Saxon Uniform and Spike dilemma

[mravery]

Ok all,

Here is an interesting ‘discussion’…. As I have been having it with a couple of friends for a few days now.. so lets see what the forum has to add…..

For those of you that have been following the Ernst I von Saxon-Altenburg thread….. and interesting thought has arisen….

Would Ernst……. Duke of Sax-Altenburg…… wear the Spike of a Saxon General… or the spike of his home (with a general’s fluted spike)….

I can understand if he was wearing the Regimental uniform of one of his “Chef” units…. But if he was wearing a standard Saxon General’s parade uniform….. what then….

AND

Would he have worn a Saxon General’s uniform to begin with ?? The Altenbug state only had a Regiment sized unit…. And it would not have rated a full Infantry General… So was this a Prussian rank or a Saxon rank ??

AND

He attained this rank before 1870 ????

All thoughts appreciated…..

Cheers
Mark

[joerookery]

Hi,

I’ll add an opinion. I know nothing of Ernst I. All I have is on helmets really prior to WW1 on this issue. I have done a little on Ernst II of Saxe-Altenbug. Chef of IR153. ( Picture at http://www.coljs.com/map/thueringen.htm ) Unfortunately I mailed my reference on this to another collector 2 days ago. There was no Saxe-Altenburg General’s helmet. Larcade volume 1 pg 95 has a line drawing of the plate for Flügeladjutant of Saxe-Altenburg. Stubbs on 80 has a description. The picture of the Saxe-Weimar Flügeladjutant on page 81 has a fluted spike. Unfortunately there is some criticism of Stubbs on the issue of Royal helmets. His pictures of the Duke of Baden helmet are considered wrong by most. There is no picture of the helmet of Ernst II. If appointed as a General in the Saxon army he would / should wear the Saxon helmet. Without the reference I cannot confirm this about Ernst II. Again all this is post Ernst I. But there is a little data here! Good Luck.

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[mravery]

Hey Joe,

Thanks for the reponse.... In my prior discussion....I think the collector that is on the side of a Sax-Altenburg Ducal helm.. is looking at the Larcade series.... but if that was the case.... wouldn't he wear a Prussian General's tunic instead of a Saxon ?

And the plot deepens

Cheers
Mark

[Glenn2438]

Herzog von Sachsen-Altenburg

Mark,

Ernst Herzog von Sachsen-Altenburg was a General der Infanterie in the Saxon Army from 17 October 1871 having previously been promoted to Generalmajor on 24 November 1856 and General-Lieutenant also in 1871.

I would assume he wore a normal Saxon General's uniform when appearing in that capacity.

Regards
Glenn

[joerookery]

Mark,

Glenn is right on (as usual) It depends which role he was in as to the uniform he wore. Uniform would include the helmet not a mix. All sorts of royalty were appointed to different positions. Memory serves me that Ernst II was not even a general. I love it when the plot thickens!