King of Kings, Shapur II

 King Of Kings 

I have been on holiday for three months in Australia, the weather was fabulous and it was great to catch up with friends. I had great intentions of painting some figures whilst I was there, however I really did not devote any time really in between family commitments. This is one of the few I actually had time to complete.

King Shapur II, possibly the greatest and longest serving king of the Sassanid empire and a pain in the side to Rome and her allies in the east. The miniature is from the aventine range along with the two retainers and standard, the horse however id from the A&A range and fits in nicely. This vignette almost completes my Sassanid army for Impetus, I would like to buy some more foot, heavy infantry and archers and I will be done. 

King of Kings Shapur II

Cheers

Matt

Gallic Chieftain Virdovix,

 Doomed Gallic Chieftain Virdovix 

Victrix chieftain Virdovix

I have painted the plastic Victrix gaul to represent the Gallic Chieftain Virdovix, he lead the Uenelli, Aulerci and Lexovii federated tribes (all local western tribes in cotentin peninsula and Normandy) in rebellion against the Romans incursions in 57BC and 56BC.

Three Roman legions lead by Quintus Titurius Sabinus campaigned in the peninsula in 56BC to put down the local uprisings by the Uenelli, Lexovii and Aulerci Federations after they had removed their tribal senators and rebelled against Caesars treaty. Sabinus then built a 3 legion encampment at Petit-Celland (close to modern Avranches) to control the area overlooking the Vire valley.

Virdovix, wth his federated army besieges the Romans but Sabinus refuses to be drawn to battle, the gauls daily taunting his cowardice for several days trying to draw him out to fight them.

Sabinus deceives the gauls that he was departing the encampment by sending a gallic auxiliary deserter to convince theVirdovix that the majority of the Roman army was in fear, had low morale were lacking in food and were deserting. Sabinus was withdrawing the following morning early to join Caesar in the south who was fighting the Veneti ( Nantes). Sabinus however places one legion at each gate in along with auxiliary cavalry.

The following morning the Roman commence the apparent departure and the gallic assault commences, Sabinus coordinates the two other legions departing from the encampments other gates to assault the flanks and the rear of the gallic attackers by the auxiliary cavalry. Many of the Gauls were killed pressed between the fortifications and the Roman legions on each flank. The Auxiliary cavalry follow up the fleeing gauls turning it into a slaughter, Virdovix is killed in the fighting at the battle of Vernix and the tribes sue for peace.


Cheers
Matt

Ancients markers

Ancient Impetus Markers 

Impetus Markers

Another project completed last year. These markers were simple and have been sitting in my table to do’s pile for some time, the shields have been completed for a long time, all hand painted  except for the Roman one. I just needed to go upstairs sand the bases paint and glue them on. 

Cheers
Matt

Aragonese Mercenary Crossbow Guerre-Folle

Aragonese Arbalète - Crossbow

 At the battle of Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier, Aragonese contingents were sent by Ferdinand of Aragon to support the Breton Cause. The documents have 1000 mercenary Aragonese landing at Quimper to join the Breton Army under two captains, Pere de Queralt commanding a unit of Arbalète and Gimenez  Soler (a Aragon Jewish captain who had fought with Edward Woodville) a unit of spear men. The crossbow unit are complete and the spear unit not far behind. I have used the red cross on a green field the field sign of the Aragon contingents at the siege of Montpellier in 1479.

Again Perry miniatures based for impetus

Aragonese Arbalete -Crossbowmen

Cheers

Matt

Caesarian Roman Project Part 1 fort

Caesarian Roman Project 

Part 1 Fort/Encampment

One of my major projects this year is a Caesarian Roman army to match my Gaulois project from last year. My plans are to build 28mm Caesarian Romans additions to my current republicans, I want to do another legion.....either the 6th or 13th, I have purchased most of the figures but need a box or Warlord figures and some artillery additions.

When you play impetus you normally need a camp for your table that the enemy can assault and take, I like to build pieces for all of my armies normally with a small scene that tells a story. With that in mind I purchased some figures and the wall pieces from First Corps Miniatures to make this encampment, with legionaries replacing a wall section and digging the trench deeper as a new centurion has arrived "and we must keep them men busy".

Roman Marching Fort

Roman Fort, the walls are interlaced wood filled with earth

The Roman ditch workers, accessories scratch built

Roman soldiers digging

I do plan on adding the 6 remaining walls and four corner towers and two gates at some stage in the future to make a complete square marching camp for my Punic wars and Gallic Wars roman armies collection. 

We have the remainders of three marching camps from the Gallic wars and Caesar's conquest of western Gaul within 40 mins of the Maison. Two in particular are impressive and were used by successive armies up to the early medieval period. One was located in 2010, the clearing of a forest found the remains of the walls and ditches, they suspect this was the fort that was sieged during Caesar's invasion of the west...... A guided tour is available to visit these forts, the Roman Museum and also wargame the Gallic wars at L'hotel de Hercé in our "Salon de Guerre". 

Full details are here

"walk the battlefield in the morning and wargame in the afternoon"

cheers

Matt

Edward Woodville the last Knight Errant, Breton Guerre Folle - Mad War

 The Last Knight Errant Edward Woodville 

Possibly the last great knight errant, Edward Woodville fought all over Europe and England, he was a leader in the War of the Roses, the invasion of Scotland, and France, fought as a mercenary captain in Castille War of Succession and crusaded against the Moors of Spain. 

I have written a summary of his last days leading up to the battle of Saint Aubin du Cormier where he died with his whole contingent except a young squire who returned to the Isle of Wight. Again Perry Miniatures based for Impetus.

Edward Woodville Lord scales

English Billmen lead by Edward Woodville

Rear English Billmen

Edward Woodville, known as Lord Scales by both the French and Spanish but he never held the title, tenth child of Richard Woodville 1st Earl Rivers. The Family initially supported the Lancastrians the changed allegiances to the house of York when his sister Elizabeth Woodville married King Edward IV. 

Breton compagnie d'ordonnance billmen

Breton compagnie d'ordonnance billmen

Another Breton unit off the table for my Breton army for the Mad War. The Breton Ordonnance companies were required to have one Archer (crossbow, longbowman, or spearman) per every 10 hearths. In 1488 less than 20 per cent mustered, mostly because the French Army invaded during the harvest season and captured large numbers in Vannes and Chateaubriant. Some of the northern and south western parishes compagnie d'ordonnance and Arrie ban did muster from the city of Rennes and the border marches( Vitré, Dol and St Malo was already occupied by French) and the Comte de Laval (owing allegiance to both sides) sided with the French, and many of the Marcher lords of Normandy, Anjou, Maine and Brittany owed fealty to both sides and did not even take part on either side.

Breton Compagnie d'ordonnance

Breton Billmen 1488

Breton Billmen

Breton Billmen

cheers

Matt

Breton Harquebus Guerre Folle- Mad War

Breton Harquebusiers 

Another unit off the table for my Breton army for the Guerre Folle-Mad War. Breton harquebus were in small numbers, around 200 present according to accounts and archeology of the field does prove they were in use. It is thought the german mercenaries also brought some with them.  

Breton Harquebus

cheers

Matt

Camulogéne Chief of the Aulerci Gallic confederation

 Aulerci Chieftain Camulogéne 

Camulogéne or Camulogenos was the Gaulois Chief of the Aulerci Federation during Caesar’s conquest of Gaul. He is thought to have lead the first raising of the confederation of the Aulerci (Diablintes, Cenomani and the Eburovices) to fight against the Roman invaders with the Unelli against Caesars Lieutenant Titurius Sabinus 56BC. The Aulerci also sent a army in 56BC to assist the Veneti in Caesars Loire campaign. Finally in 52BC the Aulerci joined Vercingetorix rebellion and Camulogéne lead the confederation with the Parisii against Caesars lieutenant Labienus at the battle of Lutetia, where the Gaulois Federation was defeated and Camulogéne was killed in the fighting. 

Quite happy with my flesh tones although it lost a bit in the varnish process. The 28mm miniature is a converted Warlord Miniature Gallic Druid.

Aulerci chef Camulogéne

Aulerci Chef Camulogenos

Gallic Chieftain Camulogenos

Gallic Chief

Gallic Cheiftan

cheers

Matt

Breton crossbow Guerre Folle- the Mad war

 Breton crossbow 

Some more Perry miniatures crossbowmen off the table for my Guerre Folle project 1485-90.

The anniversary of the battle of Saint Aubin du Cormier was yesterday, so good to add something for the commemoration. We offer a battlefield tour and a visit to the chateaux of Saint Aubin du Cormier and Chateau Fougeres (largest medieval chateau in France) as part of our wargame holiday experiences.

Breton Crossbowmen 

"walk the battlefield in the morning, wargame in the afternoon"
French Wargame Holidays at l'hotel de Hercé

cheers

Matt

Anjou Maine Skirmishers VI

 Dark Age Skirmishers

Another quick unit off the table, I basically done these in between painting the Napoleonic’s figures as a break from belts etc. 

I do enjoy painting dark age - early medieval figures and this  unit can join my Anjou-Maine army for the 9th-11th century battles, which will become a focus in September as we are hosting a French professor of Carolingian to Viking history for three days, visiting sites and wargaming the local battles, so I have much to do, particularly Vikings and Carolingian cavalry. 

A mix of Footsore, Blacktree miniatures and mix of shields, LBM transfers and hand painted.

Dark Age Skirmishers

Cheers 
Matt

Dark Age markers

 Last week was hectic with Vanessa’s birthday, renovation of a timber floor and guests from Holland and France,  plus another birthday party so not a lot of time to complete much at all. I did get some time on the bench for terrain and a complete the basing of a few units. Today as a rest day I completed a few plastic kits that remained from my 30 day kit challenge.

This week I should complete another two units for my Breton independence wars and some more work on my ongoing Napoleonic projects, Baden, French and Prussians. Later in the week some more ww2 and medieval are also lined up in the queue as the weather has improved perfect for the airbrush! 

These markers were simple and have been sitting in my to do’s pile for some time, the shields have been completed for a long time, all transfers except for the Norman kite shield. I just needed to sand the bases paint and glue them on. More dark ages coming as I have started assembling my Victrix Vikings …..perhaps next month. 

Dark Age Disorder Markers

Cheers
Matt

One Hundred Years War Chevaliers et Écuyers du Maine VIII

 Chevaliers et Écuyers du Maine

Another completed base of French for my post Agincourt French HYW army, these men are from the baronies of Chateau-Gontier and Châteaubriant, again Perry Plastics

"walk the battlefield in the morning, wargame in the afternoon"™ 

From Caesar to World War Two

cheers

Matt

Gaulois Aulerci Cénomani tribesmen VII

 Gaulois Aulerci Cénomani Tribesmen

Another unit completed, a rest now from plaid I think....still 60 plus to go as I was gifted some more for my birthday ....

Again Victrix and LBM transfers

"walk the battlefield in the morning, wargame in the afternoon"™ 

From Caesar to World War Two

cheers

Matt

Gaulois Aulerci Cénomani VI

 

Gaulois Aulerci Cénomani Tribesmen 

Some more Gallic tribesmen for my second gallic tribe I am building, really happy with them although I have noticed I am getting lazy on the plaid so I may need a rest and switch to some ww2 or something to get my spirits back.

Again Victrix figures, with LBM transfers based for Impetus

"walk the battlefield in the morning, wargame in the afternoon"™ 

From Caesar to World War Two

cheers

Matt

One Hundred Years War Chevaliers et Écuyers du Maine VII

 Chevaliers et écuyers du Maine

Based a number of figures in this last week or so as my basing material has arrived, a lot more coming as I have completed all of the English foot and some more French foot for my armies. 

I think I need another three or four boxes to complete the army completely, two cavalry, one french foot plus some metals to flesh out some commands etc.

"walk the battlefield in the morning, wargame in the afternoon"™ 

From Caesar to World War Two

cheers

Matt

100 Years War English archers IV

 

 English Longbow IV

Another two units of Perry HYW Archers,  this time plastic, one unit are English the other possibly mercenary! More coming as I crack on through the basing process this week. These chaps are skirmishers retiring before the French and Scottish MAA!

"walk the battlefield in the morning, wargame in the afternoon"™ 

From Caesar to World War Two

cheers

Matt

French Bandes d'Infanterie Pike Guerre Folle 1488

 

 French Bandes d'Infanterie Pikemen

As I am basing and completing miniatures this week, I have some more foot this week for my own project for the Guerre Folle, the 1488 campaign in Bretagne. 

The French Bandes d'Infanterie pikemen performed well in the campaign with a number of veterans from the Burgundian wars.  The Bandes d'Infanterie (old Arrière-ban) were to be formed along the Swiss model, but were in some documents were still referred to as Ordonnance still. The units if formed along the old ordonnance structure of one mounted MAA, 3 archers (mounted for transport) and one polearm foot, this gets confusing trying to make the numbers match up for the units, for the battle of Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier. 6000 odd of the Normandy Arrière-ban were raised for the invasion (only 3000 were present at the battle though)

These chaps will be one of 8 French pike double base units (representing 1000 men) for the French army, plus attached crossbow, archers and flanks of halberds, I hope to have them all finished by April this year.  Figures from the Perry plastic mercenaries box, which I think is the best box available.

Normandy Bandes d'Infanterie

"walk the battlefield in the morning, wargame in the afternoon"™ 

From Caesar to World War Two

cheers

Matt

100 Years War English Archers III

 

English HYW Longbowmen III

My basing material has arrived so more Perry HYW metal archers, then onto some more English plastic lowbow, then English foot tomorrow.

"walk the battlefield in the morning, wargame in the afternoon"™ 

From Caesar to World War Two

cheers

Matt

100 Years War French Longbow II

French HYW Longbowmen

French longbowmen in skirmish order, the 60 x 60 base fits into the castle towers I am building for my big terrain project this year. lots more on the way for the next week or so before my birthday parade! 

French Perry Archers, Agincourt plastics range

"walk the battlefield in the morning, wargame in the afternoon"™ 

From Caesar to World War Two

cheers

Matt