Another Gem from Bruno

 

Bruno Mugnai’s Wars and Soldiers in the Early Reign of Louis XIV, Volume 9: The Swedish Army, 1655–1700 is a hefty tome but less a heavy academic slog and more a sharply focused visual guide to one of early modern Europe’s most effective armies. The writing gets to the point quickly, explaining how the Swedish military worked in practice without drowning the reader in theory or debate. You come away with a clear sense of how the allotment system functioned, why those famous blue coats mattered, and how Sweden’s growing preference for hard hitting shock tactics shaped its battlefield reputation. The sections on weapons and equipment are especially useful, covering the shift to flintlock muskets, the continued presence of pikes, and artillery designed for speed rather than brute force.

What really makes the book stand out, though, is the artwork. The colour plates are crisp and full of practical detail, showing soldiers as they actually appeared on campaign rather than as parade ground figures. Infantry look worn but functional, officers are marked by subtle signs of rank rather than flashy excess, and the cavalry clearly lean toward swords and close combat instead of pistol fire. The captions do a lot of quiet work here, drawing attention to small but telling details like hats, cartridge boxes, and differences between units.

That said, the book doesn’t pretend to be something it isn’t. If you’re after deep campaign narratives or detailed operational analysis, you may feel it ends just as it gets interesting. But that limitation feels deliberate. As an accessible, visually driven introduction to the Carolean army, it does exactly what it sets out to do—and does it very well.

I have absolutely no intention of launching myself down the rabbit hole of a late seventeenth century Swedish army. Where would it end.....? 

ISBN: 978-1-806720-84-2 315 Pages Softback

A couple more reviews

I am afraid readers are stuck with more reviews today as reading remains the main pain free activity; its not as bad as it was thankfully but a long way to go...or so it feels.

This is an engaging look into a fascinating slice of medieval Iberian history. The Fall of Moorish Seville 1023–1091 focuses on the rise and collapse of the Abbasid dynasty during the taifa period, becoming the most powerful of the taifa kingdoms under the Abbasid dynasty. and it manages to bring political intrigue, cultural achievement, and military tension together in a way that feels vivid rather than academic. 

One of the author’s strengths is how he humanised the rulers of Seville—especially al-Mu‘tamid. Instead of presenting him as just another medieval king, the author shows him as a poet, a patron of the arts, and ultimately a tragic figure caught between ambition and survival. The political manoeuvring between Christian kingdoms and rival taifas is clearly explained, without drowning the reader in names and dates. Even if like me you are not deeply familiar with eleventh-century Iberia, you won’t feel lost.

The illustrations deserve special mention. They are vivid, bold, colourful, and clearly inspired by historical sources, nor are they stiff or overly stylised. The cover image, for example, shows a warrior in chainmail with a rich cloak and turban, standing in a commanding pose. The details—like the texture of the mail, the layering of fabrics, and the muted battlefield scene in the background—add depth and atmosphere. Inside, the colour plates and other artwork helps anchor the narrative in a tangible world: shields, weapons, clothing, and architectural elements are thoughtfully included. The illustrations do not just decorate the text; they reinforce the cultural blend of Andalusia and broader medieval Mediterranean influences.

The narrative can occasionally feel a bit brisk, but there is a great deal to get through. Some events—particularly the shifting alliances with Christian kingdoms—move quickly, and a reader who enjoys deep military analysis might wish for a bit more tactical detail. But the trade-off is a smooth reading experience that keeps the story moving.

Overall, this is a strong entry in the series and a solid introduction to the taifa period. It balances storytelling and history well, and the illustrations add real value rather than feeling like filler. If you’re interested in medieval Spain or the complex world of al-Andalus, this one is definitely worth your time.

ISBN: 978-1-804518-30-4                    193 pages                     Paperback

Moving on 500 years, this latest addition to Helion’s Century of the Soldier stable is another one of those books from Helion where yet again the British Civil Wars are cut into bite-sized chunks, which is an approach I wholeheartedly endorse and prefer. My initial skim through the book resulted in me being instantly drawn into the untold mysteries of seventeenth-century garrison life. Andrew Abram has produced a genuinely interesting study of a topic that is usually treated as the dull logistical backdrop to the main set-piece battles. Here, the garrisons finally step out from behind their crumbling parapets and take centre stage.

What made the book instantly appealing to me is its sheer breadth. I used to think of  the British Civil Wars as a parade of Marston Moors and Nasebys, forgetting that the entire conflict was stitched together by dozens upon dozens of small, half-starving, perpetually under-paid strongpoints. Abram digs into these places with impressive clarity: who served in them, how they lived, how they fought, and—of course—what happened when the locals decided they had had quite enough of maintaining somebody else’s war.

The human detail is where the book really shines, and readers will be perhaps reminded that this aspect of warfare is something I am very interested in. Muster rolls, petitions, and complaints from governors and townsfolk are woven in without ever bogging the narrative down. I got a vivid sense of the dreary daily grind punctuated by sudden bursts of proper danger. Even the inevitable ‘accounts and provisioning’ sections are surprisingly readable and Abram has a knack for showing how the mundane becomes strategically essential.

Visually, it fits right into the Century of the Soldier series—good maps, decent artwork, and enough illustration to keep the pages lively without it feeling like a picture book. It also contains some handy tables and  details of some individual regiments. It is also mercifully well-structured, and I have found it possible to dip into individual chapters without losing the thread, which is handy if you are mining it for wargaming inspiration or background flavour for a scenario.

Is it niche? Absolutely. Does it matter? No. It is niche done particularly well: authoritative without being plodding, detailed without drowning you in academic footnotes, and, most importantly, packed with the sort of insight that reminds you the Civil Wars were far more than set-piece field battles. If you have even a passing interest in the period, the series, or the hidden machinery of seventeenth-century warfare, this is a cracking addition to the shelf.

In short, a lively, quietly fascinating study of the real backbone of the wars—those battered, begrimed little garrisons that kept the whole show running. Helion have another winner.

ISBN: 978-1-804518-37-3 222 Pages Paperback.

Birth of the Byzantine Army 476–641 CE

The Birth of the Byzantine Army, 476–641 CE by Philippe Richardot, presents a concise examination of the formative period of the Byzantine military apparatus following the dissolution of the Western Roman Empire. Published by Helion, the third in their new ‘A Time of Knights 476CE–1453CE series’, volume 1 asks a pertinent question; still Late Roman? The volume continues the publisher’s commitment to producing accessible studies that nevertheless maintain analytical rigour. This is volume 1 of a what I hope will be a long series.

The author traces the evolution of the Eastern Roman army during a period marked by profound political and social upheaval. Rather than engaging in perhaps contentious academic debates (which are more than likely way over my head), the work offers a lucid and well-supported narrative of how the Eastern Empire constructed a distinct military identity. This process is contextualised within the broader challenges posed by external threats, including my two favourite ‘enemies of Rome’ the Goths and Sassanid Persians as well as interminable and recurrent internal crises.

Particularly informative are the sections devoted to the development of the comitatenses and limitanei, which are presented with clarity. The explanations are unambiguous, and provided me with a better understanding of these key military formations.

The book is further enhanced by a variety of illustrations, including detailed colour plates (each with an attached commentary), map and diagrams. These visual aids contributed to my understanding of the material culture and organisational structure of the Byzantine army, and will be of particular interest to both scholars, war gamers and enthusiasts of military history.

In sum, Birth of the Byzantine Army, 476–641 CE serves as an effective introduction to a transitional era often overlooked between the ‘Late Roman’ and ‘Byzantine’ periods. The work succeeds in providing a concise, digestible overview of the army’s transformation, making it a valuable addition to Byzantine military studies.



ISBN: 978-1-804518-28-1 291 pages. Paperback

Frontier Soldiers of New France 1683–1760 Vol 2

 

Another Helion book arrived a couple of weeks ago — this time Frontier Soldiers of New France, Volume 2 by Kevin Gélinas. Like the first volume, it’s beautifully produced and absolutely packed with detail, but this one takes things further into the real life of the Compagnies Franches de la Marine and other colonial troops in New France. Unlike the first volume it is not co-authored by the late Rene Chartrand, but his influence is apparent.

Gélinas goes beyond just discussing regulations and standard gear, offering insight into how soldiers truly lived and fought—think snowshoes, moccasins, and tough leggings. The book provides an intriguing perspective on the ways European military practices adjusted (or sometimes failed to adjust) to the North American wilderness. Each chapter tackles a different aspect: from campaign clothing and gear for summer and winter, to cookware — like the curious ‘marmite cooking pot’ which I will not explain here — and shelters, bivouacs, and even officers’ unofficial equipment choices. The illustrations, photos, and colour plates are top-notch, making this resource invaluable for wargamers, modelers, and reenactors alike.

If you enjoyed the first volume then this is for you. It’s another cracking addition to Helion’s From Reason to Revolution series (No.145 in fact), and essential for anyone interested in the French and Indian War or the colonial frontier of New France. Highly recommended.

ISBN: 978-1-804516-79-9                227 pages, paperback.

All is Lost Save Honour - Out Now!

Sailors, Ships and Sea Fights Reviewed

I have had this lying around for quite some time as I must have put it on the wrong pile (I keep all books I plan to review separate, but this one certainly went adrift. So, better late than never, here it is.

This is definitely a book for all maritime enthusiasts. Set sail on a scholarly voyage with Sailors, Ships, and Sea Fights, a captivating compendium edited by Nicholas James Kaizer published as part of Helion’s ‘from reason to Revolution’ series. The editor assembles 14 meticulously researched essays from Helion's 2022 Naval History Conference, navigating the tumultuous seas of 18th and early 19th-century naval warfare.

Readers will find three distinct sections: naval operations in Europe, North American maritime endeavours, and the intricate world of naval administration. From the Venetian fleet's strategic evolution during the Second Morean War to the nuanced tactics of French and Spanish support during the 1745 Jacobite uprising, each chapter offers fresh insights that challenge conventional maritime narratives. Notably,  Mr Kaizer’s own analysis of War of 1812 ship-to-ship combats provides a riveting reassessment of Royal Navy commanders' prowess, or occasionally lack thereof, during this era. Given my significant interest in the War of 1812, this is my favourite chapter,

Beyond the actual fighting stuff, the book delves into the often overlooked realms of naval administration and manpower. Essays exploring Admiral Anson's transformative reforms and the realities of sailor recruitment debunk longstanding myths, revealing the unsavoury truths behind the so-called glory of naval life. There are also equality interesting chapters on the evolution of naval law, the use of black pilots and the lives and care of Royal Navy pensioners. The book also includes a good range of black and white illustrations and photographs, together with 11 maps, 26 tables and 16 graphs, which all help the reader understand some of the detail contained in the narrative

While the depth and detail of these scholarly essays may best suit dedicated naval history aficionados, the rich narratives and enlightening perspectives ensure that even the most casual readers will find themselves engrossed.

In essence, Sailors, Ships, and Sea Fights is more than a mere collection of essays; it is a well-crafted and curated volume offering readers knowledge and an engaging reading experience. It certainly floated my boat!

 

ISBN: 978-1-804513-44-6.   356 pages

Elephants and Gunpowder (Spoiler Alert - it doesn't bode well for the elephants!)

I sometimes feel quite anxious when reviewing a book by one of the ‘greats’ such as the late Rene Chartrand, and in this case Stephen Turnbull. He has a knack for uncovering the oddities of military history, and Elephants and Gunpowder is no exception. This is No 30 in Helion’s ‘from Retinue to Regiment 1453-1618’ series.

If you’ve ever wondered what happens when the sheer brute force of war elephants meets the cold efficiency of gunpowder weapons, this book is your answer. The author masterfully traces the era when these massive, tusked tanks still had a place on the battlefield, but were increasingly outmatched by muskets, cannons, and good old-fashioned explosives. The book covers a wide range of historical encounters, from Asia to Europe, showing how different cultures wrestled with the dilemma of whether to stick with tradition or embrace the firepower of the future.

The writing is classic Turnbull: informative but never dry, peppered with fascinating anecdotes (like how the Portuguese gleefully realized they could turn war elephants into oversized, panicked liabilities for their enemies). It is an engaging read; the focus at times leans more on military strategy than the broader cultural implications. That said, if you love the nitty-gritty details of battlefield tactics and the slow, inevitable demise of war elephants as a viable force, this is one for you.

It also contains a beautiful centre spread of colour plates (there are 22 colour images in total), in addition to the numerous black and white images and photographs, and two maps.

Overall, Elephants and Gunpowder is a fantastic and engrossing dive into a weirdly specific but incredibly interesting slice of history. Turnbull delivers the goods as always—just don’t expect a happy ending for the elephants.

ISBN 978-1-804515-53-2        152 pages, softback

The Campaign to Liberate Portugal

Britain and the Liberation of Portugal - Rolica and Vimeiro, 1808 by Robert Griffith is a recent addition to Helion’s excellent, extensive ‘from Reason to Revolution 1721-1815 series, and a very welcome one it is too.

I will admit that the Peninsular War would normally only hold a passing interest for me compared to, say, the 1807 campaign in Poland or the Russo-Swedish War of 1808-09. That said, I was more than keen to delve into this, for Helion, quite monumental (over 500 pages) volume. I was not to be disappointed.

The book is as it says on the inside cover, a highly detailed narrative of Wellington’s (Wellesley as was) first Peninsular campaign. The author has used a vast range of sources; memoires, letters, and previously unpublished British, French and Portuguese primary sources. The parameters for the book are from Junot’s invasion of Portugal in 1807, the British expedition to counter this move, the battles of Rolica and Vimeiro, the somewhat controversial and for some career damaging Convention of Cintra, to the expulsion of the French from Portugal.

The author takes us on a step-by-step journey through the campaign in tremendous detail. He takes a look at the journey of the English from embarkation to the landings in Portugal; not an easy journey nor task. There are chapters outlining the armies of the three nations involved in the campaign, all of which leads us to the skirmish at Obidos and the battles of Rolica and Vimeiro, each with a mixture of riveting narrative and informative quotes from various primary sources.

The book contains a good number of orders of battle for all sides at different stages of the campaign, together with associated charts and tables. The maps are excellent, especially those accompanying the chapters on Rolica amd Vimeiro, which give very clear information regarding the terrain, deployment and subsequent troop movements. There are also a good number of black and white pictures, many of which are of the terrain fought over as it is today which I found especially useful. There are also several contemporary black and white images.

Of course no book on this campaign could ignore the Convention of Cintra and the resulting fallout which descended upon the heads of most of the senior British officers, and the details of the official inquiry are both detailed and very revealing, again peppered with extracts of contemporary correspondence.

The narrative really sucked me in and blew my ambivalence for the campaign out of the window very early on. It is well written and clearly very well researched and is a subject about which the author is intimate with. An excellent book. One I can recommend most highly, especially as it has sparked off my interest in what was a fascinating campaign, with some participants and leaders.

ISBN 978-1-804514-39-9  Hardback 515 pages.

Temptation

One has to admire the seemingly tireless productivity of author Bruno Mugnai, repeatedly producing high quality and well researched books on one of my most favourite subject areas, namely the Wars and Soldiers in the Early Reign of Louis XIV. This latest offering is volume 7, Armies of the German States 1655-1690, part 2. Part 1 covered the armies of Brandenburg, Bavaria, Saxony and Münster. The second volume looks primarily at the armies of the Electoral Prince Archbishoprics (Cologne and Trier), the three Brunswick states, the two Hessian states and the Palatinate. There is a final chapter covering other much more minor states such as Holstein-Gottorp, Baden-Baden, Baden-Durlach and the Bishoprics of Paderborn and Osnabruck. Of these I found complex relationship between the three Brunswick states explained well, if only for my benefit. The author’s inclusion of some the smallest states is also very welcome.

After the preliminaries where the fragmented nature of Germany is discussed and put in the context of the wider European theatre we are presented with the chapters mentioned above. In addition to a brief introduction to each of these states, the armies of each and their campaigns are discussed.

The stars of the book are the ten pages of completely splendid colour plates, all painted by the author. These images and the commentaries that accompany them bring the whole subject to life in startling colour. I will now have to paint a unit in yellow and another in blue with pink facings and breeches. The rest of the book is also replete with a wide range of contemporary black and white images and further uniform reconstructions, plus photos of surviving pieces of equipment. The maps are especially useful as they demonstrate the incredibly diverse and exhausting range of electorates, principalities, bishoprics, archbishoprics, free cities and the rest.

The appendices go further in explaining the composition of ‘Germany’ as a geographical expression by listing every single ‘state’, including the status of the ruling Prince, the size in square miles and population numbers.

This is another fine addition to the series and one I can recommend most highly. I am looking forward to the final volume out later this year I believe.


ISBN 978-1-804514-47-4 197 pages, soft covers.

Frontier Soldiers of New France - a brief review

 

The late Rene Chartrand’s legacy continues with this volume covering the French army in North America. It’s full title is ‘Frontier Soldiers of New France, volume 1; Regulation, clothing arms and equipment of the colonial troops in New France 1683-1760’. This book was co-authored with fellow Canadian scholar Kevin Gelinas.

Beautifully illustrated with a huge number of contemporary and specially commissioned colour and black and white images, uniform details, and photographs of surviving arms and equipment, this volume provides a comprehensive, probably the most comprehensive to date, examination of a fascinating and colourful period of French colonial history, one so closely linked to our own. 

Every aspect of the officers and men in the colony and their uniforms, be they serving in the Compagnies tranches de La Marine, Metropolitan companies, Artillerymen and even armed constabulary units and Swiss. Indeed, I had been unaware that detached companies of Swiss infantry served in New France and Louisiana during this period. I actually found the chapter on military hairstyles particularly interesting, as it sheds some light on the prevailing customs and mentality found in the colonies, and the thought of some bewigged and powdered French officer plunging through the forests of North America while trying to maintain an appropriate hairdo and appearance is an amusing one.

The second part of the book investigates regulation weapons and equipment of officers, non-commissioned officers, infantrymen and artillerymen, and each aspect is discussed in some detail and accompanied by a significant number of photographs of surviving equipment and numerous sketches and drawings. 

Finally, the appendices cover the Irish Company, the Corps of Cavalry and the troops stationed on the islands of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon. The Irish appear to have been recruited from British prisoners of war, while the cavalry were a regular company of 200 men raised specifically to counter British incursions and landings and to generally make a nuisance of themselves wherever they could, which earned them the respect of their enemies and might make for an interesting skirmish game.

This is a well researched and presented book, and the authors have had access to previously unpublished material and resources.  For those interested in colonial warfare in North America this is an invaluable reference. 

ISBN 978-1-804515-46-4. Soft covers, 269 pages.

Of Kerns and Gallowglasses - ‘‘tis a wonderful book!

 

Well I won’t finish that sentence off with ‘to be sure, to be sure!’ Or my Irish great-grand parents, if they were still with us (?) would probably have something say about stereotyping people……

No. 24 of Helion’s ‘from Retinue to Regiment 1452-1618 covering the Irish armies of the sixteenth century is absolutely great. I write as someone with a limited knowledge of Irish armies between 1487 and 1587 but a good understanding of the politics of the time. I think. This interest has certainly been enough over the years to have the Elizabethan-Irish wars on my list of projects to ponder, and even work out army lists and a shopping list.

I digress. This is quite a meaty book by the standards of other Helion books in this series; 287 pages. It’s still not a massive tome but it certainly packs in an incredible amount of information (stuff) within its covers. The author Robert Gresh has produced a tremendously fun-to-read and informative book about a subject not often written about. Yes, the Tudor period, Elizabeth and Essex and all that stuff gets fair coverage but I am unaware of anything that goes any way to explained the Irish Wars, and to some extent as well, 15th and 16th century Irish society in general, from the perspective of the home team. 

I don’t know really what else to say. The illustrations are as one would expect from Helion, plentiful and appropriate to the subject, the colour plates in the centre of the book are eight pages of glorious imagery. There are some quite useful maps, especially the one showing the areas under the control of the myriad of Irish lords. It certainly helps with orienting oneself when reading the narrative. 

The chapters cover such subjects as ‘The Power of Irishmen’ to the different troops types found within a typical Irish army, be they Gallowglass, Kern, Redshanks or the light horse, to naval issues, castles, banners, even music. I particularly liked the section on the Wilde Irish Living History Group. 

This is a great addition to the series and an enjoyable and informative read. Whether this era is your ‘thing’ or not this is well worth the time spent reading it. Highly recommended and worth a space on anybody’s bookcase.

ISBN 978-1-804513-54-5      soft covers.    287 pages.

The Swabian War of 1499 - a review of a super book

Helion’s latest in their growing from Retinue to Regiment 1453-1618 series is The Swabian War of 1499 by Albert Winkler. The war was the first occasion where the feared Swiss faced the Landsknechts raised and indeed trained and equipped in their image by Maximilian von Habsburg the future Holy Roman Emperor. It was a relatively short war, yet costly in lives and destruction to land and property. Not a great deal has been published in English about this war, so this is bound to be an attraction to anyone interested in later Middle Ages and early Renaissance warfare and the rise of the Swiss’ and Landsknechts’ reputations as formidable soldiers.

The author first of all takes us through a brief description of the weapons and armour used by the Swiss, together with their dress, discipline (or lack of it), aggression on the battlefield, organisation and tactics. This sets the scene nicely for an introduction to the complex background and causes of the war.

The war itself is of course covered in detail, with opening moves and the plans of the opposing armies described clearly. While not wholly unified, the Swiss Confederation and the Grey Leagues proved superior in their strategy while the Empire was riven with petty squabbling, in-fighting and the scarcity of funds, which made things difficult to say the least. The major engagements of the war, at Schwaderloh, Frastanz, Calvert and Dornoch are covered in great detail, with excellent full page colour maps for each of them. Other operations surrounding these actions are also covered putting the whole campaign into context. It was indeed a very costly war in terms of the lives of soldiers and civilians, the land was laid waste, and ultimately neither side could see much point in continuing with the war, which came to an end in September 1499. The author’s analysis of the war and its impact on the participating countries is sobering - militarily and geopolitically it was senseless; nothing changed, no land was won or given up, and the relationship between the Swiss and the Empire remained essentially as it was before hostilities broke out. He does note however that in the rise of the Swabian Landsknechts the Swiss met a worthy and bitter foe.

There is the now expected and much anticipated central spread of eight pages of colour illustrations. For me the best of these are those original images depicting the appearance of the common soldiers on both sides. There is also a splendid, vibrant and very ‘busy’ reproduction of a near contemporary woodcut of the battle of Dornoch. We also get full page colour maps of three of the key battles of the war thus enabling the reader to follow the narrative on the maps, together with a wide selection of black and white images. Some of these are photos of surviving weapons and armour, while the rest, near contemporary and more than likely as close as you will ever get, are woodcuts, and are illustrative in their depiction of soldiers or scenes representative of the appearance of the men and the armies they served in.

The book is aimed at a broad target audience, from wargamers, military history enthusiasts and researchers to more serious historians, a job the author has done well, and will be of interest and perhaps even inspiration to them all. It certainly ticked all my boxes and I found the entire book well written and an incredibly informative and engaging read. An excellent addition to the series.

ISBN 978-1-804515-54-9 Soft covers 115 pages

The Army of Transylvania 1613–1690

The Army of Transylvania 1613-1690; War and military organisation from the ‘golden age’ o the Principality to the Habsburg conquest is the second book by Florin Nicolae Ardelean on the Transylvanian state between 1541 and 1690. Volume 1 covered the emergence of an independent Transylvania (notionally vassals of the Ottomans a high degree of autonomy was allowed in internal matters) up to 1613. This volume, as the title suggests, takes us through to almost the end of the seventeenth century, during which time the state had been caught between two warring empires (Habsburg and Ottoman), become involved in the Thirty Years’ War as an ally of Sweden and France, and was ultimately taken over by the Habsburg through a mix of diplomacy and military action.

The book benefits from a significant number of largely contemporary black and white illustrations, although there are a few depicting surviving items of weaponry and armour. As we have come to expect, there is the usual eight pages of dazzlingly beautiful colour plates, all specially commissioned and painted by a very talented artist Catalin Draghici. They depict the different types of soldiers to be found with an army of the Principality at this time and all of whom look like they mean business!

The narrative begins with a broad overview of the Principality and its rulers during the seventeenth century, with due recognition to social, economic and military developments. The analysis of the army and its organisation is clearly written and s a fascinating insight into the strengths and weaknesses of the military system, as is the following chapter covering the state’s fortifications, artillery and garrisons found within the Principality. What we are given is a comprehensive guide to the military machine that existed, seemingly almost permanently on a war footing.

The final chapter describes the military campaigns, battles and sieges that took place throughout the century, by a large well equipped and well led army. This was quite a complex period, but the narrative is something I became engrossed in. Led by dynamic rulers, Transylvania was allied to Sweden and France during the Thirty Years’ War against their Habsburg neighbours. A further alliance with Sweden, the Cossacks, Moldavia and Wallachia against the Polish and Lithuanian Commonwealth ended in the total destruction of the army and capture by the Tartars, and hard on the heels of this disaster, a devastating invasion by the Ottomans laid waste the whole country. The author’s description of these campaigns makes for very interesting reading and paves the way for the telling of the desperate and ultimately doomed battle for survival by the Principality, ending with its conquest by the Habsburgs in 1690.

Like his earlier work, the author has provided us with a magnificent description of the golden age of the Principality of Transylvania in the first half of the seventeenth century, but also of its decline and conquest. The history of late medieval and Renaissance Eastern Europe is a fascinating and colourful period of history, and one not often found in such detail in English. This really is a tremendous book and one for enthusiasts of Eastern European history in whatever context that may take.

ISBN 978-1-804513-49-1 soft cover 149 pages

A Very Peculiar Battle, Fere-Champenoise, 25 March 1814

Another book review of my latest bit of holiday reading. The Battle of Fere-Champanoise, 25 March 1814 was indeed peculiar, and in more ways than one. As such this is a riveting account of the two battles, how they came about, and how they effectively merged into one single engagement certainly scores highly in the ‘peculiarity stakes’. 

The combatants could not have been different; on the Allied side the forces involved were wholly cavalry and horse artillery while the French were numerically superior but qualitatively inferior mix of infantry, cavalry and artillery. The Allies defeated one French force and separately destroyed a large and vital supply train, and in doing so opened up the road to Paris.

The author David Wright does a great job setting the scene from a political and military perspective, provides some interesting pen-pictures of the major players on both sides and describes the somewhat sorry state of the armies involved in the 1814 invasion of France, worn out by the campaigns of 1812 and 1813. My knowledge of the 1814 campaign is not as deep as other parts of the Napoleonic Wars (or perhaps my ignorance is greater?) and I found the entire build up to the battles fascinating and informative. The narrative detailing the battles is also well written and gives a clear picture of how both engagements evolved. There are a large number of highly detailed strategical together with tactical maps of the battlefields which are likely to be tremendously useful to the readership, especially those from the wargaming fraternity, and these, together with the comprehensive orders of battle found in the appendices add further to my overall view that this is an excellent book.

Included are a large number of illustrations. There are few black and white images of some of the key players, but pride of place must go to the wonderful centre section of 12 pages of colour images. These include a large number of colour uniform plates, photographs of the battlefields as they can be seen today.

Napoleonic buffs are guaranteed to find the book both entertaining and packed full of detail. My interest in the 1814 campaign has been jump started as a result and the author and Helion are to be commended on this book. There quite a few wargaming possibilities to consider, especially for those including me who like asymmetrical games.

ISBN 978-1-804514-37-5. Soft cover, 209 pages.

Another Review - Gripping, and Dripping with Details

I’m on an extended trip to India so the best I can offer at the moment is another book review.  So, cutting right to the chase, this is a truly absorbing and gripping account of Britain’s role in the War of the Austrian Succession (1744–1748). The author explores the consequences of the political decision making and management of the war on the outcome of the military operations, and indeed how the failure of the operations in the field influenced the politicking back home. Indifferent politicians, most of whom I am ashamed to say I had never heard of other than in the vaguest terms) often driven by their own agendas, competing priorities, the appointment of inadequate commanders and the general mishandling of the army, both British and |Hanoverian, all contributed to Britain’s failures in the war on a military, political and diplomatic basis. Add to these the impact of the Jacobite Rebellion and the strain this placed on British manpower it is all too easy to understand how the situation evolved and unravelled.(Interestingly the French may well have been the victors but they were to gain very little out of their efforts, and the stage was set for their failures in the Seven Years War some few years in the future, thanks in part to the lessons learnt by Britain).

I have some understanding of the battles of the war (the defeats, at the hands of the French, of Rocoux, Laffeldt and especially Fontenoy) but the author has conducted extensive research to present an exhaustive deep dive into the conduct of the war, resulting in a scholarly yet highly readable account of the war in its broader sense, which for me is far more interesting than simple accounts of its battles. Not everyone’s cup of tea perhaps but for anyone seriously interested in the war this is an invaluable piece of research, and the conclusions the author draws from the outcome of the war are argued well.

The book includes a number of contemporary black and white portraits of the key actors in these events (it is always nice to put a face to a name, and these portraits often give an inkling into the character of the man portrayed). There are also several maps, of the theatre of war and of the three key battles of Fontenoy, Rocoux and Laffeldt, together with two reproductions of contemporary maps originating in 1747.

This is another fine addition (number 116 no less) to Helion’s ‘from Reason to Revolution 1721–1815 series and one well deserved of a space on my bookshelves.

ISBN 978-1-804513-37-8 Soft back 263 pages.

A Couple of English Civil War Titles

 

A bonus, or not, this time as I’m reviewing two books covering different aspects of the English Civil War. I put these on Amazon a while ago but forgot to post them here as well. 

I might have used this metaphor previously but it’s worth repeating; if one considers all the British Civil Wars as an elephant, then Helion’s approach to bettering our (i.e. my) understanding is to enable us to eat said elephant in small bites. It works for me.

The Town Well Fortified. The Fortresses of the Civil Wars in Britain, 1639-1660 by David Flintham is No. 110 in Helion’s ‘Century of the Soldier 1618-1721’ series. It is an examination of the tactical and strategic importance of fortifications and their impact on war efforts of all sides, together with their use and development during the conflict.

The author explores a wide range of topics, including discussion on the importance of geography on fortifications, the art and artists of fortifications, construction and the influences on design, the importance of bastions and ditches and more. Suffice to say that each chapter provides a wealth of information, coming together to provide a well-researched and definitive account of the 1,000+ fortified places in the Three Kingdoms, be they fortified manor houses, reinforced town and city walls or newly-constructed fortresses, of which over half were to come under siege during the wars; a significant number when compared to the number of engagements and pitched battles during the same period.

For me one of the most interesting parts of this book are the two appendices, as they provide summaries of fortified sites, by county, throughout the UK, plus a directory of bastions, ditches and forts taken from the Civil War Fortifications Register.


This book is well written and clearly a labour of love for the author. It is nicely illustrated with a range of contemporary drawings and modern-day photographs of various surviving fortifications.

A very useful book for those with an intimate or passing interest in the British Civil Wars and fortified places in particular.

ISBN 978-804513-48-4. Softback 243 pages


Paul Sutton’s ‘The City Horse, London militia cavalry during the English Civil War 1642-1660’ is an interesting and quite narrow topic for a book, following the various City Horse units throughout the Civil War from their first combat experience at Winchester in 1642 to Worcester in 1651 and ultimately to their involvement in the return of Charles II to the city. 

The bite-sized chunks of English Civil War military history such as this, published by Helion as part of their Century of the Soldier 1618-1721 series (no. 103), are for me the ideal way to learn about the topic (obviously) in much more detail, but also the wars in general; far better in my humble opinion than trawling through the many traditional weighty volumes I remember putting me off the subject 50-odd years ago.

The author begins with a summary of the road to war and the political situation found in London at the time, the efforts to raise and equip the City Horse, with chapters on a selection of the individual regiments and their commanders. There are then chapters covering more politics, the Second and Third Civil Wars, and the Interregnum before the return of Charles II. We also have chapters explaining how the City Horse were equipped and financed, and their unique status within the armies of Parliament.

The book is well written and I found myself effortlessly reading much of it one sitting. It is illustrated by a number really well executed original pen and ink drawings of the troops, several handy maps and a number of original colour plates depicting the various ‘cornets’ born by a variety of the London militia cavalry troops and regiments that were raised during the war.

This is another excellent addition to Helion’s growing catalogue of books covering the many different aspects and theatres of war of the Civil Wars and one I can wholeheartedly recommend if, as I mentioned at the start of this review, you prefer your history in focussed and easily digestible mouthfuls rather than an epic and perhaps rather dry smorgasbord-type of book.

Well worth the read whether you be a serious historian or a layman with a passing interest and perhaps wishing to learn more.

ISBN 978-1-804511-99-2 Softback, 334 pages.

Kesselsdorf 1745 - A review

From Reason to Revolution no. 117 is ‘Kesselsdorf, 1745. Decision in the Fight for Silesia’ by Alexander Querengasser. As the author states, this is not one of the great or widely known battles of the age of Frederick the Great, indeed what makes it interesting to me is that Frederick was not present and enemy were almost all Saxons, accompanied by a small force of Austrian troops.

The armies and leaders of both Prussia and Saxony are clearly outlined so my understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of both was reinforced, and to anyone new to the period this information will provide a useful starting point. We then move on to the campaign itself, under the redoubtable Leopold von Anhalt-Dessau and the moves leading to the battle itself.

A good 25 percent of the book is devoted to an account of the battle, so as can be expected, it is dealt with in detail and we get a blow by blow description of events as they unfolded on the field of battle. This is certainly the most informative account of the battle I have ever come across, and this alone makes the book an invaluable and interesting source of research be it by historians, the ‘interested’ lay reader or many a wargamer of the mid-eighteenth century wars in Europe. That the battle and its importance (the outcome led directly and almost immediately to the Peace of Dresden) was sidelined in favour of the overall political ramifications of the successful Prussian campaign, and perhaps because Frederick was not there, is a shame but this book will go a long way to bringing it to the forefront where it belongs.

As with all similar Helion titles, this book is lavishly illustrated with eight pages of specially commissioned colour plates by non other than Patrice Courcelle. They are as one would rightly expect gorgeous. There are also a good number of largely contemporary black and white illustrations and a number of handy maps of the strategic situation as well as of the battle itself.

So, an excellent well written account, one useful to a wide readership whatever their background or interest.

ISBN 978-1-804511-88-6. 190 pages, soft cover.

The Pattern - The 33rd Regiment and the British Infantry Experience During the American Revolution 1770-1783.

Author Robbie MacNiven has given us a finely detailed and well written narrative of the ‘History of the 33rd Regiment of Foot and the British Infantry Experience during the American Revolution, 1770-1783’. The Pattern tells the fascinating story of this regiment, one of the most heavily engaged regiments during the war, and with a well deserved reputation of being the best trained regiment in the entire British Army, hence the title ‘The Pattern’.

We are treated to a fascinating journey accompanying the regiment as it campaigned from its arrival in 1776, from Long Island, Brandywine, Germantown and Monmouth in the northern theatre to Camden, Guildford Courthouse and ultimately Yorktown. Many primary sources have been used, including a number of previously unpublished ones. Most engaging is the inclusion of accounts from an officer and an enlisted man, adding these enlightening personal reflections to the narrative.

The book is well illustrated with a variety of black and white photographs, either contemporary images, photos of surviving artefacts and some of uniformed re-enactors, maps, and a central spread of eight pages of colour plates. These are primarily more photographs of re-enactors in very authentic looking period uniforms (I’m sure I recognised at one of the ‘models’ and I had to smile when I saw the photographer’s surname is Gage). There is also one specially commissioned painting of a soldier of the regiment on campaign which is very striking.

Another great addition (No. 106) to Helion’s from Reason to Revolution series and for enthusiasts of the American Revolutionary War, be they historians, wargamers or just the curious.

ISBN 978-1-804511-89-3. Soft back, 266 pages

Saarbruck to Sedan by Ralph Weaver.

I’ve been a follower of Ralph Weaver’s work with the Continental Wars Society for more years than I would wish to remember, so when Helion announced that they were to publish his new book Saabruck to Sedan, the Franco-German War 1870-71, I was quietly excited. Volume 1 (this is to be a series) looks at the uniforms, organisation and weapons of all the armies engaged during the short ‘Imperial’ phase of the war. The book claims to be the first to look solely at the armies themselves, how they were dressed, organised, supplied and equipped, rather than giving us yet another potted history of the demise of the French Second Empire after a series of disastrous battles and the capitulation of Sedan. This focus is good, as another book on the battles of the campaign would probably just be a regurgitation of the same old stuff available elsewhere in numerous other publications, whereas what we have is a precisely detailed investigation of the multitude of uniforms worn during the campaign, both on and off the battlefield.

The book also highlights the widely different approaches adopted to clothing and supplying soldiers in the French (centrally produced by government contractors) and Prussian (the responsibility of a unit’s depot company/squadron) armies, and advances in the development of armaments on both sides are also discussed. 

The author has consulted a wide range of recently published references as well as many contemporary accounts, official publications, private letters and memoirs, together with accounts of what the foreign English language press of the time had to say about the conduct of the war.

The book is broken down into comprehensive sections on the armies of France, Prussia, the North German Confederation, Southern Germany and, interestingly, the various neutral states on the peripheries of the war. These sections are well written, very detailed, looking at each and every different type of infantry, cavalry or artillery unit found in each army, in some ways pleasantly reminiscent (but significantly more detailed) of the series of articles in Airfix magazine from the late 1960’s/early 1970’s. 

The book contains numerous contemporary black and white illustrations and 20 pages of colour plates specially commissioned for the book, showing a range of uniforms, including some rather less than mainstream such as the French remount service and the Prussian postal and medical services.

Overall, this is an excellent book. Unlike many recently published works available on the uniforms of thewar, the focus is on providing good solid information rather than the expensive portrayal of each and every uniform worn. There’s a welcome place for that kind of book, just as there’s an equally important place for a book such as this where the focus is on the detail. I look forward to the next volume in the series. 

Thankfully, I won’t be rushing out to buy some more figures as I have more than I can comfortably use at once as it is. Well, I might do an ambulance or two, and a few vignettes; you can never have enough of those.

History of the Damas Legion

‘For God and King’ by Hughes de Bazouges and Alistair Nichols is a history of the Damas Legion between 1793 and 1798 during the French Revolution. Not as an obscure subject as one might first think to the uninitiated.

It is a big book by Helion standards, over 300 pages, but this amount of space is needed to tell the story of the birth of the regiment and its campaigns, and sad end for many of its members, against the French Republic.

Raised by Etienne de Damas-Crux in 1793 as part of the Armee des Princes for service in the army of the United Provinces, it was to be formed as a ‘Legion’ with infantry and cavalry elements. After the Flanders campaign of 1793-94 and the defeat of their Dutch paymasters in 1795 the survivors transferred to English service. The infantry met their end at the ill-fated Quiberon expedition, victims of the savage reprisals acted upon them by the Republic, but the cavalry, regiment served in the Emigre Army of the Conde in Upper Germany and Switzerland in Russian service this time under its disbandment in 1798.

This book is a beauty, and an absolute must for anyone interested in the French Revolutionary Wars and especially the role played by the Emigre armies and is a fascinating study of a neglected aspect of the conflict. It is well written and is packed full of detailed information, taking us through six or so long, savage and intense years of fighting. The book has clearly been extensively researched using primary and secondary sources, and in telling the story of the Legion is full of excerpts from contemporary accounts and first hand witnesses testimonies to the events. The authors provide us with detailed information on the organisational make up of the Legion, and on the various Emigre armies of which it was part, with several orders of battle which are new to me.

No Helion book such as this would be without a centre spread of colour images and this is no exception, with 16 pages bursting with depictions of the soldiers of the Legion in the various iterations of uniforms worn throughout their existence, together with a dozen really useful maps dotted throughout the book outlining the various theatres of operations. More uniform information can be found in the appendices, as can further details of Emigre orders of battle.

The Wars of the First and Second Coalition’s against Republican France are an era of significant interest for me, and this book has given me great pleasure in reading it as well as some quiet thought about what made so many men serve in Emigre regiments in the knowledge that capture meant almost certain execution. This book deserves a worthy place on the bookcase of any French Revolutionary Wars buff! 

I already have the legion in my 28mm collection but perhaps I should expand it a little……