The Army of Charles II Eugene, Duke of Württemberg, 1756–1763

Duke Carl Eugen of Wuerttemberg was offered a subsidy to provide 6,000 men for service alongside the French army in times of war. When war came in 1757 only 3000 men were ready, and the ranks had to be filled quickly with unreliable recruits of Protestant faith.
Ten infantry and three converged grenadier battalions eventually joined the Austrian army, and fought at the Battle of Leuthen alongside the Bavarian contingent, where they bore the brunt of the Prussian attack. In 1759, the promised 15 battalions transferred to Broglie’s French army operating in the Rhineland. Under a similar financial agreement, 17 battalions served with the Austrian army again in 1760.
Württemberg infantry regiments could easily be confused with enemy troops, because of their Prussian-style uniforms and grenadier mitre caps. Carl Eugen’s fancy for things Prussian apparently had to do with his upbringing at the court of King Frederick II. of Prussia. In 1744, Carl Eugen was introduced to Princess Elisabeth Friederike Sophie von Brandenburg-Bayreuth, daughter of Margrave Friedrich von Brandenburg-Bayreuth, and niece of King Frederick the Great of Prussia, whom he fell in love with, and married in 1748.
Wuerttemberg Infantry Regiments
Regiment | Coat | Facings | Buttons | Waistcoat |
---|---|---|---|---|
Leib-Infanterie-Regiment Herzog Karl Eugen von Württemberg |
dark blue | carmine | white | yellow |
Infanterie-Regiment Prinz Louis von Württemberg | dark blue | carmine | white | white |
Infanterie-Regiment von Spitznatz, 1752 Infanterie-Regiment von Romann, 1758 Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm von Württemberg, 1761 Infanterie-Regiment von Gabelenz, 1762 |
dark blue | red | white | white |
Infanterie-Regiment von Roeder Infanterie-Regiment von Werneck, 1758 |
dark blue | rose | white | white |
Infanterie-Regiment von Stain, 1756 IR Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm von Württemberg, 1759 Infanterie-Regiment von Romann, 1761 |
dark blue | white | yellow | white |
Füsilier-Regiment von Truchsess IR Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm von Württemberg, 1762 |
dark blue | black | yellow | white |
Wuerttemberg Grenadier Battalions
Battalion | Parent Units |
---|---|
I. Grenadier-Bataillon (Pleß) | Leib-Regiment & Prinz Louis |
II. Grenadier-Bataillon (Georgi) | Spitznatz & Roeder |
III. Grenadier-Bataillon (Klettenburg) | Stain & Truchsess |
Wuerttemberg Cavalry Regiments
Regiment | Coat | Facings | Buttons | Waistcoat |
---|---|---|---|---|
Leibgarde zu Pferd | yellow | black | white | white |
Reitende Grenadiere von Pfull | red | black | yellow | white |
Kürassier-Regiment von Pfull, 1758–1761 Dragoner-Regiment von Pfull, 1761–1766 |
yellow | red | yellow | red |
Kreis-Dragoner-Regiment Württemberg | dark blue | black | yellow | yellow |
Leibhusaren-Schwadron, 1735 Leibhusaren-Regiment von Gorcy, 1758 Leibhusaren-Regiment von Bouwinghausen, 1763 |
green | black | yellow | green |
Jägers, Garrison Troops, and Artillery
Troops | Coat | Facings | Buttons | Waistcoat |
---|---|---|---|---|
Feldjäger-Corps | green | red | yellow | green |
Garnisons-Kompanie | dark blue | red | yellow | white |
Artillerie | light blue | black | yellow | white |
Order of Battle at Leuthen, 05. December 1757
The Wuerttemberg units served in the Austrian Corps Nadasdy. The two brigades were deployed on the extreme left flank of the line, with their right flank supported by the Bavarian contingent.
- G.F.M.Lt. von Spitznatz
- G.M. von Romann
- Infanterie-Regiment von Spitznatz
- I. Grenadier-Bataillon (Pleß)
- II. Grenadier-Bataillon (Georgi)
- III. Grenadier-Bataillon (Klettenburg)
- G.M. von Roeder
- Füsilier-Regiment von Truchsess
- Infanterie-Regiment von Roeder
- Infanterie-Regiment Prinz Louis von Württemberg
- Leib-Regiment Herzog Karl Eugen von Württemberg
- Württemberg Artillerie
- G.M. von Romann
The Wuerttembergers and Bavarians bore the brunt of the Prussian oblique attack at Leuthen. Infanterie-Regiment Prinz Louis was captured, but the Wuerttemberg grenadiers withdrew in good order and set up a new line of defence inside the cemetery of Leuthen church.
Bibliography
- Harder, Hans-Joachim: Militärgeschichtliches Handbuch Baden-Württemberg. Hrsg. vom Militärgeschichtlichen Forschungsamt. Kohlhammer, Stuttgart 1987
- Militär-Handbuch des Königreichs Württemberg. Große Ausgabe. Kriegsministerium, Stuttgart 1913
- 900 Jahre Haus Württemberg: Leben und Leistung für Land und Volk, hrsg. von Robert Uhland