"Best Regiments in the Austrian Army?" Topic

Out of all the regiments of the Austrian army of the Napoleonic Wars, which ones were the best in terms of leadership, fighting ability, and number of battles fought?

OR, for "fighting ability" do you want the one best able to fight a delaying action in rough terrain, assault a defended village, bombard accurately at half a mile, pursue broken troops or break up enemy cavalry? I also think you'll find jaegers and grenzers do not share a definition of "battle" with cuirassiers and grenadiers.

I usually hear the Hoch und Deutmeister and the O'Reilly Cheaveau Leger spoken well of, but I'd hate to have to prove it. Of course, Austrian grenadiers aren't a regiment, but were selected and paid more money than the line, which means someone expected to get more out of them.

IR51 Splenyi (Transylvanian I think) and 4th Hussars (Hessen Homburg) both rate a mention. I think the Vincent Chevauleger was considered a good regiment too.

Cheers,
John

Infantry

I.R. 4 Hoch und Deutchmeister – often served as a palace guard in Vienna – fought well at Novi in 1799, Neumarkt in 1809 and the Mincio in 1814

I.R.3 Erzherzog Karl – fought well at Valenciennes in 1793 – lost heavily in 1809 but was steady fought well at Liebertwolkwitz in 1813

I.R. 14 Klebek – served with distinction at Novi in 1799 – charged French cavalry in the streets of Neumarkt in 1809 – Aspern attacked the church 5 times – 1814 Arcis-sur-Aube captured the village of Grand Torcy

I.R. 19 Alvintzi – 1809 took many prisoners at Sacile – was one of the few regiments to maintain its discipline during the retreat into Hungary – 1813 Leipzig captured six cannons in fight against the Young Guard

I.R. 39 Duka – fought well at Casano in 1799 – fought well at Aspern, at Wagram the 3rd battalion fought to the last during the retreat

I.R. 42 Erbach – did well at Lonato but forced to surrender on 2nd day – fought with distinction at Wagram and after the battle was given permission to use the grenadier marching music

I.R. 51 fought well at Marengo against Consular Guard

These are my own notes sourced primarily from Alphons Wrede's unit histories as well as from Gill, Acerbi and Nafziger.

Lights and Irregulars

8th Grenze – 1805 fought well at Caldiero – 1809 fought with distinction at Ebelsberg – 1813 at Dresden first battalion stormed the Powder Mill – 1813 Smarje defeated Italian Guard

5th Jager – 1813 at Leipzig moving on the run dropped into square fired a point blank volley and drove off French cavalry

8th Jager – 1809 Wagram fought the 57e ligne house to house at Baumersforf holding onto part of the village

4th-6th Vienna Volunteers – fought well at Ebelsberg 1809

5th Cuirassiers – did well at Leipzig

8th Cuirassiers – considered an elite regiment and had special privilages dating back to 1619 – fought well at Handschuheim in 1795 – 1814 La Fere Champenoise charged four regiments of Young Guard in the rain took many prisoners

2nd Chevaulegers – 1799 fought well at the Trebbia (captured flag and 530 prisoners) – 1809 captured eagle of 35e ligne at Pordonone – 1813 Liebertwolkwitz flank charged and broke French dragoons

3rd Chevaulegers – 1805 defeated General Boye's dragoon division at Austerlitz

4th Chevauleger – very famous regiment within the army known for its charge at Kolin in 1757 – 1805 Haslach part of cavalry force that captured eagles of 15e aand 17e dragoons – decisive charge on first day at Wagram that caused a French chain-rout – December 1813 120 men and a jager company captured Neuchatel

4th Hussars – 1794 broke a French battalion in square at Kaiserslautern – 1805 Austerlitz captured 300 men from 108e ligne – 1813 commanded by Josef Simonyi broke two lines of French infantry at Leipzig – 1814 swam the River Rhone to flank the French at Limonest

12th Hussars – 1813 – Leipzig defeated the 1st and 2nd Carabiniers who were halted to receive the charge

The Erzherzog Rainer Regiment was in a Light Division in 1813, which seemed odd for a normal infantry regiment, so I wondered if they were a particularly good unit.

More likely it was assigned to the light division as only the third battalion was left after the first and second were captured at Dresden.

Tyrolean Jδger

Szekler Husaren