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18mm War of the Spanish Succession 1701-1714
This range represents land forces which saw action in the climactic war of the Sun King's reign -- when virtually all of Europe, led by some of the greatest commanders in military history, allied against France to roll back Bourbon ambitions. Included are such great victories as the Battle of Blenheim and Oudenarde for the allies and Denain and Almansa for the French, and bloodbaths like the Battle of Malplaquet.
Models sculpted by Mike Broadbent.
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THE FRENCH
Despite setbacks on the field and tactical methods which may have been less effective than those of its adversaries, the French Army remained the most powerful military force in Europe, requiring an alliance of virtually all other powers to fight it to a standstill. The troops were brave, able, and proud of a long tradition of success. While some leaders were court favourites perhaps not abundantly equipped with tactical genius, many others were excellent commanders, including Marshal Villars, arguably second only to Marlborough himself as the greatest field commander of his age.
French Notes
We have had the French infantry command packs made so that one pack should provide the command figures for two units -- there are four standardbearers, then two each of drummers, sergeants, and officers. Twice the number of standardbearers are provided because each unit would carry both a royal and a regimental standard.
So-called French "Light" Cavalry were actually the line cavalry -- only called "light" because they lacked the breast- and backplate that only one regiment wore! The French cavalry are available with both swords and pistols, because according to some historians the French cavalry emphasised firepower in the charge (other historians contest this) and because some rules systems may differentiate their tactics, using troops with pistols will be a handy way to signfiy the difference. It could also be a handy way to indicate different units or just to add more variation of appearance within the unit.
(For French fusiliers from the end of the War of the League of Augsburg, with the shoulder ribbon, use the Early Spanish Fusileros, below. For French fusiliers of the War of the Spanish Succession with the cravat tail not tucked in, use Later Spanish Fusileros, below.)
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| Code | Contents | Price (US$) | Order/Progress |
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| WSS-FRENCH-GENERALS | 15mm War of the Spanish Succession French High Command -- General Officers and Marshals (x4 in four poses) | $5.99 |
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| WSS-FRENCH-CAVALRY-SWORDS | 15mm War of the Spanish Succession French "Light" Cavalry, Swords (x3 in three poses) | $4.49 |
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| WSS-FRENCH-CAVALRY-PISTOLS | 15mm War of the Spanish Succession French "Light" Cavalry, Pistols (x3 in three poses) | $4.49 |
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| WSS-FRENCH-CAVALRY-COMMAND | 15mm War of the Spanish Succession French "Light" Cavalry, Command (x3 in three poses) | $4.49 |
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| WSS-ARTILLERY-SET1 | 15mm War of the Spanish Succession Artillery Set 1, medium field piece and five crew (for British, French and other nations) | $5.39 |
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| WSS-FRENCH-GUARD-MARCH-ATTACK | 15mm War of the Spanish Succession French Guards, March Attack (x10 in five poses) | $6.99 |
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| WSS-FRENCH-GUARD-GREN-MARCH-ATTACK | 15mm War of the Spanish Succession French Guard Grenadiers, March Attack (x8 in four poses, note these figurines are painted as Swiss) | $4.99 |
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| WSS-FRENCH-GUARD-COMMAND | 15mm War of the Spanish Succession French Guard Command (x10 in eight poses -- four standardbearers in two poses (with separate, ribboned standardpoles), and two poses each of officers, sergeants, and drummers) | $8.49 |
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| WSS-FRENCH-FUSILIERS-MARCH-ATTACK | 15mm War of the Spanish Succession French Fusiliers, March Attack (x8 in four poses) | $4.99 |
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| WSS-FRENCH-GRENADIERS-MARCH-ATTACK | 15mm War of the Spanish Succession French Grenadiers, March Attack (x8 in four poses) | $4.99 |
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| WSS-FRENCH-INFANTRY-COMMAND | 15mm War of the Spanish Succession French Infantry Command (x10 in eight poses -- four standardbearers in two poses (with separate, ribboned standardpoles), and two poses each of officers, sergeants, and drummers) | $8.49 |
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THE BAVARIANS
Bavaria had been part of the Grand Alliance but the Elector was made promises by the French and so defected to the French, a move that proved devastating to the Electorate because of the invasion and devestation of Bavaria by the Alliance. The fugitive Bavarian army remained in French service until the bitter end. Both Horse and Foot were good, aggressive troops and fought bravely until the last shot of the war.
Bavarian Notes
Note the models have the gaiters and the large cartridge box of the Bavarians and the grenadiers have the pistol worn in front. Use BRITISH INFANTRY COMMAND for their command and AUSTRIAN CUIRASSIERS for their heavy cavalry. Cavalry command will be available in due course, and we may make a figurine for Max Emmanuel as well.
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THE AUSTRIANS/IMPERIALS
After the Dutch, the Austrians contributed the most troops to oppose Louis XIV. Their army was a bit old-fashioned, especially the heavy cavalry, which still wore the striking zischagge helmet as well as full breast and back plate, but both horse and foot were solid, dependable troops. The Austrian commander, Prince Eugene of Savoy, was one of the great captains of the age, and his partnership with the Duke of Marlborough created an unbeatable team.
Austrian Notes
We have had the Austrian infantry command packs made so that one pack should provide the command figures for two units -- there are four standardbearers, then two each of drummers, sergeants, and officers. Twice the number of standardbearers are provided because each unit would carry both a royal and a regimental standard.
Many of the German states that served the Empire would be dressed in identical (or nearly identical) uniforms.
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THE BOURBON SPANISH
Whilst the Spanish army was not what it had been fifty or sixty years ago, the War of the Spanish Succession proved that the army was still capable and could fight quite well -- Bourbon armies in Spain were usually largely Spanish and these more than held their own against the troops of the Grand Alliance.
Spanish Notes
Bourbon Spanish troops largely followed French military fashions, and in fact still wore the shoulder ribbons that had been a hallmark of the French in the late 17th century. The infantry uniform was reformed at mid-war to drop the ribbon but some units probably wore to the end of the war, and the cavalry were not ordered to give up the ribbon until after the war was over, and the same seems true of the artillery. For the infantry we have had two different batches made, with shoulder ribbons and without.
We have had the Spanish infantry command packs made so that one pack should provide the command figures for two units -- there are four standardbearers, then two each of drummers, sergeants, and officers. Twice the number of standardbearers are provided because each unit would carry both a royal and a regimental standard.
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| Code | Contents | Price (US$) | Order/Progress |
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| WSS-SPANISH-GENERALS | 15mm War of the Spanish Succession Bourbon Spanish High Command -- King Philip V of Spain and a General Officer | $2.99 |
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| WSS-SPANISH-CAVALRY | 15mm War of the Spanish Succession Bourbon Spanish Cavalry (x3 in three poses) | $4.49 |
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| WSS-SPANISH-CAVALRY-COMMAND | 15mm War of the Spanish Succession Bourbon Spanish Cavalry Command (x3 in three poses) | $4.49 |
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| WSS-ARTILLERY-SET3 | 15mm War of the Spanish Succession Artillery Set 3, medium field piece and five crew with shoulder ribbons (for Spanish, and NYW French) | $5.39 |
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| WSS-SPANISH-INF-COMM-EARLY | 15mm War of the Spanish Succession Spanish Infantry Command, Early (with shoulder ribbon -- x10 in eight poses -- four standardbearers in two poses (with separate, ribboned standardpoles), and two poses each of officers, sergeants, and drummers) | $8.49 |
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| WSS-SPAN-FUSILEROS-EARLY | 15mm War of the Spanish Succession Spanish Fusileros, Early (with shoulder ribbon -- x8 in four poses) | $4.99 |
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| WSS-SPAN-GRANADEROS-EARLY | 15mm War of the Spanish Succession Spanish Granaderos, Early (with shoulder ribbon -- x8 in four poses) | $4.99 |
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| WSS-SPANISH-INF-COMM-LATE | 15mm War of the Spanish Succession Spanish Infantry Command, Late (no shoulder ribbon -- x10 in eight poses -- four standardbearers in two poses (with separate, ribboned standardpoles), and two poses each of officers, sergeants, and drummers) | $8.49 |
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| WSS-SPAN-FUSILEROS-LATE | 15mm War of the Spanish Succession Spanish Fusileros, Late (no shoulder ribbon -- x8 in four poses) | $4.99 |
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| WSS-SPAN-GRANADEROS-LATE | 15mm War of the Spanish Succession Spanish Granaderos, Late (no shoulder ribbon -- x8 in four poses) | $4.99 |
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THE BRITISH
Actually "the English" for about the first half of the war, the British covered themselves in glory in the War of the Spanish Succession. This was true from the bottom of the rolls -- the redcoated infantryman (or "rosbifs" as the French called them) who could either charge, put fire on the enemy or march with the best foot troops in the world at the time, to the top, the incomparable John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough, one of the great captains of history. Not to be outdone, the British cavalry and artillery also performed admirably from one battle to the next, the cavalry in particular being top-tier material fully capable of taking on the cream of the French Guards horse on equal terms.
British Notes
As with other nations, we have had the British infantry command packs made so that one pack should provide the command figures for two units -- there are four standardbearers, then two each of drummers, sergeants, and officers. Twice the number of standardbearers are provided because each unit would carry both a royal and a regimental standard.
Marlborough very strongly advocated the wearing of gaiters in his armies -- so much that he wore them himself! -- and that is how we have initially depicted the foot troops. However, these were not universally worn, and we may eventually expand the codes to include models without gaiter, but with British uniform peculiarities (such as not wearing an external powder flask).
Like the Dutch, the British horse were eventually issued breastplates, and like the Dutch, they positively loathed them and attempted wherever possible to discard them, claiming they were lost in battle. As such, initial codes of cavalry do not have the breastplate.
By popular demand we have also created a pose of "out of step" musketeers which may be sprinkled in amongst the musketeers -- these are available separately.
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THE DUTCH (NETHERLANDS)
The Netherlands (usually referred to as "the Dutch" when discussing the army) provided more troops to the Grand Alliance than any other nation, because in many ways they had the most at stake, and had developed a powerful defensive force in their wars against the Spanish and then the French. Their large infantry force was excellent and drilled in the latest fire tactics. Their cavalry was initially less renowned but, reformed in the English pattern, fought very well in the war. Many of Marlborough's most brilliant victories included Dutch troops as the backbone of his forces.
Dutch Notes
We have had the Dutch infantry command packs made so that one pack should provide the command figures for two units -- there are four standardbearers, then two each of drummers, sergeants, and officers. Twice the number of standardbearers are provided because each unit would carry two standards. Dutch officers have the unique half-pike rather than a spontoon.
Two types of Dutch infantry are available -- with informal tricornes or with the more typical neat tricorne. The Dutch are reputed to have adopted the formal tricorne a bit later than other powers. However, officers appear to have been wearing the formal tricorne from the start of the war. Gamers may want to mix a few informal tricorne figures even in their later units, to show how these hats unfolded sometimes during the rigour of a campaign. The musketeers and grenadiers have the powder horn with which the Dutch are usually depicted, rather than a powder flask. They wear their cartridge box on their right hip, on a strap over the left shoulder.
The Dutch are also said to have used the pike for several years after it was abandoned by other nations -- for a stand of pikemen for your battalions, use our pikeman figures from the generic section.
The troopers and command of the Dutch Horse are depicted wearing their scabbards on two unusually widely separated straps attached to the waistbelt, as shown in Hall's book on the Dutch. These first sets of Horse do not have breastplates. The Horse were issued breastplates about halfway through the war but these were exceptionally unpopular with the troopers and wearing them was avoided if at all humanly possible.
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| Code | Contents | Price (US$) | Order/Progress |
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| WSS-DUTCH-GENERALS | 15mm War of the Spanish Succession Dutch High Command -- General Officers (x2 in two poses -- Overkirk and a generic officer in sensible Calvinist coat) | $2.99 |
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| WSS-DUTCH-CAVALRY | 15mm War of the Spanish Succession Dutch Cavalry (x3 in three poses) | $4.49 |
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| WSS-DUTCH-CAVALRY-COMMAND | 15mm War of the Spanish Succession Dutch Cavalry Command (x3 in three poses) | $4.49 |
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| WSS-ARTILLERY-SET2-DUTCH | 15mm War of the Spanish Succession Artillery Set 2, medium field piece and five crew (for the Dutch and other nations) | $5.39 |
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| WSS-EARLY-DUTCH-MUSKETEERS | 15mm War of the Spanish Succession Early Dutch Musketeers in Informal Tricornes, March Attack (x8 in four poses) | $4.99 |
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| WSS-EARLY-DUTCH-INFANTRY-COMMAND | 15mm War of the Spanish Succession Early Dutch Infantry Command (x10 in eight poses -- four standardbearers in two poses (with separate, ribboned standardpoles), and two poses each of officers, sergeants, and drummers, Non-coms in Informal Tricorne) | $8.49 |
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| WSS-LATER-DUTCH-MUSKETEERS | 15mm War of the Spanish Succession Later Dutch Musketeers in Tricornes, March Attack (x8 in four poses) | $4.99 |
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| WSS-LATER-DUTCH-INFANTRY-COMMAND | 15mm War of the Spanish Succession Later Dutch Infantry Command (x10 in eight poses -- four standardbearers in two poses (with separate, ribboned standardpoles), and two poses each of officers, sergeants, and drummers, all figures in tricorne) | $8.49 |
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| WSS-DUTCH-GRENADIERS-TYPE1 | 15mm War of the Spanish Succession Dutch Grenadiers, Low Mitre Cap (x8 in four poses) | $4.99 |
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| WSS-DUTCH-GRENADIERS-TYPE2 | 15mm War of the Spanish Succession Dutch Grenadiers, Low Mitre Cap with Bag (x8 in four poses) | $4.99 |
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GENERIC POSES/SETS
These are models that can be used by most or all armies of the period. Initially they include pikemen, who surprisingly are still listed in some armies of the period, including the Dutch. Future sets will probably include earlier pikemen (in informal tricorne), civilians, gun limbers and so on.
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