Saint-Maurice Infantry

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Origin and History

On 19 April 1701, Elector Joseph Clemens of Cologne signed a subsidy contract with France by which he agreed to supply three infantry regiments (each of two battalions).

The present Saint-Maurice Infantry consisted of two battalions. However, it was reduced to a single battalion in 1703.

During the War of the Spanish Succession, the regiment was commanded by:

• from 1701: Lieutenant-General Count de Saint-Maurice
• from 1705: Brigadier von Wolfskehl

From 1709, the regiment is not mentioned in any order of battle.

Service during the War

In 1702, the regiment was posted at Ettelbruck.

In April and May 1703, the regiment took part in the defence of Bonn.

In February 1704, the regiment (now only one battalion) was sent to garrison Liège. It later campaigned on the Sambre and Meuse rivers and was then posted in Namur.

In 1705, the battalion campaigned in Flanders. It spent some time in the camp of Booischot.

On 23 May 1706, the regiment fought in the Battle of Ramillies, where it was deployed in Wolfskehl’s Brigade on the extreme right of the second line of the infantry centre.

In 1708, the regiment took part in the unsuccessful defence of Douai.

From 1709, the regiment is not mentioned in any order of battle.

N.B.: from 1705, the regiment is sometimes listed as part of the Gardes in orders of battle.

Uniform

Privates

Uniform in 1702 - Copyright: Richard Couture

Uniform Details

Headgear	Musketeer black tricorne laced white Grenadier no mention of grenadiers have been found
Neck stock	red
Coat	blue with red lining with tin buttons on the right side and 1 tin button on each side in the small of the back Collar none Shoulder Straps none Lapels none Pockets horizontal pockets, each with 3 tin buttons Cuffs red, each with 3 tin buttons Turnbacks none
Waistcoat	white with tin buttons
Breeches	white
Stockings	white fastened under the knee with a natural leather strap
Gaiters	none
Leather Equipment	Crossbelt natural leather Waistbelt natural leather worn over the coat Cartridge Box natural leather Bayonet Scabbard natural leather with a metal tip Scabbard natural leather Footwear black shoes

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

NCOs

no information found

Officers

no information found

Musicians

no information found

Colours

Some sources describe colours but they seem to be highly speculative.

References

Golberg, Claus-Peter: Kur-Köln 1701-1713 – Haustruppen im Spanischen Erbfolgekrieg, Kaltenkirchen, 1996, p. 1, 3-4, 10

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