Dutch Blue Guards
Encyclopedia
The Dutch Blue Guards were an elite infantry unit of the army of the United Provinces of the Netherlands. Notable campaigns where they fought included the Nine Years' War (1688–97), where they distinguished themselves at the battle of the Boyne
, battle of Fleurus
and the siege of Limerick (1690)
.
From 1688 to 1699 they served as William III of Orange
's Guards regiment. Under King William III, the regiment served in England as his personal guard. After the death of William III in 1702, the regiment went back to the Netherlands and was in the War of the Spanish Succession
(1702–1712) the backbone of the Dutch army. In this war the Dutch army was the strongest in Europe. In particular, the Dutch invented a method of deadly accurate fire from the Dutch infantry platoon which decided many battles. The 4th Regiment (The Blaauwe Guard, the color of their uniforms) has distinguished itself in the battles of Blenheim
(Hochstadt), Malplaquet
and Oudenaarde.
A search in books and archives, and began little by little, all sorts of information on the period scraped. How the Dutch soldiers looked at that time, where their weapons were from, what exercises they had, what their daily life was like, where they went to war, who the commanders were and so on.
The choice to portray a regiment was facilitated by finding a pedigree of a captain who served in the 4th Regiment This regiment was also known as? Blaauwe The Guards?. They were the Guards regiment of King-William III. It was a challenge to figure out what these soldiers wore uniforms. It was no surprise to see that it was a blue uniform. Did the people in the early deep yellow cuffs and stockings who wear the uniform did notice, after the death of William III was chosen for red cuffs and red stockings.
The 4th regiment has seen action on the many battlefields in Europe. She was part of the Allied armies were commanded by John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough, a British commander.
Armies of Great Britain?, Holland, Austria, Prussia, Hanover, Portugal, the German Empire and Savoy were united in an alliance. They fought against Louis XIV of France, he had the support of Bavaria and Cologne Cream.
The Allied forces achieved some victories over the French, including at Hochstadt, Ramillies, Turin, and Oudenaerde Malplaquet. Only in 1713 began talks that eventually led to a peace agreement. In 1714, Baden in Rastatt and the peace treaties signed.
Battle of the Boyne
The Battle of the Boyne was fought in 1690 between two rival claimants of the English, Scottish and Irish thronesthe Catholic King James and the Protestant King William across the River Boyne near Drogheda on the east coast of Ireland...
, battle of Fleurus
Battle of Fleurus (1690)
The Battle of Fleurus, fought on 1 July 1690, was a major engagement of the Nine Years' War. In a bold envelopment the Duc de Luxembourg, commanding Louis XIV’s army of some 35,000 men, soundly defeated Prince Waldeck’s Allied force of approximately 38,000 men comprising mainly Dutch, German, and...
and the siege of Limerick (1690)
Siege of Limerick (1690)
Limerick, a city in western Ireland, was besieged twice in the Williamite War in Ireland, 1689-1691. On the first of these occasions, in August to September 1690, its Jacobite defenders retreated to the city after their defeat at the Battle of the Boyne...
.
From 1688 to 1699 they served as William III of Orange
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
's Guards regiment. Under King William III, the regiment served in England as his personal guard. After the death of William III in 1702, the regiment went back to the Netherlands and was in the War of the Spanish Succession
War of the Spanish Succession
The War of the Spanish Succession was fought among several European powers, including a divided Spain, over the possible unification of the Kingdoms of Spain and France under one Bourbon monarch. As France and Spain were among the most powerful states of Europe, such a unification would have...
(1702–1712) the backbone of the Dutch army. In this war the Dutch army was the strongest in Europe. In particular, the Dutch invented a method of deadly accurate fire from the Dutch infantry platoon which decided many battles. The 4th Regiment (The Blaauwe Guard, the color of their uniforms) has distinguished itself in the battles of Blenheim
Battle of Blenheim
The Battle of Blenheim , fought on 13 August 1704, was a major battle of the War of the Spanish Succession. Louis XIV of France sought to knock Emperor Leopold out of the war by seizing Vienna, the Habsburg capital, and gain a favourable peace settlement...
(Hochstadt), Malplaquet
Battle of Malplaquet
The Battle of Malplaquet, fought on 11 September 1709, was one of the main battles of the War of the Spanish Succession, which opposed the Bourbons of France and Spain against an alliance whose major members were the Habsburg Monarchy, Great Britain, the United Provinces and the Kingdom of...
and Oudenaarde.
History of the Dutch Blue Guards
War of Spanish Succession (1701–1714), a forgotten piece of Dutch history. And while an interesting piece of history. This was one of the reasons why some people get together to stop through re-enactment (? Living history?) This history to oblivion.A search in books and archives, and began little by little, all sorts of information on the period scraped. How the Dutch soldiers looked at that time, where their weapons were from, what exercises they had, what their daily life was like, where they went to war, who the commanders were and so on.
The choice to portray a regiment was facilitated by finding a pedigree of a captain who served in the 4th Regiment This regiment was also known as? Blaauwe The Guards?. They were the Guards regiment of King-William III. It was a challenge to figure out what these soldiers wore uniforms. It was no surprise to see that it was a blue uniform. Did the people in the early deep yellow cuffs and stockings who wear the uniform did notice, after the death of William III was chosen for red cuffs and red stockings.
The 4th regiment has seen action on the many battlefields in Europe. She was part of the Allied armies were commanded by John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough, a British commander.
Armies of Great Britain?, Holland, Austria, Prussia, Hanover, Portugal, the German Empire and Savoy were united in an alliance. They fought against Louis XIV of France, he had the support of Bavaria and Cologne Cream.
The Allied forces achieved some victories over the French, including at Hochstadt, Ramillies, Turin, and Oudenaerde Malplaquet. Only in 1713 began talks that eventually led to a peace agreement. In 1714, Baden in Rastatt and the peace treaties signed.