Saxon Leibgrenadiergarde

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Origin and History

Grenadier of the Leibgrenadiergarde in 1756 - Copyright: Franco Saudelli

The regiment was raised in 1729 with contributions from the infantry regiments under the name Grenadiergarde of king Augustus II. The first battalion was posted in Poland; the second, in Meissen in Saxony.

During the War of the Polish Succession, one battalion took part in the campaigns in Poland.

From 1737 to 1740, the regiment was amalgamated with Graf Brühl Infantry and named Königliche Leibgarde zu Fuß [Royal Foot Life Guards].

At the outbreak of the War of the Austrian Succession, one battalion of the regiment took part in the campaigns of 1741 and 1742. From 1743, the regiment was designated as the Leibgrenadiergarde. In 1745, the entire regiment took part in the campaign. On January 1746, after the Battle of Kesselsdorf, the so so-called Hubertusburg Grenadier Company, and Count Promnitz Free-Company of Grenadiers were incorporated into the regiment.

By 1754, the regiment garrisoned Dresden.

After the Treaty of Hubertusburg, the regiment was re-raised from the veterans, from a new battalion raised in Warsaw, and from the detachment who served in the [neutral] Fortress of Königstein during the war. It thus reformed in 3 battalions with 14 coys.

In 1764, the regiment was reduced to 2 battalions with 10 coys.

Seven Years' War Organisation

As per the 1756 État, the regiment counted 14 grenadier companies formed in 2 battalions and 2 flank grenadier companies for a total of 1,684 men. In 1757 the regiment was not reformed. The grenadiers, instead, served as the grenadier companies of the Garde zu Fuss, Prinz Maximilian Infantry and Prinz Joseph Infantry, in the Saxon auxilliary corps in French service.

Chef

• from 1740 to his resignation in 1763: Field-Marshal Count Rutowsky

Kommandeur

• from 1753 to his resignation in 1763: Major-General Count zu Solms

Service during the War

At the end of August 1756, when Frederick II launched 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 Stolberg's Brigade. The Prussians blockaded the Saxon army in Pirna from September 9 until October 15 when the Saxons finally had to surrender and the entire regiment was distributed among Prussian infantry regiments, because its men refused to take the oath to the King of Prussia.

In 1757, the Reverenten of the regiment were rallied in Hungary and participated in all campaigns along with the French Armies till 1763.

Uniform

Upon its creation, the unit wore yellow uniforms. Their uniform changed to white in 1738 and to scarlet in 1741. It then remained the same.

Privates

Uniforms - Source: R. Couture from a template by Hannoverdidi

Uniform Details

Headgear	Musketeer not applicable, all troopers were grenadiers Grenadier Leibgrenadiergarde Grenadier Mitre Cap in 1756 - Copyright Frédéric Aubert mitre (Prussian style) with a silver front plate and a white headband, lemon yellow sack with red piping, red within lemon yellow pompom on a red round base. A source is giving to the 2nd battalion a grenadier mitre cap with a brass front plate, a white headband, lemon yellow sack with white piping, yellow pompom on a white round base
Neckstock	red
Coat	red with 2 silver buttons and 2 white buttonholes under the lapels Collar lemon yellow Shoulder Straps red fastened with a small silver button Lapels lemon yellow with 6 (3x2) silver buttons (a source is showing 6 white buttonholes also) Pockets horizontal pockets, each with 3 silver buttons and 3 white buttonholes Cuffs lemon yellow with 2 horizontal silver buttons and 2 white buttonholes (a source is showing 2 vertical silver buttons on the cuffs + 2 vertical white buttonholes above the cuffs) Turnbacks lemon yellow fastened with a silver button
Waistcoat	lemon yellow with horizontal pockets with 3 silver buttons
Breeches	straw (or white or lemon yellow)
Gaiters	black (white for parade)
Leather Equipment	Crossbelt white Waistbelt white Cartridge Pouch black Bayonet Scabbard brown Scabbard black with brass fittings Footgear black shoes

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

Officers

Colonel Rutowsky of the Leibgrenadiergarde wearing the old yellow uniform worn between 1729 and 1738 - Copyright: Franco Saudelli

Officers wore uniform similar to those of the troopers with the following differences:

• silver laced buttonholes
• lapels edged silver
• silver sash around the waist

NCOs

NCOs wore uniform similar to those of the troopers with the following differences:

• lapels and cuffs edged silver

Musicians

Drummers, oboists and fifers wore reversed colour coats (yellow with red collar, red lapels edged white, red cuffs edged white, red turnbacks, yellow pocket flaps edged white, red swallow nests edged white, white chevrons on each sleeve). They also wore yellow waistcoats and breeches.

Colours

Leibfahne: white field wearing the Saxon-Polish coat of arms surrounded by rich white embroideries with a blue border; a flaming grenade in each corner.

Kompaniefahne: yellow field wearing the Saxon-Polish coat of arms surrounded by rich white embroideries with a blue border; a flaming grenade in each corner.

Leibfahne - Source: Richard Couture from a template by Hannoverdidi

Kompaniefahne – Source: Richard Couture from a template by Hannoverdidi

References

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.