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Regulares
Encyclopedia
The Fuerzas Regulares Indígenas ("Indigenous Regular Forces"), known simply as the Regulares (Regulars), were the volunteer infantry
and cavalry
units of the Spanish Army
recruited in Spanish Morocco
. They consisted of Moroccans
officered by Spaniards. These Moroccan troops played a major role in the Spanish Civil War
(1936–39).
was expanding into the Moroccan hinterland from the long held coastal enclaves of Ceuta
and Melilla
. Previously use had been made of Moroccan auxiliaries as scouts and the designation of "regulars" appears to have been intended to distinguish the newly raised force as a permanent unit of the Spanish army. Officers and some NCOs were seconded from Peninsular regiments.
and Larache
. While they remained predominantly infantry, recognition of Moroccans' skills as horsemen led to the establishment of cavalry "tábores" (squadrons). This mounted element of the Regulares was to remain a conspicuous feature throughout the period of Spanish rule.
The Regulares infantry were known for their ability to traverse "dead ground" without being detected, but their Spanish officers' disliked unconventional warfare and only infrequently took advantage of this skill.
The Moroccan troops generally remained loyal during the Rif War
of the early 1920s, although there were reports of mutiny at Yat el Bax following the major Spanish defeat at the Battle of Annual (Spanish spelling) or Anwal (English spelling) in 1921. During this period the Regulares and the Spanish Legion
("Tercio") emerged as the elite corps of the Spanish Army - long-serving professionals on more or less continuous active service, attracting the best officers. These included the future dictator Francisco Franco
who served initially with the Regulares (from 1913) before transferring to the newly raised Tercio (whose troops were mostly Spaniards) as second in command and commander of its 1st Battalion in 1920.
In 1923 a detachment of the Fuerzas Regulares de Ceuta mounted guard at the Royal Palace in Madrid, indicating the high profile achieved by the Moroccan troops. 1923 was the year in which the reactionary General Miguel Primo de Rivera
became dictator of Spain, ruling in the King's name. In 1934 cavalry and infantry of the Regulares were brought to peninsular Spain by the Republican Government to assist in the suppression of the rising by Asturian miners that year.
With the independence of Morocco in 1956 the majority of the Moroccan personnel of the Regulares, numbering about 10,000, were transferred to the newly raised Royal Moroccan Armed Forces. The cavalry units (including Franco's ceremonial guard in Madrid) were disbanded. In 1957 the Guarda Mora (Moorish Guards) was replaced by an escort of Spanish cavalry, who however retained the white cloaks of the Regulares from the former unit.
and Ceuta
and the reduced Grupos of Tetuan, Melilla, Ceuta and Alhucemas
remained in existence as part of the two garrisons. The modern Spanish Army retains two regiments of Regulares which still parade in the fezs, sash
es and white cloaks of the traditional Moorish style uniforms, although now recruited solely from Spanish citizens, many of them natives of Ceuta and Melilla
As part of a wider reorganisation of the Spanish Army in 1996, the existing Grupos of Regulares were amalgamated into these two light infantry regiments:
In recent years detachments of Regulares have served in both Bosnia and Afghanistan.
Tabor is the name given to the Regulares' constituent battalions of infantry and squadrons of cavalry.
of the Regulares regiments and Tabors are the same as the normal Spanish Army military bands except that the Corps of Drums is a mix of drums, bugles, bagpipes and African flutes. But nowadays only the Corps of Drums is only seen in continuous active service, with military band support usually from other units.
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
and cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
units of the Spanish Army
Spanish Army
The Spanish Army is the terrestrial army of the Spanish Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is one of the oldest active armies - dating back to the 15th century.-Introduction:...
recruited in Spanish Morocco
Spanish Morocco
The Spanish protectorate of Morocco was the area of Morocco under colonial rule by the Spanish Empire, established by the Treaty of Fez in 1912 and ending in 1956, when both France and Spain recognized Moroccan independence.-Territorial borders:...
. They consisted of Moroccans
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
officered by Spaniards. These Moroccan troops played a major role in the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
(1936–39).
Establishment
The Regulares were first raised in 1911 as a "batallón indígena" of infantry. Their formation came at a time when the Spanish armySpanish Army
The Spanish Army is the terrestrial army of the Spanish Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is one of the oldest active armies - dating back to the 15th century.-Introduction:...
was expanding into the Moroccan hinterland from the long held coastal enclaves of Ceuta
Ceuta
Ceuta is an autonomous city of Spain and an exclave located on the north coast of North Africa surrounded by Morocco. Separated from the Iberian peninsula by the Strait of Gibraltar, Ceuta lies on the border of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Ceuta along with the other Spanish...
and Melilla
Melilla
Melilla is a autonomous city of Spain and an exclave on the north coast of Morocco. Melilla, along with the Spanish exclave Ceuta, is one of the two Spanish territories located in mainland Africa...
. Previously use had been made of Moroccan auxiliaries as scouts and the designation of "regulars" appears to have been intended to distinguish the newly raised force as a permanent unit of the Spanish army. Officers and some NCOs were seconded from Peninsular regiments.
History
From 1914 to 1922 the Regulares were expanded in numbers to five "Grupos" based respectively in Melilla, Tetuán, Ceuta, AlhucemasPeñón de Alhucemas
Peñón de Alhucemas , or "Lavender Rock", is one of the Spanish plazas de soberanía just off the Moroccan coast in the Alboran Sea. It is also one of several Peñones, or rock-fortresses, on the coast of Northern Africa....
and Larache
Larache
Larache is an important harbour town in the region Tanger-Tétouan in northern Morocco. It was founded in the 7th century when a group of Muslim soldiers from Arabia extended their camp at Lixus onto the south bank of the Loukkos River.In 1471, the Portuguese settlers from Asilah and Tangier drove...
. While they remained predominantly infantry, recognition of Moroccans' skills as horsemen led to the establishment of cavalry "tábores" (squadrons). This mounted element of the Regulares was to remain a conspicuous feature throughout the period of Spanish rule.
The Regulares infantry were known for their ability to traverse "dead ground" without being detected, but their Spanish officers' disliked unconventional warfare and only infrequently took advantage of this skill.
The Moroccan troops generally remained loyal during the Rif War
Rif War (1920)
The Rif War, also called the Second Moroccan War, was fought between Spain and the Moroccan Rif Berbers.-Rifian forces:...
of the early 1920s, although there were reports of mutiny at Yat el Bax following the major Spanish defeat at the Battle of Annual (Spanish spelling) or Anwal (English spelling) in 1921. During this period the Regulares and the Spanish Legion
Spanish Legion
The Spanish Legion , formerly Spanish Foreign Legion, is an elite unit of the Spanish Army and Spain's Rapid Reaction Force. Founded as the Tercio de Extranjeros , it was originally intended as a Spanish equivalent of the French Foreign Legion, but in practice it recruited almost exclusively...
("Tercio") emerged as the elite corps of the Spanish Army - long-serving professionals on more or less continuous active service, attracting the best officers. These included the future dictator Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
who served initially with the Regulares (from 1913) before transferring to the newly raised Tercio (whose troops were mostly Spaniards) as second in command and commander of its 1st Battalion in 1920.
In 1923 a detachment of the Fuerzas Regulares de Ceuta mounted guard at the Royal Palace in Madrid, indicating the high profile achieved by the Moroccan troops. 1923 was the year in which the reactionary General Miguel Primo de Rivera
Miguel Primo de Rivera
Miguel Primo de Rivera y Orbaneja, 2nd Marquis of Estella, 22nd Count of Sobremonte, Knight of Calatrava was a Spanish dictator, aristocrat, and a military official who was appointed Prime Minister by the King and who for seven years was a dictator, ending the turno system of alternating...
became dictator of Spain, ruling in the King's name. In 1934 cavalry and infantry of the Regulares were brought to peninsular Spain by the Republican Government to assist in the suppression of the rising by Asturian miners that year.
Under Franco
In 1936 the Army of Africa (in Spain the term "Africa" often meant and means just western North Africa), totaling 30,000 in the Legion and Moroccan Regulares regiments, joined the rebellion led by General Franco against the Republican Government in Madrid. After some initial difficulty, the Nationalist rebels were, with German and Italian assistance, able to get significant numbers of the African troops across the Straits of Gibraltar. The professionalism and brutality of the Army of Africa played a major part in early Nationalist successes. With the raising of substantial Nationalist forces in mainland Spain the role of the Regulares diminished but they retained a key role as shock troops until the end of the Civil War and were conspicuous in Franco's victory parade in Madrid in 1939. Their importance is also seen in the disproportionate number of decorations that they earned for their actions during the war. The numbers of the Army of Africa doubled in the course of the war to about 60,000. Following the Nationalist victory the Regulares were reduced to the five Grupos of their peace-time establishment. Franco authorized the establishment of a ceremonial mounted honour guard ("Guardia de Su Excelencia el Generalísimo") from the Regulares cavalry which, with colourful Moorish uniforms and white Arab horses, served in close attendance on him.With the independence of Morocco in 1956 the majority of the Moroccan personnel of the Regulares, numbering about 10,000, were transferred to the newly raised Royal Moroccan Armed Forces. The cavalry units (including Franco's ceremonial guard in Madrid) were disbanded. In 1957 the Guarda Mora (Moorish Guards) was replaced by an escort of Spanish cavalry, who however retained the white cloaks of the Regulares from the former unit.
Present day
Spain however retained the historic enclaves of MelillaMelilla
Melilla is a autonomous city of Spain and an exclave on the north coast of Morocco. Melilla, along with the Spanish exclave Ceuta, is one of the two Spanish territories located in mainland Africa...
and Ceuta
Ceuta
Ceuta is an autonomous city of Spain and an exclave located on the north coast of North Africa surrounded by Morocco. Separated from the Iberian peninsula by the Strait of Gibraltar, Ceuta lies on the border of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Ceuta along with the other Spanish...
and the reduced Grupos of Tetuan, Melilla, Ceuta and Alhucemas
Peñón de Alhucemas
Peñón de Alhucemas , or "Lavender Rock", is one of the Spanish plazas de soberanía just off the Moroccan coast in the Alboran Sea. It is also one of several Peñones, or rock-fortresses, on the coast of Northern Africa....
remained in existence as part of the two garrisons. The modern Spanish Army retains two regiments of Regulares which still parade in the fezs, sash
Sash
A sash is a cloth belt used to hold a robe together, and is usually tied about the waist. The Japanese equivalent of a sash, obi, serves to hold a kimono or yukata together. Decorative sashes may pass from the shoulder to the hip rather than around the waist...
es and white cloaks of the traditional Moorish style uniforms, although now recruited solely from Spanish citizens, many of them natives of Ceuta and Melilla
As part of a wider reorganisation of the Spanish Army in 1996, the existing Grupos of Regulares were amalgamated into these two light infantry regiments:
- (i) Regimiento de Infantería Ligera Regulares de Melilla n.º 52 and
- (ii) Regimiento de Infantería Ligera Regulares de Ceuta n.º 54.
In recent years detachments of Regulares have served in both Bosnia and Afghanistan.
Tabor is the name given to the Regulares' constituent battalions of infantry and squadrons of cavalry.
Modern parade march
These regiments and their attached battalions march in slow time on parade, but change to the quick march time when ready to salute. However during the 2010 National Festival parade, the Regulares Tabor marched through Madrid and saluted in slow time.Military Music Units
The military bands and Corps of DrumsCorps of Drums
A Corps of Drums is a type of military band, which originated in European armies in the 16th century. The main instruments of a Corps of Drums are the drum and the flute or fife. Unlike 'full' military marching bands, Corps of Drums exist within an infantry battalion. A Drum major is the leader of...
of the Regulares regiments and Tabors are the same as the normal Spanish Army military bands except that the Corps of Drums is a mix of drums, bugles, bagpipes and African flutes. But nowadays only the Corps of Drums is only seen in continuous active service, with military band support usually from other units.
Depiction in popular culture
The main character in the novel Kábila by Fernando González Martín (Madrid, Debate, 1980) is a Morrocan who as a teenager hates Spanish colonial troops, becomes later a soldier of the Regulares, has a major role in the Asturias repression, and ends as a high-rank commanding officer in Franco's army.See also
- Spanish ArmySpanish ArmyThe Spanish Army is the terrestrial army of the Spanish Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is one of the oldest active armies - dating back to the 15th century.-Introduction:...
- GoumierGoumierMoroccan Goumiers were soldiers who served in auxiliary units attached to the French Army of Africa, between 1908 and 1956. The term Goumier was also occasionally used to designate native soldiers in the French army of the French Sudan and Upper Volta during the colonial era.-Description:The word...
- Spanish LegionSpanish LegionThe Spanish Legion , formerly Spanish Foreign Legion, is an elite unit of the Spanish Army and Spain's Rapid Reaction Force. Founded as the Tercio de Extranjeros , it was originally intended as a Spanish equivalent of the French Foreign Legion, but in practice it recruited almost exclusively...
- FAMETFAMETThe Spanish Army Airmobile Forces An Independent Army Aviation force was formed in 1965 as Aviación Ligera del Ejército de Tierra and renamed FAMET in 1973.- Organization :* Headquarter...