"Uniforms of the Prince-Bishopric of Münster (SYW)" Topic

Kronoskaf mentions that the army of the Bishopric of Münster, on the beginning of the Seven Years War, was composed of 7 regiments of infantry, 2 of cuirassiers and the artillery. The site shows the uniform of 2 of the infantry regiments, which fought for the Reichsarmee (the regiments Elverfeldt and Nagel). Does anyone knows the uniforms of the other regiments, or the uniforms of the cuirassiers and artillery?

Have you checked Knotel's Uniformkunde?
link

This reference brought nothing more than what you have already found at Kronoskaf.

From the Grosser Generalstab, sturmkarten for two of the foot regiments:

link

Cheers,

Yeah, the uniformenkunde only has one plate about munster, and it's about their 1800 uniforms.

A few weeks ago, a reader of Kronoskaf has asked the very same question. Here is the answers that I have sent to him:
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As promised, I have checked with members of our group and they came with quite a lot of info on the Army of the Prince-Bishopric of Münster.

As mentioned in our article on the Reichsarmee, the standing army of the Bishopric of Münster consisted of:
- Infantry Regiment Elverfeldt;
- Infantry Regiment Nagel;
- Infantry Regiment Alt-Wenge;
- Infantry Regiment Sachsen-Gotha;
- Infantry Regiment Schorlemer;
- Infantry Regiment Bönninghausen;
- Infantry Regiment Jung-Wenge;
- Cuirassier Regiment Berlo;
- Cuirassier Regiment Geldern;
- Artillery.

Let's have a more detailed look at this army…

First of all, some background. In 1672, Bishop Christoph Bernhard von Galen had a very important army (60,000 men in 25 foot regiment, 20 horse regiment and 2,500 artillerymen). However, during the 18th century, the bishopric did not maintain such an important army. The foot were organized along the Prussian model whereas the cavalry followed the Austrian model.

In 1752, Baron Friedrich von Wenge, the General en Chef of the Army of the Bishopric of Münster, introduced a new "reglement". In 1757, Wenge reorganized the recruiting districts of each infantry regiment.

The Army in 1757

The staff consisted of:
- 1 General en chef
- 1 Oberkriegskommissar with adjutants
- 1 Place Major
- 1 Oberauditeur
- 1 Inspector of fortifications
- 1 Hochfürstlichen Rat
- 1 Zeugwart
- 1 Garrison Preacher
- 1 Garrison Doctor
- 1 Garrison Apothecary
- 1 Wachtschreiber
- 1 Quartermaster
- 1 Wallmeister

Each infantry regiment consisted of 2 battalions, each of 4 companies. A musketeer company consisted of:
- 1 captain
- 1 First lieutenant
- 1 second-lieutenant
- 1 Feldwebel
- 1 Sergeant
- 1 Fourier
- 1 surgeon
- 3 musicians (drummers or fifers)
- 4 corporals
- 1 Fourierschütz
- 1 carpenter
- 8 Gefreiten
- 75 musketeers

N.B.: the Leib company also had 2 ensigns carrying the colours

From 1752 to 1764, grenadiers wore mitre cap similar to those of the Prussian grenadiers: brass front-plate, back and headband in the distinctive colour of the regiment piped in the button colour.

From 1752, officers had yellow gorget, silver and red sash, yellow leather gloves, a spontoon and a blue within silver pompom.

From 1752, NCOs were armed with a musket and a bayonet, they wore yellow leather glove and a blacj tricorne with a narrow silver lace and a blue within white pompom.

Infantry colours were of the general pattern (alternating light blue and white diamonds) of the attached illustration.

Infantry Regiment No. 1 Alt-Wenge

Recruiting districts: Wolbeck and surroundings

Garrison place: Münster

Uniform: straw waistcoat, straw breeches, blue coat with white buttons, red collar, red lapels, red Swedish cuffs with 3 white buttons, black tricorne laced white with black and red pompom, white belting

Infantry Regiment No. 2 Elverfeldt

Recruiting districts: Stromberg, Rheine and surroundings

Garrison place: Vechta (in 1764)

Uniform: white waistcoat, white breeches, blue coat with white buttons, white collar, white lapels, white cuffs without button, black tricorne laced white with red and white pompom, white belting

This regiment joined the Reichsarmee and is already described in a Kronoskaf's article so I will not expand on it.

Infantry Regiment No. 3 Jung-Wenge

Recruiting districts: Vechta, Meppen and Cloppenburg

Garrison place: Vechta

Uniform: white waistcoat, blue breeches (later white), blue coat with white buttons, blue collar, blue lapels, red cuffs without button, black tricorne laced white without pompom, white belting

Infantry Regiment No. 4 Bönninghausen

Recruiting districts: Vechta, Meppen and Cloppenburg

Garrison place: Meppen (in 1763)

Uniform: white waistcoat, blue breeches (later white), blue coat with white buttons, blue collar, blue lapels, red cuffs without button, black tricorne laced white without pompom, white belting

Infantry Regiment No. 5 Nagel

Recruiting districts: Ahaus and Bocholt

Garrison place: Meppen

Uniform: white waistcoat, blue breeches (later white), blue coat with white buttons, blue collar, blue lapels, red cuffs without button, black tricorne laced white without pompom, white belting

This regiment joined the Reichsarmee and is already described in a Kronoskaf's article so I will not expand on it.

Infantry Regiment No. 6 Schorlemer

Recruiting districts: Sassenberg and Werne

Garrison place: Münster

Uniform: sulfur yellow waistcoat, sulfur yellow breeches, blue coat with yellow buttons, sulfur yellow collar, sulfur yellow lapels, sulfur yellow Swedish cuffs with 3 yellow buttons, black tricorne laced white with red and white pompom, white belting

Infantry Regiment No. 7 Sachsen-Gotha (became Nagel in 1759)

Recruiting districts: Horstmar and Dülmen

Garrison place: Münster

Uniform: red waistcoat (later white), red breeches (later white), blue coat with white buttons, red collar, red lapels edged white, red cuffs without button, black tricorne laced white with red and white pompom, white belting

Actions: the regiment seems to have joined the Reichsarmee

Leibgarde zu Pferd

Recruiting districts: the entire bishopric

Uniform: white waistcoat, white breeches, white coat with white buttons, red collar, no lapels, red Swedish cuffs with 2 white buttons and 2 white laced buttonholes, black tricorne with red and white pompom, straw belting

Cuirassier Regiment No. 1 Geldern

Recruiting districts: Ahaus and Bocholt

Garrison place: Münster

Uniform: straw waistcoat, white breeches, white coat with white buttons, red collar, red lapels, red large Austrian style cuffs with 3 white buttons, black tricorne without pompom, natural leather belting, red saddlecloth and holster caps edged white

Cuirassier Regiment No. 2 Berlo

Recruiting districts: Vechta, Meppen and Cloppenburg

Garrison place: Haselüne and Vechta

Uniform: straw waistcoat, white breeches, white coat with white buttons, sky blue collar, sky blue lapels, sky blue large Austrian style cuffs with 3 white buttons, black tricorne without pompom, natural leather belting, sky blue saddlecloth and holster caps edged white

Artillery under Schlaun from 1733 to 1773

Recruiting districts: the entire bishopric

Uniform: white waistcoat, white breeches, dark blue coat with white buttons, red collar, no lapels, red Swedish cuffs with 3 white buttons, black tricorne without pompom, white belting

Most of the above information comes from Harald Berking's article "Die vergessene Armee oder die "Hoch-Stifft Muensterischen Troupen" bis zu ihrer Aufloesung", in: Die Zinnfigur, vol. 22, issue 2 (1973), page 30-38 and 58-63

Furthermore, if you read German, a member suggests this book:

BÖNNINGHAUSEN, C. M. F. von, 1978. Die Kriegerische Tätigkeit der Münsterschen Truppen: 1651-1800 ; Ein Beitrag zum 300. Todesjahr von Fürstbischof Christoph Bernard von Galen, Schöpfer des Bischöflich-Münsterschen Heeres. C. M. F. v. Bönninghausen, Coesfeld.

There is also an old work available at hbz-nrw.de entitled "Das Fürstbischöfliche Münsterische Militär im 18. Jahrhundert". I think that it is possible to buy a digitalized version of this book at a reasonable price.

Hope that these few informations will be useful to you,

Richard Couture

Kronoskaf.com

Thank you very much! That's all the information I needed!

I am so impressed by the quality of information and the generosity of your contributors. Thank you so much.

CyberMonk thanks for such amount of information!