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Members of the Royal Spanish Army, and the Filipino Guardia Civil.

Great Pictures!

The following pictures were taken by the Spanish Army, showing the Filipinos in service of His Royal Spanish Majesty's Army in the Philippines. Circa 1880s.



Filipino Infantrymen---of the Guardia Civil


Spanish-Filipino Soldiers. Members of the Royal Spanish Infantry


Filipino Officers in service of the Royal Spanish Army.


Filipino Sailors in service of the Royal Spanish Navy.


Filipino Infantrymen of the Spanish Army.



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The following was written about the Guardia Civil in the Philippines from a historic source:

LA GUARDIA CIVIL EN FILIPINAS

Para sustituir a los Tercios de Policía y Partidas de Seguridad Publica, el gobierno español redactó un proyecto de reglamento para el establecimiento de la Guardia Civil en Filipinas, que se aprobó el 24 de marzo de 1.868.

Se procedió a la formación de un Tercio para la isla de Luzón, compuesto de una Planna Mayor de mando con coronel Primer Jefe, Teniente Coronel jefe de Detall, 3 comandantes jefe de distrito ( comandancia ), dos ayudantes, profesor médico, maestro armero y cabo cornetas.

Los efectivos totales de 1.045 hombres, incluidos los jefes, daban el estado siguiente: 8 capitanes, 16 tenientes, 16 alféreces, 8 sargentos 1º, 32 sargentos 2ª, 64 cabos 1º, 64 cabos 2ª, 8 cornetas y 824 guardias civiles, dandose la novedad de que las clases de tropa eran indígenas tagalos y que constituyó este primer Tercio todo un éxito

En mayo de 1.872 se creaba el 2º Tercio para la isla de Mindanao y el 6 de abril comenzaba a prestar servicios el Tercio de la Veterana para la ciudad de Manila, capital de Filipinas.

Ambos Tercios, aparte de los servicios peculiares de orden publico del Cuerpo y auxilio en terremotos y tifones, formaron parte de varias expediciones a las islas de Joló y Mindanao en lucha contra " moros ", "Dattos " sublevados, tropas de sultanes indonesios, piratas chinos, tribus igorrotes, islas de Oceanía, etc.

En el año 1.895 se estableció el tercer Tercio para Nueva Écija completando el estadillo de la Guardia Civil en Filipinas hasta l.898 de 16 Jefes, 143 Oficiales, 534 Clases y 2.992 Guardias Civiles, siendo del total 26 de caballería y tomando los Tercios la numeración 20º, 21º y 22º correlativos con los de Cuba, Puerto Rico y España y la Guardia Civil Veterana de Manila.

http://www.eldesastredel98.com/capitulos/ejercito.htm

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About the Guardia Civil in the Philippines:


The majority of the Guardia Civil were conscripted native 'indios' as were the private soldiers of the Spanish native regiments (69-73 or thereabouts) - indeed Rizal was shot by 'indio' soldiers of the 70th Regimento de Magallanes. I tend to take the view that though they were part of Spain's administration in the Philippines they WERE 'Filipino' soldiers racially no less than the kapampangans of Francisco Manalastas who fought for Spain against the British (at the same time that Silang, Palaris and Dagohoy were fighting against Spain) or, I daresay, the Philippine Constabulary, Macabebe and later Philippine Scouts who, some Filipinos would argue were instruments of America's 'imperial regime' from 1899-1946. While there are some even here who would want to deny or 'whitewash' these 'loyalists' they are as undeniably a part of Filipino history as De Lancey's, the King's Royal New Yorkers or the British Legion are a part of American history.

Membership as indicated was by conscription and one of El Filibusterismo (Reign of Greed)'s sadder storylines tells the story of a Cabeza de Barangay (headman of a small village) named Tales (TAH-les) whose futile attempts to protect his land against the avaricious friars eventually destroys his family as his daughter becomes a househelp to pay off his debt, is later raped by a priest and kills herself and his son, Tano, is conscripted into the Guardia Civil. Later on Tales becomes a feared tulisan (bandit) chieftain and in one of the last chapters he is killed by his own son Tano (known by then as Carolino, a nickname from service in the Caroline Islands penal colonies), a Guardia Civil sharpshooter.

Many of these native Guardia Civil went over to the revolutionary forces as did the native soldiers of the 69-73rd Regimentos - hence the greater reliance of the Spanish on Peninsular troops like the Cazadores, particularly during the second period under Polavieja (the Lachambre offensive in Cavite 1897). General Licerio Geronimo's Tiradores del Muerte wore uniforms very similar to the GC, perhaps because some/many of his Tiradores were ex-GCs.

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That said,

I still am impressed in the Imperial organization of the Spaniards in ruling the Philippines, particularly the level of efficacy in their order. That even before the seeds of doubt and revolutionistic feelings rallied through the masses of the Filipino soldier in service of the King of Spain and His Army; the level of lethality the Filipino showed in combat under command of the Spanish.

The suppression of insurgencies, the suppression of the Dagohoy Rebellion in Bohol, which was suppressed by mostly Filipino soldiers of the Guardia Civil. Additionally, the rapid action that the regiments showed.

When the British took the Philippines from Spain for a brief period, the Spanish Empire was unable to rally a reconquest for 2 years due to logistical problems. However, what facilitated the reclaimatory process was the vehement loyalty of the Filipino soldiers serving under Spain.

When the Spaniards invaded the Philippines to reclaim it from Britain, the Filipino Guardia Civil rallied to the Spanish Flag, and overtook Manila and overwhelmed the British defenders. It was a complete victory.

And I find it historically important to know that it was in all actuality the Filipino soldiers that defeated the British soldiers. A combination of Filipino and Spanish soldiers took Manila, but a great majority of those regiments were 'indio' conscripts.

Just interesting to know about it, don't you think?

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Precious,

I shall try to download it. The Battle of Baler is both a significant time line for the Filipinos and the Spaniards due to its military importance. Signifying the ending of 400 years of Spanish Colonialism--torn asunder.

Thank you for the recommendation.

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Priscilla,

I downloaded a movie called "Los Ultimos de Filipinas", which is an old Spanish film based on the Siege of Baler. It's in Spanish, but the storyline is quite riveting.

here's the cover of the film:



I highly recommend it for history and romance lovers.


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The title is Baler.   
Starred by Anne Curtis (who won best actress in this film on the Manila Film Fest this December) and Jericho Rosales.

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I'm going to repost this, which I find rather interesting in seeing.



The following is a portrait of a Filipino Infantryman in service of His Royal Spanish Majesty's Royal Spanish Army. This soldier knew how to speak the lingua franca of the day, Castillian-Spanish, and was most probably a Pampangueno of origin. As a majority of Filipino conscripts that served under the Spanish Colours were either from Pampanga or The Visayas.

It is important to see the uniform of the Filipino Soldier. The soldier in the right and left are conscripts of the Spanish Guardia Civil. The soldier pictured in the center is a Filipino soldier conscripted into the Royal Army proper. Probably an educated Tagalog who studied in Madrid and came back to the Philippines to serve in the military.

Most of the educated elite or the rich elite belonged to the Principale Class, an Oligarchy ruling elite. These individuals were vehement loyalists to Spain and ran the administration in the Philippines (occupying ranks of Gobernadorcillo, Teniente primer/segundo and other administrative positions). Many Filipino youths of the Principale class sought distinction either by studying in Spain and returning back to take up positions in the Imperial Beurocracy or by enrolling in the Military Academies in Spain to come back as officers in the Royal Army to lead regiments/batallions.

Honor and Distinction. Or as many of them would shout, "Por Espana Madre, Y EL Rey!"



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Spanish Cavalry



Officer in the His Majesty's Royal Spanish Cavalry Corp


Spanish Cavalry; most stationed in Luzon and Mindanao


Spanish Cavalry Units; wearing the same uniforms in the 1890s


Spanish Cavalry Officer








Spanish Cavalry Corpman


Line Formation

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You know what is interesting?

Most of Spain's Foreign Legionaries were Filipino

In the mid half of the 19th century, Spain's expeditions to Morocco as well as in the Canaries were aided by Filipino soldiers that served in His Royal Spanish Majesty's Guardia Civil.

Filipinos joined the ranks of Spanish cavalry, in overruning forts. Filipino soldiers being sent to subdue islamic separatists in Morocco.

Even in Cuba, most of the Spanish Army that was stationed in Cuba, there were battallions that were composed of Filipino soldiers and officers that served in the Royal Guardia Civil.

Did you guys know that?

Even in the PENINSULAR WAR, thousands of Filipino soldiers were conscripted into the Spanish Army to support operations.

So loyal were the Filipinos to the Spaniards that a general of the Spanish Army once opined to the Spanish King, "Your Majesty, the retention of the colonies is due to the feasability of the Filipino soldier. 100 Filipino soldiers of the guardia civil under the command of Spanish officer is equivalent to any other foreign force."

Out of Spain's many colonies, Only the Philippines remained loyal to Spain the longest. 400 years. Half a millenia.

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Hi!  Would you know the color of the Spanish officers' uniforms of this period (Phil-American War)?  Some suspect that it was light gray.  Earlier paintings show navy blue and red.

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Spain's Military Forces that were stationed in the Philippines did go through an interesting change of styles.

During the 18th century, when the level of Hispanization of the Philippines was in full scale, the the uniforms worn by the Alcade Mayores and the Military Ruling Class consisted of the following:

Note that the Spaniards even wore their traditional "whig" attire and full coat even when they were in the heat-steaming jungles of the Philippines.


Royal Spanish Officer's Uniform.
Royal Attire.


Infantry Attire.


Spanish Royal Dragoons.


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Some portraits of the Royal Spanish Army during the era of Peninsular War; the Napoleonic Era.
(early 19th century).


Great illustrative view.


Húsares. Húsar de Maria Lluïsa en uniforme de gala



Cazadores de caballeria.


Spanish Reenactors, in Napoleonic Attire

~~











 





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To be specific, the men in green uniform were part of the elite Spanish Hussars. The light dragoons and the Hussars composed of the Spanish Heavy Cavalry, which was the force that made the Spanish Army a lethal fighting force in Europe.

Some more pictures:


Húsares. Regimiento de Húsares Españoles.








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In 1793, Spain went to war against the new French Republic, which had overthrown and executed its Bourbon king, Louis XVI. The war polarised the country in an apparent reaction against the gallicised elites. Defeated in the field, Spain made peace with France in 1795 and effectively became a client state of that country; the following year, it declared war against Britain and Portugal. A disastrous economic situation, along with other factors, led to the abdication of the Spanish king in favour of Napoleon's brother, Joseph Bonaparte.

The Empire's loss of Royal Grace led to the eventual loss of its overseas colonies, after Spain's Viceroys refused to recognize the newly elected king, Joseph Bonaparte, as King of the Spanish Throne.

Seeing him as a usurper and bearing no Royal Blood whatsoever at all.

~~~

The following pictures illustrates the Royal Spanish Army's Uniform prior to Spain's defeat to the French Empire in 1795:















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This is not surprising, since the French had a historical, social and economic effect on the fabric of Spanish Society.
The invasion of Spain by the French was devastating for Madrid because it effectively led to the loss of most of its overseas colonies, one that was a pivotal source of national pride and investment and historical purpose since the days of the courts of Aragon and Castille. Even after the war and the end of France's le'Empeur, Spain was incapable of ever reclaiming its colonies due to the severity of the Peninsular War.

Hundreds of thousands of Spanish men and boys were recruited into the French Grande Armee and sent of to wars in Western and Eastern Europe; many of them dying in the frozen tundras of Russia. In a war that was forced upon them and did not benefit Spain whatsoever at all.

In all of the nations involved in this war, throughout all of Europe, the one that suffered the most was Spain.
In one swift stroke, the French not only impressed upon the Spanish sociel gentry, her able-bodied men, but also forced heavy taxation on the people, maligned the Roman Catholic Church, and repudiated the established Aristocracy, and set in place the motion of anti-Autocratic sentiments.

After the war, Spain was left weakened, devastated, and ripe for revolution.

~~

You and I will ask: Why did Spain loose its battles to France so quickly and so easily?

ANSWER: History and military strategem indicates to us that though the Spaniards were numerically undermatched, they held their ground on the field of battle, and routed more than enough legions of the French Imperial Army. But even strategy of tactics did not win the day; as the French had numerical superiority and regional and logistic support.

Spain, technically, had a larger army than the French.
The Spanish Empire had an army and man force that exceeded over 200,00 men. But most of these were dispersed throughout the world in its colonies in Viceroyalties of Nueva Espana, La Plata, Peru. An additional 20,000 man force in Las Islas Filipinas y Guam. Leaving less than 80,000 men in the Spanish Motherland.

Though Spain was defeated in battle and though Madrid was taken by force and at point of gun and bayonnett, the Spaniards waged a relentless Guerilla Warfare with the French.


~~

Bravery, indeed, cannot be denied to the Spanish soldier in this war.
As the officers of the Royal Spanish Army would tell their men before battle, I will repeat it here:
"Los Soldados de Espana! PARA EL DIOS! PARA EL REY DE ESPANA! PARA ESPANA MADRE!"
(Soldiers of Spain! For God, For King, For Country!)

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I don't think I do. These pictures were a rare find, only through friendly history forums that I've linked to this one. Keep on searching. I'm sure if you do an archive search in the US Library of Congress you can find what you are looking for. Good Luck.

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You are welcome! Tubag Bohol Dot Com will be a source in one of your books? he he he!

May I also ask to get a copy of your book when it is published? Please contact me via PM to discuss transaction of said book.

Lorenzo Lucino.

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Spanish Cavalry





Spanish Cavalry Units; wearing the same uniforms in the 1890s


Spanish Cavalry Officer








Spanish Cavalry Corpman


Line Formation

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