| Don Sebastian | 15 May 2012 4:00 a.m. PST |
Does anyone knows anything about the organization and uniform of the armies of the Duchy of Courland during this century? I would assume their armies would be quite "Polish" in their composition and uniform inspiration… |
| bogdanwaz | 15 May 2012 6:21 a.m. PST |
I don't think they would have been particularly "Polish" in look but probably more Western in appearance. The nobility of Courland was primarily German, descended from the Livonian Brothers of the Sword, ruling over a Latvian peasantry. Oddly enough in the 17th century they had a fleet large enought to support a colony in Africa and in the Tobago. |
| de Ligne | 15 May 2012 6:52 a.m. PST |
And our friend Maurice has a short stint as Duke so it is a mix of Polish, Saxon and Russian influences. link |
| Cardinal Hawkwood | 15 May 2012 3:36 p.m. PST |
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| Don Sebastian | 15 May 2012 6:13 p.m. PST |
My obsessiveness won't let me ): |
| Narratio | 18 May 2012 4:14 a.m. PST |
The Duchy of Courland had a colony in Africa?
Just one more thing I never knew. |
| Don Sebastian | 28 May 2012 9:03 a.m. PST |
any polish mambers to help? |
| Musketier | 28 May 2012 9:18 a.m. PST |
Erm, Latvian, actually – but it looks as though precious little is known about its military:
TMP link
Have fun! |
| maciek72 | 28 May 2012 11:46 a.m. PST |
This guy writes a blog about the Duchy:
kurlandia.wordpress.com
He's just published a book about it's military forces in 17th century, maybe he also knows something about 18th. This guy – Kadrinazi
link
is also known as an expert in Courland army, unfortunatelly – in 17th century also. Polish Wikipedia
link
states that at its peak, in mid 17th century, the Courland army numbered 1000-1200 men. |
| Don Sebastian | 29 May 2012 11:23 a.m. PST |
thanks for the link, I just sent an email to the owner of the first blog. Also, If anyone knows anything more, please post here. |
 Der Alte Fritz  | 30 May 2012 9:49 a.m. PST |
I didn't know that Courland had an army in the 18th Century, figuring that the duchy had either been consumed by Russia or that Russia would have frowned on the duchy having an army. I seem to recall that the Tsar/Tsarina had the final vote on who would be the Duke of Courland. |
| Musketier | 01 Jun 2012 4:13 a.m. PST |
A palace guard and some marines then? |
