page_title: Cuirassiers Regiment (Italy)
section_title: Kingdom of Italy
hierarchical_section_title: Cuirassiers Regiment (Italy) / History / Kingdom of Italy
context_page_description: The Cuirassiers Regiment is a Carabinieri Cuirassier regiment acting as honour guard of the President of the Italian Republic. Their motto "Virtus in periculis firmior" means Courage becomes stronger in danger.
  Until 24 December 1992, the division was called Reggimento Carabinieri Guardie della Repubblica and until 1990 it had been known as the Comando Carabinieri Guardie del Presidente della Repubblica.
context_section_description: The Body of Cuirasses was established on 7 February 1868 in Florence (the Italian capital at the time). It was formed by carabinieri on horseback from the legions of Florence, Milan and Bologna. There were 80 carabinieri; each wearing a black helmet with crest and a black breastplate with a cross on the chest, white suede trousers and white gauntlets, high boots and silver spurs. The armour was wore above the Carabiniere uniform and epaulettes. The division was subsequently formed on the occasion of the wedding between Princess Margherita of Savoy and Prince Umberto I of Italy. Since then it had been never been disbanded. Members of the “Company of His Highness’s Cuirasses” (Compagnia Corazze di Sua Altezza) used to wear the monogram of the King on their breastplates, which were similar to those previously worn by other units. Cuirasses Company had one commander captain, 4 officers, 9 deputy-officers and 69 carabinieri.
  In 1870, "Royal Guards Companies of the Palace" (Compagnie Guardie Reali del Palazzo) were dismantled and the "Carabinieri Guards of the King Squadron" (Squadrone Carabinieri Guardie del Re), also known as "Cuirassiers Squadron" (Squadrone Corazzieri), began the only division with the task to protect the Royal family.
  In 1871, following the transfer of the Kingdom capital from Florence to Rome, the Carabinieri Guards of the King Squadron joined the Carabinieri Legion of Rome and settled at the Quirinal Palace.
  Cuirassiers were deployed in the World War I in order to escort the King in military operations.
  Many Cuirassiers also joined the Italian resistance movement after the Badoglio Proclamation of 8 September 1943 and the escape of King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy, when they were left without orders.
caption: Uniform of a Cuirassier at the end of the 19th century.
exif: {}