Infantry Regiment Kurmainz

Imperial Army of the Seven Years’ War, 1757–1763

Kurmainz Infanterie-Regiment von Wildenstein, Seven Years’ War 1757–1763.

In 1757, the electoral archbishopric of Mainz provided one infantry regiment Kurmainz of 16 Füsilier companies (4 battalions), 2 grenadier companies, and eight 3-pdr battalion guns for service with the Imperial Army. The Kreis-Regiment Kurmainz consisted of companies drawn from Kurmainz infantry regiments von Wildenstein (Mainz garrison), von Ried (Erfurt garrison), and von Knorr. In addition, there was an Infanterie-Regiment Kurmainz, with 18 companies organized on the Austrian pattern, serving in the Austrian Army from 1756 to 1763.

General Soubise rated the Kreis-Regiment Kurmainz well, based on its performance at the Battle of Rossbach. However, the quality of the regiment decreased in the course of the war, as inexperienced replacements were recruited to fill its depleted ranks. The new recruits proved less reliable than the original household troops of Kurmainz.

Proprietor

  • Feldmarschall-Leutnant Freiherr von Wildenstein, 1757
  • Feldmarschall-Leutnant Freiherr von Gudenus, 1757–1763

Commanding Officer

  • Oberst Freiherr von Gudenus, 1757–1758
  • Oberstleutnant Franz Arnold Freiherr von Brencken, 1758–1763

Campaign History

  • Battle of Rossbach, 1757
  • Defence of Erfurt, 1758
  • Engagement at Maxen, 1759
  • Defence of Dresden, 1760
  • Campaign in Saxony, 1761

Illustrations

  • Funcken, L. & F.: Historical Uniforms of the 18th Century, Volume 2
  • Funcken, L. & F.: Historische Uniformen, p 49
  • Deutsche Uniformen im Zeitalter Friedrichs des Großen, Sturm Zigaretten, Dresden

Uniform

  • white coat with yellow buttons
  • green collar
  • green lapels with 5 × 2 buttons
  • green cuffs with 3 buttons
  • green turnbacks
  • green or white? shoulder strap
  • black stock
  • green vest with yellow buttons
  • straw-coloured breeches
  • black gaiters with yellow buttons
  • black tricorne with white edging and white pompom
  • brown fur cap for grenadiers, with a small yellow front plate
    and silver grenade badges, green bag and yellow lace

Infanterie-Regiment Kurmainz looks absolutely splendid in its white uniform with green facings. This units is a must-have for collectors and wargamers interested in raising a contingent of the Imperial Army of the Seven Years’ War.

Reichsarmee Electoral Rhenish Circle