Austrian Dragoon Regiment Deux-Ponts of the Seven Years’ War, 1757–1763

Austrian Dragoon Regiment Deux-Ponts of the Seven Years’ War, 1757–1763 By convention dated 9 September 1701, Markgraf Christian Ernst von Brandenburg-Bayreuth raised a dragoon regiment of four companies for imperial service. The regiment was later increased by eight companies recruited in Bohemia. Between 1757 and 1781 the current Pfalzgraf von Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld acted as Inhaber of the regiment.

In 1760, Dragoner-Regiment Zweibrücken was converted to a Chevauleger-Regiment. During the Seven Years’ War the regiment fought at the Battles of Prag, Kolin, Breslau, Leuthen, and Hochkirch.

Proprietor

GFWM, later FML August Graf Porporati, 1753–1757
G.d.C., later FM Carl Friedrich Pfalzgraf von Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld, 1757–1760
Oberst Carl August Pfalzgraf von Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld, 1760–1781

Commanding Officer

Oberst Carl Graf Caramelli de Castiglione-Fallet, 1754–1758
Oberst Wolfgang von Thümel, 1758–1759
Oberst Friedrich August Prinz von Nassau-Usingen, 1759–1764

Uniform

dark blue coat with yellow buttons
red lapels with seven buttons and buttonholes left and right
red cuffs with three buttons
red turnbacks
red shoulder-strap left
red aiguillette right

black stock
red vest with six yellow buttons
light straw-coloured breeches
black gaiters with yellow buttons for dismounted service
white boot cuffs and tall black riding boots for mounted service
black tricorne with yellow border, and black cockade with yellow button

red saddlecloth with yellow border, and black and white rhombical design
black pistol holsters, with red holster covers and border design as above
round red mantlesack with border design as above
black leather bridle

Campaign History

Engagement at Reichenberg, 1757
Engagement at Jungbunzlau, 1757
Battle of Prag, 1757
Battle of Kolin, 1757
Battle at Breslau, 1757
Battle of Leuthen, 1757
Ambush at Domstadtl, 1758
Engagement at Holitz, 1758
Battle of Hochkirch, 1758
Attached to the Reichsarmee, 1759
Engagement at Strehla, 1760
Campaign in Saxony, 1761
Engagement at Döbeln, 1762
Engagement at Wilsdruf, 1762
Engagement at Dippoldiswalde, 1762

Dragoner-Regiment Zweibrücken was distinguished from Dragoner-Regiment Batthyany by its red shoulder-strap.

Bibliography

Knötel-Sieg: Handbuch der Uniformkunde, p. 275
Mollo, John: Uniforms of the Seven Years’ War, 1756-63, Plate 49

Frequently Asked Questions

For further information and updates, please join us on facebook or in the Miniatures Forum.

Return to the Index