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Huguenot Infantry in Ireland

Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2015 11:14 am
by Sir Royston Papworth
Now virtually all books on the Boyne and the war in Ireland rather gleefully refer to the Huguenot infantry at the Boyne being run down due to a lack of pikes.

I'm happy with this, so many references can't all be wrong.

What I don't understand is why? Surely as most of these troops (certainly the officers) seem to have had experience in the French army, why aren't they pike armed like the French?

I could understand it if it was post Steenkirke where the French pikemen reputedly pick up dropped muskets, with the Huguenot officers brining progressive tactics with them, but it isn't the case.

So, why no pikes? Does anyone know?

Re: Huguenot Infantry in Ireland

Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2015 4:17 pm
by arthur1905
As far as I can tell the Huguenot Regiments were employed in the Dutch Stadhouder's Army and therefor not issues with Pike. See : War, Religion and Soldiering, 1685-1713,

I hope this helps, unless anyone else has any more accurate information,

regards

Mark

Re: Huguenot Infantry in Ireland

Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2015 4:52 pm
by wdrenth
The three regiments of Huguenot foot were raised in England in the spring of 1689. Several of the officers accompanied the prince of Orange in November 1688, and were part of the Dutch invasion army as gentlemen volunteers or reformadoes, attached to other Dutch regiments. Other officers were already in England, having fled previously from France following the revocation of the Edict of Nantes.

The regiments were raised as part of the English Establishment, along English lines with thirteen companies, etc, and the colonels were granted seniority in the English Establishment accordingly. So in theory they would have had their normal quota of pikes, I guess, but I am not an expert on weapons. Maybe the pikes had rotten away during the winter 1689-1690, used as firewood? Or the pikemen were left on the north bank of the Boyne, as wading the river with a how-many-foot long pike was considered impossible?

Not the answer, but I hope it gives a few possibilities.

regards,
Wienand

Re: Huguenot Infantry in Ireland

Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2015 6:54 pm
by Sir Royston Papworth
thanks Gents.

I guess we will never really no why, but I'll keep looking for a (never to be found) definitive answer.

Cheers!

Re: Huguenot Infantry in Ireland

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2015 12:40 am
by barr7430
I have recently been looking into this for a book which we'll soon be making available. It does seem odd that French troops in English service would not use pikes. The English used them and so did the Dutch and the French. Perhaps their lack of pikes at the Boyne was a result of a particular incident, order or lack of supply. They are not mentioned as being pike-less anywhere else during the campaign. Is that because we are to assume everyone already knew the had no pikes.. I think not!

Re: Huguenot Infantry in Ireland

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2015 12:40 am
by barr7430
I have recently been looking into this for a book which we'll soon be making available. It does seem odd that French troops in English service would not use pikes. The English used them and so did the Dutch and the French. Perhaps their lack of pikes at the Boyne was a result of a particular incident, order or lack of supply. They are not mentioned as being pike-less anywhere else during the campaign. Is that because we are to assume everyone already knew the had no pikes.. I think not!

Re: Huguenot Infantry in Ireland

Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2015 8:19 pm
by arthur1905
Barry,

you cannot leave the thread hanging like that, A book you are working on, that will soon be available!!!, Its like showing a box wrapped in Christmas paper to a child and saying its yours as long as you don't open it,

count me in for one

Mark

Re: Huguenot Infantry in Ireland

Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 11:54 am
by barr7430
Thought I had snuck that one under the wire Mark!

What I can say right now:

Book already written will run to 100 pages when formatted I think
Formatting underway
Fully illustrated - every page should have some illustration
Focus: War in Ireland
Perspective purely wargaming and modelling

Re: Huguenot Infantry in Ireland

Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 2:49 pm
by Cheriton
arthur1905 wrote:Barry,

you cannot leave the thread hanging like that, A book you are working on, that will soon be available!!!, Its like showing a box wrapped in Christmas paper to a child and saying its yours as long as you don't open it,

count me in for one

Mark
Ditto on the hanging thread thingy above and definitely on counting me in if you are buoyed by encouragement. :)

Michael

Re: Huguenot Infantry in Ireland

Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 4:39 pm
by Russian James
Me too for the Ireland book... ;)

Re: Huguenot Infantry in Ireland

Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 6:35 pm
by jambo1
Add me to that, already I can't wait for it to come out!!

Re: Huguenot Infantry in Ireland

Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2015 8:59 am
by PaulPatrick
Yep! Salivating with anticipation!

Re: Huguenot Infantry in Ireland

Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2015 11:38 am
by Mulciber
Another waiting with eager anticipation here!

Toby

Re: Huguenot Infantry in Ireland

Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2015 3:43 pm
by barr7430
OK so I have just spent two weeks working in the ME with not a lot to do at night (well there is but if your not buying there is no point in looking! :lol: ) and I have put the time to very good use pushing on with the 2nd Ireland project (2 running simultaneously). The scenarios are really building up. More news soon, meanwhile, back to the maps...

Re: Huguenot Infantry in Ireland

Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2015 6:52 pm
by Holywell Hill
Barry - put me down for the Ireland epic - eagerly awaited in these parts too...!