Wednesday, November 25, 2020

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

Tuesday, November 17, 2020

Aulerci Cénomani II


Gauls Aulerci Cénomani II

 More Skirmishers for my second Gallic tribe, I can see them now with another 50 mounted on bottle tops and prepared for painting. I think I may finish those and take a break whole I crack on with more medievals, then to focus on my ww2 collection before Christmas.  

Again miniatures from the 28mm Victrix plastics, and LBm transfers.



Cheers

Matt


13th century painted helms



A discussion on the 13th Century Heraldry wargamers forum on Facebook about painted helms in the 13th century. As the 13th is one of my favourite periods I thought I should share my reference pictures I have put together from early thirteenth to the later half.

The first place to look for references are in bibles, possibly the most famous is the Morgan Bible of Louis IX (1226-1270) or the crusader bible to portray the 7th crusade (1248-50 to Egypt), later becoming known as the Maciejowski bible after it was gifted in the 16th century to the Shah of Iran, Abbas I. 

Possibly illuminated from 1244 to 1250,  although much discussion surrounds this, two copies survive in the National Library of France in Paris.





















Collection of troubadours poems

Recuil des poésies de troubadours, contenant leurs vies..1201-1300 Bibiotheque Nataionale de France

Quite interesting pieces of knights, a total of 60 in the collection, each knights coat of arms is also on the helm, predominantly great lords are pictured, I digital copy is available here



























hopefully we shall see some more painted helms o the wargames table


cheers
Matt









Saturday, November 14, 2020

Aulerci Cénomani I

 Aulerci Cénomani (Auerques Cénomans)


The next Gallic tribe I am beginning is the Aulerci Cénomani, the largest of the Aulerque tribal confederation, the Oppidum and the capital of the Aulerci federation was known as Vindinon, or Vindunum as mentioned by Ptolemy, today we know it today Le Mans. 

Vindunum is a Gallic word 'Vindo" white and dunum citadel fortified mount, or the White Citadel, it is thought from the latest archeology that the site may of been in the location of the current cathedral and Plantagenet city, south of the current city is Allones which had a sanctuary sites to the Gallic god March Mullo.


I plan to paint 80 miniatures for the tribe and will make them a little different. Miniatures as usual are from the Victrix plastics range







cheers
Matt