Flodden, I Have More

 

Today I’m pleased to show you more units for Flodden/1513. A lost cache provided the necessary figures. Above, Khurasan archers in royal livery fronting the Macclesfield contingent. 

Christopher Savage, Mayor of Macclesfield commands. His banner is one of Ray's. Thanks kindly Ray. The Billmen are from QRF.

 

Lords Hamilton and Maxwell and their pikemen. All from QRF and once again benefiting from Ray's flags.

  

Above Hamilton's in line to show variants. Below ready for action.

Lord Maxwell's in line.

 Ditto in battle order.

More English archers in Royal Livery. These are the last of my Khurasan archers. 

English arquebusiers, a rarity in this period. Figures from Essex and QRF.

They appeared in France but not at Flodden. The flag is from Army Royal.

This project is just about done. Some artillery and half a dozen Border Horse left to do and that's it. 

Flodden Final Units

 

Truth to tell I have 2 Scots and one English units to do. They will have to wait a while. As you will see quite a bit has been accomplished. 

Above, Scots Demi-Lancers under the banner of the Scots Earl Marischal. One of Ray at Don't Throw a One's flags.  The Race of Somerled below. 

Both Clan Donald units. Flags located from the internet by Stuart at Army Royal and overpainted by me.

Lots of Borderers. 

Could be Scots, could be English. The banners of the Commanders enable us to tell them apart.

Below, The English Lord Dacre and his men. Banner from Ray.

The other side, William Graham, Earl of Montrose with his banner. Also from Ray.

The King of England's Spears from Roundway. If I have this right, Stuart of Army Royal drew the flag and Ray coloured it in.

That's it for the moment.

A Flodden Update

 

About three years ago I set out on a Flodden Project. As often happens I wrote and painted away and then got diverted. Permissible, because this is a hobby not a job. You can see my previous progress by hitting Flodden in the tags. Above, not Flodden. Just a Border skirmish.

A couple of days ago I finished the first draft of “Flodden Moor” the working title of my Flodden Game. Yesterday I proof read it. The result is 14 sides of A4 intended to enable gaming the Anglo-Scots Wars of the Flodden Period. Of course you could also use them for intra England or Scotland fights. There were plenty of them. Playtests will follow.

There was still a bit of painting to do. Surprisingly mostly involving the Border Reivers those workmen of the Wars. Now it may be that this is just your thing. An enduring interest perhaps? If so you might want to know what is available in 15mm.

I have 15mm Border Horse from Alternative Armies (1 pose), Minifigs (1pose), Roundway (2 poses), QRF, Essex (1 pose), and ERM. With troops like the Reivers as much variety as possible was my aim.

These days only Alternative Armies ,Minifigs and Essex are still in production, or so I thought. 

Happily ERM are now being sold by East Front Miniatures (EFM). They have the most complete range of Border Reivers, horse and foot, civilians and dogs. I have ordered a few packs and will review them upon arrival here. 

In the meantime you can see an EFM Reiver below. He’s the one in the blue doublet and jack facing a QRF Rider.  A fair fit wouldn’t you say?

Currently I have a couple of units of Border Horse. This is fine for Flodden where the Scots Borderers fought on foot. My 2 units can be English. For other engagements I need a couple more. 

They aren't big units 6-8 figures each. I'm giving some of them little St. Andrew's saltire or St. George cross patches. Mostly my Borderers won't wear them. It was said the Riding Clans were "English by choice and Scots at will."  You can see a couple of standard bearers here to help identify who was, at least temporarily, who.

QRF is currently missing in action. I’m watching with interest Geoff’s efforts to sort things out. I do wish him well. 

Below some English Demi-Lancers from QRF. 

The green and white caps indicate their Tudor allegiance. 

If QRF return I’ll do a Scots version too. 

There is more to the period than the Battle of Flodden.

On this page you can see English and Scots units from my Flodden Collection.

More on this one soon. Starting with a playtest. I really should work out the points for both sides for a balanced game. Truth to tell I'm more interested in the feel of it as a representation of the period.

The Scots at Flodden

Now the additional figures have come from QRF. I can finally get some units completed.  Above James King of Scots.  

Above, the Guilds and levies of Edinburgh.  Note the very nice flags from Ray at Don't Throw a 1.  The first flag shows St. Margaret who began life as a Northumbrian princess.  She married the King of Scots. 

Next, I need to do the Earl Marischall's retinue.  That will give me three units for the Scots centre. And the guns of course.

The Scots artillery, 3 guns in all.

More pike men.

The Men of the Borders under the Home and Maxwell banners.

With Highland flank guard under a Gordon flag. I need to add another Highland unit for the Borderers other flank.

On the other side of the central units there will be more Highlanders.  One unit is done and another is in preparation.  Below, you see Clan Campbell.

 

Both of these will be full Clan levies.  The well armed Nobles and gentry supported by less well armed clansmen.

 

There we are, three units to go, one of pike men and two of Highlanders. In time I'll add some Border Horse too.  I have the figures already.  Baring a few that I'll badge with the St. Andrews or St. George's crosses the rest will be interchangable. As they were in life.

More for Flodden

 

Today’s post features a range of manufacturers 15mm offerings. Let’s start with these fellows from Khurasan.  I’ll use them to represent the Lord Admiral's Marines.  That said their fine armour and St. George and the Dragon flag enables them to represent the English royal infantry in France too.

 

Next, we have Scots artillery.  A big gun with crew from Alternative Armies.

Khurasan Bill Men in Tudor livery.  QRF command.

 

Lord Scrope’s Bill Men from QRF above and below with archers.

 

Most of the English are now done.

English archers all from QRF and with Bill men below.

 Another English Commander.

Another noble Howard -they got about. He's wondering where the gunners went.

I calculate that I have another one units of English Bills to do and one of archers.

The Scots have finally been ordered from QRF.  They will have painting priority once they arrive.

After that on to the Border Horse.

Flodden English Nobles

 

While I'm waiting for more QRF Scots I'm pressing on with the English.  Above we have Sir Thomas Howard, Lord Admiral and Earl of Surrey.  He is accompanied by a retainer carrying his personal banner.  The retainer wears Tudor livery.  King Henry paid for 500 such livery coats for Surrey's men.  

Behind him are two English nobles and more of Howard's men with his Lord Admiral banner.  This unit will form the centre of the English array at Flodden.  The flags are all from Ray at Don't Throw a 1.  If you are Flodden inclined click the link in the side bar and then check out Flodden flags.  You can also read Lord Scrope's Ballad while you are there.

Let's have a closer look at Lord Scrope.  Doughty fellow that he was.  

That he inspired a Border ballad was no mean accolade, . Here he sports his heraldic arms, a practice shortly to exit fashion.  His retainers wear his white livery colour.

Next, we have Sir Marmaduke Constable his men wearing his red livery.

 

A closer pic' of the Lord Admiral.

Howard's achievement at Flodden was remarkable.  Had the battle gone the other way it is possible to imagine a very different future For England, Ireland and Scotland.  This is seldom recognised.  It deserves to be.

I also managed to get a unit of archers done.  They wear Tudor or Scrope's livery-so a lot of white.  This unit would also work for the English in France too. Note the flag from Army Royal blog-link in the side bar.

Next I need to do a unit of Bill men and the Lord Admiral's Marines.  The latter are very well harnessed troops.