The 'Hoch- und Deutschmeister', (or 'Deutschmeister'), can lay claim to being amongst the oldest military formations in the world, having its origins in the Order of Teutonic Knights, founded in 1190. Later, forced out of Prussia and Poland during the Reformation, the Order made its base in Bad Mergentheim, where it remained until Napoleon seized the Order's lands in 1809.

In 1695, Habsburg Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I requested more contingents from the German Princes to fight the Turks. In response, the Elector of Pfaiz-Neuberg mustered a regiment at Donauworth on 3rd June 1696. The Elector's brother, the Duke of Bavaria, became Inhaber or Proprietary Colonel - he was (already) head of the Teutonic Order with the title of 'Hochund Deutschmeister'. Uniquely among all the line regiments which served the Habsburgs, the regiment retained the title - all the others changed with the Inhaber. Most officers and some volunteer men were members of the Order throughout its history.

Starting as it meant to go on, the regiment marched to war and received a baptism of fire at Prince Eugene's victory over the Turks at Zenta on 11th September 1697. The Regiment continued to serve in all the wars which raged across Europe in the 18th century and on 18th June 1757, received its greatest battle-honour in the Austrian victory over Frederick the Great at Kohn. With his right wing under severe pressure, and his reserve already committed to the centre, Field Marshal Landon ordered the Deutschmeister and 2 other regiments to march across the line from the left to help halt repeated Prussian assaults.

The Prussians rained down a heavy artillery barrage, but the line held, while the Austrian centre and left began to advance. A Prussian cavalry assault on the far right wing came as a surprise, but the Deutschmeister stood their ground and with a series of steady volleys, contributed much to shattering Frederick's final offensive. Bohemia, (Western Czechoslovakia), had been saved for the Habsburgs and it was ordered that, henceforth, 18th June was to be 'Kolin Day' and the Deutschmeister's Honour Day.

Gradually the Habsburgs began to reduce their reliance on contingents from the Princes and the Austrian Army began to take proper form. As well as its original recruiting station in Mergentheim, the Deutschmeister had been ordered to establish a station in Vienna in 1752 and later it was allotted its recruitment area in the Vienna Woods district of Lower Austria, (essentially the area around Vienna). In 1779, the Leib, (1st), battalion and Regimental staff established its HQ in the city itself. Volunteers continued to be recruited at Mergentheim, but with the addition of districts inside the Vienna suburbs, the Regiment's true home in that city was firmly established such was the patronage enjoyed under Emperor Josef II, (1780-90), that the Regiment became known as the Emperor's and also Vienna's 'Edelknaben' or 'noble fellows'. A further recruiting station in Zolkiew, Galicia was added after Poland was partitioned.

Military reforms in 1767 led to regiments being properly numbered by seniority and 'paired off' with another unit wearing the same facing colours and only differentiated by button colour. The Deutschmeister became number 4, sharing its sky-blue, (then a light blue) facings with Regiment Nr.3 and wearing brass buttons, (gun-metal for IR 3).

More 'Hoch und Deutschmeister'

Introduction
The Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars
After the Wars