Liechtenstein Dragoons

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Origin and History

This regiment of dragoons was created on February 11 1682. It was raised in Bohemia by count Saurau.

During the War of the Austrian Succession, the regiment took part to the battles of Mollwitz, Chotusitz, Hohenfriedberg and Soor.

The regiment counted 6 squadrons and a company of horse grenadiers. For battles, the latter was usually converged with other similar companies to form an elite unit.

During the Seven Years' War, the regiment inhaber was:

• from 1725 to 1772: Joseph Wenzel Fürst Liechtenstein

During the Seven Years' War, the regiment was commanded by:

• since 1754: Otto Ferdinand count Hohenfeld
• from 1757: Carl Fürst Liechtenstein
• from 1759 to 1768: Carl Emmanuel Tschammer von Bortwitz

The regiment was disbanded in 1775.

Service during the War

In June 1756, at the beginning of the Seven Years' War, the regiment was stationed in Slovakia and counted 809 men and 769 horses.

On October 1 1756, the regiment took part to the battle of Lobositz where it was deployed in the first line of cavalry of the left wing under major-general Löwenstein. Meanwhile, the horse grenadiers of the regiment were assigned to the detachment of count Lacy deployed near Leitmeritz and along the Elbe up to Schreckstein.

On April 21 1757, the regiment was on the left wing of count von Königsegg's force at the combat of Reichenberg where its commander, count Hohenfeld, was killed. On May 6, the regiment took part to the battle of Prague where it was deployed in prince Löwenstein's brigade, in the first line of the left wing of cavalry under prince Esterhazy.

In 1758, the regiment campaigned with the Reichsarmee.

In 1759, the regiment was part of Loudon's corps and, on August 12, fought at Kunersdorf where it was deployed in the reserve of the right wing as part of Loudon's cavalry brigade.

In 1760, the regiment was part of Lacy's corps which operated with the Russians in Silesia.

To do: more details on the campaigns from 1760 to 1762

Uniform

Privates

Uniform in 1762 - Source: Frédéric Aubert

Uniform Details
as per the Albertina Handschrift of 1762
completed with other sources where necessary

Headgear	Trooper black tricorne (no lace) with a black cockade fastened with a small yellow button Grenadier bearskin with a yellow metal frontplate decorated with an embossed flaming grenade and with a red bag laced yellow (according to Donath's plate)
Neckstock	black
Coat	dark blue with 3 yellow buttons under the lapel on the right side Collar none Shoulder strap left shoulder: dark blue fastened with a yellow button right shoulder: red with a red aiguillette Lapels red with 7 yellow buttons Pockets horizontal pockets each with 3 yellow buttons Cuffs red with 3 yellow buttons Turnbacks red
Waistcoat	red with two rows of yellow buttons and horizontal pockets (each with 3 yellow buttons)
Breeches	red
Leather Equipment	Crossbelt white (according to the illustration of the Bautzener Bilderhandschrift of 1762) Waistbelt white Cartridge Box black leather Scabbard brown leather Footgear black boots
Horse Furniture	Saddlecloth dark blue laced with a wide white braid bordered with thin red braids (according to the illustration of the Bautzener Bilderhandschrift of 1762) Housings dark blue laced with a wide white braid bordered with thin red braids (according to the illustration of the Bautzener Bilderhandschrift of 1762) Blanket roll dark blue and red (according to the illustration of the Bautzener Bilderhandschrift of 1762)

Troopers were armed with a sword, a pair of pistols, a musket and a bayonet.

Other interpretations

The Bautzener Bilderhandschrift shows a yellow laced tricorne and buff breeches.

The Brauer's and Donath's plates both show a red shoulder strap on the left shoulder and buff breeches.

Officers

The officers (according to the Bautzener Bilderhandschrift of 1762) wore the same uniform with the following exceptions:

• tricorne laced gold with a green and white cockade
• gold aiguillette on the right shoulder
• green saddlecloth and sabretache both laced and fringed in gold

Musicians

Drummers of the regiments of dragoons usually wore the same uniform as the troopers heavily laced with yellow and black braids or a uniform with inverted colours.

Colours

Leibstandarte: White and heavily embroidered

• one side with the Blessed Virgin
• other side with the double eagle

Colonel Standard – Source: Frédéric Aubert

Ordinair-standarte: Swallow tailed with gold fringes and gold embroideries

• obverse: Dark blue field pennant, central device consisting of old Liechstenstein coat of arms
• reverse: Red field pennant, central device consisting of imperial eagle bearing the red-white-red shield on its breast and the collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece

Regimental Standard – Source: Frédéric Aubert

References

Bleckwenn, Hans; Die Regimenter der Kaiserin, Gedanken zur "Albertina Handschrift" 1762 des Heeresgeschichtlichen Museums Wien, Köln: 1967

Brauer, H.M., Uniformbogen and Fahnentafeln, plate 95

Donath, Rudolf, Die Kaiserliche und Kaiserlich-Königliche Österreichische Armee 1618-1918, 2. Aufl., Simbach/Inn 1979, Teil III Blatt 2

Funcken, Liliane and Fred , Les uniformes de la guerre en dentelle

Grosser Generalstab, Die Kriege Friedrichs des Grossen, Hiller, Berlin, 1830-1913

Kornauth, Friedrich, Das Heer Maria Theresias: Faksimile-Ausgabe der Albertina-Handschrift, "Dessins des Uniformes des Troupes I.I. et R.R. de l'année 1762", Wien: 1973

Raspe, Accurate Vorstellung der sämtlichen KAYSERLICH KOENIGLICHEN ARMEEN zur eigentlichen Kentnis der UNIFORM von jedem Regimente. Nebst beygefügter Geschichte, worinne von der Stiftung, denen Chefs, der Staercke, und den wichtigsten Thaten jedes Regiments Nachricht gegeben wird., Nürnberg: 1762

Schirmer, Friedrich, Die Heere der kriegführenden Staaten 1756-1763, hrsg. von der KLIO-Landesgruppe Baden-Württemberg, überarb. u. aktual. Neuauflage 1989

Skala H., Österreichische Militärgeschichte

Thadden, Franz-Lorenz v., Die theresianische Kavallerie - II. Teil, Die Zinnfigur, Klio, 1968

Thümmler, L.-H., Die Österreichiches Armee im Siebenjährigen Krieg: Die Bautzener Bilderhandschrift aus dem Jahre 1762, Berlin 1993

Zahn, Michael, Oesterreichische Kürassier und Dragoner Standarten in Siebenjährigen Krieges, Zusammenstellung, 1988