Prussian Leib-Regiment

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Hierarchical Path: War of the Spanish Succession (Main Page) >> Armies >> Prussian Army >> Prussian Leib-Regiment

Origin and History

Leib-Regiment in 1701. - Source: Richard Knötel Uniformkunde

The regiment originated from the guard of the Margrave of Brandenburg created in 1615.

By 1656, the regiment consisted of four battalions and took part in the Battle of Warsaw.

By the time of the War of the Spanish Succession, the “Leib-Regiment” was also known as the “Leib-Garde”, or the “Churmärkische Leibgarde” or the “Preußische Leibgarde.”

In 1707, the regiment became known as the "Fusilier-Garde".

During the War of the Spanish Succession, the regimental Chefs were:

  • from 24 August 1689: Count Johannes Albrecht von Barfuss
  • from 18 August 1702 to 17 April 1723: Count Alexander Hermann von Wartensleben

At the end of the War of the Spanish Succession in 1713, the regiment was reorganised as a regular field infantry regiment under the name of “Wartensleben Infantry” and counted two battalions, its third battalion having been distributed among various infantry regiments.

Service during the War

In 1708, the regiment contributed two battalions to the creation of a new infantry regiment. It now consisted of only three battalions.

Uniforms

From 1700, each Prussian unit started to wear a distinguishing uniform. A regulation was issued in 1709 to standardize the uniform and equipment.

Privates

Uniform Details in 1701 as per Knötel
Headgear
Musketeer black tricorne laced white
Grenadier blue and white mitre cap with a silver front plate and a white pompom.
Neck stock white
Coat blue with white lining with white buttons on the right side
Collar none
Shoulder Straps none
Lapels none
Pockets horizontal pockets
Cuffs white, each with 2 white buttons
Turnbacks none
Waistcoat white
Breeches white
Stockings white
Gaiters white
Leather Equipment
Cross belt natural leather
Waist belt natural leather waist-belt worn above the coat
Cartridge Pouch black leather pouch; cover flap edged gold and decorated with the golden “FR” cipher surmounted by a golden crown
Bayonet Scabbard none
Scabbard black
Footwear low black shoes


Armaments consisted of a musket and a sword. Grenadiers were also armed with hand grenades.

NCOs

To do

Officers

Uniforms of officers were always of finer cloth, better cut and better embroideries than those of the privates.

Officers carried a spontoon, an epee and a black and silver sash. From 1709, they also had a black and silver porte-epee and a gorget.

Musicians

To do

Colours

There are several representations of colours deemed to be those of the Leib-Regiment at various time during the war.

Tentative Reconstruction
Leibfahne of the Kurmärkischen Garde in 1701 - Copyright: Kronoskaf
Leibfahne of the Märkischen Garde in 1702 - Copyright: Kronoskaf
Leibfahne of the Fusilier Garde circa 1707 - Copyright: Kronoskaf
 

The Regimentsfahne were orange.

References

Fahnen und Standarten der brandenburgisch preussischen Armee, 1623-1713; Redlin, Reinhold, compiler & publisher 1975

Les Triomphes de Louis XIV, a collection of five books now kept at the Cabinet des Estampes of the Bibliothèque Nationale de Paris

Hohrath, Daniel: The Uniforms of the Prussian Army under Frederick the Great from 1740 to 1786; Vol. 2; Verlag Militaria, Vienna: 2011, p. 12

Knötel, Richard, Uniformkunde, Lose Blätter zur Geschichte der Entwicklung der militärischen Tracht, vol. X, plate 41, Rathenow 1890-1921

Seyfart, F.: Kurzgefassete Geschichte aller königlichen preussischen Regimented, welche bis in dem September 1760 fortgesetzet, Nuremberg, 1760, pp. 1-2

Wikipedia