The Army of the Duchy of Wuerttemberg during the Seven Years’ War, 1756–1763

Leib-Infanterie-Regiment Herzog Karl Eugen von 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 3,000 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.

Regiment	Coat	Facings	Buttons	Vest
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
Battalion	Parent Unit
I. Grenadier-Bataillon (Pleß)	Leib-Regiment & Prinz Louis
II. Grenadier-Bataillon (Georgi)	Spitznatz & Roeder
III. Grenadier-Bataillon (Klettenburg)	Stain & Truchsess
Regiment	Coat	Facings	Buttons	Vest
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
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

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

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Seven Years’ War Miniatures