SPANISH ARMY OF 1885
The Spanish Army in 1885 was essentially the army of the Restoration. After a half century of warfare both internal and overseas, including the loss of her South American empire, Spain had become almost ungovernable by 1873. Only five years after the last Carlist War a group of revolutionaries overthrew the monarchy and declared a republic. Fifteen months later by a coup d’etat, Alphonso XII was restored to the throne. Spain almost immediately entered a period of prosperity which was reflected in her armed forces. The Infantry, now wearing its distinctive Ros shako, numbered 60 Regiments plus 20 battalions of light infantry and the cavalry included 24 regiments of Lancers, Dragoons, Chasseurs and two regiments of Hussars. This 250,000 man army was better trained and equipped than any before it. Ruhl’s stdy therefore does it great justice with 24 pages of uniforms, badges and schematics.
The Spanish Army in 1885 was essentially the army of the Restoration. After a half century of warfare both internal and overseas, including the loss of her South American empire, Spain had become almost ungovernable by 1873. Only five years after the last Carlist War a group of revolutionaries overthrew the monarchy and declared a republic. Fifteen months later by a coup d’etat, Alphonso XII was restored to the throne. Spain almost immediately entered a period of prosperity which was reflected in her armed forces. The Infantry, now wearing its distinctive Ros shako, numbered 60 Regiments plus 20 battalions of light infantry and the cavalry included 24 regiments of Lancers, Dragoons, Chasseurs and two regiments of Hussars. This 250,000 man army was better trained and equipped than any before it. Ruhl’s stdy therefore does it great justice with 24 pages of uniforms, badges and schematics.