GW Empire historical lookalikes

[Bushbaby]

Hello! I have a question for you experts out there. If using a certain degree of imagination and historical flexibility, in what period and country(s) could a GW Empire army fit in?

[Citizen Sade]

I wouldn't call myself an expert, but I'd say early-mid 16th century Holy Roman Empire. The fluff, armour, technology and troop types seem more or less right with e.g. Landsknechts, gendarmes, artillery etc. So, Italian wars would seem to be the obvious historical setting.

[dijit]

I wouldn't call myself an expert, but I'd say early-mid 16th century Holy Roman Empire. The fluff, armour, technology and troop types seem more or less right with e.g. Landsknechts, gendarmes, artillery etc. So, Italian wars would seem to be the obvious historical setting.

Yeah, that's pretty much what I'd have said too.

[Von Trinkenessen]

With the arrival of AOS , that's what I use my empire armies for.( The Von Trinkenessen Chronicles - A renaissance fantasy set against the backdrop of the Italian wars)

[Bushbaby]

Thank you guys!

Do you have a link to a publication of the  Von Trinkenessen Chronicles?

[DivisMal]

The have some rather fantastic elements in the Empire, though (I suspect that's why the call it Warhammer FANTASY after all  ):
Pistoliers and some stuff from Mordheim is rather early-mid 17th ct., so a fantastic 30YW is also a possibility.

[rnsulentic]

Pistoliers were already around by the 1540's. In fact the "original" Perry bros. sculpts going back to the '80's and 90's (I date myself), were basically all variations on Urs Graf, Altdorfer, Flotner, Lemberger, Shoen and some others. Same with the "Tileans" and "Estalians".

So yeah, the latter part of the Italians wars.

[Bushbaby]

Thank you for the answers. I have made some research and decided I will use them for fighting the swedish 16:th century wars against Denmark, Lübeck, Poland and Russia (since I am swedish). Both knights with lances and courassiers (pistoliers) are time appropriate, as are the landsknecht-lookalike empire soldiers (mercenaries fighting in most northern wars). Both handguns and crossbows were used in Sweden during this time. A lot of the swedish troops were peasants, so I need to make some troops less spectacular in their dresses.

Even the empire swordmen fills the role as rondassiers (rondellknekt in swedish), sword and shield armoured troops.

The only problem are all the empire spearmen. These must be converted to pikemen.

A question: did any soldiers use the spear in Europe after 1500? Who, where and when?

[Corso]

Half-pikes did exist, their use being mainly in sieges and naval combat. But not in combination with a shield.

[pocoloco]

Well coming from one important part of the Old Swedish Empire, Finland, you could use spearmen for levied locals. At least in the eastern part of the kingdom locals were supplied with spears, swords and bows from the armouries of castles. And of course locals would have had quite a deal of hunting (boar, bear) spears of their own.

[von Lucky]

The Field of Glory army ist for the Later Medieval Swedish notes that the peasant militia were "particularly well armoured and effective, fighting in mixed units of men with crossbow or longbow and men with pole-arms, axes, spears etc. The proportion of pole-arms increased as time went on. The crossbow was far more common than the longbow."

In the FoGR Kalmar Union list (1494-1523AD), like in the FoG Later Medieval Danish list, it talks about the common practice across Europe where peasants were no longer permitted to posses or keep weapons at home. The Kalmer Union list's General Levy were handed a simple spear when called up. The "Spiud" was considered inferior and not popular (you want this stick? The guys opposite you will have firearms... you'll be fiiiiinnnnnneeeeee).

Short answer - the Empire spearmen don't look the part of peasant militia, but spears were used in times of war (as stated above, the militia were usually used for sieges).

[pocoloco]

Local castle records here show that spears, swords and bows (and plenty of arrows) were kept in the armories for the local levied troops even during the early gunpowder era. Firearms were provided only for the more professional units/soldiers.

The Empire spearmen don't look like common rabble but maybe one could use them as rich townsfolk or such, if somewhat historical accuracy is wanted.

[Bushbaby]

This is a picture painted by contemporary landsknecht Paul Dolnstein of a german mercenary poking a swedish peasant soldier in his privates.

Compare the swede with the two figures to the left and I would say with some paint and minus shields we have a pretty close match.

[von Lucky]

Yeah, they do. For some reason I was thinking the figures had the lion shield and that they came with massive breastplates and funny helmets.

[Metternich]

Yes, they would be a good match.