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