Trooper of the Sardinian Dragoon Regiment Sardegna 1754-73

Unit history and organisation: In the WAS the regiment had around 650 men, in 5 squadrons each of 2 companies. (I have nothing on the history of this unit so if anyone knows more and can let me have details, I'd be grateful. Thanks.)

Uniform: Trooper: Black tricorne, white laced edge, white metal button, white strap, mid-blue cockade. Black stock. Bright red coat, yellow lapels, collar, cuffs, turnbacks, yellow edge to shoulder straps. White metal buttons. Red waistcoat, white metal buttons. Red breeches, white metal buttons. White inner stocking. Black leather bottines (boot-gaiters). Red shabraque and pistol holster covers with 2 lines of lace each consisting of 3 stripes (white-mid-blue-white). White crown and lettering. White sheepskin cover over pistol holster.

Trooper of the Sardinian Savoia Cavalry Regiment 1750

Unit history and organisation: First raised 1690s. In the WAS the regiment had around 650 men, in 5 squadrons each of 2 companies. In 1744 a company from each regiment was made into a Carabinier company, distinguished from the other companies only by being armed with a rifled carbine. (I have little on the history of this unit so if anyone knows more and can let me have details, I'd be grateful. Thanks.)

Uniform: Trooper: Black tricorne, white laced edge, white metal button, white strap, mid-blue cockade. Black stock. Very dark (almost Prussian) blue coat, deep red collar, cuffs, turnbacks, red edge to shoulder strap. White aiguillette on right shoulder, white metal buttons. Red waistcoat, white metal buttons. Red breeches, white metal buttons. White inner stocking. Black leather boots. Red shabraque and pistol holster covers with 2 lines of lace each consisting of 3 stripes (white-mid-blue-white). White crown and lettering. White sheepskin cover over pistol holster.

More map symbols and markers - some experiments

I've been looking into 18th century-style map markers and symbols that are not pictorial (but I'll go back to those shortly). Varied inspiration has been had from the Marburg Archive maps at: http://www.digam.net/?str=177 and maps in the Swedish Archives at: http://www.statensarkiv.se/default.aspx?id=7769#Bochum Some of these vector symbols will work best on small-scale maps, some on large, but I must stress that vector images are very scaleable, unlike raster or bitmap images, which become very pixelly and ugly if enlarged or lose detail if reduced in size. So an apparently too large and detailed vector image can successfully be reduced in size for use on a much smaller-scale map.

On this rough example sheet we have (clockwise from bottom left) the outline of the defences of Mannheim with hornwork to the south over the river, Dresden (top left), Minden (top right), a pentagonal fort or fortified town marker, 2 versions of the star fort marker (with 4 bastions) and a generic town marker with mediaeval town wall (bottom right) (as in the French Academy maps). Bottom centre is a small square schloss with 4 corner towers (this one was at Mannheim). In the centre are two small markers for a field fortification and siegeworks.

All open to development, revision, change, being scrubbed completely, depending on how I feel at the time... ;-)

Fusilier and Grenadier of the Sardinian Swiss Regiment Meyer 1750-1774

Unit history: First raised January 1744 by a "capitulation" between King Charles Emmanuel III and the Swiss Cantons of Glaris and Appenzel. 1 battalion of 4 companies. Mostly in garrison during the War of the Austrian Succession but involved in a notable action when its fire stopped a French advance on the Assietta ridge in July 1747. Commander from 1744 Adrian Meyer von Herisau. Regiment partly disbanded/partly absorbed by another Swiss regiment in 1774.

Uniform: Fusilier (left) Black tricorne, white laced edge, yellow metal button, white strap, mid-blue cockade, yellow-black-red pompom on right side (out of view). Black stock. Very dark (almost Prussian) blue coat, red collar, lapels, cuffs, turnbacks, red edge to shoulder strap. No lace, yellow metal buttons. Heart patches covering hooks and eyes on turnbacks black or very dark blue. Red waistcoat, yellow metal buttons. Red breeches, yellow metal buttons. White inner stocking. White gaiters, white metal buttons.

Grenadier (top) Black fur cap, red bag edged yellow with yellow and red tassel. Black stock. Very dark (almost Prussian) blue coat, red collar, lapels, cuffs, turnbacks, red edge to shoulder strap. No lace, yellow metal buttons. Heart patches covering hooks and eyes on turnbacks black or very dark blue. Red waistcoat, yellow metal buttons. Red breeches, yellow metal buttons. White inner stocking. Black gaiters, white metal buttons.

Fusilier and Grenadier of the Sardinian Regiment Savoia 1750-1773

Unit history: Raised 1624. Renamed Savoia 1640. 2 battalions. Some action in the War of the Polish Succession. Heavily involved in the War of the Austrian Succession. Commanders Charles Lodovic Baron du Chabod 1744-1748 Janus Comte D'Eutremon 1748-175? Alexis De La Saunière 175? Giuseppe Della Chiesa Roddi di Cinzano 1767-1772

Uniform: Fusilier (left) Black tricorne, white laced edge, white metal button, white strap, mid-blue cockade, very dark blue or black and white pompom on right side (out of view). Black stock. Very dark (almost Prussian) blue coat, white collar, lapels, cuffs, turnbacks, white edge to shoulder strap. No lace, white metal buttons. Heart patches covering hooks and eyes on turnbacks black or very dark blue. Dark blue waistcoat, white metal buttons. Dark blue breeches, white metal buttons. White inner stocking. White gaiters, white metal buttons.

Grenadier (top) Black fur cap, dark blue bag edged white with dark blue and white tassel. Black stock. Very dark (almost Prussian) blue coat, white collar, lapels, cuffs, turnbacks, white edge to shoulder strap. No lace, white metal buttons. Heart patches covering hooks and eyes on turnbacks black or very dark blue. Dark blue waistcoat, white metal buttons. Dark blue breeches, white metal buttons. White inner stocking. Black gaiters, white metal buttons.

Fusilier and Grenadier of the Sardinian Regiment La Marina 1750-1773

Unit history: First raised as militia 1701. Becomes La Marina 1714. One battalion of 10 companies after 1749. Heavily involved in the War of the Polish Succession and the War of the Austrian Succession. Commanders: 1746-1759 Antonio Faletti Compte du Morra 1759-1762 Ignace Thaon du Revel 1762-1769 Camille Compte du Richelmi

Uniform: Fusilier (left): Black tricorne, white laced edge, yellow metal button, white strap, mid-blue cockade. Blue-yellow-blue pompon on right side (out of view). Black stock. Very dark (almost Prussian) blue coat, orangey-yellow collar, lapels, cuffs, turnbacks, yellow edge to shoulder strap. No lace, yellow metal buttons. Heart patches covering hooks and eyes on turnbacks black or very dark blue. Orangey-yellow waistcoat, yellow metal buttons. Dark blue breeches, yellow metal buttons. White inner stocking. White gaiters, yellow metal buttons.

Grenadier (top): Black fur cap, yellow bag with yellow edge and yellow tassel. Black stock. Very dark (almost Prussian) blue coat, orangey-yellow collar, lapels, cuffs, turnbacks, yellow edge to shoulder strap. No lace, yellow metal buttons. Heart patches covering hooks and eyes on turnbacks black or very dark blue. Orangey-yellow waistcoat, yellow metal buttons. Dark blue breeches, yellow metal buttons. White inner stocking. Black gaiters, yellow metal buttons.

Fusilier and Grenadier of the Sardinian Guards Regiment 1750-1773

Unit history: Raised 1636. Organised as 2 battalions after 1704. First saw action in the War of the Polish Succession. Heavily involved in the War of the Austrian Succession. Commander: 1744-1769 Giuseppe Ottavio Cacherano Osasco Compte della Rocca

Uniform: Fusilier (left): Black tricorne, white laced edge, white metal button, white strap, mid-blue cockade. Black stock. Very dark (almost Prussian) blue coat, deep red collar, lapels, cuffs, turnbacks, red edge to shoulder strap. White lace, white metal buttons. Heart patches covering hooks and eyes on turnbacks black or very dark blue. Deep red waistcoat, white lace, white metal buttons. Deep red breeches, white metal buttons. White inner stocking. White gaiters, white metal buttons.

Grenadier (top): Black fur cap, deep red bag edged white with white tassel. (1750-3, bag deep red edged yellow with tassel horizontally divided red-yellow-black.) Black stock. Very dark (almost Prussian) blue coat, deep red collar, lapels, cuffs, turnbacks, red edge to shoulder strap. White lace, white metal buttons. Heart patches covering hooks and eyes on turnbacks black or very dark blue. Deep red waistcoat, white lace, white metal buttons. Deep red breeches, white metal buttons. White inner stocking. Black gaiters, white metal buttons.

Coming next - Fusilier and Grenadier of the Sardinian Guards Regiment 1753-1773

As I've done some Sardinian flags I couldn't resist the siren lure of some Sardinian uniforms. I should really finish the cavalry on which I've been working for ages (e.g. French Cuirassiers Du Roi) but I find the fiddly bits like the shabraques rather wearing at times; infantry are so much more relaxing to do. :-) So I've now completed a fusilier and grenadier of the Sardinian Guards Regiment. It's 3.45am, though, and I just don't have the energy to do the exporting to .png and other faffing about before posting so I'll leave putting up the real templates until tomorrow - which also means that I can check and recheck them before posting and not have the all too common experience of spotting some glitch when I've posted and frantically having to take the image off, fix the original and re-export etc., etc.. Here's a quick snapshot of the very French-style uniforms (except that the colours are very Prussian - dark blue and red, in this case).

Source of very useful fonts for maps

I just thought I'd mention that here on Tom Mouat's site: http://www.mapsymbs.com/fontstuf.html is a very useful source of mapping fonts, especially the Map Icon font and the Napoleonic font.

At the bottom is what's on the Napoleonic font (very useful for maps/plans of battle reports):

And at the top is what's on the Map Icons font.

They're missing a lot of the specific period Central European/German items on which I'm working but it does mean I don't necessarily have to cover everything (unless the energy and urge strike, of course! :-)).

"Ordinanza" or Regimental Flag of Sardinian Italian Regiment Torino, 1772-4

It's from rather later in the 18th century than the SYW but I like it so here is the flag of the Sardinian Regiment Torino (Turin).

More thoughts on map symbols...

Well, after the initial shock of realising that my map symbols suffer from some form of progressive elephantiasis (see comments on previous posting - we were in danger of reaching 1:1 scale designs ;-)), I've been rethinking the strategy and have been looking into designing a font for map symbols rather than graphics symbols themselves. This may be complete insanity (or lead to complete insanity) but it would have the advantage for users that they could drop the symbols into almost any program they are using for drawing maps and not have to convert my symbols into some format or other than .svg before they can use them. It would have the advantage for me that the very format restricts the potential size and complexity to some extent. A possible disadvantage is that the font would be black and white and users would need to do all the colouring for themselves but that should be relatively easy. I've found a free font designer that may be up to the job (whether or not I will remains to be seen!). More on this as I work my way through the program and try to produce something... If anyone has any thoughts, ideas or experience to share, I'd like to hear them; thanks!

In the meantime, I'll also be back to drawing more templates and flags; but at this moment I need to get a cat's details and photograph on to the rehoming page of the cat rehoming charity for whom I do the website, and then to bed as it's nearly 3.30am here. :-)

Another map symbol - a classic German timber-framed farmhouse

The drawing was becoming insanely detailed so I decided to simplify, having reminded myself that these are map symbols, not architects' drawings! :-) I do love timber-framed buildings, so I may finish the madly detailed version as another piece of clip art. At this rate I should finish a few dozen symbols by the year 2012, so that's another reason to simplify the process. Only 4 or 5 more farmhouses to go, and I'm also working on 2 bridges. These are being done while having meals so I can justify the time, although not perhaps the occasional indigestion.

Next I think I'll take a break from maps for a while and finish at least one of the cavalryman templates on which I've been working, on and off, for months - probably a Luckner Hussar first but we'll see.

Map Symbol Progress (Slow!)

It's surprising how time consuming these map symbols are - tweaking and fiddling with them takes longer than the drawing. Anyway, here's the palace-fortress with some shading applied and minor tweaks, plus a tower house and a windmill, still in progress.

Map Symbols 2

Here's another more ambitious map token or symbol in development - it needs shading and further colour work but this image gives the rough idea. It's based on Burg Ganowitz in Slovenia, now a ruin, as it was in the 16th-17th centuries, and would serve as a good symbol for a princely palace or fortress or similar.

Symbols for maps

I've always loved maps, especially old ones, and have been having a little dabble with drawing some map symbols for use by ImagiNation map makers, inspired especially by the maps of Sebastian Münster, a famous German 15th-16th century mapmaker, as well as by that beautiful map that FitzBadger did of Beerstein before last Christmas. I haven't decided yet what format they should be in - perhaps .svg to be used in the freeware vector drawing program Inkscape (www.inkscape.org)? Of course, there may not be any interest here in using them; if so, I'll probably offer them via one of the many RPG mapmaking sites or the Cartographer's Guild forum. Anyway, here's a snapshot of the first few icons; those who are familiar with Münster's 1528 map of the Heidelberg area will no doubt recognise from where the ideas for the designs came. :-)

I've added a variation on them with shading, to see if it improves the look...

Regiment Nicholas!

And this year we really do have - Regiment Nicholas! I'm not sure if they did call themselves "Santa's Own" or not but... :-)

No prizes but I'm sure some of you will recognise the war from which this uniform comes. It was not the SYW.

Happy Xmas and New Year, everyone.

Update: For those who are interested, this is my version of the uniform of Colonel [not Saint!] Nicholas' New Hampshire Regiment 1777/8, from the American War of Independence. I found a few snippets about it on the 'Net, put them together and - hey presto - a likely uniform. If anyone knows more, I'd be pleased to hear; thanks.

Happy Christmas and New Year to all

David Linienblatt and all in Tippelbruder wish everyone a Happy Christmas and New Year.

"Ordinanza" or Regimental Flag of Sardinian Italian Regiment Lombardia, mid-18th century

Another Sardinian regimental flag, this time of an Italian regiment.

"Ordinanza" or Regimental Flag of Sardinian Swiss Regiment Guibert, mid-18th century

And here's another of the Sardinian flags - shown with the irregularities of the original. Would people prefer exactly symmetrical flags? I rather like the real-world oddities myself.

"Ordinanza" or Regimental Flag of Sardinian Swiss Regiment Fatio, mid-18th century

Some time ago I was asked if I might do Sardinian flags - so here's one on account! I do like the wavy flames that seem to distinguish the flags of almost all Swiss regiments in foreign service.

20th Reichsarmee Template: Musketeer, Infantry Regiment Pfalz-Zweibrücken (Circle of the Upper Rhine)

Rated as "bad" by Soubise in 1757, the regiment was caught badly off guard when it formed part of the garrison of Weissenfels on 31st October 1757. At Freiberg in 1762 it performed creditably in the southern sector of the allied line.

First raised 1685. Made up of 33 contingents. Inhaber: Pfalzgraf Karl August von Zweibrücken und Birkenfeld. Composition: 2 battalions, no grenadier company.

Uniform: Black tricorne, white scalloped lace, white with red pompom, yellow metal button. Black stock. Prussian-style uniform with dark blue coat, red lapels, cuffs and turnbacks, probably red shoulder straps, white button lace. White waistcoat and breeches. Yellow metal buttons.

18th and 19th Reichsarmee Templates: Grenadier and Musketeer, Infantry Regiment Varell (Franconian Circle)

Soubise recorded the 2 Franconian battalions of Varell in 1757 (along with those of Ferntheil and Kronegk) as "entirely Prussian in sympathy" (Duffy, "Prussia's Glory", p.30). Routed at Rossbach, they served at Freiberg on the extreme right flank of the Austrians and Reichsarmee and were not, it seems, heavily engaged, unlike the Reichsarmee units in the centre.

First raised 1682. Made up of 26 contingents. Inhaber: Georg Adam Von Varell 1752-65. Composition: 2 battalions, each of 6 companies of musketeers and 1 company of grenadiers, 2 x 3 pounder guns and an authorised strength of 1,940 men (figures from Kronoskaf SYW site - see link below). Actual field strengths were, of course, lower.

Uniform: Grenadier of 2nd Grenadier company (Bayreuth) (above): Prussian-style grenadier mitre cap with yellow metal front plate, red sack, yellow base with yellow grenades, yellow lace, white pompom. (The 1st grenadier company (Eichstädt) had an Austrian style grenadier cap of brown fur with a yellow metal front plate and sulphur yellow bag.) Musketeer (left): Black tricorne, white lace, white-blue-sulphur yellow pompom, yellow metal button. Both: Black stock. Prussian-style uniform with dark blue coat, sulphur yellow collar, lapels, cuffs and turnbacks, sulphur yellow shoulder straps. White (earlier sulphur yellow) waistcoat and white breeches. Yellow metal buttons.

17th Reichsarmee Template: Trooper of the Hohenzollern Cuirassier Regiment (Swabian Circle)

Having mentioned the splendid conduct of the Hohenzollern Cuirassiers at Freiberg in the previous entry on the Bayreuth Cuirassiers and as their uniform is very similar, I had to produce a template of their uniform. Like so many of the Reichsarmee they fled at Rossbach after the Prussian cavalry's flank attack. However, they seem to have improved immensely over the course of the Seven Years War. In the combat of Löthain 21st September 1759, they formed part of the decisive Austrian counter attack against Wunsch and Finck's Prussian corps; in his description of that fight Christopher Duffy says of them that "they were probably the best heavy mounted arm of the Reichsarmee" ("By Force Of Arms", p.190). At Strehla, 20th August 1760, they rescued the Austrian Esterházy Infantry Regiment from an attack by Prussian dragoons; "a wholesale massacre was averted only by Captain Seeger of the Austrian staff, who "advanced with the Swabian Circle regiment of the Hohenzollern Cuirassiers, forcing the enemy cavalry to cease hacking away and finally driving them off" " ("By Force Of Arms", p.275). And we have already heard of their performance in the battle of Freiberg.

First raised 1683. Made up of 61 contingents. Inhaber: Fürst Friedrich von Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen 1756-1785. Composition: 4 squadrons with a theoretical strength of c.600 all ranks.

Uniform: Black tricorne, white or silver lace, white bob with red centre. Black stock. White coat with red collar, lapels, cuffs and turnbacks. White metal buttons. Light straw waistcoat and breeches. Red shabraque with wide white border; border with central dark blue or black stripe. 2 variants are shown - one with cuirass and one without.

16th Reichsarmee Template: Trooper of the Bayreuth Cuirassier Regiment (Franconian Circle)

The Franconian troops were "collectively the least reliable element of the Reichsarmee" (Duffy, Prussia's Glory p.31). The Bayreuth Cuirassiers had a bad experience at Rossbach, where they were taken in flank by Prussian cavalry when attempting to deploy and were swept away. At Freiberg on 29th October 1762 they performed magnificently: "GM. Tresckow did wonders with the under-strength Reichs Bayreuth Cuirassiers, "which hewed into the enemy cavalry, put it to total flight, made many prisoners and then reformed by squadrons thirty paces from the wood to cover my flank; the two squadrons of the Hohenzollern Regiment [of Cuirassiers] had come up to hack into the rear of the same enemy cavalry, and likewise reformed" "(Duffy, By Force Of Arms, p.387).

First raised 1682. Made up of 23 contingents. Inhaber: Markgraf von Brandenburg-Bayreuth 1735-1763. Composition: 5 squadrons with a theoretical total of nearly 700.

Uniform: Black tricorne, yellow or gold lace, black cockade, yellow or gold button, white bob with red centre. Black stock. White coat with white collar, poppy red lapels, cuffs and turnbacks, gold or yellow metal buttons. White and red aiguillette on right shoulder. Poppy red cummerbund. Straw waistcoat and breeches, poppy red lace. Black boots. Black painted metal cuirass. Poppy red shabraque with white edging, red "worm" of lace on the white edge.

14th and 15th Reichsarmee Templates: Grenadier and Musketeer, Infantry Regiment Baden-Durlach (Swabian Circle)

Unit details: To follow

Uniform: Grenadier (above): Prussian-style grenadier mitre cap with brass front plate, blue sack, red base with yellow grenades, white lace, red pompom. Musketeer (left): Black tricorne, white lace, white with blue pompom, yellow metal button. Both: Black stock. Prussian-style uniform with dark blue coat, red collar, lapels, cuffs and turnbacks, blue or red shoulder straps. White waistcoat and breeches. Yellow buttons.