Tuesday, 3 February 2026

Musketeers

Thanks to Michal Paradowski for identifying this. He says 'This is The Disbanding of the 'Waardgelders' (Mercenaries in the Pay of the Town Government) by Prince Maurits on the Neude, Utrecht, 31 July 1618, painted by Pauwels van Hillegaert in 1627'. The full painting The Disbanding of the ‘Waardgelders’ by Prince Maurits - Rijksmuseum


Troop of Shew

 This article is from a reeenactment mag from 1999 called Revival. Anyone remember this group?


Fraustadt 320th

 



This weekend, Swedish Lif:Compagniet, together with other Carolinian friend associations, goes to Wschowa (Fraustadt) to note that it is 320 years since the battle was fought.

There will be, among other things, a show of the battle together with our Polish friends in Garnison Gda Sjsk, as well as a guided tour on the battlefield by Oskar Sjöström, author of the book Fraustadt 1706: A Field Colored Red.
The battlefield at Fraustadt is largely intact, which gives strong impressions and awakens many thoughts once you are in place.


Fraustadt 1706

 

Engraving made by Johann Christian Marchand

Today's anniversary. Battle of Fraustadt - Wikipedia

The Battle of Fraustadt was fought on 2 February 1706 (O.S.) / 3 February 1706 (Swedish calendar) / 13 February 1706 (N.S.) between Sweden and Saxony-Poland and their Russian allies near Fraustadt (now Wschowa) in Poland. During the Battle of Fraustadt on February 3, August II was only 120 km away, with a cavalry force about 8,000 men strong. According to Cathal Nolan that caused Swedish General Rehnskiöld to rush to engage Schulenburg. The Swedes were outnumbered by more than two to one by Saxons, mercenaries, and Russians. Ignoring the odds, Rehnsköld attacked the enemy's well-entrenched position. He sent cavalry to drive off defending Saxon horse on either wing and complete a classic double envelopment. The manoeuvre meant they could attack from behind into the center rear of the enemy's main line. The result was 8,000 Russian deaths and 5,000 Saxons and German mercenaries taken prisoner. The battle is a textbook example of a perfect pincer movement and was one of Sweden's key victories in the Great Northern War.[8]

In Poland this weekend

 


The Victory of Fleurus, a painting by Vicente Carducho, originally displayed in the Salón de Reinos, Madrid

 Battle of Fleurus (1622) - Wikipedia



Monday, 2 February 2026

Charles I Van Dyck

 For all Royalists celebrating 400 years since the coronation. Image is from 1635-6
By Anthony van Dyck - National Gallery, London - online catalogue., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=150574