Apparently these are appearing at some dealers. Good news if its true. Hobby Bunker has them.
Wednesday, 27 October 2021
The Perfect Militia
Just started reading this. So far so good. Deals with the Trained bands of the first half of the 17th century. Read about it here
Tuesday, 26 October 2021
War and soldiers in the early reign of Louis XIV - Volume 4 the Armies of Spain
By Bruno Mugnai
The latest volume in what is a remarkable series. These works have acquired a following among military historians and wargamers who have been eagerly waiting for this instalment. I don't think they will be disappointed - it's a great book possibly the best so far in a high quality series. Mr Mugnai manages to explore areas where other historians have not trod before. The Hispanic troops are depicted in brilliant style by Mugnai who is also the artist of this set of books. Spain had its own way of doing things and that's what makes this book interesting. A long held view is that Spain was in decline at this time in history but Mugnai overturns this superficial analysis by showing the whole picture. So a much-needed book that will please all those patiently waiting for this volume. I can see that a Spanish war games army has now a possibility with all the detailed information contained in this fine book.
Saturday, 23 October 2021
Friday, 22 October 2021
"Poltava". Russian 54-Gun Battleship of 1712. St Petersburg, Russia
Our Russian reenactor friends get to play on this beauty. To see more and hear the fifes and drums go to their Facebook page
"Poltava" was a 54-gun ship of the line of the Russian Navy that was launched on 15th of June, 1712 from Saint Petersburg. The ship was named after an important for Russia victory over the Swedish Empire in the Battle of Poltava and became the first battleship laid down and built at the St. Petersburg Admiralty. In the 1710s, the ship was sometimes visited and commanded by Peter I, who also took active part in the design and construction of the ship. During her service of 1712–1732, Poltava was part of the Baltic Fleet, and before the end of Great Northern War participated in six marine campaigns (1713–1717 and 1721). Poltava was decommissioned in 1732. In June, 2013, the group of shipbuilding enthusiasts with support of "GazProm", a large Russian company founded in 1989, which carries on the business of extraction, production, transport, and sale of natural gas, began the construction of the exact copy of "Poltava" according to it's original project.
300th anniversary
According to Wikipedia today's anniversary.
1721 – Russian Empire is proclaimed by Tsar Peter I after the Swedish defeat in the Great Northern War.
To clarify author Boris Megorsky said this:
Strictly speaking, it was not proclaiming the country an empire but rather Senate offered to the Tsar Peter a title of Emperor of all Russia and Father of Fatherland (Pater Patriae).
Thursday, 21 October 2021
Nördlingen 1634
Out today folks
THE BATTLE OF NÖRDLINGEN 1634
The Bloody Fight Between Tercios and Brigades
In 1634 the Thirty Years' War had taken a spectacular turn. The great protagonists of 1630, King Gustav II Adolf of Sweden and Generals Tilly and Wallenstein were dead.
The Swedish army was disoriented without the presence of its charismatic king. Chancellor Oxenstierna was to preserve his legacy, so the Heilbronn League was formed by various Protestant states in western and northern Germany, with the French providing financial support.
With the League, the Swedish and Protestant Germans were able to launch various offensives throughout Germany, almost leading to the collapse of the Imperial forces, which were reorganising after the tremors caused by the murder of Wallenstein. Ferdinand, King of Hungary and heir to the Holy Roman Empire assumed command of the armies in the West and thus enhance his leadership.
Cardinal-Infante Fernando had been appointed governor of Flanders. The sea voyage from Spain to Flanders was hazardous, threatened by storms, the English, the French, and the Dutch. It was much safer to travel from Italy and journey more than 1,000 kilometres along the so-called Spanish Road. But this route, which partly followed the course of the River Rhine, was now on the front lines of the Thirty Years' War. Prince Fernando could not travel alone, so an army of 10,000 soldiers was formed to escort him to Flanders and fight against the army of the United Provinces.
Ferdinand asked the Cardinal-Infante to help him capture a small town, called Nördlingen, and together they could fight the Swedish-German army, commanded by Generals Gustav Horn and Bernard of Saxe-Weimar.
This book explains the general situation in Germany during the Thirty Years' War in the period 1633-1634. It describes in detail the tactics, armament and units of the Spanish, Swedish and Imperial armies. It analyses the conflicting interests of the various powers fighting the war.
The objective of the text is to explain the battle that took place on the plain of Nördlingen, the various protagonists who commanded the Tercios and Regiments that fought there, and to analyse the mistakes and successes of the generals. As part of this assessment, the stereotypes about the Spanish and Swedish tactical models are reviewed, which for a long time were the paradigm of tactics in European warfare. In this way the books seeks to answer the question, who had the superior organisation, deployment and tactics? The Swedish Brigade or the Spanish Tercio?
click on the link to find out more
Wednesday, 20 October 2021
Friday, 15 October 2021
Sedgemoor design
Artist and friend Sean O'Brogain just found this. It's an early cover idea for my Days of King Monmouth booklet. Looks good doesn't it?
Thursday, 14 October 2021
Coming soon from Helion
They say ''Final cover just signed off, ready for this to go to print tomorrow. Should be out by the end of the month, and you can register interest via the Helion and Company Publishing website: https://www.helion.co.uk/military-history-books/hastenbeck-1757-the-french-army-and-the-opening-campaign-of-the-seven-years-war.php''
Tuesday, 12 October 2021
WSS French infantry by Ralph Mitchard
Found this old drawing by me from about 20 years ago depicting the early and later uniforms of the WSS French infantry. At the time I was trying to get a French group going for the 300th anniversary events.
Monday, 11 October 2021
Sunday, 10 October 2021
Saturday, 9 October 2021
Tuesday, 5 October 2021
Littlecote badge
Berkshire. Used to be quite the attraction. They had a steam railway, wild West town (I used to know someone who worked there as a cowboy) shops and all sorts of places including a pub. Had some of the first Living histories in the UK. Did quite a few reenactments there about 4 different periods. I think it's a hotel now.
