The Regiment "Genova Cavalleria" (4th) () is a cavalry unit of the Italian Army based in Palmanova in Friuli-Venezia Giulia. The regiment is the reconnaissance unit of the Cavalry Brigade "Pozzuolo del Friuli".
The regiment was formed on 1 August 1821, with a detachment of the Regiment "Dragoni del Re", that had remained loyal to King Victor Emmanuel I during a revolt in March of the same year. In 1871, when the Royal Italian Army's cavalry regiments were numbered according to their seniority, the regiment was numbered as if founded in 1821 and thus the fourth oldest by seniority. In February 1897, the Royal Italian Army allowed the regiment to inherit the traditions and honors of the Regiment "Dragoni di Sua Maestà", which was the direct predecessor of the Regiment "Dragoni del Re". Since then the regiment is the oldest Italian Army cavalry regiment and the army's only unit, whose anniversary commemorates an 18th century battle. The regiment is also the Italian cavalry's highest decorated regiment, with two Gold Medals of Military Valor, which were awarded to the regiment for its valor in the Battle of Mondovì. Furthermore, the regiment is the Italian Army's only unit, which was awarded two medals for the same battle, and the first Italian unit, that was awarded a Gold Medal of Military Valor.
In January 1683, Victor Amadeus II ordered to form a dragoon regiment, which was soon given the name Regiment "Dragoni di Sua Altezza Reale" (Regiment "Dragoons of His Royal Highness"). From 1690 to 1696, the regiment fought in the Nine Years' War. Between 1701 and 1713, the regiment fought in the War of the Spanish Succession, durich which Victor Amadeus II personally led the regiment against French forces during the Battle of Turin in 1706. The War of the Spanish Succession resulted with the transfer of the Kingdom of Sicily to the House of Savoy. On 24 December 1713, Victor Amadeus II and his wife, Anne Marie d'Orléans were crowned in the cathedral of Palermo King and Queen of Sicily. Consequently, the Regiment "Dragoni di Sua Altezza Reale" was renamed Regiment "Dragoni di Sua Maestà" (Regiment "Dragoons of His Majesty"). From 1733 to 1735, the regiment fought in the War of the Polish Succession, and from 1741 to 1748, in the War of the Austrian Succession, during which the regiment distinguished itself in the 1746 in the Battle of Rottofreddo. From 1792 to 1796, the regiment fought in the War of the First Coalition against the French Republic. On 21 April 1796, the two of the regiment's squadrons charged and dispersed the French 5e Régiment de dragons during the Battle of Mondovì. For this act of valor King Victor Amadeus III awarded the regiment two Gold Medals of Military Valor. In November 1798, during the War of the Second Coalition, French forces occupied Piedmont, forced King Charles Emmanuel IV into exile, and formed the Piedmontese Republic, a French client-state. In spring 1799, the regiment fought on the French side against the Austrians, which disbanded the Piedmontese Republic and its military units after their victorious campaign in Italy.
In May 1814, King Victor Emmanuel I returned from exile in Sardinia and, on 1 December of the same year, the King ordered to reform the regiment as Regiment "Dragoni del Re". In March 1821 most of the regiment's personnel participated, together with the troops of two other cavalry regiments and four infantry brigades, in a revolt against King Victor Emmanuel I, who abdicated in favor of his brother Charles Felix. After the revolt Charles Felix ordered that the three cavalry regiments and four infantry brigades should be disbanded. The personnel of a detachment of the Regiment "Dragoni del Re", which had been based during the revolt in the city of Genoa () and dispersed the rebels there, was used to form the Regiment "Dragoni del Génévois". On 3 January 1832, that regiment was renamed Regiment "Genova Cavalleria". In 1848–49, the regiment fought in the First Italian War of Independence and in 1859 in the Second Italian War of Independence. In 1866, the regiment fought in the Third Italian War of Independence. In February 1897, the regiment was allowed to inherit the awards and traditions of the Regiment "Dragoni del Re". I
During World War I the regiment formed together with the Regiment "Lancieri di Novara" (5th) the II Cavalry Brigade of the 1st Cavalry Division "Friuli". The two regiments fought dismounted in the trenches of the Italian Front. In 1916, the two regiments fought dismounted in the trenches of the Italian Front. In September 1916, the Regiment "Genova Cavalleria" (4th) distinguished itself in the Seventh Battle of the Isonzo at Monfalcone, for which the regiment was awarded a Silver Medal of Military Valor. In October 1917, after the Italian defeat in the Battle of Caporetto, the II Cavalry Brigade stalled, together with the Brigade "Bergamo", the Austro-Hungarian advance in the Battle of Pozzuolo del Friuli, which allowed the Italian 3rd Army to retreat intact over the Tagliamento river. For their conduct at Pozzuolo del Friuli both regiments of the II Cavalry Brigade were awarded a Silver Medal of Military Valor. During World War II the regiment was deployed in occupied Yugoslavia on anti-partisan duty. After the announcement of the Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943 the regiment's depot in Rome organized an ad hoc battle group, which, with other units, defended Rome against invading German forces.
In November 1946, the Italian Army formed the 4th Dragoons Reconnaissance Group, which received the regiment's traditions and yellow gorget patches. In 1949, the group was expanded to 4th Armored Cavalry Regiment "Genova Cavalleria". In 1957, the regiment was assigned to the Cavalry Brigade, which in 1959 was renamed Cavalry Brigade "Pozzuolo del Friuli". In 1975, the regiment was disbanded and its I Squadrons Group became an autonomous unit and was renamed 4th Mechanized Squadrons Group "Genova Cavalleria". The squadrons group was assigned the traditions and standard of the Regiment "Genova Cavalleria" (4th). In 1993, the squadrons group lost its autonomy and entered the Regiment "Genova Cavalleria" (4th). The same year the regiment was equipped with wheeled Centauro tank destroyers.
The regiment's anniversary falls on 21 April 1796, to commemorate the regiment's conduct during the Battle of Mondovì, for which the regiment was awarded two Gold Medals of Military Valor. As one of the two Italian Army dragoon regiments, whose history dates back to the 17th century, the regiment's enlisted personnel is addressed as "Dragoon" ().
History Formation On 26 January 1683, Victor Amadeus II, Duke of Savoy issued a decree to form the first permanent cavalry regiment in his dominions. With the same decree Victor Amadeus II nominated Manfredo Giuseppe Scaglia, Count of Verrua as the regiment's first commander and established that the regiment had to be mustered within the following two months. The regiment, which was initially named Dragoons of Verrua, consisted of a staff of 18 officers and six companies of 50 dragoons each. As the regiment's troops were dressed in blue uniforms the regiment was also known as the "Dragons Bleus". A few months after its founding the regiment, which was based in Pinerolo, was given the name Regiment "Dragoni di Sua Altezza Reale" (Regiment "Dragoons of His Royal Highness").
In 1684, the regiment added two additional companies. On 7 October 1689, a second dragoon regiment was formed, which was initially known as Dragons Verts due to their green uniforms. On 4 July 1690, in preparation for the entry of Savoy into the Nine Years' War, a third dragoon regiment was formed, which was initially known as Dragons Jaunes due to their yellow uniforms. During the same year the Dragons Verts were given the name Regiment "Dragoni del Génévois" (Regiment "Dragoons of Génévois"), while the Dragons Jaunes were given the name Regiment "Dragoni di Piemonte" (Regiment "Dragoons of Piedmont"). While the Regiment "Dragoni di Piemonte" remained at its garrison to recruit and train its freshly levied troops, the regiments "Dragoni di Sua Altezza Reale" and "Dragoni del Génévois" fought on 18 August 1690 in the Battle of Staffarda. In January 1691, the Regiment "Dragoni di Sua Altezza Reale" was sent to reinforce the Regiment "Dragoni di Piemonte" at Avigliana Castle, which blocked the route to Turin to the French. On 28 May 1691, French troops stormed the castle, and while the garrison's infantry troops were taken prisoner, the two dragoons regiments escaped the same fate on their horses.
On 23 July 1692, two additional cavalry regiments were formed: the Regiment Cavaglià, which was soon renamed Cavalry Regiment "Piemonte Reale" and the Regiment Montbrison, which was renamed Cavalry Regiment "Savoia". In 1693, the Savoyard Army's three dragoon regiments added a ninth company and then fielded 36 officers and 450 dragoons. On 4 October 1693, all five Savoyard cavalry regiments fought in the Battle of Marsaglia. In 1696, the Regiment "Dragoni di Sua Altezza Reale" fought in the Siege of Valenza. On 29 August 1696, France and Savoy signed the Treaty of Turin, which ended the latter's involvement in the war, followed on 20 September 1697, by the Peace of Ryswick, which ended the Nine Years' War. Consequently, the Savoyard Army's three dragoon regiments were reduced from nine to eight companies, with each company fielding 35 dragoons. On 22 November 1699, the Cavalry Regiment "Savoia" was disbanded and its personnel and horses transferred to the Cavalry Regiment "Piemonte Reale" and Regiment "Dragoni di Sua Altezza Reale".
Cabinet Wars War of the Spanish Succession In March 1701, Duke Victor Amadeus II joined the War of the Spanish Succession on the French side. At the time the Savoyard Army's dragoon regiments fielded a staff and eight companies, which were grouped in four squadrons. Each company fielded 60 dragoons, while the regiment's staff consisted of 30 officers. On 15 August 1702, the regiments "Dragoni di Sua Altezza Reale", "Dragoni del Génévois", "Piemonte Reale" and "Savoia" fought in the Battle of Luzzara. In 1703, Victor Amadeus II entered secret negotiations with the anti-French Second Grand Alliance and in October of that year declared war on France. On 24 December of the same year, the Regiment "Dragoni di Sua Altezza Reale" added a fifth squadron of two companies and then fielded some 700 men.