Saturday, September 8, 2018

Spanish Napoleonic Army Review... and facing tables for Line Infantry, 1808.



The entire 1808 Spanish army deploys for review!


In total the Army has 10 Line Infantry units, 4 Militia infantry units, 3 Light Infantry units, 2 Grenadier units, and 24 Guerrillas, totaling 390 figures.



The cavalry arm has 2 units of Heavy Cavalry (Cavaleria de la Linea), 2 units of Dragoons, and one each of Hussars and Garrochista lancers, for a total of 48 figures.


The artillery arm has four batteries, one of them 12 pounders, and 6 stands of 1 figure representing engineers, sappers, pontooniers, etc, for a total of 32 figures and 8 guns. 


Senior command includes 12 one figure generals, and 3 three figure stands, for a total of 21 figures. 
Grand total for the army is thus 491 figures and 8 guns, all painted between September 2017 and June 2018.


Right flank of the formation, with the Garrochistas leading, and Guerrillas trailing. All of the cavalry here are the superb Brigade Games figures, sculpted by Paul Hicks. 



The light blue faced Almansa Dragoons, and the "red faced" Del Rey Cavalry provide the punch (if that can be said of any Spanish cavalry!)


Motley Crew #1 of Guerillas, with their leader, Don Julio Sanchez. 


The right center has a unit of Cazadores (light infantry; Cazadore means hunter, just like Chasseur and Jager)  in their earlier uniforms in the lead. 



The green faced Militia Honrada de Coruna stays safely to the rear! Perhaps the imbibed a bit too much rioja last night? Eagle figures were used for these. 


The line infantry core is composed of 4 units using Three Armies figures - The regiment Del Rey in the 1802 uniforms (medium blue coats faced black), the Voluntarios de Castilla (crimson facings), the Swiss Redding, Jr  with dark blue coats faced scarlet, and the Irish Irlanda regiment, wearing light blue coats faced yellow. Uniform designs by Godoy. Admire them as they strut down the runway!  :-)


In the center are the three Artillery batteries, all Brigade games figures, and support /technical troops.


In support behind the guns are a uinit of Cazadores, the Ordones Militares line (dark blue facings), the Sevilla line (black facings), and the combined Grenadier corps (Granaderos). Brigade games figues, except the Grenadiers, which are a mix of Front Rank and Three Armies. 


Supporting from the rear are two units of Brigade Games militia - the yellow faced Voluntarios de Navarra, and the light blue faced Voluntarios de Madrid


In the left center we fing a unit of light infantry in the more "modern" 1805 uniforms, dark blue coats with yellow facings in this case. These are Eagle figures. 


The four line infantry regiments, composed of Miniaturas Dos de Mayo figures, are the Reina (violet facings), Burgos (green facings), Valencia (light blue facings), and Guadalajara (scarlet facings) regiments. Bringing up the rear is the Militia Honorada de Lorca (red facings, Eagle figures). 


Stationed on the Left is the remainder of the cavalry. In the lead are the infamous "Run away Marys", the beautiful Maria Louisa Hussars.


In dark blue coats buff facings and white lace is the Algarve Line cavalry.


The Numancia Dragoons are a blaze of color with their striking yellow uniforms and black facings. 


Finally there is the cloud of Motley Crew #2; more Guerillas. Both such are a mixture of Brigade Games and Eagle figures. The vast majority of the flags are by Adolfo Ramos, with a few additional standards printed out from the Warflag site. 


This army is now essentially complete. Were there to be a reason to do so (? the battle of Ocana), the most I could see adding to them would be 2 more line (or "footguard") units, 2 more stands of grenadiers, and 2 more militia (? Perry figures), plus a unit of Cazadores a Caballo when somebody makes them in 28 mm. 


When I was busy painting all of these troops, I didn't have time to present the facing colors of the bulk of the Line infantry. That omission is hereby remedied! As regular readers may recall, each of the units in the army has a post devoted specifically to them as well,.  


Facing Colors for the Spanish Line Infantry 1805 - 1811 (or whenever the uniforms wore out, etc) 

Note that although all three sources assign the same facing colors to the same regiments, there are minor differences in the details.Where in doubt, I'd bet on Bueno's v errsion All the regiments had white turnbacks piped in the facing color, and shoulder straps in the facing color piped in white. White items (collars, cuffs, or lapels) were also piped in the facing color, while facing colored items were always piped in white. 




Facing illustration from Jose Maria Bueno, "El l Ejercito y la Armada en 1808"
(The Army and the Navy in 1808). 


Spanish Regimental Distinctions, 1805
(per Rene Chartrand’s Osprey)
(The Spanish regiments were not actually numbered, but I believe these correspond to the Bueno diagrams above). They follow the order in which the regiments were raised. Several trace their origins back to the famous Tercios of the 1500's.

Rgt #
Name
Cuffs
Lapels
Collar
Buttons
1
Rey
Violet
Violet
Violet
Brass
2
Reina
Violet
Violet
Violet
Pewter
3
Principe
Violet
Violet
White
Brass
4
Saboya
Black
Black
Black
Brass
5
Corona
Violet
Violet
Violet
Pewter
6
Africa
Black
Black
White
Brass
7
Zamora
Black
Black
White
Pewter
8
Soria
Violet
Violet
White
Pewter
9
Cordoba
Scarlet
Scarlet
Scarlet
Brass
10
Guadalajara
Scarlet
Scarlet
Scarlet
Pewter
11
Sevilla
Scarlet
Black
Black
Brass
12
Granada
Sky Blue
Sky Blue
Sky Blue
Brass
13
Valencia
Sky Blue
Sky Blue
Sky Blue
Pewter
14
Zaragoza
Green
Green
Green
Brass
15
Espana
Green
Green
Green
Pewter
16
Toledo
Sky Blue
Sky Blue
White
Brass
17
Mallorca
Scarlet
Scarlet
White
Brass
18
Burgos
Green
Green
White
Brass
19
Murcia
Sky Blue
Sky Blue
White
Pewter
20
Leon
Scarlet
Scarlet
White
Pewter
21
Cantabria
White
Sky Blue
Sky Blue
Pewter
22
Asturias
Green
Green
White
Pewter
23
Fijo de Cueta
Green
White
Green
Pewter
24
Navarra
Blue
Blue
Blue
Brass
25
Aragon
White
Scarlet
Scarlet
Pewter
26
America
Blue
Blue
Blue
Pewter
27
Princesa
White
Violet
Violet
Pewter
28
Extremadura
Crimson
Crimson
Crimson
Brass
29
Malaga
Blue
Blue
White
Brass
30
Jaen
Blue
Blue
White
Pewter
31
Ordonnes
Militares
White
Blue
Blue
Pewter
32
Voluntarios de Castilla
Crimson
Crimson
Crimson
Pewter
33
Voluntarios del Estado
Crimson
Crimson
White
Brass
34
Voluntarios de
la Corona
Crimson
Crimson
White
Pewter
35
Borbon
White
Crimson
Crimson
Pewter



Spanish Regimental Distinctions, 1805
(per Funken) - the most logical presentation!

Name
Cuffs
Lapels
Collar
Buttons
Rey
Violet
Violet
Violet
Brass
Reina
Violet
Violet
Violet
Pewter
Principe
Violet
Violet
White
Brass
Soria
Violet
Violet
White
Pewter
Princesa
Violet
White
Violet
Pewter
Saboya (Savoy)
Black
Black
Black
Brass
Corona
Black
Black
Black
Pewter
Africa
Black
Black
White
Brass
Zamora
Black
Black
White
Pewter
Sevilla
Black
White
Black
Brass
Cordoba
Scarlet
Scarlet
Scarlet
Brass
Guadalajara
Scarlet
Scarlet
Scarlet
Pewter
Mallorca
Scarlet
Scarlet
White
Brass
Leon
Scarlet
Scarlet
White
Pewter
Aragon
Scarlet
White
Scarlet
Pewter
Granada
Sky Blue
Sky Blue
Sky Blue
Brass
Valencia
Sky Blue
Sky Blue
Sky Blue
Pewter
Toledo
Sky Blue
Sky Blue
White
Brass
Murcia
Sky Blue
Sky Blue
White
Pewter
Cantabria
Sky Blue
White
Sky Blue
Pewter
Zaragoza
Green
Green
Green
Brass
Espana
Green
Green
Green
Pewter
Burgos
Green
Green
White
Brass
Asturias
Green
Green
White
Pewter
Fijo de Cueta
Green
White
Green
Pewter
Navarra
Blue
Blue
Blue
Brass
America
Blue
Blue
Blue
Pewter
Malaga
Blue
Blue
White
Brass
Jaen
Blue
Blue
White
Pewter
Ordonnes
Militares
Blue
White
Blue
Pewter
Extremadura
Crimson
Crimson
Crimson
Brass
Voluntarios de Castilla
Crimson
Crimson
Crimson
Pewter
Voluntarios del Estado
Crimson
Crimson
White
Brass
Voluntarios de
la Corona
Crimson
Crimson
White
Pewter
Borbon
Crimson
White
Crimson
Pewter



Swiss Regiments, 1805 (as posted previously)

Regiment
Cuffs/Turnbacks
Lapels
Collar
Buttons
Wimpfen
Scarlet
Scarlet
Scarlet
Pewter
Reding Senior
Scarlet
Scarlet
Scarlet
Pewter
Reding Junior
Scarlet
Scarlet
Scarlet
Pewter
Betschart
Scarlet
Scarlet
Scarlet
Pewter
Traxler
Scarlet
Scarlet
Scarlet
Pewter
Preux
Scarlet
Scarlet
Dark Blue
Pewter


Irish/Foreign Regiments, 1805: (as posted previously)

#
Regiment
Cuffs/turnbacks
Lapels
Collar
Buttons
36
Irlanda
Light Yellow
Light Yellow
Light Yellow
Brass
37
Hibernia
Light Yellow
Light Yellow
Sky Blue
Pewter
38
Ultona
Light Yellow
Sky Blue
Light Yellow
Brass
39
Napoles
Light Yellow
Light Yellow
Light Yellow
Pewter
Ultona = Ulster,  raised in 1709, Napoles = Naples, an Italian "Foreign" regiment. 
All regiments had light yellow shoulder straps piped white as well. 

34 comments:

  1. What an impressive and colorful army! Probably the loveliest uniformed army of the period - who cares of how history paints their war record.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Dean. Spoken like a true collector. It is arguably the most colorful army of the era!

      Certainly the reputation of the Spanish army has suffered from the British largely not giving them their due, and the French focusing on their victories over them, and blaming their defeats on the Guerillas and the British. The number of units raised buy the Spanish over the course of the Peninsular War is astounding, especially given the lack of an effective central government. I do not think it an exaggeration to to assert that without the "Spanish Ulcer", Napoleon might never have fallen from power.

      Delete
  2. I love a parade, Peter, especially one with a Spanish flair! Fabulous looking Spanish army and a splendid accomplishment.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Jon.
      Castanets and Flamenco dancers optional!

      Delete
  3. Gorgeous units.
    Like the "essentially complete" comment as if :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Gary.
      Well, the "possible" additions would "only" and another 60 figures, give or take a few! :-)

      Delete
  4. Just played my Spanish army this afternoon (and won!)...We have to meet one day on the same table, yours is superb and colorful!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the kind words, Phil. The army would definitely not fly well in carry on baggage! :-) Congrats on winning with a Spanish (Napoleonic) army - a worthy accomplishment!

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    2. Indeed, one of those "Wargaming Moments" that bears re-telling!

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  5. A terrific display, and it has been great watching all this come together. The Spanish army really are a colourful lot, especially dressed in their pre British-supplied uniforms.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Lawrence, and a veritable rainbow they are indeed!
      Thumbs down to the boring later British provided uniforms! :-)

      Delete
  6. Superb Peter! Really shows off what a wonderfully colourful and varied appearance the Spanish have. Very handy charts too! Thanks for the post and army pictures :)

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Mark. the army is a bit kaleidoscopic in color!

      Delete
  7. Lovely colourful army,I misread "admire them as they run away," great diverse army and useful facing colour chart,an army Id really like to paint one day!
    Best Iain

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Ian. Well, I had only been painting Napoleonics for nearly 40 years before doing any Spanish!

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  8. Apparently the guns were more Blue Grey than Blue.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Yes, this has been discussed in the relevant posts for the artillery bunits; a result of a lack of pictures/plates for the guns, and my taking the Cobalt Blue pigment used in the paint a bit too literally (the shade my carriages are painted in matches Cobalt Blue as a hue quite well). AmI going to repaint them? Heck, no!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Very cool!!
    I have Spain army too in Russia :)
    https://urfin-djuse.blogspot.com/b/post-preview?token=xxmKyWUBAAA.vn_kgchvL9063pSrpSKmAs3aaOVGzYQbxhZQwqvFa50k-hulZQXqqfx4w2o_-p6Juk1ar-kAIy75CqaezDB-5g.zwTT2d9BnCYT1_N1ABkY2A&postId=1783131053361898369&type=POST

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Ivan. Hopefullyyours havwe warm clothes for the coming winter! :-)
      IIRC, the only Spanish who made it to Russia historically was the Regiment Joseph Napoleon, which is in the French OOB at Borodino.

      Delete
  11. What a terrific accomplishment, great looking army. Congratulations.

    John

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Jon! I really enjoyed the variety of uniforms in this army!

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  12. These look fantastic Peter. Gives me the urge to crack on painting my rather smaller versions.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Jon. Even in 6 mm, the Spanish Dragoons in particular will stand out in a crowd!

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  13. They look superb arrayed for inspection Peter. A fine effort too.
    Those books by Jose Maria Bueno are invaluable aren’t they?
    James

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, James. In my case, I had sufficient other sources to work with that I simply used the plate from the Bueno book, found on line, for illustrative purposes... although I would consider buying the book, having a basic command of Spanish!

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  14. Thank you for sharing your work and research. That's a fine-looking army. I am painting a Spanish army in 10mm (Wargames South and -- when released -- Pendraken figures) and this is very helpful.

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    Replies
    1. Glad you found it useful, Ken! Other posts in this series have information on the Cavalry and Artillery uniforms.

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