Wednesday, June 29, 2022

Wars of the Roses: Retinue Archers of Lord Roos

The final unit of Retinue Archers for the Wars of the Roses project (at least for this year) musters out! 


These men are fighting for Sir Thomas Roos (or Ros) of Rockingham, 9th Lord Roos.

 

  His livery colors were Azure and Or.


Sir Thomas was a loyal supporter of King Henry VI. His men fought for the Lancastrian cause at the battles of  First St Albans, Wakefield, Second St Albans, Towton, Hedgeley Moor, and Hexham.


Following the disastrous defeat at Hexham, he was found hiding in a woods the day after the battle, and beheaded for treason. Life as a British Lord was nothing if not perilous at this time!

Saturday, June 25, 2022

Spanish Grenadier Companies

 

Here are the Grenadiers appropriate to the two regiments painted last month.


These are Perry figures, like those of the main units. 


Regiments portrayed are the Guardias Valonas in blue,  


and the Regimiento de Infanteria de Linea "Leon" in white.


The marvelously eccentric "flammes" on the back of the Spanish grenadier bearskins (actually made of seal skin for the Spanish, apparently) are certainly one of the big attractions for painting the Spanish army of this period!


These companies will serve in one of two combined grenadier units in my Spanish army. 

Thursday, June 23, 2022

Bill's Medieval Men at Arms


Before we get to the figures, last month I made a pair of new table coverings; just need to add the dots to make the grid one 6" boxes (150 cm) and the other 8" boxes (200 cm).


A unit of Men at Arms drawn from Bill's figures.


 These don' seem to have "Hinchliffe Noses"!


Good work with Shield transfers (not mine!).




Very limited touch up and basing were all these needed. 

A few polearms had to be replaced; fortunately there were several in the "Bits Box". 


As best I can tell this next unit is mostly composed of Custom Cast figures - Duke's first miniature figure company. 


The night of the round Table (note Pi on his shield!) is one of several given to me by Joe 15 or 20 years ago, and added to fill out the ranks. 


Teacher: "Pi R squared..."
Littler Johnny: No, no teacher, Cake are square, Pie are round!" 


The Knight with the Maltese cross is another add on from Joe. From the style and detail, I am pretty sure this figure (and probably the other, too) was painted by an old freind from our UConn days, Steve Gallagher.


This group required substantial touch up and weapon repairs. 

Sunday, June 19, 2022

Wars of the Roses: Retinue Billmen of Lord Berners

 Yet another unit of Retinue Billmen is added to the growing ranks of troops for the Wars of the Roses!


These men are in the service of Sir John Bouchier of West Horsley, 1st Baron Berners  


They wear his livery, Or and Vert. In this case the colors are derived from the Berners coat of arms, which includes quarterly Or and Vert.


They fought for the Lancastrian cause at  First St Albans and Blore Heath.


Later in the wars of the Roses, Lord Berners supported the Yorkist cause, fighting at  Northampton, Second St Albans, and  Towton

Thursday, June 16, 2022

Bill's Medieval Bills!

More troops from the collection of the late and certainly lamented  Bill McHugh.


These figures required rebasing and minor touch up and paint conversions.


Evidently the broad noses mark them as Essex Medievals; they are certainly not found on their Renaisance era figures. 


Their polearms are a bit thick, but they are sturdy, and for Wargames figures I think that's preferable. 



With their green and white theme, perhaps they are the Irish Brigade! 


Quite nice figures, really, and the bulk of the paint job is Bill's


Here's the second unit of Bill's Bills. 

Once again, rebasing, a little touch up, and some minor paint conversions were all that was needed,


The Yellow and Blur theme surely marks these fellows as the Ukranian Brigade!


Shield transfers!


We will likely press at least some of these chaps into service for the various Test of Resolve Wars of the Roses games Tim and David will be running at Historicon. 


I think this is my favorite unit of the three. 


The Third and final unit of Bills from Bill's collection.


These figures sport a dark red theme. 


Let us them term them the Burgundian Brigade. 


Once again, only rebasing and minor touch up and paint conversions were needed.


The two figures in the left r3ar were equipped with Polearms from the proverbial "Bits Box".


\
A little mood music - Song of the Vagabonds.



Monday, June 13, 2022

Wars of the Roses: Retinue Billmen of Sir William Neville

Yep, it's another Neville tossing their hat in the ring of the Wars of the Roses!
Sir William Neville of Skelton, Earl of Kent

 This time it is  Sir William Neville of Skelton, Earl of Kent .

His men wear his livery - Argent and Azure.


Sir William supported the Yorkist cause. 


He and his men fought at First St Albans, Northampton,  Second St Albans, and Towton.

Friday, June 10, 2022

Battle of Pavia, 1525, with To the Strongest!

I am scheduled to run the Battle of Pavia on Thursday night at Historicon next month. Last month we played a test game on a slightly smaller field (6 x 10 feet instead of 6 x 12 feet). I used Oman, the Osprey on Pavia, and the recently released Helion publication, The Italian Wars, Volume 3: Francis I and the Battle of Pavia, 1525, as sources. The following account is from:

https://www.henryviiithereign.co.uk/1525-battle-of-pavia.html



In October 1524, Francis, assured by Wolsey that there would be no English attack in the north, crossed the Alps and advanced on Milan at the head of an army 40,000.  Bourbon, d'Avalos and their troops were in a weak position after fleeing southern France and found themselves besieged by Francis’s army at Pavia

On 21 November, Francis tried an assault on the city but was repulsed with heavy casualties; and hampered by the weather decided on a strategy to defeat the Imperialists by starvation over the winter.

Francis also signed a secret agreement with Pope Clement VII, who pledged not to aid Charles in exchange for Francis's assistance with the conquest of Naples. Against the advice of his senior commanders, Francis detached a section of his forces under the Duke of Albany and sent them south to support the Pope.

In January 1525, Lannoy was reinforced by the arrival of Georg Frundsberg with 15,000 landsknechts from Germany and renewed the offensive. the French outpost at Sant'Angelo Lomellina, was captured severing communications between Pavia and Milan Another column of landsknechts advanced on Belgiojoso and occupied the town. By 2 February, Lannoy was a few miles from Pavia.

On 21 February, the Imperial commanders, running low on supplies and little more to lose decided to launch an attack on Mirabello Castle and attempt to break the siege.

On the evening of 23 February, Lannoy's Imperial troops, camped outside the east wall of the park, began to march north along the walls. At the same time, the Imperial artillery began a bombardment of the French siege to create a diversion and conceal the advance.

Imperial engineers set about the walls breached the masonry defence, at the Porta Pescarina near the village of San Genesio and Imperial army charged through.

By 5:00 am, some three thousand arquebusiers under the command of Alfonso d'Avalos had invaded the park and advancing on Mirabello Castle followed by Imperial light cavalry.

A detachment of French cavalry under Charles Tiercelin then encountered the Imperial cavalry and began skirmishes. Swiss pike men under Robert de la Marck, Seigneur de la Flourance overran a battery of Spanish artillery and by 7:00 am, the full-scale attack underway, the French had been taken by surprise and were overwhelmed.

It was all over by 9.00am, the French gendarmes were surrounded and killed. Richard de la Pole and Lorraine, advanced to aid Francis, were met by Frundsberg's arriving landsknechts; the French infantry was broken and routed, and de la Pole and Lorraine were both killed, as were many nobles including Bonnivet, La Tremoille and La Palice . Montmorency and Flourance were captured. The French king continued to fight on horseback but his horse was killed from under him, ‘all is lost to me save honour and life, ‘he was taken prisoner’.

Early on in the Battle; The Imperialists, Peter C (red shirt) and John (black shirt) get the first move to reflect their surprise attack. I played the French. 


Orders of Battle (I will probably incre4ase these a bit more for Historicon):

FRENCH

CMD

Description

Save

Spec/Ammo

Pts

VM

K1

Francois I General, detached, Mounted, Heroic

3+

Replay

7

2


French Gendarmes - Later Knights, Lance, Veteran

5+

Hero, may replace Lances by Rally

17

2


French Gendarmes - Later Knights, Lance, Veteran

5+

Hero, may replace Lances by Rally

17

2


French Gendarmes - Later Knights, Lance, Veteran

5+

Hero, may replace Lances by Rally

17

2


French Laners -Knights, Lance, Veteran

5+

may replace Lances by Rally

13

2


French Lancers- Knights, Lance, Veteran

5+

may replace Lances by Rally

13

2


French Lancers- Knights, Lance, Veteran

5+

may replace Lances by Rally

13

2





97

14


CMD

Description

Save

Spec/Ammo

Pts

VM

K2

General, attached

2+


4

2


Landsknect Pikes - Extra Deep 

7+

Hero, special vs Swiss

18

4


Landsknect Pikes - Extra Deep 

7+

Hero, special vs Swiss

18

4


Light Infantry Arquebusiers 

Negate Armor at 1 box

8+

3; Range 2

4

1


Light Infantry Arquebusiers 

Negate Armor at 1 box

8+

3; Range 2

4

1





48

12

CMD

Description

Save

Spec/Ammo

Pts

VM

K3

General, detached, Foot

2+


5

2


French Crossbowmen - Raw

Negate Armor at 1 box

9+

5; no move and fire

5

2


French Crossbowmen - Raw

Negate Armor at 1 box

9+

5; no move and fire

5

2


French Crossbowmen - Raw

Negate Armor at 1 box

9+

5; no move and fire

5

2


French Crossbowmen - Raw

Negate Armor at 1 box

9+

5; no move and fire

5

2


Cannons Negate Armor

eliminated in melee in open, no move*

8+

6; Target all, 2 cards vs Deep/Extra, 

range 8, 

7

1


Cannons - Negate Armor

eliminated in melee in open, no move*

8+

6; Target all, 2 cards vs Deep/Extra, 

range 8, 

7

1





39

12




CMD

Description

Save

Spec/Ammo

Pts

VM

F1

General, detached, mounted

2+


6

2


Mounted Arquebusiers - LC, Arquebus

Negate Armor at 1 box, no Move and shoot

8+

3

5

1


Mounted Arquebusiers - LC, Arquebus

Negate Armor at 1 box, no Move and shoot

8+

3

5

1


Stradiots - Light Cavalry, Javelin

7+

2

5

1


Stradiots - Light Cavalry, Javelin

7+

2

5

1





26

6

CMD

Description

Save

Spec/Ammo

Pts

VM

F2

General, attached, Heroic

3+


5

2


Swiss Pikes - Extra Deep, Veteran, Stubborn

6+

Swiss Move

24

4


Swiss Pikes - Extra Deep, Veteran, Stubborn

6+

Swiss Move

24

4


Light Infantry Arquebusiers 

Negate Armor at 1 box

8+

3; Range 2

4

1


Light Infantry Arquebusiers 

Negate Armor at 1 box

8+

3; Range 2

4

1





61

12

French  271 pts, 56 VM



IMPERIALISTS

CMD

Description

Save

Spec/Ammo

Pts

VM

L1

General, detached, mounted

2+


6

2


Spanish Knights - Knights, Lance, Veteran

5+

may replace Lances by Rally

13

2


Imperial Gendarmes - Later Knights, Lance

6+

may replace Lances by Rally

14

2


Elmeti, Lanze Spezati - Knights, Lance

6+


11

2


Elmeti, Lanze Spezati - Knights, Lance

6+


11

2


Genitors - Light Cavalry, Javelin, Veteran

6+

3

6

1





61

11

CMD

Description

Save

Spec/Ammo

Pts

VM

L2

General, detached

2+

Replay

5

2


Spanish Colunella - Pike, Extra Deep, extra Arquebus, Veteran

Defensive Fire

No flank/rear bonus for attackers

6+

4; -1 Move activations (only); Swordsmen

24

4


Spanish Colunella - Pike, Extra Deep, extra Arquebus, Veteran

Defensive Fire

No flank/rear bonus for attackers

6+

4; -1 Move activations (only); Swordsmen

24

4


Spanish Arquebusiers, Veteran

Defensive Fire;  Negate Armor at 1 box

7+

1st fire; 7

Range 2

9

2


Spanish Arquebusiers, Veteran

Defensive Fire;  Negate Armor at 1 box

7+

1st fire; 7

Range 2

9

2


Cannons Negate Armor

eliminated in melee in open, no move*

8+

6; Target all,

 2 cards vs Deep/Extra, 

range 8, 

7

1





78

15




CMD

Description

Save

Spec/Ammo

Pts

VM

F

General, attached, Heroic

3+

Replay

5

2


Landsknect Pikes - Extra Deep 

7+

Hero, special vs Swiss

18

4


Landsknect Pikes - Extra Deep 

7+

Hero, special vs Swiss

18

4


Light Infantry Arquebusiers 

Negate Armor at 1 box

8+

3; Range 2

4

1


Light Infantry Arquebusiers 

Negate Armor at 1 box

8+

3; Range 2

4

1

















49

12

CMD

Description

Save

Spec/Ammo

Pts

VM


General, attached, Heroic

2+


5

2


Landsknect Pikes - Extra Deep 

7+

Hero, special vs Swiss

18

4


Landsknect Pikes - Extra Deep 

7+

Hero, special vs Swiss

18

4


Light Infantry Arquebusiers 

Negate Armor at 1 box

8+

3; Range 2

4

1


Light Infantry Arquebusiers 

Negate Armor at 1 box

8+

3; Range 2

4

1





49

12

CMD

Description

Save

Spec/Ammo

Pts

VM


General, attached

2+


4

2


Italian Arquebusiers

Defensive Fire; ;  Negate Armor at 1 box

8+

1st Fire; 6

Range 2

7

2


Italian Arquebusiers

Defensive Fire; ;  Negate Armor at 1 box

8+

1st Fire; 6

Range 2

7

2


Genitors - Light Cavalry, Javelin, Veteran

6+

3

6

1


Genitors - Light Cavalry, Javelin, Veteran

6+

3

6

1


Cannons Negate Armor

eliminated in melee in open, no move*

8+

6; Target all,

 2 cards vs Deep/Extra, 

range 8, 

7

1





37

11

Imperial 274 pts, 63 VM






To the West of the Vernavola stream, Flourance and his Swiss are outnumbered by Frundsberg and his Landsknechts.


The Imperialist want to seize the small woods in the center. The (lousy) French Militia Crossbows are hanging way back (they turned several Aces for movement!), while the. Gendarmes barrel forards!


Peter C looks pensive as my French cavalry try to turn his far right flank. 


On the French right, my (crappy) light cavalry try to distract some Landsknechts!


Overview of the action as the opposing armies close!


Close up of the Imperial Right under Pescara and Lannoy. That French cavalry sure looks tough!


Peter C. is smiling; I think at the spectacle, as he can't be happy about 2 units of French heavy cavalry having turned huis flank!


On the French Right, the famed lightning advance of the Swiss is looking like that of aa laconic armadillo in the sun!


Despite having maneuver problems of their own, the Landskechts are setting into position to take advantage of their numbers versus the Swiss. 


Clash of the Titans! French Gendarmes face off against Spanish knights and Imperial Gendarmes!
 

The developing situation West of the stream. 


Overview from the French left.


The French come off the better in the cavalry clash, and are able to bring their own "Black Band" landsknechts up... and even the craven French Militia Crossbowmen finally move forward. 


The Swiss are outnumbered, but tough!  Being "stubborn", they continue to hit on a "6+" in melee despite any losses!


"Hut, dich, hier komm ich!"


Francis and his Gendarmes are crushing the Imperialist cavalry!


Quite a confusing mess on the Imperialist right!


Push of Pike!


Merde!  Spanish LC Genitors have shot the gap between my Swiss pike blocks! Maybe guns can dispatch them, now that they finally have an actual target?!


""And just who is upon whose flanks today, milord?"


Messy, messy  messy!


Light cavalry are junk in To the Strongest! - except when they aren't! One unit of Genitors gleefully ran down my cannons (seen returning from the foul deed!), whilst another is harassing the flank of one of my Swiss kells... 


and now the second has returned from its murderous ride to assault my rear... Mon Dieu!


Asa side show the clash of the heavy hitters, French Crossbowmen face off against Spanish Arquebusiers. 

Open flanks everywhere... but the unit that Francois I is accompanying takes a hit; the King survives his test to fight on!  With the game nearing it's final stages,. we had to call it quits due to a Zoom meeting I had with the next group of Medical students commencing their Family Medicine clerkships. 


I played out the remaining 2 turns of the game. Both sides to the West of the stream had a pike block in trouble; whichever broke first would likely decide the game. 


The far right Landsknecht unit is pursuing a few Swiss skirmishers.


Decisive results evade Francois on the French left.


After several successful charges by the "Italian" pike block (an numerous missed hit cards by the Genitors), the Swiss finally suffer their 4th hit.


With the loss of the Swiss, French morale breaks, and the Imperialists are victorious!