In 1685, the Oxford Blues, part of the Royal Regiment of Horse Guards, played a significant role iin the Monmouth Rebellion. They were involved in the battle of Sedgemoor, where they helped
Sunday, 30 November 2025
Oxford Blues 1685 Ralph Mitchard
In 1685, the Oxford Blues, part of the Royal Regiment of Horse Guards, played a significant role iin the Monmouth Rebellion. They were involved in the battle of Sedgemoor, where they helped
Strawhead - Farewell Musket, Pike & Drum (Full Album)
Derek was saying this had a beer tent vibe. Before my time but posted for those of you who like this.
A1. Malts Come Down
A2. Flodden Field A3. Watkin's Ale A4. Cawsand Bay A5. Admiral Benbow A6. When The King Enjoys His Own Again B1. The Witches' Song B2. The Bonny Bunch Of Roes B3. Grand Conversation On Napoleon B4. Corpus Christi B5. Madcaps Of England (Tradition Records) 1977Death of Charles XII
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| Charles XII of Sweden's uniform, the one he wore when he died at Fredriksten. On display at Livrustkammaren in Stockholm. |
Occurred today. Siege of Fredriksten - Wikipedia
The evening of 11 December (Swedish calendar: 30 November 1718, a projectile (probably a large musket ball or grapeshot) struck Charles XII through the left temple while he inspected the trench-works and killed him.
Coldstream Guard Grenadier 'Draw Your Dagger' -
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| by Ralph Mitchard |
A grenadier of the Coldstream Guards from the late 1670s. Plug bayonet's were initially like this.
Saturday, 29 November 2025
Manchester Regiment 1745
Today in 45 Charles Edward and his army entered Manchester and the Manchester Regiment was formed.
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| photo from the Lace Wars page where there is a good article |
Friday, 28 November 2025
Viborgs Läns Regt by Johan Gardin
Pinterest for more Carolean pics.
Viborg province Regt, hautboist 1701. The hautbois, or oboe, successor to the shawm, was said to be 'an outdoors instrument' with a sound resembling bagpipes which may help explain its military appeal.
Drawing to AI Ralph Mitchard
Inspired by Franc's work I had another bash at AI.
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| Kirke's Lamb 1685 |
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| Prussia 1700 |
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| WSS French |
Thursday, 27 November 2025
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Wednesday, 26 November 2025
Cádiz expedition (1625)
Tuesday, 25 November 2025
Monday, 24 November 2025
"Wahre Bildnuß der Statt Creutzenach wie dieselbe von J: M: zu Schweden eingenohmen worden. 1631.".
Kupferstich von Matthäus Merian. Aus: Theatrum Europaeum
_-_The_Marquis_of_Granby_giving_Alms_to_a_sick_Soldier_and_his_Family_-_WA1845.39_-_Ashmolean_Museum.jpg)
Prime and Load! Podcasts - Minden
New Podcast Episode on the Battle of Minden!For a deeper dive, check out his book Like a Brazen Wall: The Battle of Minden 1759 and its Place in the Seven Years’ War:
MAGELLAN - Official Trailer
At the dawn of the modern era, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan (Gael García Bernal) navigated a fleet of ships to Southeast Asia, attempting the first voyage across the vast Pacific Ocean. On reaching the Malay Archipelago, the crew pushed to the brink of madness in the harshness of the high seas and overwhelming natural beauty of the islands, Magellan's obsession leads to a rebellion and reckoning with the consequences of power. A vast, globe-spanning epic from Filipino filmmaker Lav Diaz (NORTE, THE END OF HISTORY), MAGELLAN presents the colonization of the Philippines as a primal, shocking encounter with the unknown and a radical retelling of European narratives of discovery and exploration.
Opening in theaters in NY & LA January 9 A film by Lav DiazSunday, 23 November 2025
Confederate Irish and Scots, Wars of the Three Kingdoms (ECW/Mid-17th Century Period)
Thanks for the suggestions. Good old Khurasan.
Perhaps somewhat less well-known (other than for the seconding of some of their troops to Scotland), the Confederate Irish, sometimes with "Redshanks" mercenaries, fought to establish independence in Ireland during the period of the English Civil War, which eventually placed them in the odd position of being Royalists. The Irish Catholic Confederacy begins with the Rebellion of 1641 and ends ten years later with the final defeat of an Irish field army, at the Battle of Knocknaclashy.
Many Irishmen had fought in the Spanish tercios in the interminable wars in the Netherlands and had some military experience, but modern weapons were sometimes in short supply, and as such some Irish armies contained many troops fighting in traditional fashion, with the javelin.
The Confederate Irish were always weak in cavalry compared to their foes, and this, along with often very poor high level leadership, was the cause of their general lack of success on the battlefield. However, when competently led, and when the enemy superiority in horse could be neutralized, the Irish, good solid infantry, were much more successful, as demonstrated by their great victory at Benburb under the command of Eoghan Ruadh O Neill (Owen Roe O'Neill).
Again, the armies of the Covenant and Montrose need no recommendation! The Confederate Irish army is particularly interesting because, whilst still containing a hard core of relatively modern infantry, it can also field large numbers of fierce Redshanks (Highlander equivalents) and native Irish fighting in traditional Irish fashion, a very interesting twist on the typical musket and pike arrays of the period.
Sculpted by "clibinarium."
Famous by My Sword The Army of Montrose and the Military Revolution Charles Singleton
Famous by My Sword | Century of the Soldier 1618-1721 | Helion & Company
A brilliant young poet, leading a gallant band whose epic adventure ends in defeat, betrayal and execution. Montrose was a doomed King's general who dared to win - and lost it all. The Scottish Royalist armed forces, along with its principal leader, the Marquis of Montrose, have had a romantic veneer that has long obscured their true composition and function. In this work, the author examines the troops and their operational doctrines within the themes of the early modern Military Revolution, and places the Scots Royalists within a greater European context of development. The book is enlivened by specially-commissioned colour uniform plates based on the latest research, showing how Montrose's troops really appeared on the battlefield.
“ … Singleton has … dismissed a misleading romanticism associated with the conflict in Scotland and introduced a rational study of the army of Montrose, backed by clearly presented evidence.” Battlefield: the Magazine of the Battlefields Trust
“ … the arguments are interesting, clear and well-presented … this is a very thoughtful and thought-provoking study, offering much, much more than the all-too-common romanticized and mythologized portrait.” Cromwelliana
'A Highlander’,
`A Highlander’, from the album of Hieronymus Tielsch, c. 1603-1616, Huntington Library MSS: HM 25863, f. 28r. Image by Lauren Working.
James Graham, the first Marquis of Montrose
Thanks to Stephen Tindle. From Military Illustraated Past and Present
17th century Highlander miniatures
Anyone know of anyone who does them? I have found Lowland but not Highland.
EXHIBITION "SOLDIERS OF COUNT JOSIP KAZIMIR DRASKOVIC"
In the newly renovated Dvora Trakošćan Gallery, we solemnly opened an exhibition that, for the first time, represents an exceptional military, artistic and family legacy of one of the most important members of the Drašković family.
The special charm of the ceremony was given by the first snow this year, which gave Trakošćan a real winter atmosphere and members of Varaždin husars, Slunj Krajika Infantry Regiment and the Line Infantry Regiment of Esterházy. 
Visitors until 31st. On march next year for the first time I can view 49 portraits of officers of the Drašković regiment, 11 painted wallpapers with depictions of military units, Small genealogy, and valuable objects from 18. of the century. The exposed buildings come from the collections of Trakošćans and partners from Croatia and abroad.
Foto: Studio Twenty2
17th century Highlander by Graham Webb
I have been looking around the web for reconstructions of 17th c. Highlanders as we are approaching the anniversary of Mackay's Regiment and found this on the Friends of the Scots Brigade. He says:
No pin or ring to hold the plaid together, just knotted at the back. No sword of any kind. The 'plaid' is a check cloth blanket of natural colours. I wanted to avoid any sort of tartan identity, so typical of the victorian era. That doublet is a home spun material of both linen and wool. I got it from Stewart Peachy who had it made like one of the grave finds he writes about in his book. The 'bunnet' was made by Gloria Holmes. Not sure if she makes them anymore but she consulted with archaeologist and historians, then knittted them up herself, using natural dies. She managed to somehow pummel them into felting, almost to the standard of modern milling and fulling on broadcloth. The result is quite special I think. The longbow is ewe with a bit of string tied around it. I alter the place of that string by sliding it up an down. It's used as a site for aiming. I went for cut hose, as was cheap and common at that time; they were made from the remnants of an old linen shirt as I recall. I should also mention, there is a belief that short bows and not longbows were the most common to be used by the highlanders.
Thanks to Graham Webb.
Revocation of the Edict of Nantes
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| Dragonnades |
Another 300th celebrated in 1985 was the arrival of the Huguenots to these islands. There were a couple of regiments in the army later on.
Frederick the Great meets Johann Sebastian Bach. English subt
40 years ago was the 300th anniversary of J S Bach. I was listening to him a lot.
Saturday, 22 November 2025
Prime and Load! Podcasts - The '45
To mark the 280th anniversary of the Battle of Prestonpans, Dr Arran Johnston joins Prime and Load! for a fascinating two-part deep dive into the opening stages of the ’45:
Part I – Raising the Banner
Part II – The Fall of Edinburgh & The Highland ChargeDr Johnston is one of our Helion & Company authors, and a leading historian of the Battle of Prestonpans.
Learn more about his book On Gladsmuir Shall the Battle Be: The Battle of Prestonpans 1745 here:
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