and now, something entirely different...

English Civil War, (generic) foot regiment.

Bicorne Miniatures (painted by John LeBlanc) with GMB flags.

Hussards de le Grand Duc

Some new cavalry for Le Grand-Duché de Gourmandie: Hussards de le Grand Duc

Grand Duc Pierre-Louis has issued a warrant for the organization of a new regular cavalry regiment, to be paid for and furnished by the state. LeGrand Duc has asked that young men of noble birth (or in certain circumstances sons of wealthy landowners) present themselves with horse and furniture, upon which time they would be issued with uniforms and weapons. The regiment sports the traditional Gourmandie red coats with, in this case, blue facings. Although associated with the Grand Duc in name, the regiment should not be confused with a traditional guard unit. In fact, the rank and file have little or no military experience, beyond the normal education for young men of substance. Thus, a number of seasoned men from Gourmandie's senior cavalry regiment, les Grenadiers à Cheval Boursin, have been transferred in to bolster the ranks.

Riding at the head of the new regiment in the forthcoming spring campaign  will be Florian  Battier, Comte de Rien, nephew to Grand Duc Pierre-Loius. Le Comte is a young man who has sat at the elbow of his uncle since boyhood and thus has much experience of attending upon the army in splendour and magnificence. He is able to wear the garb of the hussars with much dash!

 Hussards de le Grand Duc, 2e Escadron.

(Crusader Miniatures)

Regular heavy and light cavalry regiments are each composed of one to three field squadrons and one depot squadron, maintained and recruited in the regiment's home district. The first squadron carries the Ordonnance standard and is commanded by a Chef d'Escadron and the regiment by the regimental Colonel. In the case of this regiment, only two squadrons have been raised (above, 2e d'Escadron).

scenes from the workbench - KaiserReich commanders

Much too lazy to set up proper photos of the newest additions to the ImagiNations project.... this time, KaiserReich commanders.

KronPrinz Friedrich-Wilhelm, front and centre, with Baron Jenssen of Bisterstad in red. KaiserReich nobles and officers are clothed in standard KasierReich blue coats, while Baron Jenssen sports the red coat fashionable among Nordstrum emigrés. On the right of the photo is Freiherr Erik von Radeburger and to the left, Reichsritter Volker Guttmacher.

 Reichsritter Hildebrandt Freytag, one of Friedrich-Wilhelm's cavalry commanders.

Markgraf Vidalius von Beyrösch-Nachbarschaften, 

festooned with gold lace (as is his wont).

Updated ImagiNations map

Updated version of the ImagiNations map with the 1745 campaign movements added: link

KaiserReich noblemen gather for a training exercise

Although frosty weather has descended upon the land and the armies are enjoying their winter cantonments, a small training exercise was recently held in the Palast der Fürsten of KronPrinz Friedrich-Wilhelm, snug amongst the public gardens of Kreuzburg. Friedrich-Wilhelm had gathered together his generals and noblemen, ostensibly to discuss campaign plans for the following summer season but also to present them with a number of tactical and administrative challenges. The assembled officers were invited to express their opinions and determine their responses as a group and individually. Chief among his officers stood the Markgraf Vidalius von Beyrösch-Nachbarschaften and ex-Nordstrum emigré Baron Jenssen of Bisterstad, the former of which heads The Council of Twelve and represented their interests at the assembly. The latter, although highly-esteemed by the KronPrinz and popular amongst the rank and file, stands apart from the KaiserReich nobility as a mercenary captain and thus cannot sit on The Council of Twelve nor be eligible to raise his own regiments in the army (despite his vast wealth, which it must be said is rumoured to be based upon trade with the Eastern Reaches).

KronPrinz Friedrich Wilhelm was especially eager to test his officers' mettle against the problem of assaulting a fortified town, as was commonplace in the Grand-Duchy of Gourmandie.

The Gourmandie deployment: typical arrangement, with infantry in the centre anchored on the left wing cavalry and on the fortified town. 

The town, ringed with fortifications. Grand-Duc Pierre Louis and his suite are present in the town, despite the presence of Le Marquis de Fromage commanding the field army.

Grand-Duc Pierre-Louis with his travelling entertainment.

Deployment of the KaiserReich army:(L-R) light troops (bolstered by a Libagioni contingent); KaiserReich infantry and heavy artillery; KaiserReich cavalry. 

Right wing of the KaiserReich army.

Left wing of the Gourmandie army.

The two cavalry wings clash. There is a noticeable lack in this picture of Gourmandie heavy cavalry. The large size Grenadiers à Cheval Boursin, cornerstone of the Gourmandie cavalry arm, partook of one melee with the enemy heavy cavalry and promptly fled the field. As remarked upon during the staff exercise, this is perhaps the most unlucky (or incompetent, depending upon the point of view) of regiments.

Gourmandie infantry hold the centre of the line. There is a marked absence of rear supports, as these were diverted to the left flank to deal with the aforementioned lack of heavy cavalry. 

The dénouement of the KaiserReich attack: the fortifications captured and Gourmandie infantry flanked. 

KronPrinz Friedrich-Wilhelm was mightily pleased with the exercise and has sent his nobles back to their respective commands to prepare for the coming campaigning season. The Council of Twelve convenes shortly to discuss future additions to the army.

Das KaiserReich - new additions to the army

At the end of the campaigning season and just in time to join the KaiserReich army in winter quarters, two new infantry regiments. It appears that the KasierReich army is now strong enough on its own to take on Gourmandie without the aid of (or in alliance with) Libagioni.

  

  

 Musketiere Märzen.

Crusader Miniatures with GMB flag. 

Musketiere Märzen is a militia infantry unit, raised in the fortress city of Märzen, straddling the KaiserReisch-Gourmandie border, and funded by Burgermeister Hans Treumann. As is custom in Das KaiserReich, only those units belonging to the personal guard of KronPrinz Friedrich Wilhelm are considered part of the regular army. Musketiere Märzen wear the standard blue short tunics of Kasierreich infantry and are commanded in the field by Colonel Otto Partszehl.

Füsiliere Weißbier.

Front Rank figures with GMB flag.

Füsiliere Weißbier is another militia infantry unit, raised and funded by Freiherr Jean-Baptiste LeBlanque, wearing standard blue coats and short mitres. Freiherr LeBlanque, a Gourmandie emigre, is a member of The Council of Twelve. In only three short years, LeBlanque has risen from wandering nobleman, late of southern Gourmandie, to well-respected military commander and handsomely wealthy landowner. Rumours of how he achieved this in so short a time abound.

The current stable of KaiserReich infantry: (front to back) Musketiere Märzen; Musketiere Krombacher; Füsiliere Weißbier; Grenadiere Oettinger.

The Old Times ... tripping down memory lane?

While thumbing through some old gaming papers, I came across a little gem. This booklet was created by Captain Dan (over at Red Over Blue) when he was seven or eight years old. We all start somewhere :)