The wonderful thing about our North Star 1672 range is that the figures will do for many different nations armies in the period 1665-1680. This is
because it is a time just before uniforms, and the figures are all dressed in the fashions common amongst soldiers throughout Western Europe.
because it is a time just before uniforms, and the figures are all dressed in the fashions common amongst soldiers throughout Western Europe.
This of course includes Britain.
The years covered by our range is called the Restoration Period in
Britain as it was the time the monarchy, represented by Charles II,
was restored after the English Civil War.
It was also the genesis of the British Army. Britain, tired of soldiers
and war, had disbanded much of it’s forces after the Civil War and
Oliver Cromwell’s reign. With the return of Charles II to England in
1660, the units still under arms swore allegiance to the King and
became the senior units of the British Army.
Some of the infantry regiments:
Coldstream Guards
Grenadier Guards
Scots Guards
1st Regiment (Royal Scots)
2nd Regiment (The Queen’s)
3rd Regiment (The Buffs)
st
The years covered by our range is called the Restoration Period in
Britain as it was the time the monarchy, represented by Charles II,
was restored after the English Civil War.
It was also the genesis of the British Army. Britain, tired of soldiers
and war, had disbanded much of it’s forces after the Civil War and
Oliver Cromwell’s reign. With the return of Charles II to England in
1660, the units still under arms swore allegiance to the King and
became the senior units of the British Army.
Some of the infantry regiments:
Coldstream Guards
Grenadier Guards
Scots Guards
1st Regiment (Royal Scots)
2nd Regiment (The Queen’s)
3rd Regiment (The Buffs)
st
Colour.
NSA1006 - Matabele Warriors in full Regalia
anything so fragile was still being worn on campaign in
Lobengula's day.
Dress
As far as the rest of their dress was concerned, the Matabele
superficially resembled Zulus but differed in a number of
respects. At least some married men retained the head rings
(though they were smaller than the Zulu style and worn more
towards the front of the head) and otter skin headbands,
though the latter became less common as time went on. Ox-
tail fringes on the arms and legs, however, remained popular.
The Samango or white-throated monkey whose skin was
widely used in Zulu regalia was not found in Matabeleland,
though of course some warriors might still wear items which
they or their fathers had brought from the south. Apparently
the local vervet monkey was not much favoured, perhaps
because it is a rather nondescript grey colour, and by
Lobengula’s time kilts were more likely to be made from
spotted cat skin or jackal tails (perhaps mixed together in the
same garment), or replaced in action with loincloths made of
jackal or other fur. The rather scruffy looking “Matabele kilt”
seen in photos from the 1890s looks as if it is made up of any
old strips of fur or skin, and should probably be painted in
various shades of light grey and brown. A cape made of
ostrich feathers or jackal fur might be worn around the
shoulders, but this item was probably reserved mainly for
ceremonial occasions. Lobengula himself and his senior
"indunas" were sometimes depicted wearing leopard skin
cloaks. Holi regiments would perhaps be more likely to take
the field in basic outfits consisting just of loincloths and
headdresses and I have a couple of such units made up of
Mark Copplestone's Watuta figures, just for variety. Based on
a similar survey of sketches made between the 1830s and the
1870s, Summers and Pagden argue that when the Matabele
began their migration to the north in the 1820s they were
equipped like Shaka's "impis" with a single stabbing assegai
(known to the Matabele as "isika"), and that the "isijula" or
throwing spear was probably reinstated after Mzilikazi's death
in 1868 by his successor Lobengula. However Afrikaner
accounts of the Battle of Vegkop in 1836 describe spears
being thrown into the laager, so missile weapons may actually
Lobengula's day.
Dress
As far as the rest of their dress was concerned, the Matabele
superficially resembled Zulus but differed in a number of
respects. At least some married men retained the head rings
(though they were smaller than the Zulu style and worn more
towards the front of the head) and otter skin headbands,
though the latter became less common as time went on. Ox-
tail fringes on the arms and legs, however, remained popular.
The Samango or white-throated monkey whose skin was
widely used in Zulu regalia was not found in Matabeleland,
though of course some warriors might still wear items which
they or their fathers had brought from the south. Apparently
the local vervet monkey was not much favoured, perhaps
because it is a rather nondescript grey colour, and by
Lobengula’s time kilts were more likely to be made from
spotted cat skin or jackal tails (perhaps mixed together in the
same garment), or replaced in action with loincloths made of
jackal or other fur. The rather scruffy looking “Matabele kilt”
seen in photos from the 1890s looks as if it is made up of any
old strips of fur or skin, and should probably be painted in
various shades of light grey and brown. A cape made of
ostrich feathers or jackal fur might be worn around the
shoulders, but this item was probably reserved mainly for
ceremonial occasions. Lobengula himself and his senior
"indunas" were sometimes depicted wearing leopard skin
cloaks. Holi regiments would perhaps be more likely to take
the field in basic outfits consisting just of loincloths and
headdresses and I have a couple of such units made up of
Mark Copplestone's Watuta figures, just for variety. Based on
a similar survey of sketches made between the 1830s and the
1870s, Summers and Pagden argue that when the Matabele
began their migration to the north in the 1820s they were
equipped like Shaka's "impis" with a single stabbing assegai
(known to the Matabele as "isika"), and that the "isijula" or
throwing spear was probably reinstated after Mzilikazi's death
in 1868 by his successor Lobengula. However Afrikaner
accounts of the Battle of Vegkop in 1836 describe spears
being thrown into the laager, so missile weapons may actually
have reappeared at about the same time as Dingaan
reintroduced them in the Zulu army. Alongside them, late 19th
century Matabele warriors carried an odd assortment of spears
of various origins, including hunting and fishing weapons taken
from enemy tribes. Zulu-style knobkerries were also in use, and
a few illustrations from the 1890s show Sotho or Shona type
battle-axes. Matabele veterans denied that the latter were used
in battle, but it is possible that some of the Holi may have
carried them unofficially. Interestingly, the “isika”, in contrast
to Zulu practice, were the property of the king rather than of the
individual warriors. The aim of Matabele tactics, like those of
the Zulus, was always ultimately to get to close quarters and
stab the enemy, and once this happened few opponents could
resist for long. Moffat's informant quoted above refers to the
"clash of shields", and the "hissing and hollow groans" which
served the Matabele for a war cry as they carved their way
through the enemy ranks.
reintroduced them in the Zulu army. Alongside them, late 19th
century Matabele warriors carried an odd assortment of spears
of various origins, including hunting and fishing weapons taken
from enemy tribes. Zulu-style knobkerries were also in use, and
a few illustrations from the 1890s show Sotho or Shona type
battle-axes. Matabele veterans denied that the latter were used
in battle, but it is possible that some of the Holi may have
carried them unofficially. Interestingly, the “isika”, in contrast
to Zulu practice, were the property of the king rather than of the
individual warriors. The aim of Matabele tactics, like those of
the Zulus, was always ultimately to get to close quarters and
stab the enemy, and once this happened few opponents could
resist for long. Moffat's informant quoted above refers to the
"clash of shields", and the "hissing and hollow groans" which
served the Matabele for a war cry as they carved their way
through the enemy ranks.
