"So Carnehan weeds out the pick of his men, and sets the two of the Army to show them drill and at the end of two weeks the men can manoeuvre about as well as Volunteers. So he marches with the Chief to a great big plain on the top of a mountain, and the Chiefs men rushes into a village and takes it; we three Martinis firing into the brown of the enemy".
Kipling "The Man Who Would Be King"
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Another in those occasional "regiments of renown" series featuring the histories of various regiments painted in haste at the beginning of a project, but not documented here for posterity... so we come to French infantry regiment "Navarre", part of my War of the Spanish Succession collection...
This wargame unit has the unique feature of being the only regiment in the collection that wasn't painted by me - this regiment was painted by my old wargaming buddy DG, and was part of the original pile of painted figures and bags of unpainted ones that he passed to me when he decided the period just wasn't for him back then in errr.... 2006? I think, he gave me the parcel just after Salute that year...
- the regiment was created in 1558 from protestant soldiers originally members of the 'Bandes de Guyenne' who were recruited in the region of the Garonne River. The bandes (there were many) by the way were the first permanent, paid, infantry units in the service of France, modelled on the organisation of the Swiss units (mercenaries in French pay).
- When the regiment was formed, as usual for the time it took its name from the first colonel of the regiment, but in November 1562, on the death of the King of Navarre, the regiment was assigned to guard his son, Henri de Navarre (the reason being, that like his Dad, Henri was a First Prince of the Blood ie. the most senior male member of the French royal dynasty who was not in the present Kings line) so somewhere between 1568 and 1570, it became known as the Garde du Roi de Navarre (King of Navarre's Guards). NB. Henri became King of France in 1589 on the death of Henri III who was childless.
- As one of the first regular regiments, Navarre (along with regiments Picardie, Piedmont and Champagne) was in Les Vieux Corps - the Old Corps - equivalent in the British Army of the time to the Guards regiments in terms of seniority and longevity
- At the start of the War of the Spanish Succession, the regiment counted three battalions - but not for long as almost the entire regiment was captured at Blenheim, when they were part of the forces occupying Blenheim village. It wasn't until the following year following a prisoner exchange that the regiment was able to reach its old strength. Other than Ramillies, the regiment was present at all the major engagements in Flanders.
- During the War of the Spanish Succession, the regiment was commanded by:
-
Marie-Adélaïde de Savoie, the Duchess
of Burgundy - she would have been about
24 in this portrait
- from 4 April 1706: Gilbert de Chabannes, Marquis de Pionsac (also recorded as Ponziac/Pionsat) - he died in April 1720 at the grand old age of 73. Not sure what caused him to give up the Colonelcy, but he certainly made Brigadier. It's possible he moved to the Guards.
- from 16 February 1709 till 6 March 1719: Jean, Marquis de Gassion - he was the 3rd Marquis of that name (which is confusing) and not to be confused with the earlier Jean de Gassion who performed a pivotal role at the battle of Rocroi and who Cardinal Richelieu called la Guerre ("War") - he was his great uncle. Jean III is simply described in all the references as a "Lieutenant General in the Kings Armies" - his father (Pierre de Gassion) was president of the Parliament of Navarre, which may explain his promotion. There's no reference as to when he was birth or death, but based on the fact he was the eldest and his parents married in 1670 I'm going to guess he would have been mid to late 30's, when he got the colonelcy. Interestingly - his mother was also a Colbert - his Grandparents would have been the same as Francois-Edouard's... wheels within wheels.. 😏
These are Minifigs and painted by DG some time pre-2006, but based my me - the flag is from Warflag.com
References:
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Laters, as the young people are want to say...
The wild wet building look great assembled, they should look the part when painted and on the table. Another great regiment of renown post as well, good read and a very nicely painted unit, those Minifigs look great.
ReplyDeleteThanks Donnie.. I have a particular place in my heart for those workmanlike Minifigs little metal men... 🙂
DeleteBuildings look ace matey - and the Navarre lads are pretty spiffy too! Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteThanks JBM.. looking forward to working on the buildings...
DeleteThe buildings are very nice, especially with the added planning detail. I furnished mine with resin pieces from Frontline if I recall correctly. I think he is still in business. Prices were very reasonable I thought too.
ReplyDeleteThanks David.. toyed long with whether to go with detailing the interiors but decided against in the end.. thought it might just be an unnecessary complication
DeleteNeither quite my areas of gaming Steve but always interesting to see something you are working on and these figures and buildings are very good.
ReplyDeleteHi Jim.. it's a bit niche to be honest but I'm having loads of fun with it and given the hobby block I've been experiencing.. well... why the hell notl?? 😁
DeleteWhy the hell not indeed.
ReplyDelete