Pandurs

Pandurs
Croatian pandurs from 1742
Active	1741–1748 (1756)
Country	Habsburg Monarchy
Type	Infantry
Role	skirmishers
Size	1,000
Motto	Vivat Pandur[1]
Engagements	War of the Austrian Succession First and Second Silesian Wars
Commanders
Notable commanders	Baron Franz von der Trenck

The Pandurs (Croatian: Panduri, German: Panduren) were a skirmisher unit of the Habsburg Monarchy, raised by Baron Franz von der Trenck pursuant to a charter issued by Maria Theresa of Austria in 1741. The unit was largely composed of manpower enlisted as volunteers from areas of Kingdom of Slavonia and Slavonian Military Frontier and named after guardsmen otherwise employed to maintain public order. Pandurs took part in a military parade for the empress in May 1741—presenting twelve musicians equipped with flutes, a drum and cymbals, named Turkish band, after Ottoman military bands, considered pioneers of martial music in Europe. Pandurs did not use uniforms—their clothes varied but were of Turkish style. The oriental appearance was accented by shaved heads with rattails, as well as use of a bunchuk instead of a unit banner. The original setup of the unit was retained until 1745, when it transformed into a regiment. Trenck was relieved of command in 1746, and imprisoned in Spielberg Castle where he died in 1749. The unit ultimately transformed into the 53rd Infantry Regiment, headquartered in Zagreb until it was disbanded in 1919. The regiment's commemorative medals bear Trenck's image wearing Pandur attire.

The Pandurs took part in War of the Austrian Succession, including the First and Second Silesian War, capturing or destroying Zobten am Berge, Strehlen, Klaus Castle, Linz, Deggendorf, Munich, Dießenstein Castle, Cham and Cosel fortress. The Pandurs took part in the Battle of Soor, plundering a Prussian war chest and the belongings of Frederick the Great. Pandurs earned a reputation of being brave, audacious, feared and ruthless soldiers, known to loot and pillage, and prone to disobedience, breaches of military discipline and stubbornness. The city of Waldmünchen, located near Cham, on the other hand celebrates Pandurs and Trenck as city's savior for sparing the city from destruction in 1742. Pandurs' and Trenck's heritage is also preserved in the city of Požega, Croatia where an eponymous living history troop and city music ensemble exist.

Etymology

The term pandur made its way into military use via the Hungarian language—being used in Hungarian as a loanword, in turn originating from the Croatian term pudar. "Pudar" is applied to security guards protecting crops in vineyards and fields and it was coined from the verb puditi, pudati meaning to chase or scare away. The meaning of the Hungarian loanword was expanded to guards in general, including law enforcement.^[2] By the middle of the 18th century, law enforcement in the counties of Croatia included county pandurs or hussars patrolling roads and pursuing after criminals.^[3][4] The role of the pandurs extended to Dalmatia after establishment of Austrian rule there in the early 19th century.^[5] The term has dropped from official use for law enforcement officials in Croatia since, but it is still used colloquially in a manner akin to the English word cop.^[6] The unit raised and led by Trenck is also referred to more specifically as Trenck's Pandurs,^[7] and less frequently in Croatia than elsewhere, as Croatian Pandurs.^[8]

History

Baron Franz von der Trenck

The Pandurs were a skirmisher unit of the Habsburg Monarchy,^[9] raised by Baron Franz von der Trenck pursuant to a charter (German: Werbepatent) issued by Maria Theresa of Austria on 27 February 1741, permitting Trenck to raise a 1,000-strong troop. The unit was largely composed of manpower enlisted as volunteers from areas of Kingdom of Slavonia and Slavonian Military Frontier.^[1] Pandurs saw military action in Silesia, Bohemia, Bavaria and France.^[10]

Pandurs arrived in Vienna for a military parade for the empress on 27 May 1741. The unit was headed by Trenck and included two captains, a senior lieutenant, five lieutenants, a quartermaster, an adjutant, two chaplains (a Catholic and an Orthodox Christian), two medics, 40 sergeants, five scribes, 80 corporals and twelve musicians equipped with flutes, a drum and cymbals. The musicians were called Turkish band, after Ottoman military bands, and are considered pioneers of martial music in Europe.^[1] Pandurs did not have specific uniforms, nor did they dress uniformly—their clothes varied but were of Turkish style. The oriental appearance was compounded by mandatory head shaving, leaving a rattail, as well as use of a horse tail bunchuk instead of a unit banner. Each Pandur carried four single-shot pistols, a fighting knife and a small knife.^[10][11]

The Pandurs took part in War of the Austrian Succession, including the First Silesian War, capturing Zobten am Berge and Strehlen in Lower Silesia from Prussians, and defending a bridgehead near Vienna after the Battle of Mollwitz. In 1742, Pandurs captured 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 the same year Pandurs captured Dießenstein Castle and Cham from Bavarian defenders, completely destroying Cham to secure access of Habsburg troops led by Ludwig Andreas von Khevenhüller to Bohemia. In 1743, Pandurs led by Trenck captured Cosel fortress. In 1745, during the Second Silesian War, Pandurs took part in the Battle of Soor, where they plundered a Prussian war chest containing 80,000 ducats, as well as weapons, horses and a tent belonging to Frederick the Great.^[7][12]

Pandurs earned a reputation of brave and audacious,^[10] as well as feared and ruthless soldiers, looting and pillaging, augmented by disobedience, breaches of military discipline and stubbornness. City of Waldmünchen, located near Cham, on the other hand celebrates Pandurs and Trenck as city's savior for sparing the city from destruction in 1742.^[7] Since 1950, the city organizes historical reenactment of the event involving about 300 actors.^[13]

The original setup of the unit was retained until 1745, when it transformed into a Pandur regiment following Trenck's petition to the empress. Trenck was relieved of command in 1746, and tried for acts of violence. He was imprisoned in Spielberg Castle where he died in 1749.^[10] After the Peace of Aachen, the regiment was transformed once more 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. 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.^[11]

Legacy

Pandur II infantry fighting vehicle

The achievements of Pandurs led by Trenck left a lasting mark in culture and heritage lending their leader's name to the village of Trenkovo, which was named after the baron in 1912. The village is located in area of Trenck's former Velika estate, near Požega, Croatia where the baron lived. A baroque manor once owned by Trenck was built there, and replaced by another structure in the late 18th or early 19th centuries.^[14][15] Pandur heritage is preserved by the Trenck Pandurs (Croatian: Trenkovi panduri) musical ensemble—the official music ensemble of the city of Požega, established on 28 January 1881. In 1997, an eponymous living history troop was established out of members of the ensemble.^[16][17] Also, a Trenck festival is held annually in Waldmünchen, commemorating 1742 when the city was spared from destruction by Trenck.^[13][18]

The military unit and its leader also lend their names to a modern armed force unit and modern military equipment. Special police platoon Trenk formed in Požega on 8 March 1991 took part in Croatian War of Independence,^[19] while Steyr-Daimler-Puch produces the Pandur armoured fighting vehicle.^[20]

See also

• Tudor Vladimirescu—commanded a pandur militia in Wallachian uprising of 1821

References