Author: lorenzoseventh

Wargaming in an erratic style

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battle anniversaries garibaldi wargaming Mid 19th Century Wargaming Military History Vienna Treaty Wars

173 years ago this month

Photo by Rachel Claire on Pexels.com

173 years ago this month events were gathering pace across Italy after the Vienna 1848 uprising. Earlier in the year protests in Lombardy and the Veneto about tobacco taxes with boycotts had set in train popular unrest.

And then the news of an uprising in Vienna itself fuelled the powder keg of rebellion that had built up since the Vienna Treaty of 1815 had ended the Napoleonic era.

In Milan the people revolted and after 5 days Marshall Radetsky withdrew his forces to the east.

Venice declared itself a republic again with the Austrians capitulating while their Italian soldiers simply deserted – many even declining to join the rebels.

And then Piedmont declared war on the Empire and mobilised its army to march on Milan and Lombardy.

Across the Papal States and Southern Italy into Sicily uprisings installed populist governments. Many only lasted just a few weeks or months.

This week 173 years ago the Austrians were bottled up in the “quadrilateral” (bounded by Verona, Legnano, Mantua and Peschiera). They were about to inflict serial defeats on Piedmont and its Italian allies.

An Armistice followed.

Then a year later the Piedmontese and Austrians did battle again at Novara, resulting in a decisive victory for the Austrians and giving them 10 more years of power in the peninsula.

So in 1849 while the Piedmontese were being defeated to the north, Guiseppe Garibaldi was leading the doomed but heroic defence of Rome under its short lived Republic. By summer 1849 Garibaldi was retreating north into the Romagna, with the remnants of his forces, having fought the French and Neapolitans to a standstill despite being massively outnumbered.

Garibaldi was pursued across the spine of Italy tying up 100,000 troops of 4 nations (the spanish joined austria, france and naples to destroy this most wanted rebel).

Fortunately Garibaldi escaped with amazing help from Italians all across the lands he travelled.

He lived to fight another day – it would be 10 years before his chance would come again.

Categories
garibaldi wargaming metal miniatures miniatures painting Vienna Treaty Wars wargaming

The Painting Pedestal: 1848 French at Rome

I found these excellent metal figures at Irregular Miniatures (a prolific UK figure manufacturer).

These are from their 20mm range for Garibaldi Wars.

I based them high so they would work alongside my 20-25mm 1/72 figures.

You can easily get French post Crimea as that uniform pretty much ran until 1914.

I use Field of Battle Piquet basing of 4 bases per battalion. This also neatly matches Neil Thomas rules for the 19th century european wars. I also like to have the officers separate so they can gross up to show brigade commands. Piquet also allows strong and weak battalions, 3-5 bases is possible. Neil Thomas does not like command explicitly on show, so there are no issues there.

The reality is that between 1815 and 1854 the French had uniform changes like so many cups of tea – sorry that should be coffee of course.

The Funcken shown is an excellent book that shows the colourful story of French fashions from shako to kepi and breeches to pantaloons!

Categories
life natural world

Intermission 21e: Hello Spring?

I started this post in early March – its now May and Spring still feels like late winter.

What better way to start spring than say hello to some newcomers.

This time last year I posted about these youngsters parents

I think this moth was not sure whether to stay or go back in the shed – it was just so cold.

Spring has been somewhat reluctant what with very cool temperatures although the sun has shone most days.

At least the sunsets have been good.

Categories
Military History Vienna Treaty Wars

Torino 1st Capital of a slightly United Italy

Photo by Emy Angelli on Pexels.com

https://granfondoguide.com/Contents/PopUp/5874/turin-start-for-2021-giro-ditalia

Back in March 160 years ago, the first unified Italian state began its work. It would be years before the whole peninsula was united.

Back then both Venice and Rome remained separately ruled by Austria and the Pope.

Photo by Akka on Pexels.com

This year the Giro d’Italia, as in previous centenary years, starts in the city of Turin or Torino.

Categories
garibaldi wargaming miniatures painting wargaming

The Painting Pedestal: Divisione Bixio

After securing Sicily Garibaldi reorganised his mass of volunteer units into a series of Divisiones.

  • Divisione Turr
  • Divisione Cosenz
  • Divisione Medici
  • Divisione Bixio

The soldiers shown here are from the Divisione Bixio which comprised two brigades.

classic “redshirts”, one soldier has obtained some piedmont/sardinian trousers, one has summer dress whites with small white gaiters while the third appears to have some liberated Neapolitan dark blue trousers on!

An officer is in the illustration (G) shown in the Osprey Men at Arms book 520. I have already mentioned what an excellent book this is, with a wealth of detail in black white alongside text overflowing with wargamers ideas for painting units.

The Officer on the Osprey 520 cover – centre figure – is from Divisione Bixio. Credit to Lucky Toys for animating their sculpts. Compare with the Hat Bologna Volunteers in this background shot of them.

The Bixio Divisione figures are by Lucky Toys……..

Categories
miniatures painting wargaming

Recently Completed

I had to post these because they are not varnished and look rather different to my usual glossy painting pedestal offerings.

Strelets set 150 US infantry attack ACW.

Painted as 1859 Bologna Volunteers as described in the Osprey 520 Armies of the Italian Wars of Unification 1848-1870 (2).

Categories
Mid 19th Century Wargaming Vienna Treaty Wars wargaming

Plan A never survives contact

In 2020 my wargames hobby plan started with a plan and actually stayed mainly on track with just a few unexpected deviations.

So the Plan was NitS (Normans in the South). The main deviation was to Normans in the North – well actually Norsemen posing as Danes fighting Anglo Saxons. I painted, played games (ok solo ones), read copiously and tested some rules. My wargaming always includes painting figures, playing wargames, reading about the subject of history as well as the wargame and testing out rulesets.

a favorite image from 2020 – the shieldwalls collide

So the main deviations still relate to which plan I am doing. And a plan is normally related to a period in time.

2020 was definitely dark age territory.

I painted up 1/72 plastics, based impetus style as 80mm x 60mm elements. The Strelets multiposed figure boxes work very well. The reissue of their Normans after 8 or so years was also a great help.

Coupled with Neil Thomas’s, Ancient & Medieval Warfare (AMW) or One Hour Wargames (OHW) Rules requiring only 8 or 6 elements per army meant I had some easy gaming options.

And more crazy, I bought a book to learn anglo saxon – now gathering dust, yet I did write a poem about Aethelflaed on this site.

Crikey wargames is dangerous stuff!

Well Plan A 2020 was looking good to become Plan A 2021 – until I read an article in Lone Warrior about some “mid 19th century warfare” (very catchy period name). By then it was late November so you could argue Plan A 2020 – job done. I mean I should already have Plan A 2021 in the can? Well I did.

Plan A 2021 would see a return to NitS (Normans in the South).

A few of my Normans in the South that did get off the Painting Table in 2020

Wargames Plan A – never survives contact with …………………………. ……………………………………………………………….. another interesting article.

So for completely unexplainable reasons, as I read Brian Camerons article, my mind wandered towards 19th century bearskins, kepis, long trousers, rolled greatcoats, lances, sabres and rifles.

The Renaissance Troll post I read about Napoleonic “imagi”nations put the final nail in the NitS coffin.

The 2021 plan A did not include the dark ages or NitS. Sorry folks – I am sure they will make a comeback.

So for Norber the Wargaming Erratic – Plan A 2021 is

Wargame Rules

  • Wargame using “19th Century European Warfare rules” by Neil Thomas
  • Wargame using “Table Top Battles” by Mike Smith maybe with his grid system
  • Wargame using “Piquet Field of Battle 1700-1900” by Brent Oman
  • Wargame using “Practical Wargaming” by Charles Wesencraft

Wargame Army Periods

  • Post Napoleonic 1815 – 1830
  • Monarchists & Revolutionaries 1830 – 1849
  • French resurrection & Prussian hegemony 1850 – 1866
  • Austro-Hungary and the Ottomans demise 1866 – 1877

Wargame Figures

  • Hat 1/72
  • Strelets 1/72
  • Waterloo 1815 1/72
  • Maybe Warrior Miniatures 25mm metals

I wrote this in January but since then have been busy posting about doing things. And yes Plan A 2021 is all about the 19th century.

A recent VTW1815 game using Neil Thomas rules and an eclectic mix of figures – is that the “shade” of Napoleon or his Doppelganger?

More posts coming on the Vienna Treaty Wars or VTW as I abbreviate it.

Categories
life

Mike Hobbs

Mike Hobbs is someone I encountered listening to Meeples and Miniatures.

His death is a shock even though I never met him or corresponded with him.

He was a key member of the podcast team that introduced me to serial wargaming podcasts.

And the one that I think is most signficiant was the mental health podcast He and Neil Shuck ran together. That was a great contribution by two very open and honest people, discussing very real issues of mental health and how it affects people in such a damaging way.

Above all they managed to convey optimism around a subject that can seem so negative.

Neil Shuck’s words are worth reading. Thank you Neil Shuck and

Thank you Mike Hobbs.

Categories
garibaldi wargaming miniatures painting Vienna Treaty Wars wargaming

The Painting Pedestal: Brigata Milano

Brigata Milano was part of Division Turr being formed before crossing from Sicily to the mainland. The figures have good animation I think.

The Bersaglieri wore a green uniform with red facings. This chap has lost his feathers courtesy of lucky toys casting!
The soldier on the right sports a cloak and pointy hat so probably came on the boat from Uruguay or has copied those that did. The soldiers wore white uniforms with red facings.

The bugler has a kepi – all the rage at this time (1859/60). He has acquired some Piedmontese uniform trousers.

I have again used the fine words and black and white pictures of osprey MAA 520 Armies of the Italian Wars of Unification 1848-1870 pt2.

You can find out more on the Garibaldini troops Garibaldi took to Sicily with him and those that followed on in my recent postings.

Finally you may notice the easter egg style basing!

Categories
Book Reviews Mid 19th Century Wargaming Military History new additions Vienna Treaty Wars wargaming

Vienna Treaty Wars: Book Cavalcade

My current preoccuption with european wars in the post Napoleonic era have been fuelled by some book buying.

the most recent arrival – this old book is interesting because the illustrations are highly selective. The text explains why – to support a narrative concerning the evolution of uniforms rather than trying to show what each country chose.
Lucy Riall is a very well respected modern author and focuses on the themes of what the Risorgimento means and to whom.
This is a great dip in book full of easily accessed facts and provides the framework of what can be a confusing time in Italy.
This book has lots of anecdotes which I plan to use in my imaginations campaigns.
Having already devoured the South German War by the same author I have just started this book. The small actions around the lakes just cry out for a skirmish ruleset.
Old but still full of useful information and given only limited interest today, means a dearth of current publications on 19th century Italy, these booklets are very worthwhile.
I have a feeling this ruleset may being hooking up with Michael Embree’s Radestky Marches book for a skirmish or two.
A quite unexpected catch. I really like the Funcken style and this book delivers it in spades. Lucky for me it is right on the dates and although it ends just before Crimea it does cover the crucial 1848 revolutionary year.
Another recent acquisition – I like the grid rule set and it comes with handy campaign and solo rules all integrated as you desire. It even has naval rules. actually it does modern, fantasy and sci fi as well – not that I need them for my VTW – Vienna Tratey Wars

So my period is called the Vienna Treaty Wars and the era roughly covers 1815 to 1871.

Currently I have been painting quite well although right now a campaign beckons. I never thought I would be doing anything post napoleonic – thank you again Mr Renaissance Troll!