Hesse Darmstadt: 1st & 2nd Erbprinz - GMB flags questions.

[olicana]

Hesse Darmstadt flags for Erbprinz: There are no pics of these flags on the GMB site but, there are two sheets, one for the first and one for the second battalions, and these are the catalogue links:

https://gmbdesigns.com/product/erbprinz-regiment-1st-battalion-hesse-darmstat-1806-1814/

https://gmbdesigns.com/product/erbprinz-regiment-2nd-battalion-hesse-darmstadt-1806-1814/

Please, can someone tell me the answer to these questions. Note, that I presume each sheet has a liebfahne (colonel's colour?) and a Kompaniefahnen (regimental colour?).

Is there a visible difference between the two flag sheets?
Did Hesse Darmstadt battalions each carry two flags in battle?
Can 1st battalion carry the liebfahn and 2nd battalion the Kompaniefahnen?

I'm not penny pinching, I just don't want flags I can't use. I'd like to have both liebfahn and Kompaniefahnen with my two battalion regiment, for aesthetic reasons, but if both only carried one flag and the sheets are interchangeable......

Thanks in advance,

James

Also, if any one knows, was it similar for 4th Baden. (memory? severd at Talavera 1809).

[Jemima Fawr]

The Hessians initially carried four flags per regiment (two flags each to the 1st & 2nd battalions).  The Leib and Erbprinz Regiments were very much along Prussian lines - one Leibfahne (with a white field) and three Ordinarfahnen (black field).  Corners were coloured by regiment.  The 1st Battalion would carry one of each type and the 2nd Battalion would carry two Ordinarfahnen.  However, the Leibgarde had four identical (white) flags, one of which was designated as the Leibfahne, but was identical to the three Ordinarfahnen.

The Leib Regt lost one Ordinarfahne at Wagram and the Erbprinz Regt lost the Leibfahne and an Ordinarfahne at Badajoz.  These were not replaced.

After 1812 the flags of Leibgarde and Leib Regts were reduced to one flag per battalion - Leibfahne for the 1st Battalion and Ordinarfahne for the 2nd Battalion.  The Erbprinz Regt had been disbanded.

Baden initially followed the same pattern of 1x Leibfahne and 3x Ordinarfahnen, but in 1808 the Leinfahnen were apparently withdrawn and they then presumably carried one Ordinarfahne per battalion.