WSS French Militia

[dashing blade]

According to Osprey "Louis XIV Armies" French Militia seem to wear a sort of Fawn/Beige colour uniform. There's only one illustration and the plate info is missing from my copy (as previously mentioned). So the question is ; does anyone known if this colour was standard or just for a certain unit?
Any advice fella's

[Arthur]

The militia wore plain grey coats and their hue probably depended on the batch of cloth from which the uniforms were made. The coats were supplied locally, each man being issued a suit of clothing by his native village. I imagine the shade of grey would have varied according to the quality of the material at hand. The poorer districts may well have issued coats cut from undyed homespun cloth, which has a brownish tinge to it and would account for the fawn/beige shade you mention (think C17th Scottish hodden grey). More affluent areas would have been in a position to afford better quality coats of light grey/off white wool. Chartrand states that a few units jazzed up their very plain uniforms by adding touches of colour, the Soissonnois militia having for instance red linings.

[dashing blade]

Cheers Arthur,
so if i fielded a unit or two of French militia with slightly off white/buff coats this would be historically probable Also would i be correct in thinking the officers would wear white/grey to denote rank/wealth having purchased them by their own pocket.

[Arthur]

Speaking just for myself, I'd go for shades of light grey and dull light brown as the militia was the French army's poor relation and not a branch anyone was keen to lavish resources on. So I'd avoid anything too flashy and I'd make the lads look as drab as I could. But since the grey of the coat probably varied significantly from unit to unit, you can paint your militia as you see fit and not be too much off the mark.

And I agree with you about the officers : they came from higher up in society and bought their own clothing, so they probably looked somewhat better than their men - although given the militia's lowly status I doubt they were snappy dressers .

[EvilGinger]

I would also point out that dyes at this period & much latter where given to fading changing colour & that grey cloth are rather notorious for becoming brownish over time in the field, hence the notorious butter nut.

However thank you for post as its just given me the idea for the unit I will be doing for the painting competition.

Ginger

[Arthur]

I would also point out that dyes at this period & much latter where given to fading changing colour & that grey cloth are rather notorious for becoming brownish over time in the field

Very true. Vegetal dyes of the pre-industrial age were not particularly fast and faded quickly when exposed to rain and sunlight. I'd avoid the butternut shade for this period though, and would opt for a dull, brownish light grey instead.

[Rohan Wilmott]

Dash,

As your unit are militia, what about varying shades in the one unit - that should give a suitably "regular rabble" type appearance in keeping with their morale.

Cheers, Rohan.

[EvilGinger]

I am in process of doing some of these for the Painting competition so far I am just blocking in the colours, and they have fairly conventional pale grey coats looking but I intend to use some brown & umber washes to shade and some of the highlight will be cream not pale grey The rank and file some times lack stockings & have homespun coloured britches, & waistcoats, some earth brown some khaki, some bronze green and wooden buttons. few apart form the officers have properly coloured facings with most being an undyed wood colour a mix of khaki & cream.


Ginger

[dashing blade]

Rohan,
Thanks for the tip,i do tend to mix a few dark and light shades into my units,catches the eye,and looks suitably campaign'ish.I have even extended this to the "Garde Francais" . I also have a few Gentlemen volunteers in their own clothes to add a little tone.
As for the militia they will be dirty,unshaven,scruffy and quite possibly useless on the table top. Pure Cannonfodder
Ginger,Good look with the comp,try to get a stale garlic smell to add charcater to your unit

[CoffinDodger]

...and quite possibly useless on the table top. Pure Cannonfodder

You've just described my entire collection.

Jim

[Redmist1122]

My "Militia" units are a mix of musket, pike, pitch forks, hoes, axes, etc. This give them the "ragged" look. I also gave them a nice looking officer and a flag of a solid color.

[j1mwallace]

You got sum gangbangers to go wit dem hoes ?

[Redmist1122]

LMAO...Yup they're from the OG25's Pirate collection...

[Rob Herrick]

We need to see the bodies . . . er, the regiment, to be sure.

[EvilGinger]

If you show me yours I will show you mine when I have finished painting them & that is coming on nicely now.