Introduction

The intention of these articles is to give a brief description of the army of Hessen-Kassel during the second half of the seventeenth century. They will cover the creation of the standing army and its development until the Peace of Ryswick that endcd the War of the League of Augsburg. The articles are aimed towards the wargamer who is both interested in the wars of the late seventeenth century and looking for an army that is a little different to the perhaps more familiar armies of this increasingly popular period.

Organisation

At the end of the Thirty Years' War the army of Hessen-Kassel, numbering some 13,000 infantry and 3,000 cavalry, was disbanded. The only permanent formations retained were the Fuerstliche Leibgarde zu Ross which were a mounted guard unit whose history dated back to 1599 with the formation by Landgrave Moritz of a personal bodyguard. Two companies of infantry were stationed in the town of Kassel, with a third stationed in Ziegenhain, these being named Schloss-Kompagnien and performing a duty as a palace guard for the residences of the Laudgrave. Each company was 200 strong; it is probable that each had 50 pikemen and 150 musketeers.

Schloss-Kompagnien were expanded in 1659 with the addition to the Kassel garrison of a further two companies. These infantry units were to see action as part of the Reichsarmee which consisted of troops from the various German states, these being organised into ten geographical areas, each responsible for raising a part of the Imperial army in time of need. Hessen-Kassel formed part of the Oberreinischen Kreis Upper Rhine Circle for which it was obliged to raise 100 cavalry and 200 infantry for service in defence of the Empire. They served in Hungary during the war against the Turks (1663 - 1664) and were present at the battle of St. Gotthard.

The most senior of the Kassel garrison infantry companies was granted the title Fuerstliche Leibkompagnie in 1672. The following year saw an increase in the infantry establishment. The garrison of Kessel consisted of three companies, that of Ziegenhain two and a further three companies formed the garrison at the fortress of Rinteln.

In 1676 an infantry regiment, ten companies strong together with some cavalry squadrons from the regiment commanded by von Hornub, made up a force of 1,700 men under the command of Oberst Ufm Keller that was sent to Denmark to assist King Christian V in his war against Sweden. At this time pikemen still made up around a quarter of the company strength, these as usual. taking their place in the centre of the unit when in action, with the musketeers covering the flanks of the pike block. The commanding officers' company took its place at the right of the line, the other companies to its left in order of seniority. The regiments flags were placed in the centre. The drummers were positioned behind the flags and at each end of the line standing to the rear. The regiments of horse were drawn up in three ranks with intervals between each squadron.

In 1676 a militia was created to provide an emergency defence force for the state and to support the regular army.

The threat posed to Germany by the expansionist policies of the king of France led to the Diet passing new laws in 1681 with regard to the military organisation of the ten circles of the Empire. A peacetime force of 40,000 men was to be maintained, the land graftshaft of Hessen-Kassel was obliged to provide 177 cavalry and 1,029 infantry, the Oberreinsche Kries contingent totalling some 491 cavalry and 2,853 infantry.

It was in 1683 that the Landgrave Karl created the standing army in Hessen-Kassel. The. permanent formation of a single infantry regiment of eight companies was the beginning of a force that was to see action in all the major wars fought in Europe in the decades ahead.

The army was enlarged during the year to ~three regiments of horse and three regiments of foot, these taking their names from their commanding officers; in addition to these there were four companies of infantry.

Cavalry

Leibgarde zu Pferde, two companies strong. Regiment Adolph Rau zu Holzhausen, eight companies, formed from the regiment von Hornumb that had fought for the Danes. Dragoner Regiment Graf August von Lippe-Brake, eight companies, known as the Red Dragoons.

Infantry

Regiment Graf August von Lippe.-Brake, eight companies strong; the three companies remaining after the reorganisation of 1648 were the basis of this regiment. Regiment Prinz Philip van Hessen-Kassel, eight companies. Regiment Keller, eleven companies, formed from the remnants of the regimcnt sent to Denmark. Two companies provided by the Graf zu Katzenellenbogen. One garrison company stationed at Marburg.

In addition to the regular army the militia companies were to provide a force of regimental strength by the following year.

In 1684 the senior infantry regiment in the list above was renamed as the Leib-Regiment zu Fuss and increased in strength to ten companies each of 100 men. Ile third infantry regiment was, in the same year, renamed Regiment Oberst von Hanstein.

Hessian troops again served against the Turks in the Balkans as the Turkish siege of Vienna was lifted and the imperial armies forced their way back into Hungary. In 1687 a regiment of infantry from Hessen-Kassel saw service in the pay of Venice who, at that time, had half her army made up with German regiments. These troops saw action during the Venetian assault on Turkish possesions in Greece. The Hessen-Kassel contingent, the Regiment Prinz Karl, comprised of 1,000 men organised into ten companies, these being drawn from various regiments in the Landgraf Karl's army. They were soon to be needed much nearer home as the French king, Louis XIV, had unleashed his armies in an orgy of destruction on the helpless Palatinate.

Uniforms

As far as the earliest units covered by this article are concerned there is, unfortunately, very little information. At the beginning of the period covered by these articles it would seem that the Hessian troops were to be found wearing grey coats and that these were worn as late as the 1680s in some cases. The infantry regiment that was part of the German contingent that saw service in the Venetian army during the invasion of Greece in 1687 wore a white-gray coat with yellow cuffs, leather trousers and white-grey socks. The grenadiers were wearing grenadier caps by this date and the musketeers wore a black hat with silver lace edging. A raincoat with a hood was also provided for the infantrymen.

It would also appear, however, that the Hessians were wearing a blue coat at an early date during the reign of Landgraf Karl (1670 - 1730). The infantry were to be provided with an indigo-blue coat which was to be collarless as was the waistcoat underneath. The cuffs of the coat were either red, white or yellow depending upon the regiment. A long knotted white cotton neckerchief was worn around the neck. A raincoat, short leather breeches, woolen socks and a pair of buckled black leather shoes were supplied to each man. The hat took the familiar tricorn shape at a very early date. The hair was worn loose and shoulder length. The equipment during the early part of the second half of the 17th century was of natural leather.

When on the march the raincoat was worn rolled over the shoulder. The infantry were organised into companies of around 80 men, this being their full establishment the wartime numbers would presumably be less. Of these 60 would be musketeers, armed with a matchlock musket, the remaining 20 would carry the pike. The musketeers' bandolier was still in use at the beginning of the period but was gradually replaced by a cartridge pouch. All the infantry carried a sword and in addition to this the musketeers carried a plug bayonet. The infantry officers carried spontoons, the junior officers and sergeants were armed with partisans and halberds. The senior officers wore a light breastplate or gorget. The officers in each regiment wore a coat in the facing colour of the men.

From 1676 the militia were dressed in long grey coats with red cuffs and neckerchiefs. The leather equipment was a yellow colour. The cartridge pouch was made of grey felt as was the hat. Unfortunately I have no information on the organisation of the Militia at this date.

The cavalry regiments were clothed in a thick, light grey cloth coat and leather breeches and high riding boots. The breast and back armour was blackened as was the helmet. Towards the end of the period covered by this article the helmet began to be discarded, replaced by the tricorn which had a cross shaped iron reinforcement in the crown affording the wearer some protection to sword cuts. to the skull. Iron gauntlets were worn in the early years but these too were gradually discarded. The cavalry then wore thick leather gauntlets.

The Dragoon regiment, known at this time as the Red Dragoons, from the colour of their coat were armed with a carbine complete with bayonet, a sword and a pair of pistols. This regiment had white distinctions at a later date and it is likely that this was the case during the period covered by this article. The breeches were again made of natural leather, as were the gloves and the crossbelts for the cartridge pouch and the sword. The saddle cloth was red.

In contrast to the infantry there is, unfortunately, very little information on the actual numbers of men in the mounted arm at this point in time. It is probable that the squadrons had a complement of between 60 and 80 men. In 1688 the Wartensleben Dragonmer Regiment had six companies each 70 men strong.

There is however, a good deal of information available on the army of Hessen-Kassel during the war of the League of Augsburg and it is this period that I intend to cover in the second part of this article.

I am sure that most of the readership are aware of the book From Pike to Shot by Charles Stewart Grant; this really is an excellent introduction to the period, everyone with an interest in the warfare of the late 17th century should be in possession of a copy. As a general study it obviously has its limitations when dealing with a specific army and during the preparation of this article I have made use of the following books in my own modest library.

Sources

Die Hessischen Jaeger by Georg Heinz Wetzel, Kassel 1987.
Gesciclite des Fusilier-regiments von Gersdorff (Kurhessisches) Nr. 80 und seines Stamm- Regiments des Korhessisches Liebgarde-regiments von 1631 bis 1913 by Friedrich von Lettow- Vorbeck, Marburg 1913.
Hessisches Militaer, Die Truppen der Landgrafschaft von Hessen-Kassel 1672-1806 by Uwe Peter Boehm, Beckurn 1986.
Hessisches Uniformbilder by Ernst Metz, Kassel 1964.
Les Armees qui Combattirent Louis 14, volume 3, Hesse Cassel by C. P. Goldberg and J Belaubre, 1973.

In addition to these books reference was made to various articles in the magazine Zeitschrift fuer Heereskunde which is published five times a year by the Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Heereskunde in Germany. This magazine should be essential reading for anyone studying the armed forces of the German states even if, like myself, your command of the German language leaves much to be desired.

I appreciate that this article is far from being a complete study on the army of Hessen-Kassel but I hope that it may be of some interest nevertheless. I would welcome any criticism on this article or further information on the army of Hessen-Kassel if any reader should be in a position to offer some.

Army of Hessen Kassel 1650-1700 Part Two: 1688-1700

Organisation
Uniforms