Infos
According to the Spanish Wikipedia :
The oldest guard unit was the Royal Halberdiers founded in 1504 by Don Gonzalo de Ayora, during the reign of Ferdinand I of Aragon. The denominations of units changed over centuries.
When Philippe V of Spain took power , the Royal Household troops were composed of
1.Los Archeros de la Cuchilla ( a corps dervied from los Archeros de Borgoña, founded by Philippe I of Castile). They are named after this weapon that originated from Burgundy.
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archa
2. The Spanish Guard of the Halberdiers ( Yellow company, Veteran yellow company, Veteran company of the estradiotes or lancilla)
3. The German Guard of the Halberdiers
From left to right, Spanish Guard, German Guard and "Archer" of Burgundy
Philippe V, reorganized the royal guard after French models :
1. 4 companies of royal bodyguards (on horseback)
2. Two regiments of Foot Guards (Reales Guardias de Infantería)
3. One company of Halberdiers (Reales Guardias Alabarderos)
4. A regiment of Walloon Guards, recruited from Belgium. The Walloons formed an elite unit tasked with the interior security of Spain and the maintenance of public order, eventually being incorporated as a regiment of the Spanish Royal Guard.
Royal bodyguards
From left to right:
- Porta-estandarte de la Cía Flamenca de las Reales Guardias de Corps.
- Granadero de las Reales Guardias Españolas y Walonas.
- Soldado del Regimiento de Caballería de Línea España.
- Porta-estandarte del Rgto de Caballería de Línea del Príncipe.
The Royal Ordinance of 1706 concerning of the Corps of Guards ( Guardias de Corps), described their roles and duties to be performed. The infantry foot guards were required to stay on guard duty outside the palace with one company per battalion .
In the reign of Charles III, the regiments were required to provide one company of rifles per battalion of each infantry regiments for court security, each company taking the relay after a year of service. The Halberdiers were responsible for the Palace's inner security. The Royal bodyguards also provided their help to protect the Palace.
Ferdinand VII' s Ordinance of the Royal Guard approved by Royal Decree on November 27, 1829 established the current Changing of the Guard.