Keppel Infantry

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Hierarchical Path: War of the Spanish Succession (Main Page) >> Armies >> Dutch Army >> Keppel Infantry

Origin and History

The regiment was raised on 21 January 1673 for Gustaaf d'Ulsparre.

In 1700, the regiment took part in the campaign in Schleswig-Holstein.

On the eve of the War of the Spanish Succession, the regiment consisted of one battalion and belonged to the Provinces of Utrecht.

Since its creation, the successive colonels of the regiment were:

  • from 21 January 1673: Gustaaf d'Ulsparre
  • from 1 February 1675: Frederik Augus Prince van Brunswijk-Luneburg-Osnabruck
  • from 9 April 1691: Hendrik Baron van Friesen
  • from 6 May 1692: Julius Ernst van Tettau
  • from 24 September 1697 to 1733: Johann Rabo Baron van Keppel (promoted to brigadier in 1704 and to major-general in 1709)

During the War of the Spanish Succession, the successive commanders of the regiment were:

  • from 9 April 1710: Diederik Willem van Doys

In 1752, the regiment was incorporated into the Carel Hendrik van Lindtman Infantry.

Service during the War

In 1701 the regiment garrisoned Nijmegen.

From April to May 1702, the regiment was part of the force which covered the Siege of Kaiserswerth. By 7 July, it was encamped under the walls of Nijmegen. In October, it took part in the siege of Liège. It took its winter-quarters at Maseyck.

In April and May 1703, the regiment took part in the Siege of Bonn. It took its winter-quarters at Maseyck.

During the campaign of 1704, the regiment was posted on the Meuse.

In 1705, the regiment took part in the passage of the Line of Brabant. It took its winter-quarters in Maastricht.

On 23 May 1706, the regiment fought in the Battle of Ramillies. In September, it took part in the siege and capture of Ath.

In 1707, the regiment campaigned in Flanders.

On 11 July 1708, the regiment took part in the Battle of Oudenarde.

On 11 September 1709, the regiment took part in the Battle of Malplaquet. One company of the regiment took up its winter-quarters in St. Anvries.

In May 1710, the regiment took part in the Siege Douai. From September to November, it took part in the siege and capture of Aire.

In October 1712, the regiment took part in the unsuccessful defence of Bouchain.

Uniform

Privates

Uniform circa 1690 - Copyright Kronoskaf
Uniform Details circa 1690 as per de Wilde and Belaubre
Headgear
Fusilier black felt hat without lace
Grenadier no information found yet
Neck stock white
Coat red with yellow lining and with tin buttons from top to bottom on the right side
Collar none
Shoulder Straps none
Lapels none
Pockets horizontal pockets, each with 3 tin buttons
Cuffs yellow, each with 3 tin buttons
Turnbacks none (it seems that the basques of the coat could be turned back if needed but this was a rare practice during this period)
Waistcoat red with small tin buttons from top to bottom
Breeches yellow
Stockings grey
Leather Equipment
Crossbelt natural leather
Waistbelt natural leather, worn above the coat
Cartridge Pouch natural leather
Bayonet Scabbard natural leather
Scabbard natural leather
Footwear black shoes fastened with a buckle


Armaments consisted of a musket and a bayonet; and a sword.

NCOs

no information found yet

Officers

no information found yet

Musicians

no information found yet

Colours

In 1712, the French captured the colours of the regiment at the Siege of Bouchain. These colours and many others from various origins had long been on display at Notre-Dame-de-Paris and reproduced in "Les Triomphes de Louis XIV", a collection of five books now kept at the Cabinet des Estampes of the Bibliothèque Nationale de Paris.

Tentative Reconstruction
Colonel Colour - Copyright: Kronoskaf
Battalion Colour - Copyright: Kronoskaf

References

Belaubre, Jean and Dr. de Wilde, Claus-Peter Golberg: Die Vereinigten Niederlande, Kaltenkirchen, 2001, pp. 25-26

Tessin, Georg: Die Regimenter der europäischen Staaten im Ancién Regime des XVI. bis XVIII. Jahrhunderts. Teil 1. Die Stammlisten, Osnabrück 1986., p. 561

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

Acknowledgement

Phil Carrington for his work on the lineage of Dutch regiments

Mathias Kussmann for the initial version of the article