Slitherine

Hi
I see that in that list have been included the companies of Guardias Viejas. I would like to make a couple of suggestions

The Guardias Viejas is basically the Spanish equivalent of the Bandes d'Ordonnance, that were already present in the Low Countries. The Guardias Viejas were mobilized to fight in wars in Iberia, the campaign of Portugal in 1580, the wars against Portugal and Catalonia from 1640 onwards, but they were not sent to the Low Countries. My suggestion adding to the list the Bandes d'Ordonnance to be used for the Army of Flanders while leaving the Guardis Viejas for the armies fighting in Iberia.
I see also that the Guardias Viejas are considered Light Lancers and not Heavy Lancers, that is odd to me, they were a mixed force of Gendarmes (they were fully armoured and carried the heavy lance of the Gendarmes) and armoured Horse Arquebussiers, but I think it is better to represent them as separated units. OTOH The Bandes 'Ordonnance were a mixed force of Gendarmes and Archers, but again it would be probably represent the Archers as separated unit of Amoured (instead of Heavy Armoured) Lancers.

The cavalry of the Army of Flanders included companies of Lanzas at least as late as 1621, when 4 companies of Lanzas are listed by Ibarra in the army that invaded the Palatinate. As you know, Lanzas/Caballos ligeros were Lancers with lighter armour and horses than Gendarmes, they would fit as Armoured Light Lancers in the list, at least until 1621 (and maybe up to 1635).


Finally, as allies and for the Army of Flanders alone, a unit of Lorrainer Lancers could be added) and for some colour, a unit of Polish Hussaria, that served in the Army of Flanders for the campaign of 1636.

Aryaman wrote:Hi
I see that in that list have been included the companies of Guardias Viejas. I would like to make a couple of suggestions

The Guardias Viejas is basically the Spanish equivalent of the Bandes d'Ordonnance, that were already present in the Low Countries. The Guardias Viejas were mobilized to fight in wars in Iberia, the campaign of Portugal in 1580, the wars against Portugal and Catalonia from 1640 onwards, but they were not sent to the Low Countries. My suggestion adding to the list the Bandes d'Ordonnance to be used for the Army of Flanders while leaving the Guardis Viejas for the armies fighting in Iberia.
I see also that the Guardias Viejas are considered Light Lancers and not Heavy Lancers, that is odd to me, they were a mixed force of Gendarmes (they were fully armoured and carried the heavy lance of the Gendarmes) and armoured Horse Arquebussiers, but I think it is better to represent them as separated units. OTOH The Bandes 'Ordonnance were a mixed force of Gendarmes and Archers, but again it would be probably represent the Archers as separated unit of Amoured (instead of Heavy Armoured) Lancers.

The cavalry of the Army of Flanders included companies of Lanzas at least as late as 1621, when 4 companies of Lanzas are listed by Ibarra in the army that invaded the Palatinate. As you know, Lanzas/Caballos ligeros were Lancers with lighter armour and horses than Gendarmes, they would fit as Armoured Light Lancers in the list, at least until 1621 (and maybe up to 1635).


Finally, as allies and for the Army of Flanders alone, a unit of Lorrainer Lancers could be added) and for some colour, a unit of Polish Hussaria, that served in the Army of Flanders for the campaign of 1636.

Hello.


You are right, basically an option for a burgundian gendarmes could be included with the guardias viejas (Guardias Viejas and Burgundian men at arms), just as you can see in the early imperial spanish army list.


As you said, the guardias viejas were mainly used un the iberian peninsula and Italy, only a few of them were sent to flanders, but this don´t justify an option for this unit in flanders.


But you may note that the guardias viejas also includes non spanish troops, as the burgundians, and some german troops. In the spanish resources the most of foreing troops are treated as spanish, this depends on the source you consult, but is the reason why all gendarmes in this period are called guardias viejas.

I understand that the list could be more specific.



About the light lancers capability, this was treated by the army list writers, and finally decided represnet them as light lancers to show their inferiority against the french gendarmes.