The emergence of the first general drill Reglement in 1749 : an aspect of the move toward centralization and standardization in the Austrian Army of the eighteenth century

Balisch, Alexander (1972) The emergence of the first general drill Reglement in 1749 : an aspect of the move toward centralization and standardization in the Austrian Army of the eighteenth century. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

[English] PDF (Migrated (PDF/A Conversion) from original format: (application/pdf)) - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. Download (7MB) [English; also: German] PDF - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. (Original Version)

Abstract

The issuing of the Drill Reglement for the whole Austrian infantry in 1749 was an important part of the centralizing reforms of Maria Theresa and marked a turning point in the development of the Austrian army. -- Constitutional and financial conditions, among others, had delayed the effective centralization of state and army administration before the reign of Maria Theresa; and during the later years of Charles VI's reign the army had deteriorated through neglect and lack of control from above. The lack of drill and duty regulations for the whole army, such as then existed in Prussia, had contributed to the weaknesses of the Austrian army. At the end of Charles VI's reign, in 1737, a drill manual was issued which was to have been adhered to by all infantry regiments. Various circumstances, however, prevented its general acceptance. -- In 1748, after the Wars of the Austrian Succession, a military commission was set up to effect a thorough reform of the military system. One of the major tasks of this commission was the composition of a drill and duty Reglement for the whole army. In 1749 a general Reglement was issued to all regiments and its application was strictly enforced. The much improved performance of the Austrian army during the Seven Years War was due, to a great degree, to this. -- Although the contents of this Reglement have been known, the deliberations of the military commission of 1748 on this topic are here discussed for the first time. Furthermore, new light has been shed through new research by this writer on the origins and roots of this Reglement. Whereas military historians have, up to now, considered this reform, especially this Reglement of 1749, as a copy of Prussian practices and manuals, this writer's research shows that there is no indication of a conscious or intentional copying from the Prussian model as far as the Drill Reglement of 1749 is concerned.

Actions (login required)

View Item