EDITOR'S NOTE: The following article resulted from a series of correspondence with a wargamer in Hungary. Mr. Visegrady labored hard to find information and translate it into English. The author takes particular pride in the performance of the Hungarian Insurrection troops during the Battle of Gyor (better known to Westerners as the Battle of Raab).
This battle was a side show operation during Napoleon's 1809 campaign. The Insurrection troops were more or less Hungarian landwehr. The failure of the Insurrection cavalry to stand before withering French horse artillery fire, after the Austrian center and left had withstood repeated French attacks, largely caused the Austrian defeat. Napoleon complimented Eugene on his conduct of the battle, calling it "a granddaughter of Marengo and Friedland".
Mr. Visegrady's account of the battle differs somewhat from Western accounts, but is perhaps all the more interesting because of these differences. The battle is a rewarding one to re-fight on the tabletop. The colorful Insurrection uniforms can be found in Jean Tranie and J.C. Carmigianis' "Napoleon et L'Autriche: La Campagne de 1809". A good English language account of the campaign is Robert Epstein's "Prince Eugene at War".
"Insurrection" Defined
The author's use of the word 'insurrection' may confuse the reader (it certainly confused our Editor in Chief who strove manfully to determine its meaning in a dictionary, poor fellow!). The Hapsburg government was a monarchy, an uneasy collection of different lands. Hungary remained proudly independent of the central government. Although it contributed some line units to the army, as well as some excellent hussars, many of the Hungarian forces were raised through theNoble insurrection'.
This term dates back to feudal times when each lord was required to contribute troops to the King. In Napoleonic times it meant that the Hungarian nobles were responsible for raising local troops to serve in the army. These 'Insurrection' troops occasionally fought very well and often behaved like the undertrained, undermotivated, poorly equipped serfs they were. On the wargame table you should assign them militia status. They are roughly equivalent to the Prussian landwehr but lack the landwehr's motivation to fight.
With the French Army stuck in Spain, the Hapsburg Empire's War Party which had come to power decided that the situation was advantageous for reorganizing the army. Archduke Karl adopted new measures in recruiting and finance which were accepted by the Hungarian Diet in 1809. The Estates of the Realm called up 20,000 recruits to the regular army and also called out the "insurrection" of nobles. The Hungarian nobility was immune from taxes, but had obligations regarding the insurrection at time of war. In the Napoleonic era this would be the fourth and last insurrection (others occurred in 1797, 1800-1801 and 1805).
Austria had three armies; the main body in Germany, Archduke Johann (Archduke John) in Italy, and a third in Poland. Napoleon concentrated his forces about Ulm, along the line Danube-Iller-Gunz. The Austrian commander-in-chief, Archduke Karl, wanted to attack the French but Napoleon outmarched the slow Austrians and triumphed in the battles of Adensberg, Landshut, Eckmuhl and Regensburg. They then conquered Wein, the capital. The French first crossed the Hungarian border on May 17,1809 near Pozsony with General Montbrun's troops and occupied the country around Magyarovar.
The troops of Archduke Johann were defeated by Prince Eugene in Italy, at Pordenova and Sacile, but hearing of the defeat of the main body he marched to Hungary on May 1 to collect the "insurrectional" troops. He was persued by Prince Eugene and General Macdonald who hoped to prevent him from uniting with the main army.
After the proclamation of the "Insurrection", all of Hungary began to set up the insurrectional troops, both cavalry and infantry. There was a great lack of firearms and horses. Further troubles stemmed from the new uniform regulations which were totally different from those of the former insurrections (then differing by counties, now only by districts). The armament for cavalry was sword and 2 pistols and for infantry, musket, sword and bayonet.
The nobility of Hungary responded enthusiastically. instead of the asked for 3700 cavalrymen, the counties sent 18,000 as well as 20,000 foot. The commander-in-chief of the Hungarian insurrection was the Palatine, Archduke Joseph.
Two of the first organized cavalry regiments ("Primatial" and the Rgt. of County Nytira) were sent to Austria, joining the Brigade of General Kerekes in the battleof Aspern, where they fought with distinction. They remained with the main army, recognized as regular troops and participated in the battle of Wagram. The other troops of the insurrection were sent to Buda, Kamarom and Gyor (Raab).
The army of Prince Eugene (about 30,000 men) advanced in four groups in the direction of Janoshaza, Vat, Marcalto and Bodonhely, respectively. The advanced guards of the insurrectional troops retreated slowly, skirmishing near Sarvar on June 8th. On June 9th at Karakol between the river and the marsh, the French attacked along a short front line. Thus there was the possibility of defeating the French in detail as they crossed the river. But the Hungarian guard was weak and unreinforced; they retreated. The main army headed to Papa [sic - Raba?].
The armies of Archduke Johann and Archduke Joseph were united on 12 June under the overall but nominal command of Johann. The insurrectional troops were assigned to units directly under Archduke Johann on June 14. The army occupied the mountains of Csarnak in the angle of the river Raba (Raab) around Gyor, waiting for the battle.
More French Campaign in Hungary 1809
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