With the establishment of the French-backed "Confederation of the Rhine" in 1806 as a buffer zone for France proper. drafts were made by the Emperor for troops to support the Empire. Though small individually, these troops combined to form the eight regiments of the "Rhinebund Contingent". Much conflicting information has been published concerning these units and this article is an attempt to sort through the contradicting information to enable the wargamer to recreate this most colorful unit. 1st Regiment and 2nd Regiment: Both of these were comprised of Nassau troops each of two battalions per regiment on the French pattern. 3rd Regiment: Frankfurt-Am-Main Troops, two battalions, again on the French system of organization. 4th Regiment The Dukes of Saxony Regiment: 4 Battalions ( Der Herzoge von Sachsen ) 1st Battalion: Sachsen-Gotha-Altenburg 2nd Battalion: Sachsen-Yeiningen 3rd Battalion: Sachsen-Weimar (5 Companies=120 men) Sachsen-Hildurghausen 1 Company of 200 men...This was the Scharfschutzenbataillon, or Light Battalion of the regiment. Regimental strength, approximately 2,800. 4th Battalion Sachsen-Coburg-Saalfeld 5th Regiment: 1st Battalion: Lippe 6 French-pattern Companies 2nd Battalion: 2 Musketeer Companies...Anhalt-Dessau=175 men each. 2 Musketeer Companies...Anhalt-Kothern=110 men each. 2 Musketeer Companies...Anhalt-Bernberg=120 men each. 3rd Battalion: 2 Musketeer Companies...Lippe-Detmold Schaumberg-Lippe Battalion: 2 Jager Companies 2 Fuslier Companies 6th Regiment: 1st Battalion: Schwartzberg-Sanderhausen...4 musketeer Companies = 100 men each Schwartzberg-Rudolstadt...2 Musketeer Companies = 120 men each. 2nd Battalion: Reuss...3 companies Waldeck...3 companies  7th Regiment: Wurtzburg...3 Battalions 8th Regiment: Mecklenburg...2 Battalions: 1,900 men plus a company of artillery The Oldenburg Battalion, according to research done by Jack Scruby, originally was part of this regiment. Later it became part of the French 129th Infantry Regiment. This battalion was organized the same as the French six company sysytem except that the light infantry company was a rifle company. In addition to these regiments, additional Confederation units were organized. One of the most unusual was "THE BATTALION OF THE PRINCES". This six company battalion contained elements of seven different kingdoms. It was almost totally destroyed in Spain, what was left being withdrawn in 1809. 1st Company=Schwarzburg-Sonderhausen---- 80 men 2nd Company=Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt 80 men 3rd Company=Schaurnberg-Lippe 4th Company=Lippe-Detmold 60 men 5th Company=Reuss 100 men 6th Company=Waldeck 100 men Vietmeyer lists a 120 company from Lippe-Buckeburg instead of the one for Schaumberg-Lippe. Two Lippe Sapper figures, plus drummer, officer and standard bearer, complete the battalion. All of the companies were line units, no elites. Again, it should be pointed out that this is at best, the organization of the Rhinebund Division, based upon what information I have. I would be most appreciative of any additional or even conflicting data that the membership could provide as long as it is documented. Back to Empire, Eagles, & Lions Table of Contents Vol. 1 No. 22 Back to EEL List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1978 by Jean Lochet 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