Walloon Guards Guardia Valona | |
---|---|
Active | 1703–1820 |
Country | Spanish Netherlands (until 1713) Austrian Netherlands (1713–1795) France (1795–1815) United Kingdom of the Netherlands (from 1815) |
Allegiance | Spanish Empire |
Branch | Spanish Army |
Type | Infantry |
Role | Royal Guard |
Engagements | War of the Polish Succession War of the Austrian Succession Motín de Esquilache Spanish War of Independence |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Ramón María Narváez |
The Walloon Guards (Gardes Wallonnes; in Spanish, Guardias Valonas)[1] were an infantry corps recruited for the Spanish Army in the region now known as Belgium, mainly from Catholic Wallonia. As foreign troops without direct ties amongst the Spanish population, the Walloons were often tasked with the maintenance of public order, eventually being incorporated as a regiment of the Spanish Royal Guard.