Principalities of Schwarzburg, Reuß and Waldeck, the 6th Rheinbund Regiment

Sources
Plates caption

Schwarzburg principalities
Schwarzburg troops

Reuß principalities
Reuß troops

Waldeck principality
Waldeck troops

Schwarzburg principalities

During the Napoleonic era, the Schwarzburg territories were divided between two states: Schwarzburg-Sonderhausen and Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt. They joined the Rhine confederation by the treaty of Warsaw signed on 18 April 1807.
The principality of Sonderhausen, with Sonderhausen as capital city, was ruled by Prince Günther-Friedrich-Karl I. The strength of the contingent for his state was set to 325 men.
The principality of Rudolstadt, with Rudolstadt as capital city, was ruled by Prince Ludwig-Friedrich II until his death in April 1807. Friedrich- Günther succeed to his father but being only ten years old with was left to his mother Karoline-Luise of Hessen_Hombourg as regent. The strength of the contingent for his state was also set to 325 men.
The Schwarzburg principalities leaved the Confederation to join the Allied side in November 1813.

The Rheinbund contingent

The contingents from each principality are composed of two companies that are amalgamated in a single battalion. This battalion takes parts in the 1807 campaign.
In 1808 each principality raises a single ad-hoc company that is sent to Metz in France to be reequipped and reorganized on French system

and amalgamated with the contingents of Lippe, Reuß and Waldeck to form the famous “battalion of Confederated Princes”. This battalion is posted to Peninsular theatre of operation from April 1809.
In parallel, on April 2^nd 1809 the Emperor decides the creation of six infantry regiments gathering the troops of the small German states. The contingent of Schwarzburg, three companies of Rudolstadt and three of Sonderhausen, forms the 1^st battalion of the 6^th Rheinbund Regiment that takes part to the Austrian campaign.
He is posted in Spain from March 1810. In June the battalion of Confederated Princes is disbanded and remaining strength absorbed by their national units. At the end of the year, the Schwarzburger battalion is reorganized in four companies, two from Rudolstadt and two from Sonderhausen.
At the beginning of 1811 the regiment returns in Germany to takes part to the invasion of Russia. Its remnants are then posted to the garrison of Danzig during the campaign of Germany in 1813. The same year, each principality raises two new companies that are posted to the garrison of Magdeburg.

Fusiliers

• Dark green single breasted coat closed by a row of nine buttons. Scarlet collar. Green shoulder straps piped red (Rudolstadt) or plain green (Sonderhausen). Red piping on front of coat (Rudolstadt) or no piping (Sonderhausen). Red rounded cuffs. Green turnbacks trimmed with red lace and plain horizontal pockets. Brass buttons.
  From 1809, double breasted coat with same ornaments.
  Suhr depicts a dress that was maybe the dress of 1813 levies, dark green French cut coat with green lapels piped red closed to the waist, green fringed epaulets with red crescent, red cuffs with green flaps piped red.
• Grey or green jersey breeches. Black short gaiters and black shoes.
  In field dress, grey or green cloth trousers.
  Grey overcoat.
• Black felt shako (of French or Austrian type) with black leather top and base band, bearing a brass octagonal plate stamped with letters FSR (Rudolstadt) or brass rhomboid plate stamped with letters FSS (Sonderhausen). White cords and flounders. Red plume over national cockade. Brass chinscales and black leather peak.
• Black leatherwork. Black leather cartridge pouch without plate. Infantry sabre (of French or Prussian type) with single bar brass hilt and black leather scabbard with brass fittings.

Grenadiers

Elite companies, if any, distinction are unknown.

NCOs

Troopers dress with rank laces :

Officers

Troopers dress with tails. Gold thread rank epaulets.

Black felt cocked hat or shako with gold ornaments and lace.

Drummers and hornists

Troopers dress with yellow lace on collar. Red swallow nests trimmed with yellow lace. Drum with brass shell and red counterhoops or copper horn with yellow cord.

The deutsches Bund contingent

At the beginning of 1814 the principalities use their veterans released from the garrison of Danzig or from Allied prisoners camps to raise new units.
Each raises two line infantry companies and a single Landwehr company. Rudolstadt also raises a voluntary jaegers company.
The line companies are organised into an infantry battalion posted to the 3rd German federal corps

that takes part to the fights in the North of France.

Line units

Same dress as before.

Irregular units

Rudolstadt Landwehr

Dress unknown.

Sonderhausen Landwehr

Line troops dress with yellow facings.
Black felt hat with left brim upturned bearing a brass Landwehr cross.

Flags

Schwarzburg troops were never issued with a flag.

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Reuß principalities

During the Napoleonic era, the Reuß territories were divided between five principalities: Reuß-Greiz (ruler Heinrich XIII), Reuß-Schleiz-Gera (ruler Heinrich XLII), Reuß-Lobenstein (ruler Heinrich LXXII) et Reuß-Ebersdorf (ruler Heinrich LI). The two main lines of the house were Reuß-Greiz, the elder line, and Reuß-Schleiz-Gera the younger. They all joined the Rhine confederation by the treaty of Warsaw signed on 18 April 1807. The strength of their contingent was set to 450 men.
The Reuß principalities leaved the Confederation to join the Allied side in November 1813.

The Rheinbund contingent

The contingents of the five principalities forms three infantry companies that are initially posted to the guard of French west coast..
In 1808 the contingent detaches a single ad-hoc company that is sent to Metz in France to be reequipped and reorganized on French system

and amalgamated with the contingents of Lippe, Schwarzbourg and Waldeck to form the famous “battalion of Confederated Princes”.
On April 2nd 1809 the Emperor decides the creation of six infantry regiments gathering the troops of the small German states. The three companies contingent of Reuß, become 10^th, 11^th and 12^th company of the new 6^th Rheinbund Regiment that takes part to the Austrian campaign.
He is then posted in Spain from March 1810. The remaining strength of the disbanded battalion of Confederated Princes is absorbed by the Rheinbund regiment.
At the beginning of 1811 the regiment returns in Germany to takes part to the invasion of Russia. Its remnants are then posted to the garrison of Danzig during the campaign of Germany in 1813.

Fusiliers

• White Austrian cut single breasted coat closed by a row of nine buttons. Sky blue collar. White shoulder straps. Sky blue rounded cuffs. Sky blue single turnback laced blue. Plain vertical pockets. Bras buttons.
• Sky blue jersey breeches with yellow side lace and Hungarian knot. Black short gaiters.
  In field dress, sky blue or grey cloth trousers.
• Black felt shako with black leather top and base band, bearing a brass oval plate stamped with letter R. Yellow cords and flounders. Red plume over national cockade. Brass chinscales and black leather peak.
• White leatherwork. Black leather cartridge pouch without plate. French type infantry sabre with single bar brass hilt and black leather scabbard with brass fittings, yellow sabre strap.

Elite company

R.Knötel states that only the first company, with elite status, wears a red plume.

NCOs

Troopers dress with yellow or gold on sky blue backing rank laces :

Officers

Troopers dress with lon tails. Gold thread rank epaulets.

Gilded gorget bearing prince cipher. White leather shoulder belt and sabre or sword with gilded hilt and black leather scabbard with gilded fittings, gold sabre strap. Black felt cocked hat or shako with gold ornaments and lace.
In undress, dark grey single breasted coat.

Drummers

Troopers dress with yellow laces on collar and cuffs. Sky blue swallow nests trimmed with yellow lace. Sky blue livery lace worn in buttonholes in front of coat and chevrons on both arms. Breeches with yellow-red-black side lace and Hungarian knots. Yellow-red-black cords and flounders. Drum with brass shell and counterhoops painted with black, red and yellow triangles.

Sappers

Troopers dress with sappers insignia (sky blue crown over crossed axes) on both arms. Black fur colback with sky blue bad laces yellow, red plume and yellow-red-black cords and flounders. Brown leather apron.

Musicians

Sky blue coat with white collar and cuffs laced yellow bearing yellow-red-black buttonhole laces. White breeches with yellow-red-black side lace and Hungarian knots and black leather Hungarian boots with yellow trim and tassel. Black felt cocked hat with red over white plume.

Train driver

Troopers dress in dark grey cloth. Sky blue collar, cuffs and turnbacks trim. Light buff riding breeches and black leather riding boots. Black felt with upturned left brim bearing the infantry shako plate.

The deutsches Bund contingent

At the beginning of 1814 the principalities use their veterans released from the garrison of Danzig or from Allied prisoners camps to raise new units.
They raise together two line infantry companies, two Landwehr companies and a voluntary jaeger detachment organised into an infantry battalion.
This battalion takes no part in the campaign of 1814.

Line units

Same dress as before. Officers replace their (French) gorget with a gold silk sash interwoven with red and black thread.

Irregular units

Landwehr

Dress unknown. A sketch of Vinkhuizen collection depicts a trooper with dark blue Litewka with sky blue facings.

Flags

Reuß troops were never issued with a flag. R.Knötel shows a sergeant bearing a company pennant : pennant with three horizontal stripes yellow-red-black from top, on a halberd with black shaft.

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Waldeck principality

During the Napoleonic era, the principality of Waldeck, with Arolsen as capital city, was ruled by Prince Friedrichl I. He joined the Rhine confederation by the treaty of Warsaw signed on 18 April 1807 and the strength of the contingent for his state was set to 400 men.
The principality leaved the Confederation to join the Allied side in November 1813.

The Rheinbund contingent

The Waldeck contingent is composed of three infantry companies that take no part in the 1807 campaign.
In 1808 an single ad-hoc company is raised and sent to Metz in France to be reequipped and reorganized on French system

and amalgamated with the contingents of Lippe, Reuß and Schwarzburg to form the “battalion of Confederated Princes”. This battalion is posted to Peninsular theatre of operation from April 1809.
On April 2nd 1809 the Emperor decides the creation of the 6^th Rheinbund Regiment and the Waldeck contingent become 7^th, 8^th and 9^th company of this Regiment that takes part to the Austrian campaign.
He is then posted in Spain from March 1810. The remaining strength of the disbanded battalion of Confederated Princes is absorbed in the other companies.
At the beginning of 1811 the regiment returns in Germany to takes part to the invasion of Russia. Its remnants are then posted to the garrison of Danzig during the campaign of Germany in 1813

Fusiliers

• White cloth coat closed to the waist. Dark blue collar. Dark blue shoulder straps. Dark blue lapels. Dark blue rounded cuffs or dark blue Swedish cuffs bearing two buttons. Dark blue turnbacks. Brass buttons.
  Lapels are often shown ending slightly above waist.
  Cuffs are sometimes shown with white flaps piped blue.
• Grey or white jersey breeches. Black short gaiters.
  In field dress, grey cloth trousers.
• Black felt shako with black leather top and base band, bearing a brass rhomboid plate stamped letters FW. Yellow cords and flounders. Yellow tufted wool pompon over national cockade. Brass chinscales and black leather peak.
• White leatherwork. Black leather cartridge pouch bearing a brass eight pointed crowned star plate between letters FW. French type infantry sabre with single bar brass hilt and black leather scabbard with brass fittings, yellow sabre strap.

Grenadiers

Red fringed epaulet, plume, cords and flounders.

NCOs

Troopers dress with yellow or gold on dark blue backing rank laces :

Officers

Troopers dress with long tails. Gold thread rank epaulets. White leather shoulder belt and sabre or sword with gilded hilt and black leather scabbard with gilded fittings, gold sabre strap. Black felt cocked hat or shako with gold ornaments and lace.
In undress, dark blue single breasted coat piped white.

Drummers

Troopers dress with yellow lace on collar and cuffs. Dark blue swallow nests trimmed with yellow lace. Drum with brass shell and red counterhoops.

The deutsches Bund contingent

At the beginning of 1814 the principality has to raise new units. His contingent is combined with the one from Lippe in the Waldeck-Lippe regiment
This regiment is composed of a line infantry battalion (three companies from Detmold, one from Schaumburg and two from Waldeck), a Landwehr battalion (two companies from Detmold, one from Waldeck and one mixed Schaumburg-Waldeck) and one voluntary jaegers company. It is formed in February 1814 and posted in the 5th German federal corps

that takes part in the campaign in France nor to the Hundred Days campaign.

Line units

Same dress as before.

Irregular units

Landwehr

Dress unknown.

Voluntary jaegers

Dark green double breasted coat closed by two rows of buttons. .light green collar. Light green cuffs bearing two buttons. Scarlet turnbacks. Brass buttons.
Grey breeches and black short gaiters.
Prussian shako.
Prussian jaegers equipment.

Flags

Waldeck troops were never issued with a flag.

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Sources

Contemporary documents (XIXe siècle)

AUGSBURGER BILDERSERIE, sur le site http:// www.napoleon-online.de (Schwarzburg et Reuß)
FICHIER DE LA COLLECTION CARL, planche R (Waldeck)
TRADITION MAGAZINE
• « Le manuscrit de WEILAND », Hors série n°4, 1998
• « Le bourgeois de HAMBURG », Hors série n°5, 1998 (Schwarzburg)

Modern documents

BRIGADE UNIFORMTAFELN, n°11 “6.Rheinbund-Regiment 1809-1813”, P.BUNDE, privately published
DEUTSCHE UNIFORMEN, H.KNÖTEL und M.LETZIUS, Editions de la Belle Alliance, 2004
GROSSE UNIFORMENKUNDE, R.KNÖTEL
• Band II Blatt 28
LES UNIFORMES DE L’ARMEE FRANÇAISE, Tome V « Garde nationale, troupes alliées », LIENHART ET R.HUMBERT, 1990
NAPOLEONIC UNIFORMS, Vol. III, J.R. ELTING, Emperor’s Press 2000
COLLECTION J-P PERCONTE
• Série de dessins de R.KNÖTEL (collection privée allemande).
• Série de dessins de P.TOSCHE (collection privée allemande).
• Série de dessins du Musée de l’Armée de Rastatt

Books and magazines

ARMIES OF GERMANY AND THE CONFEDERATION OF THE RHINE, VOL II, G.F.NAFZIGER
HANDBUCH DER UNIFORMKUNDE, H.KNÖTEL et H.SIEG, MEISENHEIM 1960
TRADITION MAGAZINE
• « Le 6^e régiment de la division des Princes de la Confédération », A.Pigeard, n°143 - 1999
ZEITSCHRIFT FÜR HEERESKUNDE,
• « Die Uniformen des reußisches Kontingents Berg 1809-1813) », F.HERMANN 1979 (Reuß)
• « Eine Bilderhandschrift aus dem Kriege in Spanien 1809-1813 », F.HERMANN 1989(Waldeck)

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Plates caption

Rb06 – 6th Rheinbund regiment : Schwarzburg companies

1. Schwarzburg-Sonderhausen companies: fusilier 1807-1809 (a)(Weiland). Fusilier 1810-1812 in full dress (b) and field dress (c)(Francfort Ms.). Officer 1807-1809 (d)(Weiland).
2. Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt companies: fusilier 1807-1809 (a)(Augsburg series), 1810-1812 (b) and 1812-1813 (c)(Suhr). Officer 1807-1809 (d)( Augsburg series) and 1812-1813 (e)(Suhr).

Rb24 – Schwarzburg : Musicians and Landwehr – Reuß : infantry companies of 6th Rheinbund regiment

1. Schwarzburg companies, musicians: master-drummer (a), drummer (b), hornist (c) and musician (d) in 1812 (H.Boisselier).
2. Fusilier of Schwarzburg Landwehr in 1814 (H.Knötel).
3. Reuß companies : sergeant in 1809 (a)( Augsburg series) and fusilier in 1812 (b)(Weiland). Fusilier in field dress (c)(R.Knötel). Lieutenant in 1809 (d)(Augsburg series) and captain in 1812 (e)(Weiland).

Rb25 – Reuß principality : musicians, auxiliary units and Landwehr

1. Officer in field dress.
2. Sapper (a), master drummer (b), drummer (c) and musician (d) in 1812 (R.Knötel).
3. Train driver (a) and physician (b).
4. Landwehr fusilier in 1814.

Rb26 - Waldeck principality : infantry companies, musicians and Landwehr

1. Infantry companies : fusilier 1807-1812 (a)(Weiland) and 1812-1814 (b). Fusilier (c) and officer (d) in Spain (Frankfurt ms.). Officer in undress (e)(R.Knötel).
2. Musicians : master-drummer (a) (Frankfurt ms.), drummer (b)(Rey coll.) and musician (c) (Frankfurt ms.).
3. Voluntary jaeger (a)(H.Knötel) and physician (b) in 1814.

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