Anspach Cuirassiers

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Origin and History

The regiment was raised in 1702 by the margrave Georg Friedrich von Anspach-Bayreuth.

The regiment counted 6 squadrons and a company of carabiniers. For battles, the latter was usually converged with other similar companies to form an elite unit.

During the Seven Years' War, the regiment inhaber was:

• since 1751: Markgraf Christian Friedrich von Brandenburg-Anspach und Bayreuth

During the Seven Years' War, the regiment was commanded by:

• since 1756: Peter count Gourcy
• 1757: Franz baron Kotz von Dobrz
• 1762: Josias prince zu Sachsen-Coburg-Saalfeld

The regiment was disbanded in 1802.

Service during the War

In May 1756,at the beginning of the Seven Years' War, the regiment marched from the Dedenburger district to Bohemia. In June 1756, it was stationed in Bohemia and counted 764 men and 766 horses. On October 1, it took part to the battle of Lobositz. It was with the cavalry of the right wing under the command of lieutenant-general Radicati. However, these cavalry units were deployed in the centre of the Austrian positions.

On May 6 1757, the regiment took part to the battle of Prague where it was deployed in count Stampach's brigade, in the first line of the left wing of cavalry under prince Esterhazy. On December 5 at the battle of Leuthen, the regiment was deployed in the Hohenzollern brigade in the first line of the cavalry left wing under general Serbelloni.

By August 2 1758, the regiment served in the second line of the main Austrian army under the command of Daun near Jaromirs. Daun was following up the Prussian army retiring through Bohemia after the failure of the Prussian invasion of Moravia. On October 14, the regiment took part to the battle of Hochkirch where it was deployed in the leftmost column under O'Donnell, to the west of Steindörfel.

By mid August 1759, the regiment was part of Daun's Corps posted in Silesia.

To do: campaigns from June 1760 to 1763

Uniform

Privates

Uniform in 1762 – Source: Richard Couture and Ibrahim90, from an illustration of the Albertina Handschrift

Uniform Details
as per the Albertina Handschrift of 1762
completed with other sources where necessary

Headgear	Trooper black tricorne (no lace) with a black cockade fastened with a small pewter button Carabinier black tricorne (no lace) with a black cockade fastened with a small pewter button
Neckstock	black
Coat	white with 13 pewter buttons (right side) Collar none Shoulder strap white fastened with a pewter button Lapels none Cuffs red with 3 pewter buttons Turnbacks red
Waistcoat	white with 2 rows of pewter buttons and horizontal pockets
Breeches	red
Leather Equipment	Crossbelt white (according to an illustration of the Bautzener Bilderhandschrift of 1762) Waistbelt none Cartridge Box n/a Scabbard black with gold decoration Footgear black boots
Horse Furniture	Saddlecloth red laced with a white braid bordered red and decorated with a red zig-zag lines (according to an illustration of the Bautzener Bilderhandschrift of 1762) Sabretache red laced with a white braid bordered red and decorated with a red zig-zag lines (according to an illustration of the Bautzener Bilderhandschrift of 1762) Blanket roll white and red (according to an illustration of the Bautzener Bilderhandschrift of 1762)

Troopers were armed with a black breastplate (worn over the coat), a pallasch (sword) and a pair of pistols. Carabiniers also carried a carbine.

Other interpretations

The Bautzener Bilderhandschrift shows a laced tricorne, a red neckstock and straw breeches.

Raspe shows 16 buttons on the coat.

Officers

The officers (according to the Bautzener Bilderhandschrift of 1762) wore the same uniform with the following exceptions:

• tricorne laced silver with a green and white cockade
• yellow saddlecloth and sabretache both laced in green and fringed in gold

Musicians

The aprons of the trumpets were red with the arms of Anhalt-Zerbst on both sides. The aprons of the kettle-drums were red and carried the arms of the actual commander of the regiment.

Standards

Leib Standard: white with the Imperial double eagle on both sides

Regimental Standard: red

• Obverse: black eagle seizing a half moon, a scroll wearing the motto “Cosminuam aut extinquam”
• Reverse: silver imperial double eagle

References

Bleckwenn, Hans: Die Regimenter der Kaiserin, Gedanken zur "Albertina Handschrift" 1762 des Heeresgeschichtlichen Museums Wien, Köln: 1967

Funcken, Liliane and Fred , Les uniformes de la guerre en dentelle

Grosser Generalstab, Die Kriege Friedrichs des Grossen, Hiller, Berlin, 1830-1913

Knötel, Richard: Uniformkunde. Lose Blätter zur Geschichte der Entwicklung der militärischen Tracht, 18 Bde., Rathenow 1890-1919

Kornauth, Friedrich: Das Heer Maria Theresias: Faksimile-Ausgabe der Albertina-Handschrift, "Dessins des Uniformes des Troupes I.I. et R.R. de l'année 1762", Wien: 1973

Raspe: Accurate Vorstellung der sämtlichen KAYSERLICH KOENIGLICHEN ARMEEN zur eigentlichen Kentnis der UNIFORM von jedem Regimente. Nebst beygefügter Geschichte, worinne von der Stiftung, denen Chefs, der Staercke, und den wichtigsten Thaten jedes Regiments Nachricht gegeben wird., Nürnberg: 1762

Schirmer, Friedrich: Die Heere der kriegführenden Staaten 1756-1763, hrsg. von der KLIO-Landesgruppe Baden-Württemberg, überarb. u. aktual. Neuauflage 1989

Thümmler, L.-H.: Die Österreichiches Armee im Siebenjährigen Krieg: Die Bautzener Bilderhandschrift aus dem Jahre 1762, Berlin 1993

Zahn, Michael: Oesterreichische Kürassier und Dragoner Standarten in Siebenjährigen Krieges, Zusammenstellung, 1988

N.B.: the section Service during the War is mostly derived from our articles depicting the various campaigns, battles and sieges.