Swiss

This image from N Guerard shows some interesting details - like the sword protruding through a slit in the coat with the waistbelt worn underneath presumably and a form of the classical helmet. Tassets complete the famous look...presumably deliberately archaic to resonate with their chivalrous image.

Namur Citadel

Nice movie with images from the famous fortress in Belgium.

Regiment Zurlauben

This is the time of the year for starting new projects. I know this from when I used to run reenactment societies the phone would start ringing as people decided they need a new hobby - something different than the year before. Also there is a whole industry based around getting people to subscribe to things like a medieval castle in brick by brick instalment or a collection of tanks of the world. Obviously only some people carry on but that doesn't prevent our good intentions being there does it?

I ought to start a reenactment regiment really. It's been years since I did and I probably would enjoy getting out and about. What to do though? Geography is important which would suggest something for the Monmouth Rebellion but I have kind of been there done that. Decisions. Always my problem as I don't stick at one thing for very long - so I suppose the next thing is to pick on something that has cropped up from time to time.

How about Regiment Zurlauben. (pic from R Marrion Military Modelling 1987). What do we know about them? Some debate as to whether they were Swiss, German or Walloon. Noticed there is a march of the Regiment Zurlauben on a Swiss band site. What else can be found by googling them? Johan Cronman was a captain in them and he was Swedish. Was Happy Jacques II colonel and the regiment from Alsace? Whatever they probably need to be done - I wonder if anyone already does them? Tell me what you know about this regiment folks...

Béat Jacques II de Zurlauben article in French

War and Game's Boyne section reads

[1] One Colonel Conrad von Zurlauben was the commander of the “Blue Regiment” composed of Swiss and German soldiers fighting in the French contingent in James II’s army at the Boyne in 1690. His regiment (two battalions) was the only French unit that saw much action in the battle, when it was used to cover the retreat of the main Jacobite force. Captain Stevens’ account says:
“Only the French can be said to have rallied for only they made head against the enemy and a most honourable retreat . . . Nor ought any of this glory to be attributed to the Count de Lauzun or La Hoguette, who at first left their men, but only to the valour and conduct of M. Zurlauben, Colonel of the Blue Regiment, who with unparalleled bravery headed and brought off his men.”(from the Journal of John Stevens, a captain in James’s Grand Prior’s regiment, quoted in Kinross, “The Boyne and Aughrim”, Windrush Press, 1997)

Anyway the first place to start is a shirt. I wonder if there is a specific military shirt for the military in Louis XIV's army?

Discussion Forum

Been looking at the forum for the League of Augsburg Fighting Talk. It has some interesting threads re Beneath the Lily Banner rules and ideas and so on for the period. Recommended. On the subject of basing for 15mms they say...
no need to rebase. I specifically wanted to avoid that for people wishing to use the rules. The units are made up of 3 x 6 figure firing groups. If you have units of smaller or large sizes just ensure they fire in groups of 6. I recommend basing 15mm figures on half of the frontage of the 28mm stuff so 7.5mm for infantry 10mm for cavalry.Some of the larger figures may have to go on slightly wider frontages but this is NOT a rules critical issue.

Dumbartons

This US based group have a great website with lots of information such as orders of battles useful for wargamers such as this article on British regulars in America 1664-1714.

Siege of Quebec 1690

Article by Rene Chartrand on the attack by William Phips here.

Happy New Year

To you all...keep me posted on all your projects, send photos of your figures or events to me.