also used, either silver or brass. Turnbacks on the jackets were always the facing colour.

### Uniforms Issued

| Regiment | Collar | Cuffs | Lapel | Buttons | Notes |
| 1st, Rey | Purple | Purple | Purple piped white | Brass | M1802 uniforms were still in use in May 1808 and may have continued beyond this date. |
| 2nd, Reina | Purple | Purple | Purple piped white | White metal | M1802 uniforms were still in use in May 1808 and may have continued beyond this date. |
| 3rd, Principe | White piped purple | Purple piped white | Purple piped white | Brass | Use continued to at least May 1808 |
| 4th, Saboya | Black piped white | Black piped white | Black piped white | Brass | |
| 5th, La Corona | Black piped white | Black piped white | Black piped white | White metal | M1802 uniforms were still in use in May 1808 and may have continued beyond this date |
| 6th, Africa | White piped black | Black piped white | Black piped white | Brass | |
| 7th, Zamora | White piped black | Black piped white | Black piped white | White metal | |
| 8th, Soria | White piped purple | Purple | Purple | | |
| 9th, Cordoba | Red piped white | Red piped white | Red piped white | Brass | |
| 10th, Guadalajara | Red piped white | Red piped white | Red piped white | White metal | |
| 11th, Sevilla | Black piped white | Black piped white | White piped black | White metal | |
| 12th, Granada | Light blue piped white | Light blue piped white | Light blue piped white | Brass | M1802 uniforms were still in use in May 1808 and may have continued beyond this date. |
| 13th, Valencia | Sky blue piped white | Sky blue piped white | Sky blue piped white | White metal | |
| 14th, Zaragoza | Green piped white | Green piped white | Green piped white | Brass | M1802 uniforms were still in use in May 1808 and may have continued beyond this date. |
| 15th, España | Green piped white | Green piped white | Green piped white | White metal | M1802 uniforms were still in use in May 1808 and may have continued beyond this date. |
| 16th, Toledo | White piped sky blue | Sky blue with white piping | Sky blue with white piping | Brass | |
| 17th, Mallorca | White with red piping | Red piped white | Red piped white | Brass | |
| 18th, Burgos | White piped green | Green piped white | Green piped white | Brass | |
| 19th, Murcia | White piped sky blue | Sky blue piped white | Sky blue piped white | White metal | |
| 20th, Leon | White piped red | Red piped white | Red piped white | White metal | M1802 uniforms were still in use in May 1808 and may have continued beyond this date. |
| 21st, Cantabria | Sky blue piped white | Sky blue piped white | White piped sky blue | White metal | |
| 22nd, Asturias | White piped green | Green piped white | Green piped white | White metal | |
| 23th, Fijo de Ceuta | Green piped white | Green piped white | White piped green | White metal | M1797 uniforms were still in use in May 1808: green lapels, turnbacks, and cuffs; cream collar; and brass buttons. |
| 24th, Navarra | Dark blue piped white | Dark blue piped white | Dark blue piped white | Brass | |
| 25th, Aragón | Red piped white | Red piped white | White piped red | White metal | M1802 uniforms were still in use in May 1808 and may have continued beyond this date. |
| 26th, America | Dark blue piped white | Dark blue piped white | Dark blue piped white | White metal | |
| 27th, Princesa | Purple piped white | Purple piped white | White piped purple | White metal | |
| 28th, Estremadur | Crimson piped white | Crimson piped white | Crimson piped white | Brass | M1802 uniforms were still in use in May 1808 and may have continued beyond this date. |
| 29th, Málaga | White piped dark blue | Dark blue piped white | Dark blue piped white | White metal | M1797 uniforms were still in use in May 1808: red lapels, turnbacks and cuffs; black collar; and white metal buttons. |
| 30th, Jaen | Dark blue piped white | Dark blue piped white | White piped dark blue | White metal | Not issued with M1802 uniforms. |
| 31st, Ordenes Militares | Dark blue piped white | Dark blue piped white | White piped dark blue | White metal | |
| 32nd, Voluntarios de Castilla | Crimson piped white | Crimson piped white | Crimson piped white | White metal | M1802 uniforms were still in use in May 1808 and may have continued beyond this date. |
| 33rd, Voluntarios de Estado | White piped crimson | Crimson piped white | Crimson piped white | Brass | M1802 uniforms were still in use in May 1808 and may have continued beyond this date. |
| 34th, Voluntarios de Corona | White piped crimson | Crimson piped white | Crimson piped white | White metal | M1802 uniforms were still in use in May 1808 and may have continued beyond this date. |
| 35th, Borbón | Crimson piped white | Crimson piped white | White piped crimson | White metal | |

## Foreign Regiments in Spanish Service

| Regiment | Jacket | Collar | Cuffs/turnbacks | Lapels | Trousers | Buttons | Notes |
| 36th, Irlanda | Sky blue | Yellow piped white | Yellow | Yellow piped white | White | Brass | |
| 37th, Hibernia | Sky blue | Sky blue piped yellow | Yellow | Yellow piped white | White | White metal | |
| 38th, Ultonia | Sky blue | Yellow piped white | Yellow | Yellow piped white | White | White metal | |
| 39th, Napoles | Sky blue | Yellow piped white | Yellow | Sky blue piped white | White | White metal | |
| 1º Suizo de Wimpffen | | | | | | | M1796 or M1805 uniforms |
| 2º Suizo de Reding Snr | | | | | | | M1796 or M1805 uniforms |
| 3º Suizo de Reding Jnr | | | | | | | M1796 or M1805 uniforms |
| 4º Suizo de Betschartd | | | | | | | M1796 or M1805 uniforms |
| 5º Suizo de Tazler | | | | | | | M1796 or M1805 uniforms |
| 6º Suizo de Courten/Preux | | | | | | | M1796 or M1805 uniforms |

## Light Infantry Regiments

The original Cazadores uniform of a black bicorn, green jacket with red lapels and cuffs was replaced with the M1800 issue of a dark blue jacket with red facings and maintaining the other equipment.
The M1802 uniform was styled after the hussar uniform of the time. A green jacket with yellow lace, red collars and cuffs with the Suhr (a type of leather & brass hat) replacing the bicorn for ordinary ranks.
The M1805 uniform returned to the bicorn, styled after the infantry uniform the colour of the jacket was changed to dark blue, with facing colours, combinations and button colour depending on regiment.
In 1808 some regiments were issued with French style shakos, including La Romana's division de norte. It is unclear which regiments, if any, in Spain were issued with shakos.

### Uniforms Issued

| Regiment | Collar | Cuffs | Lapel | Turnback | Pockets | Buttons |
| 1º de Aragón | Red piped white | Red piped white | Red piped white | Red | Red piping | White metal |
| 1º de Cataluña | Yellow piped white | Yellow piped white | Yellow piped white | Red | Red piping | White metal |
| 2º de Cataluña | Dark blue piped white | Yellow piped white with yellow cuff flaps | Yellow | Yellow | Yellow piping | Brass |
| Tarrogona | Yellow | Yellow | Dark blue piped yellow | Yellow | Yellow piping | Brass |
| Gerona | Yellow | Yellow | Yellow piped white | Yellow | Yellow piping | White metal |
| 2º de Aragón | Dark blue piped white | Red piped white | Red piped white | Red piped white | Red piping | White metal |
| 1º de Barcelona | Yellow | Yellow | Dark blue piped white | Yellow | Yellow piping | White metal |
| 2º de Barcelona | | | | | | |
| Barbastro | | | | | | |
| Voluntarios de Valencia | | | | | | |
| Campo Maior | | | | | | |
| Voluntarios de Navarra | | | | | | |

## Heavy Cavalry Regiments
### M1802 Uniforms

All regiments received the same uniform which was considered unpopular with the units themselves. Bicorns edged yellow with red plumes. Dark blue coats with white lapels piped red, crimson facings (collars, cuffs and turn-backs) with blue cuff flaps piped red and yellow lions on their collars. Waist coats and trousers were batched dyed a lemon colour, however this quickly bleached in the sun. The jacket used brass buttons, much like the infantry uniform of the time. The cavalry were issued long boots and blue breeches re-enforced with leather.
Horses were rare in Spain during the war, but those which could be located were issued with blue saddleclothes laced with yellow.

### M1805 Uniforms Issued

| Regiment | Collar | Cuffs | Lapel | Pockets | Buttonholes | Buttons |
| 1º Rey | Red piped yellow | Red piped yellow | Red piped yellow | Red piping | Yellow | Brass |
| 2º Reina | Sky blue piped red | Sky blue piped red | Sky blue piped red | Red piping | White | White metal |
| 3º Príncipe | Red piped white | Red piped white | Red piped white | Red piping | White | White metal |
| 4º Infante | White piped yellow | White piped yellow | White piped yellow | White piping | Yellow | Brass |
| 5º Borbón | Red piped white | Red piped white | Red piped white | Red piping | | White metal |
| 6º Farnesio | Red piped yellow | Red piped yellow | Red piped yellow | Yellow piping | | White metal |
| 7º Alcántara | Red piped green | Red piped green | Green piped white | Green piping | | White metal |
| 8º España | Yellow piped red | Red piped yellow | Red piped yellow | Red piping | | White metal |
| 9º Algarve | Yellow piped red | Yellow piped red | Yellow piped red | Red piping | | White metal |
| 10º Calatravia | Red | Sky blue piped red | Sky blue piped red | Red piping | | White metal |
| 11º Santiago | Crimson piped red | Crimson piped red | Crimson piped red | Red piping | | White metal |
| 12º Montesa | Red | Red | White piped red | Red piping | | White metal |

## Dragoon Regiments
### Changes of 1803

In 1803 all eight of the dragoon regiments raised in Spain were converted to light cavalry, with the first six converted to Cazadores a Caballo while Numancia and Lusitania were converted to Hussars (See these sections for Uniform during this time period). These were converted back to Dragoons in 1805.

### M1805 Uniforms

| Regiment | Collar | Cuffs | Lapel | Pockets | Tricorn edge | Plume | Buttons |
| 1º Rey | Crimson piped white | Crimson piped white | Crimson piped white | Crimson piping | White | Red | White metal |
| 2º Reina | Scarlet piped white | Scarlet piped white | Scarlet piped white | Scarlet piping | White | Red | White metal |
| 3º Almansa | Sky blue piped white | Sky blue piped white | Sky blue piped white | Sky blue piping | White | Red | White metal |
| 4º Pavia | Yellow piped white | Yellow piped white | Scarlet piped white | Scarlet piping | White | Red | White metal |
| 5º Villaviciosa | Green piped white | Green piped white | Green piped white | Green piping | White | Red | White metal |
| 6º Sagunto | Yellow piped white | Green piped white | Green piped white | Green piping | White | Red | White metal |
| 7º Numancia | Black piped white | Black piped white | Black piped white | Black piping | White | Red | White metal |
| 8º Lusitania | Yellow piped white | Black piped white | Black piped white | Black piping | White | Red | White metal |

### M1811 Uniforms

* Regiment
* 1º Rey
* 2º Reina
* 3º Almansa
* 4º Pavia
* 5º Villaviciosa
* 6º Sagunto
* 7º Numancia
* 8º Lusitania
* 9º Granada
* 10º Madrid

## Hussar Regiments

In 1803, the 7º Numancia and 8º Lusitania dragoons were converted to hussars. In 1805, 1º Numancia and 2º Lusitania hussars were converted to dragoon; the 3º Olivenza and 4º España regiments were converted back to Cazadores a Caballo; 5º Húsares de Maria Luisa became 1º Húsares de Maria Luisa; and 6º Húsares Españoles became 2º Húsares Españoles in 1805.