FRANCE

The French were fond of broad collars and lace. The jackets were flared at the waist and short (mid thigh). As the war continued, the jackets length continued up towards the waist. Late war, post 1635, troops sometimes copied the knee length coat trends of Saxony and Sweden. Pants were ribboned at the knee and could reach mid calf with buttons running down the outside seams. By the 1640's the pants ended at the knee. French headgear was a grey or black brimmed felt hat. The boukinkan, ( a hat similar to the montero) was also used. Officiers wore capes or tabards (cassocks), as did the musketeers, and French officers always wore white sashes. The baldric was worn on the right shoulder and the bandoleer, if any, on the left. The French drummer wore their drum on the RIGHT side with the head almost vertical. Most drummers of the period wore the drum on the left, but the head of the drum was vertical. Figure manufacturers take note.

were unarmored. The execeptions to this rule were the Guards, the Swiss (who even wore greaves), and the Vieux Corps. Some 'pikemen' would not even have pikes. French Infantry liked to melee and the 'fury of France ' dates from this period. When it came to defending or prolonged firefights, they tended to wilt.

Coat colors

The Maison Du Roi (gendarmes) wore red or blue coats. The only other cavalry Regiment that wore red was the Royal Rousillon. The guards horse furniture was black. Cavalry often wore cassocks with livery.

Dragoons were for additional firepower and attached to cavalry units. They were disbanded from 1626 to 1635. Prior to 1626 they were useful against the Huguenots, and after 1635, when France became activly involved in the war, it was recognized that dragoons were still needed.

The following coat colors for Draggons were used.

coat / cuffs coat / cuff
blue / blue green / red
red / blue yellow/ red

French infantry were mostly in grey( or gris blanc) with red, or white or blue also used. The Guard was in gris blanc by 1670.

The Swiss dressed in national/ cantonal style from the 16th century. The were usually in 300 man companies recruited from the same canton and replacements came from the same canton or villiage. Used the pike longer and stayed with the 1 pike per 1 musket ratio throughout the period. Also stayed in full kit most, if not all, of the period.

The musketeers wore light blue tabards with a white cross and fluer de lis at the points of the cross. Oriflame was in the armes of the cross, either red or yellow. Richeleus and Mazarins men wore red tabards with a white cross.

French Royal Regiments (both mounted and infantry) could be either in dark or light blue. Watch a few 3 musketeer movies and you will get the hang of it before you can say sacre blu.

SAVOY

Savoy used dark blue or grey for infantry and also used French national colors. Most Savoyards that fought in Germany were Mansfields mercenaries and dressed like landsknechts. Savoy tried to play France and Spain off against each other to Savoy's benefit, with limited sucess.

More Uniforms of the 30 Years War

General Introduction
France and Savoy
Denmark and Saxony
Imperial Armies
Protestant
Sweden
Bibliography