Battle of Montblanc, 4th October 1713

Taking advantage of a gap in the Hispannic/Spanish lines leaving unprotected a town that was key to the communication between two of their major armies, two Galatan/Catalan columns converged upon that town -not other than Montblanc, a beautiful medieval city not far from Tarragona where Catalan mythology sets their version of the Legend of Saint George and the Dragon!

As it couldn't be otherwise, Saint George clearly favoured the Galatans and allowed them to release the town, expelling from it the Hispannic garrison -not without an after battle intense negotiation, while sunlight was slowly fading away. This was finally arranged in a honourable way to the Hispannic commander, whose men had so bravely behaved in spite of numerical inferiority...

If curious, you can read the illustrated battle report here: Montblanc town released!

New Campaign system for Cyberboard

Game Opening Position

I have started a sample of the Seven Years War system for Cyberboard that I have been working on the parts for over the last few years.

Going to game it out using many different systems.

Check out the parts in action on my Duchy of Mieczyslaw blog.

Battle of Hesselbach, July 30, 1761/2011

Shortly after the Battle of Waldeck, reported here and on the Campaigns in Germania blog and Der Alte Fritz Journal, the forces of the Electorische Armee Thueringen and the Reichsarmeeabteilung Obere-Sachsen collided at the little village of Hesselbach near Schweinfurt.

Photo by Col Campbell

For a complete report, see the Jackson Gamers blog.  LINK

Ardoberg-Holstein and St. Maurician Frontier

For those of you who may be interested, here's a map of the Ardoberg-Holstein and St. Maurician frontier to better understand the tide of war as currently described ( or maybe the term is misrepresented) on the respective blog sites.

Moving images of The Empress of Russia

Two documents about the youth and early achievements of Czarina Ekaterina Alekseyevna are -for the time being- freely visible in full through the Strange Sidelight:
- The Rise of Catherine the Great,
- The Scarlet Empress.

As it's so often the case, their historical accuracy is debatable; the second, specially, is crammed with 'surreal' images, but the upstairs mounted charge (the 'coup' starts # 1:34:00) is as memorable as spectacular.


Edited: As a matter of old movies featuring Catherine, and on a totally fanciful note (the film was a comedy, and indeed a parody of the 'Frederician' propaganda movies of the time), Baron Münchausen dines and more with the Czarina, before riding a cannonball (shrewdly shot by a jealous Potemkin).
From the 1943 movie Münchhausen visible in full (and Agfacolor) on YouTube.

An invitation...

Any fellow imaginations wishing to send representitives ( 25mm or 28mm mounted or on foot) to accompany either the Duke of Tradgardland or Graf von Apfelstrudel on their respective campaigns are invited to send their details to the respective camps now as the campaign season begins in earnest. Chaplains,natural philosphers, aide de camp, diverse characters and mere observers are most welcome. A place may be open to inspiring gentlemen within regiments too...

Teddy Bear Wars: Battle of Sugar Town by DAF

The Victor: Lady Emma Cuddlestone-Smythe and the Blue Bear Army.

Gentlemen: follow the link to the stirring account of the battle between the Blue Bear Army of Lady Emma Cuddlestone Smythe and the Pink Bear Army of His Lordship, Lord Paddington Bear.

link




The Loser: Lord Paddington Bear

Meanwhile, in Unkerlant

I realize news from the current struggle in Unkerlant has been sparse. Life and missing participants always plague campaigns, but I hope to soon kick start some activity.

Recently, Borogravian forces were bloodily repelled in the Arch Duchy of Volborg. The battle itself was particularly brutal on horse flesh, and both sides have become scarce on cavalry. Borogravia was able to find a pass through the mountains and across the treacherous River Vollen, thanks to traitorous cur of a local lord.

Meanwhile, across the country, Franistover and Zlobenia face off for control of the west, in what is sure to be a titanic battle (by Unkerlant standards).

A fictional question..

Anyone point me in the right direction for some novels with a military flavour set in the mid 18th century- your recommendations are eagerly sought...
Many thanks
Alan