Westernised Stradiots

Westernised Stradiots

Finally a break from painting Swiss or Landsknechts. This is my first group of Perry Miniatures Stradiots. They are in Western style armour and clothing, the Stradiots in more traditional Balkan styles are what I am working on now. They are really great figures, I love the mix of Western style Brigandines, Breastplates, Sallets and Barbutes with the Eastern style composite bows, quivers and shields. The shields are what took me the longest, I cannot stand painting the designs freehand but I feel I am slowly getting better at them!
I felt the figures didn't really need any converting, the only changes are some extra beards and moustaches on some of the riders with greenstuff as well as added tassles to the horses trappings. I have now painted 36 of these Perry Plastic Horses and with the plastic "light" horsemen on the way I am sure there will be more to come. I already have some ideas about conversions for that box set into early 16th century troops.
This group are perfect for the early Italian Wars and will go nicely in my early Spanish, French and Venetian forces. I love the fact the Perrys have done these figures, I think they are the only Balkan horsemen for this period that reflect the Western influence. They would fit nicely in an Ottoman Army as Balkan Vassals.
Although this is a break from the famous pikemen of the Italian Wars I think there will be many more to come. I was very happy to see this: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=427155780735147&set=a.299484386835621.70983.295957277188332&type=1&theater
Prog Gloria Miniatures are making a plastic kit of 16th century figures that can be used as Landsknechts, Swiss, Italians or French. I am really keen to see how these turn out. If the kit allows for less flamboyant Italian and French troops it will be excellent, although I could always do with more Landsknecht and and Swiss as well! Either way the conversion opportunities will be fantastic and I will be following developments closely. I think Stephan is going to launch the kit as a kickstarter.

Strasiots

Stradiots

Perry Miniatures Stradiots

Stradiots

'Bad War'

Bad War - Clash between Swiss and German Mercenaries

This is a post I have wanted to do since I started this blog. It has however taken me ages to paint up and convert enough Swiss Pikemen to do the pictures justice. I think the clash between the Swiss Reisläufer and German Landsknecht Pike blocks is one of the most iconic images of the Italian Wars. Holbein the Youngers sketch, shown below, captures the ferocity of these clashes. During "Bad War" no mercy would be shown, with extremely bloody conflicts ensuing when the blocks of men fought hand to hand.
The photos show a block of 120 Landsknecht about to clash with an equal number of Swiss Pikemen. The Swiss block is made up of the Artizan Swiss combined with the old Foundry Landsknechts and Old Glory Swiss. The Old Glory and Foundry figures have had weapon and head swaps as shown in my previous posts (this is the last post on the Swiss for a while!). I am really happy with how they look as a block. They are similar to the Landsknechts but subtly different, I think all the ostrich feathers help in particular. I am sure I will return to doing more Reisläufer conversions at some point but below are some pictures of the 120 I have done so far.

Bad War, Hans Holbein the Younger

Swiss Pike Block

Swiss Pikemen

Swiss Pike

Reisläufer clash with Landsknechts

Landsknechts

Swiss and German Pike Clash

The Pike blocks from above

The Reisläufer front rank

Reisläufer attacking

To conclude my Swiss mercenaries I have finished my attacking front ranks with their pikes levelled. The figures are from the old Foundry range designed by the Perry Twins. I showed the conversions in an earlier post. I really enjoyed working on these figures, they are great to paint, and I think they do have a more Reisläufer "feel" to them than the Landsknechts. At some point I am tempted to have a go at turning more of these old Foundry figures into Swiss. All the swords have been changed so there is not one Katzbalger amongst them! If they really had such an antipathy to using this weapon so characteristic of their rivals is hard to tell but I like to think it further differentiates them.
Below are some pictures of just the front ranks, I painted 6 bases of 4 figures each in total. These are followed by some pictures of them with my Old Glory Reisläufer. Although I think the Old Glory figures are more suitable from around 1494-1509 while these Foundry ones would be better for 1510 to the 1520s I think they go well together and certainly look the part.

Swiss Pikemen front rank

Swiss Pikemen attacking

Swiss Pike with Schweizerdolch

 Reisläufer attacking

Swiss Pike attacking

The last few pictures are to show a good trick that I can use the figures for. By using them as the front rank of these Pro Gloria Landsknechts and changing the banners the Landsknechts are carrying they become a convincing Reisläufer block that could be used into the 1520s. Obviously if you look closely at the block there are lots of Landsknecht features but I think by having the ostrich plumed, turbaned front ranks and cantonal banners it helps to set them apart.
When I get the chance I will set up a block combining the Artizan, Foundry and Old Glory Reisläufer, it should be around 120 figures, to see how they all work together. After painting the Pro Gloria figures and then these Swiss, over 100 pikemen in total, I am working on some cavalry at the moment, its a welcome change!

Swiss with Pro Gloria Landsknechts behind

Swiss with Pro Gloria Landsknechts behind

Swiss attacking

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