Cavalry Squadron of the Upper Rhenish Circle, Seven Years’ War, 1756–1763

Cavalry Squadron of the Upper Rhenish Circle during the Seven Years’ War, 1756–1763, 1:300 Miniatures Heroics & Ros

The Oberrheinische Kreis-Eskadron was established in 1702 with a strength of 150 troopers. When the palatinal army was reduced in 1745, the squadron was incorporated into Reiter-Regiment Graf Elliot de Morhange. Raised again in 1754 with a strength of 174 troopers, the squadron joined the 2nd and 3rd squadron of Reiter-Regiment Zweibrücken to form the Palatinal Cuirassiers for the duration of the Seven Years’ War.

The troopers of the cavalry squadron of the Upper Rhenish Circle shown here are 1:300 scale Austrian Dragoons by Heroics & Ros. Austrian dragoon figures may be used, because palatinal cavalry troopers stopped wearing the cuirass after the War of Spanish Succession.

Proprietor

Commander

Garrison

Oberamt Oppenheim, 1712 –

Organisation

Regimentsstab (regimental staff)
- Oberst (colonel)
- Oberstlieutenant (lieutenant-colonel)
- Oberstwachtmeister (major)
- Regiments-Quartiermeister (regimental quartermaster)
- Auditor (auditor)
- Feldkaplan (field chaplain)
- Adjutant
- Regimentsfeldscherer (regimental surgeon)
- Wagenmeister (wagon master)
- Profos und Steckenknecht
1. Kompanie (54 men, 54 horses)
2. Kompanie (54 men, 54 horses)
3. Kompanie (54 men, 54 horses)

Uniform

On 1 Juli 1754, the Oberrheinische Kreis-Eskadron was re-established from three companies, Kompanie Graf Wittgenstein, von Schmid and von Helmstädt, of the Palatinal Leib-Dragonerregiment Frau Kurfürstin von der Pfalz. These men continued to wear their red Leib-Dragoner uniforms with red facings, at least until the uniforms had worn out and were to be replaced by regulation cavalry uniforms of the Oberrheinische Kreis-Eskadron. Accordingly, wargamers and diorama builders may depict the Oberrheinische Kreis-Eskadron in red dragoon uniforms during the early part of the Seven Years’ War.

white coat with 12 white metal buttons
light blue collar
light blue cuffs with white metal buttons
light blue turnbacks
white-blue aiguillette at the right shoulder
silver aiguillette for officers

black stock with white lace
straw-coloured vest with white metal buttons
straw-coloured trousers
white boot cuffs and tall black riding boots for mounted service
black tricorne hat, black cockade, white-blue side-pompoms
silver hat border for officers

light blue chabraque with white border
black pistol holsters, and light blue holster covers with white border
light blue square valise with white border

Campaign History

Palatinal Cuirassiers, 1757–1763

Lineage

Reiter-Regiment Pfalzgraf Max, 1770
Reiter-Regiment Prinz Max, 1777
2. Kürassier-Regiment von Winckelhausen, 1790
4. Chevauleger-Regiment, 1799
1. Chevauleger-Regiment Kurfürst, 1799
2. Chevauleger-Regiment Kurfürst, 1804
2. Chevauleger-Regiment König, 1806
4. Chevauleger-Regiment König, 1811
17. (Bayerisches) Reiter-Regiment, Ausbildungs-Eskadron, 1921

In 1770, the Oberrheinische Kreis-Eskadron was incorporated into Reiter-Regiment Pfalzgraf Max. Converted to a chevauleger regiment in 1799, the unit was named 4th Bavarian Chevauleger-Regiment König in 1811. In 1920, the regiment became the training squadron of the 17th (Bavarian) Reiter-Regiment of the German Reichswehr.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Upper Rhenish Circle of the Imperial Army