The Croatians
(1809-1814)
After
the 1805 campaign, Napoleon concluded peace with the Austrians with the signing
of the Treaty of Pressburg. This treaty ceded to France control of northern
Italy as well as Frioul, Istria, Dalmatia and the Cattaro Islands. With this
transfer of territory, a French administration was established on 7 July 1806
when General Marmont was assigned as Commander-in-Chief of Dalmatia.
This
transfer of "Austrian" territory was amongst the most hated clauses
of the treaty and one of the main causes of the 1809 campaign. Though the
Austrians threatened this territory in 1809, it remained in French hands and
the battle of Deutsch-Wagram eliminated any possibility of a military threat to
the French hold on the area.
When
the dust of the 1809 campaign settled, further territories were ceded to
France, including the home districts of six of Austria's "Grenz"
regiments.
The
German word "grenz" means border and these "grenzers" were
the border guards of Austria. They were formed into military colonies and were
held in a constant state of military preparedness because they were the first
line of defense against incursions of the dreaded Turks.
When
their territories were transferred to France, so too were the grenz regiments.
These regiments were organized along Austrian lines. Each regiment had two
battalions of six companies. There were no elite companies and, unlike regular
Austrian infantry regiments, no grenadier companies. However, they did have
regimental artillery companies.
Prior
to their absorption the staff and company organization of the grenz regiments
were as follows:
Staff
:
1
Oberst (Colonel)
1
Oberstleutnant
(Lieutenant
Colonel)
2
Major (Majors)
1
Catholic Chaplain
1
Regimental Auditor
1
Regimental Surgeon
1
Regimental Accountant
1
Regimental Adjutant
2
Battalion Adjutants
2
Senior Surgeons
6
Assistant Surgeons
6
Cadets
9
Quartermaster sergeants
1
Regimental Drummer
8
musicians
6
Standard bearers
1
Provost
6
Domestics or Servants
Companies:
8
Hauptleute (Captains)
4
Capitanlieutenants
12
Oberlieutenants (Senior lieutenants)
12
Unterlieutenants(Junior lieutenants)
12
Fahnrichs (Cadets)
18
Sergeant-majors
12
Fourierschutzen (Batmen)
24
Drummers
144
Corporals
24
Carpenters
2,160
Fusiliers
50
Artillerists
36
Domestics or Servants
2,516
Total
The
Decree of 1 January 1810 began the reorganization of these regiments along
French lines. Initially, all the senior officers were replaced with French
officers, but this eventually changed. However, the commanding officers were to
remain French throughout their short history in the French army.
As
there was already an established seniority amongst these regiments, the French
decided to retain that seniority and the regiments were renamed as follows:
Old
Name
Liccanner 1
Ottcanner 2
Ogulin 3
Sluin 4
1st
Banat 5
2nd
Banat 6
Initially
each regiment was organized with two battalions, but during 1812, the regiments
raised a 3rd and 4th battalion. The strength of a two battalion regiment was 60
officers and 2,680. These men were organized into the standard six company
organization for a French light battalion. They had a carabinier, a voltigeur
and four chasseur companies each. The regimental staff consisted of:1
1
Colonel
1
Colonel-major
2
Chefs de bataillon
1
Adjudant-major capitaine
1
Capitaine dleconomie
1
Sous-lieutenant deconomie
3
Auditors (Regimental judges)
2
Maitres de comptes Chief accountants)
1
Regimental adjudant
1
Regimental surgeon major
2
Battalion surgeon majors
1
Teneur des livres (Bookkeeper)
6
Cadets
3
Fourriers
6
Fourriers dleconomie
1
Drum major
6
Porte drapeaux (Flag bearers)
1
Chef de musique
7
Musicians
1
Provost
Each
battalion had:
6
Capitaine
6
Lieutenant
3
Lieutenants deconomie
6
Sous-lieutenants
3
Sous-lieutenants deconomie
6
Ensigns
6
Sergeant majors
6
Sergeant,majors deconomie
36
Sergeants
12
Sergeants deconomie
48
Corporals
48
Corporals deconomie
6
Carpenters
12
Drummers
1,080
Carabiniers, Voltigeurs and Chasseurs
24
Domestics or Servants
1,308
Total
The
artillery company remained and appears to have retained a strength of 50 men.
In addition, the old formation of the Grenz regiments had a very large staff of
non-military personnel, such as priests, schoolmasters, carpenters, masons and
foresters. The staff of "extra" personnel for the first four
regiments was 97 personnel, but in the 5th and 6th Regiments this staff
consisted of only 19 personnel.
In
order to train these units in the French tactical system a school was
established in Karlstadt and each regiment was to send six officers and two
non-commissioned officers.
As
full field units, these regiments never took to the field for the
French.
Instead, "Provisional" regiments were formed by breaking off single
battalions from each regiment and then paired with another battalion. The ist
Provisional Croatian Regiment was organized on 26 October 1811 by grouping the
first battalions of the 1st and 2nd Croatian Regiments. The 2nd Provisional
Regiment was formed on 25 February 1813 with the 1st battalions of the 3rd and
4th Regiments. The 3rd Provisional Regiment was organized on 21 September 1811
with the first battalions of the 5th and 6th Regiments.1
The
1st and 3rd Provisional Regiments joined the Grande Armee in its disastrous
invasion of Russian and fought very bravely. The 3rd Provisional Regiment
proved itself to be an extremely brave and hard fighting regiment when, at the
second battle of Polotsk, it attempted rather foolishly to outshine the 4th
Swiss Infantry Regiment. Despite that, one has to respect any regiment that would
argue with the Swiss who was better and then attempt to prove it in battle!
It
appears that a serious rivalry had arisen between these two regiments and that
only the battlefield could provide the appropriate arena for these two
regiments to show who was the braver. The only result of this display of
bravado was a serious beating for both when they attempted to take on the
entire Russian I Corps of Count Wittgenstein by themselves.
As
the 3rd Provisional Regiment withdrew to France, it was engaged at Berezina.
Here it lost two officers killed and 18 wounded. It appeared to be a hard
fighting unit with so many officers being hors de combat.
Though
details of their actions are scarce, the 1st Provisional Regiment was given 6
Crosses of the Legion d’honneur on 18 October by Napoleon. it fought at
Malo-Jaroslavetz and lost a chef de bataillon and one captain killed outright,
and 3 captains and 8 lieutenants mortally wounded. It was obviously in the
thick of the fighting.
When
the ist Provisional Regiment returned from Russia it had only 22 officers and
31 non-commissioned officers and men. The campaign was slightly kinder to the
3rd Provisional Regiment and it returned with 16 officers and 141
non-commissioned officers and men. These men were absorbed into their parent
units and the provisional regiments were never re-raised.
The
2nd Provisional Regiment, raised in 1813, was sent to Germany where it became
part of the garrison of Glogau. When the city was besieged they were shut in
and remained there until the city capitulated. The regiment was returned to the
Austrians who promptly disbanded it.2
There
appears to have been a 4th Provisional Regiment raised in August 1813. It
appears to haive fought with Eugene, but its fate is unknown. When the Croatian
provinces were returned to Austria what remained of the Croatian regiments were
disbanded.
Croatian
Infantry Uniforms
Prior
to their transfer to the French army, the grenz regiments wore brown jackets
with cuffs, collars and turnbacks of their regimental colors. Their breeches
were light blue and had yellow Hungarian knots on the thighs. They wore a black
Austrian double billed shako with the Austrian cockade and pompon, both of
which were yellow with a black center. The regimental colors were:
Regiment Color
Licanner Violet
Ottcanner Violet
Ogulin Orange
Sluin Orange
1st
Banat Crimson
2nd
Banat Crimson
When
the regiments were transferred to French service, they abandoned the
traditional Austrian uniforms and adopted a French style uniform with a green
jacket and breeches. The voltigeurs had green epaulets, the carabiniers wore
red epaulets and the chasseurs had shoulder straps of the regimental color. The
cuffs, collar and turnbacks were also of the regimental colors.
Regiment Color
1st Orange
2nd Crimson
3rd Light yellow
4th Light Brown
5th Sky Blue
6th Light Green
Their
leather work was white. They wore a black shako with a white rhombic plaque
bearing a hunting horn. The carabiniers, wore a red plume and the voltigeurs
wore a yellow over red plume. The chasseurs wore pompons, but if they were the
st andard French fusilier company colors or green like the French chasseurs is
not known. The remainder of their equipment was like that of the French.
The Croatian Hussars
The
Croatian Hussar Regiment was, initially, the idea of General Bertrand. He
proposed the raising of a regiment to Napoleon, who was pleased with the idea
and, seeing the tremendous lack of cavalry in the Grande Armee as a result of
the disastrous 1812 campaign, was quick to issue the Decree of 23 February
1813. This decree ordered the raising of a regiment with three squadrons. Each
squadron was to have two companies. The regimental staff consisted of:
1
Colonel
3
Chefs dlescadron
3
Adjudants -majors
1
Quartier-maitre
1
Paymaster
1
Chirurgien
1
Chirurgien aide-major
2
Chirurgien sous-aides
3
Adjudant sous-officiers
1
Veterinarian
1
Brigadier Trumpeter
1
Master tailor
1
Master spurmaker
1
Master cobbler
1
Master saddlemaker
22
Total
of:
1
Capitaine
1
Lieutenant
2
Sous-lieutenant
1
Marechal des logis chef
4
Marechaux des logis
1
Brigadier fourrier
8
Brigadiers
2
Trumpeters
92
Hussars
112
Total
The
organization of the regiment began on 5 March 1813 and it consisted of a
totally volunteer force. Its organization went so well that serious
consideration was given to raising a second regiment, but this idea was not
carried through.
When
raised the Croatian Hussar Regiment appears to have consisted of 69 officers
and 1,515 non-commissioned officers and men, or a total of 1,584 men and 1,509
horses.1
As
the 1813 campaign raged in Germany this unit was sent to France for training.
It went to Lyon and does not appear to have become involved in any combat. It
was one of the many units covered by the Decree of 25 December 1813. It was
passed to the Duc d'Abrantes along with two battalions to be temporarily
organized into the 4th Provisional Croatian Infantry Regiment, only to be
finally disbanded on 23 January 1814.
The
hussars were stripped of much of their equipment on 26 November 1813. A total
of 639 of their horses were passed to the 31st Chasseur a Cheval Regiment and
208 were passed to the 1st Hussar Regiment.
Their
uniform consisted of a blue dolman, gray pelisse with white braid, and gray
breeches. The fur on the pelisse was black. Their cummerbund was red with white
stripes. Their shako was black felt with a silver diamond shaped plaque
surmounted by a red cockade and a red pompon The shako had no cords. Their
belts were white and hung from the left shoulder so as to carry their musketoon
on their right side.
The
saddle consisted of a sheep skin with a purple shabraque that extended back to
the end of the portmanteau, having a square corner and no border or trim."
Croatian Pandours
The
Croatian Pandours were a small, internal police force raised by the Decree of
17 March 1810. This was a mounted formation organized in three battalions. Each
battalion was organized with nine companies or eighteen squads. It is not
likely that there was an elite company.
The
title "pandour" indicates that this was considered to be a
"light" unit whose primary function was skirmish warfare. The unit
was spread around the countryside in many small garrisons. As a result it never
took to the field as a single battle formation. When raised its staff consisted
of:
1
Colonel
3
Chefs de bataillon
1
Quartier-maitre Capitaine
Each
company consisted of:
1
Capitaine
1
Lieutenant
1
Sous-lieutenant
3
Arambassas
6
Sergeants
36-48
Pandours
The
strength of these companies appears to have eventually been raised to around
150 men, so the 36 pandours must have been raised to about 138.
The
limited sources on this unit make no mention of combat for the French and it
appears to have confined its combat to skirmishes with the Turks and brigands.
Its fate is unclear, but it is most likely that it was dissolved with the rest
of the French units when the Austrians regained control over Croatia.
The
uniform of the pandours consisted of a red pelisse with silver braid and black
lambs wool trim. Their dolman was brown and had no braid, but its cuffs and
collar were red. Their breeches were blue and their leather work was black.
Their fur cap or 11opanquell was black and had a red bag similar to those worn
on the busby.
Their
shabraque was red with white trim and the saddle was black lambskin. The
officers wore the rank insignia of the French light cavalry and carried sabers
and pistols. The pandours carried a musket, pistols and the "khangiar.11
This "khangiar" was a native knife that resembled more of a curved
short sword or a "ghurkall knife and was worn thrust behind the belt in
front.
Engagements
of the Croatians
ist
Provisional Croatian Regiment
Ostrowno
(Russia) July
26, 1812
Malo-Jaroslavetz
(Russia) October 24, 1812
Orcha
(Russia) November
3, 1812
Krasnoe
(Russia) November
18, 1812
Berezina
(Russia) November
28, 1812
2nd
Provisional Croatian Regiment
Wurschen
(Saxony) May 21,
1813
3rd
Provisional Croatian Regiment
Polotsk
I (Russia) August
18, 1812
Polotsk
II (Russia) October
18, 1812
Berezina
(Russia) November
28, 1812
NAFZIGER
Albanian Regiment
1807-1814
The
Arrete of 25 December 1807 established
the Albanian Regiment with a
total
of three battalions, each organized with nine companies and a staff of
14
Officers and an effective strength of 3,254. On 13 September 1807 General
C.
Berthier had begun organizing the indigenous troops found on the Ionian
islands.
Initially he formed two battalions of 900 men each. These battalions were formed
with Greeks, Albanians, Italians and Dalmatians.
At the
same
time he formed the Bataillon Septinsulaire with 6 companies, each of 150
men.
The staff of the Albanian regiment was established with:
1
Colonel
1
Major
3
Chefs de bataillon
8
Adjudant-majors
1
Chirurgien-major
2
Chirurgiens aides-major
3
Chirurgiens sous-aides
3
Adjudant sous-officiers
1
Baggagemaster
1
Drum major
1
Chef de musique
7
Musicians
1
Master tailor
1
Master cobbler
1
Master armorer
1
Master gaitermaker
Each
company was organized with:
1
Capitaine
1
Lieutenant
1
Sous-lieutenant
1
Sergeant-major
4
Sergeants
1
Fourrier
8
Corporals
2
Drummers
47
Grenadiers or
104
Fusiliers
66
Total for grenadier company
123
Total for fusilier companies
The
Arrete of 25 March 1808 raised the Albanian Pandours or the Chasseurs a Pied
Grecs was raised with eight companies of 100 men each. Three of these companies
were elite companies. The battalion was commanded by a chef de bataillon and
had a total of 951 men.1
The
Decree of 1 July 1809 combined the Albanian Regiment and the Albanian Pandours
into a single six battalion regiment. At the time of this merger, the new
regiment had a total of 160 officers and 2,934 men. Each battalion was
organized with five fusilier companies and an elite company.
During
the month of October 1809 the islands of Zante, Cephalonia, and
Ithaca
were attacked by the British. They were defended solely by the Albanian
companies and a few men drawn from the French and other regiments serving in
the Ionian Islands. These troops fought valiantly until they were overwhelmed
by superior numbers of English. In contrast, one battalion was sent to take
part in the siege of Saint-Maure, under the command of General Camus. Despite
various precautions, the entire battalion of 34 officers and 789 men, save the
13 in prison, deserted to the enemy-1
The
five remaining battalions of the regiment protested the disrepute into which
they had fallen because of this, but were never given the opportunity to
restore their prestige. That prowess does not appear to have been very much, as
by 1813, there was a major reorganization of the regiment to account for the
heavy desertion. The regiment now consisted of two battalions and a general
staff.
The
Decree of 6 November 1813 set the staff of the regiment with an
establishment
of:
1
Colonel
2
Chefs de bataillon
2
Adjudants-majors
2
French officers to direct the regimental administration
1
Quartier-maitre
1
Chirurgien-major
1
Chirurgien aide-major
1
Priest
4
Adjudant sous-officiers
15
Total
Each
of the five fusilier and one elite companies were organized with the following:
1
Capitaine
1
Lieutenant
1
Sous-lieutenant
1
Sergeant-major
4
Sergeants
1
Fourrier
8
Corporals
84
Fusiliers
2
Drummers
103
Total 2
This
gave the regiment a total strength of 1,251, suggesting that even garrison duty
was too much for the Albanians.
With
the end of the Napoleonic wars in 1814, Louis XVIII offered the regiment to the
service of any of the Allied countries that would have it. General Campbell
took them into British service only long enough to disband them. The pending
disbandment was announced on 21 June 1814 but the regiment seems to have taken
things into its own hands and rapidly faded away of its own accord.
Engagements
of the Albanian Regiment
Albanian
Regiment
Defense
of Corfu 15 June 1810
1. Boppe, L'Albanie et Napoleon, pg 244.
2. Boppe, L'Albanie et Napoleon, pg 262.