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Spanish Military Records

The military records in Spain can be a good source to look for your male ancestors. Many men in Spain served in military units such as the army, the militia, the navy, and others. Often these records contain genealogical information that can help you to build your family tree. The men of Spain often had to receive an exemption from military service or prove that they had already served before they could leave the county. They needed to receive special permission to do so.

Military Records
OVERVIEW BLURB

Enlistment Records

 * Quintas
 * Reclutamentos
 * expedientes generales de alistamiento
 * Filiaciones municipales (1837)

Manditory military service was introduced to Spain in the 1700s, following the French recruitment system. The original system, called a Quinta, required one in every fifth man (selected by lot) between eighteen and twenty years to serve in the army. Initially met with heavy resistance, its enforcement was suspended at first but ultimately instituted in the 1800s. Local municipalities were required to make lists of all male citizens from whom the conscripts were selected. Hidalgos (nobility) were not included in Quitas.

The following information can be found in Quinta records.
 * Name of the prospective conscript
 * Their age (sometimes birth date)
 * Sometimes names of parents and their residence.

Most quintas can be found in municipal or provincial historical archives. Some can be found in the FamilySearch Catalog, under their specific municipality. | http://avile.es/noticias-todas/36-noticias-avile/125-el-servicio-militar-obligatorio-espanol

The laws regarding military recruitment varied from region to region until the constitution of 1876 mandated country-wide military enlistment. The law were reformed over the next few years as military recruitment became standardize across Spain. CHANGE OF LANGUAGE TO RECLUTA, transforming the standards for recruitment from quintas into reclutas, or recruitment files that followed the same standard across Spain.

Three copies of the enlistment file would be created. One was given to the soldier, one remained in the enlistment office, and one was sent to the comisario de revista?!?! Spanish articles on details underneath.

Service Records (Expedientes personales / expedientes reglamentarios)
many names

Full service record (Expedientes Reglamentarios)
WE ARE INDEXING OH HAPPY DAY

Active duty service record (Expedientes personales)
Officers - Hojas de Servicio Regular soldiers - filaciones