(Editor's Note: At a recent Seven Years War Association convention, the author had the opportunity to attend a lecture presented by esteemed "Age of Reason" historian Christopher Duffy. This article is based on his notes from Mr. Duffy's talk)

Croats were the light infantry of the Austrian army during the reign of Maria- Theresa. They were recruited from the border regions of the Empire, which is why they are more properly called grenzers. There were five separate areas or Grenz from which these light infantry were recruited. They are called Croats because the Grenz closest to Vienna is part of what is now modern Croatia. It was also the poorest and least productive lands of the Grenz and greatly influenced the general view of the government towards Grenz troops. The other four Grenz were significantly better off, having good farm lands and a generally easier terrain from which to obtain a living.

Service in the Army was considered a rite of passage for young men in the Grenz. The average age of Grenzers was 21. The average age of line infantry in the regular army was 27. The Grenzers were most effective in the War of the Austrian Succession. During this period, there was little effort to regulate the uniform and equipment they carried. Thus, they wore pretty much the same clothing they would have worn at home. The weapons were traditional Grenz issue -- a long-barreled musket, two to three pistols, and a long, curved saber. As the period progressed, new regulations were issued from Vienna which put the Grenzers into a Hungarian uniform, which was almost universally despised. The long barreled musket was replaced by a standard-issue musket from the regular army and the whole of the Grenz were placed under a regular army establishment for administrative purposes. This, along with a general anxiety about the long term loyalty of the Grenz based on religious affiliation, brought about a general decline in the effectiveness of the Grenzer as the premier light infantry of the period.

None of the above should be used to downgrade the effect these troops had on the Prussians, though. Frederick feared and respected the Grenz infantry, which when properly deployed, had a devastating effect on Prussian formations. The best example of a successful use of Grenzers was at the Battle of Moys, where five battalions of Grenzers, in support of grenadiers and line infantry, assaulted a position held by Prussian grenadiers. The Grenz infantry raised havoc with the tight Prussian formations and greatly eased the task of the Austrian Grenadiers in their final assault.