"Elector Max Emmanuel" Topic

Some members may recall the series of illustrations by Gabriel Mykaj that appeared in Wargames Illustrated some 25 years ago.

In particular, WI 25 (September 1989) carried a print of "Bavarian Field Officers" depicting Max Emmanuel and and unnamed general from the 1690's wearing crimson/dark red coats with light blue cuffs (and presumably linings).

The question I am asking in the hope that someone can point me towards an answer is – did Bavarian generals continue to wear such coats in the WSS or had they, at some stage, switched to wearing blue coats (possibly lined red)?

I realise that some generals, as regimental 'chefs', might wear their regiment's coat or that some might not wear miltary uniform at all and continue in civilian clothing.

Any thoughts?

My thought is that red coats predated the WSS. I think they would have gone for Bavarian -or French Generals- blue.
I think the generals would have favoured a Bavarian blue sash as a sort of field sign.
After a lot of looking in books and online,I have just painted my Bavarian generals, and opted for dark blue for Max

and Bavarian light blue for the other generals.
I couldnt find anything conclusive in my research though, so I may be wrong!!!

red coats were the prerogative of Imperial nobility, that's is why you see Bavarians, especially the Elector wearing red.

Also Bavarian officer wore reversed colours

The Hoffman plates show generals – and Max Em himself – in red coats with the famous blue cuffs, and black cuirasses. The date for the general's plate is 1694, which is when the blue coat was adopted for all ranks of the infantry. I would have red for the 1690s campaigns and blue for the WSS (fwiw, I think this was when "German" regiments in the French army started wearing blue coats as well).

Generals of this era, as opposed to WAS and later, didn't have regulation uniforms, especially if you were the ruler of a state. I have seen a print of William III wearing yellow faced red. Also, red was one of the less stable dyes of the period, or at least it had been, so the use of it implied wealth and status, so if you think about it, the entire British army is flipping the bird to the French.

"the entire British army is flipping the bird to the French."

I think they did that for several hundred years…..

Indeed.

"I think they did that for several hundred years…."

Hardly I think they came a dismal 2nd in the 100 years war

Many thanks for your thoughts and comments.

As I'm looking at WSS rather than earlier, I think I will go with cornflower blue coats for the generals and, maybe, something a bit darker for ME himself.