Another unit of Spanish Napoleonic infantry marches off the painting table!
These nattily dressed hombres are the Walloon Guards; in Spanish, Guardias Valonas.
Yhe Wallon guards were first raised in 1704, at a time when Spain controlled the Low Countries. The Spanish Netherlands,. more or less modern Belgium, was their recruiting grounds.
Because of their lack of attachment to the general population, they were often used as a kind of Police force by the King.
When the French Republic annexed the Austrian Netherlands in 1794, recruitment became difficult. his lead to first Germans and Irish joining the ranks of the Regiment.
When the French invaded Spain in 1808, several battalions of the regiment were in Madrid, and were taken into French service, but the remaining battalions continued to fight the French.
These are Perry figures; flag by Adolfo Ramos.
I chose to use a color close to Dusty Mauve for the facings for this unit. More properly, they should have been red. I also left out the buttonhole lace.
Uniform plate for the Walloon Guards circa 1808.
Very sharp! I did not know Perry made Spanish.
ReplyDeleteThey have a fairly extensive range, with 51 codes. Later this year I will have on the painting desk 2 new units of Spanish Cavalry - Cazadores in helmets and the Horse Grenadiers of Fernando V, plus a mule drawn Spanish limber
DeleteVery nice figures Peter. I’m sure I have a swag of these in Connoisseur Miniatures however in the later Shako headwear.
ReplyDeleteThe Spanish provide many opportunities for color and unusual units; I tend to prefer the earlier uniforms.
DeleteOne of my favourite Spanish regiments and you have done them proud Peter. They fought especially well at Albuera.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lawrence. They're a favorite of mine as well, plus they have a cool flag! :-)
DeleteA nice change of pace from the WotR units you have been producing recently Peter. The dark blue with white cross belts etc is very striking indeed, and the flag is very attractive too!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Keith. yes, that was part of the point of doing the couple of Spanish infantry units; a change up from the WotR troops. Plenty more of them to come yet!
DeleteLovely looking unit of Spanish guards, they look excellent, a Spanish army is very tempting!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Thanks, iain. I have been painting Napoleonics since about 1970, and painted my first Spanish only about 5 years ago; there so many other distractions in this era!
DeleteAnother superb flag and well turned out unit
ReplyDeleteThanks, Gary. The Adolfo Ramos flags are really nice!
DeleteGreat looking Guards regiment, Peter. The flag is lovely too!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes,
Jason
Thanks, Jason. All turned out for the Parade in Madrid!
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