#8326 Napoleonic Austrians Marching
During the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, the Habsburg monarchy fielded one of Europe's largest and most diverse armies. Its infantry was recruited from many regions and nationalities, although the line regiments were commonly divided into "German" and "Hungarian" establishments. Set 8326 represents German line infantry in the distinctive crested helmet introduced at the end of the eighteenth century. These troops fought in many of Austria's most important campaigns against Revolutionary and Napoleonic France, including Marengo, Hohenlinden, Austerlitz, Aspern-Essling and Wagram.
Box:
Poses:
This set contains 48 figures arranged into four marching poses. These figures carry their muskets upright at the shoulder, providing subtle variation within a formed marching unit. All wear the short-tailed white infantry coat, gaiters and crested helmet associated with Austrian German line infantry of the early Napoleonic period. The closely related poses allow the figures to be assembled into the dense, orderly formations characteristic of Austrian line infantry on the march.
Sprue:
The most striking feature of these figures is the Austrian infantry helmet, introduced under the 1798 uniform regulations and issued around the turn of the century. Made with a black leather body, brass front plate and raised crest, it carried a woollen comb that gave the Austrian infantry a particularly distinctive appearance. Although the shako was adopted as its replacement during the Napoleonic period, the change could not be completed immediately, and crested helmets remained in use by some units through the campaign of 1809.
A small headgear timeline:
Before 1798: Earlier infantry headgear, including the Kasket.
1798–c.1800: New crested helmet introduced and gradually issued.
1800–1805: Helmet widely associated with Austrian infantry in the campaigns of the Second and Third Coalitions.
1806 onward: Shako introduced as the intended replacement.
1809: Both shakos and older helmets could still be encountered in the field as stocks were replaced gradually.
Painted figures by Marcin (Poland):
German line infantry (notes):
The term “German” described the organisational establishment rather than simply the nationality of every soldier. These regiments recruited from Austrian, Bohemian, Moravian and other Habsburg territories. They were distinguished from the Hungarian establishment partly by details of dress, particularly their white breeches and gaiters rather than the close-fitting Hungarian trousers.
All information on this page subject to change.