Brontekst bekijken van Fusilier

{{short description|Legacy name for certain soldiers}}
{{About||the hamlet in Canada|Fusilier, Saskatchewan|the mountain on South Georgia Island|Fusilier Mountain|the fishes|Caesionidae}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
[[File:Fusiliers de La Morlière - Fantassin XVIIIe siècle.jpg|thumb|225px|A member of the [[French Army]]'s {{langr|fr|Fusiliers de La Morlière}}, armed with a [[flintlock]], {{circa|1745–1749}}]]
'''''Fusilier''''' is a name given to various kinds of [[soldier]]s; its meaning depends on the historical context. While ''fusilier'' is derived from the 17th-century [[French language|French]] word {{lang|fr|fusil}} – meaning a type of [[flintlock]] [[musket]] – the term has been used in contrasting ways in different countries and at different times, including soldiers guarding [[artillery]], various [[special forces|elite units]], ordinary [[line infantry]] and other uses.

== Derivation of the word ==
The word ''fusil'', which was the name of the type of musket carried by a fusilier, is itself derived from the Old French and Latin {{lang|la|foisil}}, meaning a piece of flint.<ref>[[Frédéric Godefroy|Godefroy, Frédéric]], {{lang|fr|Dictionnaire de l'ancienne langue française et de tous ses dialectes du IX<sup>e</sup> au XV<sup>e</sup> siècle (1881)}}([http://micmap.org/dicfro/search/dictionnaire-godefroy/foisil foisil])</ref>

==History==
[[Image:Fus. Urwin and Eastwood 2, AHD, 5-19-07.jpg|thumb|[[historical reenactment|Reenactor]]s in the uniform of the [[Royal Welch Fusiliers]] (23rd Regiment of Foot), one of the first British fusilier units]]
[[Flintlock]] small arms were first used militarily during the early 17th century. Flintlocks, at the time, were more reliable and safer to use than [[matchlock]] muskets, which required a [[match]] to be lit near the [[Breech-loading weapon|breech]] before the weapon could be triggered. By contrast, flintlocks were fired using a piece of [[flint]]. By the time of the [[English Civil War]] (1642–1652), one flintlock musket, the [[snaphance]], was in common use in Britain.

The term ''fusiliers'' was first used officially by the [[French Army]] in 1670, when four fusiliers were distributed among each [[company (military unit)|company]] of infantry.<ref name="Nolan">Cathal J. Nolan, 2008, ''Wars of the Age of Louis XIV'', 1650–1715, Westport, Conn.; Greenwood Press, p168.</ref> The following year the {{langr|fr|Fusiliers du Roi}} ("King's Fusiliers"), the first [[regiment]] composed primarily of soldiers with flintlocks, was formed<ref name="Nolan" /> by [[Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban]].

Guarding and escorting [[artillery]] pieces was the first task assigned to the {{langr|fr|Fusiliers du Roi}}: flintlocks were especially useful around [[field artillery]], as they were less likely than matchlocks to accidentally ignite open barrels of [[gunpowder]], required at the time to load [[cannon]].<ref name="Nolan"/> At the time, artillery units also required guards to maintain discipline amongst civilian [[drayman|draymen]].<ref name="barnes">{{cite book |title=A History of the Regiments and Uniforms of the British Army |last=Barnes |first=R M |year=1972 |publisher=Sphere Books |page=28}}</ref> Hence the term fusilier became strongly associated with the role of guarding artillery in Britain and the English-speaking world,<ref name="barnes" /> especially after the formation of the first official "Fusilier" units, during the 1680s. As late as the [[Seven Years' War]] of 1756–1763, the Austrian Army maintained an Artillery Fusilier Regiment for the exclusive roles of providing support for field batteries on the battlefield and of protecting the artillery when on the march and in camp.<ref>{{cite book|first=J.|last=Braithwaite|page=24|title=Uniforms of the Seven Years' War Austria|year=1975|publisher=Greenwood and Ball Limited |isbn=0-904555-01-1}}</ref>

During the 18th century, as flintlocks became the main weapon used by infantry, the term fusilier gradually ceased to have this meaning and was applied to various units.<ref name="Nolan" />

==Fusiliers by country==
===Belgium===
The [[Belgian Army]] has no specific regiment called fusiliers, but the general denomination for infantry soldiers is ''storm fusilier'' ({{lang-nl|stormfuselier}}; {{lang-fr|fusilier d'assaut}}).

The [[Belgian Navy]] used to have a regiment of marine infantry composed of {{lang|fr|marine fusiliers}} in charge of the protection of the naval bases. However this unit was disbanded in the 1990s reforms.

===Brazil===
Adopting a number of practices from the Portuguese military in the 19th century, the [[Brazilian Army]] uses the term {{lang|pt|fuzileiros}} (fusiliers) to designate the regular line infantry, as opposed to the [[grenadiers]] ({{lang|pt|granadeiros}}) and the light infantry ({{lang|pt|caçadores}} and {{lang|pt|atiradores}}). In addition, the [[Brazilian Marine Corps]] is called {{lang|pt|Fuzileiros Navais}} (Naval Fusiliers).

===Canada===
There are five fusilier regiments, patterned on the British tradition, in the [[Canadian Army]]. The [[Royal 22nd Regiment]], although not fusiliers, wears fusilier ceremonial uniform with scarlet plumes, because of its alliance with the Royal Welch Fusiliers.

The five current Canadian fusilier regiments are:
*[[The Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada]] (which wears Highland uniform, but with white fusilier hackles on [[balmoral bonnet]]s)
*{{langr|fr|[[Les Fusiliers du St-Laurent]]}}, white plume
*{{langr|fr|[[Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal]]}}, white plume
*[[The Princess Louise Fusiliers]] (which wear a grey hackle as a token of their alliance with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, now part of the Royal Irish Regiment)
*{{langr|fr|[[Les Fusiliers de Sherbrooke]]}}, white plume

Former Canadian Army fusilier regiments include the following:

* [[The Irish Fusiliers of Canada (The Vancouver Regiment)]] existed in [[Vancouver]], British Columbia, and served in the Canadian Army from 1913 until 1965 when it was reduced to nil strength and placed on the [[Supplementary Order of Battle]]. In 2002, it was taken off the Supplementary Order of Battle and amalgamated with the [[British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own)]].
* [[The Canadian Grenadier Guards]] in [[Montreal]] were known as the 1st Regiment "Prince of Wales' Fusiliers" before 1911.
* [[The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)]] existed in [[London, Ontario]], from 1866 until 1954 when they were amalgamated with [[The Oxford Rifles]] and became the London and Oxford Fusiliers (3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment) – now the 4th Battalion, [[The Royal Canadian Regiment]].
* [[The Essex Scottish Regiment]] of [[Windsor, Ontario]] were first known as the Essex Fusiliers from 1887 until 1927. In 1954, they were amalgamated with [[The Kent Regiment]] to form [[The Essex and Kent Scottish]].
* [[The Northern Pioneers]] when first raised in [[Parry Sound, Ontario]] in 1903 were first known as the 23rd Regiment "Northern Fusiliers" until they were renamed a year later. They now form part of [[The Algonquin Regiment (Northern Pioneers)]].
*[[The Saint John Fusiliers]] existed in [[Saint John, New Brunswick]], from 1872 until 1946 when they were amalgamated with [[The New Brunswick Rangers]] to become [[The New Brunswick Scottish]]. They now form part of [[The Royal New Brunswick Regiment]].
* The [[88th Regiment Victoria Fusiliers|88th Regiment (Victoria Fusiliers)]] existed in [[Victoria, British Columbia]], from 1912 until 1920 when they amalgamated with the 50th Regiment (Gordon Highlanders of Canada) to become [[The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's)]].
*The [[105th Regiment (Saskatoon Fusiliers)]] existed in [[Saskatoon]] from 1912 until 1920 when they were amalgamated with the [[52nd Regiment (Prince Albert Volunteers)|52nd Regiment Prince Albert Volunteers]] to form [[The North Saskatchewan Regiment (1920–1924)]]. In 1924, The North Saskatchewan Regiment was later reorganised into four separate regiments: [[The Yorkton Regiment]] (now the [[64th Field Battery, RCA]]), [[The Saskatoon Light Infantry]], [[Prince Albert Volunteers|The Prince Albert Volunteers]] and The Battleford Light Infantry. They now form part of [[The North Saskatchewan Regiment]].
*The [[Scots Fusiliers of Canada]] existed in [[Kitchener, Ontario]], from 1914 until 1965 when they amalgamated with the [[Highland Light Infantry of Canada]] to form The Highland Fusiliers of Canada – later renamed as the Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada (see above).

===France===
[[Image:1er RFM flag guard Bastille Day 2008.jpg|thumb|right|The flag of the 1st Regiment of [[Fusiliers Marins|Naval Fusiliers]] at the 2008 [[Bastille Day Military Parade]]]]
By the mid-18th century, the [[French Army]] used the term ''fusiliers'' to designate ordinary [[line infantry]], as opposed to specialist or élite infantry, such as ''[[grenadier]]s'', {{lang|fr|[[voltigeur]]s}}, {{lang|fr|[[carabinier]]s}} or {{lang|fr|[[chasseur]]s}}.

The modern French Army no longer uses the term ''fusiliers'', although a number of its infantry regiments descend from fusilier regiments.

The term ''fusiliers'' is still used in the navy and air force. They provide protection detachments, performing security and policing duties on land bases and installations as well as on ships. The commandos are selected from their ranks. The commandos are special forces units. They are:
*[[French Navy]]: {{langr|fr|Force maritime des [[fusiliers marins]] et commandos}} ([[FORFUSCO]])
*[[French Air Force]]: {{langr|fr|[[Fusiliers Commandos de l'Air]]}}

===Germany===
[[Image:Prussian Fusiliers.jpg|thumb|Fusiliers of the Prussian Army in the late 18th century]]
Prussia made early use of the title {{lang|de|Füsilier}} for various types of infantry. In 1705, the Foot Guards ({{lang|de|[[Leibgarde (military)|Leibgarde]] zu Fuß}}) were designated as Fusilier Guards.<ref>Richard Knotel, page 121 ''Uniforms of the World'', {{ISBN|0-684-16304-7}}</ref> By 1837, low-quality infantry raised from [[garrison]] companies also were named fusiliers. These latter units were dressed in blue with low [[mitre]] caps.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kronoskaf.com/syw/index.php?title=Prussian_Army#Prussian_Fusilier_Regiments |title = Prussian Army - Project Seven Years' War}}</ref> Between 1740 and 1743 [[Frederick the Great]] raised 14 separate Fusilier Regiments (numbers 33–40, 41–43 and 45–48).<ref>Albert Seaton. ''Frederick the Great's Army''. {{ISBN|0-85045-151-5}}. pp. 9, 24.</ref> Except for the mitre caps, these new regiments were identical in appearance, training and role to the existing line infantry ([[musketeer]]s).

Subsequently, [[Prussia]] and several other German states used the designation {{lang|de|Füsilier}} to denote a type of [[light infantry]], usually dressed in green and acting as [[skirmishers]]. In the [[Prussian Army]], they had been formed in 1787 as independent battalions, with many of the officers having had experience in the American Revolutionary War. The Prussian reforms of 1808 absorbed the fusiliers into the third battalion of each [[line infantry]] regiment. Now wearing the same [[Prussian blue]] uniforms as standard musketeers, they were distinguished by black leather belts, and a slightly different arrangement of cartridge pouches.

In the [[Prussian Army]] of 1870, Infantry Regiments 33 to 40 plus Regiments 73 ([[Province of Hanover|Hanover]]), 80 ([[Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel|Hesse-Kassel]]<!--Using spelling preferred at that article. There's currently (September 2023) no consensus on whether to use this or the more historically accurate spelling "Hesse-Cassel" but it's better not to clutter a tangentially related article with alternatives-->) and 86 ([[Province of Schleswig-Holstein|Schleswig-Holstein]]) were all designated as fusiliers, as was the [[Guards Fusilier Regiment|Guard Fusilier Regiment]]. In addition, the third battalions of all guard, [[grenadier]] and line infantry regiments retained the designation 'Fusilier Battalion'. They were armed with a slightly shorter version of the [[Dreyse needle gun|Dreyse rifle]] ({{lang|de|Füsiliergewehr}}), that took a [[sword bayonet]] ({{lang|de|Füsilier-Seitengewehr}}) rather than the standard socket [[bayonet]]. Although still theoretically skirmishers, in practice they differed little from their compatriots, as all Prussian infantry fought in a style that formed a dense 'firing' or 'skirmish' line.

By the 1880s, the title was honorific and, while implying 'specialist' or 'elite', did not have any tactical significance. In a sense, all infantry were becoming fusiliers, as weapons, tactics and equipment took on the fusilier characteristics – that is: skirmish line, shorter rifles, sword bayonets, black leather equipment, and the use of bugles (rather than drums) to relay commands. Nonetheless, these titular units remained in existence until the end of the German Imperial Army in 1918, as follows:

*[[Guards Fusilier Regiment|Guard Fusilier Regiment]]
*[[33rd (East Prussian) Fusiliers "Count Roon"|Fusilier Regiment Count Roon]] ([[Province of East Prussia|East Prussia]]n) No. 33
*Fusilier Regiment Queen Victoria of Sweden ([[Province of Pomerania (1815–1945)|Pomerania]]n) No. 34
*Fusilier Regiment Prince Henry of Prussia ([[Province of Brandenburg|Brandenburg]]) No. 35
*Fusilier Regiment General Field Marshal Count Blumenthal ([[Duchy of Magdeburg|Magdeburg]]) No. 36
*Fusilier Regiment von Steinmetz ([[West Prussia]]n) No. 37
*Fusilier Regiment Field Marshal Count Moltke ([[Province of Silesia|Silesia]]n) No. 38
*Lower [[Rhine Province|Rhineland]] Fusilier Regiment No. 39
*Fusilier Regiment Prince Charles Anton of [[Province of Hohenzollern|Hohenzollern]] No. 40
*Fusilier Regiment Field Marshal Prince Albert of Prussia (Hanoverian) No. 73
*Fusilier Regiment von Gerdsdorff (Electoral Hessian) No. 80
*Fusilier Reqiment Queen (Schleswig-Holstein) No. 86
*Grand-Ducal [[Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin|Mecklenburg]] Fusilier Regiment No. 90
*[[122nd Fusilier Regiment (Württemberg)|Fusilier Regiment Emperor Francis Joseph of Austria King of Hungary (4th Royal)]] [[Kingdom of Württemberg|Württemberg]] No. 122

In addition, there was the following regiment:

*Royal [[Kingdom of Saxony|Saxon]] {{lang|de|[[Schützen (military)|Schützen]]}} (Fusilier) Regiment Prince George No. 108

This was a special case, as it was also classed as {{lang|de|Schützen}} ([[sharpshooter]]): this designation originally signified a type of {{lang|de|[[Jäger (military)|Jäger]]}} ([[rifleman]], literally 'hunter'), and thus the regiment wore the {{lang|de|Jäger}}-style dark green uniform.

The various Fusilier regiments and battalions in the German Imperial Army of 1914 did not have any single distinctions of dress or equipment to distinguish them as fusiliers. Individual regiments did, however, have special features worn with the dark blue full dress. Some of these features were maintained on the field grey dress of the trenches right up to 1918. As examples in full dress, the Guard Fusiliers had nickel buttons and yellow shoulder straps, and the 80th Fusiliers special braiding on collars and cuffs (deriving from their origin as the Elector of Hesse's Guards). When a regiment was permitted the distinction of a horse-hair plume on the [[pickelhaube]], for fusiliers it was always black. This included the third (Fusilier) Battalion of those regiments normally distinguished by a white horse-hair plume.

In World War II, the elite German Division {{lang|de|[[Panzer-Grenadier-Division Großdeutschland|Großdeutschland]]}} contained a regiment titled {{lang|de|Panzerfüsiliere}} ([[Panzer-Grenadier-Division Großdeutschland#Panzerfüsilier Regiment "Großdeutschland"|'Armoured Fusiliers']]), to maintain the old German traditions. This was again titular, as in organisation, appearance and tactical use they were essentially {{lang|de|[[Panzergrenadier]]e}}. The modern German Army has no fusiliers.

===Mexico===
On 1 January 1969, the [[Mexican Army]] created the Parachute Fusilier Brigade ({{lang|es|Brigada de Fusileros Paracaidistas}}) with two infantry battalions and a training battalion. The brigade's role is that of a [[military reserve|strategic reserve]], based in Mexico City.

===Netherlands===
In the [[Royal Netherlands Army]], one of the two [[foot guards]] regiments, the {{lang|nl|[[Garderegiment Fuseliers Prinses Irene]]}}, is a regiment of fusiliers.

===Portugal===
[[Image:Fusilliers marins Portugais.jpg|thumb|Portuguese Navy Fusiliers on parade]]
From the 18th to the 19th centuries, the term {{lang|pt|fuzileiros}} (fusiliers) was used in the [[Portuguese Army]], to designate the regular line infantry, as opposed to the [[grenadiers]] ({{lang|pt|granadeiros}}) and the light infantry ({{lang|pt|caçadores}} and {{lang|pt|atiradores}}). The Portuguese Army discontinued the use of the term in the 1860s.

The term {{lang|pt|fuzileiros marinheiros}} (fusilier sailors) has been used in the [[Portuguese Navy]], since the late 18th century, to designate the naval infantry. The modern [[Portuguese Marine Corps]] is called {{lang|pt|Fuzileiros Navais}} (Naval Fusiliers).

===Switzerland===
[[File:Kragenspiegel Füsilier.png|thumb|right|upright|Gorget patch of Swiss Füsilier]]
Line infantry soldiers of the lowest rank in the Swiss Army have historically been designated as fusiliers. Because the modern Swiss infantry soldier is trained in a much broader variety of tasks than his earlier counterpart, and because of some supposedly negative connotations attached to the term {{lang|de|Füsiliere}}, modern infantry battalions of the Swiss army have been renamed {{lang|de|Infanteriebataillone}} or "Inf Bat".<ref name="Admin.ch: Truppengattungen: Infanterie">{{cite web |url=http://www.he.admin.ch/internet/heer/de/home/themen/truppengattungen/die_infanterie.html |title=Die Infanterie |access-date=2012-07-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722202905/http://www.he.admin.ch/internet/heer/de/home/themen/truppengattungen/die_infanterie.html |archive-date=2012-07-22 }}.</ref> The individual soldiers are officially called {{lang|de|Infanteristen}}, not {{lang|de|Füsiliere}}, but colloquially they are still referred to as {{lang|de|Füsiliere}} or {{lang|de|Füsle}}. This meaning is retained in the name of the 1938 Swiss film {{lang|de|[[Fusilier Wipf]]}}.

===United Kingdom===
The original fusiliers in the British Army were the 7th Foot, Royal Regiment of Fuzileers raised in 1685. This subsequently became [[The Royal Fusiliers]] (City of London Regiment). The original purpose of this unit was to act as escort to artillery guns, as well as keeping discipline amongst the civilian drivers.<ref name="barnes"/> Both Scots (21st Foot) and Welsh (23rd Foot) regiments also became fusiliers in the period up to and including 1702 and all three regiments were distinguished by the wearing of a slightly shorter version of the mitred cap worn by grenadier companies of all other infantry regiments. A number of additional infantry regiments were subsequently designated as fusiliers during the 19th century, but this was simply a historic distinction without any relationship to special weapons or roles.

In 1865, a distinctive head-dress was authorised for [[British Army]] fusilier regiments.<ref name="kipling&king">{{cite book |title=Head-Dress Badges of the British Army. Volume One: Up to End of the Great War |last1=Kipling |first1=Arthur L. |last2=King |first2=Hugh L. |year=2006 |publisher=Naval and Military Press |location=Uckfield |isbn=1-84342-512-2 |pages=243–252}}</ref> Originally a [[sealskin]] cap for other ranks,<ref>Carman, W. Y. (1968). ''British Military Uniforms from Contemporary Pictures: Henry VII to the Present Day''. Arco. p. 143</ref> this was replaced by a black [[raccoon]] skin cap of {{convert|9|in|cm}} in height, according to the 1874 Dress Regulations.<ref>{{cite book |first=W. C. |last=Carman |page=108 |title=A Dictionary of Military Uniform |year=1977 |publisher=Scribner |isbn=0-684-15130-8}}</ref> However, fusilier officers wore a taller [[bearskin]] like their counterparts in the [[Guards Division|foot guards]].<ref>As described in the Dress Regulations of 1900 and 1934.</ref> The badge for each regiment was placed at the front of the bear or raccoon skin headdress, and consisted of a stylized flaming [[hand grenade|grenade]], with different emblems placed on the ball of the grenade.

[[File:Hat, bearskin (AM 1934.205-1).jpg|upright=1.25|thumb|An example of an officer's bearskin cap worn by an Irish fusilier regiment, c. 1878.]]
Attached to the various types of fusilier headdress, including the modern [[beret]], is the [[hackle]]. This is a short cut feather plume, the colours of which vary according to the regiment. Initially, the only regiment authorised to wear a plume or hackle were the 5th of Foot (Northumberland Fusiliers). The regiment had originally worn a white feather distinction, authorised in 1824 to commemorate the [[Battle of St. Lucia|victory of St Lucia in 1778]] when men of the Fifth Regiment were supposed to have taken white feathers from the hats of dead French soldiers. When, in 1829, a white plume was ordered for all line infantry regiments, to preserve the Fifth (Northumberland) Regiment's emblem, they were authorised to wear a white plume with a red tip, allegedly to indicate a distinction won in battle. The Fifth were designated fusiliers in 1836.

Following the [[Second Boer War]], plumes were added to the headgear of all fusilier regiments in recognition of their service in South Africa.

The following fusilier regiments existed prior to the outbreak of [[World War I]]:

{| class="wikitable"
! Regiment || Pre-1881 title || Year of designation as fusiliers || Badge (on flaming grenade)<ref name="kipling&king"/> || Plume or hackle
|-
|[[Royal Northumberland Fusiliers|Northumberland Fusiliers]]
|5th (Northumberland Fusiliers) Regiment of Foot
|1836
|Within a circlet inscribed {{lang|la|Quo Fata Vocant}} [[St George]] and the Dragon
|Red over white (1829)
|-
|[[Royal Fusiliers|Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)]]
| 7th (Royal Fusiliers) Regiment of Foot
|On raising in 1685
|The [[Order of the Garter|Garter]] surmounted by a crown; within the Garter a [[Tudor Rose|rose]]; below the Garter the [[House of Hanover|White Horse of Hanover]]
| White (1901)<ref>{{Cite news |title=Naval and Military Intelligence |newspaper=[[The Times]] |date=2 November 1901 |page=13 |quote=The application for permission to wear a primrose yellow hackle in the busby is being submitted to his Majesty for approval.}}</ref>
|-
|[[Lancashire Fusiliers]]
|20th (East Devonshire) Regiment of Foot
|1881
|The [[sphinx]] superscribed ''Egypt'' within a laurel wreath
|Primrose yellow (1901).<ref>{{Cite news |title=Naval and Military Intelligence |newspaper=[[The Times]] |date=2 June 1901 |page=7 |quote=The King has approved of the Royal Fusiliers adding a white plume to their headdress (full uniform), to be worn on the right side}}</ref> The 20th Foot wore yellow facings until 1881.
|-
|[[Royal Scots Fusiliers]]
|21st (Royal Scots Fusiliers) Regiment of Foot
|Between 1686 and 1691 (exact date unknown)<ref name="rhf_history"/>
|The royal arms
|White (1902)<ref name="rhf_history">{{cite book |title=The Royal Highland Fusiliers (Princess Margaret's Own Glasgow and Ayrshire Regiment): A Soldier's History |year=1979 |publisher=Royal Highland Fusiliers |location=Glasgow |pages=7, 58}}</ref>
|-
|[[Royal Welch Fusiliers|Royal Welsh Fusiliers]]
|23rd (Royal Welch Fusiliers) Regiment of Foot
|1702
|The [[Prince of Wales's feathers|Prince of Wales's plumes, coronet and motto]] ({{lang|de|Ich dien}})
|White
|-
|{{ubl|[[Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers]]
|27th (Inniskilling) Regiment of Foot|108th (Madras Infantry) Regiment of Foot}}
|1881
|The Castle of [[Enniskillen|Inniskilling]]
|Grey (1903). The colour commemorated the original uniform of the "Grey Inniskillings" of 1689.<ref>{{cite book |title=Outline History of the Royal Irish Rangers (27th (Inniskilling), 83rd and 87th) 2nd Edition |year=1979 |publisher=[[Royal Irish Rangers]] |location=Armagh |page=37 }}</ref>
|-
|{{ubl|[[Royal Irish Fusiliers|Royal Irish Fusiliers (Princess Victoria's)]]
|87th (Royal Irish Fusiliers) Regiment of Foot|89th (Princess Victoria's) Regiment of Foot}}
|1827 (87th Foot)
|A [[French Imperial Eagle]] upon a plinth inscribed "8" within a laurel wreath
|Emerald green
|-
|[[Royal Munster Fusiliers]]
|{{ubl|101st (Royal Bengal Fusiliers) Regiment of Foot|104th (Bengal Fusiliers) Regiment of Foot}}
|{{ubl|1846 (101st as 1st Bengal European Fusiliers)|1850 (104th as 2nd Bengal European Fusiliers)}}
|The arms of the Province of [[Munster]] within a laurel wreath bearing 10 battle honours. A scroll at the base inscribed ''Royal Munster''.
|White over green
|-
|[[Royal Dublin Fusiliers]]
|{{ubl|102nd (Royal Madras Fusiliers) Regiment of Foot|103rd (Royal Bombay Fusilers) Regiment of Foot}}
|{{ubl|1843: 102nd as 1st Madras (European) Fusiliers|1844: 103rd as 1st Bombay (European) Fusiliers}}
|The arms of the City of [[Dublin]] within a wreath of shamrock, at the base an elephant on a tablet inscribed ''Mysore'' and a tiger on a tablet inscribed ''Plassey'', all over a scroll inscribed {{lang|la|Spectamur Agendo}}.
|Blue over green<ref>{{cite book |title=The Second Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers in the South African War |last1=Romer |first1=Cecil Francis |last2=Mainwaring |first2=Arthur Edward |year=1908 |publisher=A. L. Humphreys |location=London |url=http://www.gutenberg.org/files/25618/25618-h/25618-h.htm |access-date=24 October 2009 |quote=This distinction was granted in 1902, when by Army Order 57 it was directed that the Royal Dublin Fusiliers should wear a blue and green hackle in their busbies: that for the officers to be blue and green, eight inches long, and that for the non-commissioned officers and men a similar but shorter one, in recognition of their services during the war in South Africa. In explanation of the colours of the hackle it may be stated that blue is the distinguishing colour of the 1st Battalion ('Blue Caps'), and green that of the 2nd Battalion ('Old Toughs').}}</ref>
|}

The nine regiments of fusiliers that existed in 1914 have since been reduced to one by a series of disbandments and mergers:
*In 1920, the Royal Welsh Fusiliers was renamed as the "Royal Welch Fusiliers".<ref>Army Order 56/1920</ref>
*Due to the creation of the [[Irish Free State]], the Royal Munster Fusiliers and Royal Dublin Fusiliers were disbanded on 31 July 1922.
*In 1935, the Northumberland Fusiliers was awarded the title "Royal".
*Under the [[1957 Defence White Paper|Defence Review of 1957]], the number of infantry regiments was reduced. The Royal Scots Fusiliers was amalgamated with the [[Highland Light Infantry]] on 20 January 1959 to form the [[Royal Highland Fusiliers]]. The new regiment wore the white hackle of the RSF, with a flaming grenade badge bearing the monogram of the HLI.<ref name="rhf_history"/>
*Under the same review, the three English fusilier regiments were grouped as the [[Fusilier Brigade]] in 1958. While retaining their individual identities, a single cap badge was adopted. This was flaming grenade bearing St George and the Dragon within a laurel wreath the whole ensigned by a crown. This combined elements of the badges of the three regiments, who continued to be distinguished by their coloured hackles: red over white for the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, white for the Royal Fusiliers and primrose yellow for the Lancashire Fusiliers.
*Also in 1958 the [[North Irish Brigade]] was formed, consisting of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, the Royal Irish Fusiliers and the [[Royal Ulster Rifles]]. All regiments adopted a harp and crown badge on the [[caubeen]], worn with a hackle: grey for the Inniskillings, green for the Royal Irish Fusiliers and black for the Rifles.
*On 1 May 1963, the Royal Warwickshire Regiment was redesignated as the [[Royal Warwickshire Fusiliers]] and joined the Fusilier Brigade. An old gold and blue hackle was adopted.
*On 23 April 1968 ([[St George's Day]]), the four regiments of the Fusilier Brigade were amalgamated to form [[The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers]]. The RRF is<!--'is' not 'are' in line with the R. Warwickshires above – the fact that 'fusiliers' ends with an 's' is irrelevant--> now the only English fusilier regiment and wear the red over white hackle of the 5th Foot with the badge adopted in 1958 for the Fusilier Brigade.
*On 1 July 1968, the three regiments of the North Irish Brigade were amalgamated to form the [[Royal Irish Rangers]] and ceased to be a fusilier regiment. The green hackle of the Royal Irish Fusiliers continued in use. Following a further merger in 1992, the lineage is now continued by the [[Royal Irish Regiment (1992)|Royal Irish Regiment]].
*On 1 March 2006 ([[St David's Day]]), the Royal Welch Fusiliers was amalgamated with the [[Royal Regiment of Wales]] to form the [[Royal Welsh]]. The white hackle of the RWF is worn with the cap badge of the RRW. Elements of the regimental band wear fusilier full dress.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.royalwelshband.com/band/band.shtml |title=Regimental Band of the Royal Welsh |year=2009 |publisher=Regimental Band of the Royal Welsh |access-date=25 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091006031532/http://www.royalwelshband.com/band/band.shtml |archive-date=6 October 2009 }}</ref>
*On 28 March 2006, the Scottish infantry regiments were merged into the [[Royal Regiment of Scotland]]. The individual battalions of the regiment retain the titles of the predecessor units, and The Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland continues to wear the white hackle of the Royal Scots Fusiliers.

In addition, the [[Scots Guards]] were known as the Scots Fusilier Guards from 1831 to 1877.

==See also==
* [[Musketeer]]
* [[Rifleman]]
* [[Grenadier]]

==References and notes==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Fusilier|volume=11|page=369}}
*{{cite book
  | last = Hoffschröer
  | first = Peter
  | others= illustrated by Bryan Fosten
  | title = Prussian Light Infantry 1792–1815 (Men-at-Arms Series #149)
  | publisher = Osprey Publishing Ltd
  | year = 1984
  | isbn = 0-85045-540-5 }}

== External links ==
* [http://napoleonistyka.atspace.com/French_infantry.html French Infantry of the Napoleonic Wars]

[[Category:Infantry]]
[[Category:Military units and formations of the Early Modern period]]
[[Category:Fusilier regiments| ]]
[[Category:Military ranks of the British Army]]