TYW - Scottish mercenaries arrived

[Ala Noricorum]

there was some silence on TYW front except VIPs like Tilly so i took liberty to show some troops which landing in Germany

"Scottish mercenaries, assumed to be men of Mackay's Regiment landing in the Baltic port of Stettin in 1630 or 1631. This print is regarded as the earliest surviving depiction of Highland dress. The original caption states, "They are a strong and hardy people who survive on little food. If they have no bread, they eat roots [turnips may be intended]. When necessary, they can cover more than 20 German miles in a day's forced march. [1 German mile = 4¾ English miles!] Besides muskets, they carry bows, quivers and long swords."

Mine Scotts so far: laughter







[imghttp://img687.imageshack.us/img687/855/1004856t.jpg][/img]






Some serious tufting still waiting

[Invisible officer]

You can never have too many Scotsmen in a TYW army. Nice force.

You are correct, in older German turnips are called Wurzeln. But also Parsnips and Carrots. The original caption of the old print was not Scots but "In solchem Habit Gehen die 800 Stettin angekommen Irrllander oder Irren"

Funny, in modern German Irren would mean insane, the others are written with one r only. Could it have a meaning on the field of battle????

[Ala Noricorum]

Im in doubt about flags
George gush wrote in his Renaissance Warfare:
"The national flag, in use long before this time, was the 'auld blue blanket' with the white saltire of St Andrew; Scots 16th Century armies would also display the banners and guidons of the nobility"

So what will be the proper colours for Scottish Brigade in TYW?
Names like Monroe, Ramsay, Hepburne,Leslie around
suggestionsare welcome

[Thaddeus]

Very nice, just the inspiration I need to get working on my own Scots in continental service... as far as names go, I think I read that Gordon was a prominent/frequent one (in Polish service at least, dunno how many ended up in Germany).

Also one of my Cossacks will be Scottish as well, a Cameron, though I don't know how much he'll look it, since he seems to have been pretty assimilated into the Cossack lifestyle... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maksym_Kryvonis.

[HobbitMiles]

Have you tried the Osprey book on Swedes of the TYW for flags? My copy is loaned out at the moment so I can't check for you.

[Invisible officer]

Few references about the Scottish TYW colours survived. There is a note from 1635 in the travel journal written by Charles Ogier (a French diplomat) that a Scottish regiment serving in Prussia had red colours with a blue field near the pole, in this the St. Andrew cross in white. But there is no unit name given.

You find it in: Carles d'Ogier, Reiseeindrücke (German translation) . He wrote in Latin Don't expect much military there, he fell in love with the lovely ladies of Poland.

But he describes a lot or war booty that he saw at Stockholm. The catholic Ogier was not happy to see the many golden crucifixes, bishops rods and other religious items.

For Thaddeus the notes on the Polish army may be interesting.
"never have I seen a more peculiar sight than this. Polish nobility all on beautiful chargers, in superb shining armour, with panther, lion and tigers skins thrown over their shoulders, having long lances held up by cords hanging from the saddle, on the end of which, beneath the point, were silk pennons which fluttered in the air and confused the enemy's eyes. This was all very brilliant, but it was hard not to laugh at the sight of the tall wings fixed to their backs, from which, as they say, enemy horses are frightened and escape from ... at their side they wear sabres and near the saddle pistols, maces, hammers, axes and swords. In battle only the first one or two ranks can use the lance, for the others it is almost useless so they choose other weapons."
Well, they came for a Royal ceremony, nicely dressed for show.

[Cubster]

Few references about the Scottish TYW colours survived. There is a note from 1635 in the travel journal written by Charles Ogier (a French diplomat) that a Scottish regiment serving in Prussia had red clours with a blue field near the pole, in this the St. Andrew cross in white. But there is no unit name given.

Doesn't sound like 100 miles away from ECW Covenanter colours then; just the saltire on a background of various hues.

[Thaddeus]

Good stuff, Invisible Officer! I love how the various sources agree about the presence of wings (on parade at least), but diverge so drastically on whether the effect was impressive or comical. No accounting for taste, I guess.

[Ala Noricorum]

for comments.
Its apreciated
I have this on mind when I started Scotts http://mtsc-tyw.blogspot.com/ Henderson and Leslie flags are there
Maybe I would add some clan and nobility markings

[Ala Noricorum]

Very nice, just the inspiration I need to get working on my own Scots in continental service... as far as names go, I think I read that Gordon was a prominent/frequent one (in Polish service at least, dunno how many ended up in Germany).

Also one of my Cossacks will be Scottish as well, a Cameron, though I don't know how much he'll look it, since he seems to have been pretty assimilated into the Cossack lifestyle... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maksym_Kryvonis.

Great idea, full of flavor Thaddeus
I suppose that i already saw this guy in polish movie With fire and sword-he fearlessly led kossacks infantry charge at Žolte vody/drinks from chamber pot when ransacking polish mansion
Also in movie itro there is same german mercenary garrison in border fort.Richard Brzezinski who made several osprey titles about polish armies in 17 century and TYW also worked as an historical adviser for the BBC and on the Polish film epic With Fire and Sword .