IR 3 Kostanza

IR 3 Kostanza surges into action.

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So here we have them, IR 3 Kostanza, the latest recruits to join the Markgraaf's army.

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Colonel-inhaber Joachim Kostanza is of the Constantin family, Russian noble stock. Exiled from Russia following a serious quarrel with Peter the Great, after a few abortive tries at settling elsewhere in Urope they took refuge in Spain. Here they adopted Catholicism and married into the local nobility, and in a further attempt to fit-in Hispanicized the family surname to Kostanza. The menfolk saw undistinguished military service under Spanish colors, dying more often from various poxes and camp fever than action. A Kostanza won notoriety when he became the first Spanish soldier to be killed by a rampaging hippopotamus.

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Something in the Kostanza genes makes them quarrelsome by nature and only a couple of decades passed before the family upset the Spanish King and clergy, and had perforce to move once more. Joachim's grandparents came to the Margravate of Dunkeldorf-Pfuhl in the 1720's, and this time managed not to upset anyone important. His father, Georg Kostanza had a sunny disposition, served his new master well and rose to the rank of Colonel and Freiherr, making the family fortune into the bargain. So much so that upon the recent expansion of the army his son Joachim was invited to raise a regiment of foot.

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Joachim Kostanza seems to be something of a throwback to his quarrelsome Russian ancestors. Belligerent, sporadically intelligent and fond of drinking and dueling, he has made a name for himself as an exacting if inconsistent taskmaster. He has a particular horror of gambling, and punishes severely any man caught in possession of cards or dice. Although well-trained, his regiment may prove somewhat brittle in action.

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One feature the Colonel does approve of is the Regiment's dress sense. Having a mild fetish for well-fitting headgear, he permits the men to have tailored tricorns and bearskins instead of standard one-size-doesn't-quite-fit-all army issue. He also allows those men with moustaches to powder them along with their hair, giving the whole regiment an appearance of fierce old veterans. Idle frippery or a useful psychological trick? The debate still rages in the messes of Urope.