Despite their colourful uniforms the collection of Napoleonic troops sometimes becomes boring due to the standarisation of uniforms, particularly applicable to the French line regiments who usually had no regimental distinctions. The German allies of Napoleon I, are usually ignored but these troops were very colourful. and fought in most campaigns from Spain to Russia. They were allied to Napoleon by the Confederation of the Rhine of 1808 and most left in 1813 after Leipzig, some joining the allies.
Already Bavarian, Westphalian, etc., troops are used in Napoleonic armies, so I shall concentrate on the smaller principalities such as Schwarzbourg-Rudolstadt, Anhalt-Koethen, Saxe-Gotha-Altenbourg, Saxe-Hildbourghausen etc.
6th Regiment, Confederation of the Rhine, Prince's Division
1st Battalion - 4 Coys of Schwarzbourg troops.
- Uniform:
- Jacket - Green double-breasted with red turn-backs, collar and cuffs.
Breeches - Grey, black gaiters to knee.
Black conical Shako with black-leather trim; brass lozenge plate, white cords, red plume, green tassels on flounders.
Black leather crossbelts, yellow buttons.
Officers: Gold shako trim, epaulettes, trim on black hessian boots, red stripe on breeches.
Conversion: I used 20mm "Rose" French Grenadier, cutting off epaulettes.
2nd Battalion: 3 Coys Waldeck Troops and 3 Coys Reuss troops.
- Reuss uniform:
- Jackets: white single breasted, light blue collar, cuffs (with 2
buttons) and turnbacks. White shoulder straps and crossbelts.
Breeches: Hungarian type, light blue with yellow trim, black gaiters to knee.
Black conical Shako, black leather trim, gold cords and oval plate, red on yellow cockade, red plume. Yellow metal buttons.
Officers - Gold shako trim, epaulettes, lace on breeches, lace and tassels on black Hessian boots. Pattern of lace on front of breeches.
Waldeck Uniform:
- Virtually same as Reuss, but collar,lapels, shoulder straps, cuffs dark blue.
Breeches - grey.
This uniform is illustrated in "Military Uniforms of the World in Colour by Preben Kannik.
Conversion: Reuss and Waldeck, same as for Schwarzbourg troops.
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© Copyright 1971 by Donald Featherstone.
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