Troops of the Swabian Empire

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The troops of the Swabian Imperial Circle were part of the Imperial Army of the Holy Roman Empire . From 1694 the Swabian Reichskreis was the only Reichskreis to maintain a standing army .

District militia

See also the district militia of the Swabian Empire .

In contrast to the development in other imperial circles or states, the word "militia" retained its meaning in the Swabian Reichskreis as a synonym for the armed forces as such, regardless of whether they are made up of recruited "mercenaries" or those selected as suitable ("expelled") and armed peasants and citizens - the "committees".

As commander of the circular distributed those established by the Reichstag team strengths ( Reichsmatrikel ) to individual stands. The district attached particular importance to being able to determine the deployment of its troops as a general. Already the “Instruction for the Commissars” in 1595 instructed them to make sure that the “ regiment was not used other than for the war against the Turks, that the regiment only had to obey the colonel in Hungary ”.

With the specific formation of troops, the district was faced with the problem of the contrast between the equal distribution of the financial burdens among all classes and the resulting size of the contingent on the one hand, and the military demand for spatial proximity of the contingents on the one hand, on the one hand, on the one hand, on the other hand, on the one hand, on the one hand, on the other hand, '' the military demand for the contingents to be closer to the faster To dissolve merging and better training on the other hand. In the course of time, the following principles developed:

  • As few staffs and troop units as possible in order to save costs.
  • As few different class contingents as possible in one company .
  • As far as possible, every class contingent completely in one unit in order to avoid splitting up into contingents over several units.
  • If possible, bank-related class contingents in a unit.
  • If possible, class contingents of the same religious affiliation in an association .
  • If possible, contingents of neighboring stands in one unit.
  • If possible, mix (blend) old and new teams when recruiting.
  • As much as possible the same personnel strengths of all comparable units within the district militia and with the army with which it was deployed.

The numbering of the regiments below is not up-to-date, it was only made through historiography for better differentiation and organization. At that time the regiments were named after their owners . The listed Ranks were - where known nothing in detail - from Circle (from staff officers ) and awarded the stands (other).

Troops of the district

The Circle troops were in accordance of the register of cavalry - and infantry associations . The distribution of the registers among the districts 1563 contains the division of the district quarters. The district did not maintain its own artillery units .

In keeping with the times, until the end of the 17th century, the soldiers were mercenaries recruited for a specific campaign , some from the district, mostly from other territories.

1500 to 1647

  • 1542 Eberstein Regiment

The district expulsion order of 1563 provided for the deployment of 6 flags according to the following key:

1 flag by spiritual princes and prelates
1 pennant by secular princes
1 flag by counts and gentlemen
3 flags through the cities.

This plan was rejected by the district council in 1564.

In 1569 the district approved 6,000 florins for Margrave Karl von Baden . He was supposed to set up a lieutenant with a protective force (up to 1,200 guards with 400 horses), plus two cavalry masters, who should each bring in another 400 riders if necessary. The troop was not set up.

On January 31, 1591 (farewell to the war councilors' day), the district bishop, Duke Johann Friedrich von Württemberg, was granted the right, in case of urgent need in the district, "one, two or three hundred to horse and then in three fenlein servants, the fendtle on dangerous to three hundred strong calculated ”.

The Ottoman attack against Hungary in 1593 only caused the district to provide special district aid in money (1593 225,564 fl 12 x and 1594 116,600 fl). In 1595 Emperor Rudolf II asked the imperial districts for troops. The district decided to allocate 20 Roman months to set up a regiment for a period of six months.

The regiment consisted of 10 pennons of 200 double mercenaries each with long spears ( pay 14 fl) and 200 musketeers (pay 14 fl) and riflemen ( arquebusiers , pay 8 fl). In addition there were 6 cartoons and 6 falconettes , which, including the service team, were loaned from Augsburg for a fee.
After the draft from April 15 to 24, the regiment moved on the Danube to Vienna in ten days . In addition, 2 ships for the colonel and his staff, 48 ships for the crew, 14 rafts for the material, 4 rafts for the ammunition (180 ctr. Powder, 200 ctr. Lead, 400 ctr. Fuses ) from Augsburg and 4 barges with which the regiment quartermaster and sergeants forward drove required.
On November 12th the regiment was abdicated with half a monthly salary and received an additional monthly salary as a "storm bonus".
The regiment incurred total costs of 313,000 florins for the district.

The following year, the district again set up a regiment to help the Reichstürkenhilfe .

  • Regiment Mörsberg, Colonel Hans Friedrich von Mörsberg and Befort
The regiment again consisted of 10 pennons of 400 men each as well as 4 artillery pieces and 10 gunsmiths from Augsburg. In the advertising should Musketeers the harquebusiers are preferred.
It was abdicated on November 26th outside Vienna with half a monthly salary and received an additional monthly salary as a “storm bonus”.
The regiment incurred total costs of 335,500 florins for the district.

In 1597, too, the district formed an equally strong regiment .

  • Regiment Mörsberg, Colonel Hans Friedrich von Mörsberg and Befort
The regiment was abdicated in Haimburg on November 29th .
  • 1605 Mörsberg regiment
  • 1606 Mansfeld Regiment

In 1622 the district decided to recruit 1,000 horsemen and 3,000 servants on foot for three months.

1648 to 1694

After the Peace of Westphalia there were two projects of the district to raise troops.

In the 1st project from 1651, the district planned the installation of "if necessary"

  • 1,570 horses on horseback in 2 regiments
  • 3,150 men on foot in 2 regiments of 8 companies each

as committee troops, i.e. from the state contingent. The plan remained, however.

The second project of 1660 was based on recruited troops with a strength of 3,100 men, divided into

  • 2 regiments on horseback with 4 equestrian companies of 101 men each
  • 2 regiments on foot with 8 companies of 113 men each
  • 2 dragoon companies of 101 men.

This project, too, only existed on paper.

"First armature" 1664

After the Reichstag had decided on January 28, 1664 to grant voluntary Turkish aid , the district raised troops.

  • Catholic regiment on foot with a strength of 1,555½ men to 7 companies (the shares of the Imperial Knighthood St. Georgen Schild were incorporated as the 7th company.) The regiment owner was Colonel Count Franz Fugger zu Kirchberg and Weißenhorn, Imperial General Field Master and Governor of Ingolstadt (fallen on August 1, 1664 in the battle of Mogersdorf, see below).
  • Protestant regiment on foot with a strength of 1,588 men and 8 companies. The regiment owner was Colonel Palatine Count Christian von Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld-Bischweiler
Two thirds of each company was armed with muskets , one third had pikes . Each foot regiment had two regimental pieces , which were given to the princes who wrote the district after the abdication .
  • Circular cavalry with a strength of 386 men and 4 companies. The commander was Lieutenant Colonel with the title of Colonel Count Maximilian Franz Graf zu Fürstenberg . The cavalry did not form a regiment, as Württemberg did not assign his 170 horsemen under Prince Ulrich von Württemberg to the district militia, but directly to the Alliance Corps of the Rhenish Federation in Hungary.

In the first armature, the district had wanted to wait for a Reichsschluss because of the flags, at least not a decision on the design of the flags. Ulm stipulated the following about the flags in 1664: “Furthermore, two flags must be made by simple daffets, which should hold 3 cubits at the pole, but 4 cubits in flight; The field of the same should be wexelsweyß yellow and black according to the old Swabian coat of arms; In addition, each estate is free to decide what emblemata or signa it wants to weave into it or have it sewn: the half of the flag, which is common to the city of Ulm, Memmingen and Lindau, was compared to each other at Regenspurg, that is, the three Stätt coats of arms The main cost should be embroidered next to the heading PRO ARIS ET FOCIS. "

The troops of the district fought in 1664 in the battle of Mogersdorf . The remnants of the troops who returned in November were initially left in "pay and bread" for three months in recognition of their deployment, and on February 28, 1665 the armature was then dismantled.

"Second fitting" 1673–1677

Parade of the Ulm district contingent 1677

During the Franco-Dutch War , the district again raised troops in 1673, but they did not join the Imperial Army , but stayed in the country.

  • Catholic district regiment on foot with a strength of 1,012 men and 5 companies. The regiment owner was Colonel Count Anthon zu Montfort
  • Evangelical district regiment on foot with a strength of 969 men and 5 companies. The regiment owner was Colonel Margrave Karl Gustav von Baden-Durlach .
For the two foot regiments, the district borrowed four regimental items from the princes who wrote the district and bought the accessories including ammunition at the expense of the district treasury. After the dissolution, these guns initially remained in Offenburg and were then returned.
  • Catholic district regiment on horseback with a strength of 306 men and 3 companies. The regiment owner was Colonel Landgrave Maximilian Franz zu Fürstenberg-Stühlingen
  • Evangelical regional regiment on horseback with a strength of 271½ men and 3 companies. The regiment owner was Colonel Duke Friedrich Carl von Württemberg-Winnental .

The doubling of the district militia, decided by both branches of religion in the spring of 1674, only affected the companies; H. the number of companies per regiment was doubled (the drafting of the cavalry in 1674 is described here ). The Kreisreiterei was disarmed again on the Simplum in the spring of 1675, whereby the best teams and horses from both Simpla were combined and, against the opposition of the Reichsfeldmarschall, were formed into two squadrons, each under a sergeant-major. In August the circle followed the previous closure of the empire on the Duplum and doubled the cavalry. The 6 Catholic companies (strength 102-108 riders) and 6 Protestant companies (strength 88-93 riders) were formed under the old regimental staff. In the spring the infantry had already been reduced to 1.5 Simplum in 10 Catholic and 10 Protestant companies with strengths between 139 and 146 men. This division remained until the disbandment of the district militia in April 1677.

During missions outside the district (1664 and 1672/77), the three colonels without a district high command were directly subordinate to the field marshal of the Imperial Army, Margrave Leopold von Baden .

"Third fitting" 1683

Troop parade after the draft in 1683
Removal on the Danube in 1683

A conclusion of the two higher imperial colleges of May 23, 1681 envisaged the formation of 10,000 horsemen , 2,000 dragoons and 28,000 foot soldiers , who by the expert opinion of August 30, 1681 prescribed the recruitment of 1,321 horsemen and 2,707 men on foot. At the general district assembly of July 1683, however, the district decided on June 16 to send around 5,000 men to Hungary as voluntary Turkish aid at the request of the emperor.

This time the four regimental commanders were placed under a district commander-in-chief . In addition to a regiment (see below), the district awarded the margrave Karl Gustav von Baden-Durlach the title and rank of (district) general guard on foot “over samptliche this Creyses troops”, whereby he received special instructions for each campaign. He was subordinate to the imperial high command only for the actual mission, otherwise he was expressly bound by the instructions of the district war directorate.

  • I. (Catholic) regiment on foot, staff and 2,011 men of 10 companies. The regiment owner was a colonel, from 1687 general sergeant on foot Count Notger Wilhelm zu Öttingen-Katzenstein
  • II. (Ev.) Regiment on foot, staff and 2,003 men of 10 companies. The regiment owner was Colonel Margrave Karl Gustav von Baden-Durlach (1686 Lieutenant General Field Marshal on foot, 1692 General Feldzeugmeister), at the same time as Sergeant General on foot, commander-in-chief of the district troops; from 1702 it was General Wachtmeister on foot Margrave Karl Wilhelm von Baden-Durlach (1703 Lieutenant General Field Marshal (infantry), 1705 General Feldzeugmeister).
  • I. (Catholic) regiment on horseback, staff and 505 men of 6 companies. The regiment owner was Colonel Margrave Karl Gustav von Baden-Durlach, general sergeant from 1689.
  • II. (Protestant) regiment on horseback, staff and 505 men to 6 companies. The regiment owner was Colonel Quirin von Höhnstett, and from 1687 Prince Ludwig von Württemberg.

The regimental staff consisted of each

"The circular flags of the third armature show, according to a contemporary copper engraving by JU Kraus based on a drawing by Ulm Lieutenant Paul Wille" Parades of the troops of the Swabian district near Ulm and their embarkation for the Turkish war in 1683 and 1684 "(Ulm Museum) with horizontal black and yellow stripes Except for the body flags and in the middle an oval shield with the cross under the three lions. "

More troops from 1691

Because of the Palatinate War of Succession that had broken out in 1688 , the district decided not to abdicate the existing regiments after their return from Hungary. He even rebuilt in 1691

  • III. (Catholic) regiment on foot, staff and 1,947 men of 10 companies. Since the establishment of a new regiment consisting only of newly recruited recruits would not have significantly increased the militia’s fighting power , the district decided to mix (“mottled”) the old and new crew. For this purpose, the 1st regiment 320 and the 2nd regiment 182 handed over to the new regiment, who were replaced there by newly recruited. The regiment owner was Colonel Karl Egon Graf zu Fürstenberg-Meßkirch (from 1692 general sergeant , from 1693 general field marshal lieutenant ). The regiment was mustered at Donaueschingen on May 8, 1691 and then ordered to Rottweil . The regiment wore black hats with green braids, white-gray skirts with green lapels, calfskin trousers, white-gray striped stockings and shoes and were equipped with bayonets and "fisil pipes", sabers or swords, cartridge pouches and satchels.
  • (mixes.) Dragoon Regiment, 490 men to 6 companies. The regiment owner was Duke Johann Friedrich von Württemberg, a lieutenant colonel in the rank of colonel. The regiment was mustered on May 10, 1691 at Eitringen (near Horb ) and then ordered to Schiltach . The uniform was initially like the III. Regiment on foot, the district stalls had to equip them with a hat, skirt and coat, saddle cloth, "fisil pipe", 2 pistols, sabers and knee boots as well as a dragoon horse. From 1692 the clothing was red skirts and coats with green lapels.

These and the following troops (and those taken in subsidies, see section below) were not placed under the imperial army, but came under the command of the district to the imperial army .

Also in 1691 the district decided “not only to put the district infantry on the imperial footing (regiment = 2,000 men) and to strengthen the cavalry regiments by 300 men each, as well as the dragoons, but also another dragoons regiment of 800 men and a fourth infantry regiment to set up. In February 1692, however, the augmentation was reduced to 2,700 men on foot, 280 men on horseback and 300 dragoons. .... The newly recruited were divided into 18 companies on foot of 150 men each, 4 companies on horseback and 4 companies of dragoons of 75 men each and distributed among the regiments; For reasons of economy, the majority rejected the establishment of new regimental headquarters. "

Since February 1691, 70 men on foot had been designated as grenadiers under the command of a lieutenant in each regiment . In August 1693, each regiment received its own grenadier company on foot. At first they received a grenadier cap instead of a hat , then embroidered caps in 1712, the rest of the uniform was that of the infantrymen.

In November 1696 the district established a new one

  • IV. (Mix.) Regiment on foot, 1,820 men with 1 grenadier company and 12 foot companies. For this purpose, each regiment had to deliver four companies. The regiment owner was Colonel Field Marshal Margrave Ludwig Wilhelm von Baden-Baden .

Regiments 1694 to 1791

During the war, the district established a standing army on May 11, 1694 through its resolution of the miles perpetuus circuli (Latin: permanent soldier of the district) , into which the existing regiments seamlessly merged.

After the Peace of Rijswijk , the district disarmed. The regiments remained in place, but their strengths were reduced, the cavalry company to 71 men and the foot company to 112 men. In May 1699, the three youngest companies of the infantry regiments were dissolved and the strengths redefined: 8 companies of 50 men per cavalry regiment, 12 companies of 100 men per foot regiment.

When the War of the Spanish Succession began in 1701, another infantry regiment was set up in April:

  • V. (ev.) District regiment on foot, 1,516 men to 13 companies. The regiment owner was Colonel Baron Eberhard Albrecht von Reischach (1702 Sergeant General (infantry), 1705 Lieutenant General Field Marshal (infantry)).

At the same time, and the rest of the district militia were completely reorganized into

  • 5 infantry regiments with 1 grenadier company of 96 and 12 companies of 139-144 men,
  • 2 cavalry regiments with 8 companies of 70 - 74 men,
  • 1 dragoon regiment with 8 companies of 71-74 men.

The disarmament of the district militia on the foot of peace after the War of the Spanish Succession would have provided an opportunity to organize it in such a way that its previous combat value was retained. The General Inspector of the District Infantry, Major General von Rodt, had proposed that the regiments as a whole be deployed in a few "decided places" such as Augsburg, Ulm, Rottweil, Heilbronn, Memmingen and Lindau. This would have had a number of advantages: the troops could have been constantly trained, their discipline would have been maintained, rapid deployments would have been possible and the townspeople would have been unnecessary. The professorial deputation considered this suggestion to be "very useful" but "not practicable" because the classes would not agree and would rather have their class quota with them for their own safety. For the peace service, the orderly of 1717 therefore saw u. a. before: “The state may use its contingent for its own security, raids, gate guards, etc., but the general district service takes precedence. The companies should contract and exercise at least once every two months, but without complaint from the classes. Every time an entire company moves out, the standards or flags should be picked up. "

The district's troops existed from 1714

  • District Cuirassier Regiment (Catholic) with 8 companies of 38 men (former 1st regiment on horseback ). The regiment owners were:
1704 Colonel Count Eustach Maria von Fugger (1704 Sergeant General on horseback, 1706 Lieutenant General Field Marshal (Cavalry), 1732 General of the Cavalry)
1736 Margrave Karl Friedrich of Baden-Durlach
1756 Prince Friedrich von Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen
1785 Prince Anton Aloys von Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen
Uniform: White coats with red cuffs , collar, discounts and lap envelopes, to a black cuirass with red lining, white pants and high black boots; black felt hat with white border, black bow and white neck . The cartridge was white.
  • Kreis-Dragoon-Regiment (ev.) With 8 companies of 38 men (former 2nd regiment on horseback ). The regiment owners were:
1698 Hereditary Prince Friedrich Ludwig von Württemberg (1717 sergeant general on horseback, 1725 lieutenant general field marshal)
1731 Duke Eberhard Ludwig of Württemberg
1733 Duke Carl Alexander of Württemberg
1737 Prince Carl Eugen of Württemberg
1746 Prince Friedrich Eugen of Württemberg
1759 Prince Friedrich Wilhelm Karl of Württemberg
1769 Duke Carl Eugen of Württemberg
1793 Duke Ludwig Eugen of Württemberg
1795 Duke Friedrich Eugen of Württemberg
  • Kreis-Dragoon-Regiment (mixes) with 8 companies of 38 men The regiment owners were:
1703 Prince Albrecht Ernst II of Öttingen
1724 Prince August Enno of East Frisia
1725 Prince Albrecht Ernst II of Öttingen
  • 1st District Infantry Regiment (Catholic) with 13 companies of 76 men (former 1st regiment on foot ). The regiment owners were:
1705 Colonel Baron Nicola Friedrich von Enzberg (1706 General Wachtmeister on foot, 1712 Field Marshal Lieutenant (infantry))
1724 Colonel Count Ludwig zu Fürstenberg-Stühlingen (from 1728 general constable on foot)
1759 Colonel Count Friedrich zu Fürstenberg-Stühlingen
  • 2nd District Infantry Regiment (ev.) (Former 2nd regiment on foot ). The regiment owners were:
1702 Field Marshal Lieutenant General (infantry) Margrave Karl Wilhelm von Baden-Durlach (from 1705 General Feldzeugmeister)
1712 Hereditary Prince Friedrich of Baden-Durlach (1728 General Wachtmeister on foot)
1732 Margrave Karl August von Baden-Durlach
1766 Hereditary Prince Karl-Ludwig of Baden-Durlach
  • 3rd District Infantry Regiment (Catholic) with 13 companies of 76 men, (former 3rd regiment on foot ). The regiment owners were:
1703 Colonel Baron Franz von Rodt (1706 General Wachtmeister on foot, 1710 Lieutenant General Field Marshal (infantry))
1743 Margrave August Georg of Baden-Baden
1771 Count Maximilian Heinrich Truchseß von Wolfegg
  • 4th district infantry regiment (mixes) with 13 companies of 76 men (former IV regiment on foot ). Regimental owners were:
1707 Margrave Ludwig Georg von Baden-Baden (1717 General Sergeant on foot, 1728 Lieutenant General Field Marshal)
District Infantry Regiment Württemberg
  • 5th district infantry regiment (ev.) With 13 companies of 76 men, (former 5th regiment on foot ). Regimental owners were:
1707 Colonel Baron Eberhard Albrecht von Reischach
1712 Duke Eberhard of Württemberg
1733 Duke Karl Alexander of Württemberg
1744 Duke Karl Eugen of Württemberg
1793 Duke Ludwig Eugen of Württemberg
1795 Duke Friedrich Eugen of Württemberg
Since this regiment was almost only provided by the Duchy of Württemberg from the beginning (11 of 13 companies), the dukes of Württemberg kept their companies ready from 1732 as the Württemberg District Infantry Regiment , which was made available to the district if necessary and with the other contingents has been replenished. From 1767 it had with the Württemberg household troops and the name Infantry Regiment of eye and Infantry Regiment of Stain , 1786 Infantry Regiment of Saxe-Coburg , from 1791 Infantry Regiment of Phull . However, the dukes of Württemberg remained formally owners of the district regiment.

After the general muster carried out by the district in 1729 in Esslingen, which was repeatedly delayed by the estates in peacetime, the 4th Infantry Regiment was dissolved in 1731 and all regiments were reduced by 2 companies, on August 11, 1732 the mixed Dragoon Regiment was dissolved and the cavalry regiments received 2 companies. The strengths have been redefined:

  • Company of the Cavalry Peace Foot 2 officers, 4 NCOs, 31 men = 37 in total, 50 in total war foot
    In the peacetime of 1732, the cavalry only had 8 men mounted in each company and the stand that provided the Rittmeister had to provide 4 mounted men , while for each lieutenant 2 and for the cornet or sergeant one man had to be available. The other competitors of the company paid 50 guilders annually for these horses .
  • Company of Infantry Friedensfuß 3 officers, 4 NCOs, 42 men = 50 in total, 4 officers, 15 NCOs, 81 men = 100 in total.

This definition remained unchanged until the end of the Swabian Empire.

The general mustering in 1729 brought to light the disadvantages of the deployments in force since 1714 : obsolescence due to savings in new recruiting, no joint exercises in larger units (beyond the company framework), hardly any horses in the cavalry companies, differences in armament and Equipment or differences in wages without drawing any conclusions from them. At the beginning of the First Coalition War (see below), intensive training was initially required.

  • Grenadiers in the 1st District Infantry Regiment

  • Uniforms of the troops of the Swabian Empire 1781

  • Uniforms of the cavalry of the Swabian Empire 1793

Troops 1792 to 1802

Ordre de bataille des Corps of District Troops

At the beginning of the First Coalition War , the district decided to set up the contingents in full by March 1, 1794 and to strengthen them with a further 4,000 men (1½ Simpla). Without additional officers or units, the strengths of the grenadier companies were increased to 150, the fusilier companies to 223 and the cavalry companies to 111 men. In the course of the year the district troops moved as " Corps " under Lieutenant General (from 1795 General Feldzeugmeister ) from Stain to the Rhine. On October 13, 1794, the number of troops was increased by another ½ Simplum. This required a new division of troops, which was carried out in March. From the new reinforcements, new companies were set up with the individual infantry regiments and then two new (combined) battalions of 5 companies were formed by surrendering the regiments:

  • Combined battalion from Irmtraut made up of teams from the 1st District Infantry Regiment (Fürstenberg) and the 5th District Infantry Regiment (Württemberg). The commandant was Lieutenant Colonel von Irmtraut from Württemberg.
  • Combined battalion from Auer made up of teams from the 2nd District Infantry Regiment (Baden-Durlach) and the 3rd District Infantry Regiment (Wolfegg). The commandant was the Baden Major von Auer.

Two independent grenadier battalions were formed from the grenadier companies of the regiments.

The Swabian district troops were deployed on the Upper Rhine, see First Coalition War below.

Since the agreed reinforcement would not be sufficient to prevent the enemy from entering the country, the district demanded on July 24th. and on August 3, 1794, the ranks for the position of a district militia of 4,000 men and decided to announce a general state contingent for all men between the ages of 18 and 50 years. The Wuerttemberg Colonel von Seeger was appointed commander of the state committee, who was supposed to supervise the formation and organization. The list did not come into force, however, because the right bank of the Rhine was not entered by French troops in 1794.

When, during the Second Coalition War, the Reichstag decided on September 16, 1799 to restart the war against France, various estates in the district again made troops available. However, the district as a whole could no longer set up its own district corps.

artillery

The Reich Execution Ordinance of 1555 prescribed artillery pieces for the troops of the imperial districts in § 81. For this purpose, the district stored 6 falconers (6 pounders) in Ulm .

The artillery was not provided by contingents, but by the district itself. Due to a lack of money, most of the artillery equipment was not acquired and provided by the district itself, but from the so-called artillery stands with artillery, the Duchy of Württemberg, the city of Ulm and the city of Augsburg on a district guarantee (replacement at Damage or loss) loaned during a campaign. These also provided the actual gun operations , soldiers were deployed as auxiliary teams, the ammunition was transported by clamping services or specially hired trucking companies.

In 1664 the district procured two 3-pounder regimental items for each foot regiment , which were left to the district-writing princes (Württemberg, Constance) after the abdication.

During the association with the Frankish Reichskreis (June 1691 until the end of the Palatinate War) there was a separate artillery corps, albeit one for both districts.

At the beginning of the war in 1701, each foot regiment was assigned two regimental items, of which the district itself only owned three, the rest were loaned by the artillery positions on district guarantee. In May 1702 the number was increased to three pieces per foot regiment.

In the middle of the 16th century, the usage of large guns changed, which made the weight of the bullet the gun designation, e.g. B. quarter cartons for "12-pounders".

The artillery from 1793 to 1796 (see also the outline above) consisted of

2 cannons per battalion , a total of 10 3-pounders and 14 6-pounders, each with 1 two-horse ammunition cart,
5 6-pounder cannons and 7 12-pounder cannons per brigade,
Artillery reserve 4 12-pounder cannons, 4 horse-drawn and 4 unmanned 7-pounder howitzers .

Special forces

In addition to the troops already mentioned, armies were only ready for action if they had appropriate special troops. These included field bridges, pioneers , provisions transport, medical and pharmacy systems as well as provision offices . They were always assigned directly to the Commander in Chief. The technical complexity and / or the small size of the special troops made repartition (division) in the Reich among the ten districts or in a district among the various estates impossible.

Also in the Swabian Reichskreis "they were in the real sense of the circle units because they were set up by the district and maintained from the district treasury, that is, followed different structural principles than the main types of weapons", but were only set up during a campaign.

Other military facilities

Council of war

The Imperial War Constitution , the Imperial Execution Order of 1555 and the District Order of 1563 provided for a council of war. It should consist of two representatives from three banks (spiritual princes and prelates as a common bank) and limit the competence of the district bishop. It only lasted until the end of the century. Its tasks as an advisory body to the respective military commanders were partly carried out by the Württemberg War Council.

General Staff

The general staff of the district is not comparable to the general staff in German armies of later times. Since the district had appointed the first district general (here as a function, not as a rank) in 1683 and added a staff adjutant to him, one can speak of a general staff in the district. Since the first district general (General Wachtmeister on foot Margrave Karl Gustav von Baden-Durlach) also remained regimental commander, the people belonging to the general staff were initially led on foot with his 2nd regiment. From 1691 the general staff was listed first in the catering ordinances. It included all soldiers who did not belong to a particular regiment or artillery.

In the circle a distinction was made between

  • High staff = all generals regardless of their position / function
The actual district general and commander in chief was
from 1683 Margrave Karl Gustav von Baden-Durlach with changing ranks (see above)
from 1696 the respective commanding field marshal (no longer appointed after 1725)
from 1793 Lieutenant General (Württemberg) von Stain
from 1795 Lieutenant General von Fürstenberg (until 1797)
  • Lower staff = all other staff members
General adjutant since 1683
General quartermaster since 1694
Quartermaster 1693, 1701-1703
1-4 staff adjutants since 1683
General or senior auditor 1694 - 1697
1-2 Feldmedicus since 1693
Rod surgeon 1691 - 1697, from 1706
Rod drum 1692 - 1693
General powerful and executioner 1691 - 1697, 1731

A full general staff only existed during wars; in peacetime only the generals, the adjutant general and the quartermaster general were retained, the rest were abdicated .

A list of county general field marshal is here .

District general inspection

In 1695 the district appointed two district generals as general war inspectors. They had no command authority as troop leaders, but were supposed to monitor troop training and to urge the district officers "to remain with their regiments and on duty (!) And to fulfill their official duties with regard to the material resources entrusted to them." And to monitor the district war commissioner. The General Inspectorate ceased to work in peacetime. 1709 - 1714 (War of the Spanish Succession) these were the (Catholic) Major General von Rodt with the general inspection of the 5 foot regiments and the (ev.) Major General von Phull with the general inspection of the 3 cavalry regiments, the district artillery and the grenadier battalion. 1735 - 1738 (War of the Polish Succession) there was only one, Major General Baron von Remchingen .

District War Commissariat

As the military administration , the district war commissariat was responsible for matters relating to drafting , payment of wages , provisions and stuff . It was always organized differently, from 1691 it was independent of the troops.

District fortresses

The district regarded two fortified cities as circular fortresses , in which u. a. the district's own guns were stored: Heilbronn as a Protestant , Offenburg as a Catholic district fortress.

The other cities were also more or less fortified according to the time, but were only considered "decided places".

Lines of defense

During the wars at the end of the 17th / beginning of the 18th century, various lines of defense were developed differently , primarily by Margrave Ludwig Wilhelm von Baden-Baden ( Türkenlouis ), taking advantage of natural terrain obstacles. They should - after occupation with troops - deny access to enemy, especially French troops, in order to protect certain rooms or prevent passage.

Eppinger Lines

The Eppinger lines were supposed to prevent French troops from entering the Kraichgau . Remnants are still visible today.

Bühl-Stollhofen line

The Bühl-Stollhofener line was laid out by Margrave Ludwig Wilhelm von Baden-Baden to protect northern Baden . The French Marshal de Villars had the fortifications razed in 1707.

Ettlinger line

The Ettlinger Line was laid out by Georg Wilhelm von Braunschweig-Lüneburg , successor to Margrave Ludwig Wilhelm von Baden-Baden as Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Army.

Subsidies

The Swabian Imperial Circle also took and gave subsidies in the form of money or subsidy regiments at that time .

Foreign troops in the service of the district

From June 1693 to 1698 the district also took three regiments of the Duke of Württemberg (for details on the ducal regiments see here ) as subsidiary troops in pay:

  • Freudenberg cavalry regiment,
  • Carlin Dragoon Regiment from Somaripa
  • 1st (yellow, body) regiment on foot (regiment on foot from Horn)

with a total strength of 2,800 men and 1,200 horses.

Troops of the district in foreign service

In 1698 the district rented a regiment to the emperor to garrison the imperial fortress of Freiburg .

Participation in wars

Turkish War 1596–1606

In the Long Turkish War , the Reichskreis made one regiment available to the emperor for six months from 1595 to 1597. In 1595 the regiment took part in the capture of the Gran Fortress . In 1596 the regiment lost three pennons in the battle of Mezőkeresztes on October 16 . In 1597 the regiment fought in front of Pápa on August 20th .

Turkish War 1663–1664

In this war of the emperor against the Turks, the Reichstag decided in February 1664 to use the first, still voluntary, “armature” for “eyligen aid”. The district provided two regiments on foot and four companies of cavalry to the Imperial Army. The troops were mustered on May 10th and 11th by Duke Eberhard von Württemberg in Söflingen near Ulm and sworn in to the circle, then shipped to Austria in Ulmer boxes . You were u. a. deployed on August 1, 1664 in the battle of Mogersdorf an der Raab. Only 350 men, “mostly sick or injured”, came back.

Franco-Dutch War 1672–1678

In the Franco-Dutch War , the district provided two Catholic and two Protestant regiments of its own from the summer of 1675, which were subordinate to the imperial command, but remained in the country. They were used in the district fortresses of Heilbronn (Protestant) and Offenburg (Catholic) as well as to protect the western district borders and the area around Philippsburg and dissolved again in 1677.

Turkish War 1683–1699

In this war , the district provided a Catholic regiment on horseback and a regiment on foot as voluntary Turkish aid only to the emperor for six campaigns (1683–1686) in Hungary upon request under certain conditions.

The first "eylige help" of the district came late in 1683 for the liberation battle for Vienna . She took part in the persecution of the Turks and returned to the winter quarters in the district in December. In September 1684, the district infantry marched to Hungary for the second time, while the district cavalry followed in March 1685. “After the siege of Ofen, which was abandoned at the end of October 1684, the infantry stayed in poor winter quarters in Upper Hungary. In the next few years, with the exception of the winter of 1687/88, the district called its troops back to winter in the district area, from where they set off again for the campaign in the spring. The Swabian district militia fought in the Turkish War as part of the imperial army and was involved in the conquest of Neuhäusel (August 19, 1685), Ofen (September 12, 1686) and Mohacs (August 12, 1687) ”as well as in the conquest of the siege of Belgrade (1688) (September 6, 1688). The troops recalled from Hungary at the end of 1688 succeeded in liberating Stuttgart from the French on January 2, 1689 .

War of the Palatinate Succession 1688–1697

The Reichsschluss of February 14, 1689 determined the participation of the Imperial Army in the Palatinate War of Succession (1688–1697) against France. Here the district provided three Catholic and two Protestant regiments of its own, from 1691 an additional mixed dragoon regiment, from 1696 another mixed regiment on foot. From 1693 to 1698, the district also took three Württemberg house regiments as subsidiary troops in pay, which it also placed in the Imperial Army.

War of the Spanish Succession 1701–1714

For the war against France in the War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714), the Imperial Army was mobilized according to the Imperial Decree of September 30, 1702. The district provided two regiments on horseback, a dragoon regiment and five regiments on foot. The five grenadier companies were mostly used separately from their regiments in a special grenadier battalion as a tactical unit. The commanding officers of the Swabian Empire were Margrave Karl Gustav of Baden-Durlach , Ludwig Wilhelm of Baden-Baden and, from 1707, Duke Eberhard Ludwig of Württemberg .

War of the Polish Succession 1733–1738

The Reichsschluss of 1734 offered the Reichsarmee due to the occupation of Lorraine by France, cf. War of the Polish Succession (1733–1738). The district put all of its troops (a cuirassier regiment, a dragoon regiment and three regiments on foot) into the Imperial Army.

The execution of the Reich against Prussia in the Seven Years War 1757–1763

The only execution of the Reich took place by the conclusion of the Reich on January 17, 1757 against Prussia, which had broken the peace by occupying Saxony in the Seven Years' War in 1756 . The district as well as the Franconian , the Upper Rhine , the Kurrheinische , the Lower Rhine-Westphalian and the Saxon Reichskreis then provided troops with great delay. The Imperial Army was used in the Battle of Roßbach as a closed unit under French command and was decisively defeated by the Prussians . Although it had done well and the defeat was primarily due to incorrect planning by the French commander-in-chief Charles de Rohan , the Prussian-German historiography of the Reichsarmee later dubbed the nickname "Reissaus Army".

First coalition war 1792–1797

The Reichsschluss of March 22, 1793 put the Imperial Army in the war against revolutionary France in the First Coalition War (1792–1797). In 1796 the district was the only one to provide a complete corps (five times the matricular strength "Quintuplum" = 7,300 men; with a cuirassier regiment, a dragoon regiment, four regiments on foot, two grenadier battalions, two combined battalions and an artillery reserve of 20 guns) under Lieutenant General von Stain, divided into three brigades.

The corps belonged to the Austrian "Upper Rhine Army" under Cavalry General Count Wurmser and initially stood in a line from Rastatt via Kehl to the Lahr area . After the initial successes of the Upper Rhine Army in 1793 (regaining Mannheim , pushing back the French troops on the left bank of the Rhine via the Lauterburg and Weißenburg lines , conquering Fort Louis ), the Swabian corps (still 2,586 infantry and 533 horsemen) moved into winter quarters in the region of Kehl, while at the same time keeping this village occupied. After refreshing its personnel, the corps covered the Rhine from the Murg to the Schutter in the spring of 1794 , and in the summer from Ottenheim via Kehl to Freistett . Thereby ¼ of the troops were in the actual outpost service , another ¼ for the soutien (readiness to reinforce) the outpost. “The second half of the troop corps was backwards in cantons, and in this second half the ... lessons were incessantly continued, so camps were usually taken up in the summer months as well. From month to month the two halves became detached, which meant that practical service and theoretical instruction always went hand in hand. ”For this purpose, the district had issued new regulations in 1793 for rifle handles, turns, marching and positioning the formations as well as general service operations. Then it returned to the previous year's winter quarters. In 1795 the corps was to be relocated to the Mainz area, but von Stain refused, pointing out that he was only subordinate to the district and referred to the district's old resolutions that his troops could only be used for their own defense. Likewise, after Stains was arrested at the end of March, von Zaiger's most senior general after him, and the corps stayed on the Upper Rhine in the Kehl area and covered the Rhine from Freistett to Ichenheim . On May 6, command of the corps changed from von Stain, who had already been reinstated on April 10, to Lieutenant General Landgrave Friedrich von Fürstenberg . At the beginning of 1796 the corps had a strength of 6,036 infantry, 1,194 cavalry and 48 guns. On July 24th the French crossed the Rhine near Kehl, the Swabian troops retreated to Bühl after tough resistance (losses of 37 officers, 693 men, 14 guns and 22 ammunition wagons) , on July 26th to Offenburg and on July 28th Biberach . Since the neighbors (on the left Corps Condé, on the right Austrians under Field Marshal Lieutenant Count Sztaray) withdrew, the corps returned to Hausach on July 1st . On July 14th the corps went to the Neckar in the Hornberg , Oberndorf and Horb area , on the 15th to Haigerloch , on the 18th to Hechingen .

Duke Friedrich II of Württemberg had already signed an armistice with General Moreau on July 17, 1797 and recalled his contingent from the Swabian corps (march 19 July), the Baden Margrave Carl Friedrich followed this step on July 25. Lieutenant General Landgrave Friedrich von Fürstenberg wanted to unite the rest of the corps (around 5,500 men and 24 guns) with the army of the Imperial Field Marshal Archduke Karl and marched to Gammertingen . Here he received the order from the district to immediately start negotiations with the enemy about an armistice and then to march to Biberach an der Riss to remain there until further notice. The armistice was concluded in Hechingen, the corps marched on the 21st to Riedlingen and reached Biberach an der Riss on the 22nd.

The district itself also negotiated a ceasefire. Before the negotiations were concluded, General Field Marshal Archduke Karl had the remains of the Swabian corps (4,000 infantry, 850 horsemen and 21 artillery) surrounded and disarmed by 6,000 men near Biberach an der Riss.

In the armistice concluded with General Moreau in Stuttgart on July 27, 1796, the Swabian Imperial Circle committed itself to supplying 12 million livres , 8,000 horses, 5,000 oxen, 150,000 ctr bread grain, 100,000 sacks of oats, 150,000 ctr hay and 100,000 pairs of shoes as well as the Dispatch of negotiators to Paris to conclude a peace treaty.

Second coalition war 1799–1802

The last war of the Imperial Army was also fought against France. In the Second War of the Coalition (1799–1802), a final contingent of the Imperial Army was drawn up on September 16, 1799, when the Reich was closed. The circle did not constitute a closed corps. Württemberg and Baden placed their contingents with the domestic troops directly under the Reichsheer, the 3rd District Infantry Regiment (Königsegg-Aulendorf) and the District Cuirassier Regiment (Hohenzollern) were integrated (with Austrian uniforms) into the Austrian Army.

See also

literature

  • One Hochloebl. Schwaebis. Crayses Old and New War Ordinances and Regulations: How such have now been judged together, and ordered to be brought into public pressure. Stuttgart 1696, ( digitized version )
  • Leo Ignaz von Stadlinger: History of the Württemberg war system . K. Hofdruckerei zu Guttenberg, Stuttgart 1856
  • Peter-Christoph Storm: The Swabian Circle as a general . Writings on the history of the constitution, Volume 21. Duncker & Humblot, Berlin 1974, ISBN 3-428-03033-8
  • Georg Tessin : The regiments of the European states in the Ancien Régime des XVI. to XVIII. Century ; 3 volumes. Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück 1986–1995, ISBN 3-7648-1763-1 , p. 308ff.
  • Hans-Joachim Harder: Military history handbook Baden-Württemberg . Editor of the Military History Research Office . Kohlhammer Verlag, Stuttgart 1987, ISBN 3-17-009856-X
  • August Ludwig Reyscher (Ed.): Complete, historically and critically processed collection of the Württemberg laws .
Vol. 19.1 War Laws Part 1 1360–1800, Tübingen 1849
Vol. 19.2 War Laws Part 2 1801–1820, Tübingen 1850
Vol. 19.3 War Laws Part 3 1821–1849, Tübingen 1851
(As a lawyer, Reyscher was more concerned with administrative regulations than military edicts and regulations.)
  • Von der Wengen: The Fürstlich Fürstenberg contingent in the war of 1792–1796 . In: Journal of the Society for the Promotion of the History, Antiquity and Folklore of Freiburg, the Breisgau and the neighboring landscapes. Seventh volume. In Commission at Stoll & Bader, Freiburg im Breisgau 1888 Reprint January 1994 (PDF; 293 kB)
  • Johannes Müller: The proportion of Swabian district troops in the Turkish War of Emperor Rudolf II from 1595 to 1597 . In: Journal of the Historical Association for Swabia and Neuburg , Volume 28, Augsburg 1903
  • Adolf von Schempp: The campaign in Hungary in 1664 with special consideration of the Herzogl. Württ. Allianz and Schwäb. District troops . Kohlhammer, Stuttgart 1919

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Landesarchiv Stuttgart L6 Bü 1601 Württemberg Dragoon Regiment. (Carlin von Somaripa, von Kaltenthal, Count Fugger)
  • Leo Ignaz von Stadlinger: History of the Württemberg warfare , K. Hofdruckerei zu Guttenberg Stuttgart, 1856
  1. ↑ According to Stadlinger 21 officers, 100 NCOs and 1425 men = 1,546 + 4 civilians (field preacher, district commissioner, steward, secretarius).
  2. ↑ According to Stadlinger, 24 officers, 93 NCOs and 1,437 men = 1,554 + 4 civilians.
  3. ↑ Stadlinger, page 73
  4. ↑ Stadlinger, page 73
  5. ↑ Stadlinger, page 94
  6. ↑ Stadlinger, page 118
  • Peter-Christoph Storm: The Swabian Circle as General , Writings on Constitutional History Volume 21, Duncker & Humblot Berlin, 1974, ISBN 3-428-03033-8
  1. ↑ This did not refer to the denomination of the soldiers, but to that of the estates that represented them: Storm, p. 302, footnote 7: “With the regiments on horseback, Evangelicals and Catholics stood by, as they cannot be otherwise. With the two regiments on foot, however, a distinction has been made between them as much as possible, but one or the other way there are some Evangelical Estates Leuthe with them and theirs with these come to stand. "
  2. ↑ according to Storm, as well as the strength information
  3. ^ Storm, p. 504
  4. ↑ "And although the princes and estates of this Crayses actually constitute the commander in the meantime, they have found an urgent need to submit this sample Crayss aid to yet another command ..." quoted from Storm, page 115, footnote 15
  5. ^ Storm, page 505
  6. ^ Storm, p. 323
  7. ^ Storm, p. 109
  8. ↑ According to an investigation by Storm about the Kreis-Kürassier-Regiment, pages 412f and 432:
    Rank Lowest age Maximum age Average age
    Staff officers 44 years 64 years 52 years
    Rittmeister 41 years 62 years 49 years
    lieutenant 34 years 55 years 45 years
    cornet 26 years 51 years 43 years
    Constable 45 years 75 years 61 years
    Corporal 29 years 70 years 59 years
  9. ↑ Storm, p. 445, footnote 45: Württemberg 2 half cartoons and 1 mortar, City of Augsburg 1 half and 1 quarter cartoons and 1 mortar, Ulm 2 quarter cartoons and 1 mortar with 800 rounds per carton or 500 throws per mortar
  10. ↑ quoted from Storm, page 435
  11. ^ Storm, p. 323
  12. ^ After Storm, page 88
  13. ↑ quoted from Storm, page 89
  • Hans-Joachim Harder: Military History Handbook Baden-Württemberg , editor of the Military History Research Office, Kohlhammer Verlag Stuttgart, 1987, ISBN 3-17-009856-X
  1. ↑ Harder, p. 36f
  • August Ludwig Reyscher, Ed .: Complete, historically and critically edited collection of the Württemberg laws
  1. ↑ according to the "Catering Ordinance for the Regiments of the Swabian District on Horse and Foot in the Field of July 13/23, 1683", Reyscher vol. 19.1, page 256 ff
  2. ↑ Reyscher Volume 19.1, page 741ff
  • Johannes Müller: The proportion of Swabian district troops in the Turkish War of Emperor Rudolf II from 1595 to 1597
  1. ^ Instruction 1595

Remarks

  1. ↑ The indication ½ does not refer to real people, but results from the monetary allocation.
  2. ↑ This was the only time that the free imperial knights in Swabia participated in the troops of the Swabian district.
  3. ↑ When he received an imperial cuirassier regiment in 1692, he had to give up the district regiment
  4. ↑ The body company was led by a lieutenant in the rank of captain lieutenant, the other two by lieutenants, who later usually received the title of captain / captain. This ownership was part of the salaries of these staff officers, as it gave them all the earnings of a company owner in addition to their income from their position in the regiment.
  5. ↑ mixed = made up of classes of both denominations
  6. ↑ Old expression for gun with accessories
  7. ↑ For examples of city fortifications, see Ulm or Augsburg
  8. ^ Eppinger Linien-Weg
  9. ↑ The armament and equipment to be presented at the inspection consisted of the following items, which had to be raised by the circle stands after the determination by the circle: Rider : carbine, a pair of pistols, side rifle, cartridge pouch, roller, coat, bullet-free front and rear and behind are the parts of the cuirass], Kasquet and a good horse; Musketeer : musket with bullets, cartridge pouch, side gun, a good long skirt or coat and a satchel; Pikenier : Pike [3,5-4m long ebony shaft with a 30cm long, thin, iron tip and an iron shoe = enclosure at the bottom], page gun, a good long skirt or shell and a satchel.
  10. ↑ In 1688 the War of the Palatinate Succession began, in which the French after the conquest of Philippsburg a . a. until Stuttgart had advanced
  11. ↑ cf. Review of the state of the Reichsarmee (1797)  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. in the general literature newspaper@1@ 2Template: Toter Link / zs.thulb.uni-jena.de  
  12. ↑ Regulations for the troops of the princes and estates of the Swabian district, confirmed by the general Swabian district convent , Rastatt, printed by Johann Jacob Sprinzing, Hochfürstlich-Marggräfisch-Badischer Hofbuchdrucker 1795
  13. ^ In von Wenger: The Princely Fürstenberg Contingent in the War of 1792–1796 a detailed description of the campaign