Introduction

This is a blog that is dedicated to my interest in Military history, and in particular, walks, impressions and photos of various battlefields and museums both near (to Bohemia) and afar. Given my base in Bohemia (that's Czech Republic to the uninitiated) I’m quite spoilt for choice when it comes to some major armed altercations between various Emperor’s, Winter Kings and other downright chancers (the battles of Austerlitz, White Mountain, Jankau, Prague, Kolin and Konigratz to name but a few), while various museums and country Chateaus in and around Prague are stuffed to the gills with Military memorabilia, flags, banners and weapons from the Hussite wars right through to WW2. Very much the crossroads of Europe with all its attendant wars.

The title of this blog and the picture above are of course related. Maximillian Ulysses, Reichsgraf Von Browne, a member of the "Wild Geese" those Irish professional soldiers, exiled from their homeland, and in the service of the Sovereigns of Continental Europe. I have alot of time for this particular historical figure, and like the Empress he served, was notable for his integrity and humanity, in contrast to his opponent Frederick of Prussia. This particular Goose was probably one of the more famous and accomplished; ending his days as the commander of the Austrian Army of Empress Maria Theresa, battling and outmanoeuvring Frederick the Great at the Battle of Lobositz (today Lovosice in the Czech republic), and finally dying of his wounds after the battle of Prague in 1757. He is still buried in the Loreto Chapel in Prague. Anyway, he is appropriate motif for the blog. There will be more about this extraordinary gentleman in future posts.

Originally I had toyed with the idea of dedicating this blog to a particular period, but as my interest spans a diverse number of wars and conflicts, I thought it better to keep the focus a bit broader (though it is fair to say that to a large degree it will involve the horse and musket period, and one or two defenestrations).

Apart from the history bug, I was also infected at an early age with the wargaming bug, so will also be posting titbits from various games, rules we have tried (mostly General De Brigade and its variants), figures I like and pictures of those that I have painted. That is to say, a lot of Napoleonic’s, more Seven year’s War, some Thirty Year’s War, and new forays into the worlds of American War of Independence, Napoleonic Skirmish, First Carlist War and 28mm English Civil War. I hope to be able to post something each week and photos of games or figures every other week.

Given that I should have started this blog a least a year ago, I have a backlog of items that I will start posting quite soon. So please read on….