| Codsticker | 25 May 2015 9:27 a.m. PST |
I will be building a unit of Rupert's Lifeguard of Horse and whilst reading an AAR in Warlord Games' Pike and Shotte book Rupert's Lifeguard of Horse is listed as 'Cuirassiers'. Is this accurate? Speculative? Fantasy? I was just going use 'regular' ECW cavalry with the appropriate flag to represent the unit but now I am reconsidering. |
| MajorB | 25 May 2015 9:38 a.m. PST |
The only regiment of true cuirassiers in the ECW was Heselrigge's Lobsters. |
| mex10mm | 25 May 2015 10:39 a.m. PST |
I guess they were heavy cavalry, well trained, motivated that why their "stats" are like cuirrasiers; I also think you are right, using heavy cavalry with the correct flag I enough to represent them. |
| Wargames Designs | 25 May 2015 10:53 a.m. PST |
From a purely aesthetic viewpoint I have modelled my own Rupert's Lifeguard of Horse as cuirassiers. However, I don't differentiate between cuirassiers and other cavalry in my ECW games except to say that in the case of Rupert's Lifeguard of Horse they would be as well equipped as possible for heavy cavalry and they would be highly motivated. Anyway it is a waste of some really nice cuirassier models from all ECW manufacturers if you don't use them for something. |
| Timbo W | 25 May 2015 4:09 p.m. PST |
Yep Rupert's Lifeguard were not Cuirassiers as far as we know, but on the other hand I've seen nothing contemporary to say they definitely weren't! I reckon its far more likely they weren't though, ymmv. Sadly their flag is unrecorded, most gamers use something based on Rupert's coat of arms. |
| Codsticker | 25 May 2015 9:09 p.m. PST |
Thank you for the excellent responses. I will continue as planned. |
| David O Brien | 26 May 2015 2:58 a.m. PST |
When I started painting my ECW armies back in the 1980's I remember reading info that the King's Lifeguard wore cuirassier armour. |
| MajorB | 26 May 2015 5:28 a.m. PST |
When I started painting my ECW armies back in the 1980's I remember reading info that the King's Lifeguard wore cuirassier armour. Do you remember where you read it? |
| GurKhan | 26 May 2015 5:51 a.m. PST |
Prince Rupert's _Lifeguard_ was a single troop, distinct from his regiment of Horse: "The King's Army of Horse was in this order this yeare 1645 before Leicester. May.
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His Highnes Prince Rupert's lifeguards of horse. One troope commanded by Sir Richard Crane.
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Prince Rupert's regiment of horse, consisting of 400, 8 troopes, commanded by Sir Thomas Dalyson." - from Symonds' Diary at link So it would have been barely possible for this troop to have worn cuirassier armour and for the statement that Hesilrigge's were the only cuirassier _regiment_ to be still true. Sadly, I have no evidence for it, and I suspect that if these or any other single troop were full cuirassiers then Symonds would have noted it somewhere! |
| Supercilius Maximus | 26 May 2015 7:08 a.m. PST |
The Earl of Essex's Lifeguard also appear to have been armed and equipped as cuirassiers, but this again was not a full regiment (albeit more than a single troop). I would have thought that the Gentlemen Pensioners, who were personally responsible for protecting the King and were distinct from the King's Lifeguard, would also have been heavily armoured (more than just a pot helmet and B&B). |
| Codsticker | 26 May 2015 7:42 a.m. PST |
Prince Rupert's _Lifeguard_ was a single troop, distinct from his regiment of Horse:"The King's Army of Horse was in this order this yeare 1645 before Leicester. May.
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His Highnes Prince Rupert's lifeguards of horse. One troope commanded by Sir Richard Crane. Hmmm … perhps just a couple of cuirassiers on his command stand will do then. |
