The composition of the Brandenburg-Prussian Military Aid in Campaigns Against Turkey in 1672-1675

Sławomir Augusiewicz

The composition of the

Brandenburg-Prussian Military Aid

in Campaigns Against Turkey in

1672-1675

Echa Przeszłości 12, 47-55

2011

Sław om ir Augusiewicz

THE COMPOSITION

OF THE BRANDENBURG-PRUSSIAN MILITARY

AID IN CAMPAIGNS AGAINST TURKEY

IN 1672-1675

At the tu rn of the 1660s and the 1670s, the U kraine found itself on the

brink of w ar with Turkey, and this situation prompted Poland to reinforce its

m ilitary forces. In the face of armed conflict, attem pts were made to rely on

the provisions of the Wehlau-Bromberg Treaty of 1657 under which the Duke

of Prussia, Elector of Brandenburg, was under obligation to dispatch 1,500

soldiers in m ilitary aid to Poland. The efforts of the Polish diplomats and the

political aspects of the issue during a period of tension in Polish-Branden-

burg relations have been discussed by Andrzej K am ieński

. After 1672,

changes in Brandenburg-Prussia’s European policies addressing the Empire

and France forced the Elector to focus m ilitary efforts on the Rhein and

Alsace. While the dispatch of soldiers against Turkey was of secondary im­

portance from the strategic point of view, Frederick William’s promise to give

m ilitary aid against the Sublime Porte was the focal point of the political

scheme engaged in by the House of Hohenzollern. Brandenburg-Prussian

auxiliary corps were dispatched to Poland in 1672 and 1674-1675, and the

second consignment fought in the Podole region, as discussed in detail by

Polish researchers

. The process of corps formation has been thoroughly

researched in German sources, suggesting th a t Brandenburg forces were of

rath e r insignificant combat value. This paper discusses the composition of

both the planned corps as well as the forces th a t were actually dispatched to

aid the Polish king’s army.

1 A. K a m ie ń sk i, P o ls ka a B r a n d e n b u r g ia - P ru sy w d ru g ie j po ło w ie X V I I w ieku . D zieje

p o lity c z n e , P o z n a ń 2002.

2 M. W agner, W ojna p o lsk o -tu r ec ka w la ta c h 1 6 7 2 -1 6 7 6 , Z ab rze 2009, vol. I, p. 292, vol. II, p. 81.

48

Sławomir Augusiewicz

Poland made the first attem pts to solicit Brandenburg’s help in the

U kraine already in 1667, bu t it was not until 1671 th a t its pleas brought the

anticipated results. As a result of Wojciech Opacki’s negotiations with the

Elector’s commissioners in Kongsberg, the Duchy of P russia began prepara­

tions for forming aid troops3. On 28 August 1871, Frederick William or­

dered4 the formation of an auxiliary corps under the command of Colonel

H ans (Johann) Adam von Schöning5. The corps was to be composed of 1000

foot soldiers from the following regiments:

- Duke Karl Emil (Kurprinz)6, four companies: Leibkompanie under

the command of Captain-Lieutenant Ludicke E rn st von Schöning, Colonel

3 G e h eim es S ta a ts a r c h iv P re u s s is c h e r K u ltu rb e s itz B e rlin - D a h lem , XX H a u p ta b te ilu n g , E ta ts M in iste riu m , k . 111a, No. 42 k. 46-.; A. K a m ie ń sk i, op. cit., pp. 5 6 -5 7 .

4 C. Ja n y , G eschichte d e r p re u ss is c h e n A rm e e vo m 15 J a h r h u n d e r t bis 1914, vol. I, O s n a ­ b rü c k 1967, p. 221.

5 H a n s (J o h a n n ) A d am v o n S ch ö n in g 1641 - 28 A u g u s t 1696). In th e 1660s, h e w a s th e r ittm e is te r o f a c o m p a n y in J o h a n n G eorg v o n A n h a lt - D e s s a u ’s c a v a lry re g im e n t. H e com ­ m a n d e d B o g u sła w R a d z iw iłł’s in f a n tr y r e g im e n t (fo rm erly J o n a s C a s im ir z u E u le n b u r g ’s re g im e n t) fro m 3 J u n e 1668, a n d a f te r h is d e a th - K a rl E m il’s (K u rp rin z ) re g im e n t (from J a n u a r y 1670). H e fo u g h t in th e F r e n c h w a r in 1672. P ro m o te d to th e r a n k o f C olonel in 1676 (a cc o rd in g to o th e r so u rc es, h e re c e iv e d h is p ro m o tio n o n 13 J a n u a r y 1670), M a jo r-G e n e ra l on 12 M a y 1678, L ie u te n a n t- G e n e r a l o n 5 M a rc h 1684, F ie ld M a r s h a l a n d C o m m a n d e r o f th e S p a n d a u F o r tr e s s a t th e e n d o f h is m ilita r y c a r e e r in th e B ra n d e n b u r g arm y . H e a s s u m e d th e p o st o f S tr a ls u n d g o v e rn o r in 1678, a n d w a s a p p o in te d g o v e rn o r o f B e rlin o n 31 D ecem b er 1684: G .A .M ü lv e rs te d t, D ie b ra n d e n b u rg isc h e K r ie g s m a c h t u n te r d e m G ro ssen K u r fü r s te n , M a g d e b u rg 1888, pp. 1 7 6 -1 7 8 , 422; G. S o m m e rfe ld t, G esch ich te d e s von J o n a s K a s im ir F r e i­

h e r r n z u E u le n b u r g i im J a h r e 1 6 5 5 b e g r ü n d e te n R e g i m e n ts z u F u ß . F o r t s e tz u n g II: 1 6 7 0 -1 6 9 7 , M itte ilu n g e n d e r L ite r a r is c h e n G e s e lls c h a ft M aso v ia, B d. XV I, 1910, p. 127;

G. S o m m e rfe ld t, G esc h ic h te d e s F r e ih e r r lic h E u le n b u r g is c h e n , s e it 1 6 6 7 f ü r s tlic h R a d z i-

w illisc h en R e g im e n ts z u F uß. F o rtse tz u n g 1658 - 1669, M itte ilu n g e n d e r L ite ra ris c h e n G e se lls­

c h a ft M asovia, Bd. XV, 1910, pp. 1 9 9 -2 0 0 ; A.C. O lsn itz, G eschichte des k ö n ig lich - p re u ss is c h e n

E r s te n In fa n te rie - R e g im e n ts seit se in e r S tiftu g im J a h r e 1619 bis z u r G egenw art, B e rlin 1855,

p. 119.

6 T h e re g im e n t w a s form ed in O ctober 1655 u n d e r th e c o m m an d of, in chronological o rd er: J o n a s C a s im ir z u E u le n b u rg (died on 11 M ay 1667), from 18 M ay 1667 - B o g u sław R ad ziw iłł (d ied on 31 D ecem b er 1669), fro m 12 J a n u a r y 1670 - K a rl E m il (died o n 27 N ovem ­ b e r 1674), fro m 7 D ecem b er 1674 - H a n s A d am v o n S chöning, la te r tra n s fo rm e d to I n fa n te rie - R e g im e n t No. 2. C o m m a n d e rs: L ie u te n a n t C olonel W olff D ie tric h v o n W ilm sdorff, F a b ia n von u n d z u M a ss e n b a c h (from J u n e 1658), L ie u te n a n t C olonel F rie d ric h v o n D ön h o ff (from 18 M ay 1667 to 2 J u n e 1668), L ie u te n a n t C olonel H a n s A d am v o n S c h ö n in g (from 3 J u n e 1668, re g im e n t c o m m a n d er from N o v em b er 1674). A ccording to a h e a d c o u n t of O ctober 1667, th e re g im e n t w a s com posed o f fo u r c o m p an ies led by: C a p ta in S te fa n W eise (p ro m o ted to m a jo r in 1668), L ie u te n a n t C olonel D önhoff, C a p ta in G eorg F rie d ric h z u E u le n b u rg , C a p ta in H a n s G eorg v o n A u e rsw a ld t. A fte r s u p p le m e n ta tio n p u r s u a n t to th e o rd e r of 27 J u n e 1672, in A u g u s t, th e re g im e n t co m p rised e ig h t co m p a n ies, 1000 m en , in c lu d in g 680 p riv a te s . In J u n e 1672, C a p ta in E u le n b u rg a n d C a p ta in A u e rsw ald w e re d ism isse d , a n d t h e ir c o m p a n ie s w ere p lac ed u n d e r th e c o m m an d o f C a p ita n (M ajor?) W eise a n d C a p ta in H eid e (from W estp h alia). A ccording to re so u rce a llo c a tio n d o c u m e n ts of A u g u s t 1672, th e re m a in in g c o m p a n ies w ere c o m m an d ed by: C a p ta in -L ie u te n a n t L u d ic k e E r n s t von S ch ö n in g (J o h a n n A d a m ’s cousin, L ie u ­ te n a n t C olonel a n d c o m m a n d er o f th e E le c to r’s L eib k o m p an ie from 1686), C a p ta in B e n ed ik t

Schöning, Capitan Georg Friedrich von Eulenburg and Captain H ans G. von

Auerswald;

- Colonel Friedrich von Dönhoff7, four companies under the command of

Colonel Dönhoff, Lieutenant-Colonel Heino Heinrich von Flemming, Major

E rnst Ludwig von Möhlen, C aptain Adolf von Houwald8;

S teffen (L ie u te n a n t Colonel, P e itz c o m m a n d e r in 1678, P ila w a c o m m a n d e r in 1679), C a p ta in B rü n n e c k (fo rm erly a n officer in th e D a n is h arm y ), C a p ta in v o n d e r N ecke (from W estp h a lia , p ro b a b ly F rie d ric h Adolf, b o rn in 1646, k ille d in a b a ttle w ith th e S w ed ish a rm y in C o u rla n d on 7 F e b r u a ry in th e r a n k of c a v a lry m ajor, p ro m o te d to th e r a n k o f m a jo r in S ch ö n in g ’s re g im e n t in 1677 in Szczecin), C a p ta in S c h u ltz e n (S ch o lten , in 1684 - m a jo r a n d co m p an y c o m m a n d e r in th e in f a n tr y re g im e n t o f C o u rla n d p rin c e A lex an d er, fo u g h t w ith th e P o lish a rm y a s L ie u te n a n t C olonel a n d re g im e n t c o m m a n d er o f a u x ilia ry co rp s in th e c a m p a ig n a g a in s t Turkey, k ille d on 10 J u n e 1688 in th e b a ttle of S la n k a m e n t in H u n g a ry ). I n J u ly 1672, th e re g im e n t cro ssed th e P iła w a R iv er to re a c h K ołobrzeg a n d H a lb e r s ta d t. G. S o m m erfeld t, G eschichte des F reih errlich

E u len b u rg isc h en , se it 1667 fü r s tlic h R a d z iw illis c h e n R e g im e n ts z u F uß, pp. 1 9 5 -2 0 0 ; G. Som ­

m erfe ld t, G eschichte d es von J o n a s K a s im ir F re ih e rrn z u E u le n b u rg i im J a h r e 1655 b e g rü n d e ­

ten R e g im e n ts z u F u ß , pp. 1 2 8 -1 3 5 ; G.A. M ü lv e rste d , op. cit., pp. 114-115, 1 8 6 -1 8 8 , 382 - 384;

G. G ie ra th s , D ie K a m p fh a n d lu n g e n d e r b ra n d e n b u rg isc h - p re u ss is ch e n A rm e e 1626 - 1807. E in

Q u e lle n h n d b u ch , V e rö ffen tlich u n g en d e r h is to ris c h e n K o m issio n z u B e rlin b e im F rie d ric h -

M einecke - I n s t i tu t d e r F re ie n U n iv e r s itä t B e rlin , Bd. 8, Q u e lle n w e rk e, Bd. 3, B e rlin 1964, pp. 1 9 -2 2 ; C. Ja n y , D ie a lte A rm e e von 1655 b is 1740. F o rm a tio n u n d S ta r k e , in: U rku n d lich e

B eitra g e u n d F o rsch u n g e n z u r G eschichte des P re u ssisc h e n H eeres hrsg. vom G rossen G en era l­ stabe, Bd. II, H e ft 7, B e rlin 1905, p. 12; D ie D e ssa u er S ta m m lis te von 1729, h rs g . C. Ja n y , w: U r ku n d lich e B eitra g e u n d F o rsch u n g e n z u r G eschichte des P re u ssisch e n H eeres hrsg. vom G ros­ sen G eneralstabe, Bd. II, H e ft 8, B e rlin 1905, p. 27; A.C. Ö lsn itz, p. 119.

7 C r e a te d in 1656 u n d e r th e c a p itu la tio n s t a te m e n t o f 20 D e c e m b e r 1656. F ro m 20 D ecem b er 1655 u n til th e e n d o f M ay 1668, h e re p o rte d to Colonel, la te r M ajo r-G en era l, B og islav von S ch w e rin , L ie u te n a n t C olonel von A rn im , a n d fro m 1657 - U lric h von B onin. F ro m 2 J u n e 1668 (or 2 4 J u n e 1668), th e re g im e n t w a s p laced u n d e r th e c o m m an d o f Colonel F rie d ric h v o n D önhoff, a n d it in itia lly co m p rised e ig h t co m p an ies. U n d e r th e o rd e r o f 20 A u g u s t 1671, it w a s d iv id ed in to tw o s e p a ra te u n its led by C olonel D ön h o ff a n d C olonel H e in o H e in ric h von F le m m in g . U n d e r F re d e ric k W illiam ’s re s c rip t o f 27 J u n e 1672, K a rl E m il’s re g im e n t w as s u p p le m e n te d w ith so ld ie rs fro m D ö n h o ffs u n it. A ccording to A.C. Ö lsn itz ’s m o n o g ra p h o f th e r e g im e n t (pp. 1 2 6 -1 3 0 ), th e re g im e n t w a s sp lit u p only in A u g u s t 1672 before th e m a rc h to P o la n d . F rie d ric h v o n D ön h o ff (24 N o v em b er 1639 - 26 F e b r u a ry 1696), son o f P e r n a u g o v ern o r M a g n u s E r n s t, c o m m a n d ed R a d ziw iłł’s in f a n tr y re g im e n t from 18 M ay 1667, th e in fa n try r e g im e n t (fo rm erly S c h w e rin ’s re g im e n t) fro m 2 J u n e 1668. H e w a s p ro m o te d to th e r a n k of L ie u te n a n t-G e n e ra l o n 5 M a rc h 1684, th e h ig h e s t m ilita r y a d v is in g officer fro m 20 S e p tem b e r 1689, g o v e rn o r a n d c o m m a n d e r o f K la ip e d a (from 1678 o r 1685). R e g im e n t’s m o n o g rap h : A.C. Ö lsn itz, G eschichte d es k ö n ig lic h - p r e u ss is c h e n E r s te n In fa n te r ie - R e g im e n ts seit sein er

S tiftu g im J a h r e 1619 bis z u r G egenw art, B e rlin 1855. cf.: G .A .M ülverstedt, op. cit., pp. 1 7 6-179,

193, 351, 4 2 7 -4 2 9 . G. S o m m erfeld t, G eschichte des von J o n a s K a s im ir F reih errn z u E u le n b u rg i

im J a h r e 1655 b eg rü n d eten R e g im e n ts z u F u ß , p. 120; G. G ie ra th s , op. cit., pp. 7 -1 1 ; A bel P. v., S ta m m lis te d e r k ö n ig lic h p r e u ss is c h e n A rm ee. A u f G r u n d a m tlis c h e s M a ter ia ls b earbeitet von

..., B e rlin 1905, pp. 2 1 -2 5 ; G. Voigt, D e u tsc h la n d s H eere b is 1918. U r sp ru n g u n d E n tw ic k lu n g

d e r e in zeln en F o rm a tio n e n , h rs g . D. B radley, H. B leck w en n , B d. I, D ie G arde- u n d d ie G ren a ­ d ie r - R e g im e n te r 1 -1 2 d e r p re u ss is ch e n A rm ee, O s n a b rü c k 1980, pp. 4 3 3 -4 6 4 ; C. Ja n y , D ie alte A rm e e von 1655 bis 1740, p. 12.

8 I n J u ly 1672, H o u w ald w a s k ille d in a d u e l a g a in s t B o g u slaw v o n P odew ils. H is c o m p a ­ n y w a s p lac ed u n d e r th e c o m m an d o f L ie u te n a n t C a p ta in B a lth a s a r B e rn h a rd v o n B rü n n e ck , A.C. Ö lsn itz, op. cit., p. 127.

50

Sławomir Augusiewicz

- Colonel Levin von Nolde, two companies under the command of Lieu­

tenant-Colonel K aspar Christof von Klitzing and Captain P atrik Hamilton

(former Prussian Guard companies)

,

- Infantry company under the command of Rittmeister Dietrich Ragotzki

,

- 100 Dragoons from the company of Lieutenant-Colonel Wilhelm von

Block

,

- Dragoon squadron of Field M arshal Georg von Derfflinger (300 men)

under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel M arwitz

.

9 A ccording to se lected so u rces, th e P r u s s ia n G u a rd (preussische G arde) cam e in to e x is t­ ence in 1619. I t w a s c re a te d b y C a p ta in P ie rre de la C ave (th e G u a rd ’s c o m m a n d er from 1652 to F e b r u a ry 1669) u n d e r th e c a p itu la tio n s ta te m e n t o f 1 J u n e 1641. O n 1 F e b r u a ry 1669, C olonel L ev in v o n N olde b e cam e th e c o m m a n d e r o f th e P r u s s ia n G u a rd s ta tio n in g in K onigs- b e rg a n d P ilaw a. A t th e b e g in n in g of 1672, th e g u a rd co m p rised tw o c o m p an ies led b y C a p ta in C a s p a r C h ris to p h von K litz in g a n d P a t r ik H a m ilto n , a n d it w a s e x p a n d e d to th r e e co m p an ies by th e e n d o f th e y ear. A ccording to D ie D e ssa u er S ta m m lis te von 1729 (p. 16), b o th co m p an ies w ere a n n e x e d to H ein o H e in ric h von F le m m in g ’s re g im e n t in 1672. T he re g im e n t’s re co rd s of A u g u s t 1672 lis t only one co m p an y from th e fo rm e r G u a rd - H a m ilto n ’s u n it. A fter N olde’s d e ath , th e P ru s s ia n G u a rd w as adjoined to Schöning’s reg im en t. L evin von N olde (20 O ctober 1621 - 21 A pril 1682) w as a colonel a n d a com m ander from 3 M arch 1668, a n d h e la te r becam e th e governor of K laipeda. According to F re d e ric k W illiam ’s re sc rip t of 16 M ay 1670, N olde com m anded a n in fa n try reg im en t th a t could be identified w ith th e P ru s s ia n “g ard e”. H e w a s also in charge of th e K la ip e d a g a rris o n of tw o com panies. G .A .M ülverstedt, op. cit., pp. 8 5 -9 9 , 350 a n d 351; G. Som m erfeldt, Geschichte des von J o n a s K a sim ir F reiherrn z u E u len b u rg i im J a h re 1655 begrün­

deten R eg im en ts z u Fuß, p. 130; G. G ie rath s, op. cit., pp. 3 -6 ; D ie D essauer S ta m m liste von 1729,

pp. 14-16, 21; C. Jany, D ie alte A rm ee von 1655 bis 1740, p. 12; A.C. Ö lsn itz, op. cit., p. 129. 10 I n 1657, th e co m p an y w a s a d jo in e d to th e P r u s s ia n a rm y a s a L eib k o m p a n ie (com pany o f d r a b a n t g u a rd s ) in B o g u sław R ad ziw iłł’s in f a n tr y re g im e n t, a n d it jo in e d P rin c e F re d e ric k ’s in f a n tr y re g im e n t in 1670. I n th e m ilita ry a llo c atio n d o c u m e n t o f 1671, it w a s lis te d a s P rin c e F re d e ric k ’s com pany. D ie tric h R ag o tzk i (or R a g u tz k i, d ied in 1679), w a s a lie u te n a n t in th e g u a r d ’s in f a n tr y re g im e n t in 1657, L ie u te n a n t C a p ita n in th e L eib k o m p a n ie o f R a d ziw iłł’s in f a n tr y re g im e n t in 1666, m a jo r a n d c o m m a n d er o f th e P r u s s ia n T ra b a n ten g a rd e, L ie u te n a n t C olonel a n d c o m m a n d e r o f a n in f a n tr y re g im e n t fro m 1679, G.A. M ü lv e rs te d t, op. cit., p. 387. G. S o m m erfeld t, G eschichte des von J o n a s K a s im ir F reih errn z u E u le n b u rg i im J a h r e 1655

b eg rü n d eten R e g im e n ts z u F u ß p. 129; D ie D e ssa u e r S ta m m lis te von 1729, p. 82.

11 B og u sław a R adziw iłł’s form er D ragoon reg im en t com m anded by L ie u te n a n t Colonel E b er­ h a r d P u ttk a m e r fought in th e b a ttle s of W arsaw (2 8 -3 0 J u ly 1656) a n d P ro s tk i (8 O ctober 1656). In S ep tem b er 1657, it w as placed in th e service of th e B ra n d e n b u rg army. In M arch 1658, the re g im en t w as placed in th e com m and of L ie u te n a n t Colonel W ilhelm von Block. A fter 1664, it w as reduced to a single company, listed in P ru s s ia n a rm y records of 1670 a n d 1671. T he allocation d ocum ent of 1672 lis ts Block’s 2 D ragoon com panies. I n 1673, th ey w ere joined by tw o new com panies to create a sq u ad ro n u n d e r th e com m and of M ajor L ange. In 1674, th e u n it w as split betw een th e re g im en ts of Colonel Bodo von Schlieben (L ange’s a n d von K ro h n ’s com panies) a n d Colonel C a sp a r von H oh en d o rff (K alau von Hofe’s L eibkom panies). W ilhelm von Block, L ie u te n a n t Colonel a s of 1658, w a s listed a s colonel in older publications, b u t h is m ilita ry p a te n t w as not docum ented. H e w as d ism issed in J u n e 1674. G StA PK , XX HA, O stp reu ssisch e F o lia n te n 839/3, k. 4 9 -6 1 ; ibidem , O sF 831, k. 174; G .A .M ülverstedt, op. cit., pp. 5 7 -5 9 , 349; C. Jan y , D ie alte A rm ee

von 1655 bis 1740, p. 48; D ie D essauer S ta m m liste von 1729, p. 132; M. N agielski, W arszaw a 1656,

2nd ed., W arszaw a 2009, p. 287; S. Augusiew icz, P rostki 1656, W arszaw a 2001, p. 206.

12 G eorg F rie d ric h von W aldeck’s fo rm e r D rag o o n re g im e n t w a s re d u c e d to a single com ­ p a n y a n d p laced u n d e r D e rfflin g e r’s c o m m an d in 1660. I n 1663, F re d e ric k W illia m d isp a tc h e d 300 D rag o o n s u n d e r D e rfflin g e r’s c o m m an d to a id th e e m p e ro r in th e w a r a g a in s t T urkey. In 1672, th e sq u a d ro n of 400 D ragoons fought a g a in st F ran ce. G.A. M ülversted, op. cit., pp. 164-168;

Due to the delayed formation of the corps, H etm an J a n Sobieski’s victory

against the Cossacks and Tatars in the U kraine as well as the demands

formulated by P russia in retu rn for its m ilitary aid, Poland chose not to sign

the ultim ate understanding

. On 2 October 1671, the Prussian corps’ march

out to Poland was cancelled

.

The plans to expand the Prussian consignment and form a new corps,

entrusted to General Joachim E rn st von Görztke in Jan u ary 1672, never

materialized. The new corps were to be composed of 1,500 soldiers, including

500 Dragoons

. Changes in Brandenburg’s French policies prompted Frede­

rick William to focus his m ilitary efforts on the protection of threatened

estates on the Rhein: in Kleve, M ark and Ravensberg. This goal was to be

achieved prim arily with the involvement of the Elector’s army which was

expanded in 1672. Brandenburg diplomats were hoping to lim it P russia’s

m ilitary obligations towards Poland, to reduce the size of auxiliary corps and

upkeep costs borne by Frederick William. In an understanding signed on 16

May 1672 in Berlin by the Elector’s representative Lorenz Christoph von

Somnitz and King Michał Wisniowiecki’s envoy Wojciech Opacki, the king

was presented with a choice: Brandenburg would supply only 500 Dragoons

and pay for their upkeep for six months or 1,000 foot soldiers th a t would be

m aintained a t the Elector’s expense for only two m onths

.

In an order of 25 March 1672, Frederick William decreed the formation

of a corps composed of three squadrons with soldiers selected from the

regim ents commanded by Karl Emil, Dönhoff (500 each), Nolde (250) and

Block’s Dragoons

. The war with France and the Elector’s decision to con­

centrate troops on the Rhein led to successive changes in the corps’ composi­

tion. Duke Karl Emil’s regim ent under Schöning’s command was supple­

mented with the best soldiers from the rem aining P russian regim ents (in­

cluding 250 men from Dönhoff’s regiment), and it was dispatched across the

Piława River in mid July 1672 to join Hohenzollern’s forces. On 29 July, the

corps was placed under the command of Friedrich von Dönhoff. In the

spring, each company of his regim ent was expanded by another 42 sol­

diers

. In May, the regim ent comprised 1,008 men in eight companies

:

- Leibkompanie under the command of C aptain-Lieutenant Wilhelm

von Löser;

- Colonel Heino Heinrich von Flemming;

13 A. K a m ie ń sk i, op. cit., p. 58.

14 [G. L e h m a n n ], B r a n d e n b u r g is c h - p o ln is c h e T ü r k e n z ü g e von 1 6 7 1 -1 6 8 8 , K rie g sg e ­ sc h ich tlich e E in z e ls c h rifte n , h rs g . von G ro ß e n G e n e ra ls ta b e , Bd. I, H ft. 5, B e rlin 1884, p. 3.

15 [G. L e h m a n n ], B r a n d e n b u rg isc h - p o ln is ch e T ü rke n zü g e , p. 3.

16 K u rb r a n d e n b u r g s S ta a ts ve rträ g e von 1601 bis 1700, b e a rb . T. M ö rn er, B e rlin 1867, pp. 3 6 3 -3 6 4 ; A. K a m ie ń sk i, op. cit., p. 58.

17 C. Ja n y , G eschichte d e r p re u ss is ch e n A rm e e , p. 222; G.A. M ü lv e rs te d t, op.cit. p. 193; [G. L e h m an n ], B r a n d e n b u rg isc h - p o ln is ch e T ü rke n zü g e , p. 5.

18 [G. L e h m an n ], B r a n d e n b u rg isc h - p o ln isc h e T ü rken zü g e, s. 5 -6 ; A.C. O lsn itz, op. cit., pp. 1 2 6 -1 2 7 .

52

Sławomir Augusiewicz

- Lieutenant-Colonel E rn st Ludwig von Möhlen;

- Lieutenant-Colonel von Rummel;

- Major Patrick von Hamilton;

- Major Melchior von Flanß;

- Captain B althasar B ernhard von Brünneck;

- Captain Kessner;

In August, Flemming’s, Rummel’s, Hamilton’s and Kessner’s companies

were separated from the regim ent and placed under Flemming’s command

as a squadron

. On 30 August, Dönhoff was ordered to m arch out. Several

days earlier, he had been instructed by Frederick William to obey only the

orders given by the king and both crown hetm ans. The corps was to follow

the Royal Guard, and it was next in line to receive quarters. Dönhoff would

be equal in rank to other German officers. The corps was not to be split up

into smaller divisions

.

According to a head count in Szczytno of 8-10 September, the corps was

composed of

:

- Dönhoffs regim ent - four companies, 500 men,

- Flemming’s squadron - four companies, 500 men

,

- Lieutenant-Colonel Block’s Dragoon squadron - four companies of 500

men each

. Every u nit was to be supplemented by soldiers from Nolde’s

regim ent

. Both infantry regim ents comprised 40 Dragoons each.

21 A.C. Ö lsn itz, op. cit., p. 128.

22 C. Ja n y , G eschichte d e r p re u ss is ch e n A rm e e , p. 222; [G. L e h m an n ], B ra n d e n b u rg isc h

- p o ln is ch e T ü rke n zü g e , pp. 5 -6 ; O. O s te n - S ac k en , P reu ssen s H eer von se in en A n fä n g e n bis z u r G egenw art, Bd. I, D ie a lte A rm ee, B e rlin 1911, p. 73; A.C. Ö lsn itz, op. cit., p. 125, 127.

23 C olonel F le m m in g ’s s q u a d ro n (m ore o ften re fe rre d to a s a sq u a d ro n t h a n a re g im e n t) w a s c re a te d from fo u r c o m p an ies s e p a ra te d from D ö n h o ffs re g im e n t. A ccording to C. J a n y

(G eschichte d e r p re u ss is c h e n A rm e e, p. 222), it w a s s u p p le m e n te d w ith so ld iers fro m N olde’s

re g im e n t (H a m ilto n ’s com pany). T he d iv isio n to o k place in A u g u s t 1672 before th e re g im e n t’s m a rc h to P o la n d , a n d it c o n tin u e d u n til th e e n d o f A u g u s t 1673 (F re d e ric k W illiam ’s o rd e r of 25 A u g u s t 1673). T h e sq u a d ro n w a s d iv id e d a g a in in 1674 w h e n a n a d d itio n a l u n it w a s a llo cated to F le m m in g . In 1674, th e sq u a d ro n w a s d isp a tc h e d to G erm an y , a n d in th e s u m m e r o f 1675, it fo u g h t a g a in s t th e S w ed ish arm y. U n d e r th e o rd e r o f 29 A u g u s t 1675, it w a s co m b in ed into a sin g le re g im e n t w ith D ö n h o ffs u n it. H e in o H e in ric h von F le m m in g (8 M ay 1632 - 28 F e b r u ­ a r y 1706) w a s a m ajo r in S c h w e rin ’s re g im e n t fro m 29 S e p te m b e r 1663 (acco rd in g to selected so u rces - fro m 24 S e p te m b e r 1664), L ie u te n a n t C olonel a n d re g im e n t c o m m a n d er fro m 1664. H e w a s p ro m o te d to th e r a n k o f C olonel on 28 A u g u s t 1671 (acco rd in g to se lec te d so u rces - on 25 A p ril 1672). I n 1680, h e b ecam e th e G e n e ra l F ield M a rsh a l, H ig h S te w a rd of H in te rp o m ­ m e rn a n d B e rlin governor. A.C. Ö lsn itz, op. cit., pp. 112, 126, 1 2 9 -1 3 5 ; G .A .M ü lv ersted t, op. cit., pp. 1 7 6 -1 7 8 , 1 9 2 -1 9 4 , 3 8 2 -3 8 4 . C. J a n y , G eschichte d e r p re u ss is c h e n A rm e e , p. 222; [G. L e h m an n ], B r a n d e n b u rg isc h - p o ln isc h e T ü rke n zü g e , p. 10; D ie D e ssa u er S ta m m lis te von

1729, pp. 16, 21; C. Ja n y , D ie a lte A rm e e von 1655 b is 1740, p. 12.

24 G .A .M ü lv erste d t, op. cit., pp. 57 - 59; C. Ja n y , D ie alte A rm e e von 1655 bis 1740, p. 49;

D ie D essa u er S ta m m lis te von 1729, pp. 1 3 3 -1 3 4

25 A ccording to C u rt Ja n y , b o th c o m p a n ie s in L ev in v o n N olde’s re g im e n t w ere ad jo in e d to F le m in g ’s re g im e n t, D ie D e ssa u e r S ta m m lis te von 1729, p. 16; C. Ja n y , D ie a lte A rm e e von 1655

The condition of the corps was less th an satisfactory with high rates of

disease and desertion. In an effort to improve the combat value of K urprinz’s

regim ent dispatched to the Reich, it was supplemented with the best soldiers

from the rem aining units who were exchanged for less experienced and

weakly armed men. Dönhoff petitioned for an improvised corps comprising

selected infantry soldiers from the guard of P russian envoy Duke E rnst

Bogislav von Croy, Dönhof

s own regim ent, Nolde’s unit, garrisons in

Piława, Klaipeda and Friedrichsburg, Block’s and Colonel Bodo von Schlie-

ben’s Dragoons. The project never took off because Prussia was afraid th at

by evacuating the best troops to Poland, it would weaken its defenses

.

On 12 September, the corps marched out from Szczytno, and having

crossed Chorzele, Przasnysz and Węgrów, it arrived a t the Polish camp near

Lublin on 18 or 21 October

. P russian m ilitary aid came much too late as by

th a t time, Poland and Turkey had already signed the Peace Treaty of Bucza-

cz. The situation was tense, and there were fears th a t the corps could be

used in an internal conflict between King Michał and the opposition, but

Dönhoff made every attem pt to avoid political involvement. Under the pre­

text of Poland’s failure to observe the term s of contract relating to the

upkeep of the corps, the Colonel ordered his troops back. Decimated by

disease and desertion, the corps finally reached P russia in December 1672

.

In Jan u ary 1673, it was only 552 men strong

.

The problem of m ilitary aid to Poland resurfaced in 1673 when the

king’s envoy Szczęsny Morsztyn attem pted to solicit Frederick William’s as­

sistance during a visit to Berlin

. Similarly to the previous year, the process

of forming and dispatching an auxiliary corps to aid the crown army was

significantly delayed, and it was never completed

. Nevertheless, the nego­

tiations continued, and the P russian army’s involvement in the w ar against

Turkey was combined with the principal aim of supporting Frederick Wil­

liam’s son, Karl Emil, in the upcoming elections after the death of Michał

Wisniowiecki. On 23 Jan u ary 1674, the Elector undertook to dispatch a corps

comprising 1,000 foot soldiers and 1200 Dragoons

. In the end, the size of

the troops was significantly reduced.

On 19 March 1674, the Elector gave orders to form a corps of 1,200

Dragoons

. It would comprise two Dragoon regim ents of six companies each

26 [G. L e h m a n n ], B r a n d e n b u rg isc h - p o ln is ch e T ü rke n zü g e , p. 5 -6 .

27 A ccording to A .C. Ö lsn itz (op. cit., p. 130), h e a rriv e d in L u b lin on 18 O ctober, a ccording to G. L e h m a n , (B ra n d e n b u rg isc h - p o ln is ch e T ü rke n zü g e , o. 7) on 21 October. Cf. A. K a m ie ń sk i, op. cit., p. 58.

28 C. Ja n y , G eschichte d e r p re u ss is c h e n A rm e e p. 222; A. K a m ie ń sk i, op. cit., p. 5 8 -5 9 . 29 A.C. Ö lsn itz, op. cit., p. 131.

30 A. K a m ie ń sk i, op. cit., p. 59.

31 [G. L e h m an n ], B ra n d e n b u r g is c h - p o ln isch e T ü rke n zü g e , pp. 9 -1 0 ; A.C. Ö lsn itz, op. cit., pp. 1 3 1 -1 3 2 .

32 A. K a m ie ń sk i, op. cit., pp. 8 9 -1 0 3 .

54

Sławomir Augusiewicz

under the command of Colonel Caspar von Hohendorff34 and Colonel Bodo

von Schlieben35. The corps was created under the order of 16 April 1674, and

it was adjoined to the Dragoon squadron th a t had been dissolved after

Block’s resignation. Schlieben’s squadron was expanded to include the com­

panies of Captain Lange and Captain Krohn, and Captain K alau von Hofe’s

Leibkompanie was placed under Hohendorffs command36. To create 12 com­

panies of 100 men each, they were additionally supplemented with soldiers

from the rem aining units and garrisons in the Duchy of Prussia37.

The corps formation process was prolonged until mid July 1674. Its

composition was finally approved on 18 July, comprising 44 command staff in

both regiments, 528 officers and personnel members in the command of 12

companies and 986 soldiers38.

After the head count in Bartoszyce of 24 July, the corps marched out to

the Polish border. The troops crossed the border on 2 August near Dąbrówno

where they were intercepted by Polish commissioner J a n Chądzyński. The

corps arrived at the camp near Lviv on 18 October. During the march, both

commanders, Hohendorff and Schlieben, complained about the Poles’ hostile

attitudes. The two colonels also found it difficult to reach a m utual agree­

ment, and from mid-August, their troops marched separately39.

The Brandenburg corps participated in the siege of B ar on 11-18 No­

vember 1674, after which they occupied Braclaw, Niemirów, Kalnik (23 No­

vember - 16 December) and Raszków (10 Jan u ary 1675)40. The campaign

was difficult, supplies were poor, and both Hohendorff and Schlieben suf­

fered great losses in battle and due to disease. The Swedish advancement

34 C a s p a r von H o h e n d o rff h e ld th e p o st o f O b e rs te rw a c h tm e is te r a n d co m p an y c o m m an d ­ e r in th e g u a rd ’s in f a n tr y re g im e n t in 1655; c o m m a n d e r o f th e D rag o o n g u a rd from 4 S e p te m ­ b e r 1657, p ro m o te d to th e r a n k o f colonel on 2 J u n e 1658, c o m m a n d er of a D rag o o n co m p an y in 1660, c o m m a n d er o f th e D ra g o o n re g im e n t fro m 16 A p ril 1674. G.A. M ü lv e rs te d t, op. cit., p. 249; D ie D e ssa u er S ta m m lis te von 1729, pp. 15; 131, 134; C. Ja n y , D ie a lte A rm e e von 1655

bis 1740, p. 50.

35 Bodo von S c h lie b en (9 F e b r u a ry 1638 - 19 M a rc h 1676), c o m m a n d er of a D ragoon co m p an y in 1664, colonel fro m 1669, c o m m a n d e r of tw o D rag o o n c o m p an ies in 1 6 7 2 -1 6 7 3 ; from 1673, c o m m a n d e r o f a s q u a d ro n c o m p risin g th r e e c o m p a n ies a f te r a m e rg e r w ith Jo a c h im E r n s t v o n G ö rtz k e ’s com pany. T he D rag o o n re g im e n t, w h ic h w a s to b e ad jo in e d b y tw o com pa­ n ies fro m B lock’s sq u a d ro n , c a p itu la te d on 13 A p ril 1674. A fte r r e tu r n in g fro m P o la n d in 1675, S c h lieb en w a s d isp a tc h e d to B ra n d e n b u rg . H e fo u g h t a g a in s t th e S w ed ish a rm y in P o m e ra n ia . S c h lieb en w a s a c o m m a n d e r o f W olin from 1675. A fter h is d e a th , th e re g im e n t w a s placed u n d e r G ö rtz k e ’s co m m an d . M ü lv e rste d , op. cit., pp. 4 1 0 -4 1 1 ; D ie D e ssa u er S ta m m lis te von 1729, pp. 1 3 4 -1 3 5 ; C. Ja n y , D ie a lte A rm e e von 1655 bis 1740, p. 50.

36 [G. L e h m an n ], B r a n d e n b u rg isc h - p o ln isc h e T ü rke n zü g e , p. 11.

37 C. Ja n y , G eschichte d e r p re u ss is c h e n A rm ee, p. 223; [G. L e h m a n n ], B ra n d e n b u rg isc h

- p o ln isch e T ü rke n zü g e , p. 11.

38 [G. L e h m an n ], B r a n d e n b u rg isc h - p o ln is ch e T ü rken zü g e, pp. 1 2 -1 3 . 39 [G. L e h m an n ], B r a n d e n b u rg isc h - p o ln is ch e T ü rken zü g e, pp. 1 3 -1 4 .

40 G. G ie ra th s , op. cit., pp. 4, 8, 20, G .A .M ü lv erste d t, op. cit., p. 25; C. Ja n y , G eschichte

d e r p r e u s s is c h e n A rm e e, p. 223; [G. L e h m a n n ], B r a n d e n b u r g is c h - p o ln is c h e T ü r k e n zü g e ,

into Brandenburg forced the Elector to withdraw the troops from Poland.

The official order was issued on 10 Jan u ary 1675, b u t Sobieski refused to

release the corps w ithout the assurance th a t Prussian m ilitary aid would

retu rn in the spring. Sobieski also demanded th a t minimum 100 soldiers

were left stationing with the Polish army. The Brandenburgs finally began

their retre at on 9 February41.

In late April, the troops crossed the Prussian border near Bogusze and

Prostki, and the corps’ 273 rem aining soldiers were stationed in the area of

Ełk42.

41 [G. L e h m an n ], B r a n d e n b u rg isc h - p o ln isch e T ü rke n zü g e , pp. 15 - 17; A. K a m ie ń sk i, op. cit., pp. 1 2 3 -1 2 4 .

42 C. Ja n y , G eschichte d e r p r e u ss is c h e n A rm ee, p. 223; G .A .M ü lv erste d t, op. cit., p. 249; [G. L e h m an n ], B r a n d e n b u rg isc h - p o ln is c h e T ü rke n zü g e , p. 17.