"Frankfurt infantry at Talavera 1809" Topic

Dear friends,
I would like to paint the Frankfurt infantry battalion at Talavera (Leval´s Division).
The question is about the coat/breeches pattern and colour: white or blue?
Also, Bicorns/bearskins or shakos?

Thanks for your attention.

look at napoleon-series.org – there was a good thread on this with a lot of pictures

Hallo,

Here the orginal source:

link

Good choise of troops

:)

Talavera was fought in July, 1809. The source Rudi shows – the Knotel plates – shows this uniform in 1809:

link

The plate just before this one shows an Austrian-style white coat, and bicorn in 1807:

link

In my opinion, the 1809 style is the handsomest French-style uniform of the era, with red lapels unique to a French light infantry style uniform. They went on to serve in Spain up into the Vitoria campaign, so that gives you even more incentive to do the 1809 style.

The fusiliers with short swords, and straps instead of epaulettes is another unique touch, unless one considers some of the Young Guard Tirailleur regiments.

GdeP

They were also interned during the Vittoria campaign. Most German formations in Spain by the Battle of Vittoria had either been interned, captured or deserted….but what great colourful uniforms for the Peninuslar War.

According to D.Smith Armies of the Napoleonic Era 1978 – Between 1808 and 1809 the Frankfurth infantry wore a French Light Infantry style uniforms in Dark Blue with Red lapels, pointed cuffs, turnbacks. Whie piping and buttons and dark blue breeches. The French Shako and French company and rank distinctions, red within white cockade over a white shield bearing a crowned wheel. Drummers had white lace with red zig-zag to lapels, collars and cuffs, trosuer side seams and Hungarian thigh knots.

Frankfurt was to raise two battalions in 1808 but only put one battalion into the firld in Spain of 853 men formed into 6 companies according to the French model, there they remained until 1813 – source R. Johnson Napoleonic Armies 1978,1984.

The links above take you to the landing page you therefore want to select:

Knötels Uniformkunde

then

Bank II and this: #40. Frankfurt a. M. Grossherzoglich Frankfurtische, fürstlich Primatische Truppen. 1809.

1st class references gentlemen, very useful for my current project.

Thank you for sharing!!!

Raglan

PS Marcus Maximus, is there no end to your talents – did not realise you can also speak German?

maybe this is helpfull as well

Dear friends,

Thanks for your answers and references.

In conclusion, shakos and blue coats in 1809. I thought Frankfurt troops had kept their white uniforms until 1809-1810 (there were usual delays to implement the new regulation dress). I was mistaken.

Rüchel – you might not be mistaken, one would have to find memoires etc. to confirm the blue uniform for Talavera