In 1813 the defeated and intimidated king, forced into a coalition with France since 1812, against the will of his people refused the risky attempt to shake off the French supremacy in the wake of Napoleon's defeats in Russia. Ludwig Yorck, commanding the Prussian units supporting the French, had declared their neutrality towards the Russians without royal accord. In early 1813 irregular units, guerrillas lacking royal sanction, began to form, swearing their allegiance to the German Fatherland rather than to the king. On 7 February 1813 the East Prussian estates unanimously voted for financing, recruiting, and equipping a militia army ("Landwehr") of 20,000 men, plus 10,000 in reserve, out of their funds, following a proposal designed by Yorck, Clausewitz, and Stein. The hesitant king could not stop this anymore, but was forced to enact it on March 17 in his address entitled "An mein Volk" ("To My People").