Born in Rostock, Mecklenburg the son of a land-owning family, Blücher was destined for military service. In 1758, at the age of 16, he joined the Swedish Army as a hussar, to fight against Prussia in the Seven Years War (1756-1763). Blücher was captured two years later whilst fighting against Prussian hussars. The Prussians were so…
Last week Ancients wargaming expert Nigel Stillman provided a detailed account of Early Bronze age warfare and focused on military development in the region. Here, in part 2, Nigel explains how armies were raised and organised. Raising an Army The city and its surrounding territory, in other words the city state, was considered to be…
Born in 1758 into modest circumstances, Massena had a colourful early life. He was a cabin boy, soldier and smuggler before he joined the army for a second time in 1791, and a year later he had risen to the rank of colonel. During the next few years Massena campaigned in Italy, rising quickly to become…
A renowned Ancients wargaming expert, archeologist and author, Nigel Stillman is a well respected name in our hobby and we’re delighted to have Nigel writing for us. Here Nigel provides a detailed account of Early Bronze age warfare. Part 1 covers the available sources of information for this long distant era and examines the distinct…
Born in 1758 in Pembrokeshire, Wales, he joined the 12th Suffolk Regiment of Foot in 1773 as an ensign. His initial army career ended in disillusionment when the 12th were disbanded in 1783. He rejoined the Army some eleven years later, acting as an aide-de-camp in an expedition to the West Indies, which led to a…
Junot was born in 1771 to a middle class family and he was studying law in Paris when the French Revolution began. He immediately connected with the revolutionary cause and joined a battalion of volunteer infantry, showed great promise and was promoted to Sergeant. He was probably the man who knew Napoleon the longest, their paths…
The campaign of the ‘Hundred Days’ was to become the thundering climax of the Napoleonic Wars. The shattering of the Grande Armèe in the snows of Russia in 1812, followed by two years of desperate fighting, forced the Emperor of the French to abdicate in 1814. The elated emperors and kings of the Sixth Coalition exiled Bonaparte to the tiny…
Pike & Shotte author Steve Morgan gives some pointers on how to start collecting and painting an English Civil Wars army: Steve: Many gamers steer clear of wargaming the English Civil War simply because they don’t know where to start. In other periods there are clear directives for regiment sizes, uniforms, banners and formations which naturally…
Background On October 1808 Sir John Moore took command of the Anglo-Portuguese army. He boldly led his 23,000 men into Spain, but a month later had to retreat rapidly, pursued by the enemy. His strategic position was not good, his Spanish allies had been defeated and had proved to be untrustworthy, and he faced a…
Søren Ralph Christensen returns to share the history of Napoleon’s Old Guard and show off his painted regiment: The Old Guard was first formed in 1804 using veterans from the campaigns of Italy and Egypt. They would see service in all major campaigns of Napoleon, right to the very last hour at Waterloo. The Old…
Graham Davey