One of the more colourful units I wanted to build for the
Great Northern War were Cossacks. If you have read my previous posts you will
already be aware that I like to produce units that have multiple uses, value
for money I like to think, others might just say I am a tight Yorkshireman.
Cossacks are a good example of this. Traditional irregular auxiliaries
of Russia, these can also be used as Polish irregular Cossacks or Ukrainian
Cossacks. When you consider that Poles and Ukrainians fought on both sides at
different points of the war then you start to see how useful a unit or two of
these might be.
I picked up some of the fantastic Wargames Foundry Cossacks,
sculpted by Mark Copplestone, from ebay at a very good price (you see value for
money again) and this might mean I now have enough for 2 units. I do love Mark
Copplestone figures, they are full of character and really suit my painting
style, fun to paint too.
The above and below give examples of Cossack clothing, being
irregular of course they wore whatever they fancied but there were probably
some dominant colours, browns and greys with brighter reds and blues where the
Cossack was able to afford it (Or loot it!) Fighting often against the Turk
there was probably plenty of opportunity to loot some fancy cloth.