II/56 Early Imperial Roman Army

This is the LEGIO XI RAPAX (latin = "predatory") and was stationed in Vindonissa (Windisch/ Switzerland) from AD 43.It is represented by one DBA Army 15mm, figures cast by Eureka Miniatures, Corvus Belli, Essex and Baueda.

Aquilifer, Signiferi und Bucinarii as Camp Followers (Eureka Miniatures)

The XI Legion deployed in battle order one

The XI Legion in battle order two

The Legionaries (4x4Bd, Corvus Belli)

The Legionaries (4x4Bd)

The Auxiliary Cohorts (4x4Ax, Corvus Belli)

The Legate (3Cv Gen, Eureka Miniatures)

Cavalry Cohort 1 (3Cv, Corvus Belli)

Cavalry Cohort2 (3Cv, Corvus Belli)

Cavalry Cohort 3 (3Cv, Corvus Belli)

The Ballista with crew in a fortified position (Art, Corvus Belli)

The Ballista with crew in a fortified position (Art)

An Auxiliary Cohort of Bows (3Bw, Corvus Belli & Essex)

Bows supported by slingers (3Bw + 2Ps, Corvus Belli)

Bows supported by slingers (3Bw + 2Ps)

Light Horse from North Africa (2LH, Corvus Belli)

The Camp with Camp Followers,legionaries (Baueda) building the marching camp (scratch built) and tents (Baueda).

Early Swiss some more

Early Swiss Army Approaching

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 :)

Early Swiss Project continued

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

Early Swiss Project: 3 Elements done

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).

Norman Blades

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