This episode of the audio guide introduces the author and her background and how this has shaped the novel.

This is the introductory episode of the La Garde Ecossaise Audio Guide. It explains what the audio guide is for, what it will cover and how you as a listener and audience member can interact with it and shape its contents.

In La Garde Ecossaise we are introduced to the world of

Today we are going to explore the world of the marksman and firearms during the seventeenth century. I have avoided the term ‘musketeer’ in the title of the podcast for an obvious reason – any time the term musketeer is used in relation to seventeenth century France many people will visualise the musketeers made famous by Alexandre Dumas, Athos, Porthos, Aramis and D’artagnan.  I think the term marksman is much more appropriate. The character in the novel La Garde Ecossaise which represents this skillset is Alasdair MacDonald, is a mischievous and wayward Highlander with a good heart. Many may assume that a Scottish Highlander is an odd choice as a character that would represent marksmanship within the guard, but as I will explain in later podcasts, marksmanship has a long history within Irish and Highlander warfare. For the moment, this episode will explore, through the characters of Meldrum and MacDonald, the operation and use of muskets. It will then explore the operation of both the matchlock and flintlock musket and finally, it will explore the use of firearms in the armies of King Louis XIV. 

In La Garde Ecossaise we are introduced to the world of the sword master through our narrator, Robert Meldrum. In his meeting with Hamilton, Hamilton introduces Meldrum to the weapons which form the basis of swordsmanship in early modern Europe. After the basic introduction to some weaponry, we are then briefly introduced to the various schools of swordsmanship in early modern Europe such as the Italian school, the Spanish school and the French

Rules of warfare, laws of warfare or rules of engagement

This podcast episode will introduce the history of the royal

This podcast is for those who are enjoying the

This podcast is also aimed at students studying early

Although the characters are fictional, many of the events

The series, La Garde Ecossaise is a seven-book

The book is available to buy from all good online bookstores.

The podcasts will closely mirror the contents of each

This podcast is for those of you who are enjoying the

This podcast is also aimed at students studying early

Although the characters are fictional, many of the events

The series, La Garde Ecossaise is a seven-book

For those of you who have not yet bought the book it is

The podcasts will closely mirror the contents of each

You can also follow me on social media on:

Twitter @kirsteenmm[KM5] 

Instagram @earlymodernkirsteenmm[KM6] 

Facebook[KM7] 

Pinterest @drkirsteenmmackenzie[KM8] 

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 [KM4]Recorded

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The Origins of the Novel Series

Out of all these international connections the Franco-British connection was the most dominant and this is where the origins of the novels lie.

Where did John Hamilton come from?

I will now say something briefly about the origins of the main character in the novel, Lieutenant-General John Hamilton.  When we are first introduced to John Hamilton, he is a shadowy and intimidating figure and before we formally meet Hamilton we know that for some people the ‘lieutenant-colonel’ is a terrifying figure.  Gaston, the hapless master meal miller, who attempts a rather poor heist, is utterly terrified by the prospect of being reprimanded by the ‘lieutenant-colonel’.[1]

When we meet John Hamilton for the first time it is through the eyes of Robert Meldrum who is overcome by Hamilton’s sheer physical size.  Meldrum describes Hamilton for us, explaining that Hamilton is 6 foot four inches tall, which, for the seventeenth century, is an immense height.

To put it into context, the Swiss Guards, who were considered to be Louis XIVs tallest men, were to be at least six feet tall. For other guards, specifications were much lower around five foot five.

As Meldrum continues to state that Hamilton had large hands, an exceptionally broad back, large shoulders, and chest.  We find out in later chapters that Hamilton weighs at least 250 pounds with a muscular and athletic build and exceptional strength.  Hamilton’s stature easily intimidates friends and foes alike.

[1] MacKenzie, La Garde Ecossaise 34.

Thank you for joining me for series 1 of the podcast for the La Garde Ecossaise Novels and I look forward to welcoming you to series two in the near future.

Au revoir, a bientôt !

This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm