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.

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.^[1][2]

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.

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.

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.

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.