Spanish Painting Guide for the Thirty Years War

Since I’ve published Tilly’s Very Bad Day I figure I should update my painting guide for the Thirty Years War (1618-1648). Although the title refers to the Spanish this is the guide covers all troops in Spanish service whether Spanish, Italian, or Walloon.

30YW-784 - Spanish - Pike and Shot
30YW-784 – Spanish – Pike and Shot


General guidelines on Spanish

The Spanish favoured individuality over uniformity. Spaniards of the Thirty Years War were far less splendid than their counterparts of the Italian Wars but still proud of their appearance. Although military costumes were relatively sober the Spanish retained their liking for reds and yellow. Sashes and plumes, if worn, were always red. By 1650 the Spanish favoured a black hat, white shirt, dark brown doublet and breeches and buff coat was the norm (Gush, 1975). Armour was usually blackened in this period although the Spanish favour bright steel.

Item Colour
Hats (if worn) Gush (1975) says by 1650 a black hat was the norm. Most of my current infantry have black hat, some with brown.

Historical illustrations suggest white (or possibly light brown or light grey), with a red plume was also used

Hair (their own) Black or dark brown
Doublet / Coat / Jacket Sombre versions of earlier favourites: red (most common), yellow (common), green, blue, but also white, black, grey, brown, etc (Gush, 1975).

Gush (1975) says by 1650 a dark brown doublet and breeches was the norm, although the illustrations show many exceptions.

Breeches The same variety of colours as tunic. Breaches were tied at the knee by a ribbon in a matching or contrasting colour
Cassock (if worn) Grey
Cloak, cape Scarlet
Gloves White or possibly Light brown. Dragoons, for example, had calf skin gloves.
Shirt White
Stockings White or red.
Leather (Boots + straps + belt, etc) Brown or black.
Sash (worn by officers, pikes and cavalry), scarves Red
Plate armour and helmets Varied but usually bright steel. Could be gilded, or blackened. Helmets had red plume.
Buff coat Buff (often worn over plate armour)
Cartridge bag White
Powder flask Blue
Horse harness Brown leather, sometimes red. Saddle cloth variations on red and yellow
Cavalry lance Wood with yellow over red pennant

Spanish Cavalry

Broadly speaking there were three types of cavalry in the Thirty Years War (Brzezinski, 1993). The type affected how the men behaved, or more importantly for a painting guide, how they looked.

  • Arquebusier (Harquebusier, Bandelier Reuter, Carbine): men armed with an arquebus. The better equipped would have a back and breast and/or a helmet.
  • Horsemen (Reiters, Lätta ryttare): men armed with pistols. They might have back and breast and a helmet, or a hat and no armour at all. For example, native Swedish cavalry.
  • Cuirassier (Kürisser, Kürassirer, Corazzen): men in 3/4 armour and helmet, armed with pistols. Over time their equipment lightened and they essentially morphed into Horsemen.

Spanish Cuirassiers (including Lancers)

The Spanish term is Caballos Corazas (Horse Cuirassiers). I imagine early war caballos corazas looked quite like German cuirassiers. Perhaps with a bit more colour and shinier armour. The Spanish also had lancers in the 30 Years War but only in the guard companies. Same deal but with a lance.

30YW-847 Cuirassier
30YW-847 Cuirassier
30YW-844 Cuirassier
30YW-844 Cuirassier

Spanish Horsemen

Late war caballos corazas, like everybody else, had abandoned the heavy armour. They look quite Spanish with their morions, reds and yellows.

30YW-767 - Spanish - Caballos Corazas
30YW-767 – Spanish – Caballos Corazas
30YW-765 - Spanish - Caballos Corazas
30YW-765 – Spanish – Caballos Corazas

Spanish Arquebusiers

The Spanish mounted arquebusiers are identical to their german counter parts.

30YW-769 - Generic - Harquebusiers
30YW-769 – Generic – Harquebusiers

My mounted arquebusiers are a little too brightly coloured as many of them started life as part of uniformed Dutch units. That was before I realised cavalry uniforms weren’t really a 30 Years War thing. So I rebased and mixed them up. If I did this again I’d tone them down a fair bit. More blacks and browns with splashes of colour.

30YW-770 - Generic - Harquebusiers
30YW-770 – Generic – Harquebusiers
30YW-771 - Generic - Harquebusiers
30YW-771 – Generic – Harquebusiers

Spanish Infantry

Lots of black hats. Some brown. Various coloured clothes. Shiny armour. White shirts. Red or white stockings.

30YW-791 - Spanish - Pike and Shot
30YW-791 – Spanish – Pike and Shot
30YW-793 - Spanish - Pike and Shot
30YW-793 – Spanish – Pike and Shot
30YW-788 - Spanish - Pike and Shot
30YW-788 – Spanish – Pike and Shot
30YW-783 - Spanish - Pike and Shot
30YW-783 – Spanish – Pike and Shot

Spanish Dragoons

Apparently early dragoons had a white slouch hat with a red feather, buff coat, calfskin gauntlets and boots, and breeches decorated with red slashes and piping (Gush, 1975). I’m not sure about later dragoons.

Vinkhuijzen 1638 Dragon
Vinkhuijzen 1638 Dragon

Although that dress code for Spanish dragoons is pretty explicit and clear, and many might have followed that pattern, I suspect there was still a lot of variation because the Spanish loved individuality.

I’ve included some Catholic German dragoons for inspiration re individuality; also look at Spanish infantry.

30YW-801 - Catholic - Dragoons
30YW-801 – Catholic – Dragoons

Spanish Flags

Have a look at these:
Regimental Colour of the ‘Tercio’ Ambrosio de Spinola 1621 (Spain)
“Capitana” flag of “Tercio” Company of Infantry, Battle of Rocroi, 1643
Regimental Colour of Infantry 1680 (Spain)
Spanish infantry: Regimental colours, 1693


Where to get Tilly’s Very Bad Day

Tilly’s Very Bad Day is available for Download (PDF).


Acknowledgements

Roland Davis painted the vast bulk of my Thirty Years War armies including all of the Spanish figures.

My only contribution is to put them all on Big Bases.


Vinkhuijzen collection of military uniforms

I’ve included a few pictures are from the New York Public Library (NYPL): The Vinkhuijzen collection of military uniforms. Vinkhuijzen is not particularly reliable on his dates, but the illustrations are indicative of this period.

Vinkhuijzen 1603 Caballo Coraza
Vinkhuijzen 1603 Caballo Coraza
Vinkhuijzen 1632 Arcabucero
Vinkhuijzen 1632 Arcabucero
Vinkhuijzen 1632 Atambor, Pifaro y Alferez
Vinkhuijzen 1632 Atambor, Pifaro y Alferez
Vinkhuijzen 1632 ish Hombre de armas
Vinkhuijzen 1632 ish Hombre de armas
Vinkhuijzen 1633 Arcabucero á caballo
Vinkhuijzen 1633 Arcabucero á caballo
Vinkhuijzen 1633 Mosquetero, piquero, arcabucero
Vinkhuijzen 1633 Mosquetero, piquero, arcabucero
Vinkhuijzen 1638 Caballo coraza
Vinkhuijzen 1638 Caballo coraza
Vinkhuijzen 1650 Mosquetero
Vinkhuijzen 1650 Mosquetero
Vinkhuijzen 1650 Piquero
Vinkhuijzen 1650 Piquero
Vinkhuijzen 1650 Tambor; Pifaro. Infanteria de linea
Vinkhuijzen 1650 Tambor; Pifaro. Infanteria de linea

References

Brzezinski, R. (1993). The Army of Gustavus Adolphus (2): Cavalry [MAA 262]. Osprey.

Gush, G. (1975). Renaissance Armies 1480-1650. Patrick Stephens.

Heath, I. (1997). Armies of the Sixteenth Century: The Armies of England, Ireland, the United Provinces, and the Spanish Netherlands 1487-1609. Foundry Books.

Miller, D. (1976). The Landsknechts [Men-At-Arms 58]. Osprey.

Parker, G (1977). The Dutch Revolt. Cornell University Press.

New York Public Library (NYPL): The Vinkhuijzen collection of military uniforms

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