A Spanish Captain and Rodeleros

A couple of new things for the collection today the first being a command base that is perfect for the early Italian wars. It comprises four mounted figures, all from the Assault Group, with the two commanders being from the Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba set, https://theassaultgroup.co.uk/product/gonzalo-fernandez-de-cordoba-1st-duke-of-santangelo-and-staff/. These two chaps really look the part although I do find the choice of attire of the chap with the sword slightly odd. He has fully armoured legs but only a plackart to protect his top half. I have added a Steel Fist helmet under the arm of the other captain, who I think is more fitting for de Córdoba, who was in his 40s by the time of his first involvement in Italy in the 1490s. In the photos they are shown under Pete's Flags representation of de Córdoba's banner but, as always the flag is changeable so the base could easily be used to represent French or Italian captains, although I do feel they do represent the Spanish best.

The other two figures on the base are a Spanish man at arms and a trumpeter from the Assault Group's 1540s French range. Although the trumpeter is for a few decades later there is nothing about his clothing that pins him down to the later period and he works well as part of the group. I have painted them both in red and yellow as Massimo Predonzani describes these as being the colours of de Córdoba's company in his fifth volume on the Italian Wars that covers the Franco-Spanish War in Southern Italy from 1502 to 1504. A few photos of the new command base are below.

"El Gran Capitan", Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba and staff. 28mm figures from The Assault Group.

An early 16th century mounted command base under the banner of Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba.

28mm Italian Wars mounted command by The Assault Group.

Spanish Rodeleros for the early 1500s. The figures are a mix of Assault Group, Wargames Atlantic, Perry Miniatures and Steel Fist Miniatures.

The second new addition is a unit of sixteen rodeleros, the first specifically Spanish unit I have painted in a while. Over the last year or so I have collected some of the new Steel First heads and 15th century dolls as well as picking up a Wargames Atlantic plastic set of conquistadors that was used to provide different heads for my 1540s Border Reivers. I had a lot of fun using these bits and pieces and combining them with some of the Assault Group rodeleros miniatures to create four new bases of swordsmen.

Whilst some of the Assault Group figures are unchanged some of the figures are quite unique. This pack of heads from Steel Fist https://www.steelfistminiatures.com/product/lm-19-pack-of-heads-for-late-medievals/ is particularly useful for the Spanish of the 1490s and early 1500s. I am tempted to put together a unit of infantry armed with pole arms using more of these particular heads. A favourite of mine is the head with a bevor that has eye slits so that when worn with a kettle hat the whole face is covered. The photo below lists what has been used to make each figure in the front rank. The figures in the second rank are less heavily converted apart from the miniature in the green brigandine closest to the command base who is a combination of Perry, Assault Group and Steel Fist pieces. Hopefully they will see some action on the wargaming table soon.

In the front rank from left to right we have; a Steel Fist doll and head with Wargames Atlantic arms, an Assault group body with a Steel Fist head and Wargames Atlantic right arm, an Assault Group body with a Steel Fist Head and Wargames Atlantic Arms, a Steel Fist doll and head with Wargames Atlantic arms, a Wargames Atlantic body and arms with an Assault Group head, an untouched Assault Group figure, a Perry body with Steel Fist head and Wargames Atlantic arms and finally an Assault Group figure with a Steel Fist head. 

A unit of rodeleros, about half of which is made of converted miniatures and parts.

The figure in the green brigandine in the second rank is a Perry Miniatures body with Assault Group arms and a Steel Fist head.

Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba, "El Gran Capitan", and a force of Spanish infantry.