Sunday, April 5, 2020

Vikings!!! In the Loire

Vikings, striking terror in the Loire and Brittany!

The first raid in the Carolingian empire was on the monastery of the coast of Nantes in Pays de la Loire (Nuestria) on the Île de Noirmoutier in 799 in the bay of Biscay. The northmen finally departed the Loire and Brittany in 1076. Noirmoutier monastery became the most regularly raided monastery in France and a major base for Viking raids of Neustria and Armorica (Loire, Brittany, Normandy and Aquitaine.)

I have been painting the lovely V& V Vikings on and off for the last two weeks while I prepare our Vikings in the Loire tour information and battlefield Wargame and tour release for 2020.

These figures will be for the skirmish raids that made up most of the fighting locally, as they tended to raid Monasteries, trading centres, salt and Linen production  centres along the Brittany, Pays de  la Loire, Normandy and Aquitaine coasts and up the large rivers and tributaries. Lots more coming this weekend.




















Cheers
Matt

16 comments:

  1. Great poses and painting. The Monastry of Noirmoutier. One would think if it was being raided constantly, a good idea would be to move it or build a castle near it.

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    1. They eventually did move all of the goods, but the monks were given the land and tax privileges of the salt production. A motte and Bailey was on the island and was used as the location to wait out the raid. It was not until the Vikings settle on the island that the chateau is taken.

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  2. Outstanding brushwork especially the facial features.

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    1. Thanks mate, a bit more work on skirmish figures

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  3. Really nice work on these, Matt.

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  4. Wonderful job, love the shields and the color scheme...

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    1. Cheers Phil, they are lovely figures to paint

      Cheers
      Matt

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