dear all,
For my interest in the military history of the British Isles, one topic of particular interest is that of foreign/mercenary/subsidy/auxiliary troops. As we all probably know, England, Scotland and Ireland supplied a great number of regiments and men to serve with the armies of the Dutch Republic, France and Spain.
Regarding the French angle, I found that Belhomme in his 'Histoire de l'infanterie en France' gives a very detailed history of the regiments and their composition. Next to that, I think most people know Susane's 'Histoire de l'ancienne infanterie francaise'.
There are some differences in approach between the two, and also differences in the details.
So that let me to some questions:
1/ How accurate / reliable are the works of Belhomme (and Susane)? I understand Belhomme gives the paper numbers for the strength of companies and regiments (which is ok), but how accurate is he when he discusses the raising and reduction of regiments? This question is primarily triggered because of the differences between Belhomme en Susane on the one hand, and the difference in coverage of this topic in other English-language works.
2/ Several of the names of the English/Scottish/Irish colonels are francized (a Scottish colonel Koemikael is named (Kirkmichael?), and an English colonel Storps), and provided without much first names or titles. This makes biographical study somewhat hard. Has this topic of identifying and translating who-is-who been done somewhere in literature already, or is that unchartered land?
Thanks a lot,
kind regards, Wienand
sails to the Skeleton Seas, and finds inspiration as she goes.
