Spanish Legion

From open-encyclopedia.com - the free encyclopedia.

The Spanish Legion (La Legión Española) Was formed by royal decree of King Alfonso XIII on January, 28 1920. Formed under Minister of war José Villalba "With the designation of `Tercio de Extranjeros’ (Regiment of Foreigners) there will be created an armed military unit, whose recruits, uniform and regulations by which they should be governed will be set by the minister of war."

On September, 2 of that same year, King Alfonso XIII conferred command of the regiment to Lieutenant Colonel of Infantry José Millán Astray, chief proponent of the regiment and whose style and mythos would be imbued into the unit.

The initial make-up of the regiment was that of a headquarters unit and three battalions (known as Banderas or flags). Each battalion was in turn made up of a headquarters company, two rifle companies and a machine gun company. The regiment’s initial installation was at the Cuartel del Rey en Ceuta on the Plaza de Colon.