Fürst Lubomirsky Infantry

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Origin and History

Private of Fürst Lubomirsky Infantry in 1756 - Copyright: Franco Saudelli

The regiment was raised in 1742 and employed in all campaigns till 1745. In 1748, it was augmented by 4 coys of the disbanded Jasmund regiment. In 1749, 6 coys were disbanded. In 1756, the regiment became prisoner at Pirna and turned over into Prussian service becoming the regiment of Generalmajor von Hausen. In 1757, the regiment reformed with a single battalion in Hungary and fought with the French armies till the peace settlement of Hubertusburg. Thereafter it reformed in 3 battalions in 14 coys. In 1778, the regiment was reduced to 2 battalions in 10 coys. Seven Years' War Organisation The État of 1756 mentions 2 battalions with 10 coys of musketeers and 2 coys of grenadiers. Each musketeer coy had 95 men, grenadier coy 97 men, the regimental staff counted 17 men. The regiment totalled some 1,160 men. In 1757, the reformed regiment consisted of a single battalion with 4 coys plus 1 coy of former gunners serving as grenadiers. This coy was disbanded in 1758 when a Saxon artillery detachment was raised. Thereafter, the unit had no grenadiers until 1761, when 1 coy of grenadiers was created in every Saxon battalions. Chef of the regiment: 1752: general Fürst Lubomirsky (became chef of the Leibgrenadiergarde in 1765) Kommandeur of the regiment: 1742: colonel von Bomsdorff 1757: lieutenant-colonel von Römer 1759: colonel von Thiele 1764: colonel von Zanthier

Grenadier of Fürst Lubomirsky Infantry in 1756 - Copyright: Franco Saudelli

Service during the War

At the end of August 1756, when Frederick II proceeded to the invasion of Saxony, the regiment retired to Pirna with the rest of the Saxon army. At Pirna, the regiment was deployed on the right wing under von Rochow, as part of von Bolberitz's Brigade. The Prussians blockaded the Saxon army in Pirna from September 9 until October 15 when the Saxons finally had to surrender. The regiment was then forcefully incorporated into the Prussian Army as Hauss Fusiliers.

In 1757, a new regiment was raised, consisting of a single battalion of 4 musketeer companies. A 5th company of grenadiers was also added, it was formed from former gunners. The new regiment was included into the Saxon Auxiliary contingent serving under French subsidies.

In 1758, the grenadier company was disbanded and its troopers incorporated into the newly formed artillery companies. The same year, to avoid further contact with the Prussians, the Contingent marched through southern Germany and had, by July, assembled in Strasbourg. On September 3, the regiment was part of the Saxon contingent, under the command of prince Xaver, who encamped at Castrop, 15 km from Recklinghausen, on his way to make a junction with the French army of the Marquis de Contades. This contingent made a junction with Contades' army around mid September. As part of Chevert's and Fitzjames' divisions, it reinforced the army of the Prince de Soubise in Hesse. On October 10, the contingent first saw action at the battle of Lutterberg where its determined attacks decided the day for the French army. On October 20, 10 days after their victorious action at the battle of Lutterberg, the Saxon regiments rejoined Contades at Werl.

On April 13 1759, the regiment took part in the battle of Bergen where it was placed in the first line of the left wing under the command of the baron de Dyherrn. In June, during the French offensive in West Germany, the regiment was part of the main army under the command of the Marquis de Contades where it was deployed in the second line of the infantry centre. On August 1, the regiment took part in the battle of Minden where it was deployed in the second line of the infantry left wing under the command of the comte de Lusace.

To do: description of the actions of the regiment from 1760 to 1763.

Uniform

Besides the uniform worn at the beginning of the war in 1756 and after the capitulation of Pirna, the new regiments were re-dressed with white uniforms from Austrian depots, just adapting the distinctive colors. Because of the difference between Autrian and Saxon color pigments, the distinctive colors have perhaps changed a little bit (light yellow instead of yellow ?).

Privates

Uniforms - Copyright Kronoskaf

Uniform Details

Headgear	Musketeer black tricorne laced white with white/yellow pompons and a small silver button Grenadier Fürst Lubomirsky Grenadier Mitre Cap in 1756 - Copyright Frédéric Aubert mitre (Prussian style) with a silver front plate and a white headband, yellow sack with white piping, white within yellow pompom on a white within yellow round base black tricorne laced white between 1757 and 1760 bearskin (French style) with a yellow (?) bag from 1761
Neckstock	red
Coat	white with a silver button in the small of the back, 6 (3+2+1) silver buttons on the chest, 3 silver buttons at waist level (right side only) Collar yellow Shoulder Straps none Lapels none Pockets horizontal pockets, each with 3 silver buttons Cuffs yellow, each with 3 vertical silver buttons Turnbacks yellow fastened with a silver button
Waistcoat	yellow with horizontal pockets with 3 silver buttons and lapels with silver buttons
Breeches	white
Gaiters	black
Leather Equipment	Crossbelt white Waistbelt white Cartridge Box black Bayonet Scabbard brown Scabbard black with brass fittings Footgear black shoes

Troopers were armed with a musket, a bayonet and a sword.

Officers, NCOs and Musicians

Officer of Fürst Lubomirsky Infantry in 1756 - Copyright: Franco Saudelli

NCO of Fürst Lubomirsky Infantry in 1756 - Copyright: Franco Saudelli

Drummer of Fürst Lubomirsky Infantry in 1756 - Copyright: Franco Saudelli

Colours

Leibfahne: white field wearing the Saxon-Polish coat of arms surrounded by rich white and red embroideries with a yellow border.

Ordinarfahne: yellow field with rich white and red embroideries wearing a gold AR cipher on a stone pedestal surrounded by a green wreath and surmounted by a red and gold crown.

Leibfahne - Copyright Kronoskaf

Kompaniefahne - Copyright Kronoskaf

References

Friedrich, Wolfgang: Die Uniformen der kurfürstlich Sächischen Armee 1683-1763, Dresden 1998

Müller, Reinhold: Die Armee Augusts des Starken: Das Sächische Heer von 1730-1733, Berlin 1984

Origin and History: editors translation from "Geschichte und gegenwärtiger Zustand der Kursächsischen Armee." (History and present state of the Saxon Army.) 2nd edition, part IX, Dresden 1793.

Rogge, Christian: The French & Allied Armies in Germany during the Seven Years War, Frankfurt, 2006

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

Wagner, Siegbert: Die Uniformen des kursächischen Armee im Jahre 1745, unpublished manuscript, Hannover 1979

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