This is the first of the eight battalions of the First Grenadier Division.

The 1809 Austrian Grenadier Battalion Puteani was an elite infantry unit that served as a shock troop reserve in the Habsburg army during the War of the Fifth Coalition against Napoleonic France. Named after its commander, Major Puteani, the battalion was temporarily formed for this campaign.

The Austrian army often combined the grenadier companies—its elite troops—from different regiments to create strong battalions. The Puteani Battalion was made up of the grenadier companies from three regiments: Infantry Regiment (IR) No. 14, IR No. 45, and IR No. 59.

The Puteani Grenadier Battalion, part of the elite reserve, saw significant action during the campaign, showcasing both its valor and strategic importance. At the conflict’s start, it was placed in Major General Konstantin d’Aspré’s grenadier brigade within the II Reserve Armeekorps, which was skillfully led by the experienced Feldmarschall-Leutnant Michael von Kienmayer.

The battalion was actively involved in the early fighting along the banks of the Danube, where its disciplined troops displayed remarkable resilience and tactical acumen. They fought valiantly in the pivotal Battle of Abensberg on April 20, 1809, facing tough adversaries in fierce combat, and later, during the arduous and challenging circumstances of the Austrian retreat, the battalion played a crucial role as rearguard.

This was particularly notable at the Battle of Landshut on April 21, where the Grenadier Battalion worked tenaciously to cover the withdrawal of the main forces, ensuring their safe passage through hostile territory while enduring heavy enemy pressure.

The Puteani Grenadier Battalion played a key role in the important battles near Vienna. During the Battle of Aspern-Essling (May 21–22, 1809), it was part of the general grenadier reserve, ready to be used at critical moments.

It was ultimately deployed in the two-day Battle of Wagram (July 5–6, 1809), serving in d’Aspré’s Grenadier Division under General der Kavallerie Prince Johann Liechtenstein. As the army’s final reserve, the grenadiers often carried out counter-attacks or defended against intense French assaults, gaining a reputation for bravery among Austria’s elite forces.

After Major Puteani, the battalion was led by Major Jambline and is sometimes called the Puteani/Jambline Grenadier Battalion.