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Miniatures Adventure => Medieval Adventures => Topic started by: Erik on January 06, 2017, 07:31:30 PM

Title: 13th century Danish Crusader army
Post by: Erik on January 06, 2017, 07:31:30 PM
With a brand new year of painting ahead of me, I have decided to start an early 13th century Danish army out. Presently it’s mostly because I have had my eye out for Curteys Miniatures beautiful range for a vile, but at some point the idea is to turn it onto an anniversary project for a large refight of the battle of Lyndanisse 1219 in Estonia, when the Danish flag Dannebrog fell from the sky and Denmark occupied Estonia! An iconic battle with lots of good scenario possibilities and still a national Flag Day in Denmark.

Unfortunately I have run into heraldic problems right away, and I have started this thread in hope that people on this forum will join in to hopefully find a solution.

There are several good reference to Danish heraldic colors, but my problem is how best to display then on the units. In my opinion only knight displayed their livery on their clothes, but how would a unit of knight look then? I have started out with the famous “Hvide Slægt” from Fjenneslev who definitely played a large part in the campaign to Estonia. At this time they used blue and white horizontal stripes, with blue on top. Would this important and powerful noble family have a whole unit of knight themselves in heraldic colors or would a unit of knights be a mix of different noble families as all knight at this time where nobles and hence had their own heraldic markings? Where there professional mounted warriors filling out the knightly units or where everyone of noble blood?

My other problem is how to paint the infantry levy. As mentioned above I am not going to be painting heraldic colors on the clothes of the infantry, but instead only on the shields. But how many of the shields will have the heraldic color and would it be a mix of different noble families or just one family’s heraldic in every unit?

I have finished the first 10 miniatures, all with the “Hvide Slægts” heraldic on their shields, and don’t really know what I think. They look really uniformed with the big shields dominating a lot. I am leaning towards maybe only having half the unit with heraldic shield and the rest with plain natural colors or maybe a simple cross (thankyou Carsten). Or should it be a mix of different noble family’s heraldic? I will be using 12X4 cm bases for Impetus, To the Strongest and Hail Caesar (on the small side I know) with 8 to 12 figures per base depending on the type of unit.   

I hope this topic has inspired people to contribute with their opinion and experience with similar project s from other parts of 13th century Europe. And hopefully post some pictures for inspiration.

Cheers       

Title: Re: 13th century heraldic issues
Post by: levied troop on January 07, 2017, 07:29:38 AM
Nice start!

I had the same issue painting the English Baron's War, namely what  did the bog-standard feudal/medieval foot slogger have on his shield? Not the knighted types, yer average serf?

I suspect the answer is - no-one knows. Possible options:

Later periods, 15th C onwards, show livery colours (usually entirely different from the arms borne by the relevant Lord) and badges. The Feudal period might have had the same arrangement but I don't recall any evidence for it.

The shield might have borne the Armorial colours of the relevant Lord, but the the heraldry is relatively simple In the feudal period and there's a danger of effectively duplicating the heraldic arms - the point of which was to stand out? There does seem to be some evidence for duplicating the Armorial design, but that seems to come from Froissart and he's fun but not always accurate.

Town colours might be possible, in the same manner as football shirts. Some countries clearly use this regularly, Italy for example and France possibly (Paris militia in red/blue for example).

Anything goes might also be an option, I quite like the idea of shields painted as gaily as canal boats! From looking at a few period sources, flowers, a sun design, a grotesque face all seem to pop up.

More prosaically the covering might just be plain leather or cloth.

I opted for a mixture of all of the above for my units.

Edit: Hastati on Frothers provided some interesting links when we were having a similar discussion there:
http://www.warfare.altervista.org/14/Leugemeete.htm

Although the initial link focuses on the Flemish militias, which had a specific organisation, other links in there go much wider and I found them very helpful.
Title: Re: 13th century heraldic issues
Post by: Arlequín on January 07, 2017, 01:02:17 PM
You might look at badges and liveries as being marks of property; just like all British government items were once prominently marked with the broad arrow and all guns and wagons were painted blue-gray.

I can't give authoritative details for the 13th Century, but my understanding is;

In essence for most medieval troops, who had provided the item determined how it was marked. For much of the period men provided their own equipment, so it would be marked/painted as they wished. In England and I suspect elsewhere, the richer citizens were required to provide multiple sets of equipment to fulfil their property and wealth commitments and so everything provided by them was marked/painted the same; likewise for municipal contingents fitted out at their expense.

So essentially the tenants and servants of a lord, or municipal contingents would have shields and later sashes/jackets/coats of a set colour(s), while others would be somewhat more individual looking. 

As for knights and gentry, it would depend on whether they came from 'armigerous' families (they had a coat of arms) or not. At the bottom were those who were not, who would wear just their armour, with perhaps a 'livery' of some sort denoting who they followed/served. The non-knights who had a coat of arms were entitled to bear those arms on a shield or surcoat. Knights bachelor were additionally entitled to bear a tailed banner (or usually had a servant to do that, while they had a much smaller lance pennon) bearing their arms, while knight bannerets had a somewhat larger tail-less version indicating their enhanced status.

So your average group of men at arms would have perhaps one banneret, accompanied by someone with his banner. A few of bachelors with their own guy bearing their banners, somewhat more armigerous gentry with their coats of arms on torso and shield and a larger mass in plain armour, wearing nothing, or some form of indication of who their leader was (either a coloured surcoat and/or shields, pennons etc.).   

That is pretty much how it went in the 14th and 15th Centuries and was the ultimate development of the system that began in the 11th Century, with the beginnings of distinctive and unique coats of arms. If I had to make a guess, Joe Average had his own clothes and armour, and if he had his own shield it could be any colour; if it was supplied by some worthy, then it would be in a common design, as levied troop says, not necessarily related to the coat of arms. The Blue/white stripe scheme is pretty basic though and is what I would expect to see on the rank and file.   
Title: Re: 13th century heraldic issues
Post by: Erik on January 07, 2017, 05:08:16 PM
Levied troop: Nice to hear from a Baron War project. I was kind of hoping for it, as they are coinciding with the Danish conquest of Estonia and should present painters with some of the same problems.

I know we are in a period where hardcore evidence is scarce, so I was just as much asking for other hobbyists experience and attitude towards tackling this problem. The Flemish militia is very inspiring even though they are somewhat younger. The essence is that uniformity came early fore wealthier or more organized groups. Hence my Hvide Slægt levies could have similar painted shields (if I think it looks good). You wouldn’t happen to have any pictures lying around of our army?

Arlequín seems to be in agreement in that the larger, wealthier families would have similar painted shield, but that there is lots of space for individuality. I guess it also depends on how many men your unit is supposed to represent with larger units giving more room for difference in shield design.

As for knights I like Arlquíns ideas, and this is actually also what a friend of mine suggested. I smaller group with full display of heraldic colors and then rest of the unit with less or nothing. I think I got thrown off by the fact that my knights from Curteys Miniatures were all with full cloth barding and hence somewhat demanded a lot of color. I think I will order some more simple looking knight/sergeants and mix then into the unit.
Title: Re: 13th century heraldic issues
Post by: levied troop on January 07, 2017, 05:37:04 PM
Erik,
My Barons War stuff is here:
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=95151.0

More to come as I paint it.  I'm no going for a strictly historical Lewes and Evesham campaign but a rather more generic 'rebellious barons' approach. 

Arlequin,,
That's very helpful, it does indicate a more mixed approach in the various groups which is the road I've Started down.
Title: Re: 13th century heraldic issues
Post by: Vagabond on January 07, 2017, 06:57:35 PM
Hi Eric
I hope you dont mind me posting a few pics on your thread, but I started to describe this last night and realized I could not make a sensible description and that pics would demonstrate it much better.

This is not historically accurate, nor is it inaccurate, no one knows.

I wanted to do some small retinues and decided that if I was a knightly lord and could afford it I would want my men to look reasonably recognisable, also that I would be raising a mixed force of close fighting men and missile men.

So I took the knights heraldry for him and then did the men in similar fashion, but using his heraldry as a token on their shields or tunics.

(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/26/7162_07_01_17_7_22_39_0.jpg)

So here are 5 knights with their retinues. 1st rank Sir Guillaume Des Barres on the right with diamonds on his shield. the rest of the front rank are his retinue and they have a 'badge' of diamonds on their shield but not the full coat of arms. they have a red tunic and the crossbows have a red diamond on their right sleeve.

(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/26/7162_07_01_17_7_22_39_1.jpg)

More noticeable in this picture.

The 2nd rank - on the right is Baudoin de Bethune - Compte De Aumale - Blue and yellow diagonals over red, same thing his men have his shield pattern as a badge in their shields, they also have yellow and blue tunics as do the crossbowmen.

Back rank Sir William Marshall - Earl of Pembroke, his shield green and yellow with a red lion, his men just have green and yellow, they are followers - not the great man himself.

When they fight on the table as like types of troops eg, crossbows, spears, men at arms then they have a mixed look to them.

(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/26/7162_07_01_17_7_22_39_3.jpg)

(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/26/7162_07_01_17_7_22_39_2.jpg)

This idea might not suit what you are trying to do because it sounds as if you are looking to do big battles whereas I am only interested in skirmishes and personalising the figures and retinues.
Title: Re: 13th century heraldic issues
Post by: Erik on January 10, 2017, 09:50:08 PM
Levied troop: I like your mix of shields and have copied it on my next 10 levies. Really good inspiration. I still think they look mighty blue and white for levies, but for the moment I excuse that with them being from one of the wealthier families and everyone therefore having painted shields. 

That is a really impressive warband Vagabond. I like the idea of the common soldiers just having a corner of the heraldic. I think that one goes into the ides box as well.

For the moment though I have to change focus to 17th century Sweden, as I have to paint up miniatures for our clubgame to Tactica in Hamburg. After that its defenitely back to medieval times again.

Title: Re: 13th century heraldic issues
Post by: Charlie_ on January 10, 2017, 10:48:30 PM
Good decision - the mix of different designs, though keeping it blue and white, works very well, much better than just everyone with blue and white stripes.

I do agree that maybe the blue and white shields perhaps don't work so well with the unarmoured bodis - I imagine they'd work much better on more heavily armoured troops. If you have any left to do, perhaps you could do a few in other colours to mix in as well? Just plain reds, greens, etc...

Also, if you do change your mind completely about the shields, at least they will be easy to repaint and start again with!!!!
Title: Re: 13th century heraldic issues
Post by: Vagabond on January 11, 2017, 01:01:15 AM
Good luck with the painting for tactica.

I think you may be right that conscripted levies might be less uniform :- :? But they still look good. :) :)

Regarding inspiration for medieval retinues have a look at sgtperry he was very active in this board a couple of years ago and this is his blog

http://perrysheroes.free.fr/spip.php?rubrique36

This link takes you to his feudal section. Click on the top left - kings and princess, barons and lords etc  then go to the individual pages. That's where I got all my inspiration from.
The site is a little difficult to follow at first but once you understand the logic its a gold mine :D

There is another site called something like early blazons that has a lot of information on coats of arms, battles and who fought in them, I have a link somewhere if you are interested, but from memory it was mainly France UK Spain and holy Roman empire I don't remember Scandinavia being in there.

Thanks for your comments about my figures, hope you don't mind me putting them in your post but it was the easiest way to describe what I ment. :)
Title: Re: 13th century heraldic issues
Post by: Dr. Zombie on January 11, 2017, 07:39:04 AM
I can see hvat you mean with the shields being somewhat dominant. But I think you will be alright especially if you dirtied the shields up a bit. Paint on some cut marks and some dirt and I think that will make the shields fit in more with the more brownish men. Right now the shields look like they are fresh from the painters, while the men look dirtied and roughed up.
Title: Re: 13th century heraldic issues. New shields!
Post by: Erik on February 05, 2017, 05:49:03 PM
Back from painting 17th century Swedes (and having found out that I can’t even make it to Tactica this year after all grrrr.) I have made a decision to repaint some of the shields on my levy troops. I really hate rebasing and repainting, so I did it all Friday while watching TV to get it done in one go. I must admit that I am pretty pleased with the result. I might go for even less shields with heraldic colors, but for now half or just below seem to work really well. I also dirtied up the shields, so that the troops look more like they were on campaign than just out of the weapons shops.

(https://i.imgur.com/pKircaY.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Oa7fgzb.jpg)

I have started on some archers and will hopefully have some ready later this week. The spearmen are teen to a base and I am thinking about eight archers to a base, but the will depend on how it looks.

For now a good Sunday to you all

Cheers
Title: Re: 13th century heraldic issues
Post by: Captain Blood on February 05, 2017, 06:11:17 PM
They look great Erik. Grimy and grungy  :-*
Title: Re: 13th century heraldic issues
Post by: Dr. Zombie on February 05, 2017, 06:46:24 PM
They look really great. I have just broken of the shields of my own guys to repainted them.
Title: Re: 13th century heraldic issues
Post by: levied troop on February 06, 2017, 08:03:09 AM
Now that's whatI call a troop of levies    :)

Looking good.
Title: Re: 13th century heraldic issues
Post by: Charlie_ on February 06, 2017, 06:25:47 PM
Great solution to the dilemma! They look just the right balance of uniform / uniform.
Title: Re: 13th century heraldic issues
Post by: Khurasan Miniatures on February 08, 2017, 01:36:25 PM
In the 13th century, for infantry you would generally have town militias, feudal troops, feudal levies, and mercenaries.

Just in terms of shields:

Town Militias would either carry the mark of their town, the quarter they lived in, or their guild.

Feudal troops might carry a simplified version of their lords heraldry.

Feudal levies might just carry the primary colour of their lord, or a monotone shield colour, or even just leather or wood.

Mercenaries could have either monotone colours or simple geometric patterns, or if serving long term, the patterns of whomever hired them.

For instance on the Bayeux Tapestry there's a scene in which two milites are fighting on foot with spears in front and behind them are a mass of men also wearing armour and fighting with spears. The men in front have long swords very prominently displayed, and decorated shields. The mass of men behind don't have swords displayed and their shields are monotone in blue, red, or yellow/leather with little multicolour dots on them around the boss. The men in front seem pretty obviously knights, those in back either mercenaries or feudal troops.

(https://brandonchoveydotnet.files.wordpress.com/2016/07/bayeux-shield-wall.jpg)

In terms of clothing...

It's possible that urban militias might have worn their town or guild colours on their clothing but I don't think others would have. They probably would have had clothing in different colours.

So if I'm painting up some feudal infantry I'd look at the assorted heraldry on my Knights and do the infantry shields in a simple version of those patterns, maybe one or two per. Might throw in some monotone shields and a couple just leather.
Title: Re: 13th century heraldic issues
Post by: Erik on February 22, 2017, 02:05:31 PM
Very nice miniatures there Dr. Z. Good thing you repaintad the shields. They look much better.

I really like your mix of troops. Its a really rugged looking bunch.

I have some Archers that only needs their photoshot before they are ready to join this thread.

More feudal infantry is also due for the weekend.

I am very proud that I didnt let you drag me over to your renaissance sideway. I must admit to being very tempted, but I will wait for our kickstarter landsknechts.
Title: Re: 13th century heraldic issues
Post by: Erik on March 03, 2017, 03:18:02 PM
In my last post I mentioned I had painted up some reinforcements for our Lyndanisse project.

First up is two units of archers from Curteys miniatures. Really nice miniatures that fit perfectly into our early 13th century project.

(https://i.imgur.com/hd4Lucq.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/nt8WQLC.jpg)

Next another unit of levy spearmen. These are painted using the colors of the Danish noble family of Bild. They had lands on the island of Fuen close to the Baltic and therefor a natural supplier of troops for King Valdemars crusade against the pagan pirats

(https://i.imgur.com/NZ2KWhL.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/uX7prkX.jpg)

These miniatures are from Black Tree Miniatures. I was actually a bit disapointed when I first got the miniatures as they had a lot of flach and looked rather bulky. When cleaned they painted up very nice and I am very pleased with the end result. It is defenitely not the last time I buy miniatures from Black Tree. Especially with all their hefty discounts.

A very good weekend to you all

Erik
Title: Re: 13th century Danish Crusader army
Post by: Erik on March 05, 2017, 10:42:58 AM
I have changed the subject name as I will be using this thread to record my painting progress. Anyone with heraldic advice are still more than welcome to post it here.

To go with the new subject name I give you the newest addition to the army in form of another unit of spearmen. These guys are better equipped with more quilted armor and a knight/sergeant in full mail to led them.

They are from the Danish noble family of Banner. This family is from Jutland and part of the oldest known Danish noble families. I have thrown in some very simple crosses on the plain shields. They are purposely painted very crude as I imagine the troops having painted them themselves with whatever tools they had a hand.

(https://i.imgur.com/E0FtZc8.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/lMSRnA7.jpg)

Again from Black Tree Miniatures. The more I paint from this company the more I like them.


Cheers
Erik
Title: Re: 13th century Danish Crusader army
Post by: Dr. Zombie on March 05, 2017, 01:09:33 PM
They look very cool. Very grim and gritty. I have two more bases on deck myself.
Title: Re: 13th century Danish Crusader army
Post by: Little Odo on March 07, 2017, 08:20:23 AM
Some great expressions on the faces of those grim warriors - nicely done!
Title: Re: 13th century Danish Crusader army
Post by: tomrommel1 on March 07, 2017, 02:31:41 PM
very nice effort
Title: Re: 13th century Danish Crusader army
Post by: levied troop on March 08, 2017, 08:12:15 AM
Looking good, a nice unit composition.
Title: Re: 13th century Danish Crusader army
Post by: Erik on April 29, 2018, 05:15:30 PM
After a long time painting By Fire and Sword miniatures and Punic War Romans and Carthagenians I am finally back with my Danish crusader army for the 800 year anniversary our national colors "Dannebrog" next year.

Unfortunately the first pictures of this post got lost in Photobucket Gate but there are many good points on heraldic, so I will keep it going and in the future make new pictures of the unit already painted.

My first unit is another unit of spearmen (not the last I can asure you). These guys are better armored than the previous ones and will be used to represent hirdmen. They are in the colors of the Danish noble family Bang. Originating from the island Lolland in the southeast of Denmark, these guys definetily felt the wrath of the pegan pirats from across the Baltic and would welcome a chance to hit back.

(https://i.imgur.com/31SsBp9.jpg) 

Hope you like them. More to come in the following weeks.

Erik
Title: Re: 13th century Danish Crusader army
Post by: Dr. Zombie on April 29, 2018, 06:03:33 PM
They look great.
Title: Re: 13th century Danish Crusader army
Post by: aircav on April 29, 2018, 09:51:02 PM
Very nice  :D 8) 8)
Title: Re: 13th century Danish Crusader army
Post by: Erik on May 02, 2018, 06:08:54 PM
More crusaders join the holy war against paganism. These guys are from the Butze noble family of Langeland. Langeland is also one of Denmark's southern islands that were often attacked by pagan pirates. In 1993 archaeologist excavated the hilltop defensive site Guldborg. Here they found the gruesome remains of just such an attack. Around the burned gate was found the remains of human skeletons, many of them with clear damages from cuts and blows. The defenders making a last stand around the gate! Among the human skeletons was also found a horse skull and four hoofs, but nothing else of the horse. The excavators were pretty certain that the horse was sacrificed by the pagans and the skin with skull and hoof still on erected on a pole, as this was a well know pagan custom.

Now if that does not give you reason to go crusading I don't know what will. The Butze family is part of Denmarks oldest noble families, so they would definitely have wanted revenge for this atrocity.

What better trop to brings on the crusade thsn yet more spearmen
(https://i.imgur.com/4JN8EI0.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/pDIzFom.jpg)

cheers
Erik
Title: Re: 13th century Danish Crusader army
Post by: Dr. Zombie on May 02, 2018, 06:22:12 PM
They look awesome. I have better get going on my pagans. Otherwise I’ll get completely overwhelmed by your holy fanatics.
Title: Re: 13th century Danish Crusader army
Post by: Jeff965 on May 02, 2018, 07:00:25 PM
Great looking collection :-*
Title: Re: 13th century Danish Crusader army
Post by: Engel on May 04, 2018, 09:35:20 PM
Wow what a great threat. Loving it.
Title: Re: 13th century Danish Crusader army
Post by: Erik on May 13, 2018, 03:48:29 PM
More spearmen this time from the Scanian noble house of Thott. I like their red and yellow heraldic.

(https://i.imgur.com/qULUmbb.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/LJZqDXa.jpg)

I have shown them with their as yet nameless knight (i'll find something in Saxo). Last year I painted a unit of these guys (from Curteys miniatures) but thought they looked a bit too elite with all barded warhorses. I plan to paint some unbarded knight to serve as squires and sergeants for the knights and mix them together in two units instead. I have used nobles from different families with the idea that the nobles assemble with their followers on foot and join together in mounted units on campaign. All the spearmen units I have shown so far have knight representing the noble families in the mounted unit. The more wealthy families have more knight while less powerful families might only have one knight and no followers on foot.

I am waiting for the knight from Curteys at the moment and hope to have them done very soon, so that the knight units can finally be completed.

Cheers
Erik
Title: Re: 13th century Danish Crusader army
Post by: Dr. Zombie on May 14, 2018, 03:52:24 PM
Another great unit. I really like how all the infantry has a matching knight in the army. It is going to look great once they are lined up for battle.
Title: Re: 13th century Danish Crusader army
Post by: gostgost on May 14, 2018, 06:06:29 PM
What make of yellow paint do you use?
I struggle to find one that covers.
Title: Re: 13th century Danish Crusader army
Post by: Erik on May 15, 2018, 07:20:17 AM
What make of yellow paint do you use?
I struggle to find one that covers.

Same here. At the moment I am using Army Painters yellow, but it dosnt cover. It need two-three layers. I have been experimenting with a leather brown layer first and yellow on top of that. Its works quite well and also ads shading.

Erik
Title: Re: 13th century Danish Crusader army
Post by: Erik on May 21, 2018, 06:17:14 PM
I have been making some command bases for my Danish crusaders. I usually make my command bases circular but this time I have made them semicircular so that they can line up to the front of the base when they join a unit. It's something I saw way back in a 2011 issue of WI.

The first commander is from the noble family Sehested. I read that they were among the first German noble families to settle in Holstein and Slesvig after the Danes had "pacified" the areas. Surely these new kidson the block would be eager to show the king their loyalty.  I got the miniatures some years back at Tactica. I can't remember who he was supposed to represent, but I think he looks bang on an early 13th-century knight.
(https://i.imgur.com/wtVs6rb.jpg)

The next command base is Johannes Ebbesen from the Hvide family. None of that pansy modern German dress for these lads. Just good old fashioned chainmail, please. Johannes Ebbesen was the marshal to King Valdemar and nephew of bishop Anders Sunesen who joined the King in Estonia and prayed all through the battle for victory until finally as a sign from God, the Dannebrog fell from the sky. He went on crusade to the Holyland in 1227 and died there.
(https://i.imgur.com/8jRYOgm.jpg)

To further aid the Danish crusaders, a unit of crossbows to join the fight. This top modern weapon of almost mass destruction will surely make the pagans think twice before they storm any crusader position.
(https://i.imgur.com/dhTlQfV.jpg)

My sergeants have arrived. So the next couple of week will be all about cavalry.

Chers
Erik
 
Title: Re: 13th century Danish Crusader army
Post by: Dr. Zombie on May 21, 2018, 06:53:19 PM
Those command bases are awesome. I will have to steal that idea and redo my command bases.

Isn't it time for you to show us a class photo of the entire army?
Title: Re: 13th century Danish Crusader army
Post by: Erik on May 21, 2018, 08:01:52 PM
A few cavalry units and then I'm ready  ;)

Maybe Anders Sunesen and Valdemar as well, but then I'm definitely ready  ;) ;)

Erik
Title: Re: 13th century Danish Crusader army
Post by: Engel on May 22, 2018, 09:13:36 AM
Excellent new additions!  :-*
Title: Re: 13th century Danish Crusader army
Post by: DavyJones on May 26, 2018, 11:27:47 AM
Great stuff here.  :-*
Title: Re: 13th century Danish Crusader army
Post by: Erik on May 27, 2018, 05:54:30 PM
All pagans flee! The heavy horse have landed and are hellbound on the destruction of everything and especially pagan stuff.

This is the first finished unit of my heavy horse for our Baltic crusade. They are a mix of Curteys barded and unbarded knight as I mentioned earlier. The plan is for the units to be a mix of different nobles, but this first unit is special as it is the mighty Hvide family. Probably Denmarks most powerful noble family at the time. Especially as they had formed a close bond with the royal family since the middle of the 12th century. They have been tasked with the honorable task of safeguarding the kings standard with three lions. The unit only contains men from the Hvide family, the kings standard, and a further royal knight to act as personal bodyguard (I mostly put him in the unit because a liked the shield and wanted to paint one more  :)).

(https://i.imgur.com/OM9U4V1.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/kShoVPN.jpg)

I can't wait to get more done, so we can start playing.

I hope you like them.


Cheers
Erik
Title: Re: 13th century Danish Crusader army
Post by: Dr. Zombie on May 28, 2018, 06:19:22 PM
They look great!

Did you freehand the Royal shields? They are awesome.
Title: Re: 13th century Danish Crusader army
Post by: Erik on May 28, 2018, 09:05:20 PM
Thanks. Yes they are handpainted.

You can have a swing at them tomorrow night. You know what they say about new painted miniatures first time on the table. But then again most of the units are first-timers.

That ought to be fun


See you tomorrow
Erik
Title: Re: 13th century Danish Crusader army
Post by: janner on May 31, 2018, 05:56:06 AM
Looking good  :D
Title: Re: 13th century Danish Crusader army
Post by: Dr. Zombie on May 31, 2018, 07:19:37 AM
Here is a shot of the vicious crusaders mauling some innocent Baltic free people who were just enjoying themselves at the riverside.
(https://i.imgur.com/Op4K5y1.jpg)
Title: Re: 13th century Danish Crusader army
Post by: Erik on May 31, 2018, 08:19:08 AM
And maul they did ENDEED.  :o :o

What a victory. If you see the top left corner, you can see the Danish knights have crossed the river and starting a wild charge down the pagan lines. In the bottom left corner you can see the Hvide levy have also crossed the river and are preparing to charge the other flank of the pagen battle line.

Cheers
Erik
Title: Re: 13th century Danish Crusader army
Post by: Engel on June 01, 2018, 10:00:25 AM
Excellent!

Im loving this thread
Title: Re: 13th century Danish Crusader army
Post by: Knight-Captain Tyr on June 04, 2018, 11:39:36 AM
Truly great stuff. I absolutely love the weathered, gritty look your figures have.
Title: Re: 13th century Danish Crusader army
Post by: Erik on June 09, 2018, 08:02:26 PM
In order to give our troops some combat experience, I dug out my old Mighty Empires game and set up a map to resemble a coastline with two cities for the crusader and some interior with rivers, forest and some mountains for the pagans. The first battles have been river crossing and this week was no different. The pagans attack toward the crusader main settlement (Tallin en spe). The forces were almost evenly matched with 100 points for the Crusaders and 120 for the pagans (we use To the Strongest were recommended force size are from 100-160 points).

The crusaders have taken up position along the river and are dead set on defending their supply of ale!
(https://i.imgur.com/rfzUHSu.jpg)

The Hvide boys charge across the river to give extra time for the infantry to whittle down the advancing pagans.
(https://i.imgur.com/umtGWGy.jpg)

The lines close but the archers and crossbowmen fail to make an effect.
(https://i.imgur.com/X0Pejm3.jpg)

So Johannes Ebbesen steppes up and gives them proper encouragement
(https://i.imgur.com/shJWCvA.jpg)

It works and an entire Warband of pagan warriors is destroyed (normally disordering the enemy is the main objective for missile troops)
(https://i.imgur.com/O5em3ft.jpg)

However, the overeager knights have ground to a complete hold and are surrounded by the pagan warrior. Many are killed and the rest flee back across the river.
(https://i.imgur.com/eQJSU9g.jpg)

in spite of the success of the missile troops it's not enough and with the knight running the pagans reach the river bank all along the battle line. Some of them start making it across the river and the Danes are soon routed from the field.
(https://i.imgur.com/CY0ZTbb.jpg)


For those of you who haven't tried it To the Strongest is well worth a go. its fast and clean and gives good results. We actually played two games that night and had time to move on the Mighty Empires board in between.

I hope to have my last knight ready for this thread in a couple of day and then I might also post a picture of the army so fare.

Cheers
Erik
Title: Re: 13th century Danish Crusader army
Post by: Dr. Zombie on June 11, 2018, 06:51:48 PM
Great pictures and write up.

I am really liking the “To the strongest” rules. You can have two big battles with big armies in one evening. What’s not to like.

I am looking forward to the class photo of your army.
Title: Re: 13th century Danish Crusader army
Post by: Erik on May 12, 2019, 09:10:56 PM
As mentioned at the beginning of this thread, it is all about the 800th year anniversary of the Danish flag Dannebrog this year in June. We have been working on a scenario to refight the battle of Lyndanisse in Estonia when Dannebrog allegedly fell from the sky and inspired the Danish crusaders to turn a disastrous battle into a crushing victory. It's a Lions Rampant based scenario for four players. The Estonian players will try to burn as much of the Danish camp, half-finished castle and village as possible and the Danes have to stop them. The turn sequence is random with each player having two goes pr. turn. This gives a really great dynamic that we have used many times before. Combined with Dr. Zombies special event card, no two games are ever the same.

In our latest game, the Estonias both decided to go straight for the lower part of the Danish castle. The random turn sequence game then a good head start and Danes didn't have time to stop them before they were in the castle courtyard,  burning buildings. The few Danish levies stationed to guard the castle retreated to the tower to at least try to defend that.

This was our third game and we all agreed the scenario is ready for the refight Valdemarsday 15th June. Here are some pictures of the games.

(https://i.imgur.com/ryGi9OQ.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/m1Owj3h.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/c7YXHtq.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/gjcN9iv.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/EIXRcoe.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Vv0QhOs.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/qU3w5XK.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/evnIb5l.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/KUh9YKt.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/EVtMydA.jpg)

Cheers
Erik
Title: Re: 13th century Danish Crusader army
Post by: Dr. Zombie on May 13, 2019, 09:41:33 AM
Great pictures of a great game.
Title: Re: 13th century Danish Crusader army
Post by: Codsticker on May 13, 2019, 09:37:46 PM
Yeah, looks like great fun.