#8301 Napoleonic Spanish Grenadiers
Dated: October 24, 2012.
Grenadiers were the elite infantrymen of the Spanish Army during the Napoleonic Wars. Traditionally selected for qualities such as height, experience, discipline and bravery, they formed the senior companies of an infantry regiment and were expected to undertake particularly demanding duties in battle.
At the beginning of the Peninsular War, a typical Spanish infantry regiment contained three battalions. The first battalion included two grenadier companies as well as two fusilier companies, while the remaining battalions were composed of fusiliers. This concentration of grenadiers in the first battalion gave the regiment a strong elite element for important attacks, defensive positions and ceremonial duties.
Box art
The most striking feature of the Spanish grenadier uniform was the very tall fur cap. Unlike the bearskins worn by many other European grenadiers, the Spanish cap had no large front plate and was distinguished by a long cloth bag, or flame, hanging down the back. This gave Spanish grenadiers one of the most recognizable silhouettes of any infantry in the Peninsular War.
The remainder of the uniform closely followed that of the ordinary line infantry, with a short-tailed coatee, breeches and gaiters. Grenadiers carried additional distinctions marking their elite status, including a short sabre and a grenade badge on the cartridge pouch. A small match case was also attached to the pouch belt across the chest, recalling the original grenade-throwing role from which the grenadier name had developed.
Line drawings
By the time war broke out in Spain in 1808, hand-thrown grenades were no longer the normal battlefield weapon of grenadier companies. Their importance instead lay in their status as experienced and reliable infantry who could be committed where commanders expected particularly hard fighting.
Spanish grenadiers fought throughout the opening campaigns against Napoleon's armies. They served at battles such as Bailen, where a French army surrendered to Spanish forces in 1808, and later at Talavera, Ocana and numerous smaller actions during the long struggle across the Peninsula.
Test shot (may go through substantial revisions prior to release.)
The conditions of the Peninsular War soon made it difficult to maintain regulation uniforms. Repeated defeats, rapid expansion of the army and shortages of clothing and equipment meant that Spanish troops increasingly appeared in a mixture of military and locally obtained dress. The figures in this set therefore represent particularly well the more regulation appearance of the army during the early years of the conflict.
This set contains 32 figures in six poses. The grenadiers are shown marching, standing, advancing, firing and performing other basic infantry actions, allowing them to be used both in formed units and in battle scenes. Their tall fur caps and long hanging bags give them a particularly dramatic appearance in massed formations.
The figures carry the equipment appropriate to Spanish line grenadiers, including the musket and bayonet, short sabre, cartridge pouch and the distinctive match case attached to the shoulder belt. Their equipment and uniform place them particularly well around the opening years of the Peninsular War.
This set can be combined with our Spanish Line Infantry, Spanish Light Infantry and Spanish Command to build a more complete Spanish army. Together, these sets provide fusiliers, Cazadores, grenadiers, officers, musicians and other specialists suitable for the early campaigns of the Peninsular War from 1808 onward.