The Grenadiers of Burgundy

In my last post, I noted the recent developments in the on-going War of Franconian Succession. Two new powers were introduced: the small but doughty Duchy of Grand Fenwick, and the ever rapacious Duchy of Burgundy. Now of course, an independent Duchy of Burgundy has not existed for several hundred years, and Grand Fenwick was invented by author Leonard Wibberly in the early sixties. But since this War of Franconian Succession was never fought, I figured it's a wash. 

 

Some time ago I mentioned that the Ducal Army of Burgundy started off as a project last year or so to paint up the Irish Brigade in Spanish service during the Seven Years War (SYW). This is a war I've always found fascinating because of the variety of major and minor powers and armies, often each with its own uniform. I mean, who wouldn't want to have the entire army of one of the Imperial statelets of the Holy Roman Empire? The Duchy of Burgundy was an outgrowth of that: the Irish Brigade wore red uniforms with simple facings, but more importantly their standards all bore the Burgundian Cross. The line infantry are Armies in Plastic French infantry painted up to resemble the Irish Brigade. 

But, something was missing. Up to now, there were no good Grenadier figures in fur hats, at least not in plastic. I had high hopes that HaT would come out with their long-promised Austrians...someday perhaps!

 

Until three weeks ago, the picture was bleak

 

Then I received an email from Chris Parker (https://www.chrisparkergames.com) highlighting his new 3D printed Spanish for the SYW. They looked really good, so I ordered a bunch. (Full disclosure: I've known Chris for many years both as a friend and fellow gamer.) They arrived within a week. I'm happy to say they are excellent!

 

The figures are resin printed, so the texture is excellent. Heads and arms for the most part need to be attached with CA, but they go together well as seen below. I would suggest a good washing before priming and painting.  The photo shows the grenadiers, officer, and fifer. I also received four mounted generals, which I will talk about next time. Until then...

From left to right: Officer, Fifer, 2 Grenadiers

Some Things I Should Have Learned By Now

In my last post, you met two wildcards in the ongoing War of Franconian Succession, the Duchies of Burgundy, and doughty little Grand Fenwick. If truth be told, both started as after thoughts. Burgundy started out as the Irish Regiments in Spanish Service, circa 1756. But I needed another player and since all of their standards contain Burgundian Crosses, why not make them, say, Burgundian?

 Grand Fenwick started many years ago. I was either in high school or college at the time, so probably the late 60's (that's 1960's for our younger readers), and I picked up a book at my local library by Leonard Wibberley titled The Mouse That Roared. It was a satire on post-war diplomacy so absurd in concept that I not only loved it, but sought out its 2 or 3 sequels. 

Now as for the Grand Fenwickian Army, I turned their longbows in for muskets and their chain mail for Massachusetts Provincial uniforms for the French and Indian War. The figures are made by LOD as part of their Barszo  line of resin figures. Originally representing British infantry at the time, I just painted them up as Provincials (seen below). The flag was found online, downloaded, and resized.

Doughty Defenders of the Realm

My mistake having a few figures left over. "I'll just paint up one', I said to myself, 'just to see how they look as British regulars."  In truth, I have just painted the one below. "No more...just the one"

"Yup, no more..."

The order went out this morning. So much for things I should have learned by now!

Until next time...

The Spring Campaign Begins!

With the melting of the winter snows, the armies of the Ducal War of Franconian Succession began their moves. The Burgundian Army advanced with the intent of taking a short cut through the Duchy of Grand Fenwick, obscure and small, but with a strong sense of their independence. If the Burgundian host was fool enough to trespass, they would pay a heavy price!

The Burgundian Force, six battalions strong (one is off to the right of the photo) advance in Grand Fenwick!

The doughty defenders of the Realm! Would they be able to hold on long enough until the Duchy's Militia Reserve could reinforce them?

Until next time!

The War of Franconian Succession, or, The Ducal War?

Both the armies and your intrepid reporter, having entered into winter quarters, a relative calm had descended over the lands of Franconia and its neighbors. Securing a foothold in the disputed lands, the Hessian forces of its "fraternal assistance", set up housekeeping. In keeping with their assumed role, the troops behavior was remarkably good. Merchants were paid, taverns remained intact, and the farmers received real money for their supplies. The Yule Revelries maintained good cheer (for the most part) throughout. 

But beneath the supposed calm, the sinews of war (such as they were) were about. Franconia had mobilized! The Franconian capital, Nurnberg, saw the small army of the duchy mobilize. Volunteers were eagerly sought, and the local militias were called up. A day of reckoning was coming soon.

 On the diplomatic front, frantic efforts were made to enlist the help of the major imperial powers: the Empress was getting a bit tetchy about all the pleas for intervention; the King in Prussia was unimpressed, at least for now, (the prospect of picking up a province or two, at small cost, however, interested him greatly). Saxony's king was non-committal. France was still smarting over the recent loss of her American colonies. And George of England, after muttering something in his odd Germanic dialect, shook his head, and promptly went back to his vegetable garden.

 But other powers were very much interested. 

The ambitious Duke of Burgundy saw an opportunity to increase his lands in the east. He offered his aid with both gold and supplies. "We can work out the details later..." was his reply to Franconia's envoy who thought the vague terms offered seemed just a bit too good. But, hey, not his job... Within days of the agreement, a strong Burgundian force began to move toward Suabia and Franconia. 

Tensions began to rise, however, as the line of march would take them a little too close to yet another Duchy that had hoped to stay neutral. Founded in the middle ages by an English Baron fighting with his mercenary band in some war long forgotten, Sir Hugo Bascombe seized a valley no one seemed to want. The Duchy of Grand Fenwick entered the European stage. 

They had kept their independence for hundreds of years. Aggressors would trespass at their peril. To that end, the army was expanded and mobilized: long bows were turned in for muskets (France had a really good deal on surplus firearms that had been intended for New France). New uniforms, originally intended for the British Provincials in North America, and practically brand new, were purchased and issued. Another duchy had joined the fray!

Once more into the Breach! (or something like that)

 It's been two months since my last posting! Where did the time go? It's a good thing I don't get paid for this otherwise I would have been out on my ear long ago! So, what news from Franconia?

The local powers have been mobilizing their forces, while the big ones are just biding their time. The King of France has offered Duke Ernst Gustav "advisors" for a "small" consideration, oddly inquiring how well the Duke spoke French. The Soldier King of Prussia strangely made a similar offer, while the Empress merely smiled serenely at the Franconian Minister.

The Duke of Burgundy has mobilized his army in support of Franconia and they now march to meet the Hessian foes. The Landgrave of Hesse has called on his relatives to form a combined Hessian Army, while Thuringia has promised its support. The wheels of conflict are turning. 

So what of the gallant, albeit pedantic Herr Major Burgebrach and his company of Grenzschutz? After firing a token volley and a round or two from their 3-pounder, it was off to the races (as fast as they could) from Le Baron's now enraged "fraternal assistance" force of Hessian Regulars. Of course, this being a stately conflict, a few niceties had to be maintained: the 3-pounder was spiked, the Grenz Kasserne was locked, and the local merchants got stiffed. Finally, in keeping with the unwritten rules of fraternal invasions, Le Baron ordered his army and staff to turn around in place while he closed his eyes and counted to a hundred.

And with that, the War was on!

The War of Franconian Succession, Part 5: Allies and Enemies

Imagi-nations and there sundry wars and campaigns need a map. For the variety and even some historical significance, it's hard to beat the Holy Roman Empire for a useful map. With so many states and statelets, one is bound to find  something useful. Better yet, with some of the current online resources available for the eighteenth century, getting and using realistic uniforms prints is easy (and a lot of fun!). Probably the most useful in my opinion is  Kronoskaf . It has a wealth of information on all of the players/personalities and uniforms of the Seven Years War. Run completely on donations, it is well-worth supporting!

Anyhow, here is our map, slightly edited, to chronicle the ins and outs of this particular conflict. Enjoy!

Now, over the next few episodes of this imaginary war in the latter half of the 18th century we'll go over the allies and enemies of the Duchy of Franconia as neighbors choose sides (or not) to settle the questions as the rightful heir to the Franconian throne. 

Until next time... 

The War of Franconian Succession, Part 4: An Unfortunate Choice of Words

Now, by this point, negotiations were getting nowhere.  The good Herr Major insisted on a rather heft sum of marks and thalers, while the Hessian commander, Le Baron de Boncheveux , was particularly adamant that no fees of tolls were due as they were here at the request of the der Herzog selbst, or at least his prime minister, Herr Dropov. Burgebrach wasn't buying that and said he would send a fast messenger to his immediate superior for clarification. The whole thing would only take a couple of days, so perhaps Le Baron and his troops would like to set up camp on their side of the border, only a couple of miles away.

Le Baron de Boncheveux

Le Baron was enraged! And it was at that point he muttered something, which in hindsight, was rather unfortunate. Now he was not altogether fluent in the German, or specifically Hessian dialect, as a rather plebian argot common to his holdings in the south of France was more his milieu.

Turning his back on the Major, he shouted (in frustration no doubt): "Allons, fou...e, sacre bleu!" (see explanatory note below*)

The commander of the lead Hessian battalion had formed line earlier out of an abundance of caution. But now things went from bad to really bad: being more than a bit deaf and not familiar with  Le Baron's unusual accent, he misunderstood, thinking it "Feuer!"

So he did. 

The Hessian line belched fire and smoke and a rolling thunder rolled over the plain. Fortunately, they were more than a bit high since the Landgrave typically only allowed the use of powder on his birthday and local feast days. 

Not a Franconian soul was scathed, although Burgebrach did require a new hat.

The Border Guards did a bit better. All rifle armed and frequently dealing with wild boars, marauding bunnies, and occasional poachers, they dropped a few of the Hessian line. Even their little 3-pounder (mainly used for salutes) earned its keep.

The War had begun!

*The actual term was the French equivalent of a common English vulgarity not generally used among the polite. Like many English terms, it is highly versatile depending on context. It's often used as a curt dismissal or derisive epithet. Likewise, depending on person and/or tense it can be an effective statement of one's condition and/or future prospects.