W jednej z notek z kwietnia opisywałem kilka przypadków śmierci wyższych oficerów w czasie Wojny Trzydziestoletniej:
Jednym z generałów którzy polegli na polu bitwy był Charles de Longueval, hrabia Bucquoy. Jak już wspomniałem, zginął 10 lipca 1621 roku pod Nowymi Zamkami, w starciu z jazdą siedmiogrodzką. Udało mi się właśnie znaleźć rycinę przedstawiająca ostatni bój urodzonego w Arras generała – nie wiem z którego roku pochodzi, jednak jest na tyle interesująca, że warto jej poświęcić kilka słów. Widzimy tu osamotnionego wodza, pozbawionego już konia, osaczonego przez węgierskich jeźdźców. Bucquoy ukazany jest w zbroi kirasjerskiej ¾ , w hełmie z przyłbicą, w jednym ręku trzyma miecz, w drugim pistolet. Jak na oficera przystało, przepasany jest szarfą. Jeden z jego przybocznych leży martwy lub ranny tuż obok wodza. Węgrzy przedstawieni są bez uzbrojenia ochronnego (poza szyszakami), uzbrojeni są w szable i lance (włócznie?). Za chwilę Bucquoy ulegnie przewadze napastników, a kiedy cesarscy żołnierze odnajdą zwłoki, znajdą na nich aż jedenaście ran…
Czesc Michale and many thanks for posting this very interesting entry ,
OdpowiedzUsuńThe painting can be seen in a higher resolution here: http://www.tankonyvtar.hu/site/img/historia/1980_80-03_01_Makkai1_original.jpg
If you look closely you can clearly see a Galka on the lance of a hussar in the center (the one which is lancing Bucquoy from behind - perhaps looking for a gap in his armor)
Also if you look closely again you can see that some of those Hungarians appear to have "armored necks" - perhaps with segmented plate or mail(pancerz).. Nota bene common practice among Ottomans (and many others iirc) was to put a kaftan/clothing on an actual metalic armour.. perhaps this was the case with "Husaria Węgierska" as well :)
Pozdrawiam,
Samuel from Slovakia
Hi Samuel
OdpowiedzUsuńThank You very much for comment and link to better resolution of picture. It indeed gives more details so both details on lances and neck armour on riders can be seen.
On left we can see another of general's bodyguard being 'dealt with' by attackers, which was missing in my part of picture.
Cheers
Michał
You're welcome Michał, it was my pleasure :)
OdpowiedzUsuńWould you happen to know more about the circumstances and sources that describe the death of the poor general? As to the leftmost corner - I suspect (or rather speculate) that it might as well be count Bucquoy himself in a later stage of the ambush/engagement (first the horse gets killed under him, than he's forced into ground and finished off etc.)
Some other details I noticed:
-again note how one the 2 Hungarians hold the poor guy down in the leftmost part. One attacker has a grip on the victim's neck , while the other is pressing down on the helmet. Actually I originally interpreted the part as a sort of apprehension rather than attempt at killing...
(Basing my observation on the menacing posture of the hussar with the saber held high above the head - in addition to the the posture of the victim, with his arms thrown out.. as if pleading for mercy) - but this assumption of mine was probably incorrect since the man didn't make it + do also note the (nasty looking) mace wielded by the second attacker/subduer..
-the sword of the general looks to me a bit antiquated: the simple guard, hand-and-a-half grip and shape of its blade (somewhat rounded at the end) appear to me like something from later middle ages rather than early 17th century.. Perhaps there was some attempt at stylization? Than again I'm no TYW arms and armor expert.
- note one of the hussars charging: one of his arms is holding a lance (in a couched style), while the other is already swinging a saber..
-Last but not least: note the central hussar that outflanks the general who seems to take a stab with his lance in a "free hand" fashion (i.e. not tucked under the armpit) - searching perhaps for an opening in the gaps of Bucquoy's harness
Seems like quite a painting imho. It shows various different situations that could probably occur in the heat of the skirmish.
So much for my observations :)
Cheers,
Samuel