For some reason, I decided that I needed a force to represent Joseph's Spanish from 1810. Then I read up about it and there were a lot of questions and unknowns.
Eventually I went for 2 battalion regiments only 54 figures per unit - my normal French unit has 72 figures. I added a light battalion and because of the pretty colours (turquoise and crimson), the 2nd Battalion of the Foreign Regiment. To this I added two small cavalry regiments and two batteries of artillery. These I assumed were basically dragooned from the French.
Infantry: 4th Soria, 5th Granada and 7th Cordova; 2nd Bttn Foregign regiment; 2nd Murcia Light Infantry Bttn
Cavalry: 7th Lancers La Mancha; 6th Chasseurs.
Artillery: 2 foot batteries.
Total 432 infantry; 60 cavalry; 4 guns.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54982051168_d36b22003f_b.jpg) Overview
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54981865511_59fba04213_b.jpg) Line infantry
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54982162425_87e6be8d12_b.jpg) The Foreign Regiment and the Light battalion
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54981865406_0e17f5acdf_b.jpg) Lancers and Chasseurs
Very nice work 8)
Nice work, fsn.
Those men of La Mancha with their fearsome anti-windmill weaponry are really the best reason to collect Joseph's army.
Great stuff, Nobby ! :-bd
Great stuff!
An impressive force - even if it is one of your smaller armies
Very nice indeed
Belated :-bd =D> :-bd
Very cool.
Absolutely spectacular. I honestly wasn't expecting that level of detail with the units. Many thanks for sharing your army.
One thing that caught my attention is that, in the image, the first two cavalry units appear quite cuirassier-like. If they are indeed meant to represent cuirassiers, my earlier assumption may actually help to justify them in context.
Spanish cuirassiers were a real exception, as the corps was abolished in 1803 and absorbed into the newly created dragoon arm. Moreover, most Spanish cavalry was sent to Portugal and Denmark once the French took control, leaving Spain with neither the manpower nor the horses for proper line cavalry, let alone heavy cavalry.
That said, there are two plausible ways to frame those units. Their equipment, renewed in 1804, could have been acquired in combat, particularly in actions such as the Battle of Usagre. Alternatively, if we imagine them as especially tough and well-trained troops, they could represent British-equipped formations linked to the Royal Guard after 1814.
I'm very happy to help with any Spanish-language sources or material you might need, and apologies if I'm missing any context here, as my original comment was based on what the cavalry appeared to be in the image.
Thank you for the kind words.
The front unit is the 7th Lancers - La Mancha. The second unit is Chasseurs on the French model.
The whole force is from those not at Talavera. (https://64.media.tumblr.com/e07beeea7e8d0bcb6d838141167fbf87/5783ff2c3bba63e8-22/s1280x1920/b681d2959a396213ba925a32c18291cb70613982.jpg)
My source for Joseph's Spanish is in Spanish, but I don't think they managed cuirassiers. To be fair, they barely managed infantry. :)
My understanding is that the French 13th Cuirassiers were formed (?) in Spain from provisional units, and I think there was a Spanish Cuirassier unit (1/2 regiment?) that used captured French armour.
Very nice Nobby.
I am a little confused by your initial statement "For some Reason".
I am not sure I quite follow this, Why on earth as a wargamer do you need a reason to buy more figures?
Quote from: Orcs on 28 January 2026, 10:50:46 PMVery nice Nobby.
I am a little confused by your initial statement "For some Reason".
I am not sure I quite follow this, Why on earth as a wargamer do you need a reason to buy more figures?
Well ... you see ... and ...
I have no excuse. I am just attracted to shiny things. :-[
Why do we buy that shiny new figure?
Well, to quote George Mallory,"Because it's there."
(https://www.azquotes.com/picture-quotes/quote-why-climb-mount-everest-because-it-s-there-george-leigh-mallory-122-72-59.jpg)
Quote from: fsn on 29 January 2026, 08:16:16 AMWell ... you see ... and ...
I have no excuse. I am just attracted to shiny things. :-[
Thats a much better. :D
And remember to a wargamer want and need are exactly the same.
QuoteWhy do we buy that shiny new figure?
Well, to quote George Mallory,"Because it's there."
(https://www.azquotes.com/picture-quotes/quote-why-climb-mount-everest-because-it-s-there-george-leigh-mallory-122-72-59.jpg)
But shouldn't that be taken as a bit of a cautionary tale Mike?
Just because you could do something doesn't mean that you should necessarily do it :-\
Mind you buying figures and climbing Mt Everest have completely different levels of risk :)
That depends on the scale of the lead mountain ;)
Quote from: paulr on 29 January 2026, 07:54:09 PMThat depends on the scale of the lead mountain ;)
Mallory and Irvine were last seen at 8,610 meters (28,250 ft).
QuoteThat depends on the scale of the lead mountain ;)
;D I hadn't thought of that angle!
QuoteMallory and Irvine were last seen at 8,610 meters (28,250 ft).
My lead mountain, is a little shy of that (Not much) :) :)
QuoteBut shouldn't that be taken as a bit of a cautionary tale Mike?
Just because you could do something doesn't mean that you should necessarily do it :-\
The only things I have regretted were the things I didn't do when I had the chance.
Even if some of the things I did, got me into SOOO much trouble, but I don't regret them :d :d
I don't have a lead mountain.
I have an entire mountain range.
And 8,610 metres ... that's barely foot hills!
Quote from: fsn on 28 January 2026, 07:07:10 PMThank you for the kind words.
The front unit is the 7th Lancers - La Mancha. The second unit is Chasseurs on the French model.
The whole force is from those not at Talavera. (https://64.media.tumblr.com/e07beeea7e8d0bcb6d838141167fbf87/5783ff2c3bba63e8-22/s1280x1920/b681d2959a396213ba925a32c18291cb70613982.jpg)
My source for Joseph's Spanish is in Spanish, but I don't think they managed cuirassiers. To be fair, they barely managed infantry. :)
My understanding is that the French 13th Cuirassiers were formed (?) in Spain from provisional units, and I think there was a Spanish Cuirassier unit (1/2 regiment?) that used captured French armour.
It is a true pleasure to read your words and speak with you, sir.
I apologize for the outburst of changing from Spanish to French troops, I hope it wasn't misinterpreted.
Indeed, the Spanish troops were, at best, severely under-equipped. However, it is very interesting to see how the navy was integrated into the army.
The French 13th Cuirassiers was indeed hastily assembled, formed in France and trained in Bayonne.
On the other hand, the first Spanish cuirassiers depended on French weaponry (Tarragona, 1809), being officially created as the 1st Hussar Company of Granada, with the equipment of the French defeated at Mollet del Vallés (1810), totaling 360 sabers and a very clear shortage of horses.
Quote from: MonAtArms on 30 January 2026, 05:09:13 AMIt is a true pleasure to read your words and speak with you, sir.
I apologize for the outburst of changing from Spanish to French troops, I hope it wasn't misinterpreted.
You are very kind. No need for apologies.
I did contemplate adding Cuirassiers to my Franco-Confederation army, but have gone for Chasseurs and Dragoons. This is partly because of the Order of Battle I have chosen, but also because I hate painting Hussars.
My Spanish force is based on La Romana's Division as they would have appeared fresh from Denmark. Again, not a cuirass in sight. :)
Quote from: fsn on 02 February 2026, 03:39:57 PMYou are very kind. No need for apologies.
I did contemplate adding Cuirassiers to my Franco-Confederation army, but have gone for Chasseurs and Dragoons. This is partly because of the Order of Battle I have chosen, but also because I hate painting Hussars.
My Spanish force is based on La Romana's Division as they would have appeared fresh from Denmark. Again, not a cuirass in sight. :)
That's a really excellent response, thoughtful and clearly based on solid historical research. Many thanks for sharing both the work and the background information.
And yes, absolutely, much better without cuirasses, of course 😄
Interestingly enough, I still have Spanish troops wearing armour as late as the 1830s–1840s in the Philippines. These were not metallic cuirasses, but protective equipment made from leather and carabao horn, which really highlights how context dependent these choices could be outside the main European theatres.