Leib-Regiment Kurfürst in Bayern

Electorate of Bavaria 1756–1763

Leib-Regiment Kurfürst in Bayern, Kurfürstentum Bayern 1756–1763.

The owner of the Leib-Regiment was the current Elector (Kurfürst) of Bavaria. By decree dated 28 August 1753, the regiment was reduced from 4 battalions with 4 grenadier and 20 füsilier companies to only 3 battalions with 3 grenadier und 12 füsilier companies. The supernumerary companies were used to raise a new regiment which the Kurfürst offered to Generalmajor Joseph Heinrich Freiherr von Pechmann by executive ordinance of 4 Mai (SGBH, 121).

From April 1757, the Leib-Regiment deployed its III. battalion for service with the Auxiliar-Korps of the Austrian army. In July, the II. battalion also joined the Auxiliar-Korps. Both field battalions returned to their Munich garrison in January 1759, and spent the remainder of the war in Bavaria. In 1760, new uniforms with black facings and bastion-shaped buttonhole lace were issued.

Owner

  • Max Joseph III. Kurfürst in Bayern, 20 January 1745–1777

Commanding Officer

  • Oberst Ferdinand Freiherr von und zu Freyen-Seyboltstorff, 1756–1759
  • Generalmajor Joseph Heinrich Freiherr von Pechmann, 1759
  • Generalmajor Johann Christian Joseph Freiherr von Herold, 1759
  • Generalmajor Franz Joseph Cervatius von la Rosée, 27 June 1764
  • Oberst Joseph Alexander de Lamotte, 1774

Garrison

  • Munich (4 battalions with 4 Gren. und 20 Füs. Komp.), 1749
  • Munich (2 battalions) and Landshut (2 battalions), 1751
  • Munich (3 battalions with 3 Gren. und 12 Füs. Komp.), 1 October 1751

Organisation

  • Regimentsstab – Regimental Staff
  • I. Leib-Bataillon (life guard battalion)
    • 1. Grenadier-Kompanie
    • 1. (Leib)Kompanie
    • 2. Kompanie
    • 3. Kompanie
    • 4. Kompanie
    • two 3-pfünder Bataillonsgeschütze (btl. guns)
  • II. Obristen-Bataillon (colonel’s battalion)
    • 2. Grenadier-Kompanie
    • 5. Kompanie
    • 6. Kompanie
    • 7. Kompanie
    • 8. Kompanie
    • two 3-pfünder Bataillonsgeschütze
  • III. Obristen-Bataillon
    • 3. Grenadier-Kompanie
    • 9. Kompanie
    • 10. Kompanie
    • 11. Kompanie
    • 12. Kompanie
    • two 3-pfünder Bataillonsgeschütze

Two companies formed a division of the regiment, numbered from the flanks toward the center. Battalion guns were deployed on both flanks of a battalion, or on the flanks, and between the 3rd and 4th division of the regiment.

Illustrations

Uniform

  • blue coat with white buttons
  • white collar
  • white lapels with 8 buttons and buttonhole lace right and left
    3 buttons and buttonhole lace below left and right lapels
  • white cuffs with three buttons and buttonhole lace
  • white turnbacks
  • white shoulder strap on the left
  • black stock
  • white vest (Kamisol) with white buttons
  • white breeches
  • black gaiters with white buttons
  • black tricorne hat with white border, black cockade, white-blue pompom (SGBH, 291), and company badge (SGBH, 293)
  • füsiliers of the Leib-Regiment had cartridge pouches with brass grenade badges normally reserved for grenadiers
  • dark brown fur grenadier caps with red bag, white lace and pompom
  • drummers wore uniforms with reversed colours, and black-and-blue lace chevrons, until 1760. When the Leib-Regiment adopted the new uniform with black facings and white buttonhole lace in 1760, the drummers received the same uniform as the men, but they retained the old black-and-blue lace.
  • officers on duty wore the yellow metal aiguillette
  • officers’ horses wore dark blue, (later light blue) saddle blankets with white borders (SGBH, 308), and matching pistol holster covers.
Leib-Regiment Kurfürst in Bayern. Prinz August 40 mm Zinnfiguren.

These 40 mm Prince August miniatures of the Leib-Regiment are wearing the blue uniform with black facings introduced in 1760. The miniatures have been mounted on 100 mm wide and 50 mm deep bases compatible with the Volley & Bayonet game system. The ensign is a conversion of the dismounted cavalryman from Prince August mould PA46, who has had his pistol removed and a pianowire flagstaff placed into his hand.

Campaign History

  • Mobilization of the III. battalion for service in the Auxiliarkorps, 6 April 1757
  • II. bataillon leaves Munich to join the Auxiliarkorps, 25 July 1757
  • Siege of Schweidnitz, 1757
  • Battle of Breslau, 1757
  • Battle of Leuthen, 1757
  • Capture of Troppau, 1758
  • Siege of Olmütz, 1758
  • Siege of Neiße, 1758
  • Return from campaign, January 1759

Lineage

  • 10. Bayerisches Infanterie-Regiment König, 1902
  • 20. (Bayerisches) Infanterie-Regiment, 5. Kompanie, 1921

From 1760, black facings with white bastion-shaped buttonhole lace replaced the old white facings of the Leib-Regiment.

Bavarian Army of the Seven Years’ War