View source for Regiment "Lancieri di Firenze" (9th)

{{short description|Inactive Italian Army lancer unit}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = Regiment "Lancieri di Firenze" (9th)
| native_name = Reggimento "Lancieri di Firenze" (9°)
| image = CoA mil ITA rgt cavalleria 09.png
| image_size = 160px
| caption = Regimental coat of arms
| dates = 12 Sept. 1753 — 8 Sept. 1943<br>1 Oct. 1975 — 7 Oct. 1995
| disbanded =
| country = {{ITA}}
| countries =
| allegiance =
| branch = [[Italian Army]]
| type =
| role =
| size =
| command_structure = [[Mechanized Brigade "Friuli"]]
| garrison = [[Grosseto]]
| garrison_label =
| nickname =
| patron =
| motto = "Con l'animo che vince ogni battaglia"
| colours =
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| march =
| mascot =
| anniversaries = 30 October 1918 - [[Battle of Vittorio Veneto]]
| equipment =
| equipment_label =
| battles =
| decorations = [[File:Valor militare bronze medal BAR.svg|50px]] [[File:Valor militare bronze medal BAR.svg|50px]] [[File:Valor dell'esercito bronze medal BAR.svg|50px]]<br>2× [[Bronze Medal of Military Valor|Bronze Medals of Military Valor]]<br>1× Bronze Medal of Army Valor<ref name="Quirinale - Friuli">{{cite web |title=9° Gruppo Squadroni "Lancieri di Firenze" |url=https://www.quirinale.it/onorificenze/insigniti/314086 |publisher=Quirinale - Presidenza della Repubblica |access-date=19 November 2024}}</ref>
| battle_honours =
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| identification_symbol = {{Inline block|[[File:Mostrina - "Lancieri di Firenze" (9°).png|32px]]|div}} {{Inline block|style=transform: scaleX(-1);|[[File:Mostrina - "Lancieri di Firenze" (9°).png|32px]]|div}}
| identification_symbol_label = Regimental [[Italian Army gorget patches|gorget patches]]
}}
The '''Regiment "Lancieri di Firenze" (9th)''' ({{langx|it|Reggimento "Lancieri di Firenze" (9°)}} - "[[Lancer]]s of [[Florence]]") is an inactive cavalry unit of the [[Tuscan Army]], [[French Army]], [[Sardinian Army]], and [[Italian Army]]. Formed in [[Tuscany]] in 1753 the regiment served in the [[Napoleonic Wars]], during which its troops reached [[Madrid]] and [[Moscow]]. In 1848—49 the regiment fought in the [[First Italian War of Independence]]. During the [[Second Italian War of Independence]] the regiment switched allegiance from the [[Grand Duchy of Tuscany]] to the [[Kingdom of Sardinia]] and thus became the only regiment from a pre-unification state to be integrated into the [[Royal Sardinian Army]]. The regiment participated in the [[Third Italian War of Independence]] and during [[World War I]] it fought dismounted in the trenches of the [[Italian front (World War I)|Italian front]]. In [[World War II]] the regiment was assigned to the [[2nd Cavalry Division "Emanuele Filiberto Testa di Ferro"]] and served in [[Italian protectorate of Albania (1939–1943)|annexed Albania]], [[occupied Greece]], and [[occupied Yugoslavia]] on anti-partisan duty. The regiment was disbanded after the announcement of the [[Armistice of Cassibile]] by [[Operation Achse|invading German forces]]. During the Cold War the unit was assigned to the [[Armored Brigade "Vittorio Veneto"]] as a tank unit. After the Cold War the regiment was disbanded in 1995.<ref name="Lancieri (9°)">{{cite book |last1=F. dell'Uomo, R. Puletti |title=L'Esercito Italiano verso il 2000 - Vol. Primo - Tomo II |date=1998 |publisher=SME - Ufficio Storico |location=Rome |page=61}}</ref><ref name="Feste">{{cite web |title=Le Feste dei Reparti - Ottobre |url=http://www.esercito.difesa.it/storia/pagine/ottobre.aspx|publisher=Italian Army |access-date=19 November 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Fortunato |first1=Luciano |title=Cavalleria |date=1997 |publisher=Italian Army - Rivista Militare |location=Rome |page=31 |url=https://issuu.com/rivista.militare1/docs/1997_-_cavalleria-testo |access-date=19 November 2024}}</ref>
== History ==
=== Formation ===
[[File:Ponte di Versa - 26 luglio 1866.jpg|thumb|right|Lancieri di Firenze lancers at [[Battle of Versa|Ponte di Versa]] 1866]]
On 12 September 1753 the Corps of Tuscan [[Dragoon]]s ({{langx|it|Corpo dei Dragoni Toscani}}) was formed in [[Florence]] by order of the [[Grand Duke of Tuscany]] [[Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor|Francis I]], who had been bestowed with the [[Grand Duchy of Tuscany]] by his father in law [[Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor]] in 1737. The corps consisted of two mounted and one dismounted squadron. The corps' strength was 307 men.<ref name="Lancieri (9°)"/>
=== Napoleonic Wars ===
On 2 November 1791 the corps was reduced by Grand Duke [[Ferdinand III, Grand Duke of Tuscany|Ferdinand III]] to one mounted squadron. In 1799 the corps participated in the [[War of the Second Coalition]] and fought against troops of the French-allied [[Cisalpine Republic]]. After the [[Battle of Marengo]] French forces occupied Tuscany and Grand Duke Ferdinand III was forced to abandon his Italian possession. In 1801 the [[Treaty of Aranjuez (1801)|Treaty of Aranjuez]] dissolved the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, which was replaced by the [[Kingdom of Etruria]] under the rule of [[Louis I of Etruria|Louis I]], who reduced the Corps of Tuscan Dragoons to a single company.<ref name="Lancieri (9°)"/>
On 27 May 1803 Louis I died and was succeeded by his infant son, [[Charles II, Duke of Parma|Charles Louis]], under the regency of his mother, Queen [[Maria Luisa of Spain, Duchess of Lucca|María Luisa]], who on 21 July 1803 ordered to form a Royal Corps of Dragoons. The corps consisted of four companies in two squadrons. The four companies were based at [[Florence]], [[Siena]], [[Pistoia]], and [[Livorno]]. On 21 July 1805 the Queen María Luisa reduced the corps to two companies, which form the Tuscan Dragoons Squadron.<ref name="Lancieri (9°)"/>
On 10 December 1807 [[Emperor Napoleon]] forced Queen María Luisa to abdicate and the Kingdom of Etruria came under French control. On 7 January 1808 the new authorities ordered to expand the Tuscan Dragoons Squadron to Tuscan Dragoons Regiment with two squadrons. On 29 May 1808 the formation of the regiment concluded. On 30 May 1808 the Kingdom of Etruria was annexed by the [[First French Empire]] and the regiment was integrated into the [[French Army]]. On 1 July 1809 the regiment was renamed [[:fr:28e régiment de chasseurs à cheval|28<sup>e</sup> Régiment de Chasseurs à Cheval]].<ref name="Lancieri (9°)"/>
In 1808 the regiment served in Napoleon's [[Peninsular War|invasion of Spain]] and remained in Spain until 1812. In 1811 the regiment fought in the [[Battle of Fuentes de Oñoro]]. In 1812 the regiment then left Spain to participate in the [[French invasion of Russia]], during which the regiment fought in the battles of [[Battle of Smolensk (1812)|Smolensk]], [[Battle of Borodino|Borodino]], [[Battle of Vyazma|Vyazma]], [[Battle of Krasnoi|Krasnoi]], and [[Battle of Berezina|Berezina]]. In 1813-14 the regiment participated in the [[German campaign of 1813|German campaign]], fighting in the [[Battle of the Göhrde]] and in the [[Siege of Hamburg]]. Shortly after Napoleon abdicated the throne on 11 April 1814 the 28<sup>e</sup> Régiment de Chasseurs à Cheval was disbanded.<ref name="Lancieri (9°)"/>
=== Restoration ===
In 1814 the Grand Duchy of Tuscany was restored and Grand Duke [[Ferdinand III, Grand Duke of Tuscany|Ferdinand III]] resumed his rule. The same year the Royal Corps of Dragoons is reformed. On 21 January 1816 the corps was transferred to the [[light cavalry]] and renamed Corps of Mounted Hunters ({{langx|it|Corpo dei Cacciatori a Cavallo}}), which consisted of four squadrons. On 18 June 1824 Ferdinand III died and was succeeded by his son [[Leopold II, Grand Duke of Tuscany|Leopold II]] as Grand Duke.<ref name="Lancieri (9°)"/>
=== Italian unification ===
In 1848-49 the [[First Italian War of Independence]] between the [[Kingdom of Sardinia]] and the [[Austrian Empire]] was fought in northern Italy. Leopold II sided with Sardinia and two squadrons of the Corps of Mounted Hunters participated in the war on the Sardinian side. The two squadrons fought and at the [[Battle of Curtatone and Montanara]] and at the [[Battle of Goito]]. In August 1848 the corps was equipped with lances.<ref name="Lancieri (9°)"/>
On 26 April 1859 the [[Second Italian War of Independence]] broke out and two days later Leopold II left Tuscany, which was quickly occupied by Sardinian troops. On 10 May 1859, the corps was renamed Tuscan Dragoons Regiment. Two of the regiment's squadrons participated in the war on the side Sardinian side, while the remaining two squadrons stayed in Tuscany. The war was concluded by the [[Armistice of Villafranca]], which included a provision to restore Leopold II to the throne of Tuscany, but the Tuscan National Assembly voted on 16 August 1859 to depose the [[House of Habsburg|House of Habsburg-Lorraine]].<ref name="Lancieri (9°)"/><ref name="Voghera">{{cite book |publisher= Enrico Voghera |title=Annuario militare del regno d'Italia - Volume I |date=1909 |location=Rome |page=501 }}</ref>
On 14 November 1859 the regiment was renamed Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Firenze". On 8 December 1859 the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, [[Duchy of Parma]], [[Duchy of Modena]] and the [[Papal Legations]] were merged into the [[United Provinces of Central Italy]], which on 22 March 1860 were annexed by the [[Kingdom of Sardinia]]. On 26 March 1860 the Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Firenze" joined the [[Royal Sardinian Army]] and became the only regiment from a pre-unification state allowed to retain its pre-unification regimental history and traditions.<ref name="Lancieri (9°)"/><ref name="Voghera"/>
On 6 June 1860 the regiment became a [[Lancer]] unit and was renamed Regiment "Lancieri di Firenze". In 1866 the regiment participated in the [[Third Italian War of Independence]], during which it earned a [[Bronze Medal of Military Valor]] in the [[Battle of Ponte di Versa]] on 26 July 1866. In 1868-69 the regiment operated in the [[Abruzzo]] and [[Molise]] regions to suppress the [[Brigandage in Southern Italy after 1861|anti-Sardinian revolt]] in Southern Italy after the Kingdom of Sardinia had invaded and annexed the [[Kingdom of Two Sicilies]]. Over the next years the regiment repeatedly changed its name:<ref name="Lancieri (9°)"/><ref name="Voghera"/>
* 10 September 1871: 9th Cavalry Regiment (Firenze)
* 5 November 1876: Cavalry Regiment "Firenze" (9th)
* 16 December 1897: Regiment "Lancieri di Firenze" (9th)
In 1887 the regiment contributed to the formation of the Mounted Hunters Squadron, which fought in the [[Italo-Ethiopian War of 1887–1889]]. In 1895-96 the regiment provided 2 officers and 70 enlisted for units deployed to [[Italian Eritrea]] for the [[First Italo-Ethiopian War]]. Between its founding and [[World War I]] the Firenze ceded on two occasions one of its squadrons to help form new regiments:<ref name="Lancieri (9°)"/><ref name="Voghera"/>
* 16 February 1864: Regiment "Lancieri di Foggia" (later renamed: Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Foggia" 11th))
* 1 October 1909: Regiment "Lancieri di Mantova" (25th)
In 1911 the regiment was transferred to [[Libya]] for the [[Italo-Turkish War]]. There the regiment fought in the [[Battles of Zanzur (1912)|Battle of Zanzur]] and in the [[Battle of Sidi Bilal]].<ref name="Lancieri (9°)"/>
=== World War I ===
At the outbreak of [[World War I]] the regiment consisted of a command, the regimental depot, and two cavalry groups, with the I Group consisting of three squadrons and the II Group consisting of two squadrons and a machine gun section. The regiment fought dismounted in the trenches of the [[Italian front (World War I)|Italian Front]]. In 1917 the regimental depot in [[Rome]] formed the 1498th Dismounted Machine Gunners Company as reinforcement for infantry units on the front. In 1918 the regiment earned its second Bronze Medal of Military Valor for its conduct during the decisive [[Battle of Vittorio Veneto]].<ref name="Feste"/><ref name="Lancieri (9°)"/>
=== Interwar years ===
After the war the Italian Army disbanded 14 of its 30 cavalry regiments and so on 21 November 1919 the II Group of the Firenze was renamed "Cavalleggeri di Palermo" as it consisted of personnel and horses from the disbanded Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Palermo" (30th). On 20 May 1920 the Firenze transferred one of its squadrons to the [[Regiment "Piemonte Reale Cavalleria" (2nd)]] and moved from [[Rome]] to [[Naples]], where it took over the barracks of the disbanded [[Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Lodi" (15th)]]. On the same date the Firenze lost its lances, was renamed Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Firenze" and received and integrated two squadrons of the "Cavalleggeri di Lodi". On the same date the Firenze also received the traditions of the regiments "Cavalleggeri di Lodi" (15th), "Cavalleggeri di Udine" (29th), and "Cavalleggeri di Palermo" (30th), as well as the traditions of the X Sardinian Group.<ref name="Lancieri (9°)"/>
In 1925 the regiment moved from Naples to [[Ferrara]]. On 8 February 1934 the regiment was renamed Regiment "Lancieri di Firenze". In 1935-36 the regiment contributed one officer and 540 enlisted for units, which were deployed to [[East Africa]] for the [[Second Italo-Ethiopian War]].<ref name="Lancieri (9°)"/>
=== World War II ===
{{See also|2nd Cavalry Division "Emanuele Filiberto Testa di Ferro"}}
At the outbreak of [[World War II]] the regiment consisted of a command, a command squadron, the I and II squadrons groups, each with two mounted squadrons, and the 5th Machine Gunners Squadron. The regiment was assigned to the [[2nd Cavalry Division "Emanuele Filiberto Testa di Ferro"]], which served in [[Italian protectorate of Albania (1939–1943)|annexed Albania]], [[occupied Greece]], and [[occupied Yugoslavia]].<ref name="Lancieri (9°)"/>
During the war the regiment's depot in [[Ferrara]] formed the:<ref name="Lancieri (9°)"/>
* III Armored Group "Lancieri di Firenze"
* III Road Movement Battalion "Lancieri di Firenze"
* VII Dismounted Group "Lancieri di Firenze"
* LVI Dismounted Group "Lancieri di Firenze"
On 15 July 1942 the Firenze's depot in Ferrara formed the [[Armored Reconnaissance Grouping "Lancieri di Montebello" (8th)]]. After the announcement of the [[Armistice of Cassibile]] on 8 September 1943 the regiment was disbanded by [[Operation Achse|invading German forces]] in the area of [[Tirana]].<ref name="Lancieri (9°)"/>
=== Cold War ===
{{Also|Armored Brigade "Vittorio Veneto"}}
On 21 June 1951 the Armored Cavalry Squadron "Lancieri di Firenze" was formed in Rome and equipped with [[M8 Greyhound]] armored cars. The squadron served as the reconnaissance unit of the [[Cavalry Brigade "Pozzuolo del Friuli"|Armored Division "Pozzuolo del Friuli"]]. In 1955 the squadron moved from Rome to [[Civitavecchia]]. On 1 October 1956 the squadron was expanded to Squadrons Group "Lancieri di Firenze". On 31 December 1958 the squadrons group and the Armored Division "Pozzuolo del Friuli" were disbanded.<ref name="Lancieri (9°)"/>
During the [[Italian Army 1975 reform|1975 army reform]] the army disbanded the regimental level and newly independent battalions were granted for the first time their own flags. On 1 October 1975 the II Squadrons Group of the [[Regiment "Piemonte Cavalleria" (2nd)]] in [[Sgonico]] was reorganized and renamed 9th Tank Squadrons Group "Lancieri di Firenze". The squadrons group received the name, flag, and traditions of the Regiment "Lancieri di Firenze" (9th) and joined the [[Armored Brigade "Vittorio Veneto"]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Decreto del Presidente della Repubblica 12 novembre 1976, n. 846 |url=https://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/atto/serie_generale/caricaDettaglioAtto/originario?atto.dataPubblicazioneGazzetta=1976-12-22&atto.codiceRedazionale=076U0846 |publisher=Quirinale - Presidenza della Repubblica |access-date=19 November 2024}}</ref> The squadrons group consisted of a command, a command and services squadron, and three tank squadrons equipped with [[Leopard 1]]A2 [[main battle tank]]s. At the time the squadrons group fielded 434 men (32 officers, 82 non-commissioned officers, and 320 soldiers).<ref name="Lancieri (9°)"/><ref name="Stefani">{{cite book |last1=Stefani |first1=Filippo |title=La storia della dottrina e degli ordinamenti dell'Esercito Italiano - Vol. III - Tomo 2° |date=1989 |publisher=Ufficio Storico - Stato Maggiore dell'Esercito |location=Rome |pages=1190-1192}}</ref>
For its conduct and work after the [[1976 Friuli earthquake]] the squadrons group was awarded a Bronze Medal of Army Valor, which was affixed to the squadrons group's flag and added to its coat of arms.<ref name="Quirinale - Friuli"/>
In 1986 the squadrons group was reorganized as 9th Mechanized Squadrons Group "Lancieri di Firenze" and now consisted of a command, a command and services squadron, three mechanized squadrons with [[M113 armored personnel carrier|M113]] [[armored personnel carrier]]s, and a heavy mortar squadron with [[M106 mortar carrier]]s with 120mm mod. 63 mortars.<ref name="Lancieri (9°)"/><ref name="Stefani"/>
=== Recent times ===
After the end of the [[Cold War]] the Italian Army began to draw down its forces and the Vittorio Veneto was one of the first brigades to disband. On 31 July 1991 the brigade was deactivated along with most of its subordinate units. In 1992 the Firenze moved from [[Sgonico]] to [[Grosseto]] in [[Tuscany]], where it joined the [[Mechanized Brigade "Friuli"]]. On 10 September 1992 the 9th Mechanized Squadrons Group "Lancieri di Firenze" lost its autonomy and the next day the squadrons group entered the reformed Regiment "Lancieri di Firenze" (9th). The regiment consisted of a command, a command and services squadron, and a squadrons group with three armored squadrons equipped with wheeled [[B1 Centauro|Centauro]] tank destroyers.<ref name="Lancieri (9°)"/>
From 1 October 1993 to 19 January 1994 the regiment participated with one squadron in the [[United Nations Operation in Somalia II]].<ref name="Lancieri (9°)"/> On 7 October 1995 the Regiment "Lancieri di Firenze" (9th) was renamed [[Regiment "Savoia Cavalleria" (3rd)]] and the flag of the Firenze transferred on 9 October to the Shrine of the Flags in the [[Vittoriano]] in Rome.<ref name="Lancieri (9°)"/>
== See also ==
* [[Cavalry Brigade "Pozzuolo del Friuli"]]
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{Italian Army}}
{{Italian Cavalry}}
[[Category:Cavalry Regiments of Italy]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:9th_Regiment_Lancieri_di_Firenze}}