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Papal Zouaves
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Papal Zouaves
The Papal Zouaves (Italian: Zuavi Pontifici) were an infantry battalion (later regiment) dedicated to defending the Papal States. Named after the French zouave regiments, the Zuavi Pontifici were mainly young men, unmarried and Catholic, who volunteered to assist Pope Pius IX in his struggle against the Italian unificationist Risorgimento.
The Zouaves evolved out of a unit formed by Louis Juchault de Lamoricière on 23 May 1860, the 'Company of Franco-Belgian Tirailleurs'. The company was quickly increased to an 8-company battalion by amalgamating the Tirailleurs with another volunteer unit, the 'Crusaders of Cathelineau'.
On 1 January 1861 the unit was renamed the Papal Zouaves, after already proving themselves in 1860. The name had been introduced by Xavier de Mérode. The Almoner was Mgr. Edouard de Woelmont.
The unit was commanded by the Swiss colonel Eugène Allet (1814–1878), from Leuk, who had previously served in the Pontifical Swiss Guard under Pope Gregory XVI. All orders were given in French.
From 1867 to 1868, the Papal Zouaves increased their strength from that of a single battalion to a four-battalion regiment, each battalion having six active and one depot company.
Initially, the French and Belgian unit was mostly composed of young aristocrats and gentlemen. Later on, the unit was truly international, and by May 1868 numbered 4,592 men. A British volunteer, Joseph Powell, noted in his account of his service with the Papal Zouaves that at least three individuals of African descent and one person from China served in the Zouaves.
Between February 1868 and September 1870, the number of Canadian volunteers, mainly from the Francophone and majority Catholic province of Quebec, rose to seven contingents numbering some 500 men in total – with a contingent of 114 turning back to Canada because news had reached them of the surrender of the Papal States in September 1870.
In addition to involvement in the suppression of brigandage between 1864 and 1868, the Papal Zouaves were employed in humanitarian relief when a cholera epidemic devastated Albano during early 1867. All members of two companies of the 1st Battalion were decorated by Pope Pius IX for their work in burying the dead and tending to the infected.
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Papal Zouaves
The Papal Zouaves (Italian: Zuavi Pontifici) were an infantry battalion (later regiment) dedicated to defending the Papal States. Named after the French zouave regiments, the Zuavi Pontifici were mainly young men, unmarried and Catholic, who volunteered to assist Pope Pius IX in his struggle against the Italian unificationist Risorgimento.
The Zouaves evolved out of a unit formed by Louis Juchault de Lamoricière on 23 May 1860, the 'Company of Franco-Belgian Tirailleurs'. The company was quickly increased to an 8-company battalion by amalgamating the Tirailleurs with another volunteer unit, the 'Crusaders of Cathelineau'.
On 1 January 1861 the unit was renamed the Papal Zouaves, after already proving themselves in 1860. The name had been introduced by Xavier de Mérode. The Almoner was Mgr. Edouard de Woelmont.
The unit was commanded by the Swiss colonel Eugène Allet (1814–1878), from Leuk, who had previously served in the Pontifical Swiss Guard under Pope Gregory XVI. All orders were given in French.
From 1867 to 1868, the Papal Zouaves increased their strength from that of a single battalion to a four-battalion regiment, each battalion having six active and one depot company.
Initially, the French and Belgian unit was mostly composed of young aristocrats and gentlemen. Later on, the unit was truly international, and by May 1868 numbered 4,592 men. A British volunteer, Joseph Powell, noted in his account of his service with the Papal Zouaves that at least three individuals of African descent and one person from China served in the Zouaves.
Between February 1868 and September 1870, the number of Canadian volunteers, mainly from the Francophone and majority Catholic province of Quebec, rose to seven contingents numbering some 500 men in total – with a contingent of 114 turning back to Canada because news had reached them of the surrender of the Papal States in September 1870.
In addition to involvement in the suppression of brigandage between 1864 and 1868, the Papal Zouaves were employed in humanitarian relief when a cholera epidemic devastated Albano during early 1867. All members of two companies of the 1st Battalion were decorated by Pope Pius IX for their work in burying the dead and tending to the infected.
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