RP No159 NYW French Mousquetiers of the Guard

I thought it was about time I posted these fine looking fellows, they were painted back in March for the Analogue Painting Challenge, BUT, they weren't based up in time, so they sat forgotten in a box with a few other regiments that needed a flick'n'flock. The figures are from Essex, but are from the WSS period, so they all had cast on tricorns, which didn't make it to the field of battle until appox 1700, so in true later French style, I cut off all their heads!!! I did the same to a few in NYW spare Essex figures I had and I also bought some heads from Peter Pig, from their ECW range. So there you have it a unit of Mousquetiers of the Guard in the correct uniform and hat!!!

1re Compagnie des Mousquetaires

The 1st Company of Muskeeters also known as the Gris (Grey) Musketeers, from the colour of their horses,  were formed in 1657, they numbered between 200 and 300 men plus officers and were organized into 4 brigades. They were trained to fight on both horse and foot, (unfortunately nobody sells these on foot.....yet? but I was eyeing up Blue Moon's range the other day??)
The Captains were as follows,
1657 - Philippe Mancicni, Duc de Nevers
1667 - Charles de Bats-Castelmor, Comte d'Artaignan (Yes that d'Artaignan supposedly killed at the Siege             of Maastricht in 1673)
1673 - Louis de Forbin
1684 - Louis de Melun de Maupertuis
1716 - Louis de Montesquiou, Comte d'Artaignan

2me Compagnie des Mousquetaires

The 2nd Company were also known as the Noir (Black) Muskeeters, they were raised a little later than the 1st Company, in 1665, they had the same organization as the 1st.
There Captain's were,
1665 - Edouard-Francois Colbert de Maulevrier
1672 - Francois de Montesbaron, Comte de Tourvoye
1674 - Jean de Garde d'Agoult, Marquis de Vins
1716 - Jean de Montboissier-Beafort