Uniform of the Veteran Civil Guard

Mannequin wearing the uniform of the Veteran Civil Guard from the period 1858–68, in line with the regulation uniform for this special unit within the corps. It was established following the revolutions of 1854 and 1856, in a Royal Decree dated December 29, 1858, which stipulated that the Urban Guard of Madrid (Guardia Urbana de Madrid) would be renamed the Veteran Civil Guard (Guardia Civil Veterana). They were to maintain public order in the court and around it, as well as undertake other special services assigned to them. The fundamental difference between their uniform and that of the rest of the Civil Guard was the white braided patches on the collar. They used the same long-range weapons as the others, but were also issued with caplock pistols. In 1862, a restructure led to them being renamed the Veteran Unit (Tercio Veterano) of the Civil Guard, and in 1864 this changed again to the Madrid Unit (Tercio de Madrid). It was eventually dissolved in October 1868, and its members divided among the institution’s other units.