If there has been a degree of confusion in the context of Wurttemberg infantry colours, this is doubly so where cavalry standards are concerned. I do not know of any popular modern English language reference works that approach the subject with even a degree of accuracy. As is the case with infantry colours though, very little had been written on the subject until Herbert Hahn produced his superlative study in 1984. Be that as it may, the remaining artifacts held by the Landesmuseum in Stuttgart, unfortunately not on display at present, represent examples of every type.

Interestingly, the standards are generally in much better condition than the infantry colours, some of the former appearing as bright and fresh as if nearly new. Bearing in mind that presentations were usually one to each squadron, is it possible that not all of these accompanied the regiments on campaign? Regiment Garde zu Pferd and Dragoner Regiment Kronprinz certainly saw very little campaining, if memory serves me correctly only in 1814 as part of the Allied armies. Perhaps the cavalry standards were simply more substantial than infantry colours. Whatever the reason, they have survived the passage of time somewhat better.

Prior to 1798 the cavalry arm of the Wurttemberg army consisted of the Kreis Dragoner-Regiment, Leibjager-Corps and Husaren-Schwadron. The Leibjager and Husaren were numerically insignificant, whilst the Kreis Dragoner-Regiment was Wurttemberg's mounted contribution to the forces of the Schwabischen Reichskreis, the Imperial District of Swabia, a component part of the Holy Roman Empire. In July 1796, during The War of the First Coalition, Wurttemberg, together with the other principal south German states, defected from the Imperial camp. It was not until 1806 that the Holy Roman Empire was finally dissolved, although the effects of the French Revolution had already started to influence the pattern of future alliances. No longer under the patronage of Vienna, Wurttemberg ceased to provide contingents to the Reichs Armee and on 12th September 1798 the first reorganisation took place.

The Kreis-Dragoner-Regiment, Leibjager-Corps and Husaren Schwadron were formed into a single Reiter-Regiment of six companies, two of Garde du Corps, one of Leibjager zu Pferd and three of Chevaulegers. In 1802 the Reiter-Regiment provided the cadre for the mounted arm as it later became. The first standards were presented in the following year.

The standards fall into two categories, those of the Electorate and those of the Kingdom and may be further divided into conventional standards and vexilla. Readers should refer to my previous article on infantry colours for details of the country's various arms during the period (NN&Q9, pp.9-19)

Wurttemburg Cavalry Standards 1798-1815

Introduction
Electoral Standards
Royal Standards
Cavalry Units 1798-1813