The Infantry Regiment "Inmemorial del Rey" No. 1 (Spanish: Regimiento de Infantería Inmemorial del Rey no. 1) is the senior regiment of the Spanish Army, and is considered the oldest still active military unit in the world.
History
King Ferdinand III of Castille, in 1248, during the conquest of Seville, with some of his men-at-arms, assaulted and took a tower. Seemingly, with such boldness and bravery they gained the admiration of the King.
On 28 August 1632, on the initiative of Philip IV, a special corps of troops was ordered to be formed with veteran soldiers, reenlistments and knights of noble ancestry - men so skilled that they only took arms when the monarch assumed command in person, designating it "King's Guard Colonelship." Its organization commenced in Almansa in 1634, its force fixed as a three battalion force organized as fifteen companies with 90 harquebusiers, 40 musketeers, and 60 corslets and pikemen in the company, plus officers assigned. The battalions were fixed into 5 companies each with headquarters elements smaller than the regiment's. Later, in 1638, 5 more companies were added, increasing the total to 20 and gaining a 4th battalion in the process. Its first colonel, Count Duke of Olivares, Don Gaspar de Guzmán, whose post was the recently created "King's Guard Colonelship," was in command of very distinguished soldiers of great renown. In 1640, Philip IV elevated it to the category of King's Guard Regiment and in 1664 to Castile Tercio. From 1701 to 1710 it was dedicated to its ancient mission, guarding the Monarch, and it was in 1707 when it received the designation Castile, and in 1710 that of Castile Immemorial Infantry Regiment. It gained glory in the Spanish War of Succession and the Italian Campaigns (1718-1749), eventually it received the name King's Infantry Regiment on 7 January 1766.
That same year, King Charles III, persuaded by the antiquity of the regiment, declared it the King's Immemorial Regiment on account of its loyalty to the Crown.
After diverse historical changes in losing and receiving its name, it received its present designation in 1995.
Connections with royal family
Traditionally, as the regiment is linked to the Spanish royal family and to the sovereign in his/her duty as Captain General and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, all the Princes of Asturias since 1862 are enrolled as Honorary soldiers in the 1st Company. Following the tradition then Don Felipe de Borbón y Grecia (Prince of Asturias and heir to the Crown) assumed his post as a soldier in 1977.
Traditional dress uniforms
To commemorate Spain's long military tradition, in 1981 King Juan Carlos I accepted the proposal of the Chief of Staff of the Army to establish two companies with historic uniforms and armaments, which could render honors and participate in special ceremonies.
18th century
The period chosen was that from 1780 to 1786, at the end of the reign of Charles III. At this date Spanish infantry regiment had two battalions, each one formed of nine companies; one of grenadiers and eight of fusiliers. The first honor guard company wears the white infantry uniform of this period, with green facing and botoneras (metal buttons) on the waistcoat and dress coat. The second company wears a blue uniform with red facings and similar distinctions. These reflect the historic colors of the Spanish Royal Guard.
Grenadiers in the modern Infantry Regiment "Inmemorial del Rey" No. 1 are not permitted to wear glasses, but beards have recently been permitted. Historically selection for the grenadier companies of the Spanish infantry was a distinction normally reserved for the bravest and tallest soldiers of a regiment. These picked men marched at the head of the regiment, escorted the colors and were expected to form the vanguard when storming a fortified position. They wore short sabers, a distinction retained in the modern regiment. The high grenadier cap still worn, augmented their stature and the brass insignia on the strap of the cartridge pouch plus the sardinetas (special braiding) worn on their cuffs distinguished these elite companies.
The uniform described is also worn by staff personnel and the marker unit (gastadores).
Early 20th century full dress
In addition to the 18th century uniforms previously described, the Infantry Regiment "Inmemorial del Rey" No. 1 parades detachments of up to company strength, plus the regimental band, in the full dress uniform of the Spanish line infantry, as worn during the reign of King Alfonso XIII (1902-1931). This consists of the distinctive "ros" (shako), dark blue tunics with red facings and red trousers.