Osprey Men-at-Arms 321 : Spanish Army of the Napoleonic Wars (1) 1793-1808

The Spanish Army was transformed during the 18th century by an influx of progressive officers who modernised and expanded it. It was closely modelled on the French armies of Louis XIV and Louis XV in tactical doctrine, organisation, armament and uniforms. Following the Seven Years' War, Prussian-style drill and discipline were introduced, but were resisted more strongly than in other armies by the proud and individualistic Spanish soldiers. So, while discipline was certainly not the same as in Prussia, Spanish regiments were nevertheless well behaved, filled with generally good-humoured men toughened by the hardships of a soldier's life. In battle, they were often brave to the point of carelessness, and were thus sometimes difficult to control. The army also had several Swiss and Walloon regiments, less given to all-out attacks, but renowned for their steadiness under fire. The reforms in the arm had given generally favourable results during the American War of Independence. It was a confident, well-trained but small army (about 78,000 men) that Carlos III, one of Europe's benevolent 'enlightened despots', passed on to his son in 1788. In this first of three books, Rene Chartrand examines the organisation and uniforms of the Spanish Army of the Napoleonic Wars accompanied by illustrations by Bill Younghusband.

Contents

• Introduction
• Organisation and Uniforms
• The Royal Guard
• Cavalry
• Line Infantry
• Light Infantry
• Specialists and Auxiliary Forces
• Weapons
• The Navy
• Select Bibliography
• The Plates