The uniforms of the Saxon army were most likely very typical for European
armies of this age but unfortunately not much is known about them. The
information I have about their infantry (and artillery)
uniforms is presented on this page (the cavalry has a
separate page). The main sources to this information are two
publications that are not entirely consistent with each other: Daniel Schorr's article "Notes
on the Saxon Army 1700-1716" (previously published on his now
defunct website www.northernwars.com),
and Lars-Eric Höglund's book "Stora nordiska kriget 1700-1721, III".
General Uniform Information
|
Privates |
Drummers |
Officers & NCOs |
Hat: |
Black felt hat with the brim folded up in
different ways. The tricorne hat spread slowly and probably did not
become standard until at least 1707. According to Daniel Schorr, the hat
lace would correspond to the button colour (brass = yellow, pewter =
white), but Höglund also states other colours. A white cockade was
possibly on the left side of the hat. |
Officers probably had gold or silver lace while
NCOs may have had silver lace. Regimental officers may also have had
white feathers on their hats. |
Neckcloth: |
It was probably standard to have both a white and
black neckcloth but some regiments had red ones. After 1707, the
neckcloth was tied behind the neck instead of having a cravat as before. |
Coat: |
Red coat 1695-1733 (then white) At first the
buttons covered the entire length of the coat, but around 1707 this was
changed so that they only went to the waist. Horizontal pocket flaps
with three buttons. Possibly a shoulder strap on the left side for the
cartridge box belt.
Facings and lining in the regimental colour. The
cuffs had three buttons each. |
The drummers may have had lace on their sleeves (probably
in the button colour) and a collar in the regimental colour. Sometime
after 1707, the lace on the sleeves disappeared and were replaced with
red swallow's nests edged with the regimental colour on the shoulders. |
Officers: Probably gold or silver buttons.
NCOs: May have had a collar and silver lace on the
cuffs. |
Kamisol (Vest): |
Red vest, but it could also be in the regimental
colour. Similar to the coat, it had buttons along the entire length of
the vest, however these were of a smaller size. After 1707 the vest may
have had a collar worn over the coat. Höglund consistently states that
the vest was in the regimental colour. My images follow Höglund unless
Schorr explicitly states that the regiment had a red vest. |
Breeches: |
Usually leather but some regiments had cloth
breeches. |
The officers of Wostromirsky had red cloth
breeches and probably the officers of the other regiments also had cloth
breeches. |
Stockings: |
Usually grey-white or white stockings. Some
regiments, however, had stockings in the regimental colour. |
Shoes: |
Black shoes with brass buckle. |
Belts and gauntlets: |
Buff leather. |
Officers' waist belts may have been covered with
material in the regimental colour and trimmed with gold or silver. |
Sword and scabbard: |
Sword hilt made of white metal and scabbard of
dark brown leather. |
Specific equipment: |
Flintlock muskets, socket bayonets and swords.
matchlock muskets and plug bayonets were, however, still in use in some
regiments at the beginning of the war.
Cartridge box and grenadier box in brown or black leather. Cartridge box
belt made of buff leather with a priming horn attached to it.
The second and third ranks of the battalion also carried boar spear ("swine
feathers"), which were used to create chevaux de frise as protection
against cavalry. |
Wooden drums painted red with
descending flames in the regimental colour so that triangle patterns are
formed. The top and bottom edges painted in alternating vertical or
diagonal stripes in red and in the regimental colour.
In addition to this, the drum also had the coat of arms of Augustus the
Strong (the coat of arms of Saxony plus the coat of arms of
Poland-Lithuania) on a white background.
|
NCOs had halberds. Officers had spontoons with
a design that varied in the different regiments.
The gorget as a distinction for officers was
introduced in 1715 and was of silver with the royal cypher in gold (the
letters FA under a crown).
The sash was also officially introduced for officers in 1715 but had
probably been worn earlier although the colours before then are unknown.
In 1715 it would have the colours silver and crimson. It was usually worn
over the shoulder but it is possible that it was also worn around the
waist. |
|
Grenadier Cap
|
Saxon Guard Grenadier |
Front: |
The front plate was usually of stiff red cloth
edged with the regimental or button colour. The edge could be straight
or scalloped. If there was a front flap, it was normally in the
regimental colour or red. It too was edged.
A plate of brass or pewter with the coat of arms
of Saxony was normally attached to the front. There could also be a
number of grenades, also made of brass or pewter. The front also had a
metal emblem with the regimental name, either brass or pewter (one
regiment, Kurprinz, had copper). |
Back: |
The rear flap
could be red or in the regimental colour, also trimmed with the
regimental or button colour |
Bag: |
Either a hanging bag or a bag attached to the
front plate so that the cap looked like a mitre. It was either red or in
the regimental colour and trimmed in the button or regimental colour.
The tuft was normally in the button colour. |
As the army was reorganised in 1707, 1716-1717 and 1730-1733 and new
uniforms were issued in large numbers, these dates may be times when the
uniforms underwent major changes.
Also of interest is information from Rehnsköld in 1704 that Augustus the
Strong had made uniforms "in the Swedish manner " in that Saxons are
said to have appeared with blue coats with small cuffs and white lace on
their hats (Bellander p. 224). One Saxon dragoon regiment (DR 9) is reported
to have had blue coats replaced with red in 1704 but maybe there were more.
Polish Guard
(Polnische Garde and
from 1712:
1.
Gardesregiment) |
The Guard regiments, which were temporarily merged in about 1706 ("
Doppelregiment Garde "), may have had collars on their coats as a sign
of their higher rank, according to Schorr. Both Guards regiments had
cartridge boxes of black leather edged with a red cord on the flap and a
round badge of brass with the coat of arms of Saxony and a crown. The
Guard regiments' grenadier boxes had instead of the emblem the royal
name cypher in brass (the letters FAR under a crown).
According to Schorr, there is conflicting information about the
neckcloth colour. One source (Kuhn) states that both regiments had red
neckcloths while another (Dietrich) states that they had white
neckcloths. Dietrich also depicts the Saxon Guard with yellow facings,
but this is likely a later uniform. Schorr considers it likely that the
regiments had several neckcloths of different colors and mentions that
the Saxon Guard had black neckcloths.
Schorr also mentions an illustration which probably depicts a grenadier
officer in a Guard regiment around 1716. He has a tricorne hat with
silver lace, white feathers and a white cockade on the left side. The
right shoulder has an aiguillette in white/silver. The waist belt and
cartridge box belt are trimmed with silver lace. The cartridge box is of
buff leather with the flap trimmed with silver and fitted with a silver
plaque with a crown. The officer wears a black neckcloth and is armed
with a flintlock musket.
Höglund states that both Guard regiments had white wests, red hat lace
and buttonholes embroidered in white. However, the button colors he
states are incorrect as he has admitted to me that he mixed up the
regiments. Düna 1701,
Kliszow 1702, Thorn 1703, Posen 1704, Punitz 1704, Fraustadt 1706. One
battalion each in the service of the Maritime Powers 1707-1713.
Malplaquet in 1709, the Saxon Guard took part in the siege of Tönningen
in 1713.
|
Saxon Guard
(Sächsische Garde and
from 1712:
2. Gardesregiment) |
1701
White facings, brass buttons |
1701
White facings, white vest, pewter buttons,
black neckcloth. |
1707 |
1707 |
1701 |
Kurprinz
Facings and vests lemon yellow as well as red neckcloth and
pewter buttons. The grenadier caps had a copper plate with the
regimental name on the front.
Höglund adds that the hats had white brims and that the neckcloths were
white. The latter does not necessarily contradict the statement of red
neckcloths as they may have had several.
Düna 1701, Kliszow 1702, In Austrian service November 1702 to May 1704, Posen 1704, Punitz 1704, Fraustadt 1706,
A battalion in the Maritime Powers' service 1707-1713, Malplaquet 1709, Stralsund 1715, Stresow 1715.
Changed its name to "Crown Prince" in 1713 according to Höglund.
According to Schorr it changed its name to "Königl. Prinz" in 1717. |
1707 |
1701 |
Königin
("Queen's Regiment")
According to Höglund the facings were "isabel coloured" while Schorr notes that the colour was "dark Straw". Although I
interpret these colour names as referring to the same shade. Harder to
reconcile are on the other hand the following information:
Höglund: Isabel coloured vest, brass buttons.
Schorr: Red vest, pewter buttons.
However, both agree that the neckcloths were white and Höglund states
that the hats had white lace. Düna 1701, Kliszow 1702, In Austrian
service November 1702 to May 1704, Posen 1704, Punitz 1704, Fraustadt
1706, A battalion in the Maritime Powers' service 1707-1713, Stralsund 1715, Stresow 1715. |
1707 |
1701
Disbanded 1702, the men were transferred to Steinau's
regiment. |
The regimental colour was the same as for Königin, which Höglund calls "isabel" and Schorr
calls "dark straw" even though these probably are the same
shade. Both agree that the regiment had brass buttons but here too Höglund notes that the vest was in isabel while Schorr writes that it
was red. Schorr also mentions that the neckcloths were red. |
1701
Disbanded after severe casualties in the Battle of
Kliszow 1702, the men were possibly transferred to Fürstenberg's
regiment. |
Facings and vest green, pewter buttons and a black neckcloth. Schorr
notes that they also white neckcloths and Höglund mentions that the hats had
black lace.
Kliszow 1702
|
1701
Disbanded 1705, the men were transferred to
the Saxon Guard. |
Lemon yellow facings and brass buttons. The vest was red according to Schorr
but lemon yellow according to Höglund. Schorr states that the neckcloth
was black and Höglund writes that the hat had black lace.
Düna 1701, Kliszow 1702, In Austrian
service November 1702 to May 1704, Posen 1704, Punitz 1704.
|
1701
Disbanded 1705 |
Neitschütz
Pistoris
von der Goltz |
1700
1701
1702 |
Facings and vest in bleumourant (pale blue) as well as pewter buttons and according to Schorr a black neckcloth.
Kliszow 1702, Thorn 1703.
|
Biron 1701 |
Venediger und Biron
(2 regiments that
were merged in 1705 and disbanded in 1707)
Biron
Wenediger
von Braun |
1701-1705
1703
1706 |
According to Schorr Biron had in 1701 bleumourant facings and stockings, red
vests and white neckcloths. Venediger had in 1705 blue facings and stockings,
and black neckcloths.
According to Höglund, Biron had black facings and vests while Venediger had
blue facings and possibly blue stockings. I do not have any explanation
to why the information on Biron is different but Höglund also mentions
that the regiment's colours were coffee brown in 1706 ("dark coffee"
according to Schorr).
The button colour seems to be even more uncertain. Schorr notes pewter for Biron
but with brass in parenthesis, and a question mark for Venediger but
with pewter in parenthesis. Höglund has no information on the button
colour at all.
Thorn 1703, Fraustadt 1706.
|
Venediger 1705 |
1701 |
Fürstenberg
Kaiser
Braun |
1701
1706
1716 |
Höglund states that Fürstenberg's regiment had dark blue facings and vests
as well as pewter buttons. Schorr only mentions dark blue facings and pewter
buttons for
1701 and writes that they in 1707 had green facings and vests as well as white neckcloths.
Posen 1704, Punitz 1704, Fraustadt
1706, In the Maritime Powers' service 1707-1713, Malplaquet 1709, Tönningen 1713, Stralsund 1715,
(Kaiser is only mentioned as commander by Höglund
and not by Schorr. In the Battle of Malplaquet a Saxon battalion was led
by
"Fürstenburg") |
1707 |
1701
Disbanded 1705, the men were
transferred to Kurprinz |
Sacken
Moss green facings and pewter buttons. Höglund notes that the vest was
moss green while Schorr mentions that the neckcloth was black.
In Austrian service November 1702 to May 1704, Posen 1704, Punitz 1704.
|
1701
Disbanded 1702
according to Schorr, 1704 according to Höglund. |
Görtz
Sea green facings and pewter buttons. Höglund notes that the vest was sea
green while Schorr says it was red. Schorr also mentions that the neckcloth
was black.
Schorr writes that they had pewter buttons but also has brass buttons
in parenthesis.
Kliszow 1702
|
1701 |
Beichlingen
Wackerbarth
von Friesen |
1701
1703
1714 |
Grey facings. Höglund states they also had grey vests and brass buttons. Schorr
on the other hand have them with red vests and pewter buttons in 1701 and brass
buttons in 1707. Furthermore they had white leather breeches and
white neckcloths in 1701 and black neckcloths in 1707. Kliszow 1702, Posen 1704,
Punitz 1704, In Austrian service August 1705 to January 1707. A
battalion in the Maritime Powers' service 1707-1713, Malplaquet 1709, Tönningen 1713, Stralsund
1715. |
1707 |
1701 |
Reuss
Bleumourant (pale blue) facings and brass buttons
(however, Schorr also has pewter buttons in parenthesis). According to Höglund
the vest was bleumourant and according to Schorr it was red. Schorr also states
that the neckcloth was black.
Thorn 1703, thereafter merged with Wostromirsky ("Wostromirsky
und Reuss"). Fraustadt 1706 and disappear after that from the
records. |
Disbanded 1702 |
Flemming/Mannig/Seidlitz
Could be different names for at least two temporary (grenadier?)
battalions. No uniform details are known.
Kliszow 1702 (?) |
1701
Disbanded 1702 |
Marschall von Bieberstein
Moss green facings and brass buttons. According to Höglund the vest was moss green
and according to Schorr it was red. Schorr also states that the neckcloth
was white.
It is doubtful whether this regiment had completed its recruitment
before it was disbanded.
|
1701
Disbanded 1707 |
Löwenhaupt
von Reibnitz |
1701
1701 |
Dark blue facings. Höglund states that the vest was dark blue while Schorr
writes that it was red. According to Höglund they had pewter buttons
while Schorr notes brass buttons with pewter in parenthesis. Schorr also mentions
that the neckcloth was white.
Thorn 1703, Merged with Drost 1705 ("von Drost und Reibnitz"),
Fraustadt 1706.
|
1701
Disbanded 1702 |
Rothenburg
Sea green facings and brass buttons. Schorr adds that the vest was red
and the neckcloth was black. Furthermore, he has pewter buttons in
parenthesis.
It is doubtful whether this regiment had completed its recruitment
before it was disbanded.
|
1701
Disbanded 1705 |
Zeitz
Schulenburg |
1701
1703 |
Green facings and brass buttons. Höglund also mentions that the vest was
green.
Kliszow 1702 (?), Thorn 1703, Posen 1704, Punitz 1704.
|
1701 |
Weimar
Kanitz
Bose |
1701
1703
1703 |
Grey facings and brass buttons. Höglund also mentions that the vest was
grey.
Thorn 1703, Posen 1704, Punitz 1704.
Disbanded 1705,
the men were transferred to the Saxon Guard and Kurprinz. (Bose is only
mentioned as commander by Höglund) |
|
Wolfenbüttel
Three companies were raised in 1704, but the
regiment was probably never completed and was soon disbanded. Unknown
uniform. |
1701 |
According to Höglund the facings and vest were pale blue and the buttons
were of brass.
The colours consisted in 1706 of two dark grey and two crimson colours.
Schorr writes that the facings and vest were red in 1701 (and that they
had pewter buttons
and white neckcloths). In 1703 the facings and stockings were grey, the vest red and
the neckcloth black. He notes brass buttons but with pewter in
parenthesis.
Thorn 1703, Posen 1704, Punitz 1704, Merged with Reibnitz 1705 ("von Drost und Reibnitz"),
Fraustadt 1706.
Disbanded
1707 |
1703 |
1701
Existed
1701-1705, the men were transferred to the Saxon Guard. |
Hayns grenadjärbat.
Nehmitz grenadjärbat. |
1701
1704 |
According to Höglund the uniform is unknown but Schorr states that the
facings and vest were red, buttons of brass and the neckcloth white.
Schorr also writes that it is unknown whether the battalion wore
grenadier caps.
|
Existed 1703-1706, the men were transferred to Wackerbarth |
Martinière's Grenadier
Regiment
(Joyeuse's battalion at Fraustadt)
According to Höglund, the uniform is unknown, but Schorr writes that the
breeches and stockings were blue and guesses that the cuffs were also
blue. It is unknown if the regiment wore grenadier caps but Schorr has a
speculative illustration of the uniform with a cap that looks like the
one pictured here.
Raised in 1703 from French prisoners of war from the War of the Spanish
Succession. Lieutenant-Colonel Joyeuses' battalion was captured in the
Battle of Fraustadt, whereupon it went into Swedish service and
participated in the Battle of Kalisz.
|
1701 |
Wostromirsky
O´Gilvy
Goltz
Seissan |
1702
1707
1710
1717 |
According to Schorr the facings
and vest were in 1701 dark grey for the privates and black for officers.
The buttons were of pewter and the neckcloth was black. The officers had red breeches.
Both Schorr and Höglund
state
that in 1707 the facings and vest were bleumourant (pale blue) and
the buttons were of brass. Schorr also states that the neckcloth was white
Höglund mentions that the colours that had been issued in 1702 and 1706
were black.
In Austrian service November 1702 to May 1704, Posen 1704, Punitz 1704,
Fraustadt 1706, A battalion in the Maritime Powers' service 1707-1713, Malplaquet
1709, Sandomir
1715. |
1707 |
|
Malleraque
Raised in 1703 from Swiss prisoners of war from the War of the Spanish
Succession. Was captured at the Battle of Fraustadt in 1706 whereupon it
passed into Swedish service and participated in the Battle of Kalisz the
same year.
|
1704 |
Sachsen-Weissenfels
Grey facings and pewter buttons. According to Höglund the vest was grey and according to Schorr
it was
red and the neckcloth was black.
In Austrian service August 1705 to January 1707. A battalion in
the Maritime Powers' service 1707-1713, Malplaquet 1709, Stralsund
1715, Stresow 1715.
|
Existed 1705-1707 |
Seiffertitz
It was raised in 1705 with privates taken from the militia. These had according to Höglund light grey coats with red or blue facings. However, he thinks
that the regiment most likely was issued new uniforms that are unknown. Schorr
on the other hand writes that they had grey coats with red facings and
vests as well as pewter buttons and white neckcloths.
In Austrian service August 1705 to January 1707.
|
1710 |
Ansbach-Bayreuth
Seckendorff |
1709
1711 |
Raised in 1709 (as a grenadier
battalion?) and became an infantry regiment in 1711.
Blue facings and vests as well as brass buttons. Schorr also mentions
leather breaches.
In the Maritime Powers' service 1707-1713, Stralsund
1715.
|
|
Seissan
Flemming |
1711
1715 |
Unknown uniform.
In the Maritime Powers'
service
1711-1713. Sandomir 1715.
Existed 1711-1717 |
|
Seydlitz
Unknown uniform.
Sandomir 1715.
Existed 1711-1717 |
1711 |
Flemming
Wackerbarth |
1711
1715 |
Brass buttons. Schorr states that they had dark blue facings in 1711 as
well as cinnamon facings and red vests in 1716. Höglund notes that they
had cinnamon facings and vests.
Raised in 1711 with men from the Dresden garrison.
Sandomir 1715 |
1716 |
Regiment from Ansbach in Saxon service 1713- 1717. |
Ansbach-Kavanagh
The privates wore dark blue coat with facings, vest and lining in
crimson. Pewter buttons, leather breaches, grey stockings, black neckcloth and white
lace on the tricorne hat. The drummers wore crimson coat and breeches, white
facings, lining and lace along the sleeves. NCOs had silver edged cuffs
but were other than that dressed just like the privates. Officers had
crimson breeches, buttons and buttonholes in gold, white neckcloth and a
sash in silver and black.
Stralsund 1715, Stresow 1715.
|
Regiment from Ansbach in Saxon service 1713- 1717. |
Ansbach-Castelli
Schorr has no information about this regiment but Höglund mentions that
the coat was blue with pewter buttons and red facings. The vest was red,
the breeches were of leather and the stockings were light grey.
Stralsund 1715.
|
|
Dresden Garrison Battalion
Unknown uniform. Höglund writes that it was possibly grey with red facings.
|
|
Janissary Corps
This corps was created either in 1715 or 1729 and it was disbanded in
1731. This was not a combat unit but rather a palace guard located in
Dresden. The uniform was in Turkish style and according to Höglund it
consisted of a yellow janissary cap, yellow coat, red vest, red breeches
and yellow boots. The officers wore a turban.
The image to the right show a different uniform and it is taken from
Reinhold Müller's book "Die Armee Augusts des Starken" from 1984. In the
text the coats are described as sea green "oberkleider" hanging all the
way to the ankles and worn over yellow "unterkleider".
|
Artillery Regiment
In 1700 they had black hats with yellow lace (gold yellow according to
Höglund). Grey coat with facings and lining in red as well as brass
buttons (Schorr states that the coat possibly had a collar). The vests
and stockings were red. According to Höglund the breeches were also red
but according to Schorr they were of leather. Schorr also mentions that
the officers had gold lace on their tricornes and a sash in red and
silver worn over the shoulder.
Höglund states that the uniform was changed in 1717 when the coat became
green with facings, lining and collar in red. The vest and breeches
became straw yellow and the stockings grey. The hat still had gold
yellow lace. However, Alexander Querengasser mentions in his article "The Saxon Army in the Great
Northern War" that the first companies received green coats as
early as
1700.
Carriages and wagons were painted black with the metal fittings painted
yellow.
|
Read also: Cavalry
uniforms, Saxon army campaigns,
Saxon army organisation. |