Bavarian Leibgarde Hartschier
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Origin and History
This guard unit was established on April 13 1669 by Prince-Elector Ferdinand Maria of Bavaria as the Hartschier-Garde. However, the first Bavarian guard unit can probably be traced back to the Middle-Age when Duke Wilhelm IV of Bavaria recruited Spanish archers as bodyguard.
On March 28 1670, the Hartschier-Garde became known as first guard.
In 1745, part of the Hartschier-Garde received horses.
In 1747, the unit consisted of:
- 1 captain
- 3 lieutenants
- 1 cornet
- 3 Wachtmeister (including 1 quartermaster)
- 5 corporals
- 5 vice-corporals
- 1 surgeon
- 1 clerk
- 1 kettle-drummer
- 4 trumpeters
- 1 ensign
- 1 farrier
- 1 saddler
- 116 guards
In 1748, the unit consisted of:
- 1 captain
- 3 lieutenants
- 1 cornet
- 1 adjutant
- 3 Wachtmeister (including 1 quartermaster)
- 5 corporals
- 5 vice-corporals
- 1 surgeon
- 1 clerk
- 1 kettle-drummer
- 4 trumpeters
- 1 ensign
- 1 farrier
- 1 saddler
- 100 guards
In 1756, the unit consisted of:
- 1 captain: Joseph Count von Piosasque de Non, General of Cavalry
- 3 lieutenants
- Hieronymus Count Spreti von Intzenmoss und Weilbach, General-Feld-Marschall-Lieutenant
- Carl Wilhelm Baron von Ingenheim, General-Major of Cavalry
- Norbert Johann von Törring, Colonel of Cavalry
- 1 cornet: Philipp Baron von Rathsamshausen, Lieutenant-Colonel of Cavalry
- 1 adjutant: Joseph Baron von Zobel
- 3 Wachtmeister including Michael Christoph von Groner and Quartermaster Wolfgang Mathias Piendl
- 5 corporals
- 5 vice-corporals
- 1 surgeon
- 1 clerk
- 1 kettle-drummer
- 4 trumpeters
- 1 ensign
- 1 farrier
- 1 saddler
- 100 guards
In 1763, the unit consisted of:
- 1 captain: Joseph Count von Piosasque de Non, General of Cavalry
- 3 lieutenants, including:
- Hieronymus Count Spreti von Intzenmoss und Weilbach, General-Feld-Marschall-Lieutenant
- Norbert Johann von Törring, Colonel of Cavalry
- 1 cornet: Johann Joseph Count von Lodron, Colonel of Cavalry
- 1 adjutant: Joseph Baron von Zobel
- 3 Wachtmeister including Wolfgang Mathias Piendl and Quartermaster Gottfried Achazy Waginger
- 4 corporals
- 4 vice-corporals
- 1 surgeon
- 1 clerk
- 1 kettle-drummer
- 4 trumpeters
- 1 ensign
- 1 farrier
- 1 saddler
- 100 guards
During the Seven Years' War, the unit was commanded by:
- Joseph Count von Piosasque de Non, General of Cavalry
Service during the War
The unit served as palace guards and had only ceremonial functions.
Uniform
no information on the uniform available yet
Guards were armed with a sword and a halberd.
Standards
The unit had only one standard, so it was its Leibstandarte. It was was made by Maria Anna Sophie of Saxony. She was the wife of Maximilian III Joseph, the Elector of Bavaria. The standard was issued in 1747.
This standard had a unique design. The field was white, heavily embroidered and fringed in gold. There was no elector's monogram and electoral hat used as corner devices.
- obverse: centre device consisting of a golden cartouche with the shields of Bavaria-Palatinate and Saxony-Poland. Below the left side of the cartouche the Collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece and the Collar of the Order of St. George. Below the right side of the cartouche the Military Order of St. Henry on a red band. Beneath the cartouche trophies of four flags and two kettle drums. The cartouche was surmounted by a ducal crown
- reverse: central device depicting a Patrona Bavariae standing on a golden pedestal and surrounded by gold rays. She wears a red robe and a blue cloak, both edged in a dark color. Her head is crowned and she is holding a golden scepter in her left hand. Her right arm holding little Jesus, he is dressed with a red robe and holding a golden orb in his right hand.
The unique design of this standard cannot support any conclusion on other Bavarian standards.
References
Bavarian Army Museum, Ingolstadt
Bayerisches Heeresarchiv, Geschichte des bayerischen Heeres: Geschichte des kurbayerischen Heeres unter Kurfürst Karl Albrecht und Kurfürst Max III. Joseph 1726-1777
Fischer, Martin: Chur-bayrischer Hof-Calender und Schematismus: Auf d. Jahr 1750 bis 1764
Kraus, Jürgen: Bayerische Fahnen, Die Fahnen und Standarten des bayerischen Heeres vom 16. Jahrhundert bis 1918, Verlag Militaria, Vienna, Austria, 2017
Kühlmann and Papst: Geschichte der bayerischen Fahnen und Standarten mit den Feldzeichen der in Bayern aufgegangenen Staaten, Vol. 1, München 1959
Acknowledgement
Volker Scholz for the information on the standard carried by this unit
