SAXON INFANTRY (NORTHERN WAR) ( 56 FIGURES)

The Great Northern War, also known as the Third Northern War, is a great armed conflict of 1700-1721 fought between Sweden on the one hand, and Denmark, Saxony and Russia on the other. It is worth adding that in this conflict, which ended with the Swedish defeat, Saxony played a significant role - at that time in a personal union with the Republic of Poland. It is worth remembering that the Saxon army turned into a standing army shortly before 1700, and more precisely during the rule of the elector John George III Wettin (he ruled in the years 1680-1691). From 1682, it is possible to indicate the existence of permanent regiments in the Saxon army, which at the end of the 17th century consisted of 6 infantry regiments, each divided into 8 companies (with time the division into battalions was introduced) and five cavalry regiments. Added to this was field artillery with a strength of 24 guns. After the first, disastrous experiences in the years 1700-1701, there was a rapid reorganization of the Saxon infantry, which led to the fact that the infantry regiment numbered about 1,200 people, divided into 12 musketeer companies and one grenadier company, which were formed into two battalions. In 1705, the number of companies was increased to 16, and the strength of the infantry regiment increased to 1,391 full-time men, who were still divided into two battalions. It is worth adding that in the period 1695-1733 the basic color of the uniforms of the Saxon army (both in infantry and cavalry) was red.