Hartschier
Encyclopedia
Hartschiere were predominantly members of the Bavaria
n residence guards before 1918, a historic military branch of the former
Duchy
and the later Electorate
and at last Kingdom of Bavaria
.
, the Germanized word Hartschier originally derived from the Italian
word arciere for archer
, but it might also be possible that it has Spanish roots, because the Bavarian Duke William IV
received a Spanish archer company of Charles I of Spain
and added Bavarian court bodyguards with notable roots in the deep Middle Ages. On April 13, 1669, Ferdinand Maria
transformed this unit to the Hartschier-Garde. The name of the former Austria
n equivalent, the k.u.k. Arcièren-Leibgarde, is similar-sounding.
The Bavarian palace guard troop, later called Königlich-Bayerische Leibgarde der Hartschier (L.G.H.), had only ceremonial and no conventional military functions. Relating to military affairs, the Command of the Leibgarde der Hartschiere was directly subordinated to the Army Ministry
. By contrast the Leibgarde der Hartschiere by itself was subordinated, concerning civilian and criminal justiciable affairs, to the General Command
in Munich
like the other military branches. In addition to the Hartschiere, the kings of Bavaria had a royal house regiment from the end of the Napoleonic Wars
until the fall of the kingdom after World War I
, the so-called Infantry Lifeguards Regiment
.
Entrance to this Guard was only possible for soldiers of impeccable character and conduct. The commander of the Hartschier troop had the title Generalkapitän (see also Captain General
), associated with the highest class ranking in the Hofrangordnung (court order of precedence). He was appointed personally by the king.
In 1852 the Hartschiere got new uniforms with white supra vests over their jackets and helmets instead of the former caps, made of nickeled tin and gilded cast brass. The golden helmet plate showed the royal coats of arms and on top of the helmet was a standing golden lion figure. The helmet was worn with the lion for normal service, which was replaced by a white horsehair plume on full dress occasions. Older helmets had obviously two-headed eagle figures on top instead of the lion. The embroidered patch on the chest of the Hartschiere showed a large version of the Order of Saint Hubertus (Hubertusorden) with its motto "in trau vast" (means: be firm in fidelity). The Hartschiere were armed with épées and the halberd
-like "couse".
On the occasion of the 200th anniversary a commemorative medal (2 Ducats) with a portrait of Ludwig II of Bavaria
was given out in 1869.
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
n residence guards before 1918, a historic military branch of the former
Duchy
Duchy of Bavaria
The Duchy of Bavaria was the only one of the stem duchies from the earliest days of East Francia and the Kingdom of Germany to preserve both its name and most of its territorial extent....
and the later Electorate
Electorate of Bavaria
The Electorate of Bavaria was an independent hereditary electorate of the Holy Roman Empire from 1623 to 1806, when it was succeeded by the Kingdom of Bavaria....
and at last Kingdom of Bavaria
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...
.
History
According to Meyers Konversations-LexikonMeyers Konversations-Lexikon
Meyers Konversations-Lexikon or Meyers Lexikon was a major German encyclopedia that existed in various editions, and several titles, from 1839 until 1984, when it merged with the Brockhaus encyclopedia....
, the Germanized word Hartschier originally derived from the Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
word arciere for archer
Archery
Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow, from Latin arcus. Archery has historically been used for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a recreational activity...
, but it might also be possible that it has Spanish roots, because the Bavarian Duke William IV
William IV, Duke of Bavaria
William IV of Bavaria was Duke of Bavaria from 1508 to 1550, until 1545 together with his younger brother Louis X, Duke of Bavaria....
received a Spanish archer company of Charles I of Spain
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
and added Bavarian court bodyguards with notable roots in the deep Middle Ages. On April 13, 1669, Ferdinand Maria
Ferdinand Maria, Elector of Bavaria
Ferdinand Maria, Elector of Bavaria was a Wittelsbach ruler of Bavaria and an elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 1651 to 1679.-Biography:He was born in Munich...
transformed this unit to the Hartschier-Garde. The name of the former Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n equivalent, the k.u.k. Arcièren-Leibgarde, is similar-sounding.
The Bavarian palace guard troop, later called Königlich-Bayerische Leibgarde der Hartschier (L.G.H.), had only ceremonial and no conventional military functions. Relating to military affairs, the Command of the Leibgarde der Hartschiere was directly subordinated to the Army Ministry
Ministry of War (Kingdom of Bavaria)
The Ministry of War was a ministry for military affairs of the Kingdom of Bavaria, founded as Ministerium des Kriegswesens on October 1, 1808 by King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria. It was located at Ludwigstraße in Munich...
. By contrast the Leibgarde der Hartschiere by itself was subordinated, concerning civilian and criminal justiciable affairs, to the General Command
High command
The phrase High command may refer to:* Command * Chain of command* Commander-in-Chief* Defence minister* Oberkommando der Wehrmacht, the WWII command structure popularly known as "German High Command"Compare:* Staff...
in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
like the other military branches. In addition to the Hartschiere, the kings of Bavaria had a royal house regiment from the end of the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
until the fall of the kingdom after World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the so-called Infantry Lifeguards Regiment
Royal Bavarian Infantry Lifeguards Regiment
The Royal Bavarian Infantry Lifeguards Regiment was a household-bodyguard regiment of the Bavarian kings from the end of the Napoleonic Wars until the fall of the Wittelsbach monarchy and the related resolution of the Bavarian army.- Predecessors :...
.
Entrance to this Guard was only possible for soldiers of impeccable character and conduct. The commander of the Hartschier troop had the title Generalkapitän (see also Captain General
Captain General
Captain general is a high military rank and a gubernatorial title.-History:This term Captain General started to appear in the 14th century, with the meaning of commander in chief of an army in the field, probably the first usage of the term General in military settings...
), associated with the highest class ranking in the Hofrangordnung (court order of precedence). He was appointed personally by the king.
In 1852 the Hartschiere got new uniforms with white supra vests over their jackets and helmets instead of the former caps, made of nickeled tin and gilded cast brass. The golden helmet plate showed the royal coats of arms and on top of the helmet was a standing golden lion figure. The helmet was worn with the lion for normal service, which was replaced by a white horsehair plume on full dress occasions. Older helmets had obviously two-headed eagle figures on top instead of the lion. The embroidered patch on the chest of the Hartschiere showed a large version of the Order of Saint Hubertus (Hubertusorden) with its motto "in trau vast" (means: be firm in fidelity). The Hartschiere were armed with épées and the halberd
Halberd
A halberd is a two-handed pole weapon that came to prominent use during the 14th and 15th centuries. Possibly the word halberd comes from the German words Halm , and Barte - in modern-day German, the weapon is called Hellebarde. The halberd consists of an axe blade topped with a spike mounted on...
-like "couse".
On the occasion of the 200th anniversary a commemorative medal (2 Ducats) with a portrait of Ludwig II of Bavaria
Ludwig II of Bavaria
Ludwig II was King of Bavaria from 1864 until shortly before his death. He is sometimes called the Swan King and der Märchenkönig, the Fairy tale King...
was given out in 1869.
Notable members
- Maximilian Graf Seyssel d’AixMaximilian Seyssel d’AixMaximilian "Max" Graf Seyssel d’Aix was a Bavarian Lieutenant General.- Biography :Seyssel d’Aix was born in Munich as a member of the Seyssel d’Aix family, which moved from the Savoy to Bavaria in the beginning 18th century. He joined the army in his early years...
, Generalkapitän from 1837 to 1845 - Christian Frhr. von Zweibrücken, Generalkapitän
- Leonhard Frhr. von HohenhausenLeonhard von HohenhausenLeonhard Freiherr von Hohenhausen und Hochhaus was a Bavarian military and Acting War Minister from March 1, 1847 to February 1, 1848. His last military rank was General der Kavallerie.- Biography :...
, Generalkapitän after 1861 - Siegmund von PranckhSiegmund von PranckhSiegmund Freiherr von Pranckh was a Bavarian general and Minister of War. Pranckh joined the army in Munich in 1840 from the cadet corps and in 1849 worked on the staff of the Generalquartiermeister...
, Generalkapitän after 1876 - Maximilian Graf von Verri della BosiaMaximilian von Verri della BosiaMaximilian Graf von Verri della Bosia genannt' von Külberg auf Gansheim und Berg was a Bavarian general.- Biography :...
, Generalkapitän - Felix Graf von BothmerFelix Graf von BothmerFelix Graf von Bothmer was a German general of the Brusilov offensive. His father was army general and belonged to the German nobility. In 1871 Bothmer joined the Bavarian Army...
, last Generalkapitän from 1909 to 1918