Salvete Omnes,
let us 'lope' to the first half of the XVII century and we can study the artworks and dip in a bit for a little Czech and Imperial European history of that period.
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In this detail from the painting by Strobel - Albrecht in his finery, note his boots and the boots of a chevalier behind Albrecht on the right, the rowel spurs on both noblemen's heels
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Alcbrecht in a buff coat, with a marshal baton, and with the Golden Fleece
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Albrecht in a buff coat and long riding boots, a huge shanks on the crub-bit, and large Western war saddle - copyright Alamy
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Albrecht Wenzel Eusebius Valdštejn or von Waldstein/Wallenstein (1583-1634) was a prominent Imperial (Catholic) commander and war leader during the XXX Years War. He, a scion of the Waldstein branch, was a descendant of the ancient southern Czech noble family of Markvartici.
His coat of arms
He is famous for this actions during the tragic war, and perhaps infamous for plotting to switch sides, i.e., going over to the Protestant side. He was murdered by the henchmen, mercenary Scots, sent by his sovereign the Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II.
He was suffering from illness at least since 1620AD, after 1632 and battle of Lutzen he was unable to ride a horse and was carried in a litter, and some researchers ascribe this illness to gout, while some to syphilis etc.
The most interesting to me is his portrait - by some unknown painter. - Waldstein appears to have been mounted on a bay horse
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three-quarter cuirassier armor, long riding boots, long presumably wheel-lock pistol
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long-shanked curb-bit
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sumptuous war saddle, with a horn, and a pistol holstered with a crupper and breastplate
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Rowel spurs on his high heeled long riding boot and a very elaborate stirrup
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The artwork related to his battles (note, he participated in the the Long Turkish War - Der lange Turkenkireg - under Basta) - perhaps the most momentous was his defeat at Lutzen, that paradoxically changed the course of the war, for during the battle Lion of the North, Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, the arch enemy of the Polish Vasa realm, died fighting and the Swedish juggernaut was stopped in its relentless advance upon the Imperials.
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White Mountain
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| Dessau |
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the siege of Straslund
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Lutzen in print
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Lutzen on canvass
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and an allegory from the palace fresco -
Valdštejnský Palác.
Valete
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