Blenheim Palace Tapestries

 Have become interested in this subject.  See more here Victory Tapestries of John Churchill

Book here and here

WSS teasers from Strelets-R

 Good quality sculpting I reckon.

Ztracenci (1956)

 Lost Children (Czech: Ztracenci) is a 1956 Czechoslovak historical drama anti-war film directed by Miloš Makovec and based on Jiří Brdečka's adaptation of a short story by Alois Jirásek. The film was screened in the main competition section of the 1957 Cannes Film Festival. Wiki where there is plot etc.

Laroon the Younger

This is one of the very few depictions of a Marlburian soldier. It is by Laroon the younger.  He joined the army in 1707 and was in many theatres.

Marcellus Laroon (1679-1772): Execution of Deserters in Flanders

Ink on paper, 1707, titled and dated at bottom, with label from the Paul Mellon Foundation for British Art, London.

 

Mounted drummer from the front Marcellus Laroon

 Wiki on Laroon (the elder)

Strelets-R box art WSS French artillery

 

They are doing great box art at the moment. See the figures here

Rebel scytheman after Taylor's description (see below)

 Now Munmouth had in his Army 300 Sithers, armd with Sithes, pistols sticking in at their Girdles, and brod sords, in wast belts,63

By Ralph Mitchard. Taylor's account here

Some reference to the scythemen from 

http://static.cambridge.org/content/id/urn:cambridge.org:id:article:S0003581519000143/resource/name/S0003581519000143supp001.pdf

Thus this Rebellion was by the Great Jehovah over throwne and brought to nothing, and here ’twill not be unnecessary to give you a description of the Strang, and Unheard of Wepon, which Mounmouth had in his Army, those Sithes, which were thus: these Sithes were about fower foot Long, and fower inches brod, and one Inch thick at the back, and were place into Strong Stafs about ten feet long, of good supple Ash, about 1½ Inch Diameter, in the Lowerward they were bound with a ferul [ferule] and had a sharp spike, about 9 inches long, in all respects as you see in the figure of these Sithemen here hee had 300 men, which were the Tallest and Lustyest men they could prick out, they were ranged in the front of the Infantry, and Comanded by Count Horn; these Sithers maintaind their Ground Stoutly to the last, against the Kings horse, for indeed these Sithes was a desperat Wepon, loping off at one Stroak, either head, or Arm, and I saw a man layinge among the dead, whose back was clove down, by one struck+of 

now that their orders was to cutt of the bridle arm, thereby the disable th riders, and defend themselfs, the which they to the last stoutely did these Sithes, and a horse whose head at one strock, was almost separated from his body. These Sithes with abundance more of Mounmouth’s other Arms were brought Up to London, and laid up in the Armory of the Tower of London.

Ramillies 1706

 

Today's anniversary. Wiki

Steel Fist ECW 15mms reviewed

 Here

Thanks to Benerson Little for this

Taylor's drawing of a scytheman from two years after Sedgemoor

JOHN TAYLOR’S ACCOUNT OF MONMOUTH’S  REBELLION AND THE BATTLE OF SEDGEMOOR,  6 JULY 1685 edited by John Childs

 John Taylor, a mathematics teacher, enrolled as a gentleman volunteer in the newly-created Queen Consort’s Regiment of Horse on 20 June 1685. Five days later, the unit left London to reinforce the Earl of Feversham’s corps which was operating in Somerset against the Duke of Monmouth’s insurrection. Between 1688 and 1689, Taylor recorded his martial experiences in pp 81–97 of ‘Taylor’s History of His Life and Travels’ (National Library of Jamaica, Kingston, MS 105). This is transcribed below, extensively annotated. Although too late to experience action, Taylor spoke to combatants and visited the Sedgemoor battlefield on 6 or 7 July. This previously unnoticed narrative provides additional detail and some new perspectives on, inter alia, the internal organisation of the rival forces; the identification of Anton Buys; the social activities of royal infantry officers on the night of Sedgemoor; the impact of alcoholic intoxication upon the battle; the tactical roles, equipment, and articulation of Monmouth’s scythemen; and the importance of Tangier veterans.

Here IMPEY Antiquaries Journal vol 99: John Taylor's account of Monmouth's rebellion (cambridge.org)

The Battle of Bitonto by Italian battle painter Giovanni Luigi Rocco. Museo del Ejercito, Toledo.

 

Charles PARROCEL (Paris 1688 - 1752) La bataille de Bitonto à Naples

 In 1734, during the War of Polish Succession, the Spanish army under Charles of Bourbon and the Duke of Montemar defeated the Austrians under Giuseppe Antonio, Prince of Belmonte at the Battle of Bitonto, thus securing possession of the Kingdom of Naples for the Bourbons.

Sack of Magdeburg 1631

 Today's anniversary is this terrible event that goes down as one of the worst atrocities of the Thirty Years War. Wiki

Penicuik drawings

 Blog piece in French but well illustrated on the drawings made of Jacobite rebellion figure

Rocroi 1643

 Today's anniversary. Wiki

The below clip is from Alatriste which is a depiction of the battle.

Danish troops at Lutter 1626

 Thanks to Andrey for this. Lutter 1626

Monmouth Rebel by Mark Vaughan

 Mark has quite a collection of 1685 miniatures mostly from Front Rank. The purple lined red coat is in the line of new research in Steve Carter's book Fighting for Liberty. He quoted in the book 'Mr Hewling, the son of Benjamin Hewling mercht. In Colman Street went from Utrecht on Thursday morning for Amsterdam. It is he who tooke care of the making the purple coats, lined with red, for the souldiers that shall be imployed in the Rebells service.'  

This was of great interest to us Monmouth rebel fans as we thought it was red lined purple. Coats with purple cuffs were made and worn though I believe Monmouth was described as wearing a purple coat during the Rebellion. 

Anyway nice to see the latest research appearing in miniature.

Owen (centre) in a red faced purple coat. We never knew whether red lined purple meant red, lined purple or purple lined red

Strelets-R WSS

 Strelets-r have said on their forum that they are doing another 11 sets for their War of Spanish Succession range. http://www.strelets-r.com

Music from the Thirty Years' War

 William Lawes: The Royal Consort Sett 1 - 0:00 John Dowland: The King of Denmark his Galliard - 6:45 Pierre Phalese: Pavane de la Guerre - 8:30 Pierre Phalese: Gailliarde de la Guerre - 11:33 Josquin Desprez: Adieu mes Amours - 14:09 Pierre Phalese: Pavanne Ferrarese - 16:36 Anonymous: Sonate et Suite "a due" - 18:14 Heinrich Scheidemann: English Mascarata in G - 27:30 Captain Tobias Hume: The Pashion of Musicke - 32:35 Anthoine Boesset: Ballet des vaillans combattans - 35:35 Anthoine Boesset: Entrée des Fantasques - 37:05 John Jenkins: Courant 17 - 39:15 Dietrich Becker: Sonata 25 - 41:20 William Lawes: The Royal Consort Sett 2 - 49:10 Paul Peuerl: Newe Padouan Suite I - 1:01:32 Paul Peuerl: Newe Padouan Suite V - 1:05:24 Paul Peuerl: Newe Padouan Suite X - 1:11:32 Michael Praetorius: Courante - 1:16:04

Painting by Carl Friedrich Lessing: The Siege (Defense of a Church Courtyard During the Thirty Years War)

The Anglo-Spanish war 1655-1660 by Paul Sutton Volume 1: The War in the West Indies

This is a fascinating read that should be of interest to anyone interested in the Parliamentary forces of the British Civil Wars and their deployment on the international stage. 

The first part deals with the diplomacy and foreign policy decisions that led to the largest force to date to leave the English shores. The next chapter deals with the various mostly infantry regiments in the army.  Under Robert Venables and manned by Civil War veterans the first target was Hispaniola. Primary sources are used throughout to really explore the campaigns from all sides. The next  chapter deals with the Navy. The rest of the book is taken up with the events as they unfolded with letters and testaments to add depth and colour. Barbados was the stepping stone for the attack on Spanish territories. The disasters that follow are explored in depth. Venables in his over-confidence botched the attack on Hispaniola which is examined from all aspects. The next stage was an attack on Jamaica which was seen as a softer target. Of course the army fell victim to the illness and attrition associated with the West Indies at this time.  On Jamaica the attackers were duped by the Spaniards during the capitulation negotiations which left them vulnerable and starving 5,000 miles from home. Death and disease descended on the force. Venables abandoned the remnants of his army and returned to England to face the music. A really interesting read which will leave you looking forward to Volume 2.

Fontenoy 1745

 Today's anniversary. The famous French victory. Here

Picture by David Morier. 43rd, 44th and 45th foot 1751

1/72 WSS British Dragoons

 See more here at Strelets-r.

Forthcoming Irish Brigade title

 Artwork from Giorgio Albertini for Pierre-Louis Coudray's forthcoming title on the Irish Brigade. Depicted are soldiers of the regiments Fitzjames, Bulkeley, Clare, Dillon, Berwick, and Rooth during the era of the Seven Years War. The book is still a few months away from release, but you can register interest via the Helion and Company Publishing website: https://www.helion.co.uk/.../more-furies-than-men-the...