The Bataillon of Princes 1808-10
A wargamers guide

par Dean Carpenter.
Traduction en français par Vincent François.

ORGANISATION AND HISTORY

The battle of Austerlitz and Austria’s defeat brought about the final demise of the Holy Roman Empire. In its place Napoleon established the Rheinbund or Confederation of the Rhine amalgamating old states, reassigning territories and establishing new ones in order to create a `buffer zone’ between France and her enemies. Each of these states were required to provide a quota of men, based on its size, that could be called upon to serve in the Emperors armies. Among these were the small states of Schwarzburg, Lippe, Reuss and Waldeck.

The demand for troops to undertake Napoleon’s invasion of Spain in 1808 led to these four states combining their contingents to form a single battalion of six companies based on the new French model. This combined battalion came under the command of Major von Brockenburg from Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt and became known as the `Bataillon des Princes’ or the `Fursten Battalion’. It consisted of:

• 1st Company Schwarzburg-Sonderhausen (100 men)
• 2nd Company Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt (120 men)
• 3rd Company Lippe-Detmold (150 men)
• 4th Company Lippe-Buckeburg (150 men)
• 5th Company Reuss (150 men)
• 6th Company Waldeck (134 men)

Crossing the Pyrenes in April 1809 and joining the troops in Catalonia they formed a part of Amy’s 3rd Brigade of Verdier’s Division along with battalions from Berg and Wurzburg. The battalion became involved in the siege of Gerona, numerous small actions against the Spanish regular army and the inevitable escort duty, garrison duty and operations against the Spanish guerillas. These operations quickly took their toll on the battalion which was reduced to 757 men by May and a mere 281 by the December. The battalion was finally disbanded in June 1810 with its survivors eventually transferred to the 5th (Anhault and Lippe) and 6th (Schwarzburg, Reuss and Waldeck) Rheinbund Regiments.

UNIFORMS

One of the most interesting feature of this unit is the variety of uniforms worn by the various companies of the battalion.

1st Schwarzburg-Sonderhausen & 2nd Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt Companies - Russian green double breasted coat cut in a Prussian style with red collar, cuffs, turnbacks and green shoulder straps. They wore black leather shoulder belts and black gaiters. They wore Russian green trousers with a wide red stipe down the side. Both companies wore a French shako the Rudolstadt company with a rhombic shaped plate inscribed "FSR" and the Sonderhausen an octagonal plate marked "FSS". Officers wore hussar style boots with gold trim and tassels, gold shako trim, cords and epaulets.

3rd Lippe-Detmold & 4th Lippe-Buckeburg Companies - White coat in a French style with dark green collar, cuffs and turnbacks. They wore long white trousers. Initially they wore a high round hat with the left side turned up and a green plume. This however was replaced prior to arrival in Spain by a French shako with white metal plate and chinscales and green braid and pompom.

5th Reuss Company - White single breasted coat with yellow buttons with light blue collars turnbacks and cuffs. Light blue breeches with Hungarian style knots of red, yellow and black combined. They wore short black gaiters and a black shako with a round black plate with an engraved "R" and a red plume. Officers wore the same uniform with gold epaulets, shako trim and sabre knots.

6th Waldeck Company - White coats in a French style with dark blue cuffs, turnbacks, lapels, collar and shoulder straps. They wore long grey breeches with white gaiters. They wore a French shako with white braid, brass chinscales and a rhombic plate with the crest of Waldeck. Officers wore French epaulets, rank badges and shako with gold trim.

It should be noted several variations in uniform details are recorded. Added to this are the modifications made essential by the harsh conditions of the Spanish campaign and the difficulties of supply. Many troops were forced to rely on locally "acquired" replacements for equipment and uniforms.

FIGURES

There are a vast range of figures available both in 15mm and 25mm to cover the uniforms described above. The Schwarzburg companies can be represented by any figure representing French Line or Light infantry in the post 1812 uniform wearing long trousers. For example in 25mm Wargames Foundry’s NP 243, 244, 245 and 246 and NP 25 and 78 (mounted) for the officers. The Lippe companies can be represented by painting any French figures wearing long trousers in a pre 1812 style uniform. If you want to represent the round hat I would suggest figures representing Austrian Landwehr such as Foundry’s NP 178 and NP 179. Similar figures are also available from both Essex and Elite Miniatures. The Reuss company can be field with a small amount of conversion from any Austrian German or Hungarian figures wearing the shako. Suitable figures are readily available from numerous manufactures such as Wargames Foundry, Essex, Elite and Old Glory. The Waldeck company can best be represented by a French line or light infantry figure post 1812 wearing short gaiters. Again these are available from a number of manufacturers.

A unit the size of the Battalion of the Princes provides an interesting addition to any French army that can be fielded for relatively little cost in time and money. I hope that anyone setting out to establish a Battalion of the Princes of their own has as much enjoyment in selecting and painting the figures as I have had.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Funken, L & F Arms and Uniforms of the Napoleonic Wars part II, Wardlock Ltd, London, 1973.
• Haythornthwaite, P. J., Uniforms of the Peninsular War 1807-1814, Bladford Press Ltd, Poole, 1978.
• Haythornthwaite, P. J., The Napoleonic Source Book, Arms and armour Press, London, 1995.
• Kannik, P., Military Uniforms in Colour, Bladford Press Ltd, London, 1968.
• Nafziger, G.F., The Armies of Germany and the Confederation of the Rhine 1792 - 1815 Vol II, Baden and the Principalities of Lippe, Schwarzburg, Reuss and Waldeck, Nafziger Private Publication, 1992.