Infantry Armament
Firearms
The average Neapolitan fusilier was typically armed with a single long-barrelled musket, alongside a 45.6cm long triangular bayonet and around 36 or so cartridges.
The main firearm used by Neapolitan line infantry throughout the Napoleonic Wars was the French Charleville Modèle 1777 musket. This was the most common musket model in Europe for most of the period and was used universally within the French Army and its client states. Most M1777 muskets in Naples were of local manufacture, coming from the Royal Manufactory at Torre dell’Annunziata, or imported abroad from the manufactories in Turin and Brescia. Additionally, musket components were produced in the foundry of Mongiana in Calabria, or in the Castel Nuovo in Naples.
In 1806, when the first Neapolitan regiments were formed, a large number of Bourbon muskets were still in circulation throughout the Kingdom; hence, both the Model 1788 and 1800 Bourbon muskets were initially employed in the line and light regiments to fill in for the lack of French muskets available. In fact, the Regulation on Issues & Possession of Small Arms issued on 1st July 1808 acknowledges that: “…the past events within the Kingdom, as well as the needs of several wars, have filled the armouries with muskets of various calibres, the use of which is authorised by urgent necessity until the wider introduction of newer weapons comes in force.” The same document lists some 3,500+ muskets of Austrian and Bourbon origin within the Naples arsenal, alongside 560 of the “French” model. This is one of the first mentions of the manufacture of French muskets within the Kingdom, considering the Royal Manufactory only began producing Charleville muskets in 1810.
Notwithstanding the attempts by the government to maximise weapon production (e.g., the exemption of weapon foundry workers from conscription), the Kingdom still found itself in need of foreign importation to fulfil the needs of the army. A large number of M1777 muskets were brought in from Franco-Italian manufactories over the years, and in 1814 weapons from captured Frenchmen were also used.
Charleville Modèle 1777/An IX
The M1777/An IX musket was the only regulation musket within the Kingdom. It came in two main variants for Line and Light Infantry.
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Overall Length | 1470mm |
| Length of Barrel | 1083mm |
| Calibre | 17,5mm |
| Weight (unloaded) | 4.375kg |
Modèle 1777/An IX Fusil de Dragon
The use of the standard infantry musket soon proved to be too cumbersome for fast-moving light infantrymen during the Revolutionary Wars; the need for a short weapon to be used by short men arose. Hence, France’s voltigeurs, chasseurs, carabiniers and cavalry skirmishers adopted a shorter version of the infantry musket, which proved easy to use although dubious terms of accuracy.
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Overall Length | 1415 |
| Length of Barrel | 1028mm |
| Calibre | 17,5mm |
| Weight (unloaded) | 4.270kg |
Alternatively, a Musketoon (also An IX) was issued to infantry sappers, 111cm long and with brass barrel bands.
Pistolet Modèle An IX
The pistol was a versatile and reliable weapon, used by sailors, cavalrymen, officers, gendarmes, and flag guards alike. The French Model An IX was introduced army-wide as the basic pistol in use.
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Overall Length | 352mm |
| Length of Barrel | 207mm |
| Calibre | 17,1mm |
| Weight (unloaded) | 1.290kg |
Pistolet Modèle An XIII
Alongside the An IX pistol came the newer An XIII pistol that only reached Naples around 1810. Its most notable difference was the shape of the barrel and its mountings. It was slightly lighter than its predecessor.
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Overall Length | 352mm |
| Length of Barrel | 207mm |
| Calibre | 17,1mm |
| Weight (unloaded) | 1.269kg |
Edged Weapons
As a sidearm, élite troops (including line grenadiers & voltigeurs) were issued the An IX and An XI Sabre-Briquets. These short sabres were handy, although rarely used in grouped attacks; in charges, the bayonet attached to the end of a musket proved superior in length and hence destructive power, owing to its thrust. However, in extremely close quarters, the briquet generally proved superior thanks to its versatility.
Sabre Briquet Modèle An IX
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Overall Length | Approx. 71cm |
| Length of Blade | 59.5-62cm |
| Width of Blade | <33.8mm |
| Weight | Information Unknown. |
Sabre Briquet Modèle An XI
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Overall Length | 75.5cm |
| Length of Blade | 59.5-62cm |
| Width of Blade | <33.8mm |
| Weight | Information Unknown. |
References
- Tonelli, Tiziano. L'armamento della cavalleria napoleonica: dalla repubblica all'impero, 1792-1815 : Regno italico e Regno di Napoli. Italy, E. Albertelli, 2001.
- Haythornthwaite, Philip J.. Weapons and Equipment of the Napoleonic Wars. United Kingdom, Arms and Armour, 1999.
- Elting, John R.. Swords Around A Throne: Napoleon's Grande Armée. United States, Hachette Books, 2009.
- Haythornthwaite, Philip. Napoleon's Line Infantry. United Kingdom, Bloomsbury Publishing, 2012.
- Cristini, Luca Stefano, and Fernandez, Claudio. L'esercito del regno di Napoli, 1806-15. Italy, Soldiershop, 2014.
- Crociani, Piero, and Brandani, Massimo. L’Esercito Napoletano 1806/15: Fanteria di Linea. EMI editore, Milano 1987.
