NapFlags: Napoleonic Minor German States

Flags by NapFlag

The city of the Hanseatic League Hamburg, Lubecca e Bremen

Legion Infantry 1813 - 1815

Prior to 1810 the Hanse cities of Hamburg, Lübeck and Bremen maintained only small units of troops for their own internal security. Unfortunately no details of flags that may have been carried during this period are available. In 1810 the cities were annexed to Metropolitan France and troops from the cities were incorporated in the French 127th - 129th regiments. These units were issued with the normal French line infantry pattern flags. In 1813 the Cities were liberated by the Allies and together raised the Hanseatic Legion for service with the Allies. The Legion reached a total of four infantry battalions, two from Hamburg and one each from Lübeck and Bremen. A third flag of the Hamburg type was carried by the Hamburg Burghergarde - a city defence force, this differed from the flag of the regulars only in that the key in the central device was silver. The Hamburg flag was 100cm square as was that of Bremen, the dimensions of the Lübeck flag are unknown so I have adopted 100cm x 112cm which 'looks' right compared to the source sketches.

Top to Bottom:

- Hamburg Contingent Regular Battalion

- Hamburg Contingent Burghergarde

- Lubeck Contingent

- Bremen Contingent 

                                                         

Lippe

The Principality of Lippe-Detmold together with the countship of Schaumburg-Lippe joined the Confederation of the Rhine in 1807. Between them they provided one infantry battalion ( 2nd ) to the 5th Confederation Regiment . This unit was issued with a flag in 1812 which measured 105cm x 100cm on a white flagstaff 265cm long, topped by a gilt spear-shaped finial. In 1813 the Lippe Principalities joined the Allies and together with the Principality of Waldeck raised two new infantry battalions, one regular and one landwehr for service with the Allies. Flags were issued to these two battalions in 1814. Unfortunately I have no information as to the dimensions of these new flags. I have used 150cm x 132cm.

Top: 

- 5th Confederation rgt 1812

- Regular Battalion 1814

- Landwehr Battalion 1814

Mecklenburg Infantry 1808 - 1813

The Duchies of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Mecklenburg-Strelitz joined the Confederation of the Rhine in April 1808 and together formed the 7th Infantry Regiment of the Confederation. The two battalions of this regiment were each issued with a standard of a design that dated from 1797. The flags were identical except that the field of that of the first battalion was white, whilst that of the second battalion was blue. In 1810 a Grenadier-Garde battalion was raised and was presented with a similar standard. The flags were 90cm x 110cm and were carried on a red-painted wooden stave with a gilt spear-shaped finial. The Line infantry regiment was destroyed during the 1812 campaign, the garde battalion defected to the Allies in 1813. New units were raised for service with the Allies in 1813-14, unfortunately I have found no information as to what flags if any were carried by the new units.

Top to Bottom:
- 1st Line battalion

- 2st Line battalion

- Grenadier Garde battalion

Nassau Infantry 1808 - 1815

The states of Nassau-Usingen and Nassau-Weilburg joined the Confederation of the Rhine in 1806 and, together with Hohenzollern, Salm, Isenburg, Liechtenstein, Leyen and Aremburg, supplied a brigade of four battalions to the Confederation forces. In 1809 the battalions were re-organised into the 2nd (1st Nassau) and 3rd (2nd Nassau) Confederation regiments, each of two battalions. Up until 1813 these four battalions all carried identical standards measuring 100 x 90 cm on a brown staff topped by a gilt spear point and gold cords and tassels. In November 1813 Nassau joined the Allies against Napoleon and the 2nd regiment went over to the British on 10th December. This regiment was repatriated to Nassau with its colours. On 22nd December the 1st regiment was disarmed and interned in Spain by the French. For the 1814 campaigns with the Allies Nassau raised a 3rd Infantry regiment, a Landwehr regiment, a Jager corps and 29 battalions of Landsturm. The flags carried by the 3rd regiment appear also to have been of the old 1806 pattern. The Landsturm battalions carried flags of the type illustrated here on spiral painted staves of blue and dark yellow with gilt spear points. That illustrated is for the Idstein Wehen Battalion, other battalions would have their own unit name in the central wreath of the reverse. However, unfortunately I do not have a record of all the units names, neither do I have any information regarding flags carried by the Landwehr regiment. In 1815 Nassau contributed two infantry regiments, each of two Line and one Landwehr battalions. The 2nd regiment certainly carried the 1806 pattern flag during the Waterloo campaign, however it is not known if the other regiments carried flags or of what pattern.

Top: 1806-1815 Line Infantry Pattern
Bottom: 1814-1815 Landsturm Pattern

Anhalt Infantry 1807-1815

Anhalt consisted of three minor German duchies neighbouring Prussia: Anhalt-Bernburg, Anhalt-Dessau and Anhalt-Köthen. All joined the confederation of the Rhine in 1807. The three states together provided one infantry battalion to the Confederation (1st Battalion 5th Regiment). The flag of this battalion was presented in 1807 and measured 80 x 70cm on a white flag staff with a gilt finial. This flag was destroyed at the combat of La Bisbal in Spain in September 1810. A new pattern flag was issued on the 14th May 1811. The Anhalt battalion capitulated at Danzig in 1813, but was allowed to keep its colours. Thereafter Anhalt joined the Allies.

The Grand Duchy of Hesse Kassel

In November 1813 the 'war of liberation' allowed William I, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel to return to his capital where he set about raising a new army for service with the Allies. The Infantry consisted of a Leib Grenadier Garde battalion, a Guard Grenadier regiment, 4 Line Infantry regiments, 3 Landwehr regiments and a Jager battalion.

Each of the infantry regiments contained two battalions. New standards were issued to all regiments in Kassel on 1st March 1814. Each line regiment had (at least) two colours, a white Liebfahne and one or more crimson Regimentsfahnen. The landwehr battalions also carried standards but of a different design to those of the regular troops.

1813 Pattern from top to bottom:

Regulars Regimentsfahne
Regulars Leibfahne
Landwehr Pattern

The Grand Duchy of Hesse Darmstat 1806-1814

The infantry of Hesse Darmstat was organised into three 'brigades' which were the equivalent of regiments in other armies. These brigades consisted of two musketeer and one fusilier (light) battalion. Each of the two musketeer battalions within the brigade was issued with two standards measuring 130cm x 130cm. All of the infantry flags were of a similar design. All flags of the Lieb-Garde brigade had a white field with no crosses. The first flag of the first battalions in both the Leib and Erbprinz brigades had a white field with the corners only divided black and the regimental colour. The other three flags in each case had the complete field in black and the corners in the regimental colour.

1806-1814 Pattern, from top to bottom:

- 1st Musketeer Battalion Lieb-Garde Brigade

- 2nd Musketeer Battalion Lieb-Garde Brigade

- 1st Musketeer Battalion Erbprinz Brigade

- 2nd Musketeer Battalion Erbprinz Brigade

- 1st Musketeer Battalion Lieb Brigade

- 2nd Musketeer Battalion Lieb Brigade

Wurzburg Infantry 1806 - 1814

The Grand Duchy of Wurzburg was created in December 1805. Grand duke Ferdinand raised an infantry regiment of two battalions which became the 1st Regiment of the Rhine Confederation in 1806. The regiment was presented with four standards on 8th August that year. By 1812 the regiment was four battalions strong and had a fifth, depot battalion which is stated to have possessed two flags as illustrated. In 1814 the regiment was taken into Bavarian service and was issued with Bavarian standards. The Wurzburg standards measured 160cm x 120cm and were carried on a stave painted in red and white spirals and topped with a gilt spear-shaped finial.

Schwarzburg Infantry 1806 - 1813

The states of Schwarzburg-Sonderhausen and Schwarzburg-Rudolstat together provided one infantry battalion to the Confederation (1st Battalion 6th Regiment). I have been unable to obtain information regarding flags issued to this unit. The design presented here is based on an artwork by Jaume Olle of a flag of Schwarzburg Sonderhausen from the post Napoleonic period, used up until 1918. I have scaled the flag to 130cm Sq.

Saxon Duchies Infantry (conjectural)

The Saxon Duchies of Saxe-Gotha, Saxe-Coburg, Saxe-Weimar and Saxe-Hildburghausen together provided one three-battalion infantry regiment to the Confederation (4th Regiment). I have been unable to obtain information regarding flags issued to this unit, although some sources state that the regiment carried three flags in 1807. The design presented here is based on an artwork by Jaume Olle of a flag of the Saxon Duchies from the post Napoleonic period, used up until 1918. From Jaume's work it is obvious that all of the Duchies used some variation on the green/white backgound with the black/yellow with green diagonal Saxon arms. I have scaled the flag to 130cm Sq.

Oldenburg Infantry

The Duchy of Oldenburg joined the confederation of the Rhine in 1808 and was required to provide a single battalion of infantry to the Confederation forces. In 1810 Oldenburg was annexed as part of Metropolitan France and its troops were incorporated into the 129th French line infantry regiment. In 1813 a new infantry regiment of two battalions, one regular one landwehr, was raised for service with the Allies. Other than the French line infantry pattern of 1810 - 12, I have been unable to obtain information regarding flags issued to this unit, or indeed if any ever were. The design presented here is based on an artwork by Jaume Olle of a state flag of Oldenburg dated 1820. I have scaled the flag to 130cm Sq.

Berg Troops 1806-1809

In April 1806 the first Berg infantry regiment of four battalions containing eight companies each was raised in Dusseldorf and was expanded to six battalions in October of that year. In August 1808 the regiment was reorganised into two regiments (1st & 2nd) and by October of that year a 3rd regiment had been raised. It is known that Flags were issued one per battalion to the 1st infantry regiment in 1807, however it is uncertain if flags of this pattern were ever issued to the 2nd and 3rd regiments. I have assumed here that such flags were issued. The chevau-legers regiment also recieved standards one per squadron in 1807 which were identical in detail to those of the infantry but smaller. I have been unable to ascertain details of the size of these flags or the numbering convention used, so I have settled for 90cm sq for infantry and 60cm sq for cavalry, with the regimental number only, appearing in all corner devices. The flags were carried on a plain wooden stave topped by a gilt spear-shaped finial. Double gold cords and tassels were carried attached immediately below the finial.

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Left: Sergeant-Major Colour Bearer 1st Regt c.1808

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The Flags
1st infantry regiment
2nd infantry regiment
3rd infantry regiment
1st chevau-legers regiment

Berg Infantry 1809-1813

In 1809 the Duchy came under the direct control of Napoleon as regent. New flags were issued at this time to the infantry regiments however I have no information regarding new standards for the 1st chevau-legers or for the 2nd regiment raised in 1812. In August 1811 a further reorganisation took place when the 4th infantry regiment was raised from the existing three. Each infantry regiment now consisted of two battalions each of eight companies. Again I have found no details as to the size of these standards so I have opted for 90 x 100 cm which looks 'right'. The numbering scheme consisted of the regimental number in the top corners and the battalion number in the bottom corners. No flags or standards appear to have been issued to the new units raised in 1813.

The Flags

1st infantry regiment

2nd infantry regiment

3rd infantry regiment

4th infantry regiment

The Kingdom of Saxony

New embroidered flags were issued in September 1802 to the Leib Grenadier Garde and the twelve Line Infantry regiments to replace painted flags issued in 1785. The nine cavalry regiments continued to carry their 1785 issue flags up until 1811. As with other European armies, it was the practice to detach the Grenadier companies from the Line regiments and combine them into seperate Grenadier battalions. These Grenadier battalions do not seem to have been issued with individual standards.

The creation of the Kingdom of Saxony caused new flags to be ordered in November 1807. The new flags were not presented until July 1811, after the army had been reorganised and the 2nd, 6th, 9th and 10th infantry regiments and the carabinier regiment had been disbanded in 1810. Once again, the combined Grenadier battalions were not issued standards. The newly raised regiments of light infantry also did not receive standards

Saxon Infantry 1802 - 1811

New flags were issued to the Leib-Grenadier-Garde and the twelve Line Infantry regiments in September 1802 to replace those issued in 1785. Each regiment received a Leibfahne, carried by the 1st Battalion, and an Ordinärfahne, carried by the 2nd Battalion. As with other European armies, it was the practice to detach the Grenadier companies from the Line regiments and combine them into seperate Grenadier battalions. These Grenadier battalions do not seem to have been issued with individual standards. The 1802 issue flags measured 157cm x 144.5cm. The Ordinärfahne was in the regimental facing colour with a border design peculiar to each regiment; the Leibfahne was white with the same border design on a background of the regimental facing colour. These flags were carried on staves of plain wood measuring just under three metres topped with a gilt finial bearing an F.A. cypher. Cravats and cords do not appear to have been used.

Flags from top to bottom:

Leib-Grenadier-Garde Regiment

(1st) Kürfust Regiment ( König from Dec 1806)

(2nd) Von Sanger Regiment

(3rd) Prinz Anton Regiment

(4th) Prinz Clemens Regiment

(5th) Prinz Maximilien Regiment

(6th) Von Thümmel Regiment

(7th) Prinz Friedrich August Regiment

(8th) Von Low Regiment

(9th) Prinz Xaver Regiment ( Von Oebschelwitz from 1807)

(10th) Von Bunau Regiment ( Von Bevilaqua from 1806)

(11th) Von Niesemeuschel Regiment

(12th) Von Rechten Regiment

Ordinarfahnen on left, Leibfahnen on right.

Saxon Infantry 1811 - 1815

The creation of the Kingdom of Saxony caused new flags to be ordered in November 1807. The new flags were not presented until July 1811, after the army had been reorganised and the 2nd, 6th, 9th and 10th regiments had been disbanded. The Infantry now comprised the Leib Grenadier Garde, eight line and two light infantry regiments all of two battalions. The combined Grenadier battalions together with the light infantry units did not receive standards. In 1811 each regiment received one Leibfahne and one Ordinärfahne, both measuring approx 143cm sq. The Leibfahne was again white, the Ordinärfahne in regimental facing colour. The Staves were now in the regimental facing colours. These flags remained in service for the remainder of the Napoleonic wars, though some ten were lost during the 1812 campaign in Russia. At least one of the lost flags was replaced with an identical copy whilst other losses were made good by the re-issuing of the flags of the old 2nd, 6th, 9th and 10th regiments, unfortunately I do not have exact details concerning this.

Flags from top to bottom:

Leib-Grenadier-Garde Regiment

König Regiment

Von Prinz Maximilian Regiment

Prinz Anton Regiment

Prinz Clemens Regiment

Von Niesemeuschel Regiment

Von Rechten Regiment

Prinz Friedrich August Regiment

Von Low Regiment

Ordinarfahnen on left, Leibfahnen on right.

Saxon Cavalry 1785 - 1811

The Saxon cavalry regiments carried one standard per squadron and used the old 1785 issue until 1811. The cavalry flags were gold fringed measuring approx 71cm sq and as for the infantry were of two types, the white Liebstandarte and the red Ordinarestandarte. The heavy cavlary regiments had four white Liebstandarten, the light cavalry regiments one white Liebstandarte and three red Ordinarestandarten. The hussar regiment was not issued with flags. To differenciate between the four squadrons of a regiment a coloured cravat was tied with cords of the same colour below the finial. Ist squadron white, 2nd red, 3rd blue and 4th yellow. The staves were of unpainted wood with gilt spear-shaped finials. The Karabiniers regiment was disbanded in 1810.

Flags from top to bottom:

Garde-Du-Corps Regiment

Karabiniers Regiment

Kurfurst Kuirassier Regiment ( Konig 1806, Leib-Kuirassier-Garde 1807)

Kochtitzky Kuirassier Regiment (Von Zastrow 1809)

Prinz Clemens Chevaulegers Regiment

Prinz Albrecht Chevaulegers Regiment

Prinz Johann Chevaulegers Regiment

Von Polenz Chevaulegers Regiment

Leibstandarte on left, Ordinarstandarte on right.

Saxon Cavalry 1811 - 1815

The Saxon cavalry regiments received new standards in 1811 at a rate of one per squadron. The cavalry flags were gold fringed and as for the infantry were of two types, the white Liebstandarte and the red Ordinarestandarte. The heavy cavlary regiments had four white Liebstandarten, the light cavalry regiments one white Liebstandarte and three red Ordinarestandarten. The hussar regiment was not issued with flags. To differenciate between the four squadrons of a regiment a coloured cravat was tied with cords of the same colour below the finial. 1st squadron white, 2nd red, 3rd blue and 4th yellow. The staves were of unpainted wood with gilt spear-shaped finials.

Flags from top to bottom:

Garde-Du-Corps Regiment

Leib-Kuirassier-Garde Regiment

Von Zastrow Kuirassier Regiment

Prinz Clemens Chevaulegers Regiment ( converted to uhlans 1811)

Prinz Albrecht Chevaulegers Regiment

Prinz Johann Chevaulegers Regiment ( disbanded 1813)

Von Polenz Chevaulegers Regiment (disbanded 1813)

Leibstandarte on left, Ordinarstandarte on right.

The Kingdom of Westphalia

The Kingdom of Westfalia was created by Napoleon in December 1807 following the treaty of Tilsit. The new Kingdom was composed of parts of Hannover, Brunswick, Saxony and most of Hesse-Kassel. Westfalia was entered as a charter member of the newly formed Confederation of the Rhine. As such it was obliged to provide a 25,000 strong contingent to the Grande Armee in the event of war. The Westfalian army created to meet this requirement was closely modelled on that of France and by the end of 1808 comprised the royal garde grenadier and jäger battalions, the chevau-leger regiment and a garde-du-corps squadron. The line consisted of an elite jäger-carabinier battalion (normally attached to the Garde), six line infantry regiments each of two battalions, one light battalion, one cuirassier regiment, one chevau-leger regiment plus national guards and veterans units. In July of 1808 the 2nd cuirassier, 7th and 8th Line infantry regiments and the 2nd light infantry battalion were raised. In 1810 the 1st and 2nd hussar regiments were raised, in 1811 the 3rd light infantry battalion and two line infantry regiments (2nd and 7th) added a third field battalion. In 1812 a new two battalion garde infantry regiment (fusiliers) was raised, together with the 9th line regiment, the 4th light battalion and the 2nd chevau-leger regiment. Following the disastrous retreat from Russia less than 1,000 Westfalian survivors gathered at Thorn during January 1813. During 1813 most of the old units were hastily re-raised, the 1st line infantry regiment formed part of the garrison of Danzig and surrendered on 29th November 1814. The 2nd & 3rd regiments and the 2nd light battalion were part of the garrison of Dresden which surrendered when that town fell. The 4th and 5th line infantry regiments were captured at the fall of Kustrin. The 6th line infantry regiment was not re-raised after 1812. The 7th line infantry regiment was disbanded at the dissolution of the Kingdom. The 8th & 9th line infantry regiments, the 1st and 4th light battalions and the fusilier-garde regiment were disbanded after the battle of Leipzig in October 1813. The 1st and 2nd hussars went over to the Austrians on the night of 22/23 August 1813. The garde-du-corps squadron, the grenadier-garde, jäger-garde, chevau-legers-garde, the jäger-carabinier and 3rd light battalions, the 1st chevau-legers and the 1st & 2nd cuirassiers were all in Westphalia and disbanded when the end of the Kingdom came in September 1813.

During the period 1808 - 1813 five different patterns of flag were issued to the line and garde infantry regiments ( the light battalions apparently were not issued flags) and four different patterns of standard were issued to the line and garde cavalry regiments.

1808 Pattern Infantry Flags

1810 Pattern Infantry Flags

1813 Pattern Infantry Flags

1808-1812 Garde Infantry Patterns

Grenadier-Garde Bataillon

Jäger-Garde Bataillon

Jäger-Carabinier d'Elite

1812 Garde Infantry Pattern

Grenadier-Garde Bataillon

Jäger-Garde Bataillon

Fusilier-Garde Regiment

Jäger-Carabinier Bataillon

Cavalry Patterns 1808 - 1813

Guards Regiments M1808

Line Regiments M1808, M1812

Guard Regiments M1812

1st Hussars M1808

2nd Hussars M1808

Line Cavalry Regiments M1813

Wurttemburg Infantry 1798 - 1815

The information presented here is based mainly on the article 'Wurttemberg Infantry Colors 1798-1815' by John Cook, published in Napoleonic Notes and Queries No. 10 by Age of Napoleon magazine.

In 1798, the Wurttemberg army was reorganised and the new infantry arm consisted of five Musketeer battalions and one Grenadier battalion. All of these battalions were presented with two of the Pattern 1798 Ducal Colours. These measured 140cm x 140cm with a 6cm yellow fringe on all four sides. The finial was a gilt spear point with the FII cypher on the obverse, and the middle shield from the Ducal Arms on the reverse. These colours were retained by the first battalions of the new regiments raised in 1806 and were carried until 1813 when they were replaced by Royal Colours.

The Erbprinz Musketeer Battalion was raised on 28th February 1803, 4 days after the Duchy had been raised to the status of an Electorate. This unit uniquely received a pair of the Pattern 1803 Electoral Colours.

Wurttemberg became a Kingdom on 1st January 1806 and on the 25th of that month, six infantry regiments were created by adding second battalions to the existing Musketeer units. The first battalions of these new regiments retained the old Ducal or Electoral pattern colours whilst the newly raised second battalions were presented with the first of a series of patterns of Royal Colours. These were slightly smaller than the Pattern 1798 Ducal Colours being only 125cm x 125cm but retaining the 6cm fringe.

On 10 October 1806, the Fusilier Battalion was raised, soon increased to a Regiment by the addition of a second Battalion in January 1807. On 17th September 1809 the Von Scharfenstein Infantry Regiment was created from the Depot Battalion raised in June that year. These units were presented with Pattern 1807 Royal Colours (Pattern 2) on a scale of 2 per battalion.

The distribution of the Pattern 1811 Royal Colours (Pattern 3) did not start to take place until early 1813. This new issue replaced all previous patterns with the regiments. The new colours measured 125cm x 125 cm with a 7mm gold fringe on all four sides. The colours were attached to a 308cm long staff coloured black over dark brown in equal proportions. The finial was an open gilt lozenge containing the crowned FR cypher.

Two Pattern 1811 Royal Colours (Pattern 4) were presented to the Garde zu Fuss on 30th December 1811, a single battalion unit at that time, to replace their Ducal colours. When the battalion was expanded to become the Garde-Regiment zu Fuss in 1814, a further two of these colours were presented to the second battalion. The colour staff of the Foot Guards was entirely black, 300cm long with a lozenge shaped finial, as for the line, but in silver.

The situation for the line regiments was unchanged until 14th July 1814 when a re-distribution of colours took place throughout the army. This included the use of older pattern Royal colours which were taken back into use and which continued to be carried through 1815 to the end of our period.

1798 Ducal Pattern Infantry Flags

Von Zobel Grenadier Battalion.

Von Mylius Musketeer Battalion.

Von Seeger Musketeer Battalion.

Von Perglas Musketeer Battalion.

Von Beulwitz Musketeer Battalion.

Von Obernitz Musketeer Battalion

                                                   1803 Electoral Pattern Infantry Flags

1807 Royal Colours

2nd Battalion Von Phull Infantry Regiment.

2nd Battalion Herzog Wilhelm Infantry Regiment.

2nd Battalion Von Camerer Infantry Regiment.

2nd Battalion Von Romig Infantry Regiment.

2nd Battalion Von Lilienberg Infantry Regiment.

2nd Battalion Kronprinz Infantry Regiment.
Von Scharffenstein Infantry Regiment.

1811 Royal Colours 

IR Nr1 Prinz Paul.

IR Nr2 Herzog Wilhelm.

IR Nr3.

IR Nr4.

IR Nr5 Prinz Friedrich.

IR Nr6 Kronprinz.

IR Nr7

Garde-Regiment zu Fuss

1814 Issue Colours

Flags from top to bottom

Garde-Regiment zu Fuss

IR Nr 1 Prinz Paul

IR Nr 2 Herzog Wilhelm

IR Nr 3

IR Nr 4

IR Nr 5 Prinz Friedrich

IR Nr 6 Kronprinz

IR Nr 7

IR Nr 8

IR Nr 12

Left to Right:

1st and 2nd Colours 1st Battalion, 1st and 2nd Colours 2nd Battalion.

IR Nr 12 had only one Colour per battalion.

Note: I have omitted the fringe which ran down the flagstaff side of these flags.