Loosy Hussars
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Origin and History
This regiment was raised by Colonel Johann Peter von Loosy (sometimes written Loosz) according to an Imperial decree dated 2 March 1702. Men were enlisted in Lower-Hungary, in the Komitates of Zala, Sümegh etc. 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.
The successive proprietors of the regiment, who also assumed effective command, were:
- since 2 March 1702: Johann Peter von Loosy (killed in action at the combat of Speyerbach in 1703)
- from November 1703: Anton Count Esterházy (designated as Jung-Esterházy to distinguish the regiment from Esterházy Hussars)
- from 1704: Thomas Count Csáky
The regiment was disbanded in 1706 and its troopers incorporated in other hussar regiments.
Service during the War
By mid-August 1702, the regiment had joined the army of the Margrave of Baden on the Rhine.
In 1703, the regiment participated in a combat near Neustadt a.d. Haardt and, on 15 November, in the Combat of Speyerbach.
In 1704, the regiment was posted on the Upper-Rhine. Later in the year, it participated in the raid on the left bank of the Rhine.
In 1705, part of the regiment was posted in Palatinate and saw no action.
In 1706, the regiment was disbanded and its troopers incorporated in other hussar regiments.
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 | crimson
Note: in summer, the pelisse was worn hanged on the left shoulder
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| Dolman | crimson with several rows of yellow cords and yellow buttons
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| Trousers | red Hungarian style trousers, lined with a strong ecru fabric (at that time, trousers were not decorated with braids) | ||||||||
| Leather Equipment |
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| Horse Furniture |
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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 by silver cords, silver-plated buttons on the dolman and pelisse and by a silver braid bordering the saddlecloth. The bag of their kolback was crimson.
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
