Tercio de Vizcaínos (Third of Vizcaínos) was a unit of Spanish militia of Buenos Aires, composed in its majority by volunteers of Basque, Castilian and Asturian origin.[1] This infantry unit was established after the first English Invasion to the Río de la Plata.[2]
| Tercio de Vizcaínos | |
|---|---|
 Official uniform belonging to the 1st company of Vizcaínos Castellanos | |
| Disbanded | 1809 |
| Country | Argentina |
| Allegiance |  Spanish Empire |
| Type | Infantry |
| Engagements | British invasions of the River Plate Mutiny of Álzaga |
History
editThe Third of Vizcaínos was created on September 8, 1806, and was formed with a Company of militiamen from Cantabria, under the command of Prudencio Murguiondo, five companies of Vascos and Navarros, and two militia companies formed by volunteers from Asturias.[3] The Vizcaínos also had a Cuerpo de Cazadores Correntinos, composed of sixty-seven soldiers under the Captain Juan José Blanco.[4]
Prudencio Murguiondo and Miguel Cuyar, Captain of the 8th Compañía de Asturianos, were distinguished by the Supreme Junta of Seville on behalf of Fernando VII of Spain, for his heroic actions in the Reconquest of Buenos Aires against the English invaders.[5]
The Tercio de Vizcaínos was dissolved in 1809, after its members took part in the Mutiny of Álzaga against the Viceroy Santiago de Liniers.[6]
References
edit- ^ Las invasiones inglesas al río de la Plata (1806-1807), Taller gráfico de L. Bernard, 1939, 1939
- ^ Cuenta dada de su vida política por Don Manuel Godoy, príncipe de la Paz, Manuel de Godoy (príncipe de la Paz), 1837
- ^ Semblanza histórica del ejército argentino, Secretaría General del Ejército, 1981
- ^ Reseña histórica y orgánica del Ejército Argentino, Círculo Militar, 1972, 1972
- ^ Historia general de las antiguas colonias hispano-americanas, Miguel Lobo, 1875
- ^ Annales historiques de la révolution de l'Amérique latine ..., Volume 1, Carlos Calvo, 1864