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Colonel Walter Buttler’s Dragoons Incorporating Kosaky Prince
Zu Mannheim’s Light
Artillery This being the
ordinances and rules there of Edition VI Goal:
To accurately bring to life the period
of the Thirty Years War (1618 to 1648) with special reference to the
year 1634,
so that we may all better understand our own heritage and not repeat
the
mistakes of our ancestors. Activities: I,
To develop an authentic recreation of the Imperial dragoon company (and
persons
of the train) commanded by Walter Buttler in the year 1634.
II, To
develop authentic (yet safe) recreations of dueling and
military practices of the period.
III, To
enjoy feasting, fellowship and dancing in the style of
the period. Statement
of intent. Whilst recreating a
period of intense
racial, religious, sexual and social bigotry, every member of the group
will
respect and honor the diversity of the world in their 21st
century
lives and act in a socially acceptable manner.
“No religious
quarrels amongst ourselves. He who breaks it is a deadman. Let one man
escape
that rule and we will all be dead by sundown.” The Kapitain, The Dues:
Currently ( Waiver:
Each
member shall sign a waiver of liability. Authenticity:
Each
member will by his or her first anniversary, reach the basic level of
authentic
kit as follows: basic footwear, basic breeches (or skirts), basic shirt
(or
blouse), at least one pair of stockings, and hat or helmet. If they are
military personnel, then also: a rapier/sword/saber and a main gauche,
baldrick, long firearm, and powder container (s), bowl, eating
utensils, and
mug or cup. All equipment must be approved by a member of the authenticity and safety counsel. The following is given as a guide only. 3. Armor
and Helmets:
These must be provenanced to the period 1550 to
1634 and fit the rank and class of the character. 5. Men’s
Footwear:
Plain (no decorative stitching) brown or black leather
boots or shoes of the period
1600 to 1634 may be worn. These must be in keeping with the rank and
social
position of the character. 6. Men’s
Shirts: Only white/off white shirts of the period 1600 to 1634
may be worn. These must be in keeping with the rank and social position
of the
character. Buttons, if used, must be wood, metal (two hole only) or of
the
cloth dumpling type. The material should be linen, however, period
looking
mixes are acceptable. Care should be taken with lace and collars.
Insure that
there is only the correct amount/size and type for your
character’s rank and
position. 7. Men’s
Trousers: Only
black or dark brown (red for certain ranks) trousers of the period 1600
to 1634
may be worn. These must be in keeping with the rank and social position
of the
character. Buttons, if used must be wood, metal (two hole only) or of
the cloth
dumpling type. Materials for the garment and all decoration must be in
keeping
with the period. 8. Men’s
Jaks and
Coats: Preferably
black but, any color or style of the period 1600 to 1634 may be worn.
These
must be in keeping with the rank and social position of the character.
Buttons,
if used must be wood, metal (two hole only) or of the cloth dumpling
type.
Materials for the garment and all decoration must be in keeping with
the
period. 9. Men’s
Doublets and
Vests: Any
color or style of the period 1600 to 1634 may be worn. These must be in
keeping
with the rank and social position of the character. Buttons, if used
must be
wood, metal (two hole only) or of the cloth dumpling type. Materials
for the
garment and all decoration must be in keeping with the period. 10. Men’s
11. Imperial Sash: Most,
but not all members
should wear a RED
sash, either over one shoulder
or around the waist. Only
officers may wear silk sashes with lace
decoration. Lower ranks should tie smaller pieces
to an arm, waist or
around their hat. 12. Men’s
Stockings:
May be of any period color as long as they are of
period materials. A white heavy outer stocking should be worn over the
colored
high stocking. 13. Men’s
Jewelry:
If worn it must be of the period and fit the
standard criteria. 14. Hats: Must
be worn by all members unless a helmet is used.
These must be of the period 1600 to 1634. These must be in keeping with
the
rank and social position of the character. Decorations should include a
red
feather or scrap of cloth. Large
multi-colored ostrich feathers are for officers only. 15. Women’s
Dress: Must fit the standard
criteria for period, material, rank and class. Care should be taken
with lace
and ostrich feathers. Insure that there is only the correct amount and
type for
your character’s rank and position. 16. Women’s
17. Language: The use of a period mix of Low German/Rotwelch, early modern English, French and the language of your characters birth is requested. Please remember that children may be in the audience, so please swear only in languages other than Modern English. [Home] [About Us] [Top of Page] Personal
history: As
part of our organization’s goal, it is important that each member attempt to research our
period, and their own families
history during this time, if possible. It is strongly suggested that
each
member portray an ancestor, either, historical or hypothetical. This
character
will provide a stimulus to reenactment, especially discussions with the
general
public and a basis for research. The character must fit the general,
ethnic and social
background, rank, gender,
etc. The Authenticity Council will make all final decisions in this
regard. A
special note in regard to gender: a maximum of one in twenty persons
may
represent a person trying to pass them selves off as the opposite sex.
Whilst
this was known at this time, it was not common. Rank: All
members join as a trooper/ritta, unless non-military, thereupon they
join the
baggage train at their appropriate social rank. In time certain members
may be promoted. In order to
be
considered for promotion the member must have shown exceptional
progress in two of the following: I, Authenticity of personal attire,
arms, language, and equipment. II, Period skills such as sword
work, building, arms manufacture, etc. III, Advancement of the group,
either personally through enlistment or
through the development and dispersal of approved information. Ranks
applicable are given below:
Regimental
Staff
1000
Horses
800 Men
Colonel
Schultz
Boys (3) Lieutenant-Colonel
Regimental Clerk
Priests (4) Major
Regimental
Feldsher/Surgeon Regimental Quartermaster ProvostCompany
Staff
125
Horses
99 Men
Rittmeister Lieutenant Ensign/
Cornet Quartermaster/Weible
(2) Provost Corporals
(3) Fuhrer
von flag (3) Rustmeinnster Trumpeters (2) Feldsher/Barber SurgeonBlacksmithMuster
Clerk Hauwei ble
Ranks in Italics apply to
Dragoons only The
maximum rank any member may have is
dependent on the above conditions and the number of persons under their
command. The minimum number of persons under
command for each rank is
as follows: Trooper
none
Rustmeinster 3
Fuher von
Flag 5
Corporal
8
Sergeant/Weible 10
Ensign/Cornet 12
Leutenant
15
Rittmeister
20
Major
25
Lieutenant-Colonel
30
Colonel 40
General
75
In order to
keep the above ranks members must, prior to advancement, be able to
provide the
correct accoutrements of that rank. Various
non-military ranks such as priest,
suttler will also apply. Refermondo: Those
with specific requirements and resources to develop a
character outside the normal rank structure may apply to become a
refermondo
officer. This rare and unusual action will only take place when all
officers of
equal or higher rank agree and a suitable recompense can be
established.
Refermondo officers will be given the courtesy due their rank, but
shall be
referred to by name, as was the tradition (Herr, Pan… etc.). I. Known
historical social station of family represented during the period.
Rittmeister
to Major = Baron
Lt. Colonel = Duke
Colonel = Arch Duke, etc.
If
there is a historical or traditional
precedence for a higher station than the persons rank would normally
allow, the
Authenticity Council may allow a “broken” station
in life. The term hargon,
literally, gentlemen would cover this rank, i.e. Hargon Ritta.
Refermondos may
also fall into the category.
Safety: Safety is the first
concern of every member:
safety for the general public, other members, and for each individual. Always regard the
safety of
the general public as the number one priority. They do not understand
the
inherent dangers of reenactment as we do. Help them; show them, most of
all
protect them. Safety
– Sword Work: All swordplay shall be
conducted with safety as the first priority. All blades shall be of
true steel.
They must be blunted to a minimum of 1/16th of
an inch with a
rounded point. All cutting edges will be free of sharp nicks and burrs.
Whilst
patina and natural bluing are acceptable on the blade, rust is not. All
blades must be accepted by both the Authenticity and Safety Councils. All
blades must be confirmed safe (blunted
and free of nicks and burrs) by the safety officer or the ranking
officer prior
to engagement. BLOOD B -
Balance
is the key to good control.
Keep you legs bent, with your secondary weapon foot forward (in most
cases). L -
Line is
understanding the
direction and flow of combat. You must always be directly opposite your
opponent and your bodyline in keeping with your action. OO -
Eye contact is essential to understand
the intent of your opponent. You must watch your opponent at all times,
not
your weapon. D –
Distance is vital to make safe blows and
eventually thrusts.
The safe distance must be kept always. Normally, this is just within a
sword
length’s reach of your opponent. Never close too rapidly or
deeply on your
opponent
I, Areas of Strike:
No
blows above the top of the shoulder line.
No blows
to the groin area,
this being above the knee on the inside of the leg to above the waist.
No full
blows to the back
center line.
(All the
above are counted
as a kill to the one who made the foul attack.)
In dagger to dagger fighting, no blows
may be struck below the waist.
Blows are acceptable
to all
limbs on the outside surface only. The inner arm being acceptable only
when the arm is
extended. (Blows to the arm must be above the standard gauntlet line,
4”) The inner leg to the knee may be struck
by those approved to thrust.
II, Blows :
All blows must be made
with
the FLAT
of the blade with a rapier
or dagger. When using a sabre the flat the blade should be
used whenever
possible, but light edge blows are acceptable. They should be
made hard enough to feel but, no
more! III, Cuts:
Made with the
flat of the blade. If using a rapier, cuts must be drawn
or they will merely be
a scratch and not count. Swords and sabers need only make
contact. Remember,
they should be made hard enough to feel but, no more! A correctly struck
cut with
a rapier or dagger shall render that limb useless. The weapon held on
that side
must be dropped
immediately. If the CUT was to a leg, the weapon of that side
must be dropped and the leg grasped momentarily
before resuming combat. Any
further hit to that leg counts as a KILL (from blood loss).
With a CUT to the
arm, that weapon is dropped immediately.
Any further hit to an arm counts as a KILL (from
blood loss). These CUTS
count as a hit in practice and other scoring events, and is 10
points. If using
a sabre, any blow counts as a kill.
A
correctly struck cut to
the trunk of the body shall count as a KILL. The killed person must
then drop
his weapons safely and die in suitable agony over a reasonable
time. No
further blows may be made by a dying person. This
is counted as a KILL
in practice and other scoring events, and is 20 points. If
the KILL is the
first hit of a duel, then 25 points are scored.
A cut may also be counted by gently
tapping the weapon to the
opponents back. This is a KILL (20 points). IV, Thrusts:
These may only be made by those persons who
have suitable experience and temperament. This
decision shall be made by the Safety Council after a
formal examination. No
thrusts may be made with a dagger or sabre.
Thrusts may be executed in two
manners:
A,
The broken
wrist hit. As the blade NEARS the body, the wrist (held
in
pronation only) is dropped
B.
A Touch. A literal light touch with the tip of the blade. No impact must be made.
This must be
If a kill is made before a
hit has been made to either party a CLEAN
KILL has been made and counts as 25 Foul
Swordplay: Reprimands should suffice to
counter any unsafe actions. However, should a person continue in
actions deemed
unsafe by an opponent, then his name and offense shall be given to the
Safety
Council. They will discuss the offense and take whatever action deemed
necessary. This may include: A, Official verbal reprimand B, A written warning C, Suspension of privileges, including
practices, feasts, etc. D, Loss of rank E, Fine F. Banishment from the group Or it may be any number of the
above. There shall be no appeal.
Kills
from shots fired shall be drawn by lots
before the battle. All
other foul play rules apply. Pikes: Should only be used in an
upright position for the “push of pike”. Special Rules:
No drinking of alcoholic beverages or the use of
certain
herbs on the day of a duel or battle until after the event and all weapons have
been removed. The severest of punishments for
breaking this rule! A Regimental
History of Buttler’s Dragoons Of
our great regiment, let me tell thee this. We are the dragoons, or even
dragons
as my German brethren call us, of Colonel Walter Buttler. He is a fine
well
talented warrior from an Old Catholic, but alas poor, English family of
Now
Piccolimini was not always our Field Marshal, indeed. Let me tell you
of how we
came to be the right hand of Gott in the Service of the Emperor! Our troop was
in the service of Field Marshal, Duke of Friedland Wallenstein, or
Waldstein,
as we knew him (amongst other names)! He was a great man with great
flaws as a
leader, yet he took us to many victories, but few gold pieces we saw.
Well
friend, he had grown so great and full of his own power that he entered
into
negotiations with the Swede to sue for peace! This was known not only
to
ourselves, but to the Emperor, and so… We
were at Kladrau, a small town of fat women and thin food, some twenty
miles
from the gated city of That
night of First,
the colonels struck at the colonels keeping to Waldstein, as was due
their
rank. Then we all rushed in and flew up the stairs after our true
quarry, the
Duke himself. It was done in moments. His end was not the glorious one
he had
prepared for, for he had turned from the glory of the Empire. Almost as
the
very deed was done, Father Taaffe, the head priest of our regiment,
rode in
with the orders from the Imperial court to what had been done. So
it was from that night that Buttler would become a Count and Lord
Chamberlain.
As for us, well, we received a pouch of Spanish gold, and the Emperor
sent us a
fine Spanish style dagger. Not much for keeping peace from these lands
some
would say. From On
the 26th of August, the Swedish general joined
with the traitor,
Bernard, and moved to meet our encampment in the wooded hills around
the city.
They had assembled a vast host of heretics and devil worshipers. Over
twenty
thousand scum to our fifteen thousand brave souls. Yet, they did not
push the
fight. Nay, they stayed and watched as we bombarded those heretics with
working
class ideas about religion, and starved their bodies too! We
were scouting well ahead, as usual, for the army of Konig von Hungary,
Ferdinand, when we came upon his cousin, Ferdinand the Cardinal
Infanta. We
raced back to deliver the good news. The two met and embraced with
whole and
true hearts. All who saw this knew that there was a change coming, a
great
warring was to be! For now, we had near to thirty-three thousand loyal
troops,
twenty thousand foot, and some thirteen thousand gentlemen of the
horse. For
their majesties, we laid a path of corpses of the heretic vermin
forward to the
very walls of the rebellious city of NØrdlingen. There we
stayed in the great
encampment with our Spanish brethren, with plenty of food, women, wine
and
dice. Why, it was a soldier’s paradise The
first move came on the 5th of September, when a
small detachment of
musketeers was sent forward by the Infanta into a small wood near the
road to
the city. Bernard spotted the move and charged them with vastly
superior
numbers. Poor bastards never stood a chance! The
Swedes moved up into those woods that same night. However, the fools
were too
ambitious and tried to send some heavy artillery into the woods first!
The guns
got stuck, then overturned. This commotion gave us the alarm and so our
forces
dug in through the night. Our troop rode forward and took a few shots
at the
Swede, but could not tell the damage, for it was so dark. As
soon as the great red Sunna spread her warmth the mist began to clear,
and like
a vision from the time of the great hordes from the East came
Horn’s Swedish
cavalry. They charged in the style of the Poles with swords, using
their
pistols only later in the melee. They were a sight to behold, still
full of
vengeance for their lost king. Almost at the same time came the
infantry, all
in one vast line. We had never seen the like before, since, or ever
again I
hope. Our brave lads faltered, the front line was gone, all dead. The
Swedes
moved on us so fast there was confusion, and as they cam forward, by
the Gods
of war, did they not actually attack themselves! Well, at least two
brigades
did. Then a few of my troop were left behind guarding the powder store.
So fast
was the retreat, they had no escape so they blew up the powder and
themselves. As a
final gesture, good old
Radu Krux, my Cornet went up with them, brave old Croat! Seeing
that the fates were shining on us the Cardinal Infanta sent forth his
finest
Spanish cavalry. Ah, what a sight! Grand and sedate they trotted up to
the
Swedes and let loose again and again. Then his infantry, old veterans
like
myself, forced back the Swedes and retook our hill in less than an
hour. At
that moment, as the Swedes were retreating, they caught sight of
Bernard’s
cavalry taking flight from the Spanish horse. That was more than the
Swedes
could bear, they faltered. Yet, they were not beaten, these devils. Old
Horn
ordered the counterattack. It was a vast joint attack, infantry and
cavalry
rushed forward. Still, those Swedes were not the only ones with tricks.
As the
Swedish infantry paused to give a full three rank volley, the Spanish
infantry
dropped to their knees like good Catholics should, and the heretic
bullets flew
over them. Then they rose, held their fire until the Swedes were close
enough
to smell and then, let loose a multi-rank volley. So deep and close
were the
Swedes, not a shot did not find flesh. The Swedes crumpled and fell as
oats
before the scythe. Yet, those fellows came on, regained order and
charged again
and again. Some say they hit the Spanish as many as fifteen times in
seven
hours. By mid-day they were as spent and weak as a pikeman at a whore's
wedding.
They fell back to regroup again, but deeper and slower. That was when
the great
charge of charges came! The whole line, Emperor’s men,
Spanish, infantry,
cavalry, we all moved as one great fist of Gott. We could smell
victory, taste
it in the powder filled air. Our lads, Buttler’s boys called
out with
pride”Vivat Ferdinandus!” We charged our poor old
nags as if they were the best
Polish steeds, right behind the heavy horse. All
of a sudden, every one of us broke through the line, straight through
Bernard’s
men and the batteries to strike the retreating Swedes in the Flank. We
hit hard
and fast; they crumpled like old curds. We hacked and chopped our way
through
until they broke and ran in every direction, every way but towards us
to fight. The
invincible Swedes were done for, running scared and being slaughtered
before
us, the righteous ones. We all followed and cut them down. Like the
great
knights of old, we stayed mounted, cutting and thrusting the Swedes, as
did our
ancestors to the Moors. Then, great groups of them pleaded quarter,
swearing to
serve the just cause. They came in brigades; some four thousand came to
serve
the Emperor. Better still, we had killed seventeen thousand of them by
their
own reckoning. Some say many more. I myself ran through at least a
hundred in
the rout, my old estoc was heavy with men’s entrails. Many of
our troop killed
almost as many. We took four of the more than fifty standards we took
that day.
Still, to the end of the battle, we urged on the nags and reached the
baggage
train only to find the heavy horse had beaten us there; and yet, there
was so
much it but mattered little. Oh the wealth, booty looted from a
thousand
churches, and five thousand buhrgers homes. All that was lost at Lòtzen
was won again and more, better pay than ever Waldstein would have given
us.
Need not us Generals, when we have the holy direction of the two
Ferdinands of
the And
after, oh, the days and more the nights in the camp with the women and
the
dice. Nothing brings on the women like the sound of a victory. What
next? I hear that we will move north with Piccolimini to stay with the
Cardinal
Infanta. That means the Spanish Netherlands, and that suits me just
fine. It
will be almost like home, what ever that dream was, big women, the salt
fish
smell of the Baltic, and good beer. PlautDeutch
Military Usage Rittmeister =
Kapitain
of cavalry Kaptain
=
Kapitain
noble =
Adel Command =
Kommend Army
=
Armee Gruppe
Armies
=
Haare Trooper
=
Ritta
Hargon
= Gentleman Comrade =
Komrod Horse
=
Peat
Forward
=
Ferwarts
Advance
=
Ferwarts gone Attack
=
Aunsaule No
Mercy =
Na Jnod Come
=
Komm Alert
=
Wacka Down
=
Dune Ransack
=
Plindre Mutilate
=
Felatse Slaughter =
Schlachte Retreat
=
Tooflucht Surrender =
Toojawe Load
Musquet =
Opploade Moostsche Fire
=
Fia Draw
Your =
Trake Jun Pistol
=
Pistool Muzzle
=
Mulkorf Rapier
=
Sable Sword
=
Schweat Dagger
=
Dorjch Flag
=
Flag Gin,
etc.
=
Schaups Wine
=
Wien Beer
=
Bea Ale
=
Koara Sex
=
Kjea Intercourse =
Fekjea Wet
=
Naut Adorable
=
Schmock Comely
=
Scheen onn Straum Breast
=
Bossem Nipple
=
Tett Knob
=
Knoop Buttocks
=
Hinjaereni Whore
=
Hua, Loose Frau Arouse
=
Oopwaje Love
=
Leew Young
=
Junk Fortune
Teller =
Woasaja Witch
=
Hakjs Louse
=
Lusse Foul
=
Ful Foul
Smelling =
Stinkjent Toothless
=
One Tane Kill/Dead
=
Doot Common Usage Yes
=
Jo No
=
Na And
=
Onn With
=
Met Or
=
Ooda When
=
Wan Where
=
Wua Who
=
Waa What
=
Waut I
=
Ek You
=
Du
(Pl)
Yie My/Mine =
Mien Your
=
Jun Without
=
Buta Buy
=
Kjeepe From
=
Fomm To
=
Noo By
=
Fon Breeches
=
Bekjse Sash
=
Festarame Shirt
=
Hamd Boot
=
Steelwel Coat
=
Jack Dress
=
Kleet Stocking
=
Stremp Under
=
Unja Rotwelsch
Military Usage Gartbruder
= marauding mercenaries Mauskopf
= Thief-heads (Special plunder
groups) Potz
= Gott Peu
= Dieu Alarm
All’arme Army Artillery Bomb Brigade Baggage
(also as a pejorative) Deserter Dragoon! Fort Front Forage General Grenade Carbine Cavalry Hussar Horde Howitzer Ulan Coinage
and Measures Coinage 1
Reichs Taler = I and a half gulded
22 and a half batzen
90 kreuzer 1
pound = half a
gulden (fl) 1
gulden = 4 ort
15 batzen
40 shilling
60 kreuzer (kr) Dry Measures 1
sester = 875 grams 1
imen = 84 kilos 1malter
= 120 kilos 1
metzen = 5 liters (dry) Liquid
Measures
1
mass = 1.33 liters 1
eimer (bucket) = 120 mass
165 liters 1
fuder = 12 eimer Wages
and Costs Rittmeister
(per week)
75 Fl Lieutenant
37
Fl 30kr Ensign
30
fl Sergeant
30
fl Soldiers
Plus
2 fl worth of drink 2 pound of meat and 2 pound of bread Military Equipment Breast-plate
8
reichtalers |