Festiwal Saski - Festival of Saxony at Kutno

 More photos here by Moniki Kozień

Out now

 Known as Prince Robber to the Parliamentarians, but deemed a new Hannibal by the Royalists.

Looks good. 

An Officer Dictating a Letter (c.1656), Gerard ter Borch (1617 – 1681), National Gallery London. oil on canvas.

 

By The Sword Divided Part 2 Episode 10 - Restoration 1660

 As today is Oak Apple Day I thought we could have this episode. Action starts 40 min in. 

Somerset Smocks

 Article here (Somerset and Dorset Notes and Queries  by Martyn C. Brown of the Somerset Rural Life Museum).  Originating from the 17th century I would suggest they would be suitable for a Clubman. See here also.

Clubmen1645

The desires, and resolutions of the club-men of the counties of Dorset and Wilts. With the articles of their covenant, and certaine directions for the present behaviour, made, and agreed on at a meeting of the inhabitants (of the said counties) at Gorehedge-corner, May, 25. 1645. and read at Badburie in Dorsetshire, by Mr. Young a lawyer; where there were present neere 4000 armed, with clubs, swords, bils, pitch-forkes, and other severall weapons, &c. Published according to order.

The other day was the anniversary of 'The Desires and Resolutions of The Clubmen. Of The Counties of Dorset and Wilts' 1645. This page has a lot of useful info on these impressive people.

To Celebrate this Triumphant Day (Extract no.6)

  From the 1995 movie England My England a Purcell biopic. Music from it here

Barry Lyndon (1975) Lilliburlero

 John Foley of the Barry Lyndon Appreciation society tells me the location is Kells Priory Kilkenny. 

"Lillibullero" (also spelt Lillibulero, Lilliburlero, or Lilli Burlero) is a march attributed to Henry Purcell that became popular in England at the time of the Glorious Revolution of 1688.

Event at Titchfield Abbey

 

THE MONMOUTH REBELLION - part five (TARGET BRISTOL!)

 See more at History Workshops

Interesting article on the English risings of 1549

 My sister sent me this. Contains stuff about enclosure riots in Frome Somerset which I am interested in. 

Jones, Amanda Claire (2003) 'Commotion time': the English risings of 1549. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

'Commotion time': the English risings of 1549

43rd Regiment of Foot UK

 

They were keen to impart this is not a new period for them but a foray for timeline events. I though it was very Barrt Lyndonesque

Facebook''We have recreated the 43rd Foot's first soldier. Raised in 1741/42 and sent to Menorca for the entire war of the Austrian Succession, Foulkes', Graham's then Kennedy's Regiment AKA 43rd Foot has been recreated with the help of Gabriele Mandela (clothing), Matt Brenkle (hat), leatherwork (Tómas Filip).

Pictures from Castle Rising 'Soldiers Through The Ages' this weekend.

The Troop recreating 1568 Lancers at Battle of Heiligerlee Holland

(1) Facebook
 

Wigs, Frills & High Heels | 17th Century Menswear

 Historic Royal Palaces

The late 1600s saw a peak in extravagance in mens fashion history. After years of Puritan rule under Oliver Cromwell, the Restoration brought Charles II back to the English throne in 1660. Charles was influenced by French styles, but was also a fashion leader in his own right, starting the trend for the three piece suit. The fashion of the time was excessive, impressive, and expensive. It was very different from menswear today – men even wore wigs and high heels!

In this video, historical interpreters go through the stages of dressing in a Restoration ensemble fit for a king, from underwear, to golden silks, to accessories. Learn all about how a gentleman courtier would dress from these experts. Image Credits: King Charles II c. 1670 © National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London King Charles II attributed to Thomas Hawker, oil on canvas, circa 1680 © National Portrait Gallery, London Charles II, c.1671-76 by John Michael Wright. © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025 | Royal Collection Trust The Financial, Nicholas Bonnart. C.1637-1718. Musée Carnavalet, History of Paris Elegant company in a distinguished interior, Eglon van der Neer. C.1678. RKD Netherlands Institute for Art History George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham (1592-1628). Daniel Mytens, the Elder. © National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Caird Collection Young patrician couple, Bartholomeus van der Helst. C.1661. Staatliche Kunsthalle Karlsruhe Jean Dieu de Saint-Jean, Habit Noir (evening wear), etching c. 1670. Pepys Library, Magdalene College Cambridge Gentilhomme et jeune élégant, 1670. New York Public Library. Carlo Ceresa (San Giovanni Bianco 1609 - Bergamo 1679) Portrait of a Gentleman with a Wig, c.1665-1670, Galerie Canesso Louis XIV, after 1701. Gift of J. Paul Getty Museum

Barry Lyndon back in the cinemas this July

To mark the 50th anniversary of Barry Lyndon, a new 4K restoration of Stanley Kubrick’s epic movie is closing the Cannes Classics program @festivaldecannes.

Barry Lyndon is released back into cinemas in 4K worldwide from 18 July. Check local listings to find a screening near you.

Talk on Prince Rupert 27 May by Mark Turnbull Leicester Guildhall

 

At Leicester Guildhall I'll offer a window into the life of Prince Rupert of the Rhine - Almost 63 years, packed full of adventures & tragedies.
Tickets for talk: wwwleicestermuseumsorg
Pre-order the biography for a third off RRP

Prince Rupert's son

 This was posted by Mark Turnbull author. 

''Dudley Bard, illegitimate son of Prince Rupert, was born c.1666. Rupert sent him to Eton, but with Titus Oates' wild Popish Plot, the prince prudently sent Dudley abroad.

On Rupert's death in 1682, Charles II gave Dudley £100, and the boy became a captain in the Coldstream Guards. His commander was Lord Craven.

Dudley fought for James VII/II at Sedgemoor and was killed at the Siege of Buda in 1686.''

Charles Cordell - author of English Civil War fiction

 CHARLES CORDELL - author - English Civil War fiction

Author of the Divided Kingdom series. Get a free e-Book of the the above novella. 

Battle of Ramillies

 

                                     De slag bij Ramillies tussen de Fransen en de Geallieerden, 23 mei 1706

Today's anniversary. Wiki

British grenadier caps of the 18th Century

Thanks to Stephen Tindle for this. He says 

'Spread over the January and February 1987 issues of Military Modelling was a two part article by W.Y.Carman, illustrated by Bryan Fosten, about British grenadier caps of the 18th Century..

 

THE SCYTHE of the MONMOUTH REBELLION - the Duke of Monmouth's grenadiers!

 New video by History Workshops

Furioso rules

 More info and a range of 15mm here

Góra Gradowa 1734/2025

War of Polish Succession event in Gdansk at the weekend. 
 

Sergey Minchenkov in 1680 by Maxim Lupacha

 

Empress Miniatures Thirty Years War

 Here 

My favourite 28mm range for this period although I have never bought any. I imagine they would work for skirmishing?

Captain Alatriste

 Been looking on ebay for the novels that the film is based on. Quite reasonable. Anyone read them? Wiki

. Postscript - my library has them so I have ordered the first story.  

By Diego Velázquez - Museo del Prado, Madrid,

La rendición de Breda (1634–1635) was inspired by Velázquez's first visit to Italy, in which he accompanied Ambrosio Spinola, who had conquered the Dutch city of Breda a few years prior. This masterwork depicts a transfer of the key to the city from the Dutch to the Spanish army during the Siege of Breda. According to the third novel, Alatriste is in the group on the right, behind the horse.

Rocroi from Alatriste (2006)

 A good pike and shot movie that is worth watching. Wiki

Rocroi 1643

 

Today's anniversary. Wiki

Prime & Load

 

Do you have a question about 18th century warfare, tactics, or military history? Now's your time to ask! Get your question answered by historians Dr. Andrew Bamford and Dr. Alex Burns on an episode of Prime & Load!

Ask Here: https://forms.gle/uwprUMP3GTDZVAnh6

La Maison militaire du roi

La Maison militaire du roi était ce week-end aux Les Heures Historiques de Sully sur Loire. Un grand moment de rencontres et de partage, avec le public et les autres groupes. Un super moment !
 

A description of the late rebellion in the West a heroick poem. 1685

 Here. Also see here

Chotusitz 1742

 

Anniversary today. Wiki

1685 fiction

 

A tale of loyalty, sacrifice, jealousy and betrayal set against the backdrop of the Monmouth Rebellion of 1685.

Nathaniel Carver and Thomas Edgecott are lifelong friends having been born within days of each other in the Dorset seaport of Lyme Regis in 1664. Nat works with his father John in the family smithy, Thomas is a shoemaker. William Pearce, a weaver from Taunton is old enough to be their father and gamekeeper Samuel White is older still, having fought with Oliver Cromwell at Marston Moor some twenty years before Nat and Thomas were born.

Nat, Thomas, John, William, Samuel and thousands of other ordinary West Country men are thrown together by the arrival of James, Duke of Monmouth, on the south coast in 1685, intent on wrestling the crown of England from his uncle, James II. The ill-fated rebellion will last for little more than three weeks but it will change all their lives forever.

This is their story.

The Three Musketeers (1973) Official Trailer

 This movie was very popular in the ECWS regiment Devereux's. 

Frome and the Monmouth Rebellion

 The Frome Society for Local Study is running a short Summer Extra season of talks - everyone welcome, free entry, with a collection for a local charity.

Frome and the Monmouth Rebellion

Gary Kearley

Wednesday 28 May at Frome Cricket Club.

Doors (and bar) open at 7pm, talk is at 7:30pm.

In 1685 Frome found itself at the centre of the Monmouth Rebellion, as Charles II's eldest son attempted to wrest the crown of England from his uncle James II. This illustrated talk will cover the cause, conduct and consequences of the rebellion with particular emphasis on Frome and the surrounding area.

Gary Kearley is a Frome based author and historian. He is Co-author of 'Secret Frome' and has had his first novel, set in the Monmouth Rebellion published. He has a first class honours degree in History, Heritage and Archaeology and is well known on the local speaking circuit.

Joining the ECWS

 So it is about 40 years since I got recruited into the ECWS. I was canvassing in an election and I knocked on the door of the man on the right Gordon Usher. I noticed he had a back and breast and a morion on a stand in the bay window so I asked him about that. 'If you are interested you can find me in most Wednesday evenings' he said and pretty soon every Wednesday I would go round for wargames and chat. Mostly WRG ancients. Frome where I lived had quite a lively ECW scene but I was determined to not join a Royalist regiment. Gordon had a peagreen VW van and we went to wargames shows and events in it. The first event was a Monmouth Rebellion march this being 1985. Despite being on opposite sides politically we became friends and I learnt a lot about reenactment and wargames and this continued until his untimely death in a road traffic accident. These pics are from my first battle at Basing House with him and his son Nick. 

Battle of Zusmarshausen

 The Battle of Zusmarshausen was fought on 17 May 1648 between Bavarian-Imperial forces under von Holzappel and an allied Franco-Swedish army under the command of Carl Gustaf Wrangel and Turenne in the modern Augsburg district of Bavaria, Germany. The allied force emerged victorious, and the Imperial army was only rescued from annihilation by the stubborn rearguard fighting of Raimondo Montecuccoli and his cavalry.^[6]

Zusmarshausen was the last major battle of the war to be fought on German soil during the Thirty Years' War, and was also the largest battle (in terms of numbers of men involved; casualties were relatively light) to take place in the final three years of the war.

Bach ‐ 11 Cantata No 85, “Ich bin ein guter Hirt,” BWV 85 Aria Ich bin ein guter Hirt

 Performed today for the first time in 1725

Battle of Frankenhausen 1525

 Final battle of the German Peasant's War. Wiki

German Peasants by WoFun Games