Austrian Army 1737-39

The Austrian army in the period before the 1737 war against the Ottomans was basking in the victories of Prince Eugene, culminating in the 1718 Treaty of Passarowitz. These, together with the victories in the Austro-Ottoman War at the end of the previous century, secured Hungary and much of Serbia for the Habsburgs. Prince Eugene died in 1736, after mixed outcomes for Austria in the War of the Quadruple Alliance (1718-20) and the War of the Polish Succession (1733). The generals closest to Eugene, including Daun, Konigsegg, Mercy and Seckendorff, were not highly rated. Eugene may have been outstanding, but he didn't manage what today we would call succession planning.

We call the project the Austrian Army, although the Habsburg Emperor Charles VI could call on two army structures. The Army of the Holy Roman Empire (Reichsarmee) and the Imperial Army (Kaiserliche Armee). Support from the former was becoming less guaranteed, although several elements fought in the war. Both armies recruited from across Europe and included several soldiers of fortune from Britain and elsewhere in their ranks. Wallis, of Irish descent, was the most senior. Native tongues included German, French, Flemish, Italian, Czech, Hungarian, Serbo-Croat and Latin, which was always a challenge for this empire.

Starting with the infantry. In 1737, there were 44 ‘Austrian’ (or German) infantry regiments, although not all recruits came from Habsburg lands; many came from independent German states. In addition, the Hungarian Diet funded three infantry regiments. The grenadiers were crucial to any Austrian victory. There were no guard regiments. Infantry regiments comprised three battalions, each with five fusilier companies and two grenadier companies, which could be combined into grenadier battalions. 

The Habsburg Military Frontier (Militärgrenze) was established in Hungary and Croatia in the 16th century and was under the direct control of the Habsburg military. The population totalled around 350,000, consisting mostly of Croats, Serbs and Vlachs (the latter often used as a catch-all term), who had fled the Ottoman Empire and were allowed to retain their Orthodox faith in a largely Catholic country. The exact number of soldiers for active service is unclear, but it was around 39,000 infantry and 6,000 cavalry. These military colonists were known as Grenzer. In return for a grant of land, they provided military service and guarded the border. Not to be confused with the later Pandours.

In 1737, there were 32 cavalry regiments, comprising 18 cuirassiers and 14 dragoons, plus eight or nine hussar regiments funded by the Hungarian Diet. By this period, the cuirassiers were usually deployed in three lines, trained to charge, at least for the final 30 paces, with pistol use discouraged. However, against the Ottomans, firearms were used in the traditional Austrian cuirassier tactical mode. Dragoons could still be used in the older dismounted infantry mode and had not switched to a charging cavalry role, as in some other armies of this period. Hussars skirmished with firearms on the flanks of the army but could charge after firing their weapons.

The highly regarded Austrian artillery dates to a reorganisation after our period in 1744. During this period, the artillery was a separate organisation from the rest of the army, reflecting the earlier view that gunners were technical specialists rather than soldiers. The models are mostly from the Front Rank range, now sold by Gripping Beast. Others come from Eagle Miniatures and Foundry.