 Military
Musicians from 1670. English
They have the arms of their commander emblazoned on their
drums and the Royal Arms on a fife banner. Two of them wear
cravats, though the others still have 'falling band' collars.
Unlike the musicians, the officer (far right) has fashionable
sleeves cut short to the elbow and wears a sash over his shoulder.
From Funeral of the Duke of Albemarle, 1670 |
 Grenadier,
1672. French
Possibly the earliest representation of a grenadier is this
plate from Mallet's 1672 edition of Les Traveaux de Mars.
Except for the bag full of grenades, the dress of these elite
soldiers was similar to that of the rest of their regiment,
although some subsequently adopted dragoon-type caps. A moustache
can be seen, and was to be the grenadiers' distinction for
many years to come. |
 French
Soldiers 1672.
The French cavalry swims across the Rhine and invades Holland
on 11 June 1672. The King is on the right, mounted and pointing
his cane at the Dutch side of the river. Engraving after the
painting by Van der Meulen, who was official battle artist
accomanying the French armies. |
 'The
manner of firing mortars and bombs. French
As shown in Mallet's 1672 edition of Les Traveaux de Mars.
Figure A measures the elevation of the piece, while the bombardier
to the left lights the bomb with a match in his right hand,
before firing the piece with the match in his left hand.
In the foreground are infantry soldiers guarding the artillery,
one of them smoking a pipe amidst all the black powder. |
 Musketeer
with sword 1678. French
Infantry musketeer putting his sword 'en guard'. He
is equipped with a bandolier of cartridges and a decorated
baldrick for his sword. Detail from a plate in Gaya's 1678
Traité des Armes. |
 Cavalry
Trooper, 1678. French
He wears a buff leather coat (A) which laces up the front.
Note the aiguillette at the right shoulder. Hats were usually
black with bunches of coloured ribbons. Breeches were of buff
leather. The boots (H) wereblack and had spurs
attached (I, K). The equipment consists of a buff sword
belt (B) and a buff carbine belt with steel hook (E).
Weapons were a sword (C), a carbine (G), and a pair of waist
pistols (E). The white sash of France was worn around the
waist for national identification in battle. From Gaya's 1678
Traité des Armes. |
