Loyal Lusitanian Legion
Encyclopedia
The Loyal Lusitanian Legion (LLL) was a foreign volunteer corps of the British Army
, organized with Portuguese
émigré
s in England
, that fought in the Peninsula War. The LLL was created by the initiative of Portuguese Army
colonels José Maria Moura and Carlos Frederico Lecor
- exiled in England after the occupation of Portugal
by the Napoleonic Army - and the Portuguese Ambassador in London Chevalier de Sousa, with the support of the British Government.
The Legion received the title "Loyal" to distinguish itself from the much larger Portuguese Legion
, mobilized at the same time with the best units and officers of the disbanded Portuguese Army by direct order of Napoleon and which would fight for him in the several European campaigns.
The LLL included not only Portuguese, but also British (including it's commanding officer, colonel Robert Thomas Wilson
) and Germans.
The Legion was organized in Plymouth
, in July 1808 and landed in Oporto, Portugal
in September of the same year. Between 1808 and 1811, as part of the Anglo-Portuguese Army
, the LLL fought against the Napoleonic Imperial Armies, both in Portugal and in Spain
. It was present in the battles of Busaco and Talavera de la Reina, but was especially used to conduct raids and other irregular operations in the rear of the French Army, framing Portuguese and Spanish militia forces.
The LLL was disbanded in May 4, 1811, after being transferred to the Portuguese Army, it's battalions being transformed into battalions of Caçadores
.
, with an attached artillery battery. It included:
Each battalion included 10 companies and 1000 men. The artillery corps was a battery with six field guns and 80 men.
When the LLL was disbanded, the 1st battalion became the 7th Caçadores and the 2nd battalion the 8th Caçadores. The 9th Caçadores was organized with the rest of the Legion's men.
s similar to those of the British rifles regiments
. Furthermore, green
was the livery
colour of the Portuguese Royal House of Braganza
, to whom the Legion remained loyal.
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
, organized with Portuguese
Portuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
émigré
Émigré
Émigré is a French term that literally refers to a person who has "migrated out", but often carries a connotation of politico-social self-exile....
s in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, that fought in the Peninsula War. The LLL was created by the initiative of Portuguese Army
Portuguese Army
The Portuguese Army is the ground branch of the Portuguese Armed Forces which, in co-operation with other branches of the Portuguese military, is charged with the defence of Portugal...
colonels José Maria Moura and Carlos Frederico Lecor
Carlos Frederico Lecor, Viscount of Laguna
Carlos Frederico Lecor was a Portuguese general and politician. He was the first Baron of Laguna, in Portugal, and later ascended to Viscount of Laguna, in Brazil....
- exiled in England after the occupation of Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
by the Napoleonic Army - and the Portuguese Ambassador in London Chevalier de Sousa, with the support of the British Government.
The Legion received the title "Loyal" to distinguish itself from the much larger Portuguese Legion
Portuguese Legion (Napoleonic Wars)
The Portuguese Legion was the 30 000 men strong Portuguese military force integrated in the Napoleon's Imperial Armies, mobilized after the occupation of Portugal by the army of General Junot, in 1807.The Legion was created by direct order of Napoleon from the November 12, 1807...
, mobilized at the same time with the best units and officers of the disbanded Portuguese Army by direct order of Napoleon and which would fight for him in the several European campaigns.
The LLL included not only Portuguese, but also British (including it's commanding officer, colonel Robert Thomas Wilson
Robert Thomas Wilson
General Sir Robert Thomas Wilson Kt was a British general and politician who served in Egypt, Prussia, and was seconded to the Imperial Russian Army in 1812. He sat as the Liberal Member of Parliament for Southwark from 1818 to 1831...
) and Germans.
The Legion was organized in Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, in July 1808 and landed in Oporto, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
in September of the same year. Between 1808 and 1811, as part of the Anglo-Portuguese Army
Anglo-Portuguese Army
The Anglo-Portuguese Army was the combined British and Portuguese army that won the Peninsular War, under the command of Arthur Wellesley. The Army is also referred to as the British-Portuguese Army and, in Portuguese, as the Exército Anglo-Luso or the Exército Anglo-Português.The Anglo-Portuguese...
, the LLL fought against the Napoleonic Imperial Armies, both in Portugal and in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. It was present in the battles of Busaco and Talavera de la Reina, but was especially used to conduct raids and other irregular operations in the rear of the French Army, framing Portuguese and Spanish militia forces.
The LLL was disbanded in May 4, 1811, after being transferred to the Portuguese Army, it's battalions being transformed into battalions of Caçadores
Caçadores
The Caçadores were the elite light infantry of the Portuguese Army during the Peninsular War...
.
Organization
The Loyal Lusitanian Legion was organized as a regiment of light infantryLight infantry
Traditionally light infantry were soldiers whose job was to provide a skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of infantry, harassing and delaying the enemy advance. Light infantry was distinct from medium, heavy or line infantry. Heavy infantry were dedicated primarily to fighting in tight...
, with an attached artillery battery. It included:
- Regimental staff, LLL;
- 1st Battalion, LLL;
- 2nd Battalion, LLL;
- Artillery corps, LLL.
Each battalion included 10 companies and 1000 men. The artillery corps was a battery with six field guns and 80 men.
When the LLL was disbanded, the 1st battalion became the 7th Caçadores and the 2nd battalion the 8th Caçadores. The 9th Caçadores was organized with the rest of the Legion's men.
Uniforms
As a light infantry unit, the Loyal Lusitanian Legion received green uniformUniform
A uniform is a set of standard clothing worn by members of an organization while participating in that organization's activity. Modern uniforms are worn by armed forces and paramilitary organizations such as police, emergency services, security guards, in some workplaces and schools and by inmates...
s similar to those of the British rifles regiments
The Rifles
The Rifles is the largest regiment of the British Army. Formed in 2007, it consists of five regular and two territorial battalions, plus a number of companies in other TA battalions, Each battalion of the Rifles was formerly an individual battalion of one of the two large regiments of the Light...
. Furthermore, green
Green
Green is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light having a spectrum dominated by energy with a wavelength of roughly 520–570 nanometres. In the subtractive color system, it is not a primary color, but is created out of a mixture of yellow and blue, or yellow and cyan; it is considered...
was the livery
Livery
A livery is a uniform, insignia or symbol adorning, in a non-military context, a person, an object or a vehicle that denotes a relationship between the wearer of the livery and an individual or corporate body. Often, elements of the heraldry relating to the individual or corporate body feature in...
colour of the Portuguese Royal House of Braganza
House of Braganza
The Most Serene House of Braganza , an important Portuguese noble family, ruled the Kingdom of Portugal and its colonial Empire, from 1640 to 1910...
, to whom the Legion remained loyal.