Circa 1910. Helmet for officers of the dragoons. Elegant metal helmet, the helmet body of aluminum painted black, complete with all fittings in fire-gilt finish with polished edges. Front with large crowned eagle. The scale chains on large lion head rosettes, high crest, laterally with embossed lion and serpent. Interior complete with brown sweatband with silk ribbon drawstring, white silk lining with very fine gilt owner's monogram crown over “R”. Size 55.
Tunic for dragoons. Elegant manufacture of dark blue cloth, the collar, green cuff flaps and piping, on the collar and cuff flaps with broad gold lace for field grade officers, on the collar with three silver hand-embroidered rank stars each as colonel, on the left shoulder with gold shoulder strap for officer, on the right side with sewn-on blue cord for attaching the bandolier. On the chest with loops for a large medal bar in Austrian style as well as loops for a total of 6 breast stars. Inside the inner lining above of cream-colored silk, below in dark blue. Additionally the black silk neck stock.
Additionally the matching pelisse in the same cloth quality, the button panel and cuff flaps in green, black collar of fine Persian lamb fur, on the left shoulder with the shoulder strap for officers, on the collar with the two slings of gold lace with black inlays for closed wearing as well as blue wool cords for open wearing over the left shoulder. On the chest also with loops for the medal bar and the breast stars. The pelisse inside also lined with Persian lamb fur.
Red riding breeches for dragoon officers, manufacture in fine officer quality, below at the calves for buttoning, with stirrup straps. Additionally the matching pair of black cavalry riding boots in finest officer quality. Manufacture of black patent leather, complete with the wooden boot trees, also for the shaft, the boots are still with the original fabric covers of gray linen for lacing.
Bandolier and cartridge pouch for officers of the cavalry in deluxe execution. The cartridge pouch as well as the mounting parts of the bandolier of genuine silver, the cartridge pouch with gilt appliqués, above on the lid with silver hallmarks. The bandolier with broad gold lace with black center stripe, the mounting parts also with silver hallmarks, reverse with red Morocco leather in finest quality.
Saber for officers of the cavalry, execution in deluxe quality, the hilt assembly, the blade and the scabbard in nickel-plated finish, the grip covered with black shagreen, the blade with manufacturer's designation “Weyersberg & Stamm Solingen”. Above on the pommel cap with the crowned seal of the Royal House of Württemberg. Complete with the gold sword knot for officers, on the stem with hand-embroidered double-headed eagle and the crowned cipher “FJ1”. Additionally the matching saber suspension of wine-red Morocco leather, the two saber straps with gold lace with black center stripe as with the bandolier.
Yellow parade sash for officers with black inlays, complete with gilt patent clasp, the tassels with hand-embroidered double-headed eagle and crowned cipher “FJ1”.
Additionally the original case for the helmet with the cover for the helmet and compartment for the sash etc.
Only minimally worn in wonderful condition. All pieces are from the personal estate of Duke Robert of Württemberg, which were auctioned years ago at the auction house Kube.

Robert Maria Klemens Philipp Joseph Duke of Württemberg (born January 14, 1873 in Meran; died April 12, 1947 in Altshausen) was a German officer and prince of the royal house of Württemberg. Duke Robert was the fourth child of Duke Philipp of Württemberg and his consort Marie Therese Archduchess of Austria. Robert thus belonged to the Catholic line of the House of Württemberg. His older brother was the Württemberg heir apparent and later General Field Marshal Albrecht Duke of Württemberg. Duke Robert grew up in Vienna and passed the Matura there in 1894. As a prince of the royal house, Duke Robert held from 1894 until the end of the monarchy in 1918 a seat in the Württemberg Chamber of Standesherren and was personally present there since 1895. From 1904 to 1906 he was represented by his younger brother Ulrich. Already in 1891 Duke Robert entered the Württemberg Army and was later Rittmeister in the 2nd Dragoon Regiment. He also served in the Army of Austria-Hungary and was there First Lieutenant in the 9th Dragoon Regiment (Archduke Albrecht). In addition, Duke Robert was also an officer in the Prussian Army and stood à la suite of the 2nd Pomeranian Uhlan Regiment No. 9. In 1901 Duke Robert traveled as representative for King Wilhelm II of Württemberg to London to attend the funeral of Queen Victoria. He also represented the Württemberg king at the festivities on the occasion of the coronation of King Edward VII. In World War I Duke Robert commanded the 26th Cavalry Brigade, which belonged to the 7th Cavalry Division. He was promoted to Lieutenant General on September 19, 1916 and was last assigned to the High Command of Army Group “Crown Prince Rupprecht”. After the downfall of the monarchy as a result of the November Revolution, Robert Duke of Württemberg retired to private life in Altshausen.

413904

Austria K.u.K. Complete Uniform Ensemble from the Estate of Duke Robert of Württemberg as Colonel in the 9th Dragoon Regiment Archduke Albrecht

This uniform ensemble represents the magnificent military tradition of the Imperial and Royal Dragoon regiments of the Austro-Hungarian Army during the final flourishing period of the Habsburg Monarchy before World War I. The uniform belonged to Herzog Robert von Württemberg (1873-1947), a prince of the royal House of Württemberg from the Catholic line, who served as an officer in several armies and embodied a remarkable dynastic connection between the German and Austrian ruling houses.

The Imperial and Royal Dragoons formed an essential part of the cavalry of the Austro-Hungarian Army from 1867 to 1914, alongside the Hussars and Uhlans. The 9th Dragoon Regiment “Erzherzog Albrecht” (Archduke Albert) could trace its origins to a cavalry unit established in 1682 as Sachsen-Lauenburg-Cürassiere for the imperial Habsburg army. The regiment received the Oberst-Division of the dissolved Dragoon Regiment Kronprinz Nr. 2 in 1802 and operated as Dragoon Regiment Nr. 1 until 1860. By the early twentieth century it was designated as the 9th Galician and Bukovina Dragoons.

Herzog Robert grew up in Vienna and passed his Matura examination there in 1894. He entered the Württemberg Army in 1891 and later served as Rittmeister (cavalry captain) in the 2nd Dragoon Regiment. He also served in the Austro-Hungarian Army in the 9th Dragoon Regiment. Additionally, he was an officer in the Prussian Army and stood à la suite of the 2nd Pomeranian Ulanen Regiment Nr. 9. His military career reflected the complex dynastic connections of European royal houses. On 29 October 1900, Herzog Robert married Habsburg Archduchess Maria Immakulata of Austria in the Hofburg Chapel in Vienna, daughter of Archduke Karl Salvator of Austria. The marriage remained childless.

The uniform displays the characteristic design of dragoon uniforms of the era. Since 1868, the regulation uniform consisted of a light blue Waffenrock, grass-green facings (Egalisierung), crimson-red riding boots-trousers (krapprote Stiefelhosen), and yellow buttons. The long-standing white infantry uniforms were replaced in the later half of the nineteenth century with dark blue tunics, which in turn were replaced by cadet grey uniforms during the initial stages of World War I. By tradition, dragoons recruited most of their troopers from the German- and Czech-speaking regions of the Empire. At the outbreak of war in 1914, there were fifteen Austrian Dragoon Regiments, initially deploying in their colorful and distinctive uniforms, identified regimentally by particular uniform facing colors, all wearing red trousers like the hussars and uhlans.

Officer uniforms were produced in luxury quality with finer materials, hand embroidery, and precious metal fittings compared to enlisted ranks. Officers wore far more ornate helmet versions with chin scales and embossed brass panels on the comb sides showing a lion battling a snake. The M1905 Dragoon officer's helmet featured a tall “Roman” style comb bearing embossed decoration, fitted with a double-headed Imperial eagle at the front and heavy-patterned laurel-leaf chinscales attached by large gilt lion head bosses.

The saber bears the manufacturer marking of Weyersberg, Kirschbaum & Cie. (WKC), formed in 1883 when Weyersberg merged with Kirschbaum, becoming one of the largest edged weapon manufacturers in the German Empire in the 1880s and heavily involved in exporting edged weapons. The sword knot (Portepee) and sash are decorated with the hand-embroidered double-headed eagle and crowned cipher “FJ1” for Emperor Franz Joseph I, underscoring the imperial affiliation of the unit.

During World War I, Herzog Robert commanded the 26th Cavalry Brigade, which belonged to the 7th Cavalry Division. He was promoted to Generalleutnant on 19 September 1916 and was ultimately assigned to the High Command of Army Group “Crown Prince Rupprecht.” Initially, cavalry fought mounted in regimental formation, but was increasingly used for reconnaissance, security and liaison tasks in individual squadrons or platoons. Losses soon dictated that uniforms should be less visible; the first concession was to paint M1905 helmets grey or fit grey linen covers. By mid-1915, grey uniforms were universally issued when cavalry regiments operated less as mounted soldiers but more as infantrymen in trenches, and after 1916 were only used dismounted in infantry-style trench warfare.

Following the collapse of the monarchy after the November Revolution, Robert Herzog von Württemberg withdrew to private life in Altshausen. His brother Albrecht had relocated the ducal family's residence from Stuttgart to Altshausen Castle in 1919. The Austro-Hungarian Army was dissolved in 1918 following the empire's defeat in World War I and the subsequent breakup of Austria-Hungary. The uniform ensemble was preserved as part of Herzog Robert's personal military memorabilia and later appeared in the militaria market.