Infantry Regiment "Inmemorial del Rey" No. 1

The Infantry Regiment "Inmemorial del Rey" No. 1 (Spanish: Regimiento de Infantería Inmemorial del Rey no. 1) is the senior regiment of the Spanish Army, and is considered the oldest military unit in the western world.[1]

Infantry Regiment "Inmemorial del Rey" No. 1
Regimiento de Infantería Inmemorial del Rey no. 1
Coat of Arms of the 1st King's Immemorial Infantry Regiment
Active1248–present (772–773 years)
CountrySpain
BranchEjército de Tierra
TypeGrenadiers/Fusiliers
RoleHonor Battalion – Public Duties
Support Unit – Security/Administration
Service Unit – Engineering Support
Band Unit – Music
Size4 battalions
Garrison/HQMadrid
Commanders
Commander in ChiefHM The King

History

King Ferdinand III of Castille, in 1248, during the conquest of Seville, with some of his men-at-arms, assaulted and took a tower. Seemingly, with such boldness and bravery they gained the admiration of the King. The campaign finished and with the consequent disbandment of troops, King Ferdinand decided to permanently keep that force on the rolls, making one of the first standing armies in Europe since the Roman Empire.

On 28 August 1632, on the initiative of Philip IV, a special corps of troops was ordered to be formed with veteran soldiers, reenlistments and knights of noble ancestry - men so skilled that they only took arms when the monarch assumed command in person, designating it "King's Guard Colonelship." Its organization commenced in Almansa in 1634, its force fixed at fifteen companies with 90 harquebusiers, 40 musketeers, and 60 corslets and pikemen each. Later, in 1638, it was augmented to twenty. Its first colonel, Count Duke of Olivares, Don Gaspar de Guzmán, whose post was the recently created "King's Guard Colonelship," was in command of very distinguished soldiers of great renown. In 1640, Philip IV elevated it to the category of King's Guard Regiment and in 1664 to Castile Tercio. From 1701 to 1710 it was dedicated to its ancient mission, guarding the Monarch, and it was in 1707 when it received the designation Castile, and in 1710 that of Castile Immemorial Infantry Regiment. It gained glory in the Spanish War of Succession and the Italian Campaigns (1718-1749), eventually it received the name King's Infantry Regiment on 7 January 1766. That same year, King Charles III, persuaded by the antiquity of the regiment, declared it the King's Immemorial.

After diverse historical changes in losing and receiving its name, it received its present designation in 1995.

Connections with royal family

Traditionally, as the regiment is linked to the Spanish royal family and to the sovereign in his/her duty as Captain General and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, all the Princes of Asturias since 1862 are enrolled as Honorary soldiers in the 1st Company. Following the tradition then Don Felipe de Borbón y Grecia (Prince of Asturias and heir to the Crown) assumed his post as a soldier in 1977.

Traditional dress uniform

To commemorate Spain's long military tradition, in 1981 King Juan Carlos I accepted the proposal of the Chief of Staff of the Army to establish two companies with historic uniforms and armaments, which could render honors and participate in special ceremonies.

The period chosen was that from 1780 to 1786, at the end of the reign of Charles III. At this date Spanish infantry regiment had two battalions, each one formed of nine companies; one of grenadiers and eight of fusiliers. The description in detail of the uniform is as follows:

Fusilier uniforms

The first honor guard company wears a white uniform, with the green emblem, that of the King, by special grace it was dressed elegantly in the colors of the Royal Household troops, and as a special grace they wore botoneras on the vest and dress coat. The second company wears a blue uniform with a similar emblem.

Grenadier uniform

Grenadiers in the modern Infantry Regiment "Inmemorial del Rey" No. 1 are not permitted to wear glasses, but beards have recently been permitted. Historically selection for the grenadier companies of the Spanish infantry was a distinction normally reserved for the bravest and tallest soldiers of a regiment. These picked men marched at the head of the regiment, escorted the colors and were expected to form the vanguard when storming a fortified position. They wore short sabers, a distinction retained in the modern regiment. The high grenadier cap still worn, augmented their stature and the brass burners on the strap of the cartridge pouch and the sardinetas worn on their cuffs distinguished these elite companies. The uniform is worn by staff personnel and the marker unit (gastadores).

Early 20th century full dress

In addition to the 18th century uniforms previously described, the Infantry Regiment "Inmemorial del Rey" No. 1 parades detachments of up to company strength, plus the regimental band, in the full dress uniform of the Spanish line infantry, as worn during the reign of King Alfonso XIII (1902-1931). This consists of the distinctive "ros" (shako), dark blue tunics with red facings and red trousers.

Current functions

At present the regiment is the unit responsible for providing the central seat of army headquarters' security, services, and support needed for its functioning, and it also helps give security to whatever the authorities task it with. These functions support the central objective of facilitating the operation of the different centers and departments that make up headquarters, to which end it performs following tasks:

  • Giving security to the people as well as to the installations of headquarters.
  • Organising and directing services necessary to guarantee the optimal functioning of material resources in the service of Buenavista Palace, and the supply of the centers into which it is integrated. In this way also it also guarantees, through its transport assets, the mobility of the authorities and the board of headquarters.
  • Rendering prescribed honors within the garrison of Madrid and as an exception in other garrisons. This function, perhaps the best known by the public in general, gives pomp and colour to various social functions. This function entails, in broad outline, the reception of heads of state and other civil and military authorities and the participation in cultural, social and religious functions of great relevance in Madrid and elsewhere.

Organisation and insignia

In order to execute the above functions, the regiment is organized into the following units, plus command staff:

"Old Guard of Castille" Honor Guard Battalion, charged with guard of honor duties and other ceremonial and public duties, with two companies of infantry, a section of artillery with six 105/14 howitzers, and a corps of drums wearing uniforms and playing period instruments of the 1780s alongside modern day plain bugles.

Automobile unit with 274 vehicles.

Support unit with two companies, one of security which gives security to the installations as well as to the personnel of army headquarters and to the centers and institutions located in Buenavista Palace and the other company of staff and support where army personnel who execute functions of administrative support to the centers and institutions of army headquarters are assigned. The Service unit composed of a company and two Units, one of installations support and the other of personnel support. The service company gives mechanical support to Buenavista Palace whereas the units keep watch over the proper functioning of the installations and the well-being of personnel posted at army headquarters.

The regimental band is composed of 65 members. It is well known throughout Spain for the quality of its concerts. The band wears the blue and red infantry regulation full dress uniform adopted in 1908. It is one of the oldest musical units in the Spanish Army. The regiment's band is integrated into its support unit and is based in the Buenavista Palace. Alongside the regimental band is the Corps of Drums (Banda de Guerra), made up of bugles and drums plus a section of bagpipes and fifes. The band has played extensively in Europe and the Americas and has had numerous recordings made in Spain and France. It has also performed with the National Orchestra of Spain. Along with the Musical Unit of the Spanish Royal Guard, it plays to honor heads of government during state visits to Spain. [2]While the bandsmen are part of the Common Band Corps and graduates of the Central Defense Academy, the separate Corps of Drums consists of serving personnel of the regiment.

Civilian aid

In addition to these regular functions, the regiment has participated in actions on behalf of the civilian population when required, e.g. environmental cleaning carried out in Galicia following the sinking of the ship "Prestige".

References
  1. "Regimiento de Infantería Inmemorial del Rey Nº1". Ejército de Tierra. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2017.
  2. https://www.defensa.gob.es/portaldecultura/cultural/musica/madrid/musica_178.html
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