Swiss Pikemen c.1494-1509

Swiss Pike Block

Following on from my last post here are some pictures of the completed first half of the project. The Old Glory Swiss or Reisläufer  pike block. There was quite a lot of conversion work involved but I am really happy with the result. As I mentioned before I think these converted figures are perfect for the early part of the Italian wars, from the French Invasion in 1494 up until Agnadello in 1509, however when mixed with other figures I will be happy to use them to represent the Swiss for slighlty later. The fashions changed rapidly in this period and they definitely would have dressed more flamboyantly by Marignano in 1515 though their fashions never became quite as outrageous as their rivals, the Landsknechts. 
As normal the banners are from Petes excellent cloth flags and represent Berne and Uri. There are also two TAG Italian figures in the block who have been converted to represent a drummer and captain. I think these are my favourite conversions of the lot. They are shown in the 4th photo below.
The final photo is of two of the old style Foundry Landsknechts that I am converting into Reisläufer. These are the only two I have so far painted, I have another 22 to do, some of which still need conversions. When finished they will form the front of the pike block and being dressed more flamboyantly with some in later styles of armour will help to bring the block into the 1510s and 1520s. I am going to paint them in slightly less garish colours than the Landsknecht with a few white crosses on some of them to make them feel more like the Swiss mercenaries than their German neighbours. I was pleased with the first two although I do feel the figure with the turban on to whom I have added a beard looks slightly biblical!

Reisläufer Pike Block

Reisläufer Pike Block

The pike block from behind

Reisläufer Command

Reisläufer Command

The first 2 figures completed for the attacking front rank

WIP - More Swiss Pike

Old Glory Swiss

My current project is adding to the block of Reisläufer that I have already painted up by Artizan: http://camisado1500s.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/point-dargent-point-de-suisse.html . I like the Artizan figures as they are in quite simple clothing and will work for Swiss Mercenaries from around 1500 through to the 1510s. Initially I thought they were for a slightly later period but having gone back and looked at lots of contemporary illustrations I think they would be fine for 1500 to the 1510s. From the 1510s on the Swiss seem to look more like Landsknechts although keeping a few distinct features. I am currently painting up some Old Glory Swiss Pikemen and Command to go with the figures I have painted so far as well as converting some Foundry Landsknechts to form a front rank. I am aware that the Foundry conversions will be for slightly later Swiss, from around 1510 on but I think when they are all put together they will form a distinct Swiss block and be subtly different from my Landsknechts.

One of the things that was meant to differentiate the Swiss from the Landsknechts was their obsession with ostrich feathers. The Landsknechts were said to call them 'federhansen' or 'feather johnnies' because of this. To reflect this one of the first things I have done with the figures is added extra plumes of feathers. Below are some TAG Italian figures I have added Perry Miniatures Swiss heads to and some old glory command I have added extra feathers to. The Old Glory figures I have painted so far have also had a few extra plumes added as well as quite a few swaps with the Perry Swiss heads.

As testament to the Reisläufer predilection for plumes of feathers Urs graf drew a picture in 1523 in mockery of it. I have included this below. I have also included some other images that show from the early Italian wars through to the 1520s they had a love of this plumage. 

Assault Group Italians Converted into a Reisläufer Drummer and Captain

Old Glory Swiss Command with added plumes

Urs Graf - Reisläufer 1523

'Cronaca della Napoli Aragonese' c.1498 Showing Swiss troops entering Naples

Niklaus Manuel - Confederate under Arch

 For the front rank of my pike block I am using the old Wargames Foundry Landsknechts that were sculpted by the Perry Twins. I have added long swords rather than the distinctively Landsknecht "Katzbagler" to differentiate them and have also swapped some of the heads with the Perry plastic Wars of Roses heads or Swiss heads.

Minor conversions of Foundry Landsknechts into Reisläufer

 Minor conversions of Foundry Landsknechts into Reisläufer

Some of the Artizan figures have large sideburns, I am assuming they have taken the inspiration from this below picture of a Reisläufer in 1529. To reflect this I have added some sideburns to one of the Foundry figures below with greenstuff! I have also used greenstuff to fill in the Imperial Saltires or 'X' symbol so beloved by the Landsknechts in Imperial Service and removed the Katzbagler Sword hilts to replace them with plastic sword hilts. Again you may notice some more head swaps. I will paint the white Swiss cross on some of the figures and not go quite as overboard on the colour schemes as I have done with my Landsknechts. 

Niklaus Manuel - Reisläufer 1529

Conversions of Foundry Landsknechts into Reisläufer

Conversions of Foundry Landsknechts into Reisläufer

Below is another illustration by Urs Graf depicting a recrtuitment in 1521. You will notice how the Landsknecht with his exaggerated Zweihander and Katzbagler at the end of the table on the left is shown in contrast to the Reisläufer next to him with his Schweizerdolch or dagger behind his back. If they were always so distinct is of course a matter of conjecture but it was obviously felt that there were subtle differences and I am keen for this pike block to show that. 
The final 2 pictures are of the Old Glory figures I have painted so far. I took out the figures with hoods as I felt they were too medieval looking, luckily there were only 3 in the pack of 30.  From the command pack I feel alot of the figures just don't look right so have only used about half, some of which have been converted. Overall though I think the Old Glory Swiss I am using are perfect for the early Italian wars campaigns in Naples and the Swabian War.  When combined with the Artizan figures and Foundry conversions I will be happy to use them into the 1520s though and I hope the block will have a disctinctly Swiss feel. Through the use of the Perry Turbaned Swiss heads, removal of all the Landsknecht katzbaglers,  addition of white crosses and extra plumage I am hoping they will have the right look to clearly define them as Reisläufer.

The Recruitment - Urs Graf 1521

Old Glory Swiss painted so far

Old Glory Swiss

Pro Gloria Landsknechts

Pro Gloria Miniatures Landsknenchts

 Following on from my last couple of posts here is the completed block of Pro Gloria Landsknechts, 48 figures in total, they make a great pike block. When I get time I will set them up with my Foundry, Old Glory and Artizan Landsknechts, they will fit in perfectly. This means that if I paint up another 20 Landsknechts (which has a kind of inevitability about it) I will be able to increase the 16x16 square, http://camisado1500s.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/forest-of-pikes.html and have a ridiculous block of 18x18, 324 figures!
My current project is more Swiss or Reisläufer to face these guys, I am adding lots of Old Glory figures to boost my Artizan Swiss block, which I have decided is more suitable for 1500-1510 and will certainly be more suitable for c.1500 when these figures are added. I am also converting some Foundry Landsknechts to bring the Reisläufer block more into the 1510-1530 period that these Landsknechts are for. I will post some pictures of these up soon.

The attacking ranks

The attacking ranks

Pro Gloria Landsknechts

Pro Gloria Landsknechts

Pro Gloria Landsknechts

Fugger Landsknechts

Landsknechts carrying Fugger Banners

 Following on from my work in progress post for the Pro Gloria Landsknechts, here they are completed. They are bearing the banners of the Fugger Family, bankers who helped finance the Holy Roman Emperor Maximillians wars, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jakob_Fugger . These excellent figures are from http://shop.progloria.com/ and the flags are, as usual, Petes excellent cloth flags http://thegreatitalianwars.blogspot.co.uk/ although they are also available from Pro Gloria . Some alternative Fugger banners can be seen here on Stuarts site http://paintinglandsknechts.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/flags-banners.html . Its been a while since I've painted any Landsknechts but I always find them fun to paint, although I do find I use the same colour schemes over and over again. I am working on the advancing figures at the moment and will post an update when they are completed. With Salute next weekend I will be stocking up on some new figures for the collection.

Pro Gloria Miniatures Landsknechts

Pro Gloria Miniatures Landsknechts

Pro Gloria Landsknechts

The Borgias!



Cesare Borgia and entourage

This post is not about the TV series but a chance for me to assemble my collection to represent the army of the infamous Cesare Borgia. As he was at the peak of his power from around 1499 to 1503 it's a great opportunity to use late medieval and early renaissance figures together and as he also employed a wide variety of mercenaries and auxilliaries it means I can use loads of the figures from my collection in one army. Being from a Spanish noble family he employed Spaniards as well as Italians from the Papal States with Swiss and French troops being sent to him at times as he was a French Duke, the Duke of Valentinois.
The excellent flags are by Pete, http://thegreatitalianwars.blogspot.co.uk/ . I love the one with one of Cesares mottos, a play on his name, shown in the first photo below: "aut caesar aut nihil". The Borgia red bull is displayed prominently on them, along with the fleur de lis for Cesares title of Duke of Valentinois and the Papal Keys or Tiara as he was the Papal Gonfalonier. The detail on them is fantastic.
You will notice the force is not too different from those used in my "War for Naples" post a while back, however I have been able to add my mounted Crossbowmen and Arquebusiers that I have completed since then along with the Perry miniatures Cardinal, some priests and Italian Infantry. Being the commander of his father, Rodrigo Borgias', Papal army I thought it would only be fitting to show these ecclesiastics along side the troops. For the very early Italian wars I think the Perry Italian figures fit in really well, especially when mixed in with the Italians by The Assault Group.

Cesare Borgia



Borgia crossbowmen

Stradiots, French Horse and Borgia Italian Horse

Elmeti and Mounted Arquebusiers



Borgia Elmeti



Borgia Light Horse and Mounted Crossbowmen

Papal Arquebusiers and Sword and Buckler infantry

The Borgia Army

A closer look at some of the Borgia flags

The host from behind

The Borgia host

WIP - Pro Gloria Landsknechts



Pro Gloria Miniatures Landsknechts

I thought I would post a quick update of what I am working on at the moment. These are the Landsknechts from Pro Gloria miniatures, http://shop.progloria.com/ and they are excellent figures, a real joy to paint. They will match up perfectly with the old Perry Wargames Foundry figures in terms of size and the period they are for. I love the fact the drummer is wearing a pair of renaissance spectacles! I need to do the pikes and bases, never a task I enjoy, and then I will begin work on the advancing pikemen. Pro Gloria currently have Gendarmes in the pipeline which I am sure will be equally as good. 

Pro Gloria Miniatures Landsknechts

Pro Gloria Miniatures Landsknechts

Venetian Archers

Venetian Archers

Today I have taken some photos of the first infantry I have painted this year. They are the excellent Venetian Archer figures by The Assault Group. I love the distinctive look of the figures. They are clearly based on the St Ursula Cycle by Vittorio Carpaccio, a series of wall paintings done in 1493. These pictures feature in the Osprey Fornovo Campaign book. I have included a couple of them below so you can see the similiarity to some of the figures. I particulary like the way some have doublets with lace up sleaves and the shirts below showing, others have laced on sleaves and the shirts hanging out below the doublets. I really think it gives them a particurlarly Italian feel for this period. I would love to see some pikemen in this style.

I think the Venetian Archers did see service on mainland Italy, especially during the start of the dangerous War of The League of Cambrai when pretty much every other power was allied against them. As they date from the very late 15th century I suppose they are most suitable for Venices war against the Ottomans from 1499-1503. Combined with some Stradiots they would be perfect for the garrison of a fortress in the Venetian Maritime Empire. Infact I am tempted to have another go at my Ottoman Army to face them but I think this will have to wait. I reckon these figures would also be good for the militia forces aiding the Knights on St John in 1522 at the Siege of Rhodes.

Detail of the St Ursula Cycle, Martyrdom of the Pilgrims

St Ursula Cycle, Pilgrims Arrive at Cologne

Venetian Archers

Venetian Archers

Venetian Archers

Venetian Archers

Venetian Archers