On Villenese Cavalry

     The household cavalry of the Counts of Villenois are drawn from the younger sons of Villenese nobility along with French, Spanish, and Italian disposed sons of nobility. The bulk are either from haughty families of Madrid or the pampered splendor of Parisian aristocracy. This lends an easy arrogance and bravado that makes the cavalry regiments of Villenois some of the most well dressed, best equipped, and often the most fatal, in all of Europe.

     Count Lumerier spends quite a bit of his funds on the upkeep of his favorite regiments, among them the Regimento Madirano, an elite regiment of Spanish dragoons. Known for their dash and exceptional ability to sneak behind enemy lines and capture their artillery and baggage trains, the Madiran Dragoons are quite a sight on the battlefield with their blue uniforms and fine horses. It is said that the Count personally picks the captains of his cavalry regiments after a vigorous interview that can last into the late hours of the night. ;)

     Another favorite regiment of the Count's is the Regimiento de Curais, also known as the Wild Geese. These are the descendants of Irish nobility who fled from Ireland in the 1500's during the Tudor conquest. Resplendent in their red surcoats with green facings, and polished breastplate, the Wild Geese have served the Count well in battle and their battle record is second to none in the Villenese military.

 

A dragoon of the Madiran Regiment charging with saber rather than the usual pistola.

 

The Madiran Dragoons of Villenois.

 

Madirano is a small village on the Italian side of Villenois, populated by the sons of Spanish Tercios from the Thirty Years War. The recruits drawn from Madirano are known for their fierce passions and especially their ferocity in battle.