Grenz infantry or Grenzers or Granichary (from "
border guard" or "frontiersman";
Serbo-Croatian
Serbo-Croatian ( / ), also known as Bosnian-Croatian-Montenegrin-Serbian (BCMS), is a South Slavic language and the primary language of Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro. It is a pluricentric language with four mutually i ...
: graničari, krajišnici,
Hungarian: granicsár, sr-cyr, граничари, крајишници,
Russian Cyrillic: граничары) were combined border guard troops (include light cavalry, light horse artillery, light infantry, and line infantry) who came from the
Military Frontier in the
Habsburg monarchy
The Habsburg monarchy, also known as Habsburg Empire, or Habsburg Realm (), was the collection of empires, kingdoms, duchies, counties and other polities (composite monarchy) that were ruled by the House of Habsburg. From the 18th century it is ...
(later the
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire, officially known as the Empire of Austria, was a Multinational state, multinational European Great Powers, great power from 1804 to 1867, created by proclamation out of the Habsburg monarchy, realms of the Habsburgs. Duri ...
and
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary, also referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy or the Habsburg Monarchy, was a multi-national constitutional monarchy in Central Europe#Before World War I, Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. A military ...
). This borderland formed a buffer zone between Christian Europe and the
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire (), also called the Turkish Empire, was an empire, imperial realm that controlled much of Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th to early 20th centuries; it also controlled parts of southeastern Centr ...
, and the troops were originally raised to defend their homelands against the Ottoman Turks. When there was no danger of war against the Ottomans, the Grenzer regiments were employed by the Habsburgs in other theatres of war, although one battalion of each regiment would always remain guarding the border.
As Granichary, members of this Grenz infantry were invited to the Russian Empire where on territory of modern Ukraine they formed historic frontier region of
New Serbia.
Origin
Grenzers were the successors to theirregular troops of
Pandurs, which were also raised as a militia by the Habsburgs in the 18th century to defend the border with the Ottomans and also used as skirmishers in the
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War, 1756 to 1763, was a Great Power conflict fought primarily in Europe, with significant subsidiary campaigns in North America and South Asia. The protagonists were Kingdom of Great Britain, Great Britain and Kingdom of Prus ...
. However, by the time of the
Napoleonic Wars
{{Infobox military conflict
, conflict = Napoleonic Wars
, partof = the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars
, image = Napoleonic Wars (revision).jpg
, caption = Left to right, top to bottom:Battl ...
, troops from the Frontier were now formed into more regular line infantry regiments, but were considered by the Austrian generals as something between light infantry and line infantry. They were given training in artillery observer, basics of linear tactics, marksmanship, reconnaissance, screening, and skirmishing. At the start of the war, the 18 Grenz infantry regiments formed about a quarter of the
Habsburg army.
However, the Grenzers were first and foremost skirmishing troops and were thought not to perform as well in the role of line infantry as the regular regiments. As such, many in the Austrian military command did not hold them in much esteem. Following a mutiny in 1800, their numbers were reduced from 57,000 to only 13,000. Despite this, the Grenz infantry performed consistently well in battle, especially at
Marengo and
Austerlitz, earning them respect from the French. Napoleon held them in high opinion and considered them as the most warlike troops in the entire Austrian army. He had no hesitation in using the Grenz infantry after Austria's defeat in the
War of the Fifth Coalition in 1809. The
Treaty of Schönbrunn compelled Austria to cede territory in the Military Frontier and the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 10th and 11th Grenz Infantry Regiments went into French service. They fought for Napoleon until his defeat and abdication in 1814.
During the 19th century, the threat from the Ottoman Turks diminished and there was less need for troops to defend the frontier. Also, with rise of South Slav nationalism and self-determination, the
Austrian high command grew suspicious of the Grenz infantry and a possible uprising. With these factors, the number of Grenz infantry were steadily reduced, although they remained in service in the Austrian and later Austro-Hungarian army until the
First World War
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
.
History
Grenzers defended state border from the Ottomans in Croatia and Slavonia and in Hungary, including
Transylvania
Transylvania ( or ; ; or ; Transylvanian Saxon dialect, Transylvanian Saxon: ''Siweberjen'') is a List of historical regions of Central Europe, historical and cultural region in Central Europe, encompassing central Romania. To the east and ...
. In the territory of Croatia and Slavonia mercenaries Grenzers were
Croats
The Croats (; , ) are a South Slavs, South Slavic ethnic group native to Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and other neighboring countries in Central Europe, Central and Southeastern Europe who share a common Croatian Cultural heritage, ancest ...
and
Serbs
The Serbs ( sr-Cyr, Срби, Srbi, ) are a South Slavs, South Slavic ethnic group native to Southeastern Europe who share a common Serbian Cultural heritage, ancestry, Culture of Serbia, culture, History of Serbia, history, and Serbian lan ...
while in Hungary there were
Croats
The Croats (; , ) are a South Slavs, South Slavic ethnic group native to Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and other neighboring countries in Central Europe, Central and Southeastern Europe who share a common Croatian Cultural heritage, ancest ...
,
Serbs
The Serbs ( sr-Cyr, Срби, Srbi, ) are a South Slavs, South Slavic ethnic group native to Southeastern Europe who share a common Serbian Cultural heritage, ancestry, Culture of Serbia, culture, History of Serbia, history, and Serbian lan ...
who worked as
Hajduks,
Martolos and Vlachs. The Vlachs in Croatia and the Hajduks in Hungary had not only personal but also territorial privileges. The Vlachs that emigrated from the Balkans brought along their customary law, cooperative as an old Slavic socio-economic community, while the name Hajduk in Hungary also denoted a special social layer.
[Ladislav Heka, 2019, The Vlach law and its comparison to the privileges of Hungarian brigands, https://hrcak.srce.hr/index.php?show=clanak&id_clanak_jezik=325892 #page=30]
Regiments
*1. Liccaner /
Gospić
*2. Otocaner /
Otočac
*3. Oguliner /
Ogulin
*4. Szluiner /
Karlovac
Karlovac () is a city in central Croatia. In the 2021 census, its population was 49,377.
Karlovac is the administrative centre of Karlovac County. The city is located southwest of Zagreb and northeast of Rijeka, and is connected to them via the ...
*5. Warasdiner-Kreuzer /
Bjelovar
Bjelovar (, , Czech language, Czech: ''Bělovar'' or ''Bělovár,'' Kajkavian dialect, Kajkavian: ''Belovar,'' Latin: ''Bellovarium'') is a city in central Croatia. In the Demographics of Croatia, 2021 census, its population was 36,316 .
It is ...
*6. Warasdiner-St. Georger /
Bjelovar
Bjelovar (, , Czech language, Czech: ''Bělovar'' or ''Bělovár,'' Kajkavian dialect, Kajkavian: ''Belovar,'' Latin: ''Bellovarium'') is a city in central Croatia. In the Demographics of Croatia, 2021 census, its population was 36,316 .
It is ...
*7. Brooder /
Vinkovci
Vinkovci () is a city in Slavonia, in the Vukovar-Syrmia County in eastern Croatia. The city settlement's population was 28,111 in the 2021 census, while the total population was 30,842, making it the largest town of the county. It is a local tr ...
*8. Gradiscaner /
Nova Gradiška
*9. Peterwardiner /
Mitrovitz
*10. 1st Banal /
Glina
*11. 2nd Banal /
Petrinja
Petrinja () is a town in central Croatia near Sisak in the historic region of Banija, Banovina. It is administratively located in Sisak-Moslavina County.
On December 29, 2020, the town was 2020 Petrinja earthquake, hit by a strong earthquake wit ...
*12. Deutschbanater /
Pancsova
*13. Wallachian-Illyrian /
Karánsebes
*14. 1st Szekler /
Csík-Szereda
*15. 2nd Szekler /
Kézdi-Vásárhely
*16. /
Orlát
*17. /
Naszód
See also
*
Hussar
A hussar, ; ; ; ; . was a member of a class of light cavalry, originally from the Kingdom of Hungary during the 15th and 16th centuries. The title and distinctive dress of these horsemen were subsequently widely adopted by light cavalry ...
*
Pandurs
*
Oltramarini
*
Cappelletti
*
Skirmisher
*
Šajkaši
*
Military Frontier
*
Serbian revolution
References
External links
Austrian Infantry During the Napoleonic Wars
{{DEFAULTSORT:Grenz Infantry
Light infantry
Seven Years' War
Military units and formations of the Napoleonic Wars
Military units and formations of the early modern period
Military units and formations of the late modern period
Military history of Austria
Military of Austria-Hungary
Military Frontier
Habsburg Serbs
Habsburg Croats
Army of the Habsburg monarchy
Irregular units and formations
Mountain troops
Border guards