Kingdom of Domnonée, Dark ages, update 5/3 2021

[bluewillow]

 I recently purchased a collection of dark age figures,  Footsore miniatures Welsh, Picts and Irish, some gripping beast and gripping beast plastics. The intention is to build dark age Breton kingdoms and their enemies, specifically the Goths-Alans, Franks, saxon then later Franks and Vikings.

I have read some interesting articles about some of the early kings after the departure of the Romans, the spread of Christianity, the arrival of the Goths and Alans, then the Franks, the coming of the Viking invaders, then the Normans.

I want to complete the Breton army first, then do Neustria/Anjou-Maine then Vikings,   so with a little thought I could build something to represent Breton Dark age army from the 5th century through to the 10thC  by swapping out a few units it could fight Goths, Alans, Late Romans, Franks, and later Vikings, Anjou-Maine and Normans. We have six major battlefield sites within a hours drive from late Roman through to the Norman conquest, and a further 11 battlefields within two hours. I plan to develop some tours and wargame events around these sites.

First off the desk some Kingdom of Domnomée skirmishers. The kingdom of Domnomée was formed by settlers from Britain in the late 4th and early 5th century, even sharing the same king at one time.

These figures represent the marshland people around currrent Mont Saint Michel to Dol de Bretagne.  11 bases to complete of  infantry and five bases of skirmishers, and possibly two heavy cavalry and three light cavalry will give me a good sized Impetus army.



Cheers
Matt
French Wargame Holidays
L'Hotel de Hercé

[Ragnar]

Cool project Matt.

[bluewillow]

More off the desk, skirmishers from the wild forrested valleys of western Armorican Domnonée.





Next up cavalry

Cheers
Matt

[DivisMal]

Nice painting on those models. Now I just need to persuade my wife to join me on a trip to your hotel. The homepage looks amazing - even if I hadn’t found the wargaming subpage!

[Codsticker]

Now I just need to persuade my wife to join me on a trip to your hotel.

Me too!

[Battle Leader]

Good paintjob on skintones and interesting project.

[bluewillow]

Nice painting on those models. Now I just need to persuade my wife to join me on a trip to your hotel. The homepage looks amazing - even if I hadn’t found the wargaming subpage!

The idea was to be a relaxing destination for the partners, with the added option of regional history tours, battlefield tours and wargaming as add ons.

We have a lot of great medieval Châteaus all around us every 8 to 12 Klm, Mayenne (Maine) was the border between Normandy and Brittany.

[DivisMal]

The idea was to be a relaxing destination for the partners, with the added option of regional history tours, battlefield tours and wargaming as add ons.

We have a lot of great medieval Châteaus all around us every 8 to 12 Klm, Mayenne (Maine) was the border between Normandy and Brittany.

Yes, I’ve seen that, and we actually are very tempted, but our newborn daughter (5 months) at the moment makes us go for nearer holiday destinations.
Anyway, it’s really nice what you created and kids grow up.

[bluewillow]

Been quite productive last week, back to back guests, but did manage some quality desk time to add to my Breton project. Going a little early with these, basically 5th century Goth allied noble cavalry.

 The Goths and associated allied tribes (Alani and Sarmations) settled and controlled along the Loire from Orleans and its Upper tributaries of the Mayenne and Sarthe rivers (old Maine) and as Far East as Vannes Brittany during the first part of the 5th century. The Goths and Alans eventually allied with the Romans and served faithfully until the fall of the last Roman in Gaul in 486. The remaining tribes along the Loire allied with Clovis and some retreated into Brittany and Normandy.



Cheers
Matt

[bluewillow]

Another unit off the desk Breton Coloni

This unit will also be able to double as Franks, Anjou-Maine or even Normans, based for Impetus.



More units to come this week
Cheers
Matt

[Neldoreth]

These look great for sure. Interesting hair color choices there, they definitely fit the bill as barbarians and even early medieval northern-Europeans, or even expansion-era Spanish.

[bluewillow]

Another unitbof warlord cavalry completed, can be quite flexible as Bretons, Goths, Alani, Franks or romans



Cheers
Matt

[bluewillow]

A unit heavy infantry, Merovingian Neustria Frank opposition



Cheers
Matt

[Captain Blood]

Shaping up into quite a collection. You certainly turn them out fast 

[bluewillow]

Shaping up into quite a collection. You certainly turn them out fast 

I try to paint two to four hours a day, plus it relates too my core business, of Wargame Holidays in France. Each of the units built relate to a local battlefield that can be toured then replayed on the tabletop. The dark age and ancient sites are quite elusive though as they are less well documented in English.

Cheers
Matt