Saxe-Ducal Hussars 1809-12

Another rebase and touch up unit. First painted around 1995 for a Napoleonic campaign, I required some Gendarmes to patrol the interior lines, so looking through the Confederation troops I found the Saxon Ducal Hussars. Happy with how these 28mm Old Glory figures have tarted up, I added a fanion from a later formation of Saxe Weimar formation. Next unit upgrade more Cuirassiers !

The saxe-ducal hussars were a police/gendarme formation numbering between 30- 60 men total. Below is information from several sources, all these are from the Napoleon series.

GOETZ (F.) -- Uebersicht der sämmtlichen Abbildungen des Grossherzoglich. Sächsischen Militärs in dem Zeitraum von 1775 bis 1825. (Overview of all Illustrations of the Grand Duchy. Saxon Military in the Period from 1775 until 1825.) -- Weimar, s. d. -- Album, in-folio enlarged, containing 17 pages of text and 20 plates (F. Goetz del.), dedicated to His Highness the Grand-Duke of Saxe-Weimer-Eisenach.. N° 4. Husaren, von 1775 bis 1806. (Hussar, from 1775 to 1806.) N° 9. Husaren, von 1806 bis 1808 (Auerstaedt). (Hussar, from 1806 to 1808.) N° 19. Husaren, 1808-1825. (Hussar, 1808-1825.)
LIENHART and HUMBERT. -- Les Uniformes de l'Armée française depuis 1690 jusqu'à nos jours. 1806-1812. Hussar of Saxe-Weimar; hussar in pelisse.
KNÖTEL (Richard). -- Uniformenkunde. IV. 54.-- 1806-1808. Hussar of Saxe-Weimar. SAINT-HILAIRE (Marco de). -- Histoire de la campagne de Russie en 1812. (History of the Campaign of Russia in 1812.) -- Paris, Eugène and Victor Penaud, 1846. 2 vol. in-8° with 10 color plates of uniforms, by de Moraine. 1814. Hussar of Saxe-Weimar.

Dark Blue Dolman, Red Pelisse black fur, red and yellow barrel sash, white Lace, white buttons white breeches / grey overalls black hussar boots white tassel and lace black belts Sabretache black white sheepskin saddle furniture with blue trim black hungarian harness brass fittings, my trumpeter I see entirely fictional.

Cheers
Matt

Grand duchy of Frankfurt Hussars

During the mid nineties my good friend Dean organised a Napoleonic campaign in Sydney. I had quite a large French minifig and old glory army at the time and I had just started to collect Confederation of the Rhine coalition troops. Eventually the campaign got underway and I found that I required Gendarmes to protect my rear and supply lines, so I built a number of Confederation cavalry units to meet the threat. I eventually built five hussar and light dragoon units to fulfil the role, Anhalt chasseurs, Frankfurt Hussars, Saxe-Ducal Hussars, Baden Hussars and Duchy de Berg chasseurs. This year I will be refurbishing my older miniatures bringing them up to current painting style and basing, so all of these units will be on the table at some stage.

In 1806 Frankfurt lost its status as a free imperial city with the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire. Napoleon granted Karl Theodore Anton Maria von Dalberg, Prince Primate and Chairman of the Confederation Council, the former archbishop of Mainz;  received the titles of Prince Primate of Frankfurt, Aschaffenburg,  Regensburg, the possessions of the princes and counts of Lowenstein-Wertheim, Earl of Reineck and Count of Wetzlar. He also remained the Bishop of Worms, Konstanz and Regensburg.

  In 1810 Dalberg relinquished the Principality of Regensburg to the Kingdom of Bavaria, but gained the territories of Hanau and Fulda, raising the principality to the Grand Duchy of Frankfurt. In 1813 the grand duchy temporal offices were passed onto Eugene de Beauharnais, Dalberg passed away in 1817 in Regensburg.

Grand Duchy of Frankfurt Hussars 1809
The actual unit never reached more than 60 strong and we're used as Gendarmes and messengers primarily between the cities of the Duchy. There is only one print of them in existence published in the Herzberg in Augsburg (K.K priv. Kunsthandlung) and is not noted in the Weiland Collection!

 The Frankfurt Hussars had a blue hussar styled Dolman trimmed with yellow braid and buttons. The Pelisse was blue with black lambswool and yellow lace and buttons. the Breeches were also blue, black hussar style boots laced in red. The barrel sash was red and yellow cord, white belts and black cartridge pouch. The horse harness was black with white sheepskin with yellow wolf-teeth edging. The Trumpeter is entirely fictional, but possibly should of been in red as the Ducal colours were red and white.

References 

Duchy de Frankfurt

Uniform of the Duchy of Frankfurt

HERZBERG. -- True portraits of all the military costumes of the monarchs of Europe. -- Herzberg, K. K. Akademische Kunsthandlung. Augsburg, 1800-1814. -- Collection of 97 plates in-4, colored with the greatest care, and appearing in parts of 5 sheets. The single plate concerning the troops of Frankfurt is part of the 18th part (Allied troops of France). It gives the following types: Infantry Officer. -- Grenadier. -- Fusilier. -- Hussar.

Carnet de la Sabretache (novembre 1889). -- Reproduction of the plates from Herzberg, discussed above

Napoleonic Generals

I have been partaking in the 30 minute 30 day painting challenge on Facebook, getting lots done.

I have decided to clear my desk before I put another project on it, currently it is packed with Napoleonic French and Baden miniatures, plus celts and bits.

First up Division General and ADC, actually a touch up and rebase job for these.

Cuirassier General new

cheers
Matt

WOTR parade

After finally rebasing all of my War of the Roses onto Impetus basing I thought I would post them here for a bit of visual splendour. These are mostly front rank and were previously based for WaB.

Sassanid Elephant

The first of my Sassanid elephants, this one is from old glory with A & A archer in the howdah. I am yet to use any elephants in Impetus and I am looking forward to it…….just a little bit!

Cheers

Matt

Spearpoint

Painted these for our clubs latest painting competition "spear point"

I will be using them as markers I think for my late Romans and Foederati!

Celt Archers

lately off the painting desk is some Celt archers for Dave's army middle imperial roman army. The figs came out quite nicely I think, one day I will paint my awaiting horde of 400 odd Celt figures.




cheers
matt

Montrose Highlanders Return!

I sold my Montrose ECW army two years ago and last weekend bought it back again at our clubs car boot sale. I am refitting all of them to my new painting style, washed in devlan mud then highlighted again.

The first unit I refitted from the army were the highlanders, I added some white and yellow to the kilt setts to make them more flashy. I made up the setts so they really don't really have any historical attachment, my ECW kilt research mostly describes 16th century setts as red and black. I have added a flag just because every wargame unit deserves a flag! This unit will also double for my Jacobite rebellion army so I probably should of painted them in a historical pattern......oh well live and learn!

So far quite happy with the result, another 20 odd figures to do, then I will attack the eyes etc by then my eyes will need a rest andI will move onto Gordon's horse next, then the Irish pike and shot, which I think I will increase in size by adding another eight pikemen to each unit and another four shot.










cheers
Matt

A few Hungarian Knights

A few knights I recently painted for a customer, my first attempt at hand painted sheilds, a practice for my upcoming Lewes Project which I am completeing with my mate Greg.







cheers
matt