1st Galician Uhlans (Ritter von Brudermann's)

Austro-Hungarian Army unit thumb|1st Uhlans at the riding school in Vienna The 1st Uhlan Regiment of the Austro-Hungarian Army was established in 1791 and named in honor of cavalry general Rudolf von Brudermann.(https://www.austro-hungarian-army.co.uk/biog/rbruder.htm) Rudolf von Brudermann] It saw action in the Napoleonic Wars, the Revolutions of 1848, the Sardinian War, the Austro-Prussian War, and World War I.(https://www.napoleon-series.org/military-info/organization/Austria/cavalry/c_austriancav2.html) Napoleon Series: Austrian uhlans](https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/The_Cavalry_Lance/CTg1DwAAQBAJ) Alan Larsen, The Cavalry Lance (Bloomsbury Publishing, 2017), p. 24] History On 1 November 1791, the regiment was formed with a strength of four divisions. In addition, the Chevauxlegers regiments “Kaiser,” “Karaiczay,” “Lobkowitz,” and “Levenehr” (the latter disbanded in 1860 as Dragoon Regiment No. 4) were required to give up their Uhlan divisions to supplement the new unit.(https://rafa-pardo-almudi.blogspot.com/2014/01/austrian-uhlans-wargaming-whim.html) War gaming with Austrian uhlans] In 1798, it was assigned the designation of Uhlan Regiment No. 1.Osprey Men-at-Arms: Austrian Army of the Napoleonic Wars, Part 2, p. 6Gregory Gabriel, Der Tapferkeit (University of Vienna, 2025), p. 25 In 1801, a corps was transferred to the newly established Uhlan Regiment No. 3. Carbines were issued to the troops in the two flank divisions to provide additional fire support to the lancers of the central divisions, who led the cavalry charge.(https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Austrian_Army_of_the_Napoleonic_Wars_2/TJseDAAAQBAJ) Philip Haythornthwaite, *Osprey Men-at-Arms: Austrian Army of the Napoleonic Wars*, Part 2 (2012), p. 35] In 1809, the cavalry (Uhlans) was incorporated into the Franconian Legion.(https://www.napoleon-series.org/military-info/organization/Austria/ArmyStudy/c_AustrianArmyCavalry1.html) Austrian Uhlans by Enrico Accerbi (Napoleon Series, Nov. 2025)] In 1860, the 4th Division, which had become surplus after the reorganisation of the cavalry, was transferred to the newly formed Volunteer Uhlan Regiment (later re-designated as Count Trani No. 13). During its history of service, the regiment was named in honor of multiple individuals, including Josef Meszaros, Archduke Otto Franz, and cavalry general Rudolf von Brudermann, during the 1790s, 1890s, and World War I, respectively.(https://www.scribd.com/document/760017057/Austrian-Cavalry-of-the-Revolutionary-and-Napoleonic-Wars-1792-1815-Enrico-Acerbi-etc-Z-Library#content=query):uhlan,pageNum:62,indexOnPage:6,bestMatch:false Enrico Acerbi, *From Reason to Revolution 60: Austrian Cavalry of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars* (Helion, 2025), p. 63] Additions Since its formation, the regiment was recruited from Galicia.(https://ruj.uj.edu.pl/server/api/core/bitstreams/b036edf8-90f7-4f27-88c9-a7d6c7432ea6/content) Michael Baczkowski, *Galician Uhlan Regiments 1778–1918* (Krakow, 2011), p. 34] In 1853, recruits were added from the district of Infantry Regiment No. 56 (Wadowice). Between 1857 and 1860, recruits were added from the districts of Infantry Regiments No. 20 and 56 (Nový Sącz and Wadowice). From 1867 to 1889, recruits were added from the districts of Infantry Regiments No. 13 and 56 (Krakow and Wadowice). From 1890 onwards, the regiment was assigned to the 1st Corps (Military Territorial District of Krakow), with recruitment continuing from the same area. Peace garrisons 1791: Sáros-Patak, then Rosenau 1793–94: Lodi 1798–99: Straubing 1801–05: Pardubice 1806: Gabel, then Bischof-Teinitz 1807–09: Klattau 1810: Pardubice 1811: Gaja, then Gyöngyös 1812–13: Nagy-Tapolcsán 1814–15: Debreczin 1815: St. Florian 1816: Oradea 1817: Vienna 1818: Saaz 1843: Vienna 1845–48: Pardubice 1849: Neusohl 1850: St. Georgen, then Beraun 1851: St. Georgen 1854: Krakow 1855–59: Wessely 1860: Wessely 1862: Moravian New Town 1863–66: Tarnów 1866: Lugos 1868: Temesvár 1871: Oedenburg 1876: Tarnów 1880: Krakow 1895: Vienna 1899: Monastyryska 1914: Staff, I. Div.: Lviv – II. Div.: Mosty Wielkie (Galicia/today Ukraine) Regimental holders 1792: Field Marshal Lieutenant Johann Mészáros von Szoboszló (Uhlan Regiment Mészáros)Owners of cavalry regiments 1792-1815 1797: General of the Cavalry Maximilian Graf von Merveldt (Uhlan Regiment Graf Merveldt)Austrian Uhlans by Enrico Accerbi 1815: General of the Cavalry Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (Ulanenregiment Sachsen-Coburg)Osprey Men At Arms: Austrian Army of the Napoleonic Wars by Albert Seaton (1973), page 37 1844: General of the Cavalry Carl Graf Civalart (Ulanenregiment Graf Civalart)Ulanenregiment Nr.1 1865: General of the Cavalry Karl Ludwig von Grünne (Ulanenregiment Grunne)Uhlan regiment 1 1884–85: vacant 1885: Field Marshal Lieutenant Crown Prince Archduke Rudolf (Ulanenregiment Erzherzog Rudolf) 1889–94: vacant 1894: Field Marshal Lieutenant Archduke Otto (Ulanenregiment Erzherzog Otto) 1906: General of the Cavalry Ritter Rudolf von Brudermann (Ulanenregiment Ritter von Brudermann) Regimental commanders 1791: Colonel Anton Freiherr von Schubirz 1796: Colonel Ezekiel von Mattyásovszky 1798: Colonel Achilles of Brea 1800: Colonel Ludwig Graf Wallmoden-Gimborn 1807: Colonel Joseph Freiherr von Bogdan 1809: Colonel Ludwig Freiherr von Wilgenheim 1814: Colonel Bartholomew Count Alberti de Poja 1819: Colonel Wilhelm Freiherr von Hammerstein-Ecquord 1823: Colonel Friedrich Anton Prince Hohenzollern-Hechingen 1831: Colonel Cornelius Freiherr von Dankelmann 1838: Colonel Adolph von Mengen 1845: Colonel Carl von Almásy 1849: Colonel Hermann Graf Nostitz-Rieneck 1851: Colonel Wilhelm Freiherr von Koller 1858: Colonel Adolph von Mengen 1865: Colonel Friedrich Ziegler von Klipphausen 1869: Colonel Eduard Freiherr Fleissner von Wostrowitz 1870: Colonel Alexander Graf Kálnoky de Köröspatak 1874: Colonel Carl Freiherr von Lasollaye 1878: Lieutenant Colonel Rudolph Graf Grünne 1878: Lieutenant Colonel Franz Kunz 1882: Colonel Otto Freiherr von Gemmingen-Guttenberg 1887: Lieutenant Colonel Albert Graf Nostitz-Rieneck 1892: Colonel Carl Freiherr Dlauhovesky von Langendorf 1898: Colonel Oscar Graf Ludolf 1903–1907: Colonel Emil Swoboda 1909–1912: Colonel Eugen Chevalier Ruiz de Roxas 1913–1914: Colonel Friedrich Weiß von SchleusenburgRank lists of the Imperial army 1917, p.800 Battle calendar Coalition Wars 1794: Deployed to the theatre of war in Italy 1795: Detachments of the regiment fought at Savona and San Giacomo, where Captain Brochowsky earned the Order of Maria Theresa. Battles at Voltri and Loano. 1796: Six squadrons fought at Voltri, Milessimo, Codogno and Lodi. There, Captain von Domokos covered the retreat of the Sebottendorf Corps with the Lieutenant Colonel's 2nd Squadron and earned the Order of Maria Theresa. After the fighting at the beginning of August, two squadrons joined the Davidivich Corps, the others the main army. The latter then fought at Calliano, Bassano, Castellaro and la Favorita and were pushed with the rest of Wurmser's troops into the fortress of Mantua, in the defense of which they participated. The 2nd Majors Division fought at Caldiero, Arcole and Rivoli. 1797: After the capitulation of Mantua, the six squadrons that had been deployed there moved to the hereditary lands.Michael Baczkowski, Galician Uhlan Regiments 1778-1918 (Krakow 2011), p.36 The 2nd Major's Division withdrew to Carinthia and had no combat activity. After the armistice, a squadron was used in the occupation of Dalmatia. 1799: Commanded back to Germany, the regiment fought in the Battle of Ostrach. Later it was detached to the Sztáray Corps, which remained on the Middle Rhine, where it performed patrol and outpost duty. The regiment was involved in the defence of the posts at Kehl. 1800: Battles at Möskirch, Biberach, Schwabmünchen, in the Battle of Neresheim and at Odelzhausen. In June, Lieutenant Colonel Wallmoden undertook a foray into the Murg and Kinzig valleys. In late autumn, the regiment was stationed near Regensburg, from where detachments undertook various expeditions, for example under cavalry captain Karl Wilhelm von Scheibler, whose detachment was involved in a skirmish with a French cuirassier regiment near Oettingen in Bavaria.Merveldt's uhlans in Bavaria, 1805 1805: Six squadrons were in Kienmayer's corps in Germany. The Lieutenant Colonel Division belonged to the Reserve Corps, joined Archduke Ferdinand's corps after the Battle of Ulm and fought in the Battle of Stecken. On the retreat of the corps (now Corps Merveldt) to Ober-Steyer, Captain Freiherr von Mengen distinguished himself with a detachment squadron in the liberation of two infantry battalions of the rearguard that had already been cut off, for which he was awarded the Military Maria Theresa Order. Captain Scheibler, who had distinguished himself during the retreat by raising an enemy post in Urfahr, was promoted out of turn to major in the Rosenberg-Chevauxlegers regiment. 1809: Assigned to the II Corps Kolowrat in Germany. Here, Major Graf Mensdorff distinguished himself in the battle of the vanguard at Ursensollen-Amberg. Detachments of the regiment took part in the capture of the city of Hof and the battles near Regensburg. Here, on 21 April, a squadron was surrounded by French cavalry, but was able to free itself from the encirclement, albeit with heavy losses. Later, six squadrons were transferred to the Sommariva Division, where they took part in various battles and carried out patrols in detachments. In July, it was transferred to Bohemia, where the 1st Major's Division was already located. This had already taken part in the operations against Saxony, the battles at Gefrees, Nuremberg and other battles. Lieutenant Colonel Mensdorff was awarded the Military Maria Theresa Order, Captain Mengen was promoted to major in the Uhlan Regiment No. 3. Wars of Liberation In 1813, the regiment was stationed in Inner Austria with three divisions. Two divisions were engaged in the defence of Loibl, divisions of the Lieutenant Colonel's Division at Feistritz, Lippa and Krainberg. In the further advance into Italy, detachments fought at Bassano del Grappa and San Marco; two squadrons were in front of Palmanova.George Nafziger, Defence of the Napoleonic kingdom of Italy (2001), page 39 In 1814, the regiment was distributed in the vicinity of Mantua to the Po and carried out several skirmishes. At Volta, Lieutenant Fausch succeeded in freeing a company of the 10th Feldjäger Battalion, which had already been cut off. A squadron took part in the battle at Monzambano. Reign of the Hundred Days 1815: In the army in France. Entry into Paris.Michael Baczkowski, Galician Uhlan Regiments 1778-1918 (Krakow 2011), p.44 Revolution of 1848/1849 in the Austrian Empire In 1848, the regiment took part in the suppression of the uprising in Prague and then moved under Field Marshal Prince Windisch-Graetz to subjugate Vienna, where it fought in the Battle of Schwechat. During the advance to Hungary, the Lieutenants Colonel's Division fought a battle near Bábolna.Paul Martin, European military uniforms (1967), page 40 In 1849, detachments took part in the battles of Waitzen and Schemnitz, as well as in the Battle of Kápolna, in which the 2nd Major's Division excelled. Battles at Kál and Eger-Farmos. A patrol detachment under Colonel Almásy was ambushed near Losoncz and suffered great losses. One division fought at Hatvan and Puszta-Csem (Komárno). In the summer campaign, 5½ squadrons were partly at Komárno, partly at the Váh and took part in the battles at Vásárút, Böös, Aszód, and the Battle of Pered. Then they came to the siege of Komárno, where they remained until the end of the campaign. In the Battle of Puszta-Herkály on 3 August, the regiment under the command of Count Nostitz covered the retreat of three battalions and all the artillery. In the process, it suffered heavy losses. Half a squadron took part in the campaign of the Southern Army under Banus Joseph Jelačić von Bužim, the 1st Major's Division moved from Bohemia to Hungary in June and was assigned to the Russian Paniutine Division.Graf Civilart uhlans in 1849 Sardinian War In 1859, the regiment was in Italy, individual detachments led outposts and patrol duties. Battles at Borgo Vercelli and Novara. At the Battle of Magenta, the regiment was only used with the 4th Squadron. In the Battle of Solferino, the unit fought with distinction.Moritz von Lehmann Austro-Prussian War In 1866, five squadrons were on outpost duty with the troops under Field Marshal Lieutenant Rzikowsky on the Galician-Prussian border. In the Battle of Auschwitz, the 4th and 5th Squadrons distinguished themselves under Moritz Ritter von Lehman. The 6th Squadron fought at Kenty, Dziedzitz, Goczalkowice and in pursuit of Klapka's Legion.The cavalry lance, page 41 World War I In the First World War, the regiment was initially used as a closed cavalry unit as a closed unit. In particular, the regiment distinguished itself in the Battle of Jaroslawice on 21 August 1914. Since the 4th Cavalry Division, to which the regiment belonged, was to remain as a cavalry unit, it can be assumed, regardless of any infantry operations in the meantime, that the regiment was able to retain its cavalry status until the end of the war. After the proclamation of Poland as an independent state in October 1918, soldiers of Polish and Ruthenian origin were called upon by the interim government to cease hostilities and return home. As a rule, this request was followed. Thus, the unit was withdrawn from its previous high command, the Austro-Hungarian War Ministry, and could not be demobilized by it, at best theoretically disbanded. Whether, when, and where such a dissolution took place, or whether the Uhlans were immediately incorporated into the new Polish army, is not known at present. Uniforms 1790: yellow czapka, grass-green kurtka,Meszaros uhlan 1791 red facings, white tight trousers, yellow buttons 1798: imperial yellow czapka, dark green kurtka and trousers, ponceau red facings, yellow buttonsEnrico Acerbi, Austrian cavalry of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, p.110 1865: yellow tartarka, light blue ulanka and trousers, madder red facings, yellow buttons 1868: imperial yellow Tatarka, light blue Ulanka, madder red boot trousers and facings, yellow buttons 1876: imperial yellow czapka, light blue ulanka, madder red facings and boot trousers, yellow buttons During World War I, Rudolf von Brudermann refused to replace the blue ulankas and red trousers with standard issue hechtgrau uniforms because he believed camouflage was incompatible with courage. Outline A regiment in the Austro-Hungarian cavalry usually originally consisted of three to four (in exceptional cases more) divisions. (Division was used here to describe a unit in battalion strength. The correct division was called an infantry or cavalry troop division.) Each division had three squadrons. The number of riders in the individual subunits fluctuated, but was usually around 160 riders per squadron. The individual divisions were named after their formal leaders:Enrico Acerbi, Austrian cavalry of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, p.64 The 1st Division was the Colonel's Division The 2nd Division was the Lieutenant Colonel's Division The 3rd Division was the Major's Division The 4th Division was the 2nd Major's Division The 5th Division (if any) was the 3rd Major's Division Due to the constant renaming, the regimental histories of the Austro-Hungarian cavalry are very difficult to follow. In addition, there is the constant and apparently arbitrary, sometimes multiple reclassifications of the associations. (For example: K.u.k. Dragoon Regiment "Prince of Windisch-Graetz" No. 14) In the course of the army reform, the cavalry regiments were reduced to two divisions from 1860 onwards. See also Imperial and Royal Uhlans References Category:Army units and formations of Austria-Hungary Category:Cavalry units and formations Category:Military units and formations of the Napoleonic Wars