The Grand Duchy provided three service battalions under its obligations as a member of the Rheinbund. The first of these was raised in September 1806. Initially of nine companies, it was later reorganized like the French model into six: voltiguer, grenadier, and four fusilier companies.

The unit served in Spain from 1808 until 1813, when it deserted to the Allies. The other two battalions took part in the Russian campaign in 1812 and are sometimes called 3rd Rheinbund Regiment.

Uniforms can be divided into two distinct styles. The first was white and of Austrian pattern, the second dark-blue and in the style of French light infantry. The white uniform is illustrated by Weiland [1] who, interestingly, is also the suggested possible author of the Otto Manuscript by at least one authority. [2] In contrast to the Otto Manuscript, however, in the case of Weiland's 'Darstellung' we know, for certain, not only the identity of the artist but when and where he had sensory contact with his subjects. Unlike the 'Otto' artist, Weiland is, without doubt, a primary source. That, of course, does not make him infallible.

However, we also know that C.F. Weiland served in both the Wurttemberg and Prussian armies and he is, therefore, an expert witness. It is also possible to corroborate his work and he can be shown to be generally reliable. In the case of his illustrations of Frankfurt infantry, these are confirmed in most details by at least one other contemporary source - a description of the dress of the battalion when it marched for Spain.

"A white jacket without lapels, red collar, cuffs and piping. The Jager company has a green jacket cut like a hussar's, red collar, cuffs and lapels. The grenadiers wear afur cap, the Jagers a green and black shako, the fusilier companies a hat". [3]

Knotel uses Weiland as the source for his study of the Prince Primate's infantry in 1807 [4] and shows the white uniform cut in Austrian style with red turnbacks, red Polish cuffs, collar and shoulder straps. Weiland also shows the officer wearing a plain grey surtout type jacket, which Knotel suggests might be a form of service dress. Knotel does not attempt to reconcile the minor differences in the dress of the Jager and merely notes them. Towards the end of this first period the cockade changed from black to red on white.

My first illustrations are of the uniforms 1807-1809 and, except the grenadier, are taken from Knotel's representations of Weiland's paintings. They are from left to right, grenadier, fusilier, fusilier officer in surtout, and Jager. The grenadier is conjectural in that I have no reliable illustration of the fur cap or the reverse of the jacket. The latter is based on Austrian precedence. I have shown trousers made of local brown Spanish cloth, which was common usage in that theatre.

It should be noted that modern renditions show a Frankfurt grenadier wearing a French style white habit with red epaulettes, cords and plume to the fur cap, which is said to have had a white metal front plate, and a grenade device on the pouch. [5]

I can confirm none of this and I do not know what credence to place on it. It does not appear to accord with contemporary descriptions which, whilst the grenadier insignia is not impossible, depict a white uniform of decidedly old fashioned and Germanic appearance. Similarly, modern depictions also show a French style pack and rolled grey greatcoat. This too is not confirmed by Knotel or his sources and a satchel type haversack seems more in keeping with the style of the ensemble.

The white unifonns were replaced during 1809 with blue ones, but it is not obvious if this had occurred by the Battle of Talavera on 28 July 1809. The white uniform appears to have still been in use in March 1809 because the parlous state of the battalion's dress is recorded after the Battle of Medellin on 29 March,

"... the battalion received good shoes and new uniforms. The first were taken from the feet of dead Spaniards, trousers were made for the soldiers from their red-brown cloaks and blue cloth was requisitioned for jackets." [6]