French arquebusiers

French arquebusiers

Gifts from a mate Andrew in Australia, painted by him, I based them them this week

as Light skirmishers for my French Mad War army project. The figures are 3d prints and are quite nice. 

Cheers

Matt

Jean IV de Rieux, maréchal de Bretagne

 Jean IV de Rieux, maréchal de Bretagne

Marshal and Commander of the Breton Army during the mad war and the battle of Saint Aubin du Cormier. I used a front Perry WOTR command figure. The flag is printed on silk linen mix from my printer. 

Cheers

Matt 

Guerre Folle - Mad War French Gendarmes d’ Ordonnance

 Completed some more French Gendarmes d’ordonnance for my Mad War project, only a few more bases of infantry and cavalry to go and another project is done. Again Perry miniatures WOTR range, really happy with my results. 

Cheers

Matt 

Guerre Folle-Mad War the Battle of Saint-Aubin-Du-Cormier 1488

 Guerre Folle-The Mad War & The Battle of Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier

 July 28th 2023 marks the 535th anniversary of the battle of Saint Aubin du Cormier,  one of our more famous late medieval-early renaissance battlefields close to our Maison, l'hotel de Hercé. This battle is one of our "walk the battlefield in the Morning, Wargame in the afternoon" wargame holiday tour and wargame series. 

The battlefield of Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier is in Brittany, North of Rennes on the Route to Fougeres. The battlefield site is a short walk of the memorial and the last stand site of the German landsknechts, we can also visit the English archer monument, and the ruined chateau of Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier, plus Chateau Fougeres one of Europes largest medieval fortresses.

For me it is a very interesting war and battle for both sides, Brittany ultimately loses her independence, a lot of Princes of noble blood and the future King of France fight for the Bretons, with large numbers of field cannons on wheels with professional artillery officers and large trains, large numbers arquebusiers and pike. Use of large numbers of mercenary pike, shot and cavalry from Italy, Spain, Germany and Switzerland and the Breton and French Gendarmes d'Ordonnance army systems clash.  The foundations for the d'ordonnance system for both armies built by the Arthur III de Richemont duke de Bretagne. 

I have been putting together for three years a list of the combatants and short histories of some of the key characters of both armies. Like all of my medieval projects I have researched also the blasons of the known chevaliers present, ransomed and killed (who are easier to find). I am slowly adding Perry WOTR miniatures to the collection with specifically built units for the battle and hope to finish the whole collection by the end of 2023.

I do hope you find this interesting and useful in your wargame endeavours for this small but interesting early renaissance war, and a grand part of French History. 

François II de Bretagne

Background to the Mad War

1484-6 

After the death of of Louis XI and the beginning of the regency of Anne de Beaujeu (1483-1491) sister of the minor and future king Charles VIII. The western Dukes moved in 1485 after Anne sent a large contingent of Royal French Ordonnance household troops to support Henry Tudors invasion and the battle of Bosworth.  At the beginning of the reign of Charles VIII, Louis II de Orléans tried to seize the regency but was rejected by the States General at Tours (15 January to 11 March 1484). The western ducal lords lead by Louis II de Orleans, Francois II of Brittany, Rene duke de Lorraine and Anjou & King of Naples, Alan de Albret vicomte de Tartas, comte de Graves de Castre, Jean de Chalon Prince of Orange, Charles de Orleans comte de Angoulême.

 In April, Louis II de Orleans left for Brittany to join Duke Francis II; he also sent a request to the pope to annul his marriage, so that he would be free to marry Anne of Brittany, Francis's heir. On 23 November, he signed a treaty which envisaged his marriage with Anne. Returning to the royal court, Louis tried to take the king into his custody, but Anne de Beaujeu prevented him by force: she stopped some lords of the royal guard and placed the Duke of Orléans under house arrest in Gien chateau.

Having escaped from Gien on 17 January 1485, Louis of Orléans tried to invest Paris with a small army made up of Burgundian and German Mercenaries, but failed. He managed to escape on 3 February to Alençon Normandy, and made amende honorable on 12 March and he was locked up in Orléans chateau. At the same time, Francois II roused Breton nobility, but was brought back to order by the royal troops in Normandy, Anjou and Maine.

On 30 August, Louis of Orléans issued a proclamation against the regency. The royal army marched to Orléans, but Louis escaped to Beaugency, whence he was dislodged by the young general Louis II de La Trémoille in September.  On the 9th August, Francis II of Brittany agreed to a year-long truce. Known as the Peace of Bourges, the truce was signed on 2 November 1485.

In 1486 Anne of Brittany, Francis's heir was used as a political pawn, first to Marry Maximilian of Austria, which was rejected by the crown (which lead to a small invasion by the French) then Alan de Albret vicomte de Tartas (who had claim also to the dukedom) 

Duchess Anne de Bretagne, later Queen of France.

cheers

Matt

Mad War Breton Gendarmes

Guerre Folle Breton Gendarmes.   

Some Perry miniatures cavalry additions to my Guerre Folle/Mad War collection. This was my final entry for the analogue painting challenge. I decided to add some coats of arms, livery and do a bit of scroll work on the armour, plus the normal spiral lances I like to do. More to come in the coming months as I have assembled another two boxes worth plus some metal commands for my Italian and French troops for the Mad War. 

Breton Gendarmes 1488 

Perry Gendarmes

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

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 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

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 

“Wargaming History”

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

Swiss Pike Canton of Saint Gall

 Swiss Pikemen 

Completed a unit of Swiss Mercenary pikemen from the canton of Saint Gall for my French Army at the Battle of Saint Aubin du Cormier. Saint Galls colours were red so a majority of the unit are painted in the colour with the white cross. The miniatures are from the WOTR Perry miniatures plastics range. Based for Impetus rules, a second base of pike to follow as the depth unit.

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

From Caesar to World War Two

 

Cheers

Mart

Swiss Mercenary Arquebusiers of Saint Gall

Swiss Mercenary Arquebusiers 

Completed a unit of Swiss Mercenary Arquebusiers from the canton of Saint Gall for my French Army at the Battle of Saint Aubin du Cormier. Saint Galls colours were red so a majority of the unit are painted in the colour with the white cross. The miniatures are from the WOTR Perry miniatures plastics range. 

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

From Caesar to World War Two

cheers

Matt

English Archers Guerre Folle-Mad War

 Another English Archer unit complete, or are they..... this unit will be a proxy English unit. The Bretons placed 1700 men with Tabard of the Red Cross of St George, the victorious French at the battle of Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier put everyone wearing the Red Cross to the sword, only the young squire of Sir Edward Woodville (Lord Scales) survived as he was wearing his own arms.

28mm WOTR Perry miniatures 

Cheers

Matt

Prince François de Rohan and Breton MAA Guerre folle -Mad War

 Breton Noble Men at Arms Saint Aubin du Cormier

A number of leading Breton nobles mustered to the call of the Breton Ordonances call to arms, like all border regions some families were split, especially those who had lands and Family in the border Marchers of Anjou, Maine and Normandy. 

Prince Francois de Rohan the 19 year old son of Jean II Vicomte de Rohan and Marie de Brittany(daughter of Duke Francois I of Brittany) . His Father Jean II Vicomte de Rohan had elected depart his allegiance to Francois I Duke of Brittany to side with the French King handing his border chateaux over to the French armies, coming from the Blois line, he also an ancient claim to the Dukedom of Brittany.  

At the coming of the war young Francois de Rohan like most young Breton Nobles was in the household of the Duke Francois, and in 1487 rallied to the Breton Duke, when Nantes was under siege lead the Arrie Ban of Cornouaillais and Leonard in its relief breaking the siege. 

In 1488 at the battle of Saint Aubin du Cormier he lead one of the Breton MAA companies on the right Flank, he was killed it was thought by French artillery. 

from the left 

• Pierre de Francheville (Scottish) wounded at Saint Aubin du Cormier and lance captain, taken prisoner was ransomed. After the war was appointed Seneschal of Rhuys, appointed the tax commissioner of the salt mines at Truscat and Seigneur de Sarzeau.
• François de Rohan killed at Saint Aubin du Cormier. 
• Baron Pierre du Pont de l'Abbé, seigneur de  Pont l'Abbé, de Rostrenen, and Ponthou, killed at Saint Aubin du Cormier, Lance Captain.

                              Raoul d'Estimbrieuc, écuyer seigneur de Estimbrieuc

cheers

Matt

Jean IV de Chalon-Arlay Prince of Orange Mad War-Guerre Folle

Prince of Orange, Jean IV de Chalon-Arlay

Jean IV de Chalon-Arlay Prince of Orange , Lord of the House of Chalon-Arlay. Vicomte de Besançon , Vicomte d' Auxonne, Lord of Arlay , Nozeroy , Arbois , Bletterans, , Cuiseaux , Varennes-Saint-Sauveur , Beaurepaire-en-Bresse (Burgundy) Lord of Lamballe , Moncontour , Rhuys and Lespine-Gaudin (Brittany). Jean was born in 1443 in the County of Burgundy. Son of Prince of Orange William VII of Châlon and of Catherine of Brittany (daughter of Count Richard d'Étampes and sister of Duke François II of Brittany). He fought at the battle of Grandson during the Burgundian wars in support of Charles the Bold. 

In 1477 at the close of the Burgundian wars and following the death of his powerful ally the Duke of Burgundy Charles the Bold, King Louis XI of France took a position of strength and confiscated all of the property of the House of Chalon-Arlay, forcing the Prince to 'Orange to compromise and enter the service of the king. However, he returned to the side of the Duchess Marie of Burgundy to facilitate her marriage to Emperor Maximilian of Austria . In 1477, in anger Louis XI banished him from the kingdom of France and had him hanged in effigy.

Nephew of Duke François II of Brittany , he travelled to the Duchy of Brittany sent with a marriage proposal by Maximilien I in 1481 for the hand of Anne of Brittany who was a minor. He returns to Brittany in 1486 with a contingent of Bearn Mercenaries halberdiers and crossbow (1100) and Burgundian nobles MAA. 

 He was in the main body at the battle of Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier the July 28, 1488, after having fought fiercely, he tries to pass himself off as dead but is taken prisoner, and remains under house arrest in Riom until February 1489. 

He returned to Rennes in 1489, sent by Charles VIII of France to prevent Anne's marriage with Alain d'Albret and to negotiate with her the French occupation of the duchy. After the death of duke Francis, John became heir presumptive to the new duchess, Anne.  As a member of the high council, he was appointed commander of Rennes and lieutenant general of Brittany. Jean once again attempted to secure Anne's marriage to Maximilian, but the French intervened. John negotiated the eventual marriage between Anne and king Charles VIII, where he was one of the witnesses. He surrendered his own claim to the duchy for the sum of 100,000 livres, and was re-appointed as lieutenant general of Brittany, a position he held until his death.

Figures are again Perry Plastics 

cheers

Matt

Louis II duc de Orleans (Louis XII King Of France) The Rebel Prince

 The Rebel Prince!

My next unit for the Guerre Folle-Mad War is Louis II Duc de Orleans, born at Chateau Blois, raised from a minor by King Louis XI. A very interesting figure in the early French renaissance. After the death of King Louis XI, his son young Charles VIII was crowned in minority (13) the regency was then held by his older sister Anne de Beaujeu.

Louis II duc de Orleans lead the opposition against the regency of Anne along with a number of leading French Princes in the west, particularly Maine, Anvegvin, and Blois Lords, predominantly to gain back territory annexed by Louis XI during his consolidation and unraveling of feudal rights within France (this lead the War of the Public Good/Weal). After the war of the public Weal, and the Death of Charles the bold of Burgundy, Louis XI annexed all of Armagnac, Anjou and Maine, taking it by force in 1471 from his Uncle René of Anjou, thereby in 1476 disinheriting Marguerite of Anjou queen consort of King Henry VI of England (who was executed in 1471). Louis XI had also obtained Burgundy and Picardy by 1482 making him the direct ruler of France rather than through the feudal fealty.


A plan is hatched by the Princes and Dukes after his death in 1483, Louis II Duc de Orleans joined with a great number the western Lords, René duc de Lorraine, the Breton Duke Françios, Jean de Chalon-Arlay Prince of Orange, Comte Alain d'Albret, Charles d'Orleans-Longueville count of Angouleme constable of Normandy, Odet d'Aydie count of Comminges, Phillip d'Comminges Flanders, and the Emperor Maximilian I of Austria. to overturn the annexations and the changes.


Louis II Duke of Orleans then tries to kidnap Charles in 1484, this fails, so he sieges Paris, this fails and he retreats to Maine, then back to Orleans. He is then besieged in Beaugency in central Val-de-Loire and captured imprisoned in Blois. Francois of Brittany signs the peace treaty of Bourges on the 2nd November 1485, this ends the first phase of the Mad War.


The rebels then are still planning rebellion, fighting again breaks out with the invasion of France by Maximilian I of Austria in the North in November 1486, the successful siege and capture of Parthenay by Charles d'Orleans-Longueville. On January 11th 1487 Louis II duc d'Orleans, is broken out of jail and rides hard for Brittany with Franc archers in hot pursuit


The French sent an armies North, South and West to deal with the rebels. The Northern Alliance was easily defeated by Philippe de Crèvecœur, Lord of Esquerdes Marshal of France. In the South-West the French army arrives in Bordeaux besieging the city, and Oydet d'Aydie, governor of Guyenne, is dismissed and replaced by Pierre de Beaujeu. The west however was a whole new exercise, negotiation began with François of Brittany, but Guy fealty to the King of France and the Duke of Brittany give over there important border chateaux to the King.


At the end of the month of May 1487, the French troops, nearly 15,000 men entered Brittany. The army of the Duke of Brittany is concentrated towards Malestroit. It has 600 MAA and nearly 16,000 men in the Archer Ban.
However, the advance of the French troops is dazzling Charles VIII and Anne de Beaujeu arrive in Laval: the border Breton Chateaux of Ancenis, Châteaubriant, La Guerche and Redon surrender after short sieges. Plöermel tries to resist, but fell after three days of bombardment and was taken on 1 st June. By this bad news, and political differences between the Breton nobles, the ducal army is dismembered. There are only 4000 men remaining in the field, unable to rescue Plöermel. François II and Louis II Duc d'Orlean fled to Vannes, and then onto joining Nantes, before Vannes was also taken.

In Nantes, the defense is organized, the French troops lay siege on the city on the 19th of June. It dragged on in front of the effective Breton defense, and the loyalty of the inhabitants, helped by the foreign mercenary Germans and Gascons, finally the city received the decisive support of the Arrie ban of Cornouaillais and Leonard who arrived lead by Léon Rohan, the son of the Vicomte de Rohan, and broke the encirclement. The French troops held in check lift the siege on August 6th. In the North Guy de Laval XV hands over Vitré on the 1st of September the Royal troops then move and capture Saint Aubin du Cormier and Dol de Bretagne on the 10th. Another ceasefire comes into effect and the King returns to Paris.

On January 20th 1488, the Duke of Orleans and the Duke of Brittany are both declared rebels and guilty of lese majesty. In March the Duc de Orleans leading his own household troops and the newly arrived German mercenaries recaptured the chateaux and cities of Vannes, Auray and Ploërmel. Capturing the Vicomte de Rohan in the process.
The Royal French Army musters at Chateau Gontier under the command of Louis II de La Trémoille Vicomte de Thouars. A large contingent of Swiss and Italian Mercenaries join them along with a large artillery train. On April 24, a confiscation order was issued against all of Louis d'Orléans' property.
La Trémoille and the royal army, 15,000 strong, easily took Château Marcillé-Robert on March 28. On April 7, François II ordered the muster of the Breton troops in Rennes. On April 15, the royal army laid siege upon Chateau Châteaubriant, it fell 8 days later. La Trémoille then moved towards Ancenis where he laid siege during the night of 12 to 13. The town and chateau fell on May 19 the large Royal French artillery train completely destroyed the citadel. While negotiations begin with the Duke of Brittany seeking a truce, La Trémoille seats Chateau Loroux-Bottereau, which also falls on the 14th., the southern Breton chateaux are all taken.

On the 1st of June, a thing begins, the Breton nobles and peasants returned home for harvest, but the Royal army remains in the field. La Trémoille moves north and Château-Gontier becomes one of the stores of the army of La Trémoille.

La Trémoille anticipates the end of the truce, and from June 17, he sets off his army towards his next objective Chateau Fougeres the largest fortification in the west (and France). The talks breakdown on July 9th, the Royal army departed Vitré and besieged Fougères around the 12th. The city is defended by a garrison of 3,000 men, the French artillery train again batters down the walls and the chateau falls on the 19th.


The Breton Army Musters in Rennes, pulling together an army of around 11,000 men by the 24th of June. They depart Rennes moving north meeting the Royal army just south of Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier on the 28th of June.
At the battle of Saint Aubin du cormier Louis II duc de Orleans, was given the left flank command position of the Breton Army, leading the German Mercenaries, some loyal Blois nobles and some Breton nobles, in the battle the wing suffered terribly under the French heavy artillery fire, and fell back, leaving the hole that the Italian Mercenary cavalry to punch through and role up the center and right flank from the rear to the wood after a successful one.

cheers

Matt

German Landsknechte Pikemen Guerre Folle-Mad War

German Landsknechtes in Brittany

Maximillian I of Austria raised the most famous of mercenaries in the Renaissance, the Landsknectes. These mercenary Saxon princely bands started to become more common after 1488. As part of his support for his future wife 11 year old Anne of Brittany, he sent a small contingent as a body gaurd of 32 Halberdiers in 1487 commanded by Henri de Villespern. When the French launched their invasion of the duchy a promise came from Maximillain I that he would send 3500 mercenaries to support the Duchy of Brittany. 

Only 840 men arrived in Brittany in time for the battle of Saint Aubin du Cormier, the contingent contained three troop types, Pikemen, Halberdiers and arquebusiers, they were placed under the command of Louis II duc de Orleans (plus he added his retinue of 230 MAA, Louis became the future king of France Louis XII 10 years later) 700 pikemen and Halberdiers commanded by Captain Bhler of Jullac (thought to be the bastard son of Duke Heinrich VIII of Braunschweig-Wolfenbuttel), and 90 arquebusiers. I will break this into three contingents, one pike, one Halberdiers and a skirmish base or Arquebusiers. 

The figures are from the Perry Miniatures mercenaries box

 Cheers

Matt

Guerre Folle-Mad War Breton Crossbowmen

Breton compagnie d'ordonnance crossbow 

Another Breton unit off the table for my Breton army for the Mad War. The Breton Ordnance 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. Some of the northern Arrie ban did muster from the city of Rennes and the border marches( Vitré, Dol and St Malo was occupied by French) and the Comte de Laval sided with the French, and many of the Marcher lords of Maine and Brittany owed fealty to both sides and did not even take part on either side.

Perry Miniatures again, the pavises are Perry plastics, lots more coming this week.

cheers

Matt

Renaissance Swiss Mercenary crossbow

 Swiss Renaissance Crossbow

The first of my Swiss mercenary units for the Guerre Folle (Mad War), 4000 Swiss fought at the battle of Saint Aubin du Cormier, in 12 companies. I am not certain what the mix in each company was but crossbow and arquebusier were both present along with pike and halberdiers.

cheers

Matt

Guerre Folle-Mad War Breton Arrie Ban Longbow archers

Breton Arrie Ban Longbow archers

Contrary to the belief of many, the bretons also conducted practice for archery, quite often gathering at the local parish church, after 1425, 1 in every ten hearths raised a longbowman, at Saint Aubin du Cormier only about 1700 of the army was armed with them and a further 500 with the crossbow.  This Archer unit will join my Rennes contingent. I do like painting livery, it is very quick, I have another couple of units not far behind.  

Cheers

Matt