SPEARHEAD FROM THE FLAGPOLE OF THE INFANTRY REGIMENT FLAG OF THE KOLOWRAT REGIMENT.

Exhibit of the Month 9 / 2020

SPEARHEAD FROM THE FLAGPOLE OF THE INFANTRY REGIMENT FLAG OF THE KOLOWRAT REGIMENT.

Brass engraved spearhead from the flagpole of the regiment flag (Regimentsfahne) probably of the Kolowrat Infantry Regiment (Infanterie-Regiment Kolowrat, after 1741).

On the front side of the spearhead is engraved the imperial eagle with a crowned heart shield of the hereditary lands (Bohemia, Hungary, Austria) and the monogram MT (Maria Theresa). Around the edge runs the Latin inscription SUB UMBRA ALARUM TUARUM PROTEGE NOS (Protect us in the shadow of your wings – originally a motto of the Spanish kings' coat of arms, since the time of Charles V one of the mottos of the Habsburg armies), followed by a small italic with the engraver's mark. On the reverse side is the depiction of St. Peter and Paul with the inscription ribbon S. PETRUS ET PAULUS. A (Saint Peter and Paul the apostles), below the depiction of both saints the coat of arms of the Krakows from Kolowrat with the monogram C. C. K. V. K (Cajetanus comes Krakowski von Kolowrat).

Around the edge runs the Latin inscription DUCES PRIMI ET PRINCIPES (ruler over commanders and leaders – bib. II Chronicles 8.9) and PORTA INFERI NON PRAEVALEBUNT (nor shall the gates of hell prevail against it – bib. Matthew 16.18). This originally imperial regiment was founded in Erfurt in 1674 during the Franco-Dutch War (1672–78).

In 1737, its owner and colonel became the Czech nobleman Kajetán František Krakovský z Kolowrat (1689–1769). The regiment participated in most battles of the War of the Austrian Succession. On April 10, 1741, it took part in the Battle of Mollwitz. In the Battle of Hohenfriedberg on June 4, 1745, it suffered heavy losses, and its owner and colonel Count Krakovský z Kolowrat was also wounded here. The regiment heroically defended its position until the end of the unfortunate battle. It was in the Battle of Hohenfriedberg that it lost ten of its flags.

The spearhead from the collections of the Regional Museum and Gallery in Most is likely from the regiment flag that was awarded to the regiment just after this loss. In the Battle of Zárov on September 30, 1745, the regiment was combat-ready with only one flag. The regiment continued to participate in battles of the Seven Years' War (Lovosice, Štěrboholy, Leuthen, etc.). When in 1769 the deputy marshal and military commander of Moravia, Count Kajetán Krakovský z Kolowrat, died, the regiment remained without an owner until 1773. In 1773, its new owner became Johann Baron von Koch.

This regiment was later succeeded by the Austrian and Austro-Hungarian Infantry Regiment No. 17 (Infanterie-Regiment. 17/ IR. 17), which was composed mainly of Slovenian soldiers for its new headquarters in Ljubljana and existed until 1918.