Osprey Men-at-Arms 413 : Austrian Frontier Troops 1740-1798

Austria's Balkan frontier, the disputed borderland between Europe and the Ottoman Turks, was defended in the 18th century by a unique organization of hardy communities who were granted farmland in return for armed service. These Grenzers, masters of guerrilla warfare, were later incorporated into Austria's regular forces, and earned a wider reputation fighting against the army of Frederick the Great's Prussia. By the start of the wars against Revolutionary and Napoleonic France they provided a significant part of the Austrian Line. This book unravels their complex history, and illustrates the development of their colourful folk costumes into striking uniforms. Text by David Hollins with illustrations by Darko Pavlovic.

Contents

• Introduction
• The First Irregulars
  Trenk's Freikorps
  Native Costumes
• The First Regulars
  Evolution of Uniforms
• The 1769 Reforms
  Grenz Units in the Imperial Line
  Artillery and Sharpshooter Units
• Grenzer Cavalry
• Auxiliary Formations
• Grenzers at the Start of the Napoleonic Period