menix miniatures

Early Swiss some more

2010-09-12T11:40:00.004-07:00

Early Swiss Army Approaching

2010-09-02T13:52:00.014-07:00

Here we go! And if you got a large monitor-screen, double-click on the pics and blow them up to 100%, the pictures are huge! use them as your desktop background or screensaver. Enjoy!
Early in the morn', before I rose for travel, up came 10'000 footmen...

MushaRing Dabadu Dabadah...

Whack-foul-the-daddio... Whack-foul-the-daddio there's whiskey in the jar!
more pics coming up, that's all for now...my eyes hurt :)

Leopold III of Habsburg 1386 & His Nobles

2010-08-30T06:12:00.016-07:00

Leopoldus Dei Gracia

Dux Austrie Styrie Karunthie Carnuole
Dominus Marchie et Portus Naonis
Comes In Habsburg TyrolisFerretis et in Kyburg Marchie Burgowie Ac
Lantgravius Alsacie
Devise: "Virtuti nil invium"

Left:Johann von Ochsenstein, Leopolds Constable
Middle: Baron Ulrich von Aarburg, Bearer of Leopolds Banner
Right: Leopold III of Habsburg

Right and Foreground: Martin Malterer, Bearer of The Banner of The City Of Freiburg im Breisgau.

Above: Look up the "Heidelberger Liederhandschrift" (Codex Manesse) Plate 35 for this one.

Pikes from Freiburg Late 14th c.

2010-08-30T05:53:00.005-07:00

The DBA-Armylist says something about 2x4Pk for Medieval Germans IV/13b. I've got no idea what they're supposed to be. IMO they're too early, pikes in the 14th century?! But anyway, I like the figs.

Early Swiss Project continued

2009-07-29T02:57:00.012-07:00

All Elements are painted but the bases and banners are still uncomplete. But here are a couple of pictures of the "Beta-"Early Swiss. Here we go:

Bern, Schwyz, Unterwalden, Glarus. Zürich, Luzern, Zug. The Bernese Guild of Ober-Gerweren. Uri and Obergerweren Uri with Urisstier Crossbows (=Psiloi) Unterwalden Schwyz Bernese Troops (General) Glarus

Paint a Polka Dot Hoss

2009-07-26T03:05:00.029-07:00

Let's get it up and paint one of these fluffy polka dot hosses I so cherish. I'll show you how to paint the riderless one in the two pictures below. Miniatures are Artizan-Berbers, 25mm. I used this technique in 15mm too, click the "Parthian" Label to have a look.I use a pointy size 3 brush ("rotmarder"-hair). Click on the pictures for a bigger image.

Step 1: Over the sprayed-on white primer paint the fury parts with a very dark Red-Brown (mix Chaos Black with a swaller of Blood Red. Keep the paint not too watery, it should let the white shine through a bit so one still can perceive the redish-grenadine hue.

Step 2: Apply the first VERY watery layer of egg-white over all fury parts (Bleached Bone + Skull White) and let it dry. If too much paint gatheres in crevaces, suck it up with a dry brush.

Step 3: Apply a second VERY watery layer just like highlighting. But don't wash over the whole horse, that was step 2. Keep in mind: The back, behind, and neck should end up very light while the lower parts of the legs stay dark. The horse to the right has 2 layers, the one to the left has 1 layer.

Step 4: A third watery layer (Horse to the left). Remain confident, even if the horse starts too look REALLY bad! The last layer of dots will help blend the sometimes revolting contrast you create at this step.

Step 5: A last, fourth layer of egg-white. Remember: alsways let the former layer dry before you start a new one. Really let the back, neck and behind shine with this last layer.

Step 6: Apply egg-white polka dots, densley over back, behind and back of neck. The paint should be less watery, so the dots stand out a bit. If contrast is too mush, add more water.

Step 7: paint the hooves, saddle, reigns, hair... finished!

Getting Ready for the 25mm DBA Open Tournament in Ulm

2009-06-14T12:00:00.002-07:00

We (Tobias from Ulm and me) gladly present our first

25mm DBA Open Tornament

Where:

At Ruhetal in Ulm, Germany

When: Saturday, October 31^st2009, 9.30 AM

What: An open tournament, using DBA 2.2 rules with houserules (see below), 120x120cm boards, and painted 25mm figures. Any legal army with elements of 6cm basewidth allowed. Some terrain can be provided, but please feel free to bring some of your own. Loaner armies will be available for anyone without their own troops!

Houserules:

- a. basedepth and figures: The amount of figures per base may differ slightly from the rules. Basedepths may vary, too. But elements still recoil according to their type as given by the rules.

- b. board size: 120x120cm

- c. deployement zone: 900p x 1800p.

- d.. We use larger Area Terrain Features to preserve the gaming experience from the 15mm/60x60cm boards. Steep Hills, Gentle Hills, Woods, Marsh, Rough, Dunes, Oasis must fit inside a rectangle, the length plus width of which totals no more than 9 x 8cm (=72cm). Features cannot be less than 8cm width across in any direction. All other rules remain unchanged. See picture below to get an idea...

- e. Players must commit to a particular army and sublist and chose any options before the start of tournament.

- f. No in-game dismounting. Troops must dismount before the start of tournament J

- g. Lighthorse do not quick-kill spears and pikes.

- h. Camps should fit in an area about 12x12cm.

- i. No BUAs.

We use themetric system

Format: Five games à 1h. The player with the highest score wins. Players get points for good generalship and for eliminated enemy elements and captured camps.

- Victory: 20/0 pts. The player who eliminates 4 elements in a completed game gets 20 Pts. The losing player gets zero points.

- Unfinished Victory: 15/5 pts. The player who eliminates more elements in an uncompleted game gets 15 points. His opponent gets 5 points.

- Draw: 10/10 pts. Both players have eliminated the same number of elements in an uncompleted game. So both get 10 pts.

- Blood: Players get 5 points for every eliminated enemy element

- Captured camps: 10 pts.

- Defeated enemy General: 10 pts.

Prizes: All prizes are 25mm figures. One is a complete DBA-army “Early Crusader” from Perry Miniatures with shield-transfers by Little Big Men Studios. The Winner, the Best Painter and 2^nd place can choose in that order.

Cost: 12 Euros for the rent of location and the prizes.

Please Contact Sir Tobi (tobias-at-peylo-dot-net) or menic (menic666-at-yahoo-dot-com) to reserve a spot, or for any questions. Sir Tobi lives in Ulm. He’s glad to help you with accommodation etc.

See you in old germany and let your good dice roll!

menic

thanx to fellow fanatici and tiny soldiers for ideas and guidance!

check out these links:

Tiny soldiers Tabletop Forum

Sweetwater Tabletop Forum

Ulmer Strategen

This blog might smell a bit...

2009-06-02T07:28:00.003-07:00

but it's not dead, I assure you! My focus has just shifted a bit to a couple of things in real life e.g. looking for a new job and working on my songwriting for my first solo-record. The Early-Swiss-Project is 14 figures short from finished. And I'm working on a Cordoba-influenced DBA-camp for my muslim-morph-armies. And playing DBA as much as I can - and that's not too much. So, dear readers, have patience and hang on. Thanx!

Early Swiss Project: 3 Elements done

2009-01-10T18:26:00.008-07:00

Two blade elements finished with camp followers (musicians). There's still a long way to go. I intend to paint an element for each of the eight confederate cantons of the 14th and 15th century plus the general (9x6Bd). That is: Uri (black + gold); Schwyz (red + white); Unterwalden (red+white); Luzern (white + blue); Zurich (white + blue); Zug (white + blue; Glarus (white + red); Bern (black + red).

Early Swiss Project: Dr Uristier

2008-12-29T10:58:00.004-07:00

The "Uristier" and a musician from Lucerne(?) blowing the harsthorns, bringing fear in to the hearts of men (Luzerner Schilling, ca. 1510)

Early Swiss Project: Harsthorn, Uri 16th.c.

2008-12-29T10:49:00.004-07:00

The Harsthorn of Uri, 16th century, a replacement for the original horn lost at Marignano 1515.

Early Swiss Project: Banner of Uri, 14.th.c.

2008-12-29T09:33:00.010-07:00

An original Banner of Uri, 14th. century. Rathaus Altdorf. This one is supposed to be the original, used at Morgarten 1315 and Laupen 1339.

Partian II/37 Essex Miniatures 15mm

2008-12-19T12:03:00.006-07:00

Aggression: 2
Steppe until 126BC, then arable.

1x4kn(Gen)
1x4Kn
2x4kn or 2Lh or 2Ps
1x4Kn or 2Lh or 3Ax
7x2Lh

Parthian Light Horse attack

2008-12-19T11:58:00.003-07:00

Parthian General

2008-12-19T11:55:00.003-07:00

Parthian Clibani

2008-12-19T11:51:00.002-07:00

Parthians finished

2008-12-17T15:19:00.010-07:00

Just finished the last stroke on a new DBA-Army: the Parthians II/37

Here's a teaser for the upcoming pictures:
Parthian Clibani, Essex Miniatures, 15mm.

Next Project: Early and Later Swiss 14th-15th Century

2008-11-22T02:02:00.059-07:00

The "Warriors of Ifriqiyah" 25mm Project is eventually coming to a close. My second 15mm army, Parthian(II/37), is almost finished too. And Alex, yes, I'm halfway through with painting your scythed chariot, merry Christmas! Soon I can focus on a long postponed 25mm project: The Swiss Army 14th - 15th century. I will actually paint two DBA-Armies.
Early Swiss 1240-1400 (IV/41);
Hilly hometerrain; Aggression 1;
1x6Bd (Gen), 1x2LH or 2Ps, 8x6Bd, 2x2ps; and

Later Swiss 1400-1522 (IV/79);
Hilly; Aggression 3;
1x4Pk (Gen), 1x6Kn or 6Bd, 7x4pk, 2x2ps, 1x2Lh or Art.

I'm not happy with the timeframe and the composition set by the DBA-Authors. In short: there are too much pikes too early. Maybe I'll use the Humberside-Extension-version for the time between 1460-1499 (1x3Kn or Art or 2LH, 4x4Pk, 2x4Pk or 4Bd, 3x4Bd, 2x2Ps). We'll see.
But I'm especially excited about the nine 6-Blade Elements! They will look massive on the gameboard. I will use the Foundry Swiss ranges for the Bd, Pk, Art and Ps (crossbows and "handbüchsen") elements. I have chosen Crusader-Miniatures for the Knights-element (War of the Roses Range).
As a warm-up I will show you a couple of pictures from swiss chronicles of the late 15th century and from Hans Holbein (early 16th century). I have not found any earlier contemporary pictures showing swiss troops. Enjoy.

Tschachtlan Chronik 1470. Troops of the cantons Schwyz and Glarus look on the routing soldiers from Zürich getting on a boat in the Background. This is an episode of the "Alter Zürichkrieg" 1444, a severe conflict between Zurich and the other cantons of the confederacy. Note the troops equiping themselves with armour and weapons left behind by the Zurichians.

Spiezer Chronik by Diebold Schilling 1480's. Battle at Fraubrunnen. Bernese Troops fight Enguerrand de Coucy and his Armagnacs 1375/76.

Amtliche Berner Chronik 1483 by Diebold Schilling. The Bearers of the Banners of the 8 Kantons of the Confederacy plus their allies ("zugewandte Orte") lining up just before the Battle at Murten 1476. From left to right:
1. Fribourg (1481)
2.Glarus (1352)
3. Schwyz (1291)
4. Appenzell (1315)
5. Bern (1353)
6. Zug (1352)
7. Zürich (1351)
8.Unterwalden (1291)
9. Uri (1291)
10. Biel (allied)
11. Luzern (1332)
12. Solothurn (1481).
Note there is NO Swiss Flag. It did not exist in those days. The swiss soldiers used to stich or paint white crosses on their chlothes or armour.

Schodelers Chronik 1515. Bernese troops on the march harrowing the Waadt (Savoy) taunting Charles the Bold of Burgundy around 1475/1476. The clothng and equipment is slightly too modern (1515)

The King of France Charles VIII on his campaign to Naples in 1494 with his his Body Guard "Les cent Suisses" (100 Swiss) and other allied swiss troops. Luzerner Chronik by Diebold Schilling the Younger 1515.

Battle at Dornach 1499. Contemporary etching. The decisive swiss victory in the "Schwabenkrieg" against Maximilian, his "Landsknechte" and Cavalry ("Welsche Garde").

Chalon-sur-Sâone 1480: The King of France Louis XI welcomes the first of the 5950 allied swiss troops (+400 Cavalry) from eight cantons, led by William von Diesbach (Berne) and Jacques de Faussigny (Fribourg). Luzerner Chronik by Diebold Schilling the Younger 1515.

Hans Holbein, early 16th century. "Reisläufer" (swiss warriors) and "Landsknechte" blowing each other's headlights out.

Some Warhammer Imperial Troops I painted 10+ years ago in the colors of Bern (red-back) combined with purple (an imperial color), a colorscheme I copied from a glaswindow in the Museum (16th c.). Note the historically incorrect uniformity. The banner is the Flag of St. Maurice, an important patron-saint for the swiss troops (the leader of the 1000 marthyrs of the roman Theban Legion, decimated in the late 3rd century AD). It probably signifies a special task force. It is often depicted in the chronicles as a banner of the "Vorhut" or the "Verlorener Haufen". Is this the origin of the swiss national flag? The scholars are still debating.

Aragonians, Langobardi and troups from Pisa in the Sicilian Army of Frederico II

2008-11-07T11:04:00.012-07:00

Lately I've been painting up some auxilia-troops for my medieval sicilian army of the 12th/13th Century. All from "Crusader-Miniatures".

Warriors of Ifriqiyah: Spearmen I

2008-10-27T05:34:00.005-07:00

As part of my "Warriors of Ifriqiyah" project: Speartroops for a Fanatic Berber army or Early muslims from north Africa & Sicily. Artizan.

Berber Archers

2008-10-27T05:27:00.004-07:00

Another old picture. The Berber Bows fighting alongside christian Knights in a mediaval Sicilian army (again...).

Generic Dark Age Skirmishers

2008-10-27T05:15:00.007-07:00

I use these javelin-men for any dark age european army: from Ireland to Byzantium. It's always good to have some psiloi lying around. Crusader-Miniatures converted. Dig.

Big Battle DBA: Seleucid+Galatians thrash Romans+Numidians

2008-08-27T03:10:00.010-07:00

Inspired by the first Big Battle DBA I drew the Seleucid und Galatian deployment from ground level as seen by a roman soldier.

A view from the other side: The Romans and their Numid ally:

Manfreds Last Stand

2008-05-21T23:54:00.004-07:00

February 26th 1266 The Battle of Benevento. Manfred, the last swabian King of Siciliy, fights Carl of Anjou. The King dies with most of his army: a large contingent of saracene missiletroops and 200-300 muslim light cavalry, 1200 still loyal german knights and 1000 lombard and tuscan mounted. Manfred is shown starting the battle, the saracenes (in front) charging the french battleline while some lombard foot secure a flank.

The Saracenes challenge The Duke of Salerno

2008-05-19T15:29:00.006-07:00

...and get a severe pounding! This is the main clash of battlelines. They were swaying back and forth, but the saracenes lost 4-1. It's no easy task to win on a pool table against the Lombards when all you got is some Cavalry and Light Horse. After the Light Horse blundered and perished against the knights the spears eventually had to do all the dirty work and in the end the ç&*/(/%&ç%! saracene General (to the left on the picture) got himself killed!

Almohad and Almoravid Camels

2008-05-18T03:48:00.009-07:00

Yesterday I finished the first of two Camel-Elements for the DBA-army III/74 Fanatic Berber. Still got some basing to do. I can't wait to pitch them against the Feudal Spanish armies!. Black Tree Design.

And Now Something Totally Different

2008-05-13T13:07:00.009-07:00

Some evil Mordor Goblins. A quick job for my son Noel, my favorite menix-not-so-miniature-anymore!

Muslim Shield Designs

2008-05-06T15:46:00.009-07:00

On the Workbench

2008-05-06T15:42:00.004-07:00

Another Cavalry Element for Medieval-Muslim-Morph-Armies, unfinished.

Galatian Warband 15mm

2008-05-06T14:51:00.010-07:00

A Warband for the later Seleucid army, a bunch of celtic mercenaries, I reckon. Basing is not quite finished...but I couldn't wait any longer.

The Army of Seleukos I Nicator

2008-01-05T11:45:00.010-07:00

Yesterday I finished my first 15mm DBA Army: Seleucids II-19a. This army has everything I ever wanted to try: pikes, elephants and scythed chariots. All Xyston Minis except the Corvus Belli Elephants.

The army on the road to glory. The elephants are obviously not of indian origin and you might argue about towers on elephants in a seleucid army of this early period as well as the sarissa-armed crew. I love history but I'm not so rigid when it comes to details such as equipement. The ancient sources are so sparse that we will never know what's right or wrong. In the end I do what ever I like, as long as it seems plausible and as long as it looks good.

Warriors of Ifriqiyah: The Qadi and his Men

2007-10-18T13:21:00.001-07:00

Warriors of Ifriqiyah: The Wild Berber Horsemen 2

2007-10-18T12:48:00.001-07:00

Some more Cavalry pieces, all Artizan Berbers.

Warriors of Ifriqiyah: Ghulam Skirmishers

2007-10-18T00:05:00.002-07:00

As early as the 9th century muslim armies made good use of trained warrior slaves called "abd", "mamluk" or "ghulam" who could attain freedom after some years of duty and achieve the status of an officer. In the Maghreb and Spain they were mostly of slavic origin, so I decided to give them lighter skin and various hair coulours. I will use the minis on the pictures as psiloi in the following muslim DBA-Armies:

III/34b Andalusian
III/74 Fanatic Berber
III/34 Early Muslim N.Africa and Sicily.

All are Foundry miniatures and actually labelled as "early germans".

Warriors of Ifriqiyah: The Wild Berber Horsemen 1

2007-10-15T15:18:00.001-07:00

I finally finished the Early Muslim North Africa/Sicily DBA Army in 25mm. Here's a teaser for upcoming pictures: The Wild Berber Horsemen! (Artizan figures, shields from Crusader-Miniatures)

And details of some shield designs (Artizan and Crusader Miniatures):

Celtic Shield-Designs at the Archéofestival in Fribourg

2007-06-14T03:57:00.000-07:00

Some very nice shield designs. The red Angus-McBrideish ones (Osprey-Books) are from the group "CLADIO" from Lausanne. The other three are original designs by Joachim Schoikopf based on some research on La-Tène coins found around Zurich. He's the barbarian in the foreground with the shiney helmet charging the roman phalanx in one of the pictures on the previuos post.

Legio XI Claudia Pia Fidelis in Fribourg

2007-06-14T02:56:00.001-07:00

I spent last weekend (June 9th and 10th 2007) in Fribourg (Switzerland) at the Archéoféstival. At the exhibition, archeologists from all over Switzerland gave an insight on their work, mostly concerning the neolithicum, Bronzeage and Ironage (Celts and Romans). Apart from a whole bunch of committed experimential archeologist working on bows+arrows, bronze and silex tools and roman cuisine there was a handful of legionaries from the 11th Legion in full authentic armour making their rounds on the site. I made a lot of fotos...and back home I realised I had about 50 pictures showing the same romans over and over again! In the end Caudius let me try on the whole equipement, that's happy me on the picture. Here's a link to their Website: http://www.legioxi.ch

Here are some more pics:

Old Paint

2007-05-29T05:47:00.000-07:00

This is one of the first Warhammer Knights I painted with more elborate heraldry. The blazon is made up. He's supposed to be the daddy of one of the Chevaliers Errants below. I like this Citadel Figure very much because it seemed to me to be one of the more historically correct models of the 90ies Warhammer Breton-range (apart from the "Morgenstern" in his hand). It spurred my search for other miniature-companies.

Old Paint

2007-05-24T23:58:00.000-07:00

Some more WH-Knights.

Back Home again

2007-05-23T02:23:00.000-07:00

Just returned home from a short Germany-Tour with my Kick-Ass-Bluegrass Band "Zeno Tornado & the Boney Google Brothers". The Fiddler on the the photo is me, heehee. My studies at the University will take up most of the time so I won't be able to paint, play and post that much in future weeks. Still: DBA rules!

Old Paint

2007-04-23T06:05:00.000-07:00

Same story, means: ca. 30 Warhammer Knights in my collection, painting since 1994, no use in DBA 'cause too big. No use playing Warhammer due to lack of time and patience. So they end up on this blog as filler-ups...it's a shame, shame, shame, shame, shame. I have to tell my friend to cut some 60x50mm metal-bases. Then at least I can put two of these gargantuan knights on one kind-of-DBA-base.

Double Headed Eagle. Silk. Spain 11th century?

2007-04-23T05:57:00.000-07:00

Another double headed eagle. It's part of the treasury of St. Peter in Salzburg, Austria but was probably manufactured in islamic Spain 11th century (Reconstructed by the Abegg Stiftung Riggisberg, Switzerland)

Double-headed Eagle. Seldjuk 12th/13th c.

2007-04-19T13:30:00.000-07:00

A relief on the west-facade of the Grand Mosque in Divrigi, a former Byzantine city in central Anatolia. Conquered by the turkes in 1071. This picture inspired me to paint the banner below.

I found the following article on the origin of double headed eagles as a heraldic charge . .http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eagle_(heraldry): "Twin Headed Eagle and the Turks The Seljuk Turks emigrating from Central Asia occupied Baghdad in 1055 and Tougrul captured Mosul, and upon returning to Baghdad in 1058 was given the title of the '’King of the East and West'’. The Seljuks were even more anxious to have their rule legitimized: seen as aliens they were unpopular with the townsfolk of Persia and Iraq, and Tougrul's investiture by the Caliph in 1058, in a magnificent ceremony during which two crowns were held over his head as symbols of his regal authority over East and West, confirmed that the he now was the Commander of the Faithful. At the time the double-headed eagle became his and the Seljuk state’s coat of arms and flag, one head symbolizing the east and the other one symbolizing the west. As the Seljuk Empire’s insignia, the twin-headed eagle appears in Turkish coins from 11th century and onwards as well as a number of architectural remains scattered in central and east Anatolia. These architechural remains also depict palm trees under bicephalous eagle as the tree of life, symbolizing peace and prosperity.[...]"

Concerning the twin-headed eagle as the emblem of the holy roman empire Wikipedia says:
"From the reign of Frederick Barbarossa in 1155 the eagle became a symbol of the Holy Roman Empire in its one-headed state. The eagle was clearly derived from the Roman eagle and continues to be important in the heraldry of those areas once within the Holy Roman Empire. Within Germany the placement of one’s arms in front of an eagle was indicative of princely rank under the Holy Roman Empire. The first mention of a double-headed eagle in the West dates from 1250 in a roll of arms of Matthew Paris for Emperor Frederick II."

And last but not least a comment on the byzantine bicephalous eagle http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eagle_(heraldry):
The double-headed Seljuk Eagle became the symbol of the Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos. Palaiologos recaptured Constantinople from the Crusaders in 1261 and adopted the double-headed eagle as his symbol of the dynasty's interests in both Asia and Europe. It represented looking towards the East (Asia Minor, traditional power center of the Byzantine-government in exile after the IVth Crusade) and the West (newly reconquered land in Europe) centered on Constantinople. The Byzantine double-headed eagle has been seen in late 13th century, certainly pre-dating the development of the same in western heraldry. In Russia it was Ivan III of Russia who first assumed the two-headed eagle, when, in 1472, he married Sophia, daughter of Thomas Palæologus, and niece of Constantine XI, the last Emperor of Byzantium. The two heads symbolised the Eastern or Byzantine Empire and the Western or Roman Empire."

A coat from Sicily 12th/13th century

2007-04-19T12:42:00.000-07:00

Metz, Cathedral. (catalog "Zeit der Staufer" Abb. 166.)

Old Paint

2007-04-17T13:02:00.000-07:00

More corny Warhammer Knights: a fantasy Jeanne d'Arc, a french king with a horde on his back.

Early Crusader Knights

2007-04-13T01:06:00.000-07:00

Three more early Crusaders. Black Tree Design. Below is shown a bit of the inspiration for one of the above shields: an ivory bookcover from the Meuse-Region, Europe, 2nd half 8th century showing Christus Victor. As it looks very timeless byzantine it's just right for my Antiochian Crusader army.

Somewhere I heard the bellicose franks prefered warrior saints like St. Martin or St. George. In a similar way medieval frankish crusader knights fought as "milites christi" and worshiped Christ as their invincible hercules. And somewhere on my harddisk there is a picture of a 13th century illumination showing Christ on a charger leading a bunch of heavly armoured knights in his raised right hand an open book and between his lips the blade of a long dagger, a symbolic gesture emphasizing the superiority of the spoken word over ... hm...sometimes I'm not sure over what...over violence? Hm...but anyway, makes for a good banner-emblem for a lead army.

Christ bares his cross over his right shoulder like an axe.

Old Paint

2007-04-12T08:05:00.000-07:00

Another refugee from the Evil Empire. I took the heraldry from one of the painted blazons on the facade of the townhall in Appenzell, Switzerland. Since I didn't do any research on it I call this guy the "Knight of Appenzell". Any ideas to whom this coat of arms may belong to?

Old Paint

2007-04-04T00:42:00.000-07:00

The banner is the first I ever painted, maybe 12 years ago. Explains it's fantasy character... Back then I was using a ruleset (I can't remember it's name) which made you spend 2hours to set up your armies, 3 evenings to finish a game and still only get six rounds through at best. Absolutely unplayable. I doubt it got very popular. I dumped it.

Ritter Noel

2007-03-31T08:32:00.000-07:00

Just like Dad ;)
A menix miniature too, somehow...

Islamic Emblems: The Hand and The Key

2007-03-29T00:56:00.000-07:00

Today I found an interesting passage in Washington Irving’s „The Alhambra“ (1820ies I think). As I am always looking out for shield and heraldic designs I think the following gives a good understanding of the significance of two symbols, the “Hand” and the “Key” in islam. Irving is describing the gateway of the Alhambra (torre de la justicia):

“The great vestibule, or porch of the gate, is formed by an immense Arabian arch, of horseshoe form, which springs to half the height of the tower. On the keystone of this arch is engraven a gigantic hand. Within the vestibule, on the keystone of the portal, is sculptured, in like manner, a gigantic key. Those who pretend to some knowledge of Mohammedan symbols, affirm that the Hand is the emblem of doctrine; the five fingers designating the five principal commandments of the creed of Islam, fasting, pilgrimage, alms-giving, ablution, and war against the infidels. The key, say they, is the emblem of the faith or of power; the key of Daoud, or David, transmitted to the prophet. “And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut, and he shall shut, and none shall open.” (Isaiah XXII.22.) The key we are told was emblazoned on the standard of the Moslems in opposition to the Christian emblem of the cross, when they subdued Spain or Andalusia. It betokened the conquering power invested in the prophet. “He that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shuteth and no man openeth.” (Rev.III.7)”

Now I wonder how that key looks like.

Old Paint

2007-03-28T04:12:00.000-07:00

This is a Fantasy-Knight I call Mordred without any particular reason. Its a morph: the horse and and the knight's body is from a WH-alternativ-company whose name I can't recall, the helmet, right arm and the skulls are WH.

Old Paint

2007-03-25T01:13:00.000-07:00

A Knight of either Nidau or Neuchâtel or Fenis I painted in pre-DBA-times a couple of years ago. The model is one of a big lot of refugees from the Evil Empire. I'm working on a way to use these huge WH-Knights for DBA, maybe 2 knights on a magnetic 60x50mm base. The baron of Nidau was a powerful enemy to Berne with his houshold troops and 140 nobel knights from the Elsass and Swabia at the Battle of Laupen 1339. The Heraldry is not quite correct...about the inspiration designwise I only say "Codex Manesse". (Picture: Spiezer Schilling late 15th century, Battle of Laupen).

Now, what about that Laupen DBA-Battlefield?

2007-03-24T02:29:00.000-07:00

This is just a test-version for a Laupen-Scenario DBA Battlefield. The rules 2.2 for terrain-placing and size of terrain-pieces do not apply here.

Crusader Knights with St. John Order Foot

2007-03-23T03:34:00.000-07:00

1148-1149 Nur-ed-Din kicks some Crusader Booty

2007-03-23T02:58:00.000-07:00

A Map for a Nur-ed-Din 1148/49 Campaign based on Steven Runciman's book on the crusades. Antiochia is in big distress after Raimund died with his boots on. Factions would be:
Christians: Armenia Low&High, Antiochia, Byzantium, Kingdom of Jerusalem
Muslim: Seldjuks of Konya, Nur-ed-Din Zhengids, the Assassins and maybe the Kalif of Baghdad.
The Map isn't finished. There's still some research to do on the trading routes (e.g. "Seidenstrasse") and I have to add the mountains and passes (Cilician Gate is missing). The Assassins can figure as allies of Antiochia. The Map to the left shows Syria, Armenia, Cilicia, Edessa, Antiochia. Konya is not on the Map. The placenames appear in three versions: modern (black), byzantine (red), arabic (red). (Map: Wolfgang Felix, Byzanz und die islamische Welt im früheren 11. Jahrhundert, Verlag österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften).

Spain Reconquista Map

2007-03-23T02:54:00.000-07:00

Just doodling...

Early Crusader Knights

2007-03-22T05:53:00.000-07:00

Some Black-Tree-Design Normans I painted as Early Crusader Knights, maybe members of the Order of St. John. I think Black Tree Design produce the most beautiful horses. But they are huge. I got problems putting them on 60x40mm DBA bases.

A French Horde...

2007-03-22T05:34:00.000-07:00

A peasant horde for the feudal european armies. Seven fine figures from Foundry. The banner shows a shoe with loose laces, an emblem used by rebellious german peasants since the 13th century (german: "Bundschuh"). I use them for the medieval french army IV/4 a+b.

Am I Going Totally Nuts over DBA?

2007-03-20T09:28:00.001-07:00

Maerk told me there's a DBA-Tournament in Zürich this summer. He kindly suggested I use one of his 15mm armies since I only have them 25mm toy-soldiers. But to get used to this teenyweeny scale I -ahem- built a 60x60cm cardboard-battlefield, cardboard element-markers, cardboard ovals for wood, hills and bad going...now I can practice in the kitchen, yeah!....ehm....dear fanatici, am I going crazy or is this normal?

The Sicilian Army 13th Century

2007-03-17T06:51:00.000-07:00

Miniatures from: Crusader-Miniatures, Artizan, Black Tree. The Knights look a bit dated - Still them good ole Normans...BUT: I ordered the right models for this period from Mirliton...but that's another paint-job...will it ever end? By the way, these pictures make for great desktop-backdrops.

Painting Shields and Textiles

2007-03-17T06:04:00.000-07:00

I practice the designs first on a sheet of good drawing paper, experiment with colour schemes and get used to painting them with verve so they appear more lively on the model.

Fantastical, Historical and Fictious Banners

2007-02-26T03:30:00.000-07:00

Hohenstaufen 1152-1268

2007-02-25T08:11:00.000-07:00

Just finished painting and basing the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. As the Banners show this element can stand for any Hohenstaufen-General:

Frederic I Barbarossa 1152-1190
Henry VI 1190-1197
Philipp II of Swabia 1197-1208
Frederic II 1211-1250
Conrad IV 1250-1254
Manfred 1254-1266
Conradin 1266-1268

The gonfanon with the three black lions on gold is the coat-of-arms of the Hohenstaufen as dukes of Swabia. The single-headed eagle was introduced as an empirial device in the last years of the reign of Barbarossa. The tinctures black and gold became commonly used around the middle of the 13th century.

Henry VI besieging Napoli in 1191 (Petrus de Ebulo).

Actually Manfred and Conradin weren't Emperors. But I drilled a hole through the hand of the eagle-standard-bearer so I can easly pull the staff out and swap it with another banner for instance the coat of arms of Jerusalem. Frederic II held the Kingship of Jerusalem in the 1220ies but lost it in his quarrels with the Pope. Konradin usurped the title but nobody else believed him...damn!

The Sources on the Battle of Laupen 1339

2007-02-01T05:43:00.002-07:00

This book is the main source for the following. It was written in 1939 bei Franz Moser. He gives an account of the battle based on Conrad Justingers "Berner Chronik" (1. half 15th century), the "cronica de Berno" and the "conflictus Laupensis", on account written thirty years after the battle by a brother of the Teutonic Order. I once found Delbrück's interpretation on the battle at Laupen (URL: http://www.jop-kriegskunst.de/laupen.htm) but I think it's rather crap. He assumes the good ole threefold swiss deployment of the "Vorhut" , "Gewalthaufen" and the "Nachhut". Since the historical account only mentiones to "heaps" ("Hauffen, Huffen") in this battle, Delbrück says their must have been a "nachhut" wich was routed by an enemy outflanking force...but the sources say nothing whatsoever. Their was an incident in the beginning of the battle where the Bernese back ranks lost heart at the sight of the charging enemy masses and then fled into the woods. So here's the account of the battle as related by Conrad Justinger, a well educated and virtous Statesman of Berne in the early 15th century. Below I give an english translation of the the german original. For all you history buffs: scroll down for the original german version.

THE FORCES (according to the "Conflictus"):
On June 10th 1339 the allied feudal forces set up camp in front of the Imperial Fortress and Town of Laupen with siege-machines, "Katzen", and Warwagons. The besieging force consisted of 16'000 foot (incl. camp followers etc.) and about 1000 knights. Prior to the battle the enemy pledged to burn Laupen and hang all the garrison and inhabitants, to march for Berne and destroy the town.The contingents were:
- Fribourg with all it's men.
- the Baron of Neuenburg with his household troops and a crop of burgundian knights.
- the Baron of Nidau with his houshold troops and 140 nobel knights from the Elsass and Swabia.
- the Baron of Greyerz with his men.
- Lord Gerhard of Valendis (Valangin)with his troops.
- John, the only son of Louis de Savoy, Lord of the Waadt (Lausanne etc.) with his following.
- Lord of Montenach (Belp?) with his troops.
The Baron Eberhard of Kyburg did not participate in the battle. Instead he kept harrassing bernese territory on it's eastern border. In the meantime in the Aargau the bailifs of habsburgian domaines after mustering further troops began to march for Laupen, but turned back as soon as they heard of the bernese victory. Laupen was besieged for twelve days.
600 bernese soldiers were garrisoned at Laupen. The contingents of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden, of the Haslital and Simmental (Lord Johann of Weissenburg) consisted of 1000 men. All in all, the bernese force was about 6000 strong. To discern foe from friend each man, soldier and general, attached the holy white cross on to their clothing.

DEPLOYMENT(english)
"At their special request the troops of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden were positioned so they would stand the charge of the knights and other heavy cavalry while those from Berne, Hasli [black eagle on gold] and the Simmental [white castle on red] would fight the lot of Fribourg and the rest of the enemy infantry.
So on both sides men prepared their weapons. Then general Rudolf of Erlach spoke "Now where are those young men who where bousting in the streets of Berne? They shall come forth and stand before the banner!" These were the troops of the two bernese guilds called "metzgern" and "gerwern"; they appeared at once and replied "Sire, we are ready and we will do what you command". Then all the other guildsmen and the whole army pledged their obedience. Every man was willing to do his duty, all except those who would flee into the 'Forst'.
So now the general commanded to throw two or three volleys of stones every man had gathered while deploying. And then he ordered them turn and retreat back up the slope [of the "bramberg"] so they could receive the enemy charge on higher ground. But the men in the back mistook this for a hasty retreat and so many left the host and began to run. But after they saw that the front stood fast and nobody else intended to flee they turned on the spot and fought bravely as heroes. Still there were a few who fled into the "Forst" never to return; people afterwards called them "forster". [...] The battle began just after Vespers..."

THE BATTLE:
We will continue with the "conflictus Laupensis": "On one wing the Waldstette (Uri, Schwyz, Unterwalden) got surrounded and were pressed hard by enemy cavalry, on the other wing the Bernese were attacked by the Friburgians and other enemy foot: but the Bernese broke the shackles of terror just like Samson, withstood the charge of the Friburgians and soon took all their banners, killed their bearers and many others and finally the whole enemy infantry turned and fled in panic. The Bernese rallied, turned to help the Waldstette, slaughtered and routed the knights."

The sources in german:
Justinger, Berner Chronik: "Also wurden die waltstette von ir bette wegen geordnet mit den herren und mit dem rossvolk zu vechtenne, aber die von bern, von hasle, von sibental an die von friburg und an die andern huffen des fusvolkes. Do bereit sich menglich uff beide site sin nassband für ze slande, sin weri recht und meisterlich in sin hand ze nemen. Do sprach der from ritter herr rudolf von erlach, houptman: "Wo sint nu die mit den guten reden und ir gesellen, die ze bern uf der gassen so mulich sint? die solten nu für die paner stan, darumb trettent harfür! Daz warent die metzger und die gerwer ze bern; die traten ouch zestunt hinfür und sprachen: herre, wir sint hie und tun waz ir uns heissent. Also warent ouch die andern hantwerk und menglich da gehorsam, nieman ussgenomen, und tet jederman waz er tun solte, ane allein die in den forst fluchen.
Und also, so man glich zutretten wil, do hat jederman zwen steine oder drye zu im genomen, hies der houptman in di vigende[=Feinde] werfen und damitte hinder sich tretten an den reine, umb daz si bergshalb stunden; do wonden die hindren, die vordren wölten fliechen und floch gar ein gros volk vom huffen; do si aber befunden, daz man bestund und da vor nieman ze fliechenne mut hat, do kerten si zestunt wider zu dem strit und taten alz biderb [= gut, vorbildlich. Eigentlich "bieder", damals noch positiv bewertet] from lüte und vachten und stritten als helde, usgenommen etlich die in den forst fluchen und nicht widerkerten; dieselben ouch iemerme forster hiessen. Man wolt si ouch dernach an lip und an gut gestraft haben, denne daz es gelassen wart, darumb daz man die vigende [=Feinde] mit erfröwte; doch so wurden darnach niemer me wert und musten menglichem versmecht sin und unwert. Und als nu die hindrosten fluchen, daz mocht der houptman noch die fromen davor nicht gesechen, die mitlen die es aber sachen die sprachen zem houptman: O herre, da hinder fliechent gar vil lüten von uns. Do antwurt der houptman: "Es ist gut daz die bösen bi den biderben nit sin; die sprüwer sint gestoben von den kernen. Und alsus nach vesperzit hat sich der strit erhaben..."

conflictus Laupensis: "Auf der einen Seite wurden die aus den Waldstätten von den Feinden, die zu Ross waren, mit furchtbarer Gewalt umzingelt, auf der anderen Seite wurden die Berner selbst von den Freiburgern und dem übrigen Fussvolk feindlich angegeriffen: die berner aber brachen wie Simson die Fesseln jeder Furcht, fingen den Angriff der Freiburger auf und nahmen alsbald alle ihre Fahnen, töteten Bannerträger und viel andere und schlugen das übrige Fussvolk samt und sonders in klägliche Flucht. Darauf wandten sich die Berner denen zu Hilfe, die von den Rittern umzingelt waren, töteten unverweilt alle zusammen oder schlugen sie in die Flucht."

Old Paint

2007-01-09T01:04:00.000-07:00

Here's Richard Lionheart behaving himself. The heraldry was taken from a seal of Eleanor of Aquitaine, his mother. According to some writings on the web Richard actually bore a red shield with two golden lions looking at each other standing on their hind paws.

Richard Lioncoeur et Philipp Auguste.

Classic Encounter

2006-12-26T07:32:00.000-07:00

Merry Christmas!

Laupen 1339: Topographical Map of Battlefield

2006-12-23T04:02:00.000-07:00

Finally: DBA in the livingroom

2006-12-18T01:31:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I finished my first DBA-Gameboard for 25mm. Since the regular board is a bit too small for my liking I made mine about 98x98cm. The board fits on to our livingroom coffeetable and I can pack it away . With the pictures you get an idea of the size of the board. But there's still some work to be done: I still have to build a shoreline or a waterway (my Sicilians defend on littoral terrain and I'd like to create another gameboard with a more arid appearance for battles around the mediterranean (sanddunes?). And sometime last week I rebased all my 25mm minis onto regular bases with the required 60mm frontage. Contrary to my expectations the armies look far better now then with the former, larger bases (90mm frontage). They acually look real! Wow, I love this game! And now I can set up in our livingroom and it still remains a livingroom (We tested it).

Battle at Laupen 1339

2006-11-27T07:48:00.000-07:00

The following is a primer for a DBA-scenario I'd like to create. It will be a relief-battle where the beleagered castle stands almost at the enemy base-edge! The following pictures show the last stages of this conflict. This battle took place 150 years before these illuminations where created. They actually show late 15th century troops and technology
To the left you see the Fortress of Laupen besieged by Neuchatel, Greyerz, Savoy and Fribourg as depicted in the "Spiezer Chronik" by Diebold Schilling. It ended when the army of Bern showed up on the wide hill (Bramberg) behind the fortress and after a hard fight routed the enemy. I like the way the castles are depicted. It inspired me to build a similar BUA (see an older post). Here the enemy siege camp is shown. Note the warwagons pulled up to form a perimeter around the two camps in the background. You can see a siege-“katze” with guns sticking out to the sides and the front. Looks like a tank!
The enemy is scaling the walls. The banners show the correct heraldry but I'm not sure about the colours of the clothing. The painter seems to have used only a limited number of colours and might have just distributed them over the troops for optimal contrast. Note the heavy siege-bombards (centre right and upper left corner on the other side of the river).
The relief force from Bern and the allied Vorhut Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden (foreground left) stand upon the Bramberg as their Teutonic Priest (centre) from Köniz gets chased around by the unruly and blasphemous enemy.
The Battle. The bernese Gewalthaufen(upper left) wins the day by routing their opponent and then saving the men of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden (centre left) who got nailed by enemy cavalry.

The Assassins ~1140

2006-11-26T10:11:00.002-07:00

Some Assassins as DBA-auxilia-troops, fighting together with the christian army of Antiochia against Nur-ed-Din and the Sultan of Konya (Artizan miniatures).

Fortress of Laupen 1339

2006-11-26T09:35:00.000-07:00

This is the Fortress of Laupen in 1339 I built for a DBA-Scenario . It's for 25mm minis and made of styropor, sandpaper, balsa, sand mixed with glue and paint. But, as one can easly see from the map (below) the model isn't quite accurate. I've built that BUA not caring about authenticity. I was inspired by the way Diebold Schilling drew his schematic castles in the "Spiezer Chronik" (above), written in the late 15th century. I think the most important thing about a BUA are the good looks and it has to be convenient and sturdy enough for tabletop wargames.

Below is a view of the town of Laupen as it appeared in 1809. The town has kept its medieval character. The fortress has drastically changed since the end of the middle ages. And this is actually how it still looks today (if you can ignore the urban sprawl around it!) The battlefield is beyond the pinewoods on the hill (The Bramberg) behind the fortress (right).

Norman Blades

2006-11-26T04:15:00.000-07:00

Some Norman Blades 25mm (Foundry miniatures). They can figure in any norman or frankish army of the 11th or 12th century, even as crusader knights (after eating their horses). Historical evidence for early heraldry is scarce. I imagine these footknights to be of a lesser status then their mounted comrades. To show this I paint monochrome heraldic devices on a simple eggshell-colored background (wood and parched leather). They probably painted their shields themselves. The heraldry is made up except the blue one with the six golden lions: this is the coat of arms of Geoffrey Plantagenet, Count of Anjou (1130-1151). It reappears on the tomb of William de Longspee, Earl of Salisbury , bastard son of Henry II Plantagenet and his maitresse, Rosamund de Clifford. I will probable stick this shield on a rich mounted knight later on and give this guy here a simpler design.
Geoffrey d'Anjou Le Beau Funeral plate 12th century

Sicilian Berber Bows

2006-11-26T04:07:00.001-07:00

These are the Berber Bows (8Cb) from my IV/5c army. 25mm (Artizan miniatures). Frederico II crushed muslim opposition in Sicily and deported them to the town of Lucera, mainland Italy. In the following decades the muslim contingents were the most loyal troops of the Hohenstaufen as Kings of Sicily. They even were entrusted with guarding the emperors treasury within the strong fortifications of Lucera. The muslim comunity lived there untill destroyed by the Anjou in 1300.

Below, the same but on a former, larger base 90x90mm.

Sicilian Berber Light Horse

2006-11-26T03:58:00.001-07:00

These are the Sicilian Berber Light Horse from Agrigent. 25mm. Artizan miniatures.

Norman Spears

2006-11-22T07:49:00.000-07:00

Here are some Foundry Norman spears 25mm. I painted the heraldry for the heck of it, I think the crisscross patterns are quite familiar. The gold lion on blue is made up, too.