Anniversary of the establishment of the "Lancieri di Montebello" regiment

16/09/14

Today is the 155 anniversary of the establishment of the regiment "Lancieri di Montebello", born in Voghera the 16 September 1859, following the victorious battle of Montebello (Pavia), fought against the Austrian V Army Corps during the 2 ^ War of Independence.

Unique in Italy among the cavalry regiments to draw origin and name from a fact of arms, was constituted on three squadrons coming respectively from regiments "Novara", "Aosta" and "Monferrato" that, under the orders of Colonel De Sonnaz, had arrested the Austro-Hungarian advance.

In particular, on the occasion of this anniversary, two different celebrations were held.

The first took place in Rome, the permanent seat of the regiment and the city with which it interweaved its history inextricably, deserving in the defense of Porta San Paolo of 1943 the Silver Medal to Military Valor and finally sealing these links with the conferment of citizenship. honorary.

The second one took place in the "Villaggio Italia" base, near the town of Peja / Pec, in Kosovo, where the Banner of the "Lancieri di Montebello" Regiment has already flown the Multinational Battle Group West for more than three months. multinational unit, responsible for the western sector of the country, which frames Italian soldiers, Moldovans, Slovenes and Austrians under the orders of Colonel Angelo Minelli, commander of the "Green Lancieri".

Today's mission in Kosovo is a moment of particular importance for the history of the "Lancieri di Montebello", which for the first time have crossed national borders following the banner, although the individual squadrons and the personnel of the regiment have nevertheless been formerly employed in Somalia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan and Lebanon, as well as in missions throughout Italy, such as "Sicilian Vespers", "Santa Barbara", "Domino" and "Strade Sicure".

The unit, currently employed by the Granatieri di Sardegna brigade, includes a group of explorer squadrons and a group of horse squadrons, which daily performs high-representation services and state ceremonies at the Quirinale palace, the senate of the republic, the chamber of the deputies and the sacellum of the unknown soldier at the altar of the homeland.

Source: Italian contingent in Kosovo