There is probably less reliable information on the Prussian cavalry flags than there is for any of the other major powers of the Napoleonic Wars. To make matters worse, much of the information available is either just plain wrong in its detail or it is grossly out of whack. The standard sources for the information are incomplete, showing only a selected few of the regiments’ flags for example. This problem soon became apparent to me when, as a “Prussian” gamer, I wanted the flags for my own miniature units. For years I searched for answers, the contradictions in the English-language sources being an indication that the information was not going to be easy to find. This article is based in part on one I wrote for the on-line discussion forum and magazine, “The Napoleon Series”. [http://www.napoleonseries.org - Ed] There is no change here to the information I presented then, as nobody has come forward to correct any possible mistakes I made or to offer any new information. This article is the distillation of nearly 10 years of research and I think it’s about as accurate as it is humanly possible to be, considering the available information. The sources I used are listed in the bibliography; RMW refers to the Prussian Royal War Ministry. To round out this article, I’ve included some information on lance pennons as carried by the uhlans. There are two things gamers should note though. The first is that the flags (which I will call by the generic term “standards”) date mainly from the reign of Frederick William of Prussia, many being presented in 1715. Most English sources state that Fredrick the Great presented the regiments with the standards. However, he only replaced lost or severely damaged standards, preferring the economical measure of keeping the original flags in use. The second thing to note is that there are practically no accurate, commercially available flags that I have seen. The best are those offered by Regimental Colours, for the Seven Year’s War. Signifer have a useable flag for the 4th (later 3rd) Kürassiere Regiment. These two products are all I have found. I would like to have a quick word on terminology. Prussian infantry flags were referred to as “Fahnen” and Kürassier flags as “Standarten”. The Dragoon pattern, which was “swallow-tailed” and hence resembled a guidon, was also referred to as a “Fahnen” during this period, not being officially recognised as a standard until 1891. Pre-1808 practice called for each regiment to carry one “Leib-Standarte” (“King’s” standard) in the senior (“Leib”) squadron and a “regimental” standard in the other squadrons. Following infantry practice, the “King’s” standards usually had white fields with a coloured centre while the “regimental” standards would have a white centre and coloured field. If corner wedges or flames were present, they retained their colour on both the Leib- and Regiments-standarten. There is also some confusion about the “crosses” that appeared on the flags. Some authors say the cross was upright and the field formed the corners (Nash in particular insists on this). However, the German-language sources I have, with the exception of Georges Alt, refer to the corners of the cavalry flags as “eckkeilen” or “eckflammen”- corner wedges and corner flames respectively, imposed on the field of the standard. I will also follow that convention throughout this article. History Basically, two different patterns of standard were carried (ignoring the difference between kürassier and dragoon patterns for the moment). The first, and most numerous, dates from the time of Frederick William (1713-1740) while the latter dates from Frederick the Great (1740-1786) or later. The centre device and corner monograms easily identify the two differing patterns. The pattern of standard issued by Frederick William carried “FWR” corner monograms and a centre of an eagle flying up towards the sun. The scroll read “Non Soli Cedit” (see figure 1). Those presented by Frederick the Great carried an “FR” monogram and a centre device of a flying eagle carrying a sword and thunderbolts. The scroll read “Pro Gloria et Patria” (see figure 3). I will refer to the two types as FWR and FR throughout this article. There is, of course, an exception. The standard of the Garde-du-Corps was an FR pattern standard but, as it was presented by Frederick William II, it carried “FWR” monograms. The standards presented by Frederick William were nearly 100 years old by the time of the Napoleonic Wars. Fiebig mentions two items of interest - that the standards were regularly repaired and that Friedrich Wilhelm II supposedly made “issues in kind” in the 1790’s. This replacement of a battered standard with a copy was made regardless of it being an FWR or FR design. Riehn discusses this point at length and comes to the conclusion that the repaired standards were probably in better condition than those issued by Frederick the Great, hence the reason why so many FWR patterns were carried. Before 1811 each squadron of the dragoons and kürassiere (light cavalry were not permitted to carry standards from 1808 to 1815) carried a standard, so it was possible for the standards of more than one of the pre-1808 regiments to be carried in each new regiment. From 1811 only one standard per regiment was carried. To help obscure matters this was not always a Leib-Standarte, nor even one from the most senior pre-1808 army regiment that formed the new regiment. The following generalisations can be made about the standards: The fill in the bottom of the central crown is in red but the field shows through the crown’s arches. The stones on the crown are in silver. The eagle is black (except when a standard has a black centre, here the eagle is gold). The crown, beak and claws of the eagle are gold, the tongue red and the eyes white. The sword and lightning bolts, when carried, are silver and gold respectively. The monogram on the eagle’s (FR pattern) breast is gold. The ribbon tying the central wreath on the kürassier pattern standards was red but in the colour of the embroidered wreath on the dragoon pattern. The scroll in the centre was in the field colour (except for that of the Garde du Corps, which was in the colour of the central device). The kürassiere pattern standard was about 80cm square (excluding fringe), while that of the dragoons was about 85cm by 95cm. The rider was able to carry the standard by using a bandolier. The bandolier was the belt that was attached to the standard’s lance by a gold or silver spring clip. The idea was that the belt would stop the standard from being dropped by the rider. These were usually made of heavy velvet cloth and were heavily embroidered with gold and silver thread. The fields of the kürassiere-pattern standards had scroll patterns formed from heavy silk brocading. This was a pattern effect formed by the way the cloth was woven by virtue of the fact that, although in the same colour was used as in the field, the threads ran in a different direction to form a complicated decoration. Identifying the Standards In the following notes I propose to determine the identity of the standards carried by each regiment, using the 1808 unit numbering. I have included the most relevant source reference to support my conclusions. Further source material extracts can be reviewed in greater detail within my article at the Napoleonic Series. I have also created colour representations of how I believe each standard appeared and copies are provided on the inside cover of the magazine as referenced in the article. Schlesisches Kürassier Regiment Nr 1. Formed from various regiments in 1808, the regiment inherited the standards of the old Wagenfeld Kürassier-Regiment Nr 4. Alt: Purple with a white centre. The centre device the same as figure 1, the legend on the scroll is “NON SOLI CEDIT” (the legend was changed to “NEC...” on new standards issued after the Napoleonic Wars). The corner monograms are given as “F.W.R.” with a silver background. The bandolier is given as black with gold edging while the staff is given as purple. I believe the standard carried was a square, kürassiere pattern of the FWR type as illustrated in figure 1. The field colour was a bright purple to dark crimson colour with silver backgrounds to the centre devices and corner monograms. The crowns, wreaths and corner devices were gold and the palm fronds surrounding the centre wreath were green. Ostpreußisches Kürassier Regiment Nr 2. Formed from the von Zeiten Dragoner-Regiment Nr 6 (1st battalion) and the depot squadrons of DR Nr 9 and Nr 10. Also carried by DR Nr 2. An excerpt from the regimental history of the regiment reads: “Orlop, [Max]; Geschichte des Kürassier-Regiments Graf Wrangel (Ostpreußisches) Nr. 3 von 1717 bis 1892. Berlin, 1892.[VI, 547, 169* pages] There in the appendix it is stated on page 3* f., that the regimental standard, still carried in 1892, had been of the former dragoon-pattern with wedges, given to the Dragoner-Regiment Nr 6 (Auer in 1806). According to Orlop, the field had been dark-blue and the wedges “mohnrot” (poppy-red). The middle was silver and the ribbon blue. It had been inscribed “Non soli cedit” for the Leib-standarte and “Pro Gloria et Patria” for the Regiments-Standarten. All embroidery was in gold. But by 1892 the cloth was destroyed and only the linen layer of “lichtblau” (light-blue) colour under the silk had survived, as well as a small part of “bläulich” (bluey) silk under the nails. The staff in 1892 had a length of 255 cm, was painted “lichtblau” and “mit Silber gereifelt” (had silver ribbed grips). RWM: Dark blue with poppy-red corner wedges, silver centre and gold embroidery. FWR monograms. Mention is made of the standards captured at Kray and the fact that they appear to have gold corner flames rather than red wedges. Cornflower blue bandolier with gold embroidery and a pale blue staff. I believe this standard to be a dragoon pattern of the FWR type. The field was dark blue with poppy-red corner wedges, a silver centre and gold embroidery. See figure 2. Garde-du-Corps Kürassier Regiment Nr 3. There was no need to reform this unit after 1806. Alt: On 17 July 1798 new standards of drap d’argent (cloth of silver) with gold embroidery and a new-pattern eagle below an orange ribband with the legend “PRO GLORIA ET PATRIA”, as in figure 3, were issued. The staff is given as white with gold nails and staff-head. All standards were of the same pattern (“hatte nur Leib-Standarten”). I believe this standard to be a Kürassiere pattern of the FR type but with FWR monograms. The field was drap d’argent with orange centre and background to the corner medallions. The embroidery, crowns and monograms of mixed silver, gold and green thread as described in Riehn. See figure 3. Brandenburgisches Kürassier Regiment Nr 4. Formed from various regiments, this regiment is stated to have carried a Regiments-Standarte of von Quitzow Kürassier-Regiment Nr 6. Alt: Described as “einmal ausgezackt” (lit. “cut out once”) it is swallow-tailed and has a blue field, silver centre, silver embroidery and a centre device as in figure 3. The bandolier and staff are Russian Blue, the former with gold edging and the latter with gold nails and staff-head. Redlin, Riehn: As Alt, but a square pattern standard and pale blue staff. Figure 4 is the illustration given in Redlin for this standard. I believe this standard to be a Kürassiere pattern of the FR type. The field is cornflower blue and the centre is silver. All embroidery is in gold. See figure 4. Königin Dragoner Regiment Nr 1. Raised 2 April 1717. This regiment continued to use their Leib-Standarte carried prior to 1806. DR Nr 5 carried a Regiments-Standarte of this regiment. Alt, Redlin, RWM: White field and black centre. The eagle on the centre type is the old type, gold, flying up towards a sun in the upper right of the centre. The ribband is white and the legend “NON SOLI CEDIT (given as “NEC” by Alt). Redlin is indeterminate as part of this section is missing. Swallow-tailed dragoon pattern. Embroidery and stitching in gold. The staff was black with gold fittings and the bandolier crimson with silver edging. Alt states this standard had FWR monograms in the corners and that it was presented in 1725. I have concluded that this standard was a dragoon pattern, FWR type. The field was white and the centre black. The embroidery was in gold. See figure 5. 1. Westpreußisches Dragoner Regiment Nr 2. Formed from the von Zeiten Dragoner-Regiment Nr 6 (2nd battalion) and the depot squadrons of DR Nr 9 and Nr 10. Also carried a Regiments-Standarte of the old v. Zeiten DR Nr 6. Alt, RWM: Orange bandolier with silver edging (Alt) or rose-red with silver (RWM), otherwise as described under KR Nr 2. The standard was recorded as having been presented in 1737 and as having FWR monograms. I believe this standard to be a dragoon pattern of the FWR type. The field was dark blue with poppy-red corner wedges, a silver centre and gold embroidery. See figure 2. Littauisches Dragoner Regiment Nr 3. Formed from the von Baczko Dragoner Regiment Nr 7. A Regiments-Fahne of this regiment was carried. Redlin: Swallow-tailed, red corner flames and black field. Silver centre of the type in figure 1. Light blue staff. I believe this standard to be a dragoon pattern of the FR type. The field was black with poppy-red corner flames, a silver centre and gold embroidery. See Figure 6. 2. Westpreußisches Dragoner Regiment Nr 4. Formed principally from the von Esebeck Dragoner Regiment Nr 8. Handed in all its standards in 1811 and did not carry one until the 1814 abdication, when a Regiments-Fahne was carried. The old 8th dragoons were formed from the 7th regiment, which was split to form two regiments by Friedrich the Great. Therefore the flags of the two regiments were of the same colouring and pattern, with Mr Riehn stating both regiments ended up with mixed FWR and FR sets. RWM, Riehn: As for DR Nr 3 above but an FWR pattern with pale blue staff and rose-red bandolier with gold embroidery (RWM). Pattern not ascribed by Mr Riehn. I believe this standard to be a dragoon pattern of the FWR type. The field was black with poppy-red corner flames, a silver centre and gold embroidery as in figure 7. Brandenburgisches Dragoner Regiment Nr 5. Formed from Wilhelm, Prinz von Preussen Dragoon Regiment Nr 1 and von Balliodz Kürassier Regiment Nr 5. Alt, Redlin, Riehn, RWM, Wise: Carried a Regiments-Fahne of the Königin Dragoner Regiment. Swallow-tailed, black field, white centre and gold embroidery. Staff black (Redlin- natural wood) with gold trim, bandolier cornflower blue (Alt) or black (RWM) with gold trim I believe this standard to be a dragoon pattern of the FWR type. The field was black with a silver centre and gold embroidery. See figure 8. Neumärkisches Dragoner Regiment Nr 6. Formed from the remnants and depots of von Irwing Dragoner Regiment Nr 3 and von Katte Dragoner Regiment Nr 4. RWM, Redlin, Riehn: Leib-Fahne of DR Nr 4 with a cornflower blue centre, rose-red bandolier with silver embroidery and natural wood staff. I believe this standard to be a dragoon pattern of the FWR type. The field was white with a cornflower blue centre and gold embroidery. See figure 9. It should be remembered that the age of many of these flags meant that the unstable organic dyes used on the cloth would have faded (and in some cases darkened) to a certain extent. Reds and yellows are particularly prone to this, often fading to a golden colour (reds) or brownish-white (yellows). Even some mixing of colours was possible by the time their descriptions were put to paper. Therefore the description of KR2’s standard having a pale or sky blue field in 1892 may be correct for 1892 (and possibly earlier). DR Nr 6 was described as having a purple-brown centre on its standard in 1881, for example, where the original cornflower blue dye had been affected by fading and possible staining from the metallic thread used to embroider the wreaths, etc. Pennons of the Uhlans of the Light Cavalry and Landwehr The light cavalry contained, among others, the various types of “uhlan” or lancer regiments. In the vast majority of cases the lance had a pennon affixed to it. Notable exceptions to this convention were the “Cossack” squadrons attached to the Guard cavalry. A pennon was a small swallow-tailed flag that measured about 450mm by 300mm. I have not been able to find an absolutely definitive measurement. This pennon were used to identify the regiment (or within the Landwehr regiments, sometimes the squadron) and was also designed to unsettle enemy mounts by virtue of the flapping cloth when the lance was thrust at an enemy rider. A regulation of 13 March 1815 did away with regiment and squadron coloured pennons, and called for all to be a universal white over black. However, this order was not implemented totally by the “100 Days” and it seems that many units still bore lances with the old, multi-coloured pennons. Unfortunately, history leaves few clues as to which units carried what. Before March 1813 the three regular regiments were ordered to carry pennons that distinguished the regiment. These were all coloured dark blue on the lower half and the top carried the colour signifying the regiment’s seniority: white for the 1st (West Prussian); poppy-red for the second (Silesian) and lemon yellow for the third (Brandenburg). Until 1812 the officers of the 3rd Uhlans carried white painted lances with oversized pennons in reversed colours. These bore a golden sun on the top, blue half and a black Prussian eagle with the motto “Nec Soli Cedit” embroidered in gold on the lower half. The Guard carried white over poppy-red pennons. In the Landwehr, the pennons were supposed to be coloured with the provincial colour on the bottom and the seniority colour of the regiment on the top. So, the 2nd Silesian Landwehr KR should (and apparently did) have a red over yellow pennon. As was often the case, the Landwehr had their own ideas and often the squadron colour was substituted for the regimental colour. Sometimes it was the squadron colour over the regimental colour. And then some units sported a Landwehr cross on the pennon, just to confuse the issue... The regimental seniority colours were white, red, yellow and sky blue for the first to 4th regiments (this pattern was repeated for 5th to 8th, 9th to 12th, etc). The squadron seniority colours were white, yellow, sky blue and red for 1st to 4th squadrons (sometimes white, red, yellow and sky blue). Sorting out which unit did what is beyond my resources, unfortunately, but a few examples are: 2nd Squadron, 1st Neumärk Landwehr - red over white (which implies the regiment carried squadron pennons). 3rd (?) West Prussian Landwehr - yellow over crimson (the province colour was black for West Prussian landwehr but the sources indicate they sometimes wore crimson or brick-red. Crimson was the province colour of West Prussian infantry regiments). 1st Silesian Landwehr - white over yellow ? Regiment Elbe Landwehr - blue over red. ? Regiment Westphalian Landwehr - red over orange, with a black landwehr cross centralised on the cloth. 1st (?) Rhine Landwehr - white over crimson. As for the carrying of regimental standards, I have found no evidence of any “unofficial” flags being carried by the landwehr cavalry (as there were by the infantry). That doesn’t mean there were none, just that nobody I have discussed the matter with, nor the books I own, can provide examples. The various lancer regiments of the National Cavalry, Freikorps and volunteer lancer units also sported coloured pennons: Prussian National Cavalry - White over the squadron colour (white, scarlet, sky blue and green) Hellwig’s Streifkorps - Medium blue over scarlet Lutzow’s Freikorps - black over scarlet Bremen Volontar-Korps - scarlet over white Acknowledgements Over the many years researching the often confusing and conflicting material to put this article together, I have been helped by many people. I’d like to briefly acknowledge the generous contributions and kinds patience of the following: Bob Burnham, John Cook, Thomas Hermann, Peter Hofschröer, Oliver Schmidt and John Staellart. Thanks. If there is anyone out there who feels I’ve made any errors, I would be glad to hear from you. Just contact the Napoleonic Editor at the e-mail address given in this magazine. I hope you’ve enjoyed this article and found it useful. Bibliography Alt, Pr-Lt Georges. “Geschichte der Königl. Preußischen Kürassiere und Dragoner 1619-1870”. Berlin 1870, reprinted 1970. Fiebig, Maj(E) Ewald. “Unsterbliche Treue”. Berlin 1936 Hofschröer, Peter. “Prussian Cavalry of the Napoleonic Wars 1807-1815”, “Men At Arms” series number 172 published by Osprey. London 1986. “Prussian Cavalry of the Napoleonic Wars 1792-1807”, “Men At Arms” series number 162 published by Osprey. London 1985. Nash, David. “The Prussian Army 1808-1815”. New Malden, 1972. Orlop, Max. “Geschichte des Kürassier-Regiments Graf Wrangel (Ostpreußisches) Nr. 3 von 1717 bis 1892”. Berlin, 1892. Over, Keith. “Flags and Standards of the Napoleonic Wars”. London 1976 Rawkins, W.J. “The Prussian Army 1808-15”. Anschluss Publishing, UK. Riehn, Richard. “Prussian Cavalry Standards 1713 to 1815”. Series of two articles printed in Campaigns magazine, issues 30 and 31. UK, 197? Royal Prussian War Ministry. “Geschichte der königlich preußischen Fahnen und Standarten seit dem Jahre 1807”. Berlin 1889. Wise, Terence and Rosignoli, Guido. “Flags of the Napoleonic Wars (2)”. “Men At Arms” series number 78 published by Osprey. London 1978. Reprint 1995. Using the Flags on the Inside Back Cover Back to Table of Contents -- Courier #84 To Courier List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 2002 by The Courier Publishing Company. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. 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