Spanish Royal Guard
Encyclopedia
The Royal Guard is an independent unit of the Spanish Armed Forces
dedicated to the military protection of H.M.
the King of Spain and the members of the Spanish Royal Family
. It currently has a strength of 1,900 troops. While the guard does participate in parades and other ceremonial events, it is a fully functional combat unit. Its members are recruited from the ranks of all three branches of the Spanish Armed Forces and receive the same training as regular soldiers. Some units have served recently in Afghanistan and Bosnia
The history of the Royal Guard dates back to Medieval times. The senior unit and one of the oldest body guards in the World is the Corps of Gentlemen of the Chamber, the "Monteros de Espinosa
", dating to 1006 and created by Sancho Garcia of the House of Castile. The present functions of the unit include the protection of the members of Spanish Royal Family
, of the foreign Chiefs of State in visit to Spain
and of the royal palaces like the Royal Palace of Madrid
, the Palace of El Pardo
, the Palacio de la Zarzuela
and others.
Spanish Armed Forces
The Spanish Armed Forces are the military forces of the Kingdom of Spain. The Spanish Armed Forces are a modern military force charged with defending the Kingdom's integrity and sovereignty...
dedicated to the military protection of H.M.
Majesty
Majesty is an English word derived ultimately from the Latin maiestas, meaning "greatness".- Origin :Originally, during the Roman republic, the word maiestas was the legal term for the supreme status and dignity of the state, to be respected above everything else...
the King of Spain and the members of the Spanish Royal Family
Spanish Royal Family
The Royal Family of the Kingdom of Spain consists of the current king, Juan Carlos, his spouse, Queen Sofia of Spain and their direct descendants. The Spanish royal family belongs to the House of Borbón...
. It currently has a strength of 1,900 troops. While the guard does participate in parades and other ceremonial events, it is a fully functional combat unit. Its members are recruited from the ranks of all three branches of the Spanish Armed Forces and receive the same training as regular soldiers. Some units have served recently in Afghanistan and Bosnia
The history of the Royal Guard dates back to Medieval times. The senior unit and one of the oldest body guards in the World is the Corps of Gentlemen of the Chamber, the "Monteros de Espinosa
Monteros de Espinosa
The Monteros de Espinosa are the oldest Bodyguard unit of Royal Guards in Europe. Founded by the Counts of Castile around the year 1006 and kept in service by the Castilian Sovereigns and posterior Dynasties that inherited their Kingdoms and united with...
", dating to 1006 and created by Sancho Garcia of the House of Castile. The present functions of the unit include the protection of the members of Spanish Royal Family
Spanish Royal Family
The Royal Family of the Kingdom of Spain consists of the current king, Juan Carlos, his spouse, Queen Sofia of Spain and their direct descendants. The Spanish royal family belongs to the House of Borbón...
, of the foreign Chiefs of State in visit to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and of the royal palaces like the Royal Palace of Madrid
Royal Palace of Madrid
The Palacio Real de Madrid is the official residence of the King of Spain in the city of Madrid, but it is only used for state ceremonies. King Juan Carlos and the Royal Family do not reside in the palace, choosing instead the more modest Palacio de la Zarzuela on the outskirts of Madrid...
, the Palace of El Pardo
El Pardo
The Royal Palace of El Pardo is a historical building near Madrid, Spain, in the present-day district of Fuencarral-El Pardo. Owned by the Spanish state and administered by the Patrimonio Nacional agency, the palace began as a hunting lodge.-Overview:...
, the Palacio de la Zarzuela
Palacio de la Zarzuela
Zarzuela Palace is the principal residence of King Juan Carlos of Spain and Queen Sofia and their family. The palace is on the outskirts of Madrid, near the Royal Palace of El Pardo. The complex also houses the official residence of the Prince and Princess of Asturias in a nearby mansion...
and others.
Organization
- High Command of the Royal Guard
- High Command Group
- HQ Company
- Security Company
- Communications Company
- Formation Center
- Religious Service of the Royal Guard
- Escorts Group
- Group HQ
- Military Control Company
- Perimeter Control Section
- Attack Dog Section
- Motorcycle Section
- Military Guard Company
- 1st Security Section
- 2nd Security Section
- Royal Guards Halberdiers Corps Section
- Royal Escort Squadron
- Mounted Band of Timpani and Bugles
- Mounted Spearmen Squadron
- CuirassierCuirassierCuirassiers were mounted cavalry soldiers equipped with armour and firearms, first appearing in late 15th-century Europe. They were the successors of the medieval armoured knights...
s Troop - LancerLancerA lancer was a type of cavalryman who fought with a lance. Lances were used in mounted warfare by the Assyrians as early as and subsequently by Greek, Persian, Gallic, Han-Chinese, nomadic and Roman horsemen...
s Troop
- Royal Horse Artillery Battery
- Honors Group
- Group HQ
- Army Company "Monteros de Espinosa"
- 1st Platoon
- 2nd Platoon
- 3rd Platoon
- Navy and Marine Composite Company "Oceanic Sea"
- 1st Platoon
- 2nd Platoon
- 3rd Platoon
- Air Force Squadron "Plus Ultra"
- 1st Flight
- 2nd Flight
- 3rd Flight
- Logistics Group
- Group HQ
- Maintenance Company
- Transportation Company
- Logistics Directoriates
- Musical Unit of the Armed Forces Royal Guard
- Musical Unit HQ and High Command
- Symphonic Military bandMilitary bandA military band originally was a group of personnel that performs musical duties for military functions, usually for the armed forces. A typical military band consists mostly of wind and percussion instruments. The conductor of a band commonly bears the title of Bandmaster or Director of Music...
of the Royal Guard - Corps of DrumsCorps of DrumsA Corps of Drums is a type of military band, which originated in European armies in the 16th century. The main instruments of a Corps of Drums are the drum and the flute or fife. Unlike 'full' military marching bands, Corps of Drums exist within an infantry battalion. A Drum major is the leader of...
of the Royal Guard (Drums and bugleBugleBugle is a brass musical instrument.Bugle may also refer to:* Contrabass bugle, lowest-pitched instrument in the drum and bugle corps hornline* Bugle , common names of flowering plant genus Ajuga...
s) - FifeFifeFife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
Section and Pipe bandPipe bandA pipe band is a musical ensemble consisting of pipers and drummers. The term used by military pipe bands, pipes and drums, is also common.... - Brass bandBrass bandA brass band is a musical ensemble generally consisting entirely of brass instruments, most often with a percussion section. Ensembles that include brass and woodwind instruments can in certain traditions also be termed brass bands , but are usually more correctly termed military bands, concert...
of the Royal Guard
External links
- Official page of the Royal Guard (in Spanish)
- Gardes du CorpsGarde du Corps (France)The Garde du Corps was the senior formation of the King of France's Household Cavalry within the Maison du Roi.-History:The oldest company in the Garde du Corps was the Company of Scottish Archers, later just the 1st Scottish Company or Garde Écossaise, formed in 1419 from Scots that fought for...