What to look for in autumn, for ancients...

Morning all!
I have resolved to put all my ancient gaming here from now on-
http://pavilionedinsplendour.blogspot.co.uk/
Do pop by for a look...

A letter arrives

The new Duke has just been delivered letters from the officer commanding the Schwabische Kreis of the Reichsarmee. Apart from the usual formalities and pleasantries ( albeit in short supply) there is information regarding the imminent arrival of I R Alt Wurttemburg and I R Baden -Durlach in the Duchy of Tradgardland. They will be billeted in the Tradgardstadt in order that drill and other exercises of arms might be undertaken with the Tradgardland regiments.

The Duke immediately heads off to speak with his Head Gardener,sorry Janissary Guard Commander, telling him of the forthcoming arrivals and tells him that  tents need to be erected with great haste. The Janissary Commander  tells his men to put away their false moustaches and get changed into their everyday clothes as there is much work to be done..

Meet the new Duke of Tradgardland

It is a month now since the old Duke of Tradagrdland retired from the burdens of Statecraft to become a monk. He has settled well  into his new life of prayer and meditation and cares little for his old life. He is ,however,interested to hear how his 2nd cousin is getting on as the new Duke- Duke Aeneas the Third.
Duke Aeneas is a very different fellow indeed. Here is his newly decorated bedroom at the Ducal Palace-

And here below is  a portrait of Aeneas as a young man-

The new Duke is consumed by the East and by that decadent fashion sweeping Europe - Turquerie!

Since arriving he has already formed his own Janissary Guard-

He is unaware of the hours of work spent sewing by candlelight in dusty attics to make the costumes from a pattern sent by the seamstresses of Augustus the Strong of Saxony. He remains unaware too of the huffs and puffs  of the Palace Gardeners forced to wear this outlandish attire and wear false moustaches. 

Yes things (not to mention the buildings) are going to be different under the rule of Aeneas the Third...

Thanks etc

Firstly a great big thanks for your supportive comments to my previous post.They have really helped.I am fortunate to blog amongst such a splendid  community within the ether. I am feeling a little more like myself.Tired but moving forward.
On the hobby front I am currently rebasing/organising my 18th century 25/28mm collection in order to unify it into one project re organisation and base size.I am looking forward to seeing it all upon the table together once they are based etc. As part of this I posted the following on Emperor v Elector and am repeating it here-
"Morning all!
I looking for information about the Reichsarmee. How often did they meet as batts/regts for training?At what level did they train -company,batt or what? Information re the different contingents and how often they came together and the officers and their background. Did the soldiers practice on firing ranges/pardadegrounds/wasteland/heaths in their local communities? The more I think about it how little I know about the day to day working of the reichsarmee at a low level...
Thanks in anticipation
Alan"
Finally I couldn't resist posting this little picture I found whilst searching-

Black dog and the hobby

The black dog has been sniffing around again. He caught me unawares after some time away from me.
During such visits all my hobby efforts seem worthless and that which I have painted/imagineered/planned counts as naught. Does anyone else have similar experiences?

Updates- Helms,lead and leads

Half term at last and I am off for a week-huzzah! I cannot post the pictures I took with my eldest's camera as she forgot the lead! You therefore will not be able to see what I am painting or the glorious Cosmos flowers in the garden.
For my Lion Rampant project I have taken delivery of some Brettonian GW archers and knights ( they are big but splendid) for my medieval Tradgardland  forces. I love the tourney style helms and the figures should look spectacular in action. In the mean time a couple of pictures I got to add inspiration to my painting-

 

These pictures remind me of a 1914 Munich calendar I got some years ago from an antique dealer-

It is very colourful inside too-

I have started painting six of the knights to get onto the table this holiday for a Lion Rampant game hopefully later in the week.
The lack of camera lead means you cannot see a picture of  some 54mm lead soldiers in home service uniform I bought for a 1885 North West rebellion game. I am in two minds about repainting old lead but will go for it- I think they deserve it.

I have also been thinking about Fellund and hope to have delivery of some London Warroom Spanish mountain troops soon to move the Fellund forces forward. I am trying to come with a flag design too.

Finally I have been lurking around Glorantha based sites of late becoming increasingly drawn into that arcane world. I have succumbed and sent off for 12 Broo by Madknight.I will use them against some peltasts etc I have lying around. I still am looking for a way in to Glorantha - the blogs/websites/illustrations I have looked at raise as many questions as they answer.

Mountain troops or honest I have not been forgetting 18th Century Tradgardland...

Many of you (?) may be missing some input from that stalwart of 18th Century imaginations namely The Duchy of Tradgardland. It is not forgotten,just resting and now awakened....
During my summer hols I discovered some interesting documentation ( in a secret drawer at the back of my 18th century portable writing desk,hidden behind broken pipe fragments and a nib sharping pen)

 regarding the Archbishopric of Fellund. Depending on what sources consulted it seems that Fellund is on the border of Tradgardland and is in some obscure way is either part of the Duchy or not. It is all vague and the High German script is hard to read. Anyway whilst having lunch at Chesters
 ( http://www.chestersbytheriver.co.uk/ ) in July I took time to make  notes on Fellund ,its history,culture and relationship with Tradgardland. I was particularly interested to read of the ill fated expedition of 1764. As my research allows I hope to present my findings here.In the meantime some historical illustrations-

  " The light of reason shines upon a dark land or Darkmere ,Fellund" painted by Ulrich Ludwig Ullandds.

A Fellund fusilier wrongly attributed  as Catalan from the archive at Wargstadt Seminary Library.

                                       Another wrongly attributed etching from the same collection