HYW Castile - Aesthetic and Army Composition?

[Philhelm]

I have a copy of Osprey's Armies of Castile and Aragon 1370 - 1516, but there doesn't seem to be a lot of focus on this era, being nestled between El Cid and the Golden Age of Spain.

With a seeming lack of dedicated models for this era, what could I do to provide a Castilian aesthetic?

What sort of army composition would be typical?  It seems they would have knights, jinetes, crossbows, bows, swordsmen, spearmen, etc., but what would be the most thematic composition?

[Atheling]

In English? If you can find a copy of Armies of the Middle Ages V. 1, Ian Heath by the Wargames Research Group you fill find a wealth of information spread throughout. Looking at the Abe Books site it's very expensive but I think someone mentioned that the WRG books were now available are print on demand somewhere(?).

EDIT: I did it again! Missed the HYW reference. Please see upcoming post.

The Armies of the Middle Ages V. 1, Ian Heath is still a good starting point.

[bluewillow]

A lot of French, Scots and English adventures fought in Spain for both sides.

You should be able to use a lot of different ranges of miniatures to suit your army.

There is a good book in French on the HYW in Spain I will have a look for its name for you,  also look on acedemia for some articles.

Cheers
Matt

[HappyChappy439]

This is a silly question from me, but just to check, are you looking for specifically HYW, or the whole period of the Osprey book? And do you have any particular preference for when in the HYW you are looking for? Like the Castilian Civil War/Agincourt-era/1450s-ish late HYW/etc.?

If it helps, I've dug out a few manuscript illustrations, but most are Aragonese, rather than Castilian as a heads up!

So from the Agincourt-y era 1400-1430 it looks like broadly, the wealthier knights and men at arms look very 'French' so you could get away with using the Perry HYW kits for those, I think! These tomb effigies should be a good example:
http://effigiesandbrasses.com/search/?year=1370&year_end=1453&country=14&tags=&institution=&name=

The infantry seem slightly different, the miniatures in manuscripts (some are a bit fanciful, they're big fans of David and Goliath as well it seems, so probably best to take some bits with a grain of salt), seem to be similar to other Western European forces, but with more obvious neck armour, continuing to use shields (including Moorish-style shields), and some more 'Iberian' equipment, curved swords and javelins seem to crop up a few times, but broadly, you get the same padded-jacks and bascinets look: 







and here's the obligatory St. George, because Manuscript illustrators do enjoy those! But he's got a definitely Iberian shield going on




Here's a few from the later-HYW, 1430-1450, again from Aragon (sorry!) where the knights and men-at-arms have definitely Iberian helmets as well (the Steel Fist late-medieval men-at-arms Atheling mentioned would be perfect for these heads!)



And here's another David and Goliath, except this time Goliath seems to be wearing later, more distinct equipment, with an Iberian helmet, javelin and Moorish shield, to go with a brigandine and mail over the jack (rather than the reverse)

[Atheling]

Philhelm. I'm going to PM you as it might be deemed as OT.

[rumacara]

You also have the conflict between Portugal and Castile from 1383 and 1385 and raids in Spain during 1385 and 1386 (probably a bit more untill 1387) by english and portuguese forces.
Main battles in Portugal where Trancoso, Atoleiros and Aljubarrota.

I´m exploring this conflict and havent found much but if you need something just ask and i´ll try my best to help.

[Philhelm]

This is a silly question from me, but just to check, are you looking for specifically HYW, or the whole period of the Osprey book? And do you have any particular preference for when in the HYW you are looking for? Like the Castilian Civil War/Agincourt-era/1450s-ish late HYW/etc.?

To clarify, I'm vaguely focused on 1350-1450, so HYW era rather than a focus on any specific HYW related battle in Iberia.  Spain in general, so Castile and Aragon are fine.

Thank you for all of the images you provided.  I'm interested in the Iberian helmet as shown below.  To my understanding, they often used kettle helms or "war hats" and that some may have been curved downward, such as in that image (I assume a prelude to the morion).  I've seen artwork of King Pedro I, the Cruel, that showed him with what appears to be a more traditional kettle helm with a feather in it, although this is decades before the image below.  At what point would a traditional kettle helm be appropriate, I wonder?

[Philhelm]

Philhelm. I'm going to PM you as it might be deemed as OT.

Thank you!

[Atheling]

Thank you!

No probs. Happy to help. don't forget to remind me to send you the info if I forget. Please feel free to do this