Pike & Shotte Landsknecht Starter Army

Description

The late 15th and early 16th centuries in Europe were defined bynear-constant warfare. National ‘standing armies’ were unheard of and theambitions of empires were reliant on the mercenaries they could affordto hire.

Landsknechts were instigated by the Holy Roman Emperor, Maximillian I, as areaction to the Swiss Mercenary Pikemen that had dominated battlefields fordecades before the Italian Wars (1494–1559).

Over the course of the Italian Wars, however, the Landsknecht tactics adaptedfar more than the Swiss and the use of firearms in conjunction with the Pikewould give them the edge, at least tactically.

The toughest of a rough bunch were the veteran Doppelsöldner – soldierson double pay. Their extra payment was for volunteering to fight in the frontranks and the inherent risk that entailed. The trick was surviving to claim theextra pay!

Doppelsöldner would most often be armed with the ranged arquebus or crossbowand arrayed in front of the main blocks of pikemen. Alternatively they may bearmed with the vicious six foot long two-handed swords, the Zweihänders, orequally long halberds. Zweihänder-armed Landsknechts would generally be foundin the front ranks of the pike blocks or occasionally detached to form their ownunit for special roles as well as providing protection for the unit’s colourparty. The famous German mercenaries, the Black Band, included 2,000 two-handedswordsmen.

The Landsknechts, as well as other troops, made good use of the crossbow andthen latterly the new arquebus black powder weapon as skirmish screens ahead ofthe blocks of pikemen or as tactical units in their own right. They were equallyuseful during sieges.

This box set contains:

• 96 Plastic Landsknecht pikemen with command options.
• 24 Plastic Landsknechts with Zweihänders
• 24 Plastic Landsknechts with crossbows or arquebus
• 4 Metal Officers.
• Metal Handbüchse light gun and crew.
• Full-colour flag sheet
• Plastic Bases

Models supplied unassembled and unpainted

Delivery

 

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