1st King's Immemorial Infantry Regiment of AHQ

The 1st King's Immemorial Regiment of the Spanish Army is considered to be the oldest armed unit in the world. There is certain proof to this and according to what the chronicles mention, King Ferdinand III, The Saint, 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 with him said force, giving origin to the permanence of the Armies, that is to say, the origin of itself.

On 28 August 1632, on the initiative of Philip IV, a special corps of troops was ordered to be formed by 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 honours 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 loosing and receiving its name, it received its present designation in 1995.

Traditionally, the Regiment is linked to the Spanish Royal Household, all the Princes of Asturias since 1862 are enrolled as honorary soldiers in the 1st Company. Following the tradition, H.R.H. Prince Felipe de Borbón y Grecia (Prince of Asturias and present Heir to the Crown) assumed his post as a soldier in 1977.

Traditional uniform

Instead of uniformity and as what is practiced in other countries with military tradition, in Spain as well, H.M. King Juan Carlos I in 1981 accepted the proposal of CSA to equip two companies, which could render honors and participate in established ceremonies special in character, with the uniform and armaments of the end of the reign of Charles III.

The period chosen was that from 1780 to 1786, at which in accordance with the organization of Spanish Infantry, each Regiment had two Battalions, each one formed of nine companies, one of grenadiers and eight of fusiliers.

References

* [http://www.ejercito.mde.es/desfiles/desfile_fiesta_nal_06/unid_participantes/ri_inmemorial_n_1.htm Regimiento de Infantería Inmemorial del Rey n 1 del CGE]

External links

* [http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/8745/infanteria/1.htm Inmemorial del Rey n 1]