Austrian Cavalry Regiments and Their Commanders 1792-1815: the Chevauxlegers
By Istvan Nagy
In the first half of the 18th Century, the hussars took the
light cavalry role in the Imperial Army and the dragoons became heavy
cavalry. This was politically dangerous to the Emperor because in case
of a Hungarian revolution the Army would lack light cavalry. During
the 7 Years War a new light cavalry type was introduced. The first
regiment was raised in 1758 as a part of the Dragoner Regiment Löwenstein
with 12 companies. The following year, the Chevauxlegers were separated
and a regular regiment was formed. In the following years more dragoon
regiments were converted to chevauxlegers but some were converted back
to dragoons shortly afterwards.
In 1788, there were 6 regiments. In 1791, another dragoon regiment
was converted to chevauxlegers. In 1789, each dragoon regiment converted
one division to chevauxlegers, but in 1791 these divisions were converted
back to dragoons. The carabinier regiments converted on of their divisions
to chevauxlegers in 1770.
In 1786-87, each regiment received an uhlan division but in 1791 the
uhlans were taken away to form a separate regiment.
In 1798, all of the cavalry was reorganised. The seven chevauxleger
regiments were converted to light dragoons but some months later the
name was changed to dragoon but their role remained light cavalry. In
1801-1802, five light dragoon regiments and a newly raised dragoon regiment
were converted to chevauxlegers. The strength of the regiments and eskadrons
was the same as the hussars and uhlans. In 1814, a new regiment from
the elements of the ex-Royal Italian Army was raised.
The Chevauxlegers were armed with sword, carabine and pistols. They
had smaller horses.
Chevauxleger Regiment Nr. 1
Raised in 1688 as dragoons. The regiment was converted to chevauxlegers
in 1765, in 1798 to light dragoons, and 1801 to chevauxlegers.
Numbering
1769: Chevauxleger Regiment # 1
1798: Light Dragoon Regiment # 1
1801: Chevauxleger Regiment # 1
Colonels-in-Chiefs
1765: „Kaiser Joseph II.” Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire Joseph
II.
1790: „Kaiser Leopold II.” Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire Leopold
II.
1792: „Kaiser Franz II.” Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire
1806-1835: „Kaiser Franz I.” Emperor of the Austrian Empire
2nd Colonels-in-Chief
1767-89: Carl Fürst Liechtenstein, FML, FM
1790-96: Ferdinand Graf Harrach, FML
1797-1845: Heinrich Graf Bellegarde, GM, FM
Colonels (Commandants)
1786: Johann Chevalier Fitzgerald
1793: Peter Frhr. v. Bolza
1796: Franz Frhr. v. Pilati
1800: Carl Frhr. v Kölbel
1801: Albert v. De Best
1804: Joseph Graf Baillet de Latour
1808: Carl Graf Raigecourt
1812-1820: Simon Chevalier Fitzgerald
Recruitment Areas
1781-1817: Moravia
Headquarters Location during Peacetime
1779-92: Gaja
1798-99: Radkersburg
1801: Gaja
1802: Nikolsburg
1803: Troppau
1805: Leipnik
1806: Ried
1807: Eperjes
1808-09: Gródek
1810-13: Gyöngyös
1814-15: Ungarisch-Brod
1816-1817: Verona
Chevauxleger Regiment Nr. 2
Raised in 1758 as dragoons. In 1798, it was converted to light dragoons
and in 1801 to chevauxlegers.
Numbering
1769: Dragoon Regiment # 18
1780: Dragoon Regiment # 16
1789: Dragoon Regiment # 18
1798:Light Dragoon Regiment # 4
1801: Chevauxleger Regiment # 2
Colonels-in-Chiefs
1781: Carl Graf Richecourt und Ney, FML
1789: Andreas Frhr. v. Karaiczay de Vale-Sakam GM, FML
1801-1844: Friedrich Xaver Prinz Hohenzollern-Hechingen, FML, FM
Colonels (Commandants)
1779: Joseph Graf Kollonits
1789: Achaz Pettenegg
1791: Johann Lajos
1792: Anton Frhr. v. Elsnitz
1796: Maxmilian Graf Merveldt
1796: Joseph Graf Nimptsch
1800: Carl v. Provenchéres
1806: Leopold Frhr. v. Ludwigsdorff, Oberst
1809: Theophil v. Zechmeister, Oberst
1810: Matthias Loederer Oberst
1814: Carl Frhr. v. Scheibler
1815-1828: Franz Frhr. v. Fichtel
Recruitment Areas
1781: Moravia and Silezia
1809-1857: Bohemia
Headquarters Location during Peacetime
1779: Gaja, Ungarisch Brod
1789: Moscika
1792: Sedziszów
1797: Treviso
1798: Inner-Österreich
1801-05: Bassano
1806: Warasdin
1807: Agram
1808-09: Pecsvár
1810: Wels, Vienna
1811-12: Debreczin
1814-15: Nagy-Enyed
1815-1832: Zlólkiew
Chevauxleger Regiment Nr. 3
Raised in 1718 in Bayern as dragoons, it was transferred into the Imperial
service in 1724. In 1760 it was converted to chevauxlegers, but then
back to dragoons in the same year. In 1779, it was converted to chevauxlegers,
in 1798 to light dragoons, and finally in 1801 to chevauxlegers.
Numbering
1769: Dragoon Regiment # 28
1780: Chevauxleger Regiment # 22
1789: Chevauxleger Regiment # 28
1798:Light Dragoon Regiment # 10
1801: Chevauxleger Regiment # 3
Colonels-in-Chiefs
1773: Joseph Fürst Lobkowitz, G.d.C., FM
1803-1832: Andreas Graf O`Reilly, FML, G.d.C.
Colonels (Commandants)
1788: Michael Melas, Oberst
1788: Georg Ludwig Frhr. v. Buccow, Oberst
1789: Andreas Keppner, Oberst
1789: Carl Frhr. Mack v. Leiberich, Oberst
1793: Paul Frhr. v. Winkler, Oberst
1796: Hannibal, Marquis Sommariva, Oberst
1799: Max Joseph Fürst Thurn und Taxis, Oberst
1800: Bernhard Grosser, Oberst
1805: Friedrich Graf Degenfeld-Schonburg, Oberst
1807: Leopold Frhr. v. Rothkirch, Oberst
1809: Simon v. Sardagna, Oberst
1812-1819: Johann Heinrich Graf Auersperg, Oberst
Recruitment Areas
1781: Nieder - und Oberösterreich
1807: Bohemia
1813: Galizien
Headquarters Location during Peacetime
1787-88: Miskolcz
1798: Padua
1801: Tarnów
1805: Siedlec
1806: Lauffen
1807: Ried
1808-09: Wels
1810: Bochnia
1811-12: Gródek, Zolkiew
1814-15: Rzeszóww
1816-1821: Tarnopol
Chevauxleger Regiment Nr. 4
Raised in 1725 as dragoons from the troops of national Dutch (Belgian)
Regiments, they were transferred to the Imperial service from the service
of the King of Spain. In 1791 it was converted to Chevauxlegers, in
1798 to Light Dragoons, in 1801 to Chevauxlegers.
Numbering
1769: Dragoon Regiment # 31
1780: Dragoonr Regiment # 25
1791: Chevauxleger Regiment # 31
1798: Light Dragoon Regiment # 11
1801: Chevauxleger Regiment # 4
Colonels-in-Chiefs
1779: Nicolaus, Graf D´Arberg, GM, FML (resigned in 1789)
1789: Wilhelm, Herzog D´Ursel, GM (resigned in 1790)
1790: Maxmilian, Graf Baillet de Latour, FML, G.d.C.
1806-1835: Carl, Frhr. v. Vincent, G.d.C.
Colonels (Commandants)
1779: Ludwig Graf Civalart-Happoncourt
1789: Nicodem Chevalier de la Bailly
1790: Friedrich Frhr. v. Bueren
1791: Carl Frhr. v. Pforzheim
1793: Franz v. Roe
1797: Ferdinand de Mondet
1800: Armand v. Nordmann
1804: Ignaz Frhr. v. Lederer
1809: Goswin de Fierland
1812-1817: Franz Frhr. v. Gallois
Recruitment Areas
Niederlanden
1801 (1807): Nieder-Österreich
Headquarters Location during Peacetime
1787-89: Brüssel
1791: Tournay
1798-99: Dittmaning
1801: Ungarisch-Brod
1802-05: Gaja, Neuhaus
1807: Gross-Tapolcsán
1808-09: Gaja, St. Georgen (Pressburg)
1810: Rakonitz
1810: Esseg
1811: Radkersburg
1812-13: Gross-Kanizsa
1814-15: Bochnia
1816-1820: Klattau
Chevauxleger Regiment Nr. 5
Raised in 1631 as a sqadron of dragoons, it was completed as a regiment
of dragoons in 1634. In 1775, it was converted to chevauxlegers, in
1798 to light dragoons, in 1801 to chevauxlegers.
Numbering
1769: Dragoon Regiment # 7
1780: Chevauxleger Regiment # 6
1789: Chevauxleger Regiment # 7
1798: Light Dragoon Regiment # 12
1801: Chevauxleger Regiment # 5
Colonels-in-Chiefs
1773: Joseph Graf Kinsky von Kninitz und Tettau, FML, FM
1804-1819: Johann Graf Klenau, Frhr. von Janowitz, FML, G.d.C.
Colonels (Commandants)
1779: Lothar Frhr. von Bubenhofen
1790: Johannes Fürst zu Liechtenstein
1794: Joseph von Stipsicz
1797: Albert Stahel
1801: Carl Graf Kinsky
1806: Joseph von Mayer
1809: Raban Frhr. von Spiegel
1812-1820: Johann von Kopp
Recruitment Areas
1781: Bohemis
Headquarters Location during Peacetime
1784-1788: Pécsvár
1790: Vienna
1791-92: Mährisch-Ostrau
1797: Brüx
1798-99: Aurolzmünster
1801-05: Saaz
1806: Pardubitz
1807: Gabel
1808-09: Pardubitz
1810-13: Saaz
1814-15: Saaz - Gabel
1815-1818: Saaz
Chevauxleger Regiment Nr. 6
Raised in 1798 from the chevauxleger divisions of the Coburg and Latour
Dragoons, the French Emigrant Division Saxe and the Bercsényi Hussars
in Engfurt.
Numbering
1798: Light Dragoon Regiment # 13
1801: Chevauxleger Regiment # 6
Colonels-in-Chiefs
1798: vacant
1801-1832: Franz Fürst Rosenberg-Orsini, GM, G.d.C
Colonels (Commandants)
1798: Joseph v. Egger
1800: Carl Frhr. v. Vincent
1800: Carl Gr. Civalart
1808: Joseph Gr. Chotek
1809: Carl Chevalier Latuillerie
1815-1819: Peter Frhr. v. Gasser
Recruitment Areas
Bohemia
Headquarters Location during Peacetime
1798: Engfurt in Bayern
1801: Brandeis
1802: Klattau, Laufen
1803-05: Klattau
1806: Brandeis
1810: Klattau, dann Himberg
1811: Inzersdorf
1812-13: Kecskemét
1814: Gyöngyös
1815: Vienna
1816-1839: Gródek
Chevauxleger Regiment Nr. 7
Raised in 1814 from the following Royal Italian Regiments: Royal Dragoons,
Queens Dragoons, Dragoon Guards, Horse Jaegers No. 1, 3, 4 in Cremona
as Chevauxlegers.
Numbering
1814: Chevauxleger Regiment # 7
Colonels-in-Chiefs
1814: vacant
1815-1840: Johann Graf Nostitz-Rieneck, FML
Colonels (Commandants)
1814-1826: Bartholomäus Graf Alberti de Poja
Recruitment Areas
1814: Lombardia
Headquarters Location during Peacetime
1814: Cremona
1815: Güns, Oedenburg
1816-1821: Moór
Placed on the Napoleon Series: October 2005
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