"How should I depict 1809 Insurrectio Hussars?" Topic

I'm looking at painting the Primatial and Neutraer hussars in 18mm for 1809. I know the Primatial are a mystery, and I'll probably try to go with David Hollins' theory about the uniform that "might" be theirs. But for the Neutraer (and any other Insurrectio I may decide in a fit of madness to paint), I've been thinking about figures to use. I have some Austrian hussars already, awaiting paint, but I've been thinking about the (un)likelihood of their being fully uniformed. I wonder whether or not some Austrian 7 Years War hussars, wearing a less standard look and wearing a fur hat (busby) rather than a shako would look good in the mix. Any thoughts? Alternatives?

I will be putting them on horses with a 'square' shabraque rather than the pointed hussar one, based on the illustrations I've seen.

Cheers,
John

John,

I have set of "Schema der Ungarischen Banderien" supposedly for 1790 with 25 illustrations in total.

All the figures depicted have pointed shabraques. Link to the Neutraer illustration link There is no similar illustration for Primatial.

Ian

John,

Don't forget to look at Enrico Acerbi's article for 1809 link
Ian

It's interesting that the illustrations you have seen have the pointed shabraque. Rawkins says (specifically for 1809 and it fits with the illustration he includes link * and the (modern) Acerbi picture:

"The horse furniture in 1797 followed the style used by the regular hussars a red light cavalry pattern shabraque with a wide yellow border piped with yellow and black and the imperial cipher in the rear corner in yellow. In 1809 most Insurrectio hussar squadrons appear to have been issued with the plain service shabraque of dark grey with a red border or just used the sheepskin saddle cover."

The righthand horse in Rawkins seems to have a straight (square) shabraque, the lefthand horse arguably a pointed one, but still in grey, trimmed red. So again, maybe a mix. Officers having the full kit presumably.

I'd never seen the Neutraer image- it's like gold!

Thanks, as always, for your assistance.

John

*The link didn't go to the right image but it's there – 4 Insurrectio cavalry on the left in various coloured shakos and a group of Insurrectio infantry on the right, a well known painting.

I've been thinking about this paragraph from David Hollins, which talks about the Insurrectio but hints at its possible applicability for the elusive Primatial Hussar Regiment:

"That said, in "Das Buch der Husaren" (1999) by G Sagvari, who was the hussar expert at the Hungarian Army Museum  at the time, there is some new artwork, which shows elements of the 1809 uniform. It was obviously an attempt to standardise the Insurrection's kit (although 1809 would be its last call out)  and in particular, it features F1 sabretashes in place of the district emblems on earlier figures. It shows a detail of the dolman and pelisse. The dolman is light blue with cords, but no buttons, except to do it up, and most interestingly, a red collar and red pointed cuffs edged in yellow, whereas the regulars just had some cord decoration on the cuffs, which were the same colour as the rest of the dolman. This is interesting, in that it was the sign of volunteer infantry units like the EK legion that the pointed red cuff signified their volunteer status as units prepared to fight in the field army. Likewise, the pelisse is somewhat simpler – it only has a ring of fur on the cuff and there are only four lines of lace, again with only the one line of buttons. They say these are Insurrection uniforms, but it is possible that the Primatial copied the regs directly at the Archbishop's cost, while the Insurrection in truth was probably more like the earlier multi-coloured units.
"

Has anyone seen these illustrations and has anyone considered how these might be interpreted in miniatures on the table?

Cheers,
John