Sunday 21 April 2019

Saxon Leib Grenadier Guard - Black Hussar 28mm

Saxon Leib Guard Grenadiers - looking fab in their bright red, yellow and white and black bearskin. One of the best looking uniforms of the Napoleonic era I think! These are Black Hussar models once again.

The Saxon Leib Grenadier Guard guarded Napoleon during his stay in Leipzig 1813. Together with the Polish Guard and Velites of Florence and Turin, they formed a new division of the Old Guard at this time.

Prior to 1809 many were middle aged and rather too invested in non-military pursuits (i.e. corruption during peacetime duties!) according to Rawkins. Due to this they struggled to muster a single battalion of 500 men, but reforms in 1810 increased the numbers to two battalions.  In 1813 a single battalion of 600 men was raised.

Calot (cloth patch) of bearskin was yellow with a red grenade motif, which I did a stylised  impression of this here. Officers had a red calot with silver grenade. Bearskins were black or sometimes dark brown.




Thanks for looking, with these more specialist units done, now it's time for some Saxon line infantry.

24 comments:

  1. What a splendid unit...and work!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Those are awesome, Mark! I agree, one of the more striking uniforms of the Napoleonic Wars. Given the competition, that's saying a lot!

    I love the drummers (etc) in sky blue with yellow facings. I wonder if that was a conscious decision to emulate the sky blue clad trumpeters of the French Guard Cavalry?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Peter! I think according to Rawkins the drummer colours predate French fame!

      Delete
  3. Beautifully done, and they will definitely stand out on the table.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Very nice indeed Mark - I remember painting up some nasty cheap 25mm figures 35 years ago to represent this unit, as I was so impressed with the colour scheme of their uniforms!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cheers Ross, yes I can see it being a popular one alright! :)

      Delete
  5. Beautiful work Mark. I recall that in my first wargaming book borrowed from the public library, Bruce Quarries Airfix Guide to Napoleonic Wargaming ( in bright orange!), he collected the Saxons as he liked the fact that he could collect every unit in the army. You appear to be well on your way as well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Carlo yes I can see that being an attraction to doing a Saxon army, plus it can fight with or against the French, with full range of arms, and it is very colouful to boot!

      Delete
  6. Fab looking unit, no doubt! Brilliant brushwork as expected from your hand.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Great work Mark. You are certainly ripping through these Saxons.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cheers Mark, yes trying to put some focus on them! :)

      Delete
  8. Fabulous looking guards! I agree it's a splendid uniform and you've done your customery super paint job on them!
    Best Iain

    ReplyDelete
  9. Yes, a fine looking unit and you have done them full justice. Great painting, as ever.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Inspirational as always. Thanks for sharing and providing more reasons to buy another army!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Gary! :) (And re buying another army, the Saxons are a great one to do I think! ;))

      Delete