Hanau order of battle
Encyclopedia
The Hanau order of battle shows the forces engaged at the 1813 battle of Hanau
, during the War of the Sixth Coalition
, when a French force under Emperor of the French
Napoleon I
defeated a vastly superior Austro
-Bavarian
force commanded by General Karl Philipp von Wrede
.
General Karl Philipp von Wrede
and comprised two Army Corps, one Austrian and one Bavarian.
The Austrian Corps, under the command of Field-Marshal-Lieutenant Baron Fresnet, numbered 24,000 men: 18,000 infantrymen (18 battalions), 6,000 cavalrymen (32 squadrons) and 34 artillery pieces. These men were organised in three divisions:
Corps came under the direct command of General von Wrede, and included 18,000 men: 15,000 infantrymen (17 battalions), 3,000 cavalrymen (20 squadrons) and 60 artillery pieces. They were divided into 2 infantry divisions, a cavalry reserve and an artillery reserve:
, where it sustained high losses. In theory, Napoleon could count on 110 battalions and a numerous cavalry, however, in practice many of the French battalions and squadrons numbered no more than 100 men and some were reduced to cadres, with entire regiments aligning no more than 10 men. In total, Napoleon had no more than 30,000 men available for the battle and not all of these men were committed. These men were divided in several army Corps, each under the command of a Marshal or very senior General of Division. At the battle of Hanau, only one division of MacDonald's XIth Corps and one division of Victor's IInd Corps were engaged, alongside the Guard infantry, cavalry and artillery.
:
Imperial Guard cavalry (4,000 men), under the command of General Etienne de Nansouty:
Battle of Hanau
The Battle of Hanau was fought on between Karl Philipp von Wrede’s Austro-Bavarian corps and Napoleon's retreating French during the War of the Sixth Coalition....
, during the War of the Sixth Coalition
War of the Sixth Coalition
In the War of the Sixth Coalition , a coalition of Austria, Prussia, Russia, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Sweden, Spain and a number of German States finally defeated France and drove Napoleon Bonaparte into exile on Elba. After Napoleon's disastrous invasion of Russia, the continental powers...
, when a French force under Emperor of the French
Emperor of the French
The Emperor of the French was the title used by the Bonaparte Dynasty starting when Napoleon Bonaparte was given the title Emperor on 18 May 1804 by the French Senate and was crowned emperor of the French on 02 December 1804 at the cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris, in Paris with the Crown of...
Napoleon I
Napoleon I
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
defeated a vastly superior Austro
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...
-Bavarian
Kingdom of Bavaria
The Kingdom of Bavaria was a German state that existed from 1806 to 1918. The Bavarian Elector Maximilian IV Joseph of the House of Wittelsbach became the first King of Bavaria in 1806 as Maximilian I Joseph. The monarchy would remain held by the Wittelsbachs until the kingdom's dissolution in 1918...
force commanded by General Karl Philipp von Wrede
Karl Philipp von Wrede
Karl Philipp Josef Wrede, Freiherr von Wrede, 1st Fürst von Wrede , Bavarian field-marshal, was born at Heidelberg, the youngest of three children of Ferdinand Josef Wrede , created in 1791 1st Freiherr von Wrede, and wife, married on 21 March 1746, Anna Katharina Jünger , by whom he had two more...
.
Austrian Corps
The Austrian and Bavarian army at the battle of Hanau numbered 42,000 men: 33,000 infantrymen, 9,000 cavalrymen and 94 artillery pieces. These men were under the overall command of BavarianKingdom of Bavaria
The Kingdom of Bavaria was a German state that existed from 1806 to 1918. The Bavarian Elector Maximilian IV Joseph of the House of Wittelsbach became the first King of Bavaria in 1806 as Maximilian I Joseph. The monarchy would remain held by the Wittelsbachs until the kingdom's dissolution in 1918...
General Karl Philipp von Wrede
Karl Philipp von Wrede
Karl Philipp Josef Wrede, Freiherr von Wrede, 1st Fürst von Wrede , Bavarian field-marshal, was born at Heidelberg, the youngest of three children of Ferdinand Josef Wrede , created in 1791 1st Freiherr von Wrede, and wife, married on 21 March 1746, Anna Katharina Jünger , by whom he had two more...
and comprised two Army Corps, one Austrian and one Bavarian.
The Austrian Corps, under the command of Field-Marshal-Lieutenant Baron Fresnet, numbered 24,000 men: 18,000 infantrymen (18 battalions), 6,000 cavalrymen (32 squadrons) and 34 artillery pieces. These men were organised in three divisions:
- 1st division, under General Bach:
- Brigade Hardegg:
- 3rd JägerJäger (military)Jäger is a term that was adopted in the Enlightenment era in German-speaking states and others influenced by German military practice to describe a kind of light infantry, and it has continued in that use since then....
regiment (1 bat.) - 1st "Sleker" regiment (2 bat.)
- one 6-pounder foot battery (4 cannons)
- 3rd Jäger
- Brigade Wolkmannt:
- "Archduke Rudolph" regiment (4 bat.)
- "Jordis" regiment (4 bat.)
- one six-pounder foot battery (6 cannons)
- Brigade Hardegg:
- 2nd division, under General Trautenberg:
- Brigade Diemar:
- Grenadier battalions: "Kramer", "de Pest", "Frich" (3 bat.)
- one 6-pounder foot battery (4 cannons)
- Brigade Klenau:
- Grenadier battalions: "Mossel", "Puttean", "Possman", "Lany" (4 bat.)
- one 6-pounder foot battery (4 cannons)
- Brigade Diemar:
- Cavalry Division, under General Spleny:
- Brigade Tillon:
- "Archduke Joseph" hussarHussarHussar refers to a number of types of light cavalry which originated in Hungary in the 14th century, tracing its roots from Serbian medieval cavalry tradition, brought to Hungary in the course of the Serb migrations, which began in the late 14th century....
regiment (6 sq.) - "Frimont" hussar regiment (6 sq.)
- "Szekler" hussar regiment (4 sq.)
- "Archduke Joseph" hussar
- Brigade Sprethy:
- "Knesevich" dragoonDragoonThe word dragoon originally meant mounted infantry, who were trained in horse riding as well as infantry fighting skills. However, usage altered over time and during the 18th century, dragoons evolved into conventional light cavalry units and personnel...
regiment (6 sq.) - "Schwartzenberg" uhlanUhlanUhlans were Polish light cavalry armed with lances, sabres and pistols. The title was later used by lancer regiments in the Russian, Prussian, and Austrian armies....
s (6 sq.) - "Prince von Liechtenstein" cuirassiers (4 sq.)
- "Knesevich" dragoon
- Brigade Stwrtnick:
- one 12-pounder position battery (6 cannons)
- two 6-pounder foot batteries (12 cannons)
- 1 pioneer company
- Brigade Tillon:
Bavarian Corps
The BavariaKingdom of Bavaria
The Kingdom of Bavaria was a German state that existed from 1806 to 1918. The Bavarian Elector Maximilian IV Joseph of the House of Wittelsbach became the first King of Bavaria in 1806 as Maximilian I Joseph. The monarchy would remain held by the Wittelsbachs until the kingdom's dissolution in 1918...
Corps came under the direct command of General von Wrede, and included 18,000 men: 15,000 infantrymen (17 battalions), 3,000 cavalrymen (20 squadrons) and 60 artillery pieces. They were divided into 2 infantry divisions, a cavalry reserve and an artillery reserve:
- 2nd division, under General Beckers:
- Brigade Pappenheim:
- 4th Line regiment (1 bat.)
- 5th Light regiment (1 bat.)
- 4th national regiment: Salzburg (1 bat.)
- 9th national regiment: Regensburg (1 bat.)
- Brigade Zollern:
- 6th Line regiment (2 bat.)
- 13th national regiment: Innsbruck (1 bat.)
- 14th national regiment: Anspach (1 bat.)
- Brigade Caspers:
- one 6-pounder horse battery (6 cannons)
- one 6-pounder foot battery (8 cannons)
- Brigade Pappenheim:
- 3rd division, under general Lamotte:
- Brigade Von der Stockh:
- 11th Line regiment (2 bat.)
- 7th Line regiment (1 bat.)
- Brigade Deroy:
- 5th Line regiment (1 bat.)
- 8th Line regiment (1 bat.)
- 9th Line regiment (1 bat.)
- 8th national regiment: Munich (1 bat.)
- 6th national regiment: Lindau (1 bat.)
- Brigade Wagener:
- one 6-pounder horse battery (6 cannons)
- one 6-pounder foot battery (6 cannons)
- Brigade Von der Stockh:
- Cavalry Reserve:
- Brigade Bieregg:
- 1st chevaulegers (3 sq.)
- 2nd chevaulgegers (3 sq.)
- 7th chevaulegers (4 sq.)
- Brigade Ellbracht:
- 3rd chevaulegers (3 sq.)
- 6th chevaulegers (3 sq.)
- Brigade Dietz:
- 4th chevaulegers (3 sq.)
- 5th chevaulegers (1 sq.)
- Brigade Bieregg:
- Artillery Reserve:
- Brigade Cologne:
- one 6-pounder horse battery (6 cannons)
- one 6-pounder foot battery (8 cannons)
- three 12-pounder foot batteries (18 cannons)
- Brigade Cologne:
The French Army
The French Grande Armée was in full retreat after a decisive defeat at the battle of LeipzigBattle of Leipzig
The Battle of Leipzig or Battle of the Nations, on 16–19 October 1813, was fought by the coalition armies of Russia, Prussia, Austria and Sweden against the French army of Napoleon. Napoleon's army also contained Polish and Italian troops as well as Germans from the Confederation of the Rhine...
, where it sustained high losses. In theory, Napoleon could count on 110 battalions and a numerous cavalry, however, in practice many of the French battalions and squadrons numbered no more than 100 men and some were reduced to cadres, with entire regiments aligning no more than 10 men. In total, Napoleon had no more than 30,000 men available for the battle and not all of these men were committed. These men were divided in several army Corps, each under the command of a Marshal or very senior General of Division. At the battle of Hanau, only one division of MacDonald's XIth Corps and one division of Victor's IInd Corps were engaged, alongside the Guard infantry, cavalry and artillery.
II Corps
The IInd Corps was under the command of Marshal Victor. The only unit engaged was:- 4th division under General DubretonJean-Louis DubretonJean-Louis Dubreton enlisted in the French army in 1790 and served during the French Revolutionary Wars where he gained advancement. During the War of the First Coalition he fought against the allies in the north and against the Revolt in the Vendée. By 1801 he commanded a battalion in Italy...
:- 24th Line regiment (4 bat.)
- 10th Line regiment (4 bat.)
- Brigade Brun:
- 37th Line (3 bat.)
- 56th Line (4 bat.)
XI Corps
The XIth Corps was under the command of Marshal Jacques MacDonald. The only unit engaged was:- 36th division under General Henri-François-Marie Charpentier,
- brigade Simmer:
- 6th Line regiment (2 bat.)
- 112th Line regiment (4 bat.)
- brigade Meunier:
- 14th Light regiment (3 bat.)
- 3rd Line regiment (2 bat.)
- brigade Simmer:
II Cavalry Corps
The II Cavalry Corps (around 3,000 men) was under the command of General Horace François Bastien Sébastiani de La Porta:- 2nd light cavalryLight cavalryLight cavalry refers to lightly armed and lightly armored troops mounted on horses, as opposed to heavy cavalry, where the riders are heavily armored...
division:- 7th Brigade, Gérard:
- 2nd chevau-légers (3 sq.)
- 11th chasseurs (3 sq.)
- 12th chasseurs (3 sq.)
- 7th Brigade, Gérard:
- Division of Nicolas-François Roussel d'HurbalNicolas-François Roussel d'HurbalViscount Nicolas-François Roussel d'Hurbal , was a French soldier during the French Revolutionary Wars and Napoleonic Wars.He spent the better part of his military career in the service of the Habsburg Monarchy , fighting as a junior cavalry officer in the French Revolutionary Wars...
:- 8th Brigade, Dommanges:
- 4th chevau-légers (3 sq.)
- 5th hussarHussarHussar refers to a number of types of light cavalry which originated in Hungary in the 14th century, tracing its roots from Serbian medieval cavalry tradition, brought to Hungary in the course of the Serb migrations, which began in the late 14th century....
s (3 sq.) - 9th hussars (4 sq.)
- 8th Brigade, Dommanges:
- 4th light cavalry division, under General Rémi Joseph Isidore ExelmansRémi Joseph Isidore ExelmansRémi Joseph Isidore Exelmans, 1st Comte Exelmans was a distinguished French soldier of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, as well as a political figure of the following period.-Early career:...
:- 9th Brigade, Maurin:
- 6th chevau-légers (2 sq.)
- 4th chasseurs (2 sq.)
- 7th chasseurs (3 sq.)
- 20th chasseurs (4 sq.)
- 10th Brigade, Pierre WatierPierre WatierPierre Watier , was a French general of division.Born at Laon, Aisne, Watier is one of 660 personalities to have their name engraved under the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, the city where he died. His name appears on the 12th column and is spelt WATHIER....
:- 23 chasseurs (4 sq.)
- 24 chasseurs (3 sq.)
- 11th hussars (2 sq.)
- 9th Brigade, Maurin:
- 2nd cuirassierCuirassierCuirassiers were mounted cavalry soldiers equipped with armour and firearms, first appearing in late 15th-century Europe. They were the successors of the medieval armoured knights...
s division, under General Antoine-Louis Decrest de Saint-GermainAntoine-Louis Decrest de Saint-GermainAntoine-Louis Decrest de Saint-Germain, Count de Saint-Germain and of the Empire was a French soldier of the French Revolutionary Wars, who later rose to the top military rank of General of Division, taking part to the Napoleonic Wars as a commander of cavalry.- Revolutionary Wars :Born in Paris...
:- Brigade Daugeranville:
- 1st Carabiniers-à-ChevalCarabiniers-à-ChevalThe Carabiniers-à-Cheval were mounted troops in the service of France.Their origins date back to the mid-16th century, when they were created as elite elements of the French light cavalry, armed with carbines but then gradually evolved towards semi-independent status during the XVIIIth century...
(2 sq.) - 2nd Carabiniers-à-Cheval (2 sq.)
- 1st Cuirassiers (2 sq.)
- 1st Carabiniers-à-Cheval
- Brigade Nicolas Marin Thiry:
- 5th Cuirassiers (3 sq.)
- 8th Cuirassiers (2 sq.)
- 10th Cuirassiers (2 sq.)
- Brigade Daugeranville:
Imperial Guard
Imperial Guard infantry and artillery (6,000 men), under the command of General Antoine DrouotAntoine Drouot
Comte Antoine Drouot was one of Napoleon's generals.Born in Nancy, France, the son of a baker, he trained as an artilleryman and took part in the battles of the French Revolution where he rose through the ranks....
:
- 1st Old GuardOld GuardThe Old Guard were the elite veteran elements of theEmperor Napoleon's Imperial Guard. As such it was the most prestigious formation in Napoleon's Grande Armée....
division under General Louis FriantLouis FriantLouis Friant was born in the village of Morlancourt, 8 km south of Albert near the river Somme. The village would later suffer the misfortune of lying along the Western Front trench-lines of World War I....
:- Brigade Christiani:
- 1st foot chasseurChasseurChasseur [sha-sur; Fr. sha-sœr] is the designation given to certain regiments of French light infantry or light cavalry troops, trained for rapid action.-History:...
s à pied regiment (2 bat.) - 2nd chasseurs à pied regiment (2 bat.)
- 1st foot chasseur
- Brigade MichelClaude-Etienne MichelGeneral Claude-Étienne Michel , an officer in Napoleon's army, was second in command of the Chasseur Division of the Guard and commander of its Brigade of Middle Guard...
- 1st grenadiers à pied regiment (2 bat.)
- 2nd grenadiers à pied regiment (2 bat.)
- Brigade Christiani:
- 2nd Old Guard division, under the command of General Philibert Jean-Baptiste CurialPhilibert Jean-Baptiste CurialPhilibert-Jean-Baptiste François Joseph, comte Curial was a general in the Napoleon army.-References:...
- Fussiliers chasseurs (2 bat.)
- Fussiliers grenadiers (2 bat.)
- Vélites of TurinTurinTurin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
(1 bat.) - Vélites of FlorenceFlorenceFlorence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
(1 bat.)
- Guard Artillery, under the command of General Charles-François Dulauloy
- Foot artillery: 40 pieces
- Horse artillery: 12 pieces
- Pontooners and workers
Imperial Guard cavalry (4,000 men), under the command of General Etienne de Nansouty:
- 1st division under Philippe Antoine d'OrnanoPhilippe Antoine d'OrnanoPhilippe Antoine d'Ornano, 1st Comte d'Ornano was a French soldier and political figure who rose to the rank of Marshal of France. He was made Count d'Ornano of the French Empire in 1808...
:- Brigade Pierre David de Colbert-ChabanaisPierre David de Colbert-ChabanaisPierre David Édouard de Colbert-Chabanais was a general of the French Revolutionary Wars and Napoleonic Wars, noted for his unbreakable loyalty to Napoleon I.-Revolution:...
- Berg lancers (6 sq.)
- 2e régiment de chevau-légers lanciers de la Garde Impériale (10 sq.)
- Brigade Pinteville:
- DragoonDragoonThe word dragoon originally meant mounted infantry, who were trained in horse riding as well as infantry fighting skills. However, usage altered over time and during the 18th century, dragoons evolved into conventional light cavalry units and personnel...
s of the Young Guard (2 sq.)
- Dragoon
- Brigade Pierre David de Colbert-Chabanais
- 2nd division under Charles Lefebvre-Desnouettes:
- Brigade Bertrand Pierre Castex:
- 1er régiment de chevau-légers lanciers polonais de la Garde impériale, Young Guard (4 sq.)
- Chasseurs à Cheval de la Garde ImpérialeChasseurs à Cheval de la Garde ImpérialeThe Chasseurs à Cheval de la Garde Impériale constituted a light cavalry regiment in the Consular, then Imperial Guard during the French Consulate and First French Empire respectively. They were the second senior "Old Guard" cavalry regiment of the Imperial Guard, after the Grenadiers à Cheval...
, Young Guard (4 sq.) - Grenadiers à Cheval de la Garde ImpérialeGrenadiers à Cheval de la Garde ImpérialeThe Grenadiers à Cheval de la Garde Impériale constituted a heavy cavalry regiment in the Consular, then Imperial Guard during the French Consulate and First French Empire respectively...
, Young Guard (2 sq.)
- Brigade Bertrand Pierre Castex:
- 3rd division under Frédéric Henri WaltherFrédéric Henri WaltherFrederic-Louis-Henri Walther , was an Alsatian-born general of division and a supporter of Napoleon Bonaparte. He fought for France in the Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars....
:- Brigade Jean-Dieudonné Lion:
- 1er régiment de chevau-légers lanciers polonais de la Garde impériale, Old Guard (3 sq.)
- 4th Gardes d'Honneur (4 sq.)
- Chasseurs à Cheval de la Garde Impériale, Old Guard (6 sq.)
- Brigade Louis-Michel Letort de LorvilleLouis-Michel Letort de LorvilleLouis-Michel Letort de Lorville was a French general of the Napoleonic Wars. He was made a baron de l'Empire on 9 September 1810, général de brigade on 30 January 1813, and acted as aide de camp to Napoleon himself...
:- 1st Gardes d'Honneur (4 sq.)
- Dragoons of the Old Guard (4 sq.)
- 2nd Gardes d'Honneur (4 sq.)
- Brigade Louis-Marie Lévesque de Laferrière:
- Grenadiers à Cheval de la Garde Impériale, Old Guard (4 sq.)
- 3rd Gardes d'Honneur (4 sq.)
- Brigade Jean-Dieudonné Lion: