Napoleonic Austrian Infantry

Dated: July 8, 1999.

Box front

Line drawings

Test sprue

At the beginning of the Napoleonic Wars, the Habsburg monarchy was one of Europe's great multinational states, ruling over Germans, Hungarians, Czechs, Slovaks, Croats, Italians, Romanians and many other peoples. Emperor Francis II was both Holy Roman Emperor and ruler of the Habsburg hereditary lands, and from 1804 also Emperor Francis I of Austria. His forces were therefore commonly known as the Imperial and Royal Army, reflecting the composite nature of the monarchy.

Austrian line infantry were immediately recognizable by their predominantly white uniforms. German-establishment infantry wore white breeches and gaiters, while Hungarian regiments retained distinctive light-blue trousers with Hungarian-style decoration. Facing colours on collars, cuffs and turnbacks varied by regiment and provided much of the visual distinction within an otherwise very uniform-looking army.

Austrian infantry headgear changed considerably during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic periods. Earlier troops wore the Kasket, followed from the late 1790s by the distinctive crested leather helmet. From 1806 onward this was gradually replaced by the shako worn by the figures in this set, although older helmets remained in service for some years. Austrian soldiers also wore the traditional Feldzeichen, usually represented by a sprig of oak leaves or other greenery fixed to the headgear as a field sign and symbol of military identity.

The line infantry formed only one part of Austria's very varied army. Alongside the German and Hungarian line regiments served grenadiers, Jäger, Grenzer frontier troops, Landwehr and numerous volunteer and irregular formations, many wearing distinctive regional uniforms and headgear. The diversity of these troops reflected the equally diverse character of the Habsburg monarchy itself.

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