Friday 3 June 2011

28mm War of the Spanish Succession British Officer and Ensign.


Two figures from my WSS collection I used to have, the figures are Front Rank (a good company but the poses are a bit static among the infantry but easy to paint), now I used to have hundreds of the buggers but I had to sell them along with others over the years sometimes to fund something else but lately for financial reasons not really of my own making but I've accepted it and sometimes resent it but life cracks on and I always make sure I use some of the funds to buy and start something else or add to an existing period, sometimes figures get left behind as mementos like these two, interesting period of history which is half the joy of wargaming historical periods (looking stuff up). Now I mention this only because some people have said they would never sell their figures but sometimes you don't have that choice and life sometimes kicks you in the crackers. Have a good weekend, will do a movie review on Sunday.

The War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714) was fought among several European powers, principally the Spanish loyal to Archduke Charles, the Holy Roman EmpireGreat Britain, the Dutch RepublicPortugal and the Duchy of Savoyagainst the Spanish loyal to Philip VFrance and the Electorate of Bavaria over a possible unification of the Kingdoms of Spain and France under one Bourbonmonarch. Such a unification would have drastically changed the European balance of power. The war was fought mostly in Europe but included Queen Anne's War inNorth America and it was marked by the military leadership of notable generals including the Duc de Villars, the Jacobite Duke of Berwick, the Duke of Marlboroughand Prince Eugene of Savoy. It resulted in the recognition of Philip as King of Spain while requiring him to renounce any claim to the French throne and to cede much of the Spanish Crown's possessions to the Holy Roman Empire, the Dutch Republic, Savoy and Great Britain, partitioning the Spanish Empire in Europe.
In 1700, Charles II, the last Spanish monarch of the House of Habsburg, died without issue, bequeathing his possessions to Philip, grandson of his half-sister and KingLouis XIV of France. Philip thereby became Philip V of Spain and since he was also the younger son of the Dauphin of France, Philip was in the line of succession of the French throne. The specter of the multi-continental empire of Spain passing under the control of Louis XIV provoked a massive coalition of powers to oppose Philip's succession.
The war began slowly as Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor fought to protect theAustrian Habsburg claim to the Spanish inheritance. As Louis XIV began to expand his territories, other European nations (chiefly England, Portugal and the Dutch Republic) entered on the Holy Roman Empire's side to check French expansion.[5]Other states joined the coalition opposing France and Spain in an attempt to acquire new territories or to protect existing dominions. Spain was itself divided over the succession and fell into a civil war.
The war was centered in Spain and West-Central Europe (especially the Low Countries), with other important fighting in Germany and Italy. Prince Eugene and the Duke of Marlborough distinguished themselves as military commanders in the Low Countries. The war was fought not only in Europe but also the West Indies andcolonial North and South America where the conflict became known to the English colonists as Queen Anne's War. Over the course of the fighting, some 400,000 people were killed.[6]
The war was concluded by the treaties of Utrecht (1713) and Rastatt (1714). As a result, Philip V remained King of Spain but was removed from the French line of succession, averting a union of the two kingdoms. The Austrians gained most of the Spanish territories in Italy and the Netherlands. France's hegemony over continental Europe was ended and the idea of a balance of power became a part of the international order.[7] Philip quickly revived Spanish ambition; taking advantage of the power vacuum caused by Louis XIV's death in 1715, Philip announced he would claim the French crown if the infant Louis XV died and attempted to reclaim Spanish territory in Italy, precipitating the War of the Quadruple Alliance in 1717.








53 comments:

  1. "sometimes you don't have that choice and life sometimes kicks you in the crackers." Too true, too true. Really great minis, though.

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  2. Quite an interesting historical read there, and some snazzy looking figures.

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  3. Sometimes you have to do what you have to do. I have sold most of my collection over the years. They soldier on in the collections of others who love them.

    I do like those pieces, there nothing a well dressed bloke with a tricorn hat.

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  4. Doesn't hurt to keep the odd one.I have sold a few over the years but always seem to regret it at some stage. I do like Front Rank though.

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  5. As you say mate, when life kicks you in the crackers you can either complain and bitch, or smile and kick back!

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  6. Oh yeah, and as WI Boucher said above, those figs live on in the collections of others. I can assure you that the Vikings I got from you are well loved and used - in fact they have a day out and a game tomorrow!

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  7. @Paul: The vikings were something that I didn't develop after painting that amount and was glad to see them going to a viking nut.

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  8. this was a very interesting historical story, Lurk! And nice figures!

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  9. Another very nice collection! And above is a good and very informative backstory as well.

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  10. Nice figures. I'm thinking of using some FR for late 17th C. FoG.

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  11. @Iowa: To me they were the best in 28mm even for skirmishing.

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  12. The detail on those things are awesome!

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  13. Nice figures -and a very entertaining and informative summary of the war as well.

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  14. That's a change from the Japanese!!! Nice stuff.

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  15. guy on the left looks like captain hook!

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  16. Nice pics, and thans for the history lesson. :)

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  17. Awesome pics! You know, I was going to be a history teacher and then life kicked me in the crackers and here I am today.

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  18. They look great. I think the way Front Rank figures are sculpted and posed goes hand in hand with this period. Regards, Dean

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  19. The colour you've used on their coats is awesome. Loving the shading underneath. Unless that is actually the shadow from the light and not painted a different tone =P

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  20. I feel like drinking some Captain Morgan now!

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  21. very nice, i really like the guy with the spear.

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  22. pirates get wenches! there are 5 ninjas in this post, but you cant see them. Whats a pirates favorite letter? r? C(sea) thar....

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  23. I want you to paint me a wench figurine


    picklesinmyass.blogspot.com

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  24. thats a big spear. nice history too

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  25. Haha those made me think of Captain Morgan too.

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  26. it's fantastic that you not only take the time to paint these little guys, but also take the time to learn about the stories behind them

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  27. Great little article about the history of the mini's.

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  28. Nice figures, WSS was always my favourite period. I know what you mean about circumstances sometimes forcing the sale of armies.

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  29. They look like "I say...where has the battery got to?"
    "Over there sir"
    "Over where?"
    "Over there...behind the tree, to the right of the yellow paint bottle"
    Nice looking figs
    Cheers
    Paul

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  30. Used to work with a hotel housekeeping crew with a number of refugees from the civil war in Yugoslavia.

    They had one perfectly painted Austrian Napoleonic 28mm fusilier on a shelf, as a decoration. From a 'German' regiment, not Croatian Grenz.

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  31. Cool figures, the last remnants of their species, Look a bit like Captain James Hook.

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  32. Life has been known to kick me in the crackers as often as possible. I hope things pick up for you.

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  33. Your painting skills are always improving towards perfection. How are you my friend. Been busy for a long, long time.

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  34. Nice job, I'm a sucker for colorful 28mm figures.

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  35. Nice change of period. Sorry you had to let the others go, these guys are really good. Maybe one day, you will be able to do the period again

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  36. It sucks letting loose of some, but at least you have these guys :D

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  37. I know the feeling about selling some of your figure collection. For me it was my complete WW2 figures and vehicles collection. The blow was softened by knowing they were going to good homes.

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  38. I thought you'd sold all of these. Are they the ones I painted??

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  39. The figures look nice and I hope your situation changes for the better so you don't need to sell miniatures you don't want to.

    Christopher

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  40. This reminds me of the old school days of playing D&D in the basement of the hobby shop.

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  41. awesome pieces, cool to hear some history detailing the background as wel..

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  42. they look chubby, but cool :)

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  43. Hey, great blog you have here broseph. Followed, MC-hammer status!

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  44. God, I love those Hats!
    I neeed one!

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  45. I loved the line, "life sometimes kicks you in the crackers."

    Tim just got kicked in the crackers by Miss Wiggy. She's still a bit floppy and doesn't know her own strength yet.

    And, before that, she fell off the couch because she has NO idea that her rump is so close to the end of the couch.

    What a goof.

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