Austrian Dragoon Regiment Duke of Württemberg, 1756–1763
By decree dated 20 December 1688, GFWM Donat Johann Graf Heissler von Heitersheim raised a dragoon regiment in Bohemia at his own expense. Graf Heissler von Heitersheim owned the regiment until 1692. From 1740 to 1798, the regiment was owned by the current Herzog or Erbprinz von Württemberg.
In January 1760, the dragoon regiment was converted to a Chevauleger-Regiment, but re-converted to a dragoon regiment at the end of the same year. During the Seven Years’ War the regiment fought at the Battles of Kolin, Breslau, Leuthen, Kunersdorf, Landeshut, and Liegnitz.
Proprietor
- Oberst Carl Eugen Herzog von Württemberg, 1740–1793
Commanding Officer
- Oberst Ludwig Freiherr von Bretlach, 1743–1757
- Oberst Joseph Graf Saint-Ignon, 1757–1758
- Oberst Johann Graf Pachta, 1758–1762
- Oberst Joseph Graf Kinsky, 1762–1764
Uniform
- red coat with yellow buttons
- black lapels with seven buttons and buttonholes left and right
- black cuffs with three buttons
- black turnbacks
- red shoulder strap left
- black aiguillette right
- black stock
- light straw-coloured vest with 2 × 7 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
- Battle of Kolin, 1757
- Battle at Breslau (4 Kompanien), 1757
- Battle of Leuthen (4 Kompanien), 1757
- Engagement at Predlitz, 1758
- Engagement at Wisternitz, 1758
- Engagement at Holitz, 1758
- Ambush at Domstadtl (detachment), 1758
- Battle of Kunersdorf, 1759
- Battle of Landeshut (Grenadier-Kompanie), 1760
- Battle of Liegnitz (Grenadier-Kompanie), 1760
- Engagement at Niedermülsen, Saxony, (detachment), 1760
- Siege of Schweidnitz, 1761
- Engagement at Leutmannsdorf, 1762
- Defence of Schweidnitz (Grenadier-Kompanie), 1762
Dragoner-Regiment Württemberg was distinguished from Dragoner-Regiment Savoyen by its light straw-coloured vest.
Bibliography
- Knötel-Sieg: Handbuch der Uniformkunde, p. 275
- Mollo, John: Uniforms of the Seven Years’ War, 1756-63, Plate 48