Sunday 5 July 2009

Top Swede

This is Marshal Bernadotte aka Charles XIV of Sweden aka Carl III Johan of Norway aka turncoat. So just how did a French Marshal rise to become a top Swede? Well, I’m not entirely sure but he was brother-in-law to Joseph Bonaparte which may have helped. Later he turned his back on his old master when Swedish forces took part in the Leipzig campaign fighting along side the Allies.

Those of you who know about these things (and you know who you are) will be aware that Hinton Hunt never produced a personality figure for Bernadotte. This figure is actually a clever conversion given to me last year by Roy. The horse is APH/1 Ancient Persian Chariot Horse with a blanket added (how did you do that Roy?). The rider is PN60 Marshal Blucher with a different head attached.

I decided to paint the figure as Bernadotte to give me someone to command my Swedish contingent. The uniform is pure speculation although having just found a picture of him on Wikipedia I see I’m not that far off.

3 comments:

Rafael Pardo said...

Hi
Glad to see, at last, a figure for this much maligned ex-marechal. However, his dinasty still regins today!
Regards
Rafa.

Anonymous said...

A very neat and tidy conversion. I know that he and his missus were not popular bunnies with any of the French WAG's after the war!

lewisgunner said...

Great struff Ian and an unique figure!!
Roy