Colonel Franz v. Trenck

Colonel Baron Trenck could enter the hall of famous personalities and generals because he was the hereditary owner of the 53rd Zagreb Infantry Regiment. Despite his military actions, though daring and successful, he still deserved the death penalty, which Maria Theresa changed from a pardon to life imprisonment.

He lived between 1711 and 1749. His estates were mainly in Slavonia, hence the choice to become the owner of the 53. regiment. Trenck was a self-willed, unbridled soldier. First, he participated in the wars against the Turks as a Russian mercenary, and then he joined the War of the Austrian Succession. To help Maria Theresa, he recruited a mixed Croatian and Serbian-speaking crew on his estates at his own expense. They became the “Trenk-panduren”. Although his unit belonged to the Austrian regular army, he often carried out actions arbitrarily, without the knowledge of the high command or against its orders. For example, he robbed the Prussian king’s camp in the Battle of Soor on September 30, 1745, almost taking the king prisoner. This action was the last straw for him, as he did not march into the battle itself despite orders. He was subsequently arrested and imprisoned, where he committed suicide in 1749.

Trenck and his pandurs enjoyed great popularity during his lifetime. After his death, he became a famous figure in Serbian and Croatian folklore. This popularity made him an hereditary regimental owner. Two beautiful letter seals were also made about him and his pandurs. The regimental badge is decorated with the coat of arms of Zagreb.