Royal Deux-Ponts Regiment Explained

Unit Name:Royal Deux-Ponts Regiment
Dates:1757–1791
Type:Infantry
Role:Line infantry
Size:Regiment
Colors:Yellow
Colors Label:Facings
Battles:
Notable Commanders: Comté de Deux-Ponts

The Royal Deux-Ponts Regiment (fr|Régiment Royal-Deux-Ponts; de|Infanterieregiment Königlich Zweibrücken) was a line infantry regiment of the French Royal Army raised in the Palatine Zweibrücken which existed from 1757 to 1791. They are an example of the policy of Soldatenhandel.

History

The Royal Deux-Ponts Regiment was raised by Christian IV, Duke of Deux-Ponts, Count Palatine of Birkenfeld, under a treaty made in 1751 between Louis XV and Christian, by which the Duke undertook to provide in the event of war a contingent of 1,000 men to France. In 1775 it was commanded by Colonel Christian, Count of Forbach, nephew of the Duke of Deux-Ponts and future Marquis de Deux-Ponts. The Marquis was colonel-commandant from March 10, 1788 until January 1, 1791, when it was reorganised into the 99th Line Infantry Regiment.[1]

American Revolutionary War

The Royal Deux-Ponts Regiment left Brest on April 4, 1780 as part of a contingent of four regiments sent by France under the orders of Rochambeau to provide support to the American Revolution.[2] It distinguished itself at Yorktown in October 1781.[3] The regiment returned to France in July 1783.[4]

Uniform

During the American Revolutionary War, the uniform was sky blue with distinctive yellow facings.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Lazer , Stephen A. . 2019 . State Formation in Early Modern Alsace, 1648-1789 . Rochester . University of Rochester Press . 168 . 978-1-58046-953-1.
  2. Book: Rattermann, Heinrich Armin . 2002 . A German Regiment Among the French Auxiliary Troops of the American Revolutionary War: H.A. Rattermann's History . Clearfield . Baltimore . ix . 0-8063-4910-7.
  3. Selig . Robert A. . A German Soldier in America, 1780-1783: The Journal of Georg Daniel Flohr . The William and Mary Quarterly . 50 . 3 . 1993 . 575–590 . 10.2307/2947367 . 2947367 . 7 June 2022.
  4. Book: Acomb . Evelyn A. . 1958 . The Revolutionary Journal of Baron Ludwig von Closen, 1780-1783 . Chapel Hill . . xxiv-xxvii . 66280976.
  5. Web site: Royal Deux-Ponts Infantry during the War for Independence . . . Nec pluribus impar . fr . October 18, 2023.