IR No. 12 - Botta d'Adorno

Inhaber
1739 Botta d’Adorno, 1775 Khevenhüller-Metsch

Unit History
During the Seven Years War it fought at Kolin (with distinction). It was considered a regular unit in the period.
At Kolin, June 1757, with his right wing under severe pressure, and his reserve already committed to the centre, Field Marshal Landon ordered the regiments Deutschmeister (No. 4), Baden-Baden (No. 23) and Botta d'Adorno, all under the command of Lt.-Gen. Sincere, to advance from the left to help halt repeated Prussian assaults. The Prussians raked the advancing troops with artillery barrages. The subsequent advance of Prussian Regiments Anhalt (No.3), Wied (No. 41), Hülsen (No. 21), Prince Henry of Prussia (No. 35), and Bevern (No. 7) was beaten back. In the end, the line barely held with Baden-Baden and Deutschmeister breaking but rallying behind Krzeczor Hill. The regiment’s steady nature allowed the Austrian centre and left to begin to advance. A Prussian cavalry assault was attempted late in the afternoon but the regiment stood their ground and with a series of steady volleys helped shatter Frederick's final offensive thrust of the battle.

Comments
WIP. I was inspired by the description of their actions at Kolin. The flag is from GMB Design.

Sources
Flag: Warflag at http://www.warflag.com/
Text: Osprey’s Kolin 1757 Frederick the Great’s First Defeat (Campaign 91)
Osprey’s The Austrian Army 1740-80 (2) Infantry (Men-at-Arms 276)

IR No. 27 - Baden-Durlach

Inhaber
1732 Prinz v. Hessen-Kassel, 1753 Prinz v. Baden-Durlach


Unit History
Originally a Reichsarmee unit, it was absorbed into Austrian service. The regiment was often referred to as Durlach to avoid confusion with the unit Baden-Baden (No. 23). The unit fought at Lobositz, Leuthen, Maxen, Torgau, Bunkersdorf and Landeshut.
The unit formed part of the uncommitted left- wing that covered the retreat from Lobositz, October 1756, after the Austrian defeat. At Leuthen, December 1757, the unit fought along side the regiments Deutschmeister (No. 4) and Rote-Würzburg in defending the town against the Prussian assault.
In addition, this unit can often be confused with the Reichsarmee unit from Baden-Durlach that had blue coats with red facings. The Reichsarmee unit fought at Freiburg.
This regular Austrian unit shown is flying the colours of Baden-Durlach instead of the regular Austrian pattern and is the only Austrian regiment not to have either yellow or white lace trim on the tricorne.

Both Regimental and Lieb flags

Comments
I decided to use the Baden-Durlach flag because it is adds some colour to the regular Austrian army as well it allows me to quickly identify the unit on the table because many of the units start to look the same – the curse of most gamers – failing eyesight. With so many units in wool and with red or blue facings (at three or four feet away 28mm pompoms and hat lace are tough to determine) I find I am identifying units by their flags as any true SYW Commander would. The unit was painted in 2004.

Sources
Flag: Warflag at http://www.warflag.com/
Text: Osprey’s The Austrian Army 1740-80 (2) Infantry (Men-at-Arms 276)

IR No. 37 - Josef Esterhazy

Inhaber
1741 Szirmay, 1744 Josef Esterhazy, 1762 Siskovics


Unit History
Fifth of the six Hungarian regions formed in 1741. Originally, the Hungarian government had proposed thirteen regiments but difficulties in recruiting reduced the number to six. Each legion consisted of one garrison and three field battalions. During the Seven Years War, the unit was engaged at Pirna, Prague, Breslau, Leuthen, Hochkirch, Maxen, Meissen, Landeshut and Schweidnitz.
At Lobositz, October 1756, the unit formed part of the reinforcements, commanded by Lacy, which were thrown into the fray on Lobosch Hill. The Prussians, including Bevern (No. 7), Itzenplitz (No. 13), Alt-Kleist (No. 27) and the Converged Grenadiers (No. 3 and No. 6), drove the Austrian troops off the Hill and forced them back through the burning streets of Lobositz. This unit, along with the rest of the Austrian troops, retreated in good order.
Under the command of Graf d' Arberg at Leuthen, who was the inhaber of Arberg (No. 55). The regiment, Josef Esterhazy, lead the second assault column on the village of Hochkirch. It was considered one of the elite units serving within the Austrian service.

Both Regimental and Lieb flags

Comments
This is one of my favourite Austrian units only because of the Hungarian uniform and the fact that this is the only unit primarily in red. The rest of the Hungarians use a variety of blue for the trousers and lapels and at the time I was painting enough Prussian blue that the red was a nice change. The unit has been in my collection since the late 1980’s without really distinguishing itself on the gaming table. The unit was painted in the late 1980’s.

Sources
Flag: T. Wise, Military Flags of the World, Brandford Press, page 120.
Text: Osprey’s The Austrian Army 1740-80 (2) Infantry (Men-at-Arms 276) Image:
Knötel cards at http://www.grosser-generalstab.de

IR No. 55 – d’Arberg

Inhaber
1742 Chanclos, 1746 d' Arberg, 1768 Murray


Unit History
The regiment was raised in 1742 as the 1st Netherlands National Regiment. Other Netherlands regiments included De Ligne (No.38) in rose red cuff and lapels, Los Rios (No. 9) in green cuffs and lapels, and Sachsen-Gotha (No. 30) in blue cuffs and lapels. Most of the recruits of the Netherlands regiments came from the regions Luxembourg, Flanders, Hainault and Tournai.
The regiment fought at Prague, Moys, Kolin (where it was part of the reserve), Breslau, Leuthen (where it again was part of the reserve), Hastenbeck (3rd battalion only), Hochkirch, Landeshut, Leignitz and Schweidnitz.
At Kolin, June 1757, the unit was on the far right early in the engagement in Wied's corps along with the Los Rios regiment, actually as part of the reserve, when it was attacked in the flank and rolled up by the Prussian Normann Dragoons (1st) and Rochow Cuirassiers (8th). It was a regular unit heavily used during the Seven Years War.

Comments
What caught my eye with this unit was the participation at Hastenbeck and that it was originally from the Netherlands. Is it a surprise that I like units that fought on both the Eastern and Western theatres in the Seven Years War. Another unit painted in the early 1990’s when I studied in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. The flag is from GMB Design.

Sources
Flag: Warflag at http://www.warflag.com/
Text: Osprey’s The Austrian Army 1740-80 (2) Infantry (Men-at-Arms 276)

Grenzers - Croats

Warasdin Creutzer
One of two Warasdin regiments formed in 1745 by Prince Joseph of Saxe-Hildburghausen. The unit was largely Croat in nationality and Roman Catholic in religion. It numbered in 1769 as No. 64. Tactically the Grenzers were seen as the most efficient light infantry at the time and were duly respected by their enemies. In harassing, screening and prohibiting enemy reconnaissance they performed well especially when some discipline was imposed. However, in an attempt to turn the Grenzers into line troops the result was that they creased being excellent light troops and did not become good regular troops. This unit wore a white coat, green waistcoat with a white braid, white breeches, green cuffs and turn-backs, yellow buttons and a white and yellow sash.
The Warasdin Creutzers was the second of two units formed in 1745, the other being St. Georger, which were Germanized by an Irish Ulsterman, Johann Maguire of Inniskillen, in 1749.

Carlstädt Oguliner
The unit was formed in 1744 by Prince Joseph of Saxe-Hildburghausen. It numbered in 1769 as No. 62. The unit wore a blue coat and waistcoat, red breeches, yellow lace, cuffs and buttons and a red and yellow sash.
During the 1744 reform, Saxe-Hildburghausen split the Carlstädter infantry was split into four regiments: Szluiner, Liccaner, Oguliner, and Ottocaner. The intent of the reforms was to centralize and Germanize the region to better accept the authority of Vienna.
The unit is a mix of Crusader and Front Rank. The more 'well-fed' figures are from Front Rank.

Carlstädt Ottocaner
Another of the four Carlstädt regiments formed in 1744 by Prince Joseph of Saxe-Hildburghausen. It was numbered in 1769 as No. 61. Very similar red coated uniform as the Liccaner except light blue cuffs and waistcoat, white breeches, and a red and yellow sash.

Carlstädt Liccaner
Another of the four units formed in 1744 by Prince Joseph of Saxe-Hildburghausen. It was numbered in 1769 as No. 60. Very similar red coated uniform as the Ottocaner except sea green cuffs and waistcoat, red breeches, and a red and green sash.

Comments
Once you start collecting Austrians, you need to recruit some light troops as no self-respecting Austrian general should be without them. Since there are so many variations that one can usually field, I decided on painting three separate units. The third unit is only the result of breaking down after visiting the Crusader miniatures site and seeing their Grenzers – now my Warasdin Creutzers – I mean what is a small twelve-man unit in my collection (don’t ask my Finance Minister what she thinks about that logic). There is a fourth Croatian unit that I can field and actually uses the Russian Pandors as the Carlstädt Liccaner as the uniform is virtually identical (sea green cuffs have faded to become light bluish in color). I have mounted the men individually for the occasional skirmish games between the various Prussian Freicorps and the Croats over supply wagons.

Sources
Text: Osprey’s The Austrian Army 1740-80 (3) Specialist troops (Men-at-Arms 280)

No. 1 – Erzherzog Joseph Dragoons

Inhaber
1740 Altmann, 1748 Erzherzog Joseph

Unit History
The unit was present at Lobositz, and Hochkirch. The bearskin worn by these riders were only for the grenadier company while the rest of the unit wore the typical tricorne of the period. Was the favourite regiment of Erzherzog Joseph, the later Austrian Kaiser. He often wore the regimental uniform for state functions. The regiment converted to Chevau-légers in 1765.
At Lobositz, October 1756, Frederick the Great, frustrated by his inability to discern the placement of the main body of Austrians, sent eight squadrons of cavalry consisting of the Garde du Corps, the Gens d'Armes, and two squadrons of Prinz von Preussen, all under Lt. Gen. Kyau, as a reconnaissance in force to divine their location. Charged in their exposed flank by six squadrons of this dragoon regiment, Erzherzog Joseph, the Prussian cavalry had to be rescued by the Bayreuth Dragoons who were thrown into the melee. First peppered by musketry fire from scattered Croats and then driven back by the Austrian cuirassier regiments of Stampach and Cordua, the Prussian survivors rode back to their base at the Homolka Hill. At Hochkirch, October 1758, this regiment was part of Wiese's support column that arrived late to the battlefield.

Comments
This squadron wears the grenadier cap not the normal tricorne only because I had a few figures with the bearskin. I thought it only appropriate to paint the grenadiers as they were the favourite regiment of the Austrian Kaiser. The unit was painted in 2003.

Sources
Flag: Warflag at http://www.warflag.com/
Text: Osprey’s The Austrian Army 1740-80 (1) Cavalry (Men-at-Arms 271)
Austrian regimental information at http://www.kuk-wehrmacht.de/regiment/index.html

No. 7 - Batthyányi Dragoons

Inhaber
1731 Carl Joseph Fürst Batthyányi, 1773 Kinsky

Unit History
The regiment was raised in 1631. It was the second oldest of the cavalry regiments and oldest of the Dragoons. In 1756, the unit was part of Piccolomini's corps in Böhmen and took part in skirmishes at Jassena and Reichenau. The grenadier company under Hptm. Graf Erdödy took part in the battle of Lobositz. In 1757 the regiment was heavily engaged; four companies fought at Reichenberg, then the regiment suffered heavily at Prague and Breslau before covering the retreat of the left wing at Leuthen. In 1758, the regiment was present at Hochkirch and the siege of Breslau. In 1760, the grenadiers skirmished at Kunzendorf and the entire regiment participated at Torgau. During 1761, the regiment assisted in cordoning off the Erzgebirge. At war's end, in 1762, the regiment skirmished at Teplitz and fought at Freiburg.
At Leuthen, it was part of the Nadasdy's corps that was swept away before the final assault on the town. The unit was often placed on the far right flank which was an indication of its status in the Austrian army. The regiment converted to Chevau-légers in 1775.

Comments
The squadron has never performed well on my gaming table. Unlike Frederick, I will not say anything about my ‘poor’ troops but place them out of harms way (can you say rearguard). The unit was originally a twenty-four man unit but I have reduced the squadron size to eight. The unit was originally painted in the late 1980’s.

Sources
Flag: Warflag at http://www.warflag.com/
Image: Knötel cards at http://www.grosser-generalstab.de
Text: Osprey’s The Austrian Army 1740-80 (1) Cavalry (Men-at-Arms 271)
Austrian regimental information at http://www.kuk-wehrmacht.de/regiment/index.html

No. 13 - Jung Modena Dragoons

Inhaber
1740 Khevenhüller, 1744 Holly, 1756 Erbprinz (1780 Herzog) von Modena

Unit History
After participating at Prague, 1757, some of the dragoons helped to defend the city itself. Another group of squadrons were present at Kolin and skirmished at Moys. At Kolin, four squadrons formed a brigade under Marquis Castiglione with the Saxon Guard Cuirassiers and the O’Donnell Cuirassiers. The regiment took part in the siege of Schweidnitz and the battles at Breslau and Leuthen. At Leuthen, the regiment was overrun by the Prussian Garde du Corps and in the subsequent flight lost a number of banners.
In 1758, a detachment assisted in the defence of Schweidnitz while the regiment helped besiege Neisse. In 1759, the regiment fought with the Reichsarmee in skirmishes at Eulenburg, Pretsch and Maxen. In the years 1760 and 1761, the unit saw no action. In the ending phase of the war, still assigned to the Reichsarmee, the unit skirmished at Kammerndorf.
The regiment converted in 1773 to Chevau-légers and disbanded 1802.

Comments
This was the last Austrian Dragoon unit painted and I had had enough of blue and green so red became the coat colour. Actually I really like the colour combination of sky blue and red and enjoy seeing a variety of coat colours in the armies. On the table, the four squadrons of Austrian Dragoons look imposing. The unit was painted in 2003.

Sources
Flag: Warflag at http://www.warflag.com/
Text: Osprey’s The Austrian Army 1740-80 (1) Cavalry (Men-at-Arms 271)
Austrian regimental information at http://www.kuk-wehrmacht.de/regiment/index.html

No. 29 - Bretlach Cuirassiers

Inhaber
1736 Lubormirski, 1745 Ludwig Carl Frhr. von Bretlach, 1767 Caramelli

Unit History
The regiment was raised in 1672. Saw its first distinguished action at Lobositz under the command of Marquis Voghera. In 1757, the second squadron participated at Prague and later the regiment joined the Reichsarmee. Present with the Reichsarmee at Rossbach, November 1757, where it was brigaded with the Kurpfalz Cuirassiers and Hohenzollern Cuirassiers under Hollenstein and suffered heavily. These units formed the advance guard which took the initial charge from Seydlitz’s cavalry corps. It did, however, manage to distinguish itself with the regiment Trautmannsdorf at the battle. The regiment was out of action in 1758 but in 1759 along with the Savoyen Dragoons was ambushed by Hessians near Meiningen. Reformed quickly, the regiment went on to fight at Meissen and Maxen.
Still with the Reichsarmee in 1760, the unit fought at Strehlen. Later at Freiburg, October 1762, the unit, brigaded under Campitelli, was on the right flank. The brigade retreated after the collapse of the Reichsarmee occurred due to a concentrated Prussian attack. Although the Reichsarmee was protected by temporary field works, the Prussian attack succeeded.
Bretlach was the only cuirassier unit to have both a lapel and a collar. Almost all of the eighteen Austrian cuirassiers regiments favoured red breeches; however, this unit wore buff breeches. Generally, the Austrian regiments fielded six squadrons of roughly ninety men each. It was deemed a regular unit throughout its service in the war.

Comments
These are actually Front Rank Russian Cuirassiers painted in the Austrian uniform because, as I reviewed my collection, I found that when I reduced my cavalry from 24 man units to 8 man squadrons that I had too many Russian cuirassiers. As I needed Austrian cavalry, I did some paging through my Osprey on the Austrian cavalry and found the only Austrian regiment with a collar – and here they are. The unit was painted in 2003.

Sources
Text: Osprey’s The Austrian Army 1740-80 (1) Cavalry (Men-at-Arms 271)
Austrian regimental information at http://www.kuk-wehrmacht.de/regiment/index.html
Image: Knötel cards at http://www.grosser-generalstab.de

No. 31 – St. Ignon Dragoons

Inhaber
1740 Ligne, 1757 Benedikt Daun, 1758 Christian Philipp Fürst Löwenstein-Wertheim (de Ligne), 1759 Graf Saint-Ignon

Unit History
A regiment raised in 1725 in the Austrian Netherlands. Present at Kolin, Leuthen, where its commander, Graf Thiennes, fell, Hochkirch and Maxen. In 1759, the regiment was part of de Ville's corps in Silesia where, after a skirmish at Zurlau, it met up with the Austrian army at Maxen. In 1760, as Chevau-légers, it suffered heavy losses at Torgau and was forced in large part to surrender. Between 1761 and 1762 the unit skirmished at Hartmannsdorf, Adelsbach, Dittmannsdorf and Nieder-Peilau. The unit was considered one of the better cavalry units as it suffered very little desertion in the period. It converted to Chevau-légers in 1760 but back to Dragoons in 1765. It was considered an elite unit throughout the period.
At Kolin, 1757, these 'Greenhorns' helped seal the Austrian victory. During the final stages of the battle, the Prussian again assaulted Krzeczor Hill, almost breaking through the Austrian centre. The breakthrough threatened the flank of the de Ligne and Kolowrat Dragoons who received an order to withdraw. Legend has it that the commanding officer, Colonel Graf Thiennes, asked for permission to attack which was grudgingly given with the comment: 'But you won't be able to do great things with your people - they haven't got moustaches!' Graf Thiennes repeated this to the regiment; then cried out' Boys, just show you can bite even it you haven't got any moustaches! Just show you need teeth to bite, and not whiskers!' The ensuing charge broke the last Prussian assault. For their actions on Krzeczor Hill, the de Ligne Dragoons became one of the more famous regiments in the Austrian army.
At Maxen, November 1759, a Prussian counter-attack by the grenadiers commanded by Willemy (No. 4/16) drove out the Austrians who initially had successfully assaulted the village of Maxen. The de Ligne Dragoons, with additional support, forced out the Prussian grenadiers and recaptured the village. The Austrians then held Maxen for good.

Comments
The regimental history is so entertaining that I just had to include at least one squadron in my Austrian force. Call it the usual wargamer’s disease of collecting elite units as opposed to the normal units. The unit was painted in 2003.

Sources
Flag: Warflag at http://www.warflag.com/
Text: Osprey’s Kolin 1757 Frederick the Great’s First Defeat (Campaign 91)
Osprey’s The Austrian Army 1740-80 (1) Cavalry (Men-at-Arms 271)
Austrian regimental information at http://www.kuk-wehrmacht.de/regiment/index.html

No. 35 - Bethlen Hussars

Inhaber
1740 Beleznay, 1754 Emerich Frhr. v. Morocz, 1759 Joseph Adam Gr. Bethlen, 1775 Barco

Unit History
The unit was raised in 1741. During the Seven Years War, primarily engaged in a series of skirmishes at Prag, Zittau, Grünberg, Cosdorf, Oppeln and Peilau (am Fischerberge). The unit spent most of its service in Silesia. In 1760 was part of Loudon's corps at the battles of Landshut and Liegnitz.
The regiment was seen as a regular unit throughout its service. The uniform from 1748 consisted of a blue pelisse with red braiding and yellow buttons trimmed in black fur. The pants were red with a cream seat. The hat was a black winged militron. The uniform changed during the SYW to a light blue pelisse, dolman and pants with a kalpak with a red bag.

Comments
These Hussars are originally Dixon Prussian Hussars but I have converted them to Austrian. This is the last of the Dixon Hussars that I had to paint and while Dixon figures are nice, I like Front Rank better.
The uniform information is sketchy and based on the plate by Morier of a possible Bethlen hussar from 1748. Given that changes in uniform regulations took long to trickle to the troops I have taken the liberty to keep the unit in the older uniform and militron. The unit was painted in March 2006.

Sources
Text: Osprey’s The Austrian Army 1740-80 (1) Cavalry (Men-at-Arms 271)
Image: Knötel cards at http://www.grosser-generalstab.de
Austrian regimental information at http://www.kuk-wehrmacht.de/regiment/index.html

Artillery

Inhaber
Unknown

Unit History
The guns shown are six-pound guns. The uniform varied based on their recruitment. The 'Netherlands' troops had red facings and turnbacks while the 'German' units only had the red facings. The artillery was usually considered the best arm of the Austrian troops during the Seven Years War.
The artillery suffered no significant shortage of recruits like the other service branches because of the favoured treatment and higher pay. The unique status was reflected in the use of distinctive titles for most ranks. The Director-General of the Austrian artillery from 1744 until his death in 1772 was Prince Joseph Wenzel Liechtenstein.

Comments
The artillery wears one of the more practical uniforms of the period. I also like the poses of these Gunners especially the officer sighting the gun (or watching where the ball lands). The unit was painted in 2003.

Sources
Osprey’s The Austrian Army 1740-80 (3) Specialist troops (Men-at-Arms 280)