UNITED24 - Make a charitable donation in support of Ukraine!

Military


The Hungarian Army - As of 1848

Since the defeat at Mohacs in 1526 there had been no real Hungarian army, for the Hotived was not a true army but a militia. Kossuth raised a revolutionary force in 1848, but the beginning of the Hungarian army (that is, the Hungarian half of the Common army) was made in 1867, when the Emperor-King was constitutionally authorised to organise and command the army from both halves of his monarchy. It is necessary to appreciate this, because the Hungarian claim to a separate and individual army is thus shown to be without historical foundation. The common army, with its Austrian and Hungarian regiments, is a fundamental principle of the dualist system, and is, in fact, essential to the union of the two countries.

The Hungarian regiments, and the troops on the military frontier, were, before March, 1848, under the direction of the Vienna Hofkriegsrath. The kingdom of Hungary, with Transylvania, Croatia, and Sclavonia, furnished a contingent of fifteen regiments of the line (each regiment consisting of three battalions or eighteen companies), of twelve regiments of hussars (of four divisions ' and eight escadrons each), and of five battalions of grenadiers (of six companies each battalion). The territories of the military frontier, which, de jure, are a province of the Hungarian crown, and which extend from Dalmatia to Bukovina, and which (with the exception of the four Transylvania frontier regiments) form a large and homogenous extent of territory with several districts, are divided into eighteen regiments and battalions of Csaikists. These territories furnished, in time of peace, a contingent of thirty-seven battalions, while in time of war their peculiar constitution facilitated a considerable increase of their force.

The Hungarian regiments which formerly made part of the Austrian army were the following:

I. INFANTRY REGIMENTS OF THE LINE

In March, 1848, bearing the name of Alexander of Russia.
  • 19th.-Prince Charles Schwarzenberg.
  • 31st.-Count Leiningen Westerburg.
  • 32nd.-Archduke of Este.
  • 33rd.-Count Gyulay.
  • 34th.-Prince of Prussia.
  • 37th.-Michael, Grand Duke of Russia.
  • 39th.-Don Miguel.
  • 48th.-Archduke Ernest.
  • 51st.-Archduke Charles Ferdinand.
  • 52nd.-Archduke Francis Charles.
  • 53rd.-Archduke Leopold.
  • 60th.-Prince of Wasa.
  • 61st.-Baron Rukawina.
  • 62nd.-Chavalier de Turszki.
The recruits for the 2nd, 19th, 32nd, 33rd, 34th, 37th, 39th, 48th, 52nd, 60th, and 62nd regiments, were furnished by Hungary; those of the 31st and 51st regiments came from Transylvania. The 53rd regiment was supplied by Croatia and Sclavonia, and the 61st by Hungary and Transylvania. Each of these regiments consisted of three battalions. Attached to each, was one division of grenadiers (of two companies), who, in their aggregate, constituted the above-mentioned five battalions of grenadiers, of three divisions and six companies each. The battalions of grenadiers were named after their commanders.

II. THE BORDER REGIMENTS AND BATTALIONS.

The frontier of Banalv Warasdin, and Karlstadt, stood under the command of the Central Board at Agram. It was divided :
a. IN THE KARLSTADT BORDER DISTRICT.
Number of Regiment. Name. Residence of the Staff.
  • 1st Borderers . . Likka Gospich.
  • 2nd Ottocha. . . . Ottochair.
  • 3rd Ogulin .... Ogulin.
  • 4th Szluin .... Karlstadt.
b. THE WAEASDIN BORDER DISTRICT.
  • No. 5, Border regiment of Warasdin Kreutz.
  • No. 6, Border regiment of St. George.
The residence of the staff of these two regiments was at Bellovar.
C. THE BANAT BORDER DISTRICT.
  • 1st Banal border regiment No. 10. Staff at Glina.
  • 2nd " ,, 11. " Petrinia.

III. THE SCLAVONIAN AND SYRMIAN FRONTIER.

With its Central Board in Peterwarasdin. It was subdivided into
a. THE SCLAVONIAN BORDER DISTRICT.
  • Brood regiment, No. 7. Staff at Vinkowicze.
  • Gradiska regiment, 8. ,, New Gradiska.
    b. THE SYRMIAN BORDER DISTRICT.
  • Peterwarasdin borderers, No. 9. Staff at Mitrovitz.
    d. THE CSARKIST BATTALION.
  • With a flotilla on the Danube and its staff at Titel.

    IV. THE BANAT FRONTIER

    Under the Central Board at Temeshvar. It consisted of
    • German-Banat borderers, No. 12. Staff at Panesova.
    • Wallach-Banat " 13. " Karansebes.
    • Illyrian-Banat " 14. " Weiszkirchen.

    V. THE TRANSYLVANIAN FRONTIER

    Under the Central Board at Herrmannstadt. This frontier formed no districts, but stood in connexion with the administration of Transylvania. It formed
    • Staff at Istreg. Szekler borderers, No. 14, Csik Szereda.
    • No. 2nd " " 15, Kezdi Vasarhely.
    • No. 1st " Wallachian borderers, 16, Orlat.
    • No. 2nd " " " 17, Naszod.
    • No. 1st Szekler border hussars, 11, Sepsi St.Gyorgy.

    VI. THE CAVALRY

    The Hungarian cavalry force consisted formerly of the following twelve regiments of hussars :
    • No. 1, Emperor Ferdinand.
    • No. 2, " King of Hanover.
    • No. 3, " Archduke d'Este.
    • No. 4, " Alexander Cesarewitsh.
    • No. 5, " Count Radetzky.
    • No. 6, " King of Wurtemberg.
    • No. 7, " Prince Reuss Kosteritz.
    • No. 8, " Prince Coburg Cohary.
    • No. 9, " Emperor of Russia.
    • No. 10, " King of Prussia.
    • No. 11, " Szekler borderers.
    • No. 12, " Palatinal hussars.
    The 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and 12th regiments, were recruited from Hungary; the 2nd and 11th from Transylvania; and the 7th from Hungary, Croatia, and Sclavonia.




    NEWSLETTER
    Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list



    •