Regiment of Patricians

1st Infantry Regiment "Los Patricios"
Regimiento de Infantería 1 "Los Patricios"
The band of the Patricians' Regiment
in ceremonial uniform, 2012
Active1806–present
CountryArgentina
BranchArgentine Army
TypeInfantry Regiment
HeadquartersPalermo, Buenos Aires
Colors      (navy, red, white)
MarchEl Uno de Patricios
Engagements
Websiteinfanteria.com.ar/patricios
Insignia
Identification
symbol

The 1st Infantry Regiment "Los Patricios" (Regimiento de Infantería 1 "Los Patricios") is the oldest and one of the most prestigious regiments of the Argentine Army. The title is often shortened to the Patricians' Regiment (Regimiento de Patricios). Since the 1990s the regiment has been designated as air assault infantry. It is also the custodian of the Buenos Aires Cabildo, the welcoming party for visiting foreign dignitaries to Argentina and the escort, and honor guard battalion for the City Government of Buenos Aires. Since 22 September 2010, the Regiment's headquarters building has been a National Historical Monument following a declaration by the Argentine government on the occasion of the country's bicentennial year.

The regiment was formed as the Legión Patricia ("Patricians' Legion) from inhabitants of Buenos Aires in 1806 to fight against the British invasions of the River Plate. Among some of its first members, it included a woman, the Alférez (approximately, second lieutenant) Manuela Pedraza, one of the heroes of the Defense of Buenos Aires in 1806. The regiment, therefore, existed prior to Argentine independence. Their first commander was Cornelio Saavedra. The regiment also fought in May Revolution, Cisplatine War, Platine War, Paraguayan War, Dirty War, and Falklands War.

Although the word "Patrician" is usually employed as a synonym for aristocrat, in the naming of the Regiment it meant "the sons of the homeland" (Spanish "Patria" meaning "homeland"). Indeed, the original members of the Regiment were not aristocrats but Criollos, who were much farther down in the social hierarchy of the time.