INTRODUCTION Charles II of Spain died childless and in his will he left his entire kingdom to Louis XIV's grandson Philip of Anjou. However, Charles was also the last Spanish Hapsburg and the Austrian Hapsburgs were determined to prevent the Bourbons from securing the throne of Spain. Thus war broke out with Spain and France on one side: and Austria, the Empire, England, and the Netherlands on the other. France tried to obtain an alliance with Denmark, but Frederick IV desired to maintain good relations with the Maritime Powers; therefore, he rented out 8000 men to the Kaiser and 1200 men to England and the Netherlands. Even if there was economic profit in this, the king didn't realize how much he would come to miss these troops. Those in Imperial service would not return home until 1709, and then at half their original strength. Those in the service of the Maritime Powers would be kept for 14 years. The campaign in Ska'ne might have achieved a different result if these troops had remained home in Denmark. THE DANISH AUXILIARY CORPS IN IMPERIAL SERVICE, 1701-1709 In 1700 Frederick IV sent some troops to help August II of Saxony. The following regiments were involved and were of battalion strength: Dronningens Livregiment Queen's Own Regiment Prins Christians Regiment Prince Christian's Regiment Prins Karls Regiment Prince Karl's Regiment Prins Georgs Regiment Prince George's Regiment Sjaellandske Regiment Zealand Regiment Jydske Regiment Jutland Regiment Fynske Regiment Fyn/Funen Regiment Marineregimentet The Marine Regiment In addition the following Dragoon regiments also accompanied the infantry regiments to Saxony: Livregiment King's Own under la Batt, later under Juel Holstenske Dragoons Holstein Dragoons under Rodsteen In 1701 the Fynske Regiment together with the grenadier companies from Prins Karl's, Prins Georg's and the Sjaellandkse Regiment were sent to the Netherlands. The remaining regiments were rented to the Kaiser, Leopold I, and only in 1709 did a few of them return after unbelievable hardships. On their arrival home, this Corps consisted mostly of Germans, but there were also Czechs and Hungarians among them. The Corps consisted mostly of Danes when it fought in Northern Italy at Mantua and Luzarra in 1702, and in the Campaign of 1703. However, by the time the Corps entered Hungary in 1704, the Danes only made up a part of the Corps. Here one can quite rightly ask what the Danes were doing in Hungary? The reason was that an insurrection had broken out in Hungary because of the social and political situation which prevailed. First the country had been pillaged by the Turks, and after the Peace of 1699, the Austrians returned. They were thought to have an understanding of Hungarian problems. Quite the opposite, the pressed the Hungarians for more taxes. As a result an insurrection broke out in 1703. It was Prince Rakoczi who became the leader of the insurrection. Previous to this, his possessions had been confiscated and he was condemned to death. he was supported by the French and Polish noble families, and, despite many defeats and setbacks, the insurrection continued for over 7 years. In 1703-04 the insurrectionists approached Vienna which was completely unprepared. Therefore, a request was sent for the use of the Danish soldiers. After an exhausting march they reached Vienna, and in the summer of 1704 the Danes marched into Hungary in order to put down the insurrection. After this explanation, we will now follow the Corps from 1701 to 1709. The march to Italy began in September 1701. Here the Corps fought under the famous general, Eugene of Savoy. The march route to Italy went through Thuringen Franconia, and Swabia to Tyrol and over the Brenner Pass, Botzen and Trieste. On December 4th Eugene's headquarters at Villafranca was reached. There were also others in addition to Hannibal and Napoleon who crossed the Alps. On arrival the Corps was immediately assigned to observe Mantua on the northern, eastern and southeastern fronts. On 22 March 1702 the Corps distinguished itself in a fight for the citadel north of Mantua. The Austrian general, Trautmannsdorf, who was infamous because no one could satisfy him, sent congratulations to Frederick IV on this occasion and wrote that he had never seen more resolution than that displayed by the Danish soldier. Unfortunately, the French received reinforcements in May and July, and Eugene led his army over a pontoon bridge at Borgoforte and established a camp there. Nearby is a place still called Ponte Dane - Danish Bridge. The heat and fever raged among the Danes in the swampy terrain, and the Battle of Luzarra followed on 15 August 1702. Three times during the battle the Imperial troops were driven back, but the fourth time Eugene placed himself at the head of the least damaged units, and with three Danish battalions in front he threw the French back after a bloody fight. The battalion of the Dronningens Regiment suffered a loss of over 25%. After the battle Eugene wrote to the Kaiser that never in his life had he seen soldiers fight with such determination, and "among these the Royal Danish Infantry under the command of Major General Haxthausen and Bridagier Boynenburg have done their duty with such fearless courage and a stag's bravery, that one cannot express one's praise more to its eternal honor". So wrote Europe's greatest general about Danish soldiers. In November 1703 the Corps moved to Ala, a town on the border between Italy and Tyrol. Late in the same month Kufstein was reached, where it was especially cold; and afterwards the Corps reached Innsbruck where it received a well earned rest. It was of short duration, however, and by the end of the month it was on the march to the Hungarian border at Waagfloden. In January 1704 the Corps had traveled far into upper Austria. After a few skirmishes with the Bavarians at Neumarkt and St. Willibald, the Corps setsail on the Danube to Vienna, where they arrived on 7 March 1704 to the great jubilation of the Viennese who looked on them as liberators. Vienna, at the time was threatened by the Hungarians who were encamped at Eisenstadt southeast of Vienna. The camp was attacked and the Hungarians defeated after a short, but hard fight. Some of the Hungarians fled to Gois, but were overtaken on 22 March 1704. Here the Danes with the Jydske grenadiers in front made a bloodbath of the Hungarians, who had sought refuge in a church which was set on fire. 250 Hungarians were put in chains and led to Vienna. On 8 April 1704 the Corps arrived at the fortress of Stuhlweissenburg, where 5000 Hungarians were put to flight. The next battle occured on the Island of Grosse Schutt on 21 April, where 12,000 Hungarians were attacked. At the end of June the Corps was spread along the whole of the Hungarian border from Neusiedler See to The Jublinka Pass, but by this point only 670 men were left of four regiments. Therefore, the Corps recruited in the Pressburg area and then was sent to Upper Pfalz, where they went into winter quarters and acted as occupation troops from November 1704 to June 1705. The territory of the Elector of Bavaria had been occupied by the Austrians since the Battle of Hochstadt. The campaign against the Hungarians now proceeded to Seinbenburgen where the Corps made up one-third of the Imperial force. The Hungarians under Rakoczi were encountered at Szulyo, a pass in the Carpathian Mountains, where they had entrenched themselves. On 11 November 1705 the corps under the command of Harboe stormed the pass with cold steel and captured it without firing a shot. The Kaiser was inspired and allowed Frederick IV to collect the customs on the Weser River. The greatest recognition, however, came from Rakoczi who sent a letter to Frederick IV and asked him to withdraw his troops, because then he would be quite finished with the Austrians. In July 1706 the Corps was in Szibo. Herr Harboe was killed by an accidental shot from a sentinel. In 1707-1709 nothing happened of consequence. Late in September 1709 the Corps reached the Danish part of Holstein, and here ended this unusual part of our army's history, where several thousand Danish soldiers went over the Alps and found their graves under the Italian sun and on the Hungarian plain. THE DANISH AUXILIARY CORPS IN THE SERVICE OF THE MARITIME POWERS In October 1701 the infantry sailed to North Holland, and the cavalry advanced over the Elbe and afterwards through Hanover and Munster to Friesland and Brabant. The Danish troops belonged for the most part to that part of the Allied Army which was located in Flanders where large troop concentrations were being assembled by Marlborough. In 1702 Luttich was stormed by the Garden, Sjaelland, Prins Christian and Prins Georg regiments, and the Dane, Jobst Scholten, became commandant of the captured fortress. On Peershaden (Beverloeheden) an indecisive battle was fought. The Danish Corps was reinforced in 1703. The same year Huy and Limsburg were captured. In 1704 the Danes marched from Brabant to southern Germany where they joined the forces of Prince Eugene at Heidelberg. On 11 August Eugene's and Marlborough's armies united and advanced against the France-Bavarian army which was in position at Hochstadt with its right flank at Blenheim. Both armies had about 60,000 men and the battle lasted several hours. Marlborough broke through the French center with cavalry, and the entire French right flank was taken prisoner. The battle was very dramatic. The Danish soldiers were put forward as a good example for the Prussians by their leader Leopold von Anhalt-Dessau, who said: "They don't break, except when they are attacked by three times their number." Rantzau wrote home to the king: "All our squadrons charged 5 to 6 times with sword in hand etc The Danish troops suffered terrible losses, but the sacrifice was not in vain. In 1705 disagreement arose among the English, German and Dutch generals, and the French used the opportunity to recapture some fortresses. As a result, another battle was fought at Ramillies, where the Danish cavalry repulsed the French Guard cavalry after a brilliant attack. Afterwards, Jobst Scholten with 12 battalions stormed Ramillies, which was occupied by French and Bavarian foot guards. Their beautiful dark red silk flag, which was covered by white lilies, fell into Danish hands and Marlborough sent it to Copenhagen. Queen Anne of England wrote to Frederick IV that such troops had brought undying honor to the Danish nation and did Europe an indescribable service. In 1707 there was fighting at Ostende; Menin and Dendermonde were captured. Ath was besieged and surrendered. In 1708 the French advanced into Flanders and reconquered Ostende, Gent and Brugge. Eugene hastened to Marlborough's aid, and the French retreated back over the Schelde, 10 kilometers north of Oudenarde. The Danish cavalry general Jorgen Rantzau, who led the advance guard, laid four bridges over the Schelde; caught up with the French rear guard; and delayed them until Eugene and Marlborough arrived. The French loss in this battle was around 18,000 men. Lille was taken after a siege; and in December the French were driven out of Ostende. In 1709 the French were also driven out of Gent and Brugge. Doornyk was captured and Mons besieged. The French tried to relieve Mons, but they were defeated in an extremely bloody battle at Malplaquet on 10 September. Marlborough put forward at this time the Fynske battalion as the best in the battle. Mons was taken the same year. In the years 1710 and 1711 more sieges took place in northern France, where Douai, Bethune, Aire, St. Venant and Bouchain were taken. Finally an armistice was arranged between England and France in 1712. Marlborough was called home, and the French defeated Eugene at Denain and recaptured the fortresses they had lost the preceeding year. The march home for the Danish troops began in February 1713 from Lille with the 2nd and 3rd Jyske, Holstenske cavalry regiment, Cuirassier regiment, 5 dragoon companies, Prins Karl, Prins Georg, Oldenburg and 5 companies of Wurtemberg-Oels. In 1714 the remainder followed. They had only remained behind from the rest because the Dutch were far behind with pay. In May 1714 the last units returned home to Denmark. ORGANIZATION At this time a Danish infantry regiment consisted of 2 or 3 battalions. Each battalion had 6 or 7 companies. The company was the smallest unit. Should smaller forces be required men would be taken from the grenadiers. The company's strength was about 100 men including officers, noncommissioned officers and prima plana (drummers, musicians, etc.). The regimental commander was normally a Colonel or Brigadier, and there occured some dismay in Denmark when the Kaiser in 1703 insisted on the Danish regimental commanders being Generals. The Danish Colonels were naturally happy about this pay increase. The staff of the regiment consisted of 1 lieutenant colonel, 1 major, 1 regimental quartermaster, 1 adjutant, 1 auditor, 1 chaplain, 1 supply master, 1 wagon master, 1 provost with an assistant who was in charge of the stock, 1 field barber/surgeon, with 1 or 2 assistants, 6 oboists - in the dragoons they were shawm players (shawm is an instrument similar to the oboe). The companies' leadership consisted of: 1 captain, 1 first lieutenant, 1 second lieutenant, 1 senior sergeant, 2 sergeants, 1 quartermaster sergeant, 1 clerk and 3 corporals. In the lieutenant colonel's and major's companies there was no captain. In the colonel's company "livkompagniet" there was a captain-lieutenant as second in command. The grenadiers were usually united in their own company. Each company also had 2 large, impressive men as drummers, 2 carpenters, 1 driver for each of the two-horse wagons or carts (for tents and provisions); 4-horse wagons were also used. WEAPONS/ARMAMENTS The collected infantry were equipped with flintlock muskets and formed in four ranks. The weapons were to a high degree current with the times, and the infantry had in addition a "large" and a "small" bayonet. The dragoons had a corresponding flintlock weapon, pistol, sword and a "little" bayonet. Even the clerk, field barber/surgeon and his assistants were armed. The cartridge box and knapsack were also part of the equipment. One also brought along a special "weapon tent". UNIFORMS The Danish National regiments were clothed in grey coats, vests and trousers/breeches. However, the uniform was not always "grey on grey"; there were many exceptions. This was especially true of the breeches which were often in the color of the coat lining. Both the national and enlisted regiments had different color coat lining and cuffs. (The cuffs were in reality only the lining which was turned inside out.) The hats were black and decorated with a border and a rosette. The hat border was normally in the button color. I n the beginning the hat was only turned up on one side, but around 1704 they became a "three-cornered hat" a la Holberg. The neckcloth/stock and stockings were for the most part white; the stockings could also be light grey or in the color of the coat lining. The buttons were of tin/pewter. The Dronningens livregiment had, however, brass buttons. The leather equipment was in its natural color, while the cartridge box was black. The shoes were black, or also in the natural color of leather. As an example of how an infantryman appeared, one can mention that the Guard in 1701 wore a black hat with white band. Straw yellow coat with red cuffs. Vest and stockings were likewise red, and the buttons were tin/pewter. In lingardens uniform post card series such a uniform is found. On the post card the private has some red lace on the front of the uniform, but it is doubtful that the privates wore lace. The officers has lace in any case - of silver. In Thaulow's book, Den Danske Soldat, one can read the following two eyewitness descriptions of the uniforms of the time. "When the Muscovite ambassador arrived in Copenhagen in 1701, it is related that a battalion of the Sjaellandske Infantry Regiment was posted at Gammeltorv. The men wore light grey, long-skirted coats with dark blue cuffs, vest, and breeches." "At Amagertorv a battalion of Prins Christians Regiment in light grey, long-skirted coats with dark red cuffs, vest and breeches stood posted." In 1702 the English Ambassador accompanied the King on an inspection tour, and afterwards he wrote a book about his experiences. He wrote that the King of Denmark's troops in attractiveness and capability could be counted among the best troops in the world. In Fredericia he observed a couple of companies of the Fynske Infantry Regiment and he related that they had a blue-grey uniform, lined with green, green stockings and red collars. The hat was trimmed with yellow and had a green and white cockade. In addition, all had a light grey cape, lined with green. The cavalry received a black breast cuirass in 1701. The officers' cuirass had the King's initials in brass below the edge of the neck, together with brass rivets along the edge of the cuirass. The uniform consisted of coat, skin vest(?), skin breeches and collared boots - otherwise as the infantry. Sword, carbine and cartridge box were fastened to wide belts which crossed over. The saddle cloth and pistol covers were presumedly white for the Livregiment Dragoons and red for the Holstenske Draggons. In addition, it can be mentioned that the NCOs had silver trim on their hats. Several regiments also had braid on the swordbelt and carbine strap. The hat was also supplied with the well known iron skull cap before battle. UNIFORMS IN IMPERIAL SERVICE Lining Coat & Cuffs Dronningens Livregiment Red Yellow Prins Christians Regiment Lt grey Crimson Prins Karls Regiment Lt grey Yellow Prins Georgs Regiment Lt grey Orange Sjaellandske Regiment Lt grey Blue Jydske Regiment Lt grey Red Marineregimentet Lt grey White Livregiment Dragoner Crimson White Holstenske Dragonregiment Red Green Normally a clothing issue should have lasted 11/2-2 years, but during the period 1701-1709 the Corps only received a clothing issue three times. At their departure for Saxony the troops had already received one issue, and while they were in Saxony (1701), the order came from the Commissariate that the cassocks should be converted to surtouts and the coats to camisoles. The cut should be the same as the Imperial troops, but the Danish uniforms were not essentially different in cut from the Austrians, who also had white-grey coats. In the fall of 1702, a large number of the men were in shirt-sleeves or even without coat or breeches. The dragoon's riding equipment was totally detroyed. Therefore, the Dronningens and Prins Christians regiments received new uniforms in 1702, while the Sjaellandske-Jydske, Prins Karls, the dragoon regiment (Rodsteens/Holstenske Dragoeer) did not receive theirs until 1703. Juels Livregiment Dragoner changed over to Marineregimentet in June 1702. In 1703 the Corps was reinforced with the following enlisted units: Emdens infanteriregiment; Dithmers rytteregiment (cui rassier); Maltzahns Mecklenburg battalion. Around March 1703 the Danish troops were put on the imperial Establishment, and in May the above named three u nits arrived. As a result, the Corps was recognized as follows: Cuirassier Regiment Dithmers rytterregiment Dragonregimentet Rodsteens Dragonregiment 1. Regiment Dronningen, Pr. Georg, 1/3 Marine 2. Regiment Pr. Christian, Pr. Karl, 1/3 Marine 3. Regiment Sjaelland, Jylland, 1/3 Marine 4. Regiment von Emdens infanteriregiment Mecklenburg battalion Maltzahn NOTE: 1 infantry regiment = 10 companies; 1 dragoon regiment = 12 companies. Within the regiments there was no attempt to separate or differentiate the men from the old battalions; they were simply not formed into battalions before 1705. With this arrangement in 1703 each of the men kept the uniform of their old battalion, and one knows with certainty that the grenadiers, even several years later, wore the grenadier cap with the inscription of their old unit, for example, Kronprinsen. The grenadiers from the Dronningens Regiment had grenadier caps of red velvet with a yellow plate, and the name Dronningen embroidered in silver. This we know because the Empress of Austria during a parade in July 1705 asked the envoy, Weyberg, what the word meant, which was embroidered with silver on the red grenadier cap. Weyberg answered that it meant "The Queen". However, the reader will observe that on Kannik's drawing the words "la Reine" appear. This is because an Englishman, who traveled in Denmark at this time, noted in a letter that the regiment's name appeared in French. The Dronningens Regiment has always been partial to the French language - but it is uncertain for what reason. In 1709 one knows how the uniforms appeared for the following regiments: Coat Cuffs 2. danske infanteriregiment Lt grey Red 3. danske infanteriregiment Lt grey Blue 4. danske infanteriregiment Lt grey Yellow The Dragonregimentet was transferred from Rodsteen to Trampe who in 1703 received permission to choose a new uniform. It became a yellow coat with light blue lining and a light blue cloak/cape. The Kyrasserregimentet's uniform we know nothing about, only a letter from 2 October 1704 where the writer stated that almost all in the regiment lacked boots. The regiment later had its name changed to Dewitz Regiment, and this regiment in 1709 had light grey coats with blue cuffs. UNIFORMS IN THE SERVICE OF THE MARITIME POWERS The following uniforms were issued when the troops left Denmark. It is not known if the uniform color changed from grey to red in 1711 when the rest of the army adapted that color. CAVALRY Lining Regiment Coat & Cuffs Livregiment ryttere Grey Red Holstenske rytterregiment Red Green 2. Sjaellandske rytterregiment Lt grey Maroon 2. Jydske rytterregiment Lt grey Dk blue 3. Jydske rytterregiment Grey Brown 4. Jydske rytterregiment Grey Isabella (coffee with cream color) 5. Jydske rytterregiment Grey Yellow Kyrasserregimentet ? ? From 1703 Wurtemberg-Oels Dragonregiment ? ? INFANTRY Garden til fods Straw yel Red Prins Karl Lt grey Yellow Prins Georg Lt grey Orange Sjaelland Lt grey Blue Fyen Grey Green Oldenborg Lt grey Blue From 1703 Wurtemberg-Oels infanteriregiment ? ? B  COLORS The Danish colors from this time are quite difficult to figure out. It can, however, be said that the Dannebro was borne on the colors in the upper corner nearest the staff. I n this period there is the transition from company colors to battalion colors. We must count on one color per company, because Harboe in a report from 1705 states that he had the 1. regiment equipped with white company colors, as was the custom and use in the livregiment. COLORS IN IMPERIAL SERVICE The Dronningens Livregiment had white colors, probably the queen's initials within a wreath in the center of the color. Prins Christians Regiment had black colors with the King's initials surmounted by a crown and enclosed in a wreath in the center of the color with red or yellow flames in each of the corners. Prins Karls Regiment had yellow colors with a white center oval which was surrounded by the light blue band of the Order of the Elephant (with the elephant below). In the white oval appeared "F 4" in a latticed monogram with a crown above. The crown ranged up over the white field and also covered the light blue band. In each corner the latticed monogram of Prins Karl appeared, crated by "PC" under a crown. (Note Karl could be spelled with a K or a C.) The "liv" color was completely white but otherwise as described above, except that the center oval was yellow. Prins Georgs Regiment had green colors, but nothing else is known. Sjaellandske Regiment had yellow colors. In the center was a yellow or gold shield on which were 3 blue lions surrounded by 9 red hearts (this in turn was surrounded by the light blue band of the Order of the Elephant and a crown above), or the lions and hearts surrounded by a wreath. The Dannebro was in the upper corner nearest the staff. The "Liv" color was white with the same designs. If the color had a wreath, the field outside was yellow. Jydske Regiments color is unknown. Marineregimentet's color was light blue and was strewn with yellow stars. I n the center were crowned initials within a wreath, and from each corner a tongue of flame in silver and above and below a wavy red edge. Rodsteens Dragoner/Holstenske Dragonregiment had dragoon colors and Juels Dragoner/Livregiment Dragoner had white dragoon colors. (A dragoon color is split, and the size lies between that of a standard and that of an infantry color.) One doesn't know anything about the appearance. When the Danish troops were put on the imperial establishment in 1703, a change in the colors occured. In Hammerhoy's book: 10. Regiment-Feltherrens fodregiments faner gennem tiden 1957, one can read the following: "According to Harboe's report the 1. danske infanteriregiment received white colors, while the other regiments received yellow colors. The colors probably looked like this: in the middle of the cloth a German-Roman eagle with 2 heads, surrounded by haloes with the Imperial crown in the space between and above the two heads. In one claw a sword is held and in the other a scepter. On the eagle's breast a monogram or possibly a coat of arms. The cloth's four sides were trimmed with tongues or teeth in the regimental color. COLORS IN THE SERVICE OF THE MARITIME POWERS Livgarden carried colors of white cloth with the Danish coat of arms, which was surrounded by the light blue band of the Order of the Elephant with the elephant in white hanging at the bottom. The Dannebro in the upper corner nearest the staff. This is pictured in the livgardens postcard series. Prins Karl, Prins Georg and Sjaelland regiments had flags of the same type as the ones used by the units which were in Imperial service. Fyen Regiment had a green color with a gold laural wreath, which surrounded a red field which contained a swamp reptile/serpent. Oldenborg Regiment carried a red color but the details are unknown. Wurtemberg-Oels colors are unknown. STANDARDS Standards at this time were manufactured of solk damask (2 pieces with a lining in between). They were embroidered, and the wind did not affect them as much as it did a large color. This discussion is a result of what O. Vaupel wrote in his book, Den danske haers historie. Mr. Vaupel describes standards from around 1680. There is no reason to believe that these were not in use 35 years later. One has examples of such standards being in use for 60 years. STANDARDS IN IMPERIAL SERVICE The two dragoon regiments carried dragoon colors (see under colors in Imperial service).  STANDARDS IN THE SERVICE OF THE MARITIME POWERS Livregiment Rytteri: White with Dannebro in the staff corner, Christian V or Frederick IV initials in a palm wreath. Holstenske Rytterregiment: Voilet with gold/yellow flowers and the king's initials. 2. Sjaellandske Rytterregiment: Red with the royal monogram. 2. Jydske Rytterregiment: Yellow with a blue lion, under the lion 9 red hearts on a yellow field. 3. Jydske Rytterregiment: same as 2. Jydske Rytterregiment. 4. Jydske Rytterregiment: same as 2. Jydske Rytterregiment. 5. Jydske Rytterregimetn: Red with the royal monogram, Dannebro in the staff corner. Kyrasserregimentet: Blue. Dragonregiment Wurtemberg-Oels: Unknown. Unfortunately it is impossible to include everything in this article. Those who desire to know more, I recommend J.H.F. Jahn's book, Den danske Auxiliaertropper which gives a good description of the organization and activities of these forces. Concerning the Corps in Hungary, Rockstroh's book, Et dansk korps historie is recommended. Information on colors and uniforms is from Vaupel, but these have been corrected and supplemented by the Tojhus Museum and P. Kannik. Finally, I must mention Hammershoys' book, 10. Regiment-Feltherrens fodregiment. PRINS KARLS REGIMENT Prins Karls Regiment was established in 1657 and was known by its regimental commander's name until 1676. In that year it was raised to the status of a royal house regiment and received Prins Christian as its Colonel. The regiment carried his name until 1695. I n that year Prins Karl became Colonel and the regiment carried his name until 1730. The regiment exists today as Prinsens Liv-Regiment and is in garrison in Viborg. Since 1695 the regiment wore light grey coats with yellow cuffs. The buttons appeared to have been of tin/pewter, and the buttonholes were laced white or yellow. The breeches were yellow and the stockings white or light grey. The hat was black and neck cloth/stock was white. Leather equipment was of yellow leather with the exception of the cartridge box which like the shoes was black and shiny. All of the metal items were of brass. The musket sling and gloves were also of yellow leather. On the belt one can see a little powder horn for powder for the touch hole, and a little brush to clean the musket pan. Scabbard for the sword and bayonet were black. The sword had an iron guard which was tin-plated, but brass guards were beginning to come into use at this time. The regiment wore this uniform until 1711, when the characteristic red uniform was implemented. The cut of the uniform remained as before, and the equipment remained unchanged. For their red uniform the regiments received yellow cuffs with a blue trim along the upper edge of the cuff. The lining of the coat was yellow and the breeches and stockings were of the same color. The buttons were supposed to be of brass. It appears as if one at this time began to trim the hat brim with a white or yellow band. PRINS KARLS REGIMENTAL COLORS The regiment's colors in this period were as the picture shows. The orginary colors (company colors) were yellow and had in the center a white medallion surrounded by the light blue band of the Order of the Elephant. In the medallion is the gilted monogram under a gold crown with red bag. The elephant is of silver with a gold cross. In the upper corner nearest the staff is a red field with a white cross (Dannebro). In each of the other corners is a golden monogram under a golden crown with red lining. This monogram consists of the letters C P (Carl Principes). The "Liv" color was quite the same as above, but the cloth was completely white. Until 1709 each company carried a color. This "Liv" color was carried by the first company (livkompagniet). In 1709 it was decided that in the future one color would be carried by each battalion. Hereafter, the "Liv" color was carried by the first battalion, while the ordinary color was carried by the second battalion. The colors discussed here were issued to the regiment in 1697 during the reign of Christian V. With the change of kings in 1699 the monogram in the center of the cloth was changed from C 5 to that of the new king Frederick IV. BIBLIOGRAPHY (Books mentioned in the text) 1. Jahn, J.H.F. De danske Auxiliaertropperne, 2, Afd.: Tropperne i den spanske Successionkrig. Kobenhavn 1841. 2. Rockstroh, K.C. Et dansk Korps' Historie 1701-1709. Kobenhavn 1895. 3. Thaulow, Th. Den danske soldat gennom Tiderne. Kobenhavn 1946. 4. Vaupell, O. Den dansk-norske Haers Historie. Kobenhavn 1876. Back to Table of Contents -- Courier Vol. VI No. 2 Back to Courier List of Issues Back to Master Magazine List © Copyright 1985 by The Courier Publishing Company. This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com