Philips Norton 1685

Steve Carter's excellent Monmouth page takes us to my local battle Philips Norton. Find out more here.

Dettingen 1743 Royal Welch Fusilier

This is excellent. Richard Marren of the 23rd Royal Welch fusiliers Napoleonic did this impression of the RWF at Dettingen  photography by Skipping Red Panda.

As the RWF says 'The battle was significant for the 23rd. Colonel Newsham Peers led the Royal Welch Fusiliers into the battle, though was wounded during the first attack and died later. Peers was the last Colonel of the regiment to be in command during battle.'

G.F. Handel The Dettingen Te Deum & The Dettingen Anthem, Simon Preston

Today is the anniversary of Dettingen 1743 so I thought a little music might be in order. 

Charles de Batz de Castelmore d'Artagnan

Yesterday in 1673 the historical D'Artagnan died at the Siege of Maastricht. From the wiki. 
Charles Ogier de Batz de Castelmore, Comte d'Artagnan (French pronunciation: ​[ʃaʁl oʒje də bats də kastɛlmɔʁ kɔ̃t daʁtaɲɑ̃]) (c. 1611 – 25 June 1673) served Louis XIV as captain of the Musketeers of the Guard and died at the Siege of Maastricht in the Franco-Dutch War. A fictionalized account of his life by Gatien de Courtilz de Sandras formed the basis for the d'Artagnan Romances of Alexandre Dumas, most famously including The Three Musketeers (1844). The heavily fictionalized version of d'Artagnan featured in Dumas's works and their subsequent screen adaptations is now far more widely known than the real historical figure.

Mousquetaires au prise de Gand (1678). Fragment

Louis XIV et le siège de Maastricht en 1673

Haven't really written much about the siege of Maastricht. The pic at the top of this page is Monmouth there. Wiki on the siege

Keynsham Bridge 25 June 1685

I don't know whether any of you have been following Steve Carters webpage about the Monmouth Rebellion it's very good. Keynsham Bridge today

ECW Newbury 2018

Here. By: barryjameswilson

Siege of Pilsen 1618

So I was wondering when would be the first action of the Thirty Years War we could celebrate the 400th anniversary for. Came up with this siege part of the Bohemian phase.  Decided to do an event on 19 September when the siege begins on my @pikeandshot facebook page 'Raise a glass to Pilsen'. A good excuse to drink beer.

Bohemian Miniatures

A range for those of you interested in the Bohemian phase of the Thirty Years War then these troops would be worth looking at. From the Czech Republic. 

Avanpost TYW Cuirassiers

My favourite TYW figs are in resin from Russia, Here's their new releases. Facebook page

The Battle of the White Mountain and the Bohemian Revolt, 1618-1622 Laurence Spring

This is a really superb book. Could have done with it a few years ago when I was wargaming the TYW in 15mm when all you could get was general histories in English - serious studies were all in Czech. Now we have this taken from both sides a well researched and illustrated book. Book starts off with a detailed analysis of the two armies and then takes the reader from the Defenestration in 1618 to the campaigns of 1619-1620. Illustrations of the troops involved are by the talented Bruno Mugnai and the flags by Mark Allen. Participants of White Mountain came from all over Europe, Spain, England, Hungary, Poland - troops were drawn from all over including Hopton and Waller who would be enemies in the Civil War.  So with the 400th anniversary of this battle approaching this is a very useful resource. I may even try again to wargame it. 

June 15 - Monmouth's troops at Axminster

Skirmish on Warwalks

Memmingen Cuirrassier Wallenstein fest.

I know my Pappenheimers

War Walks: Battle of Bridport 14 June 1685

June 14, 1685 #otd Monmouth's forces fought their first battle with the Royal Militia at Bridport in Dorset. His foot accounted for themselves very well, although his Horse need more stomach and training. Col. Venner was wounded in the fight

Read an account of this first Battle here:

Naseby Day

Cromwell at Naseby by Charles Landseer

Today is the anniversary of this decisive battle. 

Warwalks - Monmouth Rebellion history

This is an impressive webpage of history from Steve Carter. It is still being updated but it has plenty to read for the Monmouth fans among you. Recommended. It focusses on William Savage and his view on the Rebellion.

Charles Landseer - The Eve of the Battle of Edge Hill, 1642

Not a huge fan of Victorian paintings but this one is good

Stow-on-the-Wold

Just in case you don't don't know what Stow-on-the-Wold is like, Tourist destination now. 

The Last Army: The Battle of Stow-on-the-Wold and the end of the Civil War in the Welsh Marches 1646 (Century of the Soldier) Paperback – 15 May 2018 by John Barratt

I have had my nose in this one for the last few days. I like reading Civil War campaigns especially when you have a slight knowledge of the geography of the area. There is also the appeal of the lost cause and John Barratt is a historian well versed in the history of the Cavalier cause.  Stubborn and loyal Jacob Astley and his small army and the last campaign of the First Civil War are the focus of this book showing the background to the battle of Stow-on-the-Wold. Bruno Mugnai the talented 17thc specialist has provided some colour plates that are of great interest and there are flag reconstructions by Dr Lesley Prince and some line drawings by Alan Turton.  A fine addition to anyone's Civil War collection with a talented array contributing. Ideal if you want to revisit some of the scenes described too.

Jacob Astley, 1st Baron Astley of Reading (1579 – February 1652) 

Palamedes Palamedesz (1607-38)

Dutch Golden Age painter. Wiki

Dixon Grand Alliance 25mm

On the 17th century wargames Facebook page we were enthusing about these vintage but still good figures for the Monmouth Rebellion and the 1690s. They were produced about 1988 sculpted by Mark Copplestone and were quite a revelation for us late 17thc fans. Here's a blog review from I live with cats and one of painted Sedgemoor troops from Ray on his Don't throw a One blog
Buy the range here

Newbury anniversary Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 June 11am – 5pm

Experience the thrill of cavalry in action, musket and artillery fire, and the clash of pikes at a re-enactment of the First Battle of Newbury with the English Civil War Society.

Infantry, cavalry and artillery displays will take place each morning prior to the main battle in the afternoons.  There will also be Living History displays showing active demonstrations of seventeenth century crafts and activities, as well as Parliament’s artillery battery.

For more information please visit
http://www.ecws.org.uk/newbury-23rd-24th-june-2018

Advance tickets (£5 adults, £10 for a family of 2 adults and 2 children) are available from Budgens, West Berks Museum, Newbury Building Society and Tesco (Pinchington Lane).

Admission £6 Adults, £2 for children (age 5-15) or £14 Family on the day.

Before the battle, a ceremony will be held on 2 June 2018 at the junction of the Andover Road with Essex St, at the memorial to the 2nd Viscount Falkland, who was killed in the First Battle of Newbury. The Mayor of Newbury will lay a wreath at the ceremony, which is by kind permission of Newbury Town Council. Guards of Honour will provide a salute.

Der Hohenfriedberger

FROM THE WIKI
Hohenfriedberger Marsch", is one of the most classic and well known German military marches. It takes its name from the victory of the Prussians over the allied Austrians and Saxons on June 4, 1745 during the Second Silesian War at the Battle of Hohenfriedberg, near Striegau.
There are many legends surrounding the origins of the march. Supposedly, the Bayreuther dragoon regiment, which was crucial in securing a Prussian victory, reported to its quarters the day after the battle while the march was played. Whether the march was actually played then is just as questionable as the claim that Frederick II of Prussia was the composer of the piece. (The melody appears to be largely derived from The Pappenheimer March, which dates from the early-17th century.) It is understood that the king issued to the Bayreuther dragoon regiment a "Gnadenbrief", or letter of grace, that authorized it to play both grenadier marches of the foot soldiers (with flutes and drums) and the cuirassier marches of the cavalry (with kettledrums and trumpet fanfare).

11th June Monmouth lands at Lyme

It's a good time to buy my booklet The Days Of King Monmouth which charts the activity in Somerset in that fateful summer.