Regiment Kalbermatten

Regiment of swiss infantry KALBERMATTEN 1694 – 1798 Giovanni Cerino-Badone In XVII century there are in Piedmontese army two swiss regiments called Armin and Kalbermatten. They are disbanded respectively in 1650 and 1660. Some of their companies remain in service as frei-Corps. One of these is the valais company Kalbermatten. This units is one of the companies of the new swiss Regiment d'Andorno. With a new capitulation it becomes Reding. Surrended at Ivree in 1704, the escaped prisoners form a company with other soldier of the disbanded Regiment Aygoin and they are attached to the Regiment Shoulemburg. In 1706 a new capitulation rebuilds the swiss valois regiment with a new colonel, Johan Frederick Ghidt. Ghidt, organized in one battalion, becomes in 1709 Hacbret. A new capitulation give in 1731 the name Belmont but the same year it is renamed Rietman with two battallion. In 1733 a new 3rd battalion is raised. The Regiment has 15 companies

Service during the Polish Succession War Rietman in 1733 is at the trench during the siege of Gera-Pizzighettone (18 november &endash; 8 december). Again Rietman fights in the parallels around Castello Sforzesco (16 december 1733 &endash; 2 january 1734). During the surrender of the garrison the line formed by the swiss soldiers becomes a screen for many austrian deserters. In the spring of 1734 Rietman's flag waves at the battle of Parma (29 june) In 1735 the Regiment marches up the Adige Valley. In september it joins the Piedmontese Army on the West side of lake of Garda supporting the french action on the East side. At the end of the year, the 8 november, Rietman with the whole Army takes winter quarters in the country around Cremona and Brescia. A new capitulation is made in 1741 for ten years

Service during the Austrian Succession War In 1742 Rietman is campaigning in north-east Italy in the Po plains. In September Rietman's 1st and 2nd battallions marches on the Alps; from the camp in La Thule in Aosta Valley to undertake a campaign in Savoy against an invading Spanish army. A second spanish effort compells King Charles Emmanuel III to call from their camps in Piedmont several others battallion; so the 3rd Rietman's battalion leaves its barracks in Turin and it reaches in december the two others battalions. In jenuary 1743 after a cold winter campaign Savoy is abandoned and Rietman returns again in Piedmont. In 1744 a new 4th battalion is raised for a grand total of 16 companies. The whole regiment marches to the mediterranean shores to defendend the entrenched camp built around the harbour of Villefranche (20 april 1744). In may there is a new colonel, Bruno de Kalbermatten, and the Regiment becomes Kalbermatten. Kalbermatten reaches the Army in Varaita Valley and it is a spectator of the struggle around the redoubt of Mount Cavallo (19 july 1744). Then the Regiment is divided; the 1st and the 2nd battalions defend the wall of Cuneo (12 september-22 october), while the 3rd and the 4th battalions join the main Army and are present at Madonna dell'Olmo (30 september 1744). The two battalions are situated on the right wing, second line. In 1745 Maillebois' offensive achieves its acme at the battle of Bassignana (27 september). Kalbermatten is in the centre of Sardinian line, defending from the hills a bridge over the Tanaro river. A battalion of Kalbermatten takes action to broke from the rear the encirclement of Regiment Guibert. The follow year Kalberamatten is present in the Leutrum's Army. Then the four battalions fight in the south-west in the mediterranean theatre; the 2st battalion fights during the offensive in Provence (30 november 1746 &endash; 3 february 1747). During the operation in the ligurian front, a french offensive is lauched in the Susa Valley. Immediately two battalions of Kalbermatten have to march to the Alps. The 2nd and the 3rd battalions are lined up the redoubts that defend the Gran Serin Peak in the entrenched camp at the Assietta Ridge. These battalions held their positions against the right french column (19 july 1747). At the end of the war Kalbermatten has a new capitulation for ten years but the 4th battalion is disbanded. In 1759 there is another capitulation for other 10 years. In 1762 it becomes Soutter but in 1768 it is again renamed Kalbermatten.

Commanders of Regiment Kalbermatten under Charles Emmanuel III Johan Rietman Bruno de Kalbermatten Melchior Franz Soutter Gregor de Kalbermatten

21-12-1731 24- 5- 1744 2- 6- 1762 14- 7- 1768

Uniforms

1730-1750: Dark blue coat with white laces, yellow lining, cuffs, collar; blue waistcoat with white laces, blue breeches. White gaiters for fusilier, black for grenadiers. Six tinned buttons in ranks of two on each side of the coat, fuor on the cuffs. Horizontal pockets. Tricorne with dark blue cockade on the left brim and white hem for fusiliers, bearskin cap for grenadiers.

1750-1773 (only principal differences from the previous issue): Dark blue coat, yellow lapels and collar. Seven brassed buttons on lapels, one on the top and three ranks of two. Tricorne with white hem and yellow and white pompon. Bearskin cap with black tail, white hem and white pompon.

Colours

Colonel's Colour: Blue with black eagle in the centre decorated with the Savoy's cross and overhanged by royal crown.

Regimental Colour: White cross over yellow. Three black flames from the center. Yellow decorated hem with black cordon