Glasgow & District Wargaming Society
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Glasgow & District Wargaming Society |
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18th Century The 18th Century and the Malburian period in particular is currently being revived as a period at GDWS through our 2006 demonstration games Prince Eugene in the Balkans. This was the period when Europe set the pace in military affairs. Partly by default because only three major powers existed outside Europe, Manchu China, Mogul India and of course the Ottoman Empire. Although even these were declining in strength. European powers like Britain, France and Spain also began to develop worldwide interests. Even relatively small states such as Portugal and the Netherlands had colonies across the world. There were few major military developments. Standing armies became common with greater emphasis on discipline and ponderous maneuvering. The flintlock musket was the basic small arm made effective by the offset bayonet and the iron ramrod. Later in the century light infantry organisation gave greater flexibility. The century began with the Great Northern War (1700-21) dominated by Charles XII of Sweden and Peter the Great of Russia. The War of the Spanish Succession (1701-14) included Marlborough's famous victories at Blenheim, Ramillies and Malplaquet but also the First Peninsular War. Marlborough's ally Prince Eugene also successfully expanded Austrian domains in the Balkans.
Mass 15mm Malburian cavalry from Rab McNaught's collection.
More 15mm Malburian in action from Rab's collection. The War of the Austrian Succession (1740-48) brought Prussia to the world stage under Frederick the Great even when the war widened to include Britain and France. This war also included our very own Jacobite rebellion that culminated in the Battle of Culloden 1746. The Seven Years War (1756-63) again pitted Frederick against most of the major European powers although it became a world war with campaigns in India and North America. It was shortly followed by the American War of Independence. Most of these conflicts have occasionally appeared on the tables at GDWS. A variety of rules have been used including Age of Reason, Piquet, Shall We Go To Flanders?, Koenig Krieg and more recently Principles of War. The revival is based on the 2006 display games based on Prince Eugene's campaigns in the Balkans using our own adaptation of WECW rules that were published in Wargames Illustrated.
Battle of Blenheim refought at GDWS using PoW rules in 28mm.
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