Command figures - Great Italian Wars

 

 

I needed command figures for my Gonzalo Great Italian Wars rules.  Somehow, I forgot to do them in my earlier painting sessions.  The rules won't work without them.  I had to crack on and get a few done.  The Swiss were straight forward enough.  Not so the various kings, princes and nobility.   They needed flags, specific ones and no one made most of them. Some people can make brilliant flags pretty much at will.  Alas, I lack the skill set. My progress was slower and basic and I have more to do.

That said progress has been made.  Here are my French Commanders.

The King of France in the colours of the Kings of Jerusalem.  The King of France had bought the title from the last claimant.  Wearing them in the Great Italian Wars was probably a bit of visual propaganda.  I'm not sure who made the flag which shows St. Denis and the porcupine impressa.

Berault Stuart one time Marshall of France. The lion rampant is a clue to where his family originated.

Du Crequy, on the basis that his banner was easily accomplished. 

Three Swiss Commanders, each with their attendant/body guard.  

That's one Commander for each division of the Swiss Pike. 

Gonzalo De Cordoba himself for the Spanish. The heraldic elements are all ones he could claim.  I cannot say they ever appeared before in this form.  I've two more Spanish command bases to do, one mounted, one foot, and then I will be ready for a first game of Gonzalo.

A new French Army for Flanders - League of Augsburg 15mm

The news of Barry Hilton’s forthcoming “A Taste of Victory” must surely have stirred the Lily Banners everywhere.   

 

It is a collection of 18 scenarios for the late 17^th/early18th centuries.  It may also have carried a fiendish subliminal message because I bought a new French Army.  I watched Mad Men, I know how this stuff works.

Consequent of what was obviously a premonition, I’ve already got Rene Chartrand’s three fine volumes Armies of the Sun King from Helion.

Luckily, I also have three French battalions as part of my Jacobite Irish collection.  In addition, some of my red coated Jacobite Irish Regulars can be repurposed as the famous Irish Brigade.  I’ll go for 2 battalions, maybe 3. They will need new colours and that means new command stands. 

A word about flags here.  Most of mine for this project are coming from the excellent Not by Appointment blog.Feast your eyes.

https://nba-sywtemplates.blogspot.com/

Here is the old Regiment Navarre complete with Not by Appointment flags. Shortly they will get a stand of pikes.

 

The Kronoskaf SYW site is also worth a visit. Luckily many French flags didn’t change at all and so some 7YW flags can be used.  I've used the Royal cavalry regiment one below.

You will also be seeing flags from Flags of War and The League of Augsburg.  I’m checking against the Chartrand books to make sure I’m using the right ones.

All good, I also want to have roughly third of the Army to be comprised of cavalry.  For me that means 6 squadrons. Two of these will be from an elite formation. For the remainder I’ve fixed on the regiments Royal, Orleans and la Reine.  I’m still pondering the final one.  Here is a squadron of the Royal regiment.

 

I’ll also want a couple of Dragoon regiments. 

All this means new toys.  To start off I’ve ordered two, 100 pieces, armies from Irregular Miniatures. One French and one Dutch. They are excellent value.  I like Irregular’s LOA figures, they have loads of variety and a campaign look. Here is regiment Dauphin. 

 

I added shoulder ribbons for the Grenadiers.  Flags from Not by Appointment.

I don’t know exactly what I’ll be getting figure wise so I’ll do a blog on the armies when they arrive.  My working hypothesis is that the Dutch may have more Firelock and the French more Matchlock.  No matter, I’ll find a use for them all.  I also have plans for Monmouth’s short- lived and fatal adventure.

A list of my intended regiments with uniform details will follow.  They might be useful to others and will keep me on track with painting.