Esterházy Hussars
Hierarchical Path: War of the Spanish Succession (Main Page) >> Armies >> Austrian Army >> Esterházy Hussars
Origin and History
This regiment was raised by the Palatin Paul Duke Esterházy according to an Imperial decree dated 2 March 1702. Men were enlisted in the Komitates of Neutra (present-day Nitra/SK), Hont and Neograd. The regiment received the necessary funds to bring its effective to 10 companies totalling 1,000 men. Recruitment went slowly and the regiment was still incomplete when it marched to join the Army of the Rhine.
From 1708, the regiment became known as Alt-Esterházy to distinguished it from the newly raised Jung-Esterházy Hussars.
The successive proprietors of the regiment were:
- since March 1702: Gabriel Count Esterházy
- from 1704: Joseph Simon Count Esterházy
- from 1714: Joseph Count Esterházy
However, the regiment was under the effective command of:
- since March 1702: Gabriel Count Esterházy (proprietor)
- from 1704: Joseph Simon Count Esterházy (proprietor)
- from 1713: Franz Baron Czungenberg
In 1716,the regiment fought against the Turks in Hungary.
In 1720 and 1721, it assumed garrison duties in Sicily.
The regiment was disbanded in 1721 and incorporated in Ebergényi Hussars.
Service during the War
By mid-August 1702, the regiment had joined the army of the Margrave of Baden on the Rhine. In August and September, it was present at the siege and capture of Landau.
In 1703, the regiment was posted in the Lines of Weissenburg and at Landau.
In 1704, the regiment was attached to a corps under the command of Colonel Wetzel sent to secure Northern Tyrol. It then remained stationed there.
In 1708, the regiment was transferred to Army of the Moselle placed under the command of Prince Eugène de Savoie. This army then marched to the Low Countries.
On 11 September 1709, the regiment participated in the Battle of Malplaquet.
In 1710, the regiment was stationed in the Low Countries where it saw no action.
In 1710, the regiment was stationed in the Low Countries where it saw no action.
In 1712, the regiment was transferred to the Rhine.
In 1713, the regiment served once more on the Rhine.
Uniform
Regiments were fairly autonomous in the purchasing of woollen cloth, and in its processing and distribution. So there was ample room for the preferences of the Inhaber (owner) of a regiment. Nevertheless, there was uniformity within each regiment. Furthermore, each of them had its own distinctive characteristics like the colour of the cuffs which were fixed by the Inhaber at the creation of the unit and rarely changed afterwards.
Privates
| Headgear | kolback of black or brown fur with an eagle feather and a blue bag
Hair were braided in several small braids. | ||||||||
| Neck stock | white | ||||||||
| Pelisse | blue
Note: in summer, the pelisse was worn hanged on the left shoulder
| ||||||||
| Dolman | blue with several rows of yellow cords and yellow buttons
| ||||||||
| Trousers | red Hungarian style trousers, lined with a strong ecru fabric (at that time, trousers were not decorated with braids) | ||||||||
| Leather Equipment |
| ||||||||
| Horse Furniture |
|
Troopers were armed with a curved blade sabre and two pistols (no standardized model)
Officers
Uniforms of officers differed from those of the privates and NCOs by the finer material used, and probably by golden cords, gilt buttons on the dolman and pelisse and by a golden braid bordering the saddlecloth.
Officers wore a black and yellow silk sash across the chest or around the waist.
NCOs
no information available yet
Musicians
no information available yet
Colours
no information available yet
References
Abtheilung für Kriegsgeschichte des k. k. Kriegs-Archives: Feldzüge des Prinzen Eugen von Savoyen, Series 1
- Vol. 1, Vienna 1875, pp. 212-213, 221-222, 227
- Vol. 4, Vienna 1876, p. 52
Donath, Rudolf; Die Kaiserliche und Kaiserlich-Königliche Österreichische Armee 1618-1918, 2. Aufl., Simbach/Inn 1979
Wrede, A. v.: Geschichte der K. und K. Wehrmacht, Vol. III part 1, Vienna 1898–1905
N.B.: the section Service during the War is partly derived from our articles depicting the various campaigns, battles and sieges.
Acknowledgements
Harald Skala for the initial version of this article
