The army of the elector of Bavaria, ally of France, included

The corps of voluntary chasseurs, which existed from 1800 to 1805, following the Austrian model, was disbanded and the chasseurs put into the light battalions. We shall find that corps again in 1813.

At the end of the year 1805 two new regiments of line infantry were created. The eleventh was transferred to the army of Berg when that grand duchy was created, and a new eleventh was created. As for the twelfth, it was disbanded for insubordination and never reformed.

In 1806 a third battalion (at the training camp) was added to each line regiment, with only four companies of riflemen. In 1808 a seventh battalion of light infantry was raised.

Since 1806 the Electorate of Bavaria had become a kingdom and had received the Tyrol, an Austrian province which gave it incessant insurrections, the most famous being that of the innkeeper Andreas Hofer in 1809.

The scenario of 1805 was copied in 1809; the Bavarians, under the command of Marshal Lefebvre, was this time a corps in the army of Germany, three divisions, each with two brigades of infantry and one of cavalry. In addition a Landwehr was formed as a mobile legion of eight battalions, each with four companies of one hundred sixty men; these troops did not actually have to fight, at least in 1809.

After the peace the two regiments of dragoons were converted into light horse and took the numbers one and two.

In 1811 it was the infantry which was reorganized. From then on the line battalions included one company of grenadiers, one of shooters armed with rifled carbines, and four of riflemen; the effective of the companies remained unchanged. As for the light infantry battalions, they included one company of carabiniers, one of sharpshooters and four of riflemen, at the same strength as the companies of line infantry. Finally, a one hundred twenty man regiment of line infantry was raised, with the number thirteen.

In Russia the Bavarian army was the VI Corp of the grand army, under the orders of Gouvion Saint-Cyr, who won his marshal's baton at its head. Outside of this corps, four regiments of light horse served with the IV Corps and the thirteenth of the line was part of the X Corps. The losses of all these troops were heavy during the retreat.

During the first part of the campaign of Saxony, before the armistice, the XII Corps had a hastily reconstituted Bavarian division. It had three brigades, like those of 1812, but the line regiments had no more than one battalion.

In the second part of the campaign Bavaria rejoined the camp of the Allies. After Leipzig Von Wrede unsuccessfully tried to cut the retreat of the French to the Rhine, leading a corps made up of three divisions, each containing two infantry brigades and one of cavalry. Each infantry brigade held one light battalion, two line battalions, and two battalions of Landwehr. The cavalry brigades contained two or three regiments of four squadrons.

At this same time three new cavalry regiments were created; the seventh ("national") regiment of light horse, a regiment of uhlans with four squadrons, a voluntary regiment of hussars which had five squadrons at first but eight by the spring of 1814. The corps of voluntary chasseurs was reformed, first with three battalions, each of four central companies (Jaeger), one company of grenadier Jaeger and one company of shooter Jaeger. During the campaign of France in 1814 the Bavarians formed the V Corps in Schwarzenberg's army.

After Napoleon's first abdication a fourteenth line regiment was created, as well as a regiment of foot grenadiers of the guard (three battalions, each of six companies) and a mounted regiment of the bodyguard.

During the hundred days Bavaria mobilized and new corps appeared, the fifteenth line, the second hussars. The corps of chasseurs was raised to an effective of two regiments. Waterloo intervened before that army, still under Von Wrede, could actually enter the field.

top

Infantry

Line infantry
Linien Infanterie Regimenten

Line infantry regiments are composed of three battalions of which only the first two are field battalions. Field battalions are composed of one grenadier company, one voltigeur company and four fusilier companies. The reserve battalion is composed of four fusilier companies only.

• Short tailed coat with closed lapels of cornflower blue (deep sky blue) cloth. Closed collar of regimental colour. Blue shoulder straps piped red. Lapels of regimental colour. Rounded cuffs with side slit piped red closed by four buttons. Red turnbacks. White or yellow buttons.
  Regiments belonging to royal household (nr.1 König and nr.2 Kronprinz) have buttons' colour buttonhole laces on lapels and waist buttons.
  After 1814, all regiments wear the same uniform with red facings and yellow buttons and are only differentiated by the number stamped on their buttons.
• White breeches. Short black gaiters.
• Helmet with high black leather crown bearing a brass crowned oval plate stamped with royal cipher over a brass band. A small brass chain joins each chinstrap boss to two rivets on each side of the plate crown. Black wool caterpillar. On left side of the crown, between national cockade (white with blue centre) and chinstrap boss, small wool tuft of company colour (see plate). Black leather peak. Black leather chinstrap trimmed by small brass chains.
• White leatherwork. Black leather cartridge pouch. White belt with brass buckle and sabre with brass single bar hilt and black leather scabbard with brass fittings, white sabre strap. In 1810, waistbelt is replaced by a shoulderbelt.

Light battalions
Leichtes Infanterie Bataillonen

• Short tailed coat with closed lapels of light green cloth. changed in august 1806 for dark green one. Closed collar of battalion colour. Green shoulder straps piped red. Black lapels piped red. Black rounded cuffs piped red with side slit piped red closed by four buttons. Red turnbacks. White or yellow buttons.
• White breeches in summer dress, grey in winter dress. Short black gaiters.
• Other equipment as line infantry.

top

Tyrolian chasseurs

Raised in 1807 and transferred to line in 1808 as 7th light infantry battalion.

• Short tailed single breasted coat of dark green cloth, closed by nine buttons. Sky blue closed collar. Green shoulder straps piped sky blue. Sky blue piping on front of coat. Sky blue rounded cuffs with side slit piped sky blue closed by four buttons. Green turnbacks piped sky blue. White buttons.
  After 1808, dress of light battalions with sky blue facings.
• White breeches in summer dress, grey in winter dress. Short black gaiters.
• Black felt shako with black leather top and bottom band. Bavarian cockade with white strap, green plume for voltigeurs. Black leather peak. Black leather chinstrap trimmed by small brass chains.
  After 1808, helmet of light battalions.
• Black leatherwork, white in 1808. All other equipment as line infantry.

top

Foot grenadiers of the Royal Guard

Regiment raised in 1814 with three battalions strength.

Grenadiers

• Short tailed coat with closed lapels of cornflower blue cloth. Red closed collar. Blue shoulder straps piped red. Red lapels of regimental colour bearing white buttonhole laces. Red rounded cuffs with side slit piped red closed by four buttons with white buttonhole laces. Red turnbacks bearing white grenade patch. White buttons.
• White breeches. High black gaiters. In service dress, blue trousers with red side bands.
• Black fur bearskin without plate, red patch with white cross. White cords and flounders. Tall white plume with blue base. Brass chinscales.
  In service dress, line infantry helmet. Brass band above peak stamped "GRENADIER GARDE REGIMENT". White plume with blue base.
• White leatherwork. Black leather cartridge pouch bearing a brass grenade plate. Sabre with brass single bar hilt and black leather scabbard with brass fittings, white sabre strap.

top

Cavalry

Line regiments

• Short tailed coat with closed lapels of light green cloth. Changed in 1809 for dark green one. Closed collar of regimental colour. White metal shoulder scales on scarlet backing. Lapels of regimental colour. Rounded cuffs of regimental colour with side slit piped of regimental colour closed by four buttons. Green turnbacks laced with regimental colour, bearing crowns (outside tails) and lions (inside tails) in white cloth. White or yellow buttons.
  After 1814, all regiments wear the same uniform with red facings and yellow buttons and are only differentiated by the regimental number being stamped on their buttons.
• White breeches in full dress, green one in service dress. Black boots. In campaign dress, green or grey overalls with facings colour side band.
• Helmet with high black leather crown with V brass stiffeners bearing a brass crowned oval plate stamped with royal cipher over a brass band stamped with regiment's name " X CHEV-LEGER REGIMENT". A small brass chain joins each chinstrap boss to two rivets on each side of the plate crown. Black horsehair caterpillar. On left side large white plume over national cockade. Black leather peak with brass trim. Black leather chinstrap trimmed by small brass chains.
  After 1809, helmet is equipped with a black leather neck guard.
• White leatherwork. Black leather cartridge pouch. White waistbelt with brass buckle and curved light cavalry sabre with iron three bars hilt and iron scabbard, white sabre strap.
• Black leather harness. Hungarian saddle with red schabraque trimmed with white lace embroidered with blue diamonds. White cloth cipher in rear corners. Red cloth round portmanteau with same lace.

top

National regiment

Regiment of national guard raised in 1812 and transferred in line as 7th Light Horses regiment in 1813. Each of the six field squadrons has a company of skirmishers.

• Short tailed single breasted coat of dark green cloth, closed by nine buttons. Red open collar. White metal shoulder scales on scarlet backing. Red piping on front of coat. Red rounded cuffs with side slit piped red closed by four buttons. Green turnbacks trimmed red. White buttons.
• Red then green waistcoat. Green breeches and black hungarian boots (with green lace and tassel for skirmishers).
• Black felt shako with black leather top and bottom band and side V bearing a brass crowned oval plate stamped with royal cipher over a brass band. White drooping plume (green upright plume for skirmishers) over national cockade with white strap. White cords and flounders. Black leather peak and neck guard, brass trim to peak. Brass chinscales.
• Black leather harness. Hungarian saddle with red schabraque trimmed with white lace. White cloth cipher in rear corners. Red cloth squared portmanteau laced white.
• All other equipment as line light horses.

• Short tailed coat with closed lapels of white cloth. Closed collar of regimental colour. White metal shoulder scales on black leather backing. Black lapels. Black rounded cuffs with side slit piped black closed by four buttons. White turnbacks trimmed black. White buttons for 1st regiment, yellow for 2nd.
  After 1807, facing colour is changed to scarlet for both regiments, with same distribution. Shoulder scales backed by scarlet cloth. Wide scarlet cloth sash closed on left hip by a circular false knot.
• White waistcoat and breeches. Black boots. In campaign dress, grey cloth overalls with facing colour side bands.
• Helmet with high black leather crown with V brass stiffeners bearing a brass crowned oval plate stamped with royal cipher over a brass band stamped with regiment's name " X DRAGONER REGIMENT". A small brass chain joins each chinstrap boss to two rivets on each side of the plate crown. Black horsehair caterpillar on helmet. On left side large white plume over national cockade. Black leather peak with brass trim. Black leather chinstrap trimmed by small brass chains.
  After 1809, helmet is equipped with a black leather neck guard.
• White leatherwork. Black leather cartridge pouch. White waistbelt with brass buckle and curved cavalry sabre with iron three bars hilt and black leather scabbard with iron fittings, white sabre strap.
• Black leather harness. Red cloth half-schabraque trimmed with white lace embroidered with blue diamonds. White and blue cloth cipher in rear corners. Red cloth squared portmanteau with same lace. White sheepskin saddle cover with red wolf-teeth trim.

top

Lancers

Raised in 1813.

• Dark green kurtka, seam on back and sleeves piped sky blue. Sky blue collar. White metal shoulder scales on sky blue backing. Sky blue lapels. White cloth sash with three sky blue stripes. Sky blue pointed cuffs. Sky blue turnbacks. White buttons.
  In 1814, facing colours is changed to red with same repartition, and white buttons are changed for yellow ones.
• Dark green trousers with double facing colour side bands. Black light boots.
• Schapska (Czapska) with black leather crown and yellow cloth top piped white. White cords and flounders. White plume over national cockade with white strap. Black chinstrap with brass trim and brass chinscales.
• White leatherwork. Black leather cartridge pouch. White waistbelt with brass buckle and curved light cavalry sabre with iron three bars hilt and iron scabbard, white sabre strap. Black wood lance with white over light blue pennon.
• Black leather harness. Hungarian saddle with red schabraque trimmed with white lace. White cloth cipher in rear corners. Red cloth round portmanteau laced white.

top

Life Guards

Regiment raised in 1814 at two squadrons strength.

• Short tailed single breasted coat of cornflower blue cloth, closed by nine buttons. Red closed collar laced white. White metal shoulder scales on red backing. Red piping on front of coat. Red rounded cuffs laced white with side slit piped red closed by four buttons. Blue turnbacks trimmed red. White buttons.
• White breeches and black high cuffed boots.
• Helmet with brass comb trimmed with black fur turban. Brass comb in form of lying lions and black horsehair caterpillar. White plume over national cockade. Black leather peak and neck guard, peak with brass trim. Brass chinscales. Polished steel cuirass with brass rivets, brass scales shoulder straps and black leather belt.
• White leatherwork. Black leather cartridge pouch. White waistbelt with brass buckle and straight bladed heavy cavalry sabre with brass three bars hilt and iron scabbard, white sabre strap.
• Black leather harness. Red cloth half-schabraque trimmed with white lace. White cloth cipher in rear corners. Red cloth squared portmanteau with same lace. White sheepskin saddle cover with red wolf-teeth trim.

top

Artillery

Short tailed coat with closed lapels of dark blue cloth. Scarlet open collar. Brass shoulder scales on scarlet backing. Black lapels piped scarlet. Scarlet rounded cuffs with side slit piped scarlet closed by four buttons. Scarlet turnbacks. Yellow buttons.

Dark blue breeches. Short black gaiters.

Helmet with high black leather crown bearing a brass crowned oval plate stamped with royal cipher over a brass band stamped with "ARTILLERIE REGIMENT". A small brass chain joins each chinstrap boss to two rivets on each side of the plate crown. Black wool caterpillar. On left side of the crown, Scarlet plume over national cockade. Black leather peak. Black leather chinstrap trimmed by small brass chains.

White leatherwork. Black leather cartridge pouch. White belt with brass buckle and straight bladed artillery sabre with brass single bar hilt and black leather scabbard with brass fittings, no sabre strap.
In 1811, waistbelt is replaced by a shoulderbelt and artillery sabre by the standard infantry sabre.

• Short tailed coat with closed lapels of dark blue cloth. Scarlet open collar. Brass shoulder scales on scarlet backing. Black lapels piped scarlet. Scarlet rounded cuffs with side slit piped scarlet closed by four buttons. Scarlet turnbacks. Yellow buttons.
• Dark blue breeches. Black boots.
• Helmet with high black leather crown with V brass stiffeners bearing a brass crowned oval plate stamped with royal cipher over a brass band stamped with "ARTILLERIE REGIMENT". A small brass chain joins each chinstrap boss to two rivets on each side of the plate crown. Black horsehair caterpillar. On left side large white plume over national cockade. Black leather peak with brass trim. Black leather chinstrap trimmed by small brass chains.
  After 1809, helmet is equipped with a black leather neck guard.
• White leatherwork. Black leather cartridge pouch. White waistbelt with brass buckle and curved light cavalry sabre with iron three bars hilt and iron scabbard, white sabre strap.
• Black leather harness. Hungarian saddle with white sheepskin schabraque trimmed with scarlet wolf teeth. Dark blue cloth round portmanteau with scarlet lace.

• Short tailed coat with closed lapels of light grey cloth. Cornflower blue open collar. Grey shoulder straps piped blue. Cornflower blue lapels. Cornflower blue rounded cuffs with side slit piped blue closed by four buttons. Cornflower blue turnbacks. White buttons.
• Grey breeches. Black high cuffed boots.
• Helmet with high black leather crown bearing a brass crowned oval plate stamped with royal cipher over a brass band. A small brass chain joins each chinstrap boss to two rivets on each side of the plate crown. Black wool caterpillar. On left side of the crown, national cockade. Black leather peak. Black leather chinstrap trimmed by small brass chains.
• Black waistbelt then shoulderbelt and infantry sabre.
• Black leather harness. Cornflower blue cloth half-schabraque laced white, white cloth cipher in rear corners. Blue cloth squared portmanteau laced white. White sheepskin saddle cover with blue wolf-teeth trim.

top

Gendarmerie

• Long tailed coat with closed lapels of green cloth. Red closed collar. Epaulets with scarlet strap with brass, brass crescent and scarlet fringes. Red lapels. Red rounded cuffs with side slit piped red closed by four buttons. Red turnbacks, vertical pockets simulated red piping. Yellow buttons.
• Green breeches and black short gaiters.
• Black felt shako with yellow top band and black leather bottom band and side V bearing a brass crowned oval plate stamped with royal cipher over a brass band. Scarlet ball pompon over national cockade with yellow strap. Yellow cords and flounders. Black leather peak and brass chinscales.
• Black leatherwork. Black leather cartridge pouch bearing a brass royal cipher plate. Sabre with brass single bar hilt and black leather scabbard with brass fittings.

• Long tailed with closed lapels of green cloth. Red closed collar. Epaulets with scarlet strap with brass, brass crescent and scarlet fringes, yellow aiguillette on right shoulder. Red lapels. Red rounded cuffs with side slit piped red closed by four buttons. Red turnbacks bearing yellow cloth crowned lions, vertical pockets simulated red piping. Yellow buttons.
• Green breeches and black high cuffed boots.
• Black felt shako with yellow top band and black leather bottom band and side V bearing a brass crowned oval plate stamped with royal cipher over a brass band. Scarlet ball pompon over national cockade with yellow strap. Yellow cords and flounders. Black leather peak and brass chinscales.
• Black leatherwork. Black leather cartridge pouch bearing a brass royal cipher plate. White waistbelt with brass buckle and curved light cavalry sabre with iron three bars hilt and iron scabbard, white sabre strap.
• Black leather harness. Hungarian saddle with red schabraque laced yellow, yellow cloth cipher in rear corners. Red cloth round portmanteau laced yellow.

top

Auxiliary units

Volunteer light troops

The volunteer corps is created in 1805, but its existence remains confidential until 1813. At that time, to recover from Russian campaign losses, strength is augmented to two infantry battalions (three in 1814).
Infantry

• Long tailed single breasted coat of dark green cloth, closed by nine buttons. Yellow collar. Green shoulder straps piped yellow. Yellow piping on front of coat. Yellow rounded cuffs. Green turnbacks piped yellow, vertical pockets simulated by yellow piping. Brass buttons.
• Green trousers with yellow side band.
• Initially, line infantry helmet.
  After 1809, black felt hat with upturned left brim. Short cornflower blue plume over national cockade with yellow strap.
  After1813, black felt shako with black leather top and bottom band and side V. bearing a brass crowned oval plate stamped with royal cipher over a brass band. Short white plume with green top (scarlet plume for carabiniers, all green for voltigeurs) over national cockade with white strap. Black leather peak and black leather chinstrap trimmed by small brass chains.
• Black leatherwork.
• All other equipment as line infantry.

• Long tailed single breasted coat of dark green cloth, closed by nine buttons. Yellow collar. Yellow trefoiled epaulets and aiguillette on left shoulder. Yellow piping on front of coat. Yellow rounded cuffs. Green turnbacks piped yellow, vertical pockets simulated by yellow piping. Brass buttons.
• Green trousers with yellow side band. Black light boots.
• Black felt cocked hat. White plume with blue base over national cockade with yellow stripe.
• White leatherwork. Black leather cartridge pouch bearing a brass horn plate. White waistbelt with brass buckle and straight bladed heavy cavalry sabre with brass three bars hilt and black leather scabbard with brass fittings, white sabre strap.
• Black leather harness. Hungarian saddle with green schabraque laced yellow, yellow cloth cipher in rear corners.

• Long tailed single breasted coat of dark blue cloth, closed by nine buttons. White open collar. Blue shoulder straps piped white. White piping on front of coat. White rounded cuffs with side slit piped white closed by four buttons. Dark blue turnbacks piped white. White buttons.
• Grey breeches. Short black gaiters.
• Helmet with high black leather crown bearing a brass crowned oval plate stamped with royal cipher over a brass band. A small brass chain joins each chinstrap boss to two rivets on each side of the plate crown. Black wool caterpillar. On left side of the crown, national cockade. Black leather peak. Black leather chinstrap trimmed by small brass chains.
• All other equipment as line infantry, no sabre.

top

Volunteer Hussars

Volunteers regiment raised in 1813 as Landhusaren Korps and renamed Freiwilligen Husaren Regiment in 1814.

• Cornflower blue dolman with three rows of eight buttons. White braid and laces. Blue collar trimmed white. Blue pointed cuffs trimmed white. White wool waist sash with white and blue barrels. White buttons. White cloth pelisse trimmed with black fur, white braid and laces and white braided shoulder straps.
• Cornflower blue hungarian breeches with white knots and side bands. Black hungarian boots with white lace and tassel.
• Black felt shako with black leather top and bottom band, bearing a large national cockade with white strap. White cords and flounders. White plume with blue base. Black leather peak with white metal trim and white metal chinscales.
• Black leatherwork. Hussar style waistbelt and sabre with single bar iron hilt and iron scabbard, black sabre strap with white knot. Black leather sabretache bearing white metal royal cipher.
• Black leather harness. Hungarian saddle with cornflower blue schabraque laced white, white cloth cipher in rear corners. Cornflower blue round portmanteau laced white.

top

National guard

Due to the Austrian threat in 1809, the Bavarian government raises eight national guard battalions gathered in "Mobile legions".
In 1813, strength is augmented to twenty battalions, the "Nationalfeldbataillons".

• As uniforms were lacking, trooper were often only wearing the grey greatcoat with sky blue collar over their civilian clothes.
  Regulation dress 1809 : long tailed single breasted coat of dark blue cloth, closed by nine buttons. Dark blue collar piped sky blue. Dark blue shoulder straps piped sky blue. Sky blue piping on front of coat. Dark blue rounded cuffs piped sky blue with side slit piped sky blue and closed by four buttons. Dark blue turnbacks piped sky blue. Brass buttons.
  Regulation dress 1813 : short tailed single breasted coat of cornflower blue cloth, closed by nine buttons. Poppy red collar. Blue shoulder straps piped red. Red piping on front of coat. Poppy red rounded cuffs with side slit piped red and closed by four buttons. Poppy red turnbacks . White buttons.
  
• Dark blue breeches and short black gaiters, white cloth overalls.
  In 1813, cornflower blue trousers
• Black felt shako with black leather top and bottom band, bearing a thin brass band above peak. Company coloured ball pompon in company colour (1st red, 2nd white, 3rd blue and 4th yellow), or short red plume for tirailleurs, over national cockade with white strap. Black leather peak. Black leather chinstrap or brass chinscales.
• All other equipment as line infantry, no sabre.

top

Staff

• Long tailed coat with closed lapels of cornflower blue cloth. Red open collar with double silver trim and one row of silver rank embroidery (laurels and palms) for brigade generals and two rows for division generals. Red lapels piped silver and trimmed by a row of silver rank embroidery. Red rounded cuffs piped silver and trimmed by a row of rank embroidery for brigade generals and two rows for division generals, side slit without piping closed by four buttons with silver laurels embroidery at each button. Large silver silk waist sash with blue embroideries knotted on left hip ending with tassels with heavy bullion fringes. Red turnbacks, horizontal pockets with silver laurels embroidery at each of the three buttons. Silver laurels embroidery at waist buttons. Silver buttons.
  In service dress, blue lapels piped red without embroidery.
  General officers owning a regiment usually wear their regiment dress with all rank embroidery described above.
• White breeches and black high cuffed boots.
• Black felt cocked hat covered with black velvet trimmed by a large scalloped silver lace and decorated with white cut feather trim. Large national cockade with silver embroidery strap, usually decorated with owner decorations.
• Waistbelt covered with silver and blue laces, sword for infantry officers and sabre for cavalry officers.
• Red cloth schabraque and holster covers, with silver fringes and trimmed by one or two rows of silver rank embroideries. Silver royal cipher embroidery in rear corners.

• Long tailed coat with closed lapels of cornflower blue cloth. Purple closed collar piped red (all red for king's aides) bearing tasselled rank laces in silver for cavalry officers and gold for infantry officers. Trefoiled epaulets and aiguillette on right shoulder in silver or gold. Purple lapels piped red (all red for king's aides) bearing tasselled buttonhole lace in silver or gold. Purple rounded cuffs piped red (all red for king's aides), side slit without piping closed by four buttons with silver or gold tasselled buttonhole lace at each button. Large silver silk waist sash with blue embroideries knotted on left hip. Red turnbacks. Silver or gold buttons.
• White breeches and black high cuffed boots.
• Black felt cocked hat covered with black velvet trimmed by a large scalloped silver lace. Large national cockade with silver embroidery strap. Drooping plume of mixed white and blue feather.
• Waistbelt covered with silver and blue lace, sword for infantry officers and sabre for cavalry officers.
• Red cloth schabraque and holster covers trimmed with a large silver or gold lace. Silver or gold royal cipher with laurels wreath embroidery in rear corners.

top

Flags