Regiment "Nizza Cavalleria" (1st)

The Regiment "Nizza Cavalleria" (1st) (Italian: Reggimento "Nizza Cavalleria" (1°)) is a cavalry unit of the Italian Army based in Bellinzago Novarese in Piedmont. The regiment is the reconnaissance unit of the Alpine Brigade "Taurinense". The regiment is named for the County of Nice in France, which makes the regiment, along with the Regiment "Savoia Cavalleria" (3rd), one of two Italian Army units named for a French region, which once was part of the Kingdom of Sardinia.

In 1690, Victor Amadeus II, Duke of Savoy ordered to form a dragoon regiment for service in the Nine Years' War. The new regiment was named Regiment "Dragoni di Piemonte" (Regiment "Dragoons of Piedmont"). After the Nine Years' War the regiment's troops were dismounted. In May 1701, after Victor Amadeus II had entered the War of the Spanish Succession the regiment's troops were mounted again. In 1713, the regiment moved to Sicily, where it fought in 1718-20 in the War of the Quadruple Alliance against Spanish forces. Between 1733 and 1735, the regiment fought in the War of the Polish Succession, and from 1741 to 1748 in the War of the Austrian Succession. From 1792 to 1796, the regiment fought in the War of the First Coalition against the French Republic. In November 1798, during the War of the Second Coalition, French forces occupied Piedmont, forced King Charles Emmanuel IV into exile, and formed the Piedmontese Republic, a French client-state. In spring 1799, the regiment fought on the French side against the Austrians, which disbanded the Piedmontese Republic and its military units after their victorious campaign in Italy.

In May 1814, King Victor Emmanuel I returned from exile in Sardinia and the same month the King ordered to reform the regiment. One year later the regiment participated in the Hundred Days campaign during the War of the Seventh Coalition. In 1832, the regiment was named Regiment "Nizza Cavalleria" after the County of Nice. In 1848-49, during the First Italian War of Independence, the regiment distinguished itself in the battles of Goito, Mortara and Novara, which earned the regiment three Bronze Medals of Military Valor. In 1859 the regiment fought in the Second Italian War of Independence and in 1860-1861 the regiment participated in the Sardinian campaign in central and southern Italy. In 1866, the regiment participated in the Third Italian War of Independence.

During World War I the regiment formed together with the Regiment "Lancieri di Vercelli" (26th) the VII Cavalry Brigade of the 4th Cavalry Division "Piemonte". In 1916, the two regiments fought dismounted in the trenches of the Italian Front. In May 1916, the Regiment "Nizza Cavalleria" (1st) distinguished itself in the Battle of Monfalcone, which earned the regiment its fourth Bronze Medal of Military Valor. In World War II the regiment participated in 1940 in the Italian invasion of France and in 1941 in the invasion of Yugoslavia. In 1942, the regiment was sent to southern France, after Italian and German forces had occupied Vichy France. After the announcement of the Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943 invading German forces disbanded the regiment. In fall 1943 the Italian Co-belligerent Army formed the Reconnaissance Squadron "Nizza Cavalleria", which fought on the allied side in the Italian campaign.

In November 1946, the Italian Army formed the 1st Dragoons Reconnaissance Group, which received the regiment's traditions and crimson gorget patches. In 1951, the group was expanded to 1st Armored Cavalry Regiment "Nizza Cavalleria". In 1959 the regiment was disbanded and its I Squadrons Group reorganized as the reconnaissance squadrons group of the Infantry Division "Cremona". In 1975, the squadrons group was reorganized and renamed 1st Armored Squadrons Group "Nizza Cavalleria". The squadrons group was equipped with a mix of M47 Patton tanks and M113 armored personnel carriers and assigned the traditions and standard of the Regiment "Nizza Cavalleria" (1st). In 1991, the squadrons group lost its autonomy and entered the 1st Regiment "Nizza Cavalleria", which, on 1 August 1992, was renamed Regiment "Nizza Cavalleria" (1st). In 1993, the regiment was equipped with wheeled Centauro tank destroyers. In 1996, the regiment was assigned to the Armored Brigade "Centauro" and in 2002 to the Alpine Brigade "Taurinense".

The regiment's anniversary falls on 16 May 1916, to commemorate the regiment's conduct during the Battle of Monfalcone, for which the regiment was awarded a Bronze Medal of Military Valor. As one of the two Italian Army dragoon regiments, whose history dates back to the 17th century, the regiment's enlisted personnel is addressed as "Dragoon" (Italian: Dragone).