Happy Halloween

Khurasan.miniatures 18mm War of Spanish Succession

Marlburian cavalry

These look really great. Photos below are of their Garde Francaise
https://www.facebook.com/khurasanminiatures/
The webpage has colour photos of all models. It's a USA based company but these models look exceptional.
http://khurasanminiatures.tripod.com/marlburian.html

Philibert-Benoît de La Rue

Andrey found this, It's from around 1757. Infantry on the march,  Wiki on the artist. 

Time to plug my Monmouth book

Ebay link here
This is a 40-odd page account of the Rebellion in 1685, 

Second battle of Newbury

Victorian depiction of a harquebusier

Today's anniversary is this Civil War battle.

Edgehill 1642

Today's anniversary. Wiki here

Hungarian hussars 1734

L'armée, l'Autriche, la cavalerie, les hussards hongrois de l'armée du Rhin, 1734, Franz Philipp von Gudenus  Thanks Andrey

Life in Berlin 1736 Prussian Guard Hussars - first known picture of Zieten

Thanks to Andrey for this. Artist Unknown.

Francis II Rákóczi

Wiki

Rákóczi's War of Independence 1703-11

From the film Rákóczi Hadnagya, 1953 full movie here Rákóczi's War of Independence (1703–11) was the first significant attempt to topple the rule of the Habsburgs over Hungary. The war was fought by a group of noblemen, wealthy and high-ranking progressives and was led by Francis II Rákóczi. The insurrection was unsuccessful, closed by Treaty of Szatmár, however the Hungarian nobility managed to partially satisfy Hungarian interests.

Historical background

From Solebay to the Texel The Third Anglo-Dutch War, 1672-1674 Quintin Barry

This is a well written and well illustrated study of the Naval wars between Holland and England during the Commonwealth and in Charles II's reign. France was allied to England most of the time. It's a fascinating period full of intrigue and action the main character of this epic is the Dutch Admiral De Ruyter. Other main characters are William III, Prince Rupert, James, Duke of York and Robert Blake. This period was new to me in the Naval sense - I have read books on the land campaigns but  I kept thinking what a great book it was and how it would make a stirring wargames campaign. 

Avanpost 30 years war command.

Excellent 28mms. Find Avanpost on Facebook to acquire.

Hochkirch 1758 260th

This Sunday sees the anniversary of this battle. Alex Burns on his excellent blog visits the Battlesite

Der Überfall bei Hochkirch am 14. Oktober 1758  Hyacinthe de la Pegna

Technolog 1/32 Peter the Great infantry

These Russian figures look fun. Found them on ebay - not too expensive. Thanks to Michael Ulyanov.

Michaela Wecker's photos from Terezin 2018

Excellent photos of this event in the Czech Republic for the Seven Years War. Michaela Wecker Photography's Facebook page

The Mary Bridge Sword - a rare Sedgemoor era weapon

Text from here

'Finally, no account of Westonzoyland is complete without mention being made of a very courageous 12-year-old villager by the name of Mary Bridge. At the time of the Pitchfork Rebellion a number of the King's Officers were billeted on the home of the Bridge family and one of them attempted to force his attentions on the lady of the house.

Ran Him Through

Mary Bridge happened upon the scene and, seeing her mother was being attacked, she drew the Officer's sword and fatally ran him through with the weapon. Mary was subsequently arrested and taken to Taunton to face a trial by Court Martial presided over by the dreaded Colonel Percy Kirke, a notoriously cruel man even by the standards of those desperate times.

Colonel Kirke heard the evidence and was so impressed with the girl's spirit that he pardoned her and presented the Bridge family with the sword, now to be seen in Taunton Museum.

The Golden Cavalier at Lydiard Park

Monument commemorating Edward St John killed at Newbury. Apparently was originally painted in natural colours but was made gold later.