Loyal Lusitanian Legion

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The Loyal Lusitanian Legion (LLL) was a foreign volunteer corps of the

The LLL 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 its commanding officer, Colonel Robert Wilson) and Germans.

The Legion was organized in

The LLL was disbanded on 4 May 1811, after being transferred to the Portuguese Army, with its units being transformed into the 7th, 8th and 9th battalions of caçadores.

Organization

The Loyal Lusitanian Legion was organized as a regiment of light infantry, with an attached artillery battery. It included:

1. Regimental staff, LLL;
2. 1st Battalion, LLL;
3. 2nd Battalion, LLL;
4. Artillery corps, LLL.

Each battalion included 1,000 men in 10 companies. 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 uniforms 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.

References

• 1º Batalhão da LLL, Arqnet
• 2º Batalhão da LLL, Arqnet
• RODRIGUES, Manuel A. Ribeiro, Leal Legião Lusitana
• CHARTRAND, René, YOUNGHUSBAND, Bill, The Portuguese Army of the Napoleonic Wars (2), Osprey, 2000