LIGHT UNITS
The Dutch light infantry in the French revolutionary period consisted of two different branches; the national light troops and the foreign light troops.regular army which often existed before the revolutionary period and the light troops (mostly French emigré or German troops) raised during this period.
There were some contracted troops from German princes which also had a light infantry component; these are described under the heading of "subsidy troops". A lot of these German troops were already in the service of the United Provinces before the outbreak of the revolutionairy wars. Some were extra added.
Of course there are also the light troops (mostly French emigré units) which were raised after the start of the war. The infantry part of these troops are mentioned under the heading of "Emigré units". |
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raised |
Disbanded/
reorganized |
uniform in 1792-1795 |
NATIONAL LIGHT UNITS |
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Legioen Rijngraaf von Salm
(in april 1793 became the 1st battalion Jagers van Bijlandt) |
Jagers van het Legioen Rijngraaf von Salm |
11/11/1784 |
april 1793 (d) |
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Koprs Jagers van Bijlandt
(1st batt was Jagers van Legioen Rijgraaf von Salm, 2nd batt was 2nd batt 11th regiment infantry) |
Christiaan Reinold Graaf van Bylandt |
17/4/1793 |
08/07/1795 (r) |
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Korps Jagers van Mathieu/von Heydte |
Louis Mathieu (killed june 1794)
Willem von Heydte |
16/1/1794
june 1794 |
08/07/1795 (r) |
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FOREIGN LIGHT UNITS |
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5e Bataljon Waldeck
(up to 1792 in Waldeck in half pay) |
5e bataljon Waldeck |
25/10/1784 |
08/07/1795 kept in pay of Batavian Republic up to 1806 |
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in 1785 |
in 1794 |
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A picture in the Vinkhuyzen collection show also a Waldeck jäger in 1794. I have no further info about these. |
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SUBSIDY TROOPS
As the United Provinces needed more troops, they hired units from German Princes. Some of these troops were already in the service of the United Provinces before the outbreak of the war. Extra troops were added after the start of the war. These corps consisted mostly of line infantry with a light infantry component and sometimes added artillery.
The treaty with these princes was called "Capitulatie". |
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Anspachse brigade
(or "korps Anspachse troepen") |
Capitulatie with Markgraaf van Brandenburg-Anspach
The brigade consisted of: |
27/3/1788 |
03/07/1794 (end of contract) |
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- battalion fusiliers (5 comp) |
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- battalion grenadiers (4 comp) |
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- battalion jagers (2 comp) |
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- company artillery |
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Mecklenburgse brigade
(or "korps Mecklenburgse troepen") |
Capitulatie with Frederik Frans Hertog van Mecklenburg-Schwerin
The brigade consisted of:
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05/05/1788 |
06-07/01/1796 (end of contract) |
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- 2 musketeer battalions (each 4 comp) |
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- grenadier battalion (4 comp)1 |
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Brunswijckse brigade
(or "korps Brunswijckse troepen") |
Capitulatie with Hertog van Brunswijck
The brigade consisted of:
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22/02/1788 |
(end of contract?) |
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- regiment dragoons (4 comp) |
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- battalion grenadiers (4 comp) |
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1st reg |
2nd reg |
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- 2 regiments infantry (each 2 batt of 5 comp) |
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- company jäger |
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- 4 companies artillery |
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Regiment Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg |
Capitulatie with Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg
The regiment consisted of 2 batt each of one grenadier and 6 musketier companies |
26/07/1794 |
27/07/1795 (end of contract) |
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Regiment Hohenlohe-Bartenstein |
Capitulatie with Hohenlohe-Bartenstein
The regiment consisted of 2 batt each of one grenadier and 6 musketier companies |
17/05/1794 |
03/07/1795 (end of contract) |
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Bataljon Jagers van Loewenstein-Wertheim |
Capitulatie with the Duke of Bavaria. Unit commander A.C.T. Prince of Loewenstein-Weertheim
Battalion of 5 comp, august and november1794 were added each one comp |
19/05/1794 |
27/07/1795 (end of contract) |
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EMIGRÉ UNITS
As the war progressed the United Provinces raised troops or made contracts with French nobles who had raised troops to fight against the "rebels". These troops consisted mostly of light and/or line infantry and cavalry with sometimes an artillery detachment. The emigré units were mostly called "legioen" or "korps"(legions) because of the combination of infantry and cavalry.
After the United Procinces were knocked out of the war the legions mostly retreated with the British/Allied army into Germany and were taken into the service of the British army so the contracts with the United Provinces ended. |
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Korps van Beon |
Capitulatie with F.F. de Béarn, count of
Beon
The korps consisted of: |
25/05/1793
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14/02/1795 (end of contract) |
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- 4 companies light infantry |
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- 2 companies jägers (on 14/01/1794 were added 2 companies of the korps of Rohan) |
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- cavalry |
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Korps van de Prins van Rohan (also called Vrijkorps van de Lega) |
capitulatie with Prince de Rohan
The korps consisted of: |
25/07/1794 |
23/05/1795 (end of contract) |
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- 2 companies jäger |
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- 2 companies sharpshooters |
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- company mounted jäger |
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An earlier corps with the same name existed but was disbanded. On 16/01/1794 2 companies jäger went to the Korps of Beon and 2 companies of light cavalry to the Korps of Damas |
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Korps van Damas |
Capitulatie with C.E. Markgraaf van Damas
The korps consisted of: |
25/05/1793 |
14/02/1795 (end of contract) |
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- 2 companies of jäger |
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- 4 companies of light infantry |
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- from 16/1/1794 strengthen with 2 companies of light cavalry of Rohan |
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Vrijkorps van de graaf van Luningen
ook wel genoemd vrijkorps van Luninck |
Capitulatie met de Graaf van Luningen
The korps consisted of:
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08/08/1794
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23/05/1795 (end of contract) |
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- 2 companies jäger |
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- 1 company grenadier |
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- 6 companies of fusiliers |
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