Here we are at last. The Valois French are complete. Likewise, the host of the King of Scots. Now we turn to the English. Or nearly so.
First let us see the Allies/ Mercenaries. Those being the
Burgundians and the Irish and various bits of the Emperor’s Army. The Emperor’s
men were genuine allies. The Burgundians and Irish had to be contracted and paid.
Top of the page and below Burgundians.
The Burgundian Gendarmes above.
A Burgundian Lance. We see the front rank of Gendarmes and the second supporting rank of mounted crossbow men. This was the favoured Burgundian formation. Note the smaller horses in the second rank.
Burgundian mounted Crossbows who could deploy separately.
The splendid Burgundian flags are from Pete's Flags.
Cardinal Wolsey wanted to hire 1000 Irish cavalry for the 1513 Campaign. Wolsey looked after the important stuff for Henry. Diplomacy, Finance, Legislation that sort of thing. Doubtless he was a sharp lad.
The horsemen he was
looking for came from Ireland’s Warrior Clans. A 1000 of them wouldn’t leave
many left in Ireland. Let me explain. An Irish Warrior Clan was an agnatic
Mercenary Company. It owned no land and made its living by hiring out for wages
and grazing in Ireland’s regular small wars.
Had Wolsey succeeded in hiring them he would have gained
some excellent light cavalry and have removed a significant military group from Ireland. Smart work.
In the event it seems he failed. Probably over
money. In another negotiation Wolsey haggled about the number of servants each Kern expected to take to
France.
Some Kern did go to France so a deal was done. Here are some above and below.
Wolsey might have got some Irish Cavalry. They are not, as far as I know, attested in the record.
All the same, if you want to use some think Stradiots as far as capability goes. "The finest Scourrers on Christian ground." as the man said about them. I wouldn't go with more than one unit of Irish cavalry in 1513 France.
One though, adds to the fun.
Before we go, have a gander at the pic' above. It is Henry King of England in 1513. Gold armour is hard to miss. I wonder if he wore it in the field? My version will.
Next time in 1513 we will see the English cavalry. Pete's Flags above with Essex Miniatures.
Lovely looking collection sir!
ReplyDeleteThank you Michal.
DeleteSuper work OB and a really interesting read too, look forward to seeing Henry in his gold armour!
ReplyDeleteGlad you found it so Donnie, thank you.
DeleteDid I not read somewhere that Henry was furious because his Burgundian mercenary gendarmes didn't turn up with barded horses?
ReplyDeleteThat rings an ominous bell now you say it!
DeleteI know I specifically bought gendarmes from Essex at a show and chose unbarded horses for them back in the 1980s, when the figures were 25mm. I've had a look in Cruikshank and the Henry VIII Osprey but can't see the reference immediately.
DeleteI cannot find it either but as soon as I read it, it rang true. It could have been on Army Royal blog? Stuart Mulligan is thorough lad.
DeleteAnyhow, I do have some unbarded Essex horses and Gendarmes to match.
Seeing as it drove my buying choices in the 1980s, I don't think it was on a blog. I can't see it in Oman or Gush, so I'm baffled.
DeleteGents, for what it's worth (and Trebian at least will likely think "not a lot"!) this is what happens when you ask that question and Google AI provides an answer......."There is no historical record of Henry VIII being upset about Burgundian mercenaries arriving without barded horses. While Henry was known for his strong reactions in other areas, such as his marriages and political decisions, historical sources do not mention this specific event or Henry's reaction to it.
DeleteNo documentation exists: Historical accounts do not detail a specific incident where Henry VIII complained about the lack of barded horses with Burgundian mercenaries."
BBC Headline today: "Don't blindly trust what AI tells you, says Google's Sundar Pichai"
DeleteWe are in the modern world! Mind you I have often observed that anything that happened before the mid '90s gets a cursory glance on the internet. Paper based info' just didn't get transferred.
DeleteIf the story originates in an article for the Arquebusier I doubt it would be picked up. Anyhow, good news for my Burgundians and their barded horses.
Super work and background information.
ReplyDeleteThanks Richard.
DeleteSuch a colourful post OB. Lovely figures and beautiful flags.
ReplyDeleteThanks very much Ray.
DeleteAgree with Ray, a glorious period for heraldry etc!
ReplyDeleteIt is Keith. Pete's Flags certainly make an impact.
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteWhat brand are the kerns?
They're terrific
Perkin
First two pic's Minifig's. Bare headed in the other pic's QRF. Morions Khurasan. They all mix well enough.
ReplyDeleteI need those
ReplyDeletePerkin
A good choice Perkin.
ReplyDelete