LUIS XIV'S DRAGONS ON FOOT: 3 RANKS vs 4 RANKS

 It is sure and demontrated that the French Dragons (more than all the rest of Europe) used to fight on foot, above all when it was matter of siege; these units - along with grenadiers - were considered the most valuable for trying to enter a fortress, due to their capacity also to fight in a sort of skirmishing and their professionalism.

It is also sure they fought on foot with bayonets and "as infatry", this is in deep ranks formations. Now the question is whether they fought on 3 or 4 ranks like the French Infantry. This questions arises because the numbers of a Dragons' squadron were quite limited, (around 100 men at full) and so their extended front (on 4 ranks) would have been quite narrow.

4 RANKS ARRAY

3 RANKS ARRAY

Here an example from the Languedoc I Dragon Regiment.

This unit at the battle of Turin fought on 3 squadrons:

1 Colonel

1 Lieutenent Colonel

2 Aides de Camps

3 Commanders of Squadrons

3 Oboists

10 Drummers

3 Guidons

4 Cornets

10 Captains

9 Lieutenants

28 NCO

203 Dragons

174th ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF SANTA LUCIA 6th MAY 1848

 It is the anniversary of the Battle of Santa Lucia. I tried to lay down all the troops I prepared since I started this project. A lot is to be done, and I have very beautiful Kaiser Uhlans in the making; I also prepared the Piedmontese marching, to complete the poses of the troops; I think I will make of them immediatly around 150/170 papersoldiers.

My dream is for next year (175 anniversary) to have all the Aosta Infantry Brigade done at 1:1 ratio.

For the moment I post here the pictures of a first glance of the battle at 1:1 ratio. There are around 1000/1300 papersoldiers 

I added some trees and greenery.