A large diorama of the Battle of Almansa has been set up in one of the rooms.
The diorama seems to have been created using Minifigs 25mm-scale figures, and the whole thing is supported on display stands that contain larger scale figures from the same period.
The Battle of Almansa was fought on 25th April 1707 during the War of the Spanish Succession. The forcEs involved were those of Philip V of Spain (the Bourbon claimant to the Spanish throne) and of Archduke Charles of Austria (the Hapsburg claimant). The Bourbon won a decisive victory and secured most of eastern Spain for Philip V.
What marks this out as an unusual battle is the two opposing commanders and their polyglot armies. The Bourbon army (which included French and Spanish troops) were led by the Duke of Berwick, an illegitimate Catholic son of James II of England, and the Hapsburg army (which included troops from England, Portugal, the Netherlands, and the Holy Roman Empire, as well as a French Huguenot contingent) was commanded by Henri de Massue, Earl of Galway, who was an exiled French Huguenot.
The diorama seems to have been created using Minifigs 25mm-scale figures, and the whole thing is supported on display stands that contain larger scale figures from the same period.
The Battle of Almansa was fought on 25th April 1707 during the War of the Spanish Succession. The forcEs involved were those of Philip V of Spain (the Bourbon claimant to the Spanish throne) and of Archduke Charles of Austria (the Hapsburg claimant). The Bourbon won a decisive victory and secured most of eastern Spain for Philip V.
What marks this out as an unusual battle is the two opposing commanders and their polyglot armies. The Bourbon army (which included French and Spanish troops) were led by the Duke of Berwick, an illegitimate Catholic son of James II of England, and the Hapsburg army (which included troops from England, Portugal, the Netherlands, and the Holy Roman Empire, as well as a French Huguenot contingent) was commanded by Henri de Massue, Earl of Galway, who was an exiled French Huguenot.
It's also worth noting that the Duke of Berwick was the daughter of Arabella Churchill, making him the nephew of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough. They remained on cordial terms throughout the Wars of the Spanish Succession despite fighting on opposite sides. He was also, I believe, one of only two Englishman to become a Marshal of France; one of his sons also attaining this rank.
ReplyDeleteAndy Hussey,
DeleteThanks for the additional information. It was extremely interesting, and an example of the gentlemanly side of war as practiced at the time.
All the best,
Bob
Sorry Bob,
ReplyDeleteThe Duke of Berwick was, of course, the "son" of Arabella Churchill, not her daughter.
Mea culpa.
Andy Hussey,
DeleteI thought that’s what you meant, so no need to apologise.
All the best,
Bob
That's a fabulous looking diorama. It looks like wargaming sized units. Not 1:1. Very good all the same.
ReplyDeleteNundanket,
DeleteThe photographs don’t do justice to the diorama, which looks even more impressive when seen up close.
All the best,
Bob
Thanks for this Bob. I'm currently researching the battle for a game - so this is most pertinent.
ReplyDeleteThe familial connections referred to above are quite a thing in the late C17th. Berwick was captured at Neerwinden in 1694 by Marlborough's brother, his own uncle (it all gets very complicated), and was involved in an (apparent) assassination plot against William III (that'd be his father's son-in-law)...
Duc de Gobin,
DeleteWhat an interesting coincidence ... and what a facinating set of family intermarriages and relationships. It makes some modern soap operas seem rather tame in comparison,
All the best,
Bob
A continuing drama about dynastic rivalries? I think that would be Coronation Street.
DeleteI'll get me coat :-(
Nundanket,
DeleteOr Eastenders?
(I'll collect your coat when I get mine!)
All the best,
Bob