Bavarian army at the end of WSS (1 July 1714)

At the end of the War of Spanish Succession Bavarian army composed of 3 squadrons of Guard cavalry, 4 regiments of Cuirassiers, 2 of Infantry & a Bombardier company (see details on their composition below):

Bavarian infantry regulation of 1754

Verordnung Nach welcher die Churfürstl. Bayrische Infanterie die Exercitien zu machen, und sich sowohl im Feld, als in Besatzung zu verhalten hat. München: Vötter, 1754. 415 S. (link)

Bavarian cuirassier regiments 1701-1704

Gemeine of Arco Cuirassiers, 1702
by Anton Hoffman

At the outbreak of the War of Spanish Succession Bavaria had 3 cuirassier regiments: General de Cavalerie Johan Baptist Graf von Arco, GFML Graf von Thurn & Taxis (La Tour) & GWM Karl Johan Lothar von Wieckel von Wackerstein. Each regiment was of 12 companies in 6 squadrons. A company was of 75 men: 1 Rittmeister, 1 Oberleutnant, 1 Unterleutnant, 1 Kornett, 1 Wachtmeister, 1 Fourier, 3 Korporal, 1 Trompeter (Leibcompagnie +1), 1 Feldscherer, 1 Fahnensattler, 1 Fahnenschmied, 62 Gemeine. In April of 1701 cuirassier regiments were below authorized strength: Arco – 276, Wieckel – 275 & La Tour - 268. But by the opening of the hostilities in 1702 they reached the full staff. La Tour Cuirassier twice changed inhabers in 1702-03. First in 1702 it became obrist Gabriel Ferdinand Graf von Verita, then on 15 September 1703 – obrist Bartholomaus Graf von Costa.

The fourth cuirassier regiment was raised on 15 May 1702. Its inhaber became obrist Beit Heinrich Morits Graf von Wolframsdorff. Existing cuirassier & dragoon companies were reduced on 8 & 12 men respectively to create the new regiment, so now Bavarian cuirassier regiments became of 780 men.

Composition of the Bavarian cuirassier regiments on 1 January 1703 (list of companies):

Bavarian troops at Vienna, 1683

Bavarian infantry at Wien, 1683
from Munich's work (link)
(Bibliotheque nationale de France)

Kurfurst Max Emanuel agreed to provide the Emperor an Auxiliary Corps of 8,200 men: 4,800 of infantry & 3,400 of cavalry. Corps commander was Generalfeldmarschall-Leutnant Degenfeld. It composed of the following troops:
Infantrie (4): Degenfeld, Steinau, Preysing, Berlo (later Mercy) - each regiment was of 6 coys 200 men each (see more, link). First Perouse Foot was to participate in the campaign, but on 15 of July it was replaced by Preysing.
Reiterie (4): Bartls (Munster), Haraucort (Arco), Beauvau, Schutz - each regiment was of 6 coys of 101 men (see more link 1 & link 2).
Dragoner, two half (halb) regiments or squadrons: Red & Blue, each of 4 coys
Artilerie: 26 regimental pieces, 20 field pieces & 2 mortars with 1,022 horses & 287 men
Cavalry was divided into 2 brigades:
- GWM von Munster: Munster & Schutz, Blaue Dragoner
- GWM Marquis von Beauvau: Beauvau & Arco, Rote Dragoner

Source: Staudinger's Geschichte der kurbayerischen Heers unter Kurfurst Max II. B. 1. S. 159-161

Uniforms of the Allied army in Flanders in 1748 by H. Bleckwenn. Part 1: Bavarians

Hans Bleckwenn wrote a series of articles about uniforms of the Allied army in Flanders in 1748 basing on the set of paintings by David Morier. They were published in 1960s in Zeitschrift fur Heereskunde. Each article contains a description of the uniforms & b/w detailed figures made after Morier’s paintings. They are extremely interesting because only a few of Morier's images are published or available on-line, the most of them are still "unexplored". The first article is about Bavarian troops.

See other materials by H. Bleckwenn about D. Morier plates with Allied army in Flanders in 1748 (link)

First battle of Hochstadt, 20 Sept 1703 (Bavarian sight)

Plan der Schlacht bei Höchstädt zwischen der alliierten und der französischen Armee, 20. September 1703
Click to enlarge
(Statsarchive Marburg)

I wrote about Austian relation by Styrum (click) & participation of the Saxon troops in the first battle of Hochstadt on 20 Sept 1703 (click). Now a part about the battle from Bavarian source: Staudinger K. Geschichte des kurbayrischen Heeres unter Kurfurst Max. II Emanuel 1680-1726. Halbband 2. Munchen, 1905. S. 976-982. 

Bavarian Prinz Philipp Karabiniers, Feb 1705 (creation of the regiment)

Karabinier vom Regiment Prinsz Philipp 1704-1710
by A. Hoffman
(Taken from Nec Plurubus Impar site)

Remnant of the Bavarian cavalry survived after defeat at the Bleinheim were combined in Autumn 1704 near Mons into a single regiment called Prinz Philipp Karabiniers. It consisted of 6 coys, 64 men each (see details below). First regimental commander was obrist Jean Baptiste Josephe Bouset de Montauban, a Frenchman on Bavarian service. Previously he was a Rittmeister in Bavarian Karabiniers a cheval & Arco Kurassierregiment. By 23 February 1705 the regiment was of 344 men & 320 horses. 

Etat des Prinz Philipp Karabiniers-Regiment zu Pferd, 23 Feb 1705 

Source: Darstellungen aus der bayerischen Kriegs- und Heeresgeschichte. Heft 1. Munchen. 1892. S. 21-22

Soldiers of the Blue King by A. Bakshian (Bavarian infantry 1680-1710s)

One more material from my archive. The original was published in Vedette magazine, vol. 3, # 5, Oct 1967

click to enlarge

One more article by Dr. A. Benkert about Bavarian cavalry 1680-1710s

The Riders of the Blue King by Dr. A. Benkert (Bavarian cavalry in Vienna campaign 1683)

I found an old article by Dr. A. Benkert about Bavarian cavalry during the war with Turks 1683-1699 in my papers. It was published in Vedette magazine in Vol. 9 No 3 (Fall 1973!). In spite of its age it is still useful.

Capitulation of the Bavarian garrison of Rothenberg, 21 Sept 1703

Eigentliche Vorstellung Der Vestung Rothenbergs

by A.J. Felsecker (1717?)

CLICK TO ENLARGE

First time Rothenberg was besieged during the Spanish Succession war on 8 May of 1703. That time Bavarian garrison consisted only of a coy of captain Preysing from P.S. de Berquere militia battalion. Bavarians under Maffei tried to reinforce the garrison but were beaten of by Janus d’Eberstedt on 23 May at Krottensee. Second attempt on 6 June was successful. Bavarians forced Janus to raise the siege & strengthened the garrison. But Austrians under General-Wachtmeister Aufsess (ab. 3,000) again besieged Rothenberg on June 17, 1703. They put batteries on a hill opposite the castle & easy forced Bavarians to capitulate. Garrison capitulated on Sept. 19, but they left the castle on Sept. 21.

Bavarian garrison, June-September 1703

Colonel count Sanbonifatio

- Free-coy Sanbonifatio (counts Sanbonifatio had a privilege to maintain own free-coy)

- battalion of Spielberg Foot (5 coys)

- Preysing’s coy of P.S. de Berquere militia battalion

Artillery consisted of 4 cannons, 1 mortar & a howitzer.