Régiment de Steiner

The Régiment de Steiner, known in English as Steiner's Regiment or the Steiner Infantry Regiment, was a Swiss line-infantry formation serving the French monarchy and, briefly, the First French Republic. It originated in the Canton of Zürich, where the Régiment de Lochmann was raised on 1 March 1752 under the authority of the local governor. The unit was organized as a foreign regiment in French service rather than as an ordinary French provincial formation. Its officers and soldiers owed their collective service obligation through a formal capitulation negotiated by the colonel-proprietor with the French Crown. This arrangement gave the regiment distinctive legal and religious privileges, including freedom of conscience, the ability to recruit Protestants, and a separate military jurisdiction. The regiment entered active service during the Seven Years' War. It joined the French Army of Germany and fought in the Hanover campaign, including the Battle of Haastembeck, the Battle of Krefeld in 1758, and the Battle of Minden in 1759. Its reputation grew during the 1760 campaign, particularly at Corbach and Warburg. At Warburg on 31 July 1760, it resisted repeated Allied attacks alongside the Régiment de Jenner, helping delay the Allied advance and cover the withdrawal of the French army. Colonel Lochmann was wounded and captured during the engagement. The regiment continued campaigning in Germany in 1761 and 1762 and entered peacetime service after the war ended in 1763. During the following decade, the unit moved through numerous French garrisons and training camps, including Thionville, Valenciennes, Belfort, Landau, Bitche, Strasbourg, Mézières, Huningue, and Verberie. Its title changed with the identity of its colonel-proprietor. It became the Régiment de Muralt in 1775 after Baron Jean de Muralt assumed command. In 1782, after Baron Jakob de Steiner became colonel, it adopted the name Régiment de Steiner. The regiment was stationed in Corsica for approximately five years from 1779, an assignment that formed an important part of its late Ancien Régime service. The formation also reflected the changing visual and administrative systems of the French army. Its uniforms were revised repeatedly in the 1750s, 1760s, and 1770s, while Swiss regiments were often treated separately from reforms designed for domestic French units. The regiment retained distinctive Swiss conventions in its dress and colours, including red facings and other elements associated with Swiss formations. As a foreign regiment, it did not simply use the standard Bourbon colour system. The French Revolution placed the regiment's contractual and foreign status under severe pressure. In 1791, elements were involved in disturbances connected with the vote on the incorporation of the former Papal enclave of Comtat-Venaissin. In 1792, the regiment was reunited at Lyon and directed toward the Army of the Rhine. It reached the Hochfelden camp after the army to which it was assigned had surrendered. With approximately 500 men remaining, the unit was dissolved. Around 300 men stayed in France, most entering cavalry units, while the others were disarmed and escorted back toward Zürich with military honours before being disbanded. The regiment therefore ceased to exist in 1792, although a later 97th Infantry Regiment inherited elements of its lineage and served during the French Revolutionary Wars. That successor did not continue through the Napoleonic Wars and was later re-formed before final dissolution after the Battle of France.

The unit was created on 1 March 1752 as the Régiment de Lochmann in the Canton of Zürich. Its establishment authorized twelve companies of 120 men each and placed it within the French army's foreign-regiment system. Rather than being bound by the same personal allegiance as domestic French troops, its officers and men served under a capitulation concluded between the colonel-proprietor and the French secretary of state for war. This contract was renewable at fixed intervals and defined the regiment's obligations and privileges. The formation's first major conflict was the Seven Years' War. In 1757 it joined the French Army of Germany and participated in the Hanover campaign, beginning with the Battle of Haastembeck. It subsequently fought at Krefeld in 1758 and Minden in 1759. Its most noted service came in 1760 at Corbach and Warburg. At Warburg, the regiment supported the Régiment de Jenner in a determined defensive action that delayed the Allies long enough for much of the French army to withdraw. Lochmann was wounded and captured. Service in Germany continued in 1761 and 1762, followed by garrison duties in the Dutch Republic and France after the war. The regiment spent the 1760s and 1770s moving among a series of strategic garrisons and camps. It served at Mézières, Thionville, Valenciennes, Belfort, Landau, Bitche, Strasbourg, Verberie, Maubeuge, Huningue, and other locations. The French army's uniform reforms repeatedly altered its appearance, but Swiss regiments were exempt from some of the standard domestic arrangements. Its uniforms generally retained Swiss red as a prominent colour, with changing combinations of teal, dark blue, orange, white, and black according to successive ordinances. A change of colonel-proprietor produced a change of regimental title. In 1775, Baron Jean de Muralt replaced Lochmann and the unit became the Régiment de Muralt. The regiment moved to Toulon in 1778 and embarked for Corsica in 1779, remaining there as a garrison for about five years. In 1782, Baron Jakob de Steiner became colonel and the regiment took the name Régiment de Steiner. It returned to the mainland in 1784, serving at Toulon, Béziers, Besançon, and Grenoble during the final years of the monarchy. The regiment's foreign status could create friction with civil and military authorities. Its members enjoyed freedom of conscience, allowing Protestant recruitment without compulsory participation in Catholic ceremonies. They also possessed a separate jurisdiction and could generally be tried by their own court-martial, even in cases involving civilians. These privileges were part of the capitulation system but became increasingly difficult to reconcile with revolutionary ideas of centralized citizenship and national military service. During the revolutionary crisis, detachments took part in the disturbances associated with the election concerning the incorporation of Comtat-Venaissin. In 1792 the regiment regrouped at Lyon and was ordered north toward the Army of the Rhine. The army surrendered shortly before the regiment arrived. At Hochfelden, approximately 500 men remained and the regiment was disbanded. Roughly 300 stayed in France, with most entering cavalry formations. The remainder were disarmed and escorted back to Zürich with full honours. A successor numbered the 97th Infantry Regiment later served in the French Revolutionary Wars, but it did not serve during the Napoleonic Wars and was eventually re-formed before being dissolved after the Battle of France.

1. 1792Regimental dissolution

   The regiment was disbanded at Hochfelden during the revolutionary reorganization of the French military.

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2. 1782Became the Régiment de Steiner

   Baron Jakob de Steiner became colonel and gave the regiment its final name.

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3. 1779Corsican garrison

   After arriving in Corsica, the regiment began an extended garrison assignment.

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4. 1775Became the Régiment de Muralt

   The unit was renamed after Baron de Muralt assumed the colonel-proprietorship.

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5. 1760Battle of Warburg

   The regiment helped delay Allied forces during the French retreat; its colonel was wounded and captured.

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6. 1759Battle of Minden

   The unit took part in the Battle of Minden.

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7. 1758Battle of Krefeld

   The regiment fought at Krefeld during the Seven Years' War.

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8. 1757Joined the Army of Germany

   The regiment entered the Hanover campaign as part of the French Army of Germany.

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9. 1752Régiment de Lochmann raised

   A twelve-company Swiss regiment was established in the Canton of Zürich for French service.

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A Swiss foreign regiment distinguished by contractual service to France, Swiss recruitment and privileges, and a record of campaigning in eighteenth-century European wars.

• Line infantry serviceMilitary service1752

  The regiment's principal function was service as line infantry in the French army. It supplied trained Swiss troops for field campaigns, defensive actions, garrison assignments, and movement between strategic fortresses and camps. Its combat record was concentrated in the Seven Years' War and its later duties included service in Corsica and mainland France.

• Regimental uniforms and coloursMilitary identity1752

  Uniforms and flags provided the regiment with a distinct visual identity within the French army. Successive dress ordinances altered the cut and colour details, while Swiss conventions preserved recurring use of Swiss red and separate treatment of regimental colours. The uniforms changed again after the Revolution, including the removal of Bourbon fleur-de-lis elements.

• 1779Corsican garrison assignment

  Corsica

  The regiment embarked from Toulon and reached Corsica on 11 June 1779 for a prolonged garrison posting.

  Outcome. It remained in Corsica until returning to Toulon in 1784.

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• 1760Warburg defensive action

  German states

  At Warburg, the regiment and the Régiment de Jenner held against Allied attacks and covered the retreat of the French army.

  Outcome. The action delayed the Allies, although Colonel Lochmann was wounded and captured.

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• 1757Hanover Campaign

  German states

  The regiment entered combat with the French Army of Germany at Haastembeck and continued through subsequent operations in the Hanover campaign.

  Outcome. The unit remained in active service through the campaign and later operations across western Germany.

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• 1792Dissolution during revolutionary military reorganizationStrategy

  The regiment's foreign contractual status conflicted with the revolutionary transformation of the French military, and the Army of the Rhine surrendered before the unit could join it.

  What changed. The remaining force was disbanded at Hochfelden; some men entered French cavalry units and others returned to Zürich.

  Aftermath. A successor numbered the 97th Infantry Regiment later served in the French Revolutionary Wars.

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• 1782Change of regimental name to Régiment de SteinerOther

  Baron Jakob de Steiner succeeded to the colonel-proprietorship while the regiment was serving in Corsica.

  What changed. The formation was renamed the Régiment de Steiner.

  Aftermath. This became the regiment's final title before its dissolution in 1792.

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• 1775Change of regimental name to Régiment de MuraltOther

  French foreign regiments were identified closely with their colonel-proprietors.

  What changed. The unit adopted the title Régiment de Muralt after Baron Jean de Muralt took command.

  Aftermath. The regiment retained its Swiss foreign-regiment character and continued French service.

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• 1792Dissolution during the French Revolution

  The regiment was dissolved at Hochfelden after the collapse of the associated Army of the Rhine, with some men absorbed into French cavalry and others returned to Zürich.

  Other
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• 1782Renaming as the Régiment de Steiner

  The regiment adopted its best-known name when Baron Jakob de Steiner assumed the colonel-proprietorship.

  Leadership change
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• 1775Renaming as the Régiment de Muralt

  The formation changed its title after Baron Jean de Muralt became its colonel-proprietor.

  Leadership change
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• 1760The regiment fights at Warburg

  The regiment and the Régiment de Jenner resisted Allied attacks at Warburg, helping shield the French retreat; Colonel Lochmann was wounded and captured.

  Other
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• 1752Formation of the Régiment de Lochmann

  A Swiss regiment was raised in the Canton of Zürich for service in the French army, initially organized into twelve companies.

  Other
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1. Steiner Infantry Regiment