CWBDIntro

Are currently in the service of his Gracious Imperial Majesty the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire,
King of Hungary and Bohemia, Arch Duke of Austria, Protector of the Holy Faith, Ferdinand.

For these poor souls, the year is 1634. This troop has been sorely used, suffering most grievous
casualties in the long, yet victorious (for the Imperialist generals at least) Silesian campaign. Their
numbers of fighting men are now equaled by the "ladies" and camp rats (children) of the baggage
train.

They find themselves marched toward Nordlingen to move on Duke Bernard and his allies where
Buttler's dragoons shall stand, and die against this traitor and the enemies of the Emperor.

Walter Buttler's Dragoons' first and original Feldmarschall Leutanant, the famous Albrect
Wallenstein, Duke of Friedland has been dead some months now (their illustrious Colonel helped to
murder him!).

They now find themselves under the command of General Ottavio Piccolomini.

The Major is one Maksamyllyan Wolfrum Schleuter, a Prussian officer, seen dueling below

The Thirty Years War was really a series of bitter European wars starting in 1618 and drawing to a
close in 1648. These wars began with a rebellion in Bohemia against the Catholic Emperor by a
predominately Protestant country. However, the wars (if they had ever been anything else) quickly turned into power struggles between petty princes, dukedoms, and the Emperor. Each formed alliances; sometimes these were ostensibly religious in nature, such as the Catholic League. As the war ground on, religion played less of a role. By the end of the war, Catholic France was supporting
Protestant Sweden, and Poland would have changed sides twice. Such is War!

So why recreate such an awful period?
To remind us all that fanaticism breeds a cruel insensitivity to the plight of others, which must not be
repeated or forgotten again!

The troop enjoys much song and dance with the "ladies" of the train when we are not training in
the arts of war. They often meet for feasts, games of chance, and other delights of the period.

Of course, being a mercenary troop, there are often duels and other skullduggery between them.

The group is a unique living history organization dedicated to bringing the period of the Thirty
Years War to life. Their authenticity is remarkable. Not only are the clothes, tents, camp utensils,
armour, firearms, and even cannon as correct as is possible, but they speak the language of the
soldiers of the period. This was known as Rotwelch, a strange mix of Low German and other
European languages of the period.

The sword work taught and practiced is generally known as live blade. That is, the swords used are
authentic weapons of the period, not fencing equipment. This involves extensive training and
consummate skill. All of their sword fights are un-scripted so that when you see someone win a
duel, they really WON the duel!