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. 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. Pappenheim's 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

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.

More Uniforms of the 30 Years War

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