This is how Jorit Wintjes introduces his 2015 paper "Europe’s Earliest Kriegsspiel?", a paper that I 'stumbled' across as a hit from an internet search around 'Kriegsspiel'. It's a most interesting read, so I was extremely pleased that this 'guided' bit of serendipity had sent the paper my way.
Wintjes' tells us about an early war game, "Kartenspiel" created by Reinhard Graf zu Solms, a Hessian who was an artillery officer and military engineer in the Imperial army in the early 16th century. In addition to being a successful soldier, zu Solms was "a man of letters". Wintjes tells us of his main work, "Kriegsbeschreibung", which was "...an encyclopaedic study of military science, aiming at covering all relevant aspects of warfare". It is within this work, that he produced "Kartenspiel".
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| Two of the images from the paper, showing troops used in the game Kartenspiel. |
As the name suggests, the game is based on cards. Wintjes describes the cards used in the game, representing infantry, cavalry and artillery of two sides as well as different strengths and formations, providing some examples of each. The rules of the game are simple and relate to the disposition and formation of the troops. There are no rules specified for combat. Wintjes suggests that, while the game may have been limited to movement and dispositions alone, it is likely that a combat system existed since two sides are represented. The "Kriegsbeschreibung" has come to us in eight complete volumes and part of a ninth. The rules for combat may well have been published (or intended to have been) in another volume.
In addition to describing the military life of zu Solms and Kartenspiel, Wintjes' paper extremely readable and edifying paper, provides background regarding von Reisswitz's Kriegsspiel, its predecesors (identified by von Reisswitz) and the impact that the game had on Prussian military training and that of other nations. I found this part of his paper as interesting and illuminating as the main topic. His assessment of the enduring importance of Kriegsspiel, that I repeated in the title of this post, is made since "...armies have used war games ever since and are likely to do so for the foreseeable future...".
The paper is available as an 'open publication', for any and all to download and to read. It is worth doing so if you are interested in the history and impact of wargaming, in both hobby and professional capacities.
*I have not forgotten my 'counting skills', the third instalment in this 'series' is on my other blog, for anyone interested.
Reference
Wintjes, J (2015) Europe’s Earliest Kriegsspiel? Book Seven of Reinhard Graf zu Solms’ Kriegsregierung and the ‘Prehistory’ of Professional War Gaming. British Journal for Military History 2, 15-33. https://bjmh.gold.ac.uk/article/view/634
You really are on a voyage of wargaming discovery at the moment James - interesting stuff indeed!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely fascinating, thanks for this and the pdf on the link.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, we are at least even, I am off to part three!
ReplyDeleteGreat stuff!
ReplyDeleteThat’s intriguing. That pushes back known representational wargaming three centuries earlier. The combat rules for Kartenspiel must be the new Grail!
ReplyDeleteAstonishing!, it just goes to show there is nothing really new on this earth.
ReplyDeleteThank you all for reading and commenting.
ReplyDeleteThe credit, of course, goes to Jorit Wintjes for his paper (and research that lead to it). He packed a lot into one paper, didn't he?
I am pleased in presenting it that it has found more readers and interest.
I was intrigued by how early he suggests that the design of war games diverged from chess and the different aims and uses of the two. I was particularly taken by the phrase "...designing professional war games could almost be described as something of a fashion around the turn of the 19th century in Germany, with a surprisingly large number of persons with very different backgrounds involved in the preparation or publication of war game rules".
Reisswitz had took this to new levels with Kriegsspiel, particularly the move from grid to map.
Very interesting, especially considering I had thought the new wave of rules using cards instead of dice was innovative (although most of the modern rules are using the cards as a form of dice).
ReplyDeleteReisswitz's big inovations were dice and maps (from my understanding). He acknowledged the 'heritage' and earlier influences on his rules, as, of course, did the son of his father.
DeleteThere seems to be a lot of 'follow the leader' with 'modern' rules and precious little recognition of the past or other sets. Gotta feed wargamers with something 'new and shiny'!
Interesting earlier German wargame! I didn't realise it existed much before kriegsspiel and that like you I only knew vaguely! Off to check out part 3!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
James, I have really enjoyed this series on Kriegsspiel both this work and Reisswitz's. Ebay has a copy of the 1824 book signed by Featherstone. That might make an interesting collector's item. It would b fun to see this played out on your gaming table. I appreciate all of your research n this topics. Very enlightening.
ReplyDeleteAn exciting series of posts that take the time to detail your research. I even learned some things I didn't know in this last post! Thanks James and keep thinking "outside the box". There will always be readers who will take time to read !
ReplyDeleteThank you Iain, Jonathan and Figalpage. I am pleased that this is of interest to you too.
ReplyDelete