Highlander

During the XVII century the needs of distinctive elements on the battle-field spread over all European Armies. Initially they were simply  "field signs" tufts of grass or leaves or anything to insert in the hatband or in the belt-sash.Then the coat's colors were standardized: during the English Civil War the"realists" wore  regimental color coats; already during the thirty yearsWar each company of Svedish Army wore a distinctive color.
 The military uniform concept is largely acquired in European Armies during the XvIII cent. The French grey and the English red are consolidated onthe European battle-fields (SpanishSuccession War).Generally the military uniform consisted of two parts:
the"GIAMBERGA", a large, knee lenght coat; the"GIAMBERGHINO", a long tail waistcoat under the giamberga; the infantry gaiters (in place of    the socks); the Tricorn, a broad-brimmed hat three folded up. In the middle of this century Frederick "theGreat", organized his Army with exact rules: a perfct war-machine.
   Torino 1706
During the Napoleonic Wars the military uniforms evolution reached the top.The fashion and glamour was the rule. Some special troops distinguished itself by the elegance of their uniforms. The Ussars, for exemple, of Polish origin.
But Buonaparte was a meteor: the shining campaignes, the Empire, his "grognards"...all in the twinkling of an eye!
From now onwards military uniform lost many ornaments and became more practical. However some special troops continued existing : Zouaves, a   French origin troop that appeared for the first time in Notrthern Africa in the 30's. They were formed by French and Arab volunteers; the Bersaglieri that became the elite corps of Piedmontese Army.
French and English colonialism in Africa and Asia produced new special troops with  hot wether suitable uniforms: the Spahis, the Gurka Rifles and the English Bengal's Lancers.
    Ney's cavalry charge at Waterloo
Spanish Succession War (1701-14)  Faerful of a spanish-french union, England,Austria and Holland formed an anti-French alliance when Spain's King Charles II, a Hapsburg, chose a Bourbon as his successor, and thus France's king Louis XvI claimed the Spanish throne. French forces battled in Italy from 1701 untli 1706, when they were driven out. Battles in Germany showed the great skill of Englend's Duke of Marlborought; in fact he stopped the French drive toward Vienna at BLENHEIM and DONAUWORTH (1704). Successively The French werw defeated disastrously at RAMILLES.The allied victory forced the surrender of Bruxelles.In 1708, French troops werw defeated at AUDENAARDE; the Allied also won at LILLE, TOURNAI and MALPLAQUET. The Nations joined an armistice under Peace of Utrecht: Louis XvII agreed that the crowns of French and Spain would remain separate.

Thirty years war (1618.48)  It was a conflict of politics and religions. The Hapsburg dinasty sought to control as much as possible of Europe, helped by mot German Catholic princes, while German Prothestant princes and foreign powers( France, Sweden,Denmark, the Nederlands and England) attempted to check the Hapsburg. The Danes under King Christian IV, were defeated at LUTTER and WOLGAST; thus Denmark made peace with Austria's Hapsburg, agreeing not to interfere in German affairs. But in 1630 Sweden's King GustavusII, invaded Pomerania, to protect Protestantism to dissolution.The swedish won at LUTZEN, but here King Gustavus died. So Sweden appealed to France, and under the leadership of Cardinal Richelieu, the conflict became a Hapsburg-Bourbon political struggle.Many battles were fought including RHEINFELDEN, REITENFELD, ROCROI and JANKAU.
The Peace of Westfalia concluded the war : Sweden obtained territory of Baltic,France obteined Alsace and Lorraine and Austria(Holy Roman Empire) granted the equality to Catholic and Protestant states.

Seven years war (1756-63)  Colonial rivalry between Great Britain and France and the struggle for the supremacy between Austria and Prussia begun in the War of the Austrian succession.
Prussia invaded Saxony in 1756 to begin the conflict. Austria declared war in 1757 on Prussia's king Frederick II "the Great".He suffred the defeat by the Austrians under Marshal Leopold von Daun at KOLIN.In Saxony, Prussia defeated a French-Austrian force at ROSSBACH, at LEUTHEN and in the blody battle of ZORNDORF (August,25,1758).
Prussia's fortune declined in 1759 at MAXEN and in a crushing defeat at KUNERSDORF.But a brief change in fortune occured with Frederick costly victory against  Daun's Austrian troops at TORGAU. (November,3,1760);But Prussia was in trouble.So on February 10,1763 by the Treaty of Hubertsburg, peace was estabilished among Austria with a return to the status quo.
   TORGAU 1760