Pressburg - Witold Biernacki

Salvete Omnes,
nota bene there is a book coming soon and with my illustration on its cover - by Polish historian and writer Witold Biernacki titled  Pressburg 1620. Jesienna kampania ksiecia Gabora Bethlena. (PRessburg 1620, The Autumn Campaign of prince Gabor Bethlen -  from Infort Editions publishing house.
          This book, which I haven't read yet, is part of the Pola Bitew (Battlefields) series, and is devoted to the miltiary struggle of the Hungarian prince Gabor Bethlen against the Hapsburg Empire during the initial state of the 30 Years War.
Inside apart from the very interesting narrative of this campaign there are illustrations - 8 in number - by Mr. Gyozo Somogyi, Hungarian master illustrator (I wrote about his work already).
Mr. Somogyi and Zrinyi Publishing House from Budapest, Hungary kindly provided this set of illustrations showing Hungarian soldiers of the 30 Years War.

bookcover as shown on Wanax

Valete!
ps
my other set of illustrations  that were to appear along the new edition of Radek Sikora's Lubieszow 1577  has been missing in action. In fact it is the publisher - Wydawnictwo Erica - who has delayed or abandoned this publication, and it has been almost a year since it was supposed to go into print, which is really a pity since I think I painted a very nice set of illustrations  -  some 27 plates, with coats of arms and other goodies... c'est la vie.

Gabor Bethlen - royal horse tack II

Salvete omnes,

continuing with prince Gabor Bethlen and his horse furniture from the Swedish collection,

the elements of the bridle and breastplate, that survived  the passage of time.

we should note that this horse furniture, especially the bridle and breastplate would have been typical for the wealthy winged hussar companions and banner captains (rotameisters)

 On the note why this saddle is located in Sweden, well, this entire amazing horse furniture was a gift that prince Gabor Bethlen presented, by his envoys, to his brother-in-law the king of Sweden  Gustavus Adolphus alias the Lion of the North.  

about Gabor Bethlen's rule in Upper Silesian duchy of Opole and Raciborz you can read this article.
About his diplomacy and diplomats a fine article here.
enjoy

Gabor Bethlen - royal horse tack I

salve,

from the Swedish collection comes one of the most splendid early modern Eastern European horse furniture sets (saddles and tack) attributed to the Hungarian prince Gabor Bethlen (died AD 1629 - map of his possessions, and the changing borders of Transylvania ). For the purposes of our Polish history this prince was a mixed blessing, but we should note that :
 Since 1610s he had  sought to influence his Turkish overlords to invade Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth,  which they did in 1621, but perhaps due to the Polish private and state actions in and around the Danubian Turkish fiefdoms.
During his wars against the Hapsburg(part of the 30 Years War) but for a short while (2 years)  he ruled over a part of Poland,   he became the overlord of the Opole-Raciborz duchy, then in the Crown of Bohemia and part of the Upper Silesia.
They say he was looking to become a Polish king, so in his pursuit of the Polish crown his diplomatic actions lead him to seek alliance with Gustavus Adolphus and grand duke of Muscovy in 1620s.  He died before his actions would have born any fruition.
Hungarian webpage about his times and armies - a pdf file in English about the soldiers of Gabor Betlen can be had from there 'libre.'

  Ergo, allow me to share with you the 'corralled items' from this set:
the saddle with stirrups, shabraque and saddle pad

enjoy