History and wargaming

I've finished up two small units from the second line of the swedish left flank, Smålands kavalleriregemente and Skånska tre- och femmänningsregementet till häst. These are two very different units, Småland being one of the original "indelta"/alloted cavalry regiments raised before the war and was part of the King's army fighting at Kliszów 1702, Pułtusk 1703, Warszawa 1705, Holowczyn 1708, until it was lost at Poltava, and reraised for the defence of Skåne in 1709, and Skånska tre- och femmänningarna one being one of the temporary regiments raised in 1700 by combining three and five rusthåll to set up one extra cavalryman, only participating in one field battle, i.e at Helsingborg. Johan Valentin von Daldorff, the colonel of Smålands, was originally a messenger from the court of duke Friedrich IV of Holstein-Gottorp sent to its ally Sweden with the news of the peace at Travendal, and then took service in the Swedish army. Daldroff avoided capture at Polt

I've more or less finished the command structure of both the danish and the swedish army. I'm still one commander figure short to represent major general Valentin von Eickstedt leading the danish centre. Anyway, without further ado, the commanders of the battle of Helsingborg: Swedish commanders: Army commander and centre: general Magnus Stenbock                 Left wing: lieutenant general Jakob Burenskiöld     Right wing: lieutenant general Johan August Meijerfeldt       Danish commanders: Army commander: lieutenant general Jørgen Rantzau Left wing: major general Frantz Joachim von Dewitz   Right wing: major general Christian Rodsteen                            

  Originating from fänikor (roughly company size units) set up in Östergötland 1551, it was made into an indelt infantry regiment in 1685. In Swedish Pommerania at the start of the great northern war, it was transferred to Poland in 1702, and served in the royal army, taking part in the field battles of Holowczyn 1708 and Poltava 1709 where it was lost. It was reraised in Sweden and took part in teh battles of Helsingborg 1710 and Gadebsuch 1712, and capitulated after the siege of Tönningen. It was led by the interim regimental commander lieutenant colonel Magnus Gripensköld. Differing sources put him as either 47 or 45 at the time of the battle. His grandfather Magnus Jespersson began as a common cavalryman in the Östgöta cavalry regiment in 1626, rising in the ranks and ennobled in 1665. Magnus became a career soldier at around 13-15 years of age as a volontär, and served abroad as a cadet in the Prince of Orange's guard 1681-1684. Returned to serve in the Östgöta regiment for t

 Here's another danish unit fresh from the work bench, reasonably happy with the result, especially the basing.

  I have the first danish unit finished, and it is an army commander stand made from the Pendraken Leauge of Augsburg range. For the battle of Helsingborg it will be representing the Danish army commander Jørgen Rantzau with his staff, including the adjutant Hartvig Huitfeldt (1677–1748) . Christian Ditlev Reventlow (1671-1738) The Danish invasion of Skåne 1709-1710 was originally led by Christian Ditlev Reventlow (1671-1738), a distinguished general with experience from the Spanish war of succession, who fell seriously ill on the 27th of march. Command was then given to the Lieutenant general Jørgen Ranztau (ca 1652 –1713) merely 14 days before the battle which would prove to be decisive for the entire danish invasion effort. Rantzau himself was a experienced army officer to say the least, who began his military service before Reventlow was even born, serving abroad as well as in the Scanian wars. After Denmark's disastrous entry and swift exit from the great northern war (March

  Östgöta kavalleriregemente Was a cavalry regiment originally set up in 1636, becoming indelt in 1689 drawing croft soldiers from the province of Östergötland. As part of the royal army it took part in the battles of Kliszow 1702, Warsawa 1705, Holowczyn 1708 and lost to the last man at Poltava. It was reraised and positioned under Lieutenant general Burenskiöld on the swedish left flank in the battle of Helsingborg 1710.  It was led in the battle by the acting regimental colonel Bertil Roxendorff (1657-1711), 53 year old at the time and formally retired from a life of military service in the regiment. Born as Roxman in Östergötland, he took service as a simple cavalryman in 1674, and fought with merit in the scanian war. He was made quartermaster in 1677, and promoted to Rittmeister at the start of the Great Northern War. Served for 35 years in the regiment until his formal discharge in 1706, when he also was ennobled, taking the name of Roxendorff. The battle of Helsingborg wa

 Next unit finished, a tiny 3-pounder regimental gun for the swedes.

Södermanlands regemente   An indelt regiment for the province of Södemanland, participating in most of the great battles of the war, from Fraustadt 1706 and lost at Poltava 1708. Re-raised to participate at Helsingborg 1710 and Gadebusch 1712. From the perspective of representing the regiment, interesting for never turning in the old Karpus felt hats for tricornes during the whole GNW period, and one of the few regiments we know for sure were issued distinct grenadier caps. The advantage of putting 36 figs on 6 bases with 6 figures each instead of  3 bases with 12 figures each: they can be split up into two 18-figure units.  Next up on the work bench is an artillery unit, although I need to figure out how I will base them first.

Without further ado, my first finished units for my first wargaming project in 10mm, the 1710 battle of Helsingborg between Sweden and Denmark. The units are based for the Gå på Wargame rules for the Great Northern War. I decided to try out painting in this new scale on the smallest and quickest units to finish, i.e a command unit. This command stand is supposed to represent the army commander, thus field marshal Magnus Stenbock. The second finished unit: Riksänkedrottningens livregemente till häst (Queen Dowager of the Realm's life regiment on horse). An Indelt cavalry regiment mustering conscripts from the provinces of Halland and Bohuslän, stationed in Sweden for the first half of the war, taking part in the battles of Helsingborg 1710, Gadebusch 1712 and captured at Tönningen the year after with the surrender of field marshal Stenbock's army. In the muster of 1708 noted as being equipped with second rate uniforms, unserviceable muskets and small horses.