From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
17th Lithuanian Uhlan Regiment
Officer of the 17th Lithuanian Uhlan Regiment in 1813
Active5 July 1812 – 1814
Country Duchy of Warsaw
Branch Army of the Duchy of Warsaw
Type Light cavalry
Headquarters Kupiškis
Engagements Napoleonic Wars
Commanders
Notable
commanders		 Michał Tyszkiewicz

The 17th Lithuanian Uhlan Regiment ( Lithuanian: 17-asis ulonų pulkas; Polish: 17. pułk ułanów) was an uhlan regiment of the Grande Armée during the Napoleonic Wars. [1]

Formation

Regimental czapka with the coat of arms of Lithuania ( Vytautas the Great War Museum)

On 5 July 1812, Count Michał Tyszkiewicz began forming the 17th Lithuanian Uhlan Regiment on his own initiative and with his own funds. [1] The men who joined the regiment came from the towns of Biržai, Raseiniai, Telšiai, Panevėžys and their respective surroundings. [1] The regimental headquarters were in Kupiškis. [1] Napoleon appointed Count Michał Tyszkiewicz as the regiment's commander and awarded him the rank of colonel. [1]

Service history

Russian campaign

Main article: French invasion of Russia

At the end of 1812, together with other Lithuanian units, this regiment covered the Grande Armée's retreat and joined the X Corps. [1] In December 1812 , the 17th Uhlan Regiment retreated through Tauragė to Königsberg. [1] On 19 January 1813, the regiment had 829 uhlans [1] and was stationing in Elbing. [2] Later it was moved to Wielkopolska and was stationing in Skiwerzyna and Międzychód, when it joined the remnants of the French army commanded by the Viceroy Eugène de Beauharnais. [2] On February 4, it fought near Brandenburg. [1] On February 11 [1] or 12, [3] the 17th Uhlan regiment fought together with the 19th Lithuanian Uhlan Regiment near Sieraków. [1] There it was surprised and defeated by General Chernyshev's Russian vanguard. [3] The general Prince Romualdas Giedraitis, who commanded both Uhlan regiments, was taken prisoner. [1] He was wounded during his capture. [3] During the battle, the regiment lost 147 out of 585 men it had before. [4]

War of the Sixth Coalition

Main article: War of the Sixth Coalition

After this battle, both regiments were attached to the division of the French General Gérard, belonging to the XIII Corps. [1] Together with it, the regiment fought near Bremen, Hamburg, Lübeck. [1] On 20 April 1813, men from the 19th regiment were drafted into the regiment, after 225 soldiers from the 19th regiment were selected for the Imperial Guard. [5] And the former commander of the 19th regiment col. Konstanty Rajecki became the new commander of the 17th regiment. [5] The regiment fought its last battles in Denmark. [1] After the abdication of Emperor Napoleon with the Treaty of Fontainebleau, the regiment was allowed to return to its homeland with weapons and flags. [1]

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Urbonienė 2021.
  2. ^ a b Nawrot 2008, p. 699.
  3. ^ a b c "Epoka napoleońska lata 1796-1815". www.muzeumwp.pl (in Polish). Polish Army Museum. Archived from the original on 2016-08-17.
  4. ^ Nawrot 2008, p. 710.
  5. ^ a b Nawrot 2008, p. 711.

References

Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=17th_Lithuanian_Uhlan_Regiment&oldid=1203405897"