Historical Context
Editorially reviewedAlessandro La Marmora’s Bersaglieri were officially instituted in the Royal Sardinian Army on 18 June 1836 and first saw action at Goito in 1848. They passed into the Royal Italian Army during unification. Their emphasis on speed, skirmishing and rapid signalling explains the suitability of a light-infantry hunting horn, while the precise badge composition evolved with uniform regulations and unit practice.
Provenance: Official Italian Army pages identify the horn as the symbol of light troops or cacciatori within Bersaglieri heraldry and date the corps’ institution to 18 June 1836. A final rendering should follow a dated Royal Sardinian or Royal Italian Army badge where possible and preserve its accompanying grenade, carbines, crown or unit number rather than extracting details from a modern crest indiscriminately.
Research status: reviewed · reviewed 23/08/2026
Sources
3 referencesHistory — Historical Museum of Bersaglieri
Esercito Italiano, “History — Historical Museum of Bersaglieri.” (Italian Army, Ministry of Defence)
Supports: Dates the official institution of the Bersaglieri to 18 June 1836 and their baptism of fire at Goito on 8 April 1848.
Lo Stemma — Brigata Bersaglieri Garibaldi
Esercito Italiano, “Lo Stemma.” (Italian Army, Ministry of Defence)
Supports: Identifies the horn in Bersaglieri heraldry as the device of light troops or cacciatori.
La Storia — Brigata Bersaglieri Garibaldi
Esercito Italiano, “La Storia.” (Italian Army, Ministry of Defence)
Supports: Describes the horn as the symbol of a light unit within Bersaglieri tradition.
How to cite this page
Bersaglieri Horn Badge — Royal Italian Army, 19th Century–1918. Sanctum Hex Vault. Reviewed 23/08/2026. https://vault.sanctumhex.com/symbols/historically-documented-military-symbols-and-insignia-rank-branch-unit-and-identification-devices-from-c-1700-1918-bersaglieri-horn-badge-royal-italian-army-19th-century-1918
https://vault.sanctumhex.com/symbols/historically-documented-military-symbols-and-insignia-rank-branch-unit-and-identification-devices-from-c-1700-1918-bersaglieri-horn-badge-royal-italian-army-19th-century-1918Branch Device
Bersaglieri Horn Badge — Royal Italian Army, 19th Century–1918
The hunting horn identifies the Bersaglieri’s light-infantry lineage, usually appearing within a composite badge rather than as an isolated generic bugle.
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