24/01/2023
The Vienna Militia (Wiener Bürger-Corps)
The citizens of Vienna or simply those who had no more military duties and were free from 1805-06 enlisted in the special Militia Corps of the city. This was a traditional very ancient corps (since the 1529 turkish siege) which originally had 4 companies, each with the name of a Vienna district (canton) Stuben, Schotten, Widmer and Kärnthen. The enlistment was only for volunteers, who swore to defend the city in case of hostile attack or danger. The Militia had also its own cavalry, which was abandoned in 1740 but again raised in 1805.
The City Council (the Mayor was also the Oberst of the Militia) armed its soldiers, but they had to provide to the uniforms by themselves.
The Staff of the WBK (Wiener Bürger Korps) was the following: Oberst, Oberstlieutenant, 2 Majore, Caplan, Stabs-Adjutant with Captain rank, Regiments-Adjutant with Ist Lieutenant rank, Regimentsarzt, Capellmeister, Stabs-Fourier, Regiments-Tambour. They had blue waistcoats with red facings.
1st City Regiment
In it were allowed only true citizens of Vienna and nobles. The uniform had blue waistcoats, red facings, white breeches in summer, grey "russian" pants with red lining in winter. Its 8 companies (2 Battalions) had to defend the inner city of Vienna (not the imperial court which had its own Guards).
2nd City Regiment
The Second could enlist also house proprietors from suburbs, manufacturers, artisans, employees etc. It had also 8 companies (2
Battalions). The uniform was dark green with blue facings.
City Cavalry
It had around 260 horses, so a Division. It recruited also in the suburbs and in the closest towns. Their uniform was blue with red facings and gold buttons (in Parade they wore epaulettes, white breeches and high boots, in campaign they had no epaulettes or garments, riding pants and common boots). The Division was made of two squadrons each with 4 Züge.
The Cit Grenadier Battalion
It was a Battalion of around 650 grenadiers (Staff apart) made by three Divisions. The Ist Division came from the Ist City regiment: dark blue waistcoat, scarlet red facings, golden epaulettes, golden buttons and white breeches. The 2nd Division was attached to the Sharpshooters (Scharfschützen Corps) and came from the same social environment of the 2nd regiment. It had dark green coats, scarket red facings, epaulettes, golden buttons and white breeches. The 3rd Division came from the 2nd regiment and was composed only by authorized personnel. It had dark grey coats, sky blue facings, white buttons and white breeches with gaiters.
The Sharpshooters
The correct title was K.K. priv. ritterlich-bürgerliches Scharfschützen-Corps and was composed by all social classes and authorized citizens who had honorary mentions. Gala uniform: dark green waistcoat, scarlet red facings, golden buttons and epaulettes, white breeches, military boots, bicorn reversed hats with green and gold rosettes, one golden band with, at its end, a hunting horn, which had in the middle a golden button with the letters F.I. surrounder by laurel symbol. The hats had a classic black-yellow plume.
Campaign uniform: coat and breeches dark grey, dark green facings and piping (shoulder straps). They were armed with the 63 cm Stutzen, steel sabre with golden-black porte d'epée, the powder-horn.
Source Borodono miniatures
