Trenck's Pandurs
Pandurs | |
---|---|
skirmishers | |
Size | 1,000 |
Motto(s) | Vivat Pandur[1] |
Engagements | |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Baron Franz von der Trenck |
Trenck's Pandurs (
The Pandurs took part in the War of the Austrian Succession, including the First and Second Silesian War. They contributed to the capture or destruction of Zobten am Berge, Strehlen, Klaus Castle, Linz, Deggendorf, Diessenstein Castle, Cham, Cosel fortress, and Munich. During the Battle of Soor, the unit looted a Prussian war chest and the belongings of Frederick the Great. The Pandurs earned a reputation as brave, audacious, feared and ruthless soldiers, known for looting and pillaging. They were prone to disobedience, breaches of military discipline and stubbornness. The city of Waldmünchen, located near Cham, celebrates the Pandurs and Trenck as the city's saviors for sparing the city from destruction in 1742. The Pandurs' and Trenck's heritage is also preserved in the city of Požega, Croatia, where an eponymous living history troop and city music band exist.
Etymology
The term pandur made its way into military use via the
Another etymology could recall the ancient greek expression "pan" with "ther", which is "great" or "all-beast", already used in ancient times (see the latin word "Panther", often used to refer to occupying troop soldiers of Roman Empire and root of the German word "Panzer" itself).
By the middle of the 18th century, law enforcement in the
History
The Pandurs were a
The Pandurs arrived in
The Pandurs took part in War of the Austrian Succession, including the First Silesian War. They took part in capturing Zobten am Berge and Strehlen in Lower Silesia from the Prussians, and defending a bridgehead near Vienna after the Battle of Mollwitz. In 1742, the Pandurs took part in capture of Klaus Castle in Styria as well as Linz and Deggendorf, where they defeated French troops before taking part in Austrian recapture of Munich. By the end of that year, the Pandurs had captured Diessenstein Castle and Cham from Bavarian defenders, completely destroying Cham to secure access for Habsburg troops led by Ludwig Andreas von Khevenhüller to Bohemia. In 1743, the Pandurs led by Trenck captured Cosel fortress. In 1745, during the Second Silesian War, the Pandurs took part in the Battle of Soor, where they looted a Prussian war chest containing 80,000 ducats, as well as weapons, horses and a tent belonging to Frederick the Great.[10]
The Pandurs earned a reputation for being brave and audacious,[14] as well as feared and ruthless soldiers, looting and pillaging, but also characterized by disobedience, breaches of military discipline and stubbornness. On the other hand, the City of Waldmünchen, located near Cham, celebrates the Pandurs and Trenck as their savior for sparing the city from destruction in 1742.[10] Since 1950, the city organizes a historical reenactment of the event involving about 300 actors.[16]
The original organization of the unit was retained until 1745, when it was transformed into a Pandur regiment following Trenck's petition to the empress. Trenck was relieved of command in 1746 and tried for unspecified "acts of violence". He was imprisoned in Spielberg Castle, where he died in 1749.[14] After the Peace of Aachen, the regiment was transformed into a Slavonian battalion on 22 December 1748. In 1756, as the Seven Years' War started, the battalion was reformed into the 53rd Infantry Regiment and its headquarters moved to Zagreb ending history of the Pandurs. Still, the regiment kept its Pandur lineage alive through its commemorative medals bearing Trenck's image wearing Pandur attire. The regiment was disbanded in January 1919.[15]
Legacy
The achievements of the Pandurs led by Trenck left a lasting mark on the culture and heritage of Croatia as well as Bavaria. An example of the unit's legacy is found in the village of Trenkovo—named after the commander of the Pandurs in 1912. The village is located in area of Trenck's former Velika estate, near Požega, Croatia, where the baron lived. It was the location of a baroque manor once owned by Trenck, which was replaced by another structure in the late 18th or early 19th centuries.[17][18] Pandur heritage is preserved by the Trenck's Pandurs (Croatian: Trenkovi panduri) military band—the official music band of the city of Požega—established on 28 January 1881. In 1997, an eponymous living history troop was established out of members of the band.[19][20] Also, a Trenck festival is held annually in Waldmünchen, commemorating the events of 1742, when the city was spared by Trenck from destruction.[16][21]
The military unit and its leader also give their names to a modern armed force unit and modern military equipment.
See also
- Tudor Vladimirescu—commanded a pandur militia in the Wallachian uprising of 1821
- Seressaner
- Pandur
- Hajduk
- Uskok
- Grenz infantry
- Serbian revolution
References
- ^ a b c Jurica Miletić (April 2006). "U službi Marije Terezije" [In service of Maria Theresa]. Hrvatski vojnik (in Croatian). Ministry of Defence (Croatia). Archived from the original on 10 February 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
- ^ ISSN 1330-2787. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
- Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
- ISBN 9780838638439. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
- ^ "Povijest karlovačke policije" [History of Karlovac police] (PDF) (in Croatian). Ministry of the Interior (Croatia). Retrieved 19 May 2012.
- ISBN 9783111798899. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
- ISBN 9781841767017. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
- ISSN 1330-0474. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
- ^ Marko Lopuština (28 December 2010). "Hrvatski panduri i srpski mangupi" [Croatian cops and Serbian mischiefs] (in Croatian). Portal dnevno d.o.o. Archived from the original on 1 January 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
- ^ a b c Jurica Miletić (April 2006). "Od počasti do propasti" [From glory to defeat]. Hrvatski vojnik (in Croatian). Ministry of Defence (Croatia). Archived from the original on 22 February 2008. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
- ISBN 9783406606335. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
- ISBN 9780253343789. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
- ISBN 9780814205006. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
- ^ a b c d Ferdo Šišić (1906). [Croatian history, Second volume] (in Croatian). Zagreb: Dionička tiskara. pp. 136–137 – via Wikisource.
- ^ ISSN 0546-9422. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
- ^ a b "Trenckfestspiele in Waldmünchen" [Trenck festival in Waldmünchen] (in German). The city of Waldmünchen. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
- ^ "Dvorac Baruna Trenka , Trenkovo" [Baron Trenck's manor, Trenkovo] (in Croatian). Municipality of Velika Tourist Board. Archived from the original on 10 April 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
- ^ "Umro Franjo Trenk" [Franz Trenck dies] (in Croatian). Croatian Radiotelevision. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
- ^ "O nama" [About us] (in Croatian). Trenkovi panduri. Archived from the original on 3 December 2010. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
- ^ "Otkrivena spomen ploča za sjećanje na baruna Franju Trenka" [A baron Trenck commemorative plaque unveiled] (in Croatian). City of Požega. 4 November 2011. Archived from the original on 11 September 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
- ^ "Trenck der Pandur vor Waldmünchen" [Pandur Trenck at Trenck Waldmünchen]. Trenckfestspiele Waldmünchen e.V. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
- ^ "20.obljetnica utemeljenja Specijalne jedinice policije "Trenk" Požega" [20th anniversary of Special police unit "Trenk" Požega] (in Croatian). Radio Požega. 14 October 2011. Archived from the original on 7 September 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
- ^ "Steyr gives up on a part of the tender". limun.hr. 12 July 2007. Retrieved 18 May 2012.