[jf42]

"29th Returned with my Lord by Hounslow Heath, where we saw the newly raised army encamped...His Majesty and a world of company were in the field, and the whole army in battalia; a very glorious sight. Now were brought into service a new sort of soldiers, called grenadiers, who were dexterous in flinging hand grenadoes, every one having a pouch full. they had furred caps with coped crowns like Janizaries, which made them look very fierce, and some had long hoods hanging down behind, as we picure fools. Their clothing being likewise piebald, yellow and red."

Diary of John Evelyn, June 1677

Traditionally, I believe, Field Marshal Raimundo Montecuccoli in the Austrian service first introduced grenadier units into the Imperial Army in 1664. Presumably as a result of the longstanding confrontation with the Ottoman empire along the Danube border. Similarly, in general works I have read that infantry grenadier companies were first formed in the French army circa 1670. (Knotl; Mollo)

Formation of units of infantry grenadiers should be viewed as distinct from the use of grenades in siege warfare, which dates from the 15th, although they required expert handling. Ottoman forces had specialist units that used grenades made of glass (I am ignorant as to their use at sea).

The date of the name coined by the Spanish, from the weapon's resemblance to the pomegranate in size and shape, very likely should also be viewed separately from the process by which hand grenades came to be adopted throughout the armies of Christian Europe.

It would be fascinating to identify where the symbol of the grenade with flaming fuse first originated. My guess iwould be either France or Austria - going for the obvious. Curiously, both seem to have adopted the grenadier cap comparitively late.