Od Like do Šleske: vojni pothvati Gideona Ernsta baruna Laudona i krajišnika

Gotovo neprestano ratovanje koje se na europskom tlu odvijalo tijekom 18. stoljeća pružalo je brojne mogućnosti mladim i ambicioznim časnicima koji su svoje vojne usluge stavljali na raspolaganje raznim europskim vladarima. Kao izvrstan primjer toga trenda može poslužiti slučaj Gideona Ernsta baruna Laudona (1717. – 1790.), časnika koji je vojnu karijeru započeo u Ruskom Carstvu, a potom prešao u službu habsburških vladara, gdje je ostvario nebrojene uspjehe na bojnom polju i dosegnuo sam vrh vojne hijerarhije. Laudon se pridružio habsburškim vojnim snagama u vrijeme Rata za austrijsku baštinu (1740. – 1748.) kao član Trenckova Pandurskoga dobrovoljačkog zbora, prilikom čega se bolje upoznao s vojnim umijećem „maloga rata”. Stečeno iskustvo proširio je nakon završetka toga sukoba kad mu je dodijeljen časnički položaj u Vojnoj krajini. Koristeći se vojnim umijećem i ratnim vještinama krajišnika, Laudon je ostvario znatne uspjehe u prvim godinama Sedmogodišnjega rata (1756. – 1763.), čime je započeo njegov nagli uspon unutar habsburške vojne hijerarhije. U ovome radu razmatra se uloga krajišnika u Laudonovim vojnim pothvatima u spomenutom ratnom sukobu s ciljem utvrđivanja značenja te specifične skupine vojnika za Laudonov uspjeh na bojnom polju, kao i njihove važnosti u sklopu oružanih snaga Habsburške Monarhije.
Constant warfare throughout the eighteenth century offered plentiful opportunities for young and aspiring officers to advance their military and social positions by performing military services for powerful European rulers. An example of this trend can be provided by the case of Gideon Ernst, Baron von Laudon (1717 – 1790), who achieved remarkable success in Habsburg service during the Seven Years’ War (1756 – 1763). Laudon began his military career in the service of the Romanovs, but during the War of the Austrian Succession (1740 – 1748) he joined the Habsburg armed forces eager to achieve further military experience and glory. He acquired skill and knowledge of small war tactics during his service in Trenck’s Pandour Free Corps. After the war ended, he was awarded a position in the far south of the Habsburg Monarchy, in the Croatian Military Frontier, where he accustomed himself to the military skills of the Grenzer. Upon the outbreak of the Seven Year’s War Laudon led a Grenzer corps to Bohemia where the Habsburg forces were trying to prevent the advance of the Prussians. The events which followed marked the start of Laudon’s rapid ascension within the military hierarchy. Throughout the years he continued to achieve fame and renown by performing numerous military endeavours which inflicted serious damage on the Prussian supply lines making a significant impact on the course of the war in favour of the Habsburg side. Laudon and the Grenzer also participated in major battles, such as Hochkirch and Kunersdorf, as well as assaults on strongholds such as Landeshut and Schweidnitz. The utilization of the unique fighting skills of the Grenzer and small war tactics proved an important factor in Laudon’s rise within the military circles of the Habsburg Monarchy.