The Thirty Years War
Part III

Uniforms of the Thirty Years War

by Bill Boyle


Part 1: Bibliography
Part II: Leaders and Motivations

Denmark and Saxony

These two Protestant countries were two of the major players of the war. Both armies were of good quality, (Breitenfeld aside, the Saxon Army probably was the third best army of the war, after Tillys' Catholic Leaguers and the Swedes.) Both did not have the size and staying power to go it alone in the war and eventually had to switch sides to survive. So, Saxon and Danish troops fought on both sides and make a great allied contingent that can be used for either side. Both armies tended to dress well, until the treasury became exhausted.

SAXONY

Saxony dressed as Protestants and fought tactically as Imperialists. There is an abundance of information in The Armies of Ducal Saxony in The Thirty Years War by Belarus (Trns. Condrey). As this is a rare book, the following is a summary along with other sources. The Saxons used buff more than most armies, for both pants and coats. They were also found of striped shirts, blue and yellow being most common. Hats were gray, black, and unusually, sometimes white. OFFICERS wore black jackets or doublets and black pants. Any sleeves showing were yellow striped. A gray hat and coat completed their garb. HORSE furniture would be yellow, red, yellow and black striped, or green with gold trim for the generals and their bodyguards. The Saxons used yellow sashes and trim if not noted for a particular battle.

Saxony prior to 1623 and most Protestant militia were outfitted in the following manner. All foot wore gray hats, short gray coats with red collars and cuffs, and gray or buff pants. Pikemens' armor was blackened and the pike wore white collars. Pikemen usually wore buff pant and buff coats under their armor. The Dresden Militia guard wore blue and yellow and were an exception to the general rule. The Saxon Cavalry of this period was formed from the feudal levy into two regiments. The 3/4 armor was regulation issue and blackened. Schliebers' Regiment wore red coats and Goldsteins' Regiment wore yellow coats. The pant color varied by squadron and gray, black, blue, and buff is mentioned. this army is basically Saxonys' militia and could be used as such throughout the war. The color combinations are typical for Protestant militias.

Post 1623 Saxons. Artillerists, pioneers, and dragoons attached to artillery wore blue coats with yellow trim. Pants could be blue or yellow. Saxon dragoons not attached wore blue coats with gold trim. The cavalry wore black, white, red, and brown coats with gold trim under their armor with the squadron pants as before. Some cavalry also wore red, black, and brown coats with silver trim. Additionally, yellow coats with black trim and white coats with red trim was worn. Saxon foot combinations included red coats with yellow trim, red and white, yellow and black, green and white, and blue with red. DENMARK. Denmark uniformed elite units in red, with green, blue, or yellow cuffs and stockings. Christian IVs' personal unit of foot, (the Blue Regiment), wore blue with white trim by 1625, (and was armed with firelocks.) Hats were gray. Other foot wore green, (Two Regiments), yellow, (1 regiment), and red. Danish harquebusiers wore light blue coats. English troops (Morgans from Palantine and Mansfields service) and Scottish troops (Monroe) probably wore blue.

The cavalrys' First regiment wore red cassocks and the Second regiment wore blue cassocks. Pants were red, blue and yellow by squadron. The queens' regiment of foot may have worn red with green trim. Tarnstroms' The Sword of Scandinavia is a surprising fount of information.

So the well dressed and equipped Saxon and Danish Armies marched out and did battle with Tillys' 'ragged soldiers with bright (well maintained) muskets' and were thrashed. Pretty troops though. That is all for now , Pikes forward!

UNIFORMS OF THE IMPERIAL ARMIES OF THE THIRTY YEARS WAR

The Imperialists tended toward the landesknecht style of dress, so less uniformity was evident in the armies fighting for and allied with the Holy Roman Emperor. Tilly , the commander of the Catholic League (Bavarian) Army always said, " a ragged soldier and a bright musket." The old warrior monk Tilly was one of the most sucessful generals of the war and his ragged (poorly dressed) soldiers made short work of the better uniformed protestants until Gustavus changed the methods of warfighting. Wallensteins' armies were an exception, the greatest military Entrepenure of the period took pains to insure his armies were well dressed. After his demise, the Imperial armies inherited most of his units and they formed the basis of the Austrian Army. Now, on to specifics.

Imperial troops in general wore either red, yellow or pearl grey/white. (i.e. undyed linen)

Croats. Isolanis' croats were described as dressed in black with red coats and cloaks. They wore red or black boots. They never wore green or blue boots since the turks wore those colors. Other croats are mentioned as wearing red coats with gold trim. Croats and grenzers (Austrian border skimishers) often wore striped vests or waist sashes.

Austrian units wore pearl grey or white. The artillerists may have worn brown. Austrians also wore red and yellow coats.

Bavarian and Catholic League units wore light blue or red coats and sometimes Imperial colors. The almost always wore bright red stockings. Pappenheims' cuirasiers wore all black armor with polish type helmets, reputed to be pistol proof.

Spain These troops were usually fighting the Dutch but did conquer the Lower Palantine in the 1620s' and reinforcments traveling from Italy to Flanders oud be involved en passant, most notably in the Nordlingen campaign. (1632) The painting "The Seige of Breda" is a good starting place for Spanish troops, so is the Osprey Armada book. Spanish troops still wore ruffs and wambus with 'bloomers'. The wambus was usually dark brown and dark red stockings were the most used color, but stockings were often striped. Members of the Council of Blood, 1580s, wore dark green wambus with red hose. Walloons wore red coats and served as mounted arquebus or musketeers. Spanish dragoons wore yellow or buff coats with red cuffs. Other Flanders dragoons wore red, blue, or green coats. (elite colors.) Foot Officiers and gentlemen volunteers wore a tan tabard with violet and white checked trim. The Burgundy cross was in violet on the shoulders and the Spanish coat of arms was centered on the front and back of the tabard. Spain still looked like a 16th century army.

Wallenstein was the most sucessful of the mercenary entrepenures, until murdered by his employer. (and you thought todays job market was tough.) He started as a petty noble and went on to rival the Austrian Hapsburgs. The most common coat colors were green, yellow or Imperial. I believe that the green was a lighter shade than either the Danes or Saxons, Kelly Green perhaps? Wallenstein had a Lancer guard unit, as did his Croat general Isloni, 200 men each. His guard at Lutzen wore red with light blue lining and trim, the foot guard (600) trimed with gold and silver. Bertold Wallensteins' foot wore green coats and Max Wallensteins' foot wore yellow coats. The Austrian Army absorbed most or his army. For example, Hardeggs Regiment from Upper Austria was Wallensteins Lifeguard that he lead as a Colonel at Zablat in 1619, wore grey in the 1630s. Gallas' Regiments that formerly served Wallenstein were specifically re-uniformed in grey in 1642. This army was usually well supplied and equiped so should be as snappy dressers as the Saxons.

PROTESTANT UNIFORMS OF THE THIRTY YEARS WAR

Having already covered the turncoat Protestants (Saxony and Denmark), I now turn attention to the remaining Protestant protagonists. Protestants tended to dress more soberly than their Catholic opponants and tended to be more uniformly dressed. The Protestants recognized the morale value and espre de corp that uniforms impart sooner than the Catholics. It also helped reduce desertion. The comments on Saxon miltia apply to many Protestant militas', if not their main army. The following list is known uniform colors for the lessor armies.

Protestant Union forces may have worn ruffs and dressed in bloomers and wambus. Early war Protestants also used the older style Birkheim helmets and crested helmets. No specific colors are mentioned but blue seems to be the Protestant color of choice. For, example, the only color mentioned for both Brandenberg and Brunswick Wolfenbuttel (The Mad Halberstadters troops) is blue. Of course, three regiments of Brandenbergers sent to join the Poles in the 1630s' defected to the Swedes, these troops are mentioned wearing 'Dark ' blue. So, Swedes could have some dark blue. What I find interesting is that the Brandenberg troops taken were raised as part of the Ducal Prussia contingent for the Polish Arny, and as such should have been uniformed in black and yellow, Ducal Prussias' colors. The problem with black is that it fades to green and you end up with green and faded yellow/brown, so maybe George William was trying to improve the long term look of his armies uniforms.

Palantine Guardsmen wore white uniforms with light blue trim, a possible reversal of the typical uniforms of the rank and file? It was common with drummers. Palantine was a major member of the Protesstant Union, so blue is possible. English volunteers played a major role in the Lower Palantine battles against the spanish, but will be covered seperately.

Mansfield. Had regiments named Red, Blue, Green, and Yellow but probably only were named after their flags' colors and not their coats.

Hanoverian troops had red coats with grey stockings. Possibly blue shirts and brown pants complete the uniform.

Hesse Cassel Some uniforms were dark blue with red stockings and possibly red or silver cuffs, (cuff colors for late war). Red or grey coats with grey pants were also used. Silver, blue and red from the coat of arms were used as trim. Mounted Jaegers were raised in 1631 , 300 man company, and probably in blue.

Hanseatic League. Three regiments went over to the Swedes and were called the black Regiment. another source says Hansards wore white coats. Perhaps both are right and either would be correct.

Wurtemberg. sources in the early 1700's state that Wurtembergers traditionally wore white. Whether this tradition reaches back to the war is unproven, but likely. Yellow and black were the livery colors and would make a nice contrast to white uniforms, but I have no direct evidence to support.

Volunteers from Great Britian. The ECW provides plenty of examples of the type of clothing worn by individuals serving on the continent. Scots usually served the Protestant, the Irish served the Catholic. English volunteers served in both. The Scots had entire regiments in Danish, Swedish and French Armies. The English and Irish had Regiments in the Army of Flanders. English troops serving the Palantine, Mansfield, or the Duke of Hamilton are always mentioned in blue coats, and usually grey stockings.

Scottish troops did not wear tartan. for that matter what is known as tartan was not worn anywhere during this period. They did however, wear 'hodden grey' as did the English and the Irish.

HODDEN GREY was described as " motley or other sad green color, or russet" (p. 385 Oman). Anything from grey to red brown or dark green would suffice. I believe that tweed would be appropriate for these homespun articles of clothing. The English in the Osprey book on swedish Infantry are a good example of this type of cloth. If you must, feel free to use tartans on your Scottish and Irish troops, just don't use black watch. (I admit it, I must.) So, if you need a new challange, just try to paint tweed.

Holland. Holland wore grey , black and brown. Rembrants' painting 'The Night Watch' is a good source for ideas. For those less cultured, (sniff, sniff), a box of Dutch Masters cigars is a good reference. Paint troops like pilgims in grade school plays and you can't go far wrong. The sea beggars, (the first dutch troops), wore grey and was the first uniform by default. The dutch paid regular and trained regularly, but were more concerned with results and less concerned with looks. Dutch troops almost always wore a orange,blue and white cocade to identify states troops. Saxon 1620's militia uniforms would be good for most and Dutch guards wore blue. Stripped shirts and pants were worn by cavalry and stripped pants were sometimes worn by infantry. Blue and yellow uniforms are also possible.

SWEDEN

The two Osprey and Gushs' books are what you need. Sweden even tried to have the pants match the coat. Gushs' book also touches on the 'traditional' uniforms for cavalry. Most Scots serving Sweden were quickly given uniforms, although 'redshanks' volunteers hoping to join sometimes followed the army in traditional clothing. the following is a short summation. One item that none of these books mention is the Swedish field sign of the hat band. Two old accounts state that the Swedes wore a yellow hat band with blue edging on the band to identify Swedish troops. Parkers' book also supports this view. (p 301 Biblography).

The Swedish infantry wore unwaisted long coats (smocks). The basic cut was the peasant coat that reached from to just beyond the waist or almost to the knee. The hat was grey felt except were noted. Buff coats, when worn, were sleeveless. (Most buff coats of this period were sleeveless.) Armor was blackened. Milita and pre 1626 coats were tawny orange and or light grey with white trim. The red, blue and yellow regiments at least worn colored cassocks during this period. Native Swedish troops often wore blue. Light blue overcoats with fur trim were worn in winter. Post 1626 wore blue yellow and red coats and pants. Thurns' regiment wore blue. See also info above on defecting units. British and Scots volunteers wore red and black tartan or tawny with grey pants, stockings, and cassocks. Blue bonnets and tartan trews were also worn.

Officers wore white lay down collars and cuffs with a blue and yellow sash. (The sash color is post Lutzen). Officier uniforms could be black, grey, or the regiments uniform. Ensigns and the Kings' Lifeguard musketeers wore grey.

Cavalry. The household cavalry dressed in blue and at least one other Regiment did also. household troops also wore Vasa livery, black and yellow (gold). Known cavalry coats and possibly cuffs, were:

Smalands= red coats and blue cuffs, trim

Upplands = red coats and yellow cuffs, trim

Ostgota= red coats and black cuffs, trim.

Finnish cavalry wore an orange or blue coat with grey or blue pants. The hat worn was either a light colored sheep fur cap, buff leather, or orange colored.

Cavalry in general were dressed in blackened back and brestplate with a long coat or buff and leather gantlets, so most of any uniform was mostly covered anyway.

Gameshooters, jaegers, were dressed in blue.

Artillerists were dressed in black or blue, for the specialists, and grey or blue for the laborers assisting the guncrews.

Dragoons dressed in red coats with grey pants and or all in brown. All black mourning uniforms were issued after the death of the King and dragoons and infantry wore these expensive uniforms.

This concludes my look at the uniforms of the Thirty Years War, but, if interest warrants, I would be happy to discuss the uniforms of the Poles and Turks of this time frame.

BIBIOGRAPHY

HISTORICAL WARGAMER MAGAZINE. AUG 1993 " Painting the 18th century." Charles C. Sharp A good general article that does not directly relate, but worthwhile for ideas and the effects of weather on the dyes used.
MILITARY UNIFORMS OF THE WORLD. 1968. Blandford Press. London. Dont' look at the pictures first, read the text. A gold mine of information.
THE ART OF WAR IN THE AGE OF MARLBOROUGH. D. CHANDLER. Page 85....
THE THIRTY YEARS WAR. G. PARKER. Armies at Breitenfield in particular, page 92... Also information on galls's troops, uniforms in general.
OSRPEY SERIES. Sweden, Poland, Turkey, Spain in Flanders, Irish.
EUROPEAN WEAPONS AND WARFARE, 1618 to 1648. E. Wagner. OCTOPUS PRESS. London. City militas, Poles, Turks, Hussars, Light horse and officiers in particular. Don't pass up if you get the chance to buy. Many of the color drawings come right out of THEATRUM EUROPEAUM.
THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE AND THE NAPOLEONIC WARS. Wm. Johnson and C. Bell. Raider Books. Leeds. 1988. The first edition was privately published in the USA and is better for the TYW than second edition because they removed some info not pertinent to the Napoleonic era.
RENNISSANCE ARMIES. G. Gush. A little thin on info after 1600 but still very useful.
WARGAMES ILLUSTRATED. Various issues.
THE ARMIES OF ELECTORAL SAXONY IN THE THIRTY YEARS WAR. Belarus. Very detailed, all one would need for Saxony.
FRENCH ARMIES IN THE THITY YEARS WAR. N.Danskin. A little thin on uniform colors but excellent on everything else. First rate.
SWORD OF SCANDINAVIA. R. Tarnstrom. Surprisingly useful considering the broad scope of the book. Denmark well covered. some conclusions on Sweden not correct, but uniform info accurate.
GORGET AND SASH. Lutzen issue.
ONE MILLION MERCENARIES. Covers the Swiss.
SCENARIOS FOR WARGAMERS . Issues 1 and 2. Sadly, the only issues. French well covered and some info on Spain.

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