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| Jager zu Pferde kompanie standard, ab. 1700 (averse) State Trophy Collection, Armemuseum (Stockholm) |
According to the Mariusz Balcerek’s materials, Courland military forces in 1700-01 consisted of 6 mounted & 2 foot coys (see details here http://kurlandia.wordpress.com/2011/03/03/sily-zbrojne/#comments):
- 1 kompania Garde du Corps,
- 2 kompanie Garde Dragoner,
- 2 kompanie Lehnsreiter (from Kurlandia & Semigalia?),
- 1 kompania Jäger zu Pferde,
- 2 foot kompanie.
Some of the cavalry troops took part in the 1700-01 campaigns (allied BO’s include “Duke’s Guards” or “Duke’s Cuirassiers”) while the foot evidently stayed in the garrisons of Mitau & Bausk.
I found 3 Courland colours in the Swedish State Trophy Collection (STC; Digital Museum site):
- - White infantry colour with red lion
- - White cavalry standard with gold lion
- - Green cavalry standard with horn
The green one is attributed by M. Balcerek as Jager zu Pferde
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| Company colour of Duke Frederick Casimir of Courland Foot regiment on Dutch service, 1672-74 (reverse is the same) State Trophy Collection, Armemuseum (Stockholm) |
Arne Danielsson stated that there were 4 infantry colours & 4 white cavalry standards of the above mentioned types in the STC. He attributed them as colours of the Courland troops (foot & dragoon regiments) raised in 1672-73 for Dutch service. He paid attention at the lion with a sword & proposed that it’s Friesland’s lion (Friesland province funded Courland troops). I propose that the standards belonged to the cavalry, not dragoon, regiment. It consisted of 4 coys (the same number the standards in STC) & was disbanded in 1674. The dragoon regiment stayed on the Dutch service & became William III’s Life Dragoons.
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| Company colour of Duke Frederick Casimir of Courland Cavalry regiment on Dutch service, 1672-74 (averse) State Trophy Collection, Armemuseum (Stockholm) |
The standard from STC (ST 30:200) has motto “Vigilanter et constanter” (= Watchfully and constantly). The standard from Danielsson’s article (ST 30:198,2) is without motto.
I don’t think that the infantry colours & cavalry standards were taken into the field by Courland troops in 1700-01. I believe that Swedes captured them in a zeughause.
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| Jager zu Pferde kompanie standard, ab. 1700 (reverse) State Trophy Collection, Armemuseum (Stockholm) |
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| Company colour of Duke Frederick Casimir of ourland Cavalry regiment on Dutch service, 1672-74 (reverse) According to A. Danielsson regimental colour was the same (with Courland coat of arms on both sides) State Trophy Collection, Armemuseum (Stockholm) |
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| Company colour of Duke Frederick Casimir of ourland Cavalry regiment on Dutch service, 1672-74 (averse) Illustration is taken from A. Danielsson's article. The standard is without motto State Trophy Collection, Armemuseum (Stockholm) |
Wohoo!! Fascinating and really helpful stuff! Of course I will mention this on my blog as well. Is there a better picture available on the foot regiment with the Frisian flag?
ОтветитьУдалитьLinks to the images on the digital Armemuseum collection site:
ОтветитьУдалитьcavalry standard
http://www.digitaltmuseum.se/things/fana/S-AM/AM.084263?pos=134
infantry flag
http://www.digitaltmuseum.se/things/fana/S-AM/AM.084265?pos=135
Images in the Danielsson's article are of a poor quality
On my weblog I had posted a painting of Hoynck van Papendrecht and you can see some dragoons in the background as well, the ones with the "sleeping heats looking caps" The uniforms are based on a plate made by (probably) Romeyn de Hooghe on the siege of Naarden.
ОтветитьУдалитьThank you! I found some more standards of Courland Horse regiment on Digital museum site. I will place them soon.
ОтветитьУдалитьWhat makes you think that these were cavalry standards? Thge dutch republic both had cavalry and dragoons from Courland in service in 1672. They even were in Groningen, my hometown, and they took part in the succesfull siege of Coevorden.
ОтветитьУдалитьThere are 2 reasons. First, dragoons usually had guidons (single or swallow-tailed) instead of standards. Second, Courland Dragoons stayed on Dutch service while Courland Horse cancelled the contract & it's cadres returned home. Evidently they took the regimental ammunition. The above-mentioned white standards were taken by Swedes in Courland, so I propose that they are ex-1672 Horse
ОтветитьУдалитьOk...so the black and white flag should have a swallow tail? I am trying to identify some of the troops on a painting on Coevorden 1672, so that could be a help.
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