"Neapolitans fighting in Spain" Topic

Looking for any guidance, uniforms regiments etc. google-fu as usual not upto much, I know they fought in the east.

Cheers
jon

" uniforms of the Peninsular war 1807-1814" by Phil. Haythornthwaite published by Blandford 1978. This holds a couple of intersting and "lifelike" plates and some basic info. Ther are also some very nice plates in the work L'Armée de Napoléon by Jacques Domange (not specific to Spain though)
The Neapolitans did not see a lot of action (especially not in majar battles) They were known for ill discipline and high desertion rates. st and 2nd line inf. served in spain (dark? blue facings), together with 1st light inf. all these units dwindled away and a new 8th line inf was later formed with pink faced white uniforms. Two very weak cav. regts also served there 1st and 2nd chasseurs a cheval (looking a bit like the french C a c with red and yellow facings rescptively). I never came across any mention of neapolitan artillery being deployed in Spain, but then I am no expert. Sorry I cannot provide any cool "links" this is beyond my very limited computer skills. I believe there is also an Osprey booklet on Italian and Neapolitain troops by "otto von Pivka" but as I recall it focussed mainly on some of the "fancy uniforms of the army (kettledrummer etc). Hope this can get you started at least a bit.

I have the Otto Von Pivka Osprey book and it has quite an thorough written account of Neapolitan uniform regulations. It also notes the lack of uniformity amongst Neapolitan uniforms and depicts some non-regulation but recorded uniform variations in the colour plates. The book was published in 1979 so perhaps more information has been discovered since then, the book also covers Italian and some Balkan units fighting for the French so there`s a limit to the space devoted to any one subject. According to Otto in 1808 the 1st (White with mid-blue facings), 2nd Line (White with mid-blue facing "later" red) and first Light infantry (Mid-blue with yellow facings)went to Spain, combined in 1811 into the new 8th Line (white with pink facings), and the 2nd Chassuers A Cheval (Dark green coats faced dark green edged in red, red breeches. French uniform styles and equipement. No mention of artillery going to Spain.

Haythornthwaite's "Uniforms of the Peninsular War" can be picked up for some very reasonable prices online, and is well worth every penny.

Tim Reese just released an Art of Wars CD on the Neapolitans.

reeseartofwars.com

thanks, will get onto the Hawthoenthwaite.

jon

From Miniaturas Militares by Alfons Canovas try:
1st Chasseurs a Cheval

2nd Chasseurs a Cheval

1st & 2nd Light Inf

8th Line Inf

1st Line Inf

Also see Histofig:

Wasn't there a memoir/diary of some French senior officer who said they actually performed rather well, suggesting they were nothing like the rabble they are often portrayed as?