Wednesday, February 26, 2020

FM Liechtenstein and FML Kienmayer



FM Johannes Joseph, Furst zu Liectenstein (1760 - 1836)


Johannes became hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein in 1805, but resigned that role in 1806 when Liechtenstein (which he had never visited!) entered the confederation of the Rhine. he re-assumed rule in 1816. 


His career in the military began with a commission as 2nd Lieutenant in a Cuirassier regiment in 1781. He was famously brave, leading from the front, and had 24 horses shot from under him over the course of his career. 


In 1809, he commanded the 1st Reserve Corps  Grenadiers and Cuirassiers with distinction. 


Liechtestein took command of the Army after Karl resigned, and negotiated the peace of Schonnbrunn. he was promoted to Feldmarschal, but retired from the Army in 1810. 


Johannes Joseph, Furst zu Leictenstein, 
By Johann Baptist von Lampi the Elder - [1], Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2685115


FML Michael, Freiherr von Kienmayer (1755 - 1828)


Kienmayer was born in Vienna, and joined the KuK army in 17 74, serving first in IR 26, and then DR #5, and later  in HR #10.


 He was Chief of Staff for the Austrians at Austerlitz.


In 1809, Kienmayer commanded the 2nd Reserve Corps. 



By Jens-Florian Ebert - http://www.napoleon-online.de/AU_Generale/, Public Domain, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26611621

Saturday, February 22, 2020

FML Johann Hiller and GdK Heinrich Graf Bellegarde



In preparation for the Crisis on the Danube" Campaigns, and a future replay of Wagram, I decided that I need more Austrian commanders, especially at the Corps level.


I purchased some additional high commands figures from both Front Rank and Foundrylast year, and now it's time to paint them!


This is the Foundry figure for GdK Heinrich Graf Bellegarde, with a Friont Rank general accompanying him. I have Bellegarde painted in an out dated 1798 hechtgrau (pike grey, a decidedly blue color). staff officer's coat... mostly dfor the sake of variety!
  

Bellegarde  (1756 - 1845) was born in Dresden and began his career in the Saxon infantry before transferring to Imperial service in the cavalry. He commanded the I Corps in 1809. His leadership was described as "capable but unimaginative". 



By Josef Kriehuber - personal photo of the original lithograph, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4775851


I have used a generic Foundry general to represent FML Johann Hiller (1748 - 1819).


Hiller was a commoner and the son of a Colonel in the KuK army. He rose from the ranks, and was "popul;ar with his men, but widely disliked among his brother officers for blatant ambition and self seeking". One suspects his lack of Noble birth may have been a factor in that, however. 


Hiller commanded the VI Corps in 1809, and saved the left wing of the army in Bavaria, and defeated Bessieres at the battle of Neumarkt. His Corps lead the attack on Aspern, eventually holding the village after it changed hands nine times over the course of the battle. He sat out the battle of Wagram pleading ill health. 


Johann von Hiller, from Wikimedia, artist unknown.
Hiller had a difficult relationship with Karl, who described him as "an able man, but of unlimited ambition, which he deviously advanced". 


This winter has been relatively warm in New England, and with a lot of rain and little snow. Fortunately, it snowed last week in Vermont, and thus there was snow on the ground (and ski trails) last weekend when we visited our friends. 


Rory, senior among the five Goldens in our home, loves to lie and roll in the snow!

Sunday, February 9, 2020

Kurassier Rgiment #7, " Karl Eugen, Prinz von Lothringen"


I have wanted to add a few more regiments of Austrian Cuiraasiers to my collection for some time, so I took advantage of the annual Foundry Christmas Sale this year to acquire the necessary figures. 



The Inhaber for this regiment was General der Kavalerie Karl Eugen, Prinz von Lothringen,. He was a French emigre, better known by the French version of his titles, namely Charles Eugène de Lorraine, prince de Lambesc, duc d'Elbeuf, comte de Brionne. 



As both Inhaber and a GdK, Karl was entitled to wear the handsome uniform of his regiment, white coat with dark blue facings and silver buttons; very nice! He was born at Versailles in 1751.


In the Royal army of France,  Charles  commanded the Royal Allemand Dragoon regiment, and was tasked with the personal protection of the King. On July 12th, 1789, his regiment was part of a force ordered (without the consent of the King) to disperse the crowds assembling on the Placed de la Concorde in reaction to the dismissal of the Finance Minister, Jacques Necker. The resultant turmoil lead to the storming of the Bastile on Jul; 4th, and Charles' later flight to Austria, accompanied by the remnants of his Regiment, which was taken into Austrian service. 


KR #7 began the 1809 campaign as part of the forces in Poland under the command of Ehrzherzog Ferdinand, and fought at the battles of Razyn and Gorchow. 


The regiment's excellent Leibfahne is from Adolfo Ramos. I like to use the white Liebfahnen for my Cuirassiers and (incorrectly, aside from 1805) the Grenadiers; everyone else carries the yellow Ordinarfahnen