Italian Army Heraldry

Heraldry of the armies, navies and airforces of the world
Marcus Karlsson
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Italian Army Heraldry

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 17 Feb 2014, 15:00

The Italian Army and its predecessors have a long tradition of Heraldry. Following the Unification and creation of the Kingdom of Italy in 1860, Regimental coat of Arms was soon created. The Shields was at this time ensigned with a Royal Crown and some times placed upon the breast of the Eagle of Savoy. Following the creation of the Republic of Italy in 1947 the Crown and other royal symbolism was removed. In the begining of the 1950ies a system of "Cests" for the Various Arms and Services was introduced to replace the Crown. This was a rather cumbersome system and at the end of the 1980ies it was replaced for all Units with a Mural Crown as a republican equalient of the Royal Crown. Decorations earned by the Units are also displayed usualy in forms of streamers issuing from the Mural Crown.

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Arms of the Italian Army as a whole.

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Arms of the General Staff.

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Re: Italian Army Heraldry

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 17 Feb 2014, 15:31

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Arms of the 1st Regiment of Sardinian Grenadiers. This Regiment is the inheritor of the Guards of the Savoyan rulers hence the rather complicated arms based on the Arms of the Dukes and Kings of Savoy and Sardinia. The first small enschuteon shows the arms of Sardinia and the lager one with the Eagle is the old arms of Savoy (later replaced by Gules a Cross Argent). The first grand quarter shows 1. Jerusalem, 2. Cyprus (Lusignan), 3. Armenia and 4. Luxembourg, second grand quarter Westphalia and Saxony the Agent base pile is for Angria. Third grand quarter Chiablese and Aosta. Fourth grand quarter 1. Piemonte, 2. Monferrato, 3. Genevese and 4. Saluzzo. Between the third and fourth grand quarter on a pile Nice (Nizza). The Motto is the rallying sound of the Savoyan Guard - "The Guard to Me!".

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The Arms of the 2nd Regiment of Sardinian Grenadiers are almost identical to the 1st Regiment.

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Arms of the 3rd Regiment of Sardinian Grenadiers. The Chief symbolises the Gold Medal for Military Valour awarded the regiment for action in the Italo-Greek War. The first grand quarter see second grand quarter of the 1st Regiment. The second grand quarter shows the Lion of Juda as symbol for participation in the Italo-Ethiopian War 1936. The third grand quarter see fourth grand quarter of the 1st Regiment. The fourth grand quarter shows the azure and argent fesses for participation in the Italo-Greek War and the Sable and Gules checkered field for particpation in the Albanian Campaign.

Marcus Karlsson
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Re: Italian Army Heraldry

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 17 Feb 2014, 15:35

Army Avitation Units are named for Star Constellations which is reflected by their Arms.

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1st Army Aviation Regiment "Antares".

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4th Army Aviation Regiment "Altair"

Marcus Karlsson
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Re: Italian Army Heraldry

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 17 Feb 2014, 15:55

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1st Infantry Regiment "San Giusto" raised in 1624 as Regiment "Fleury" and disbanded in 2008. The Dexter quartered field symbolises long Service to the rulers of Savoy and Italy. The sinister field shows the Arms of Trieste, longtime garrison of the Regiment.

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5th Infantry Regiment "Aosta". Under a Chief denoting the award of the Gold Medal for Military Valour a field per pale Saxony and Aosta. The enschuteon shows the ancient colour of the Regiment. The Regiment was raised in 1690 and is still active as mecanized infantry.

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9th Infantry Regiment "Bari". The Chief indicates the award of the Golden Medal for Military Valour. The oval enschteon shows the Arms of Hesse. The field nebuly Sable and Argent is for Bricherasio and the field with the Eagle symbolises the old regimental colours and Savoyan Service. The sinister field shows the per pale Gules and Argent from the Arms of Bari with a fess charged with a Cross denoting service on Rhodes.

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Chris Green
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Re: Italian Army Heraldry

Postby Chris Green » 17 Feb 2014, 16:29

The three-pronged spear-like weapon in the 1st Infantry Regiment's arms is a ranseur or possibly a corseque , although it is called an alabarda (halberd) by the citizens of Trieste, though it clearly isn't.
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Marcus Karlsson
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Re: Italian Army Heraldry

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 22 Feb 2014, 11:46

Chris Green wrote:The three-pronged spear-like weapon in the 1st Infantry Regiment's arms is a ranseur or possibly a corseque , although it is called an alabarda (halberd) by the citizens of Trieste, though it clearly isn't.


It is also the symbol of the Patron Saint of Trieste San Giusto or Justinian the Martyr/the Philospher.

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Re: Italian Army Heraldry

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 22 Feb 2014, 12:04

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1st Cavalry Regiment "Nizza Cavalleria" in the Royal Version.

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1st Cavalry Regiment "Nizza Cavalleria" Modern Version. The Eagle alludes to the Savoyan roots. The Towers is the Arms of Susa. In the base the Arms of Nice (in Italian Nizza). The Regimetn was raised in 1690.

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2nd Cavalry Regiment "Piemonte Reale Cavalleria" the Royal Version. Dexter side the Arms of Piemonte, the Horse alludes to the Cavalry role. In the enchuteon the arms of Savoy.

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2nd Cavalry Regiment "Piemonte Cavalleria". The third and fourth quarters have been kept from the original arms.

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Re: Italian Army Heraldry

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 22 Feb 2014, 12:16

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3rd Cavalry Regiment "Savoia Cavalleira" Royal Version with the Cavalry Horse udner a Chief of Savoy.

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The Modern Arms of the Regiment is a bit more complicated. In the Canton the Trident of Ukraine symbolising service on the Eastern Front during World War II. Here the Regiment performed the last Mounted Attack of a Italian Cavalry Regiment at Insbuscenskij on the Don 24 August 1942.

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The 19th Cavalry Regiment "Calleggeri Guide" Arms Royal Version.

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The Modern Arms of the Regiment have kept the original simple Arms but have changed the division from per fess to a chief.

Marcus Karlsson
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Re: Italian Army Heraldry

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 22 Feb 2014, 12:29

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Example of the Crests used from the 1950ies to the end of the 1980ies here for Artillery. The Arms are those of the 5th Artillery Regiment "Superga".

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Modern Arms of the Regiment. The first quarter shows the Arms of Venaria Reale.

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Modern Arms of the 13th Artillery Regiment "Granatieri di Sardegna" (Sardinian Grenadiers). The She wolf denotes the basing of this Regiment in Rome. The Torteaux alludes to the number of the Regiment. The flaming Grenade bears the Arms of Sardinia and alludes to the name of the Regiment.

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Arms of the 131st Artillery Regiment "Centauro". The bursting grenade symbolising Artillery.

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Chris Green
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Re: Italian Army Heraldry

Postby Chris Green » 22 Feb 2014, 12:34

The 1st Cavalry's title "Nizza Cavalleria" may seem strange. Nizza (or Nice as the French and English speakers know it) was in fact only part of Italy in 1942-43. However Guiseppi Garibaldi was born there and considered that the referendum that resulted in Nice becoming French in 1860 was rigged. Nice had previously been part of the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia, which between 1814 and 1861 gradually developed into the Kingdom of Italy through a series of annexations. The title of the regiment may well have more to do with its historical connection with Garibaldi than with the city.
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