Jung-Modena Dragoons

Hierarchical Path: Seven Years War (Main Page) >> Armies >> Austrian Army >> Jung-Modena Dragoons

Origin and History

This regiment of dragoons was initially raised in 1706 in the Electorate of Mainz by Franz Lothar count von Schönborn. On April 16 1710, the regiment was incorporated into the Austrian army.

From 1756, when the hereditary prince of Modena became owner of the regiment, it was desiganted as “Jung-Modena” to distinguish it from the Modena Cuirassiers.

In 1760, the regiment was transformed into Chevauxleger regiment. However, it was soon reverted to a dragoon regiment in 1763.

The regiment counted 6 squadrons and a company of horse grenadiers. 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 1756: Ercole d'Este, hereditary prince of Modena

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

• since 1750: Heinrich La Reintrie Baron du Pin
• from 1757 to 1767: Johann Friedrich Brinckmann

The regiment was disbanded in 1801.

Service during the War

In June 1756, at the beginning of the Seven Years' War, the regiment was stationed in Lombardy and counted about 600 men and 600 horses.

On May 6 1757, the regiment took part to the battle of Prague where it was deployed in the Reserve in Argenteau's Brigade. After the battle, part of the regiment took refuge in Prague while another escaped and joined Daun. On June 18, part of the regiment was at the battle of Kolin where it was assigned to Köbels’ brigade in the corps of count Colloredo held in reserve behind the centre. On September 7, when general Nádasdy attacked Winterfeldt's corps isolated at Moys, the regiment was deployed in the second line of the right wing under major-general Munro. From October 26 to November 14, the regiment took part to the siege of Schweidnitz. On November 22, the regiment took part to the battle of Breslau where it was deployed in the second line of the cavalry right wing of Nádasdy's Corps. On December 5 at the battle of Leuthen, the regiment was deployed in the first line of the cavalry Reserve under marshal O'Donell on the far left of the Austrian positions as part of Nádasdy's Corps.

In April 1758, a detachment of the regiment was captured at the siegre of Schweidnitz while defending the fortress against a Prussian army. The rest of the regiment took part to the siege of Neisse.

In 1759, the regiment reinforced the Reichsarmee. By mid-August, during the Austro-Imperial campaign in Saxony, the regiment was attached to Hadik's corps and took part in the combat of Eulenburg. On November 20, the regiment took part in the battle of Maxen where it was deployed in the first cavalry column of Sincère's corps under the command of lieutenant-general count Schallenberg. During this cavalry combat, the regiment distinguished itself.

In 1760, the regiment served with the Reichsarmee in Saxony as a Chevauxleger unit but did not take part in any major action.

In 1761, the regiment served with the Reichsarmee in Saxony once more, but did not take part in any major action.

In 1762, detachment of the regiment took part in the action at Kammerndorf.

To do: more details on the campaigns from 1760 to 1762

Uniform

Privates

Uniform in 1762 - Source: Richard Couture from a template by Jocelyne Chevanelle

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 white button Grenadier mitre cap instead of the usual bearskin worn by horse grenadiers of the other dragoon regiment
Neckstock	black
Coat	red with 3 white buttons under the lapel on the right side Collar sky blue Shoulder strap left shoulder: red fastened with a white button right shoulder: white with a white aiguillette Lapels sky blue with 7 white buttons Pockets horizontal pockets each with 3 white buttons Cuffs sky blue with 3 white buttons Turnbacks sky blue
Waistcoat	sky blue with two rows of white buttons and horizontal pockets (each with 3 white buttons)
Breeches	sky blue
Leather Equipment	Crossbelt white (according to the illustration of the Bautzener Bilderhandschrift of 1762) Waistbelt white Cartridge Box black leather Scabbard brown leather Footgear black boots
Horse Furniture	Saddlecloth red laced with a wide white braid bordered with thin sky blue braids and decorated with sky blue squares (according to the illustration of the Bautzener Bilderhandschrift of 1762) Housings red laced with a wide white braid bordered with thin sky blue braids and decorated with sky blue squares (according to the illustration of the Bautzener Bilderhandschrift of 1762) Blanket roll red and white (according to the illustration of the Bautzener Bilderhandschrift of 1762)

Troopers were armed with a sword, a pair of pistols, a musket and a bayonet.

Other interpretations

The Bautzener Bilderhandschrift shows a white laced tricorne and buff breeches.

Brauer's plate shows a white shoulder strap on the left shoulder and buff breeches.

Donath's plate shows buff breeches.

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
• silver aiguillette on the right shoulder
• green saddlecloth and sabretache both laced and fringed in gold

Musicians

Drummers of the regiments of dragoons usually wore the same uniform as the troopers heavily laced with yellow and black braids or a uniform with inverted colours.

Standards

Leib Standard: unknown

Regiment (variant 1): swallow tailed pennant; pink field with silver and white silk embroideries; wide border in silver embroideries and silver fringe. On one side there was an eagle

Regiment (variant 2): swallow tailed pennant

• Obverse: sky blue
• Reverse: red

References

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

Brauer, H.M., Uniformbogen and Fahnentafeln, plate 95

Dihm, Dr. Hermann; Oesterreichische Standarten und Fahnen zur Zeit des 7 jährigen Krieges, Die Zinnfigur, Klio

Donath, Rudolf, Die Kaiserliche und Kaiserlich-Königliche Österreichische Armee 1618-1918, 2. Aufl., Simbach/Inn 1979, Teil III Blatt 3

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

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

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

Skala H., Österreichische Militärgeschichte

Thadden, Franz-Lorenz v., Die theresianische Kavallerie - II. Teil, Die Zinnfigur, Klio, 1968

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