The League of Augsburg
Templar Museum - Monteriggioni, Tuscany
This was a wee bit of a find. 1.5 Euro entry fee, a laminated six page guide in English - up a back stair inside a restaurant in the 'Assassin's Creed' castle of Monteriggioni - but, I loved it!
A series of vignettes from the 1st Crusade and Capture of Jerusalem to the Teutonic knights, Landsknechts and the dreaded Swiss coming to town in Siena - it was all good stuff.
I definitely got a hint of...
Building Garrison Point Fort in 1/2400 scale
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| Rough mock-up shot of Garrison Point Fort in 1667. Van Ghent's squadron attempting to sail past. |
My ideas for the Medway Campaign 1667 involve it being conducted by map, in 1/2400 scale and finally, in 28mm for small land and naval actions.I thought I would begin building the small scale terrain with the first significant defensive work encountered by the Dutch.
On the north western tip of the Isle...
Blood & Cutts Part 3
The final part of a piece on one of the country's forgotten Lions...
An appraisal of England’s fire eating general
An appraisal of England’s fire eating general
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| Cutts probably did not get into the heat of battle at Blenheim but his commanded a large body of the army. |
Cutts on the table top
In a skirmish game John Cutts would be a fearless leader with a nose for danger. Fond of impetuous charges, close combat and impossible odds. A character who...
Blood & Cutts! Part 2
The second part of my piece on Lord John Cutts of Gowran.
An appraisal of England’s fire eating general
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| English hero - for sure, Subject of Swiftian satire - definitely! |
What he did best
His speciality was leading assaults into the breach. Many of his wounds were received in such situations. He seemed to gravitate towards peers and superiors with a similar disposition to his own. One such, Thomas...
Blood & Cutts! Part 1
This article appeared in issue #379 May 2019 or Wargames Illustrated. I am publishing it on the blog in three parts as it is fairly long.
An appraisal of England’s fire eating general
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| John Cutts painted by Wissing around 1687, aged about 24 |
Like many notable men of his era, John Cutts is difficult to define in terms of good or bad, wrong or right. If considered only by his military deeds it...
Let's make a wagon fort
Well, it was a thought that had been floating around my head for a while. I had some vague ideas about how I might scratch build a defend-able 'wagon barrier' but had never gone practical with it.
No time like the present - about a month or so till Partizan so nothing like a little pressure to focus the mind.
How many? (it was a question to self).. four? six?... how about twelve? OK. That's settled,...
40mm Cossacks versus Ottomans
This game caught my eye at Claymore.
On inquiry, it was explained as a mid-17th century Ottoman incursion into the Ukraine.
The figures are from Irregular Miniatures. I was taken by the striking nature of the set up and although very Old School in form, the subject matter and unusual visuals created an appealing show spectacle.
Banners are interesting too!
I thought Blog visitors would also be taken...
Armour and Siege Museum - Monteriggioni
The old adage about never a bus around when you want one and then a fleet arrive all at the same time...
Having paid my 1.5 euro for the Templar Experience, Monteriggioni, I decided before it got dark to confront my vertigo and 'git up on them thaar walls boy!
I was ambling by the large garden hut disguised as a medieval battering ram when a little voice called
'Signore! bigletto per favore!'
2.5...
Heidelberg Castle - photo walk through
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| The large tower on the right (Dicker Turm) was mined by Louis XIV's army in 1693 |
It was my good fortune to find myself in Heidelberg for a couple of days and to explore its Thirty Years War and War of the Palatinate history.
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| Many of the defensive works were repeatedly reconstructed after sieges during the TYW and Nine Years War |
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| The view from the castle down into the town and the Alte Bruecke over the... |
Kurpfalz Feldherren Wargame Club, Germany
We meet up with the guys from Kurpfalz Feldherren at Tactica, Hamburg, Crisis, Antwerp and even at Partizan. They do wonderful games at least two of which have been featured on the blog before. Lovely bunch of people, totally into their hobby and it really shows.
This wonderful game was I think Juergen told me, inspired by some of the Donnybrook Dark ideas (well the town at least). I just love the...
A Fascinating detour Part 2 - Brielle
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| Gateway in Brielle's inner defensive ramparts |
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| Panel beyond the outer works explaining Brielle's position and history |
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| The moat between out ramparts and the Molenbolwerk - can you see its cannon? |
Whilst in Den Haag Toggy spotted an article about the fortress town of Brielle and its capture by the Sea Beggars during the Eighty Years War. Do you know anything about this? he asked. Nope was the unhelpful...
Champions of Pike & Shot 1: Mark Shearwood
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| Siege of Athlone 1691 - wonderful solo effort by Mark |
I decided to highlight the work of fellow gamers who I feel make a significant contribution to the popularity of the period 1660-1720. Mark Shearwood's output is both prodigious and high quality.
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| Meanwhile back in Brixham 1688 - Kidnapping King James |
Mark has produced imaginative and inspiring games which have appeared at various shows mostly in...
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