The Regiment Carabiniers ''Prins Boudewijn'' – Grenadiers is an

infantry Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and mar ...

regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, service and/or a specialisation. In Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of front-line soldiers, recruited or conscript ...

in the Land Component of the

Belgian Armed Forces The Belgian Defense Forces ( nl, Defensie; french: La Défense) is the national military of Belgium. The King of the Belgians is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces. The Belgian Armed Forces was established after Belgium became indepen ...

. The regiment is a part of the Motorized Brigade. This regiment is a Dutch speaking unit.

History

Carabiniers

The 1st Rifles Regiment was formed on September 27, 1830 during the

Belgian Revolution The Belgian Revolution (, ) was the conflict which led to the secession of the southern provinces (mainly the former Southern Netherlands) from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands and the establishment of an independent Kingdom of Belgium. T ...

. They were equipped with

carbine A carbine ( or ) is a long gun that has a barrel shortened from its original length. Most modern carbines are rifles that are compact versions of a longer rifle or are rifles chambered for less powerful cartridges. The smaller size and lighte ...

s and received the title of Regiment of Carabiniers in 1850. On July 21, 1930,

King King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen regnant, queen, which title is also given to the queen consort, consort of a king. *In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contempora ...

Albert I Albert I may refer to: People Born before 1300 *Albert I, Count of Vermandois (917–987) *Albert I, Count of Namur () * Albert I of Moha *Albert I of Brandenburg (), first margrave of Brandenburg *Albert I, Margrave of Meissen (1158–1195) *Alber ...

decided that the regiment would bear the title of Regiment Carabiniers Prince Baudouin, in honour of his late brother (not to be confused with the king of the same name) who served within its ranks.

Grenadier Regiment

The Grenadier Regiment was founded on May 8, 1837 by King Leopold I. Originally designated as the ''Regiment of Grenadiers and Voltigeurs'', it was created by bringing together the elite companies of each of the twelve regiments of line infantry then in existence. The new unit consisted of four battalions; two of grenadiers and two of

voltigeurs The Voltigeurs were French military skirmish units created in 1804 by Emperor Napoleon I. They replaced the second company of fusiliers in each existing infantry battalion. Etymology ''Voltigeurs'' ( ɔltiʒœʀ English: "acrobats") were named ...

. Renamed as the ''Elite Regiment'' a year later the unit finally received the designation of Grenadier Regiment by royal command on March 5, 1850.Guy Derie, page 35, ''Les Soldats de Leopold Ier et Leopold II'', D 1986/0197/03 The new regiment was stationed in the ''Caserne Prince Albert'', in

Brussels Brussels (french: Bruxelles or ; nl, Brussel ), officially the Brussels-Capital Region (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) (french: link=no, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale; nl, link=no, Bruss ...

near the

Royal Palace This is a list of royal palaces, sorted by continent. Africa * Abdin Palace, Cairo * Al-Gawhara Palace, Cairo * Koubbeh Palace, Cairo * Tahra Palace, Cairo * Menelik Palace * Jubilee Palace * Guenete Leul Palace * Imperial Palace- ...

. Today only the monument to the fallen Grenadiers remains of it. In the Hall of Grenadiers the memorabilia and the portraits of the Royal Officers are still kept.

Carabiniers Prins Boudewijn – Grenadiers

As a result of cuts to the army after the

Cold War The Cold War is a term commonly used to refer to a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, the Western Bloc and the Eastern Bloc. The term '' cold war'' is used because t ...

, the Regiment Carabiniers Prins Boudewijn was amalgamated with the 1st Grenadier Regiment on June 27, 1992 in order to form the new Regiment Carabiniers Prins Boudewijn – Grenadiers. The unit retained its role of mechanised infantry and was stationed in Leopoldsburg. They take part in missions abroad and still have important ceremonial duties. Today there are approximately 600 Grenadiers of whom 6 are women.

Royal officers

Leopold of Belgium, Duke of Brabant; Nicaise de Keyser

Historically, the regiment had the distinction of having members of the royal family and nobility within its ranks, including: * King Leopold II * Prince Baudouin * King

* King Leopold III Today

Prince Amedeo of Belgium, Archduke of Austria-Este Prince Amedeo of Belgium, Archduke of Austria-Este (Amedeo Marie Joseph Carl Pierre Philippe Paola Marcus d'Aviano; born 21 February 1986) is a grandson of King Albert II of Belgium, and thus a member of the Belgian royal family. He is also ...

is officer of the Second Regiment of Grenadiers. Other important officers included

Francis Dhanis Francis Ernest Joseph Marie Dhanis (11 March 1861 – 13 November 1909) was a Belgian colonial civil servant and soldier noted for his service for the Congo Free State during the Congo Arab War and Batetela Rebellion. Early life and car ...

Battle honours

The following honours are displayed on the regiment's standard, they are embroidered in gold on the Belgian Colours. The current Standard was presented to the Regiment by King Albert II in 1994: * Campaign 1914-1918 * Antwerpen * Ijzer * Tervaete * Steenstraete * Westrozebeke * Passendale * Rumbeke * Battle of Belgium 1940

Ceremonial duties

The regiment provides the Guard of Honour at the following ceremonies: * the Annual Service for Prince Baudouin, Church of Laeken, * the Annual Service at the Royal Palace, presentation of the Kings Colours, 15 November, * 11 November Armistice Day. The grenadiers/carabiniers also provided Guards of Honour at the following occasions: * Wedding of the Duke of Brabant (1999), * State Funeral of Prince Boudouin, * State Funerals of Queen Elisabeth and Queen Astrid, * State Funeral of King Leopold III, * Solemn and Royal Funeral of Queen Fabiola (2014).

Organisation

Carabiniers ''Prins Boudewijn'' – Grenadiers Battalion comprises: * HQ

staff Staff may refer to: Pole * Staff, a weapon used in stick-fighting ** Quarterstaff, a European pole weapon * Staff of office, a pole that indicates a position * Staff (railway signalling), a token authorizing a locomotive driver to use a particula ...

* 1st Company * 2nd Company * 3rd Company * service Company

Lineage

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References

Sources

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Regiment Carabiniers Prins Boudewijn - Grenadiers Regiments of Belgium Military units and formations established in 1992 1992 establishments in Belgium Organisations based in Belgium with royal patronage Belgian ceremonial units Grenadier regiments