Does anyone make flags for the French Guard infantry 1672-79?

I've seen these by Battleflag for the TYW
http://www.battle-flag.com/-25mm28mm-fr ... holic.html

Unless I've misread the Osprey Louis XIV book, it suggests the Du Roi flags are quartered red and green, which makes the Battleflag unsuitable.

I sell a WSS set of flags for the Royal Regiment, Drapeau D'Ordonannce. Not sure what that is, and the Spanish artists English is really bad so I'll do better asking you guys.

Yes Nick, the Battleflag standards would be too early for the Dutch War : though we haven't got much to go on in terms of period sources, it would appear that by 1672 all Gardes Françaises companies had flags with a white cross on a blue field. The cross had a gold crown at the end of each of its branches, and each of the four blue quarters was strewn with varying numbers of gold fleur-de-lys depending on the period (as many as 64 per quarter in the early 18th century, though there were probably fewer in the previous decades). A 1696 engraving by Girard depicting a Gardes Françaises ensign with his flag certainly shows that type of disposition, albeit with fewer gold lilies per quarter.

Du Roy was another unit : whereas the Gardes Françaises were household troops and belonged to the Maison du Roi, Du Roy was a regular line infantry regiment whose nominal colonel was the King of France. The unit was raised in 1671 and did carry the colour you mention from 1671 to 1757 (red and green quarters with gold fleurs-de-lys on the white cross).

The Adolfo Ramos flags you are selling belong to a third and different regiment, Royal (yes, Royal and Du Roy are not the same unit : confusing, innit ? ). Royal had been raised in 1660 and carried the violet and filamot drapeaux d'ordonnance shown below :



Ramos' research is solid and he has the right flag for the right unit, which may be used for the Dutch war as the design remained unchanged throughout Louis XIV's reign.

Regarding your query about Gardes Françaises flags, I haven't seen the GMB one, but it might fit the bill although it's meant for the SYW period. Alternatively, Battle Flags or Clarence Harrsion may be persuaded to produce something more appropriate for the Dutch war or the Nine Years War.

No wonder I get confused.

Fear not Nick, you'll get the gist of it eventually.

Of course by then you'll probably be wearing a periwig under your tricorn and insisting that your servants bring your coach right by your doorstep so as not to soil the fashionable red heels on your designer buckled shoes.

And there is The Flag Dude as well. He can produce it for you or if you supply the image he'll use that. I've used Maverick & Flag Dude and recommend both.

Just got the GMB French Guard flags, they fit your description perfectly Arthur.

I'll post pictures on the North Star Facebook gallery when they are done.

Any pictures of the 1672 flintlock-armed musketeers in the pipeline, by any chance ? And I see that the gun crews and armoured cavalry command are about to be released, which is excellent news

Also, any idea of when you will get to adding dismounted dragoon command packs for the French and the Anglo-Dutch-Imperialists ?

I've put a pic to the firelock infantry on my blog; here's the link; [url][http://jacobiteirish.blogspot.co.uk//url] and good news about the armoured cavalry command and the artillery figures.

Does anyone know if there's any plans to make some 'militia types' as these would be useful for raparees etc?

cheers Pete

Cheers for the pic, Pete. Looks like they could be used as Gardes Françaises with a little extra work

Hi Pete,
Great picture. I haven't photographed the Firelocks yet as EVM have them to paint as Dutch Guard and I was waiting for them first. (I know you are out there Dave).
Dragoon command are on the schedule, but I want to do Swiss Guard and generals first.
Nick

Interesting news. I take it you are talking about Swiss guards in French service ? The musketeers would not be too different from the regular types (unlike the Gardes Françaises, the Gardes Suisses did not wear plumed hats). The breeches 'points' round the knees would be their most distinctive feature. Pikemen in full armour with arm cops and tassets are something no one else does, though - and they could also be used for regular Swiss regiments as well.

Yes, the Swiss in French service. You are right, the musketeers would only be different in their trouser fashion but the pikes would be in armour. You could 'fudge' a Swiss Guard musketeer with the figures already in the range, but not a pikeman. So if we were going to do Swiss Pike why not musketeers as well. We'll get away from the 'at ready and firing' poses that the range uses now for the Swiss to add some more variety to the range, probably copy the Osprey picture of the musketeer with his piece over the shoulder.

The gun crew and armoured cavalry command were finished today, will be moulded over the next week.

I'm all for Steve creating new poses for the range ! Musketeers advancing with fixed bayonets (plate A in the Osprey book) would also be quite welcome - though you'd have to create an advancing pikeman to match them.