Soldado de Cuera

The leather jacket, or cuera, and the leather shield, or adarga, were used to protect the soldiers against Indian arrows.

Traditionally, the Presidial soldiers were split into two categories: the traditional soldado de cuera and their mounted counterparts, the troopa ligera ( lit. "light troops"). The troopa ligera, as the name implies, traveled light and rode without the cuera.

The cuera continued as part of the uniform through the early 1800's. Though one example of artwork from that period depicts a Californian presidial soldier wearing a cuera, they are not seen in Texas after that time.


	Uniforms — Spanish Period, Pre-1800 Presidial
	A soldado de cuera of La Compañía de Cavallería del Real Presidio de San Antonio de Bexar. Portrayed here by Hovey Cowles Illustration by Jack Jackson. Used with permission. *See Also:* Photos of actual Cueras Troopa Ligera The Flying Company Weapons and Equipment Return to Menu		Soldado de Cuera The leather jacket, or cuera, and the leather shield, or adarga, were used to protect the soldiers against Indian arrows. Traditionally, the Presidial soldiers were split into two categories: the traditional soldado de cuera and their mounted counterparts, the troopa ligera ( lit. "light troops"). The troopa ligera, as the name implies, traveled light and rode without the cuera. The cuera continued as part of the uniform through the early 1800's. Though one example of artwork from that period depicts a Californian presidial soldier wearing a cuera, they are not seen in Texas after that time.