Saxon Housecarls

I have painted some Saxon Housecarls for a comission. Some Viking Berserkers and Hirdmen are in the final stages to...

The minis are from Foundry.

The rumours tells me that they acctually might be used as Varangians with Harold for SAGA:)

King Christian I of Denmark

Something is rotten in the state of Denmark... ;)

I started to paint this mini about a year ago, but I never got around to finish him of...at last some pictures of the real badguy in my Kalmar Union War project...The Danish King Christian I from the House of Oldenburg.

Christian I (February 1426 – 21 May 1481) was a Danish monarch, king of Denmark (1448–1481), Norway (1450–1481) and Sweden (1457–1464), under the Kalmar Union. In Sweden his short tenure as monarch was preceded by regents, Jöns Bengtsson Oxenstierna and Erik Axelsson Tott and succeeded by regent Kettil Karlsson Vasa. Also Duke of Schleswig and Holstein 1460–81.

In 1457 Christian achieved his aim of being elected as king of Sweden, thus re-establishing the Kalmar Union. He received the power from temporary Swedish regents archbishop Jöns Bengtsson Oxenstierna and lord Erik Axelsson Tott.

However, Sweden being volatile and split by factions (benefits of union being against nationalistic benefits), his reign there ended in 1464 when bishop Kettil Karlsson Vasa was installed as the next regent. Charles Knutsson was recalled as King of Sweden, although he was later exiled a second time, recalled again and died during his third term as king.

Christian's final attempt at regaining Sweden ended in a total military failure at Brunkeberg (outside Stockholm) October 1471 where he was defeated by the Swedish regent Sten Sture the Elder who was supported by the Danish-Swedish nobleman's clan the Thott family. Christian maintained his claim to the Swedish kingdom up to his death in 1481.

The green hat... The Chronicle of Sture tells that then King Christian was in command of the Force that was trying to subdue the 1464 rebellion of bishop Kettil Karlsson Vasa he was wore a green hat. This green hat was a perfect aiming point for the rebell crossbowmen and was shoot to pieces...

I realy couldn´t have the king in a Green hat so I put the Hat on he´s herald...

The Chronicle of Sture alsoe tells us that King Christian during the battle of Brunkeberg in 1471 was shoot in the mouth by a handgun...

He had to leave the battlefield due to he´s wound and the Danes lost the battle:)

The rebell dog "Engelbrekt" making a statment againt the Union of Kalmar;)

Welsh Warband for SAGA

Here are some pictures of the completed 4 point Welsh Warband for SAGA. I hope they will do good in battle...but not against my Vikings;)

Welsh Warlord

At last... The Welsh Warlord with entourage:)

Minis from Gripping Beast, LBM shield transfers and hand painted linnen banner by me;)

Group shots of the entire warband during the week...

Welsh Heathguard

Time for a small unit of Welsh Heathguard, only 4 minis, after all the Welsh Warlord need at least some true Fighters in his warband;)

Minis from Gripping Beast and Shield transfers from LBM. The taunting one are a true favourite:)

Welsh Warriors

Here are 16 more Welsh Warrios for SAGA and some pictures of the first 8 I painted, just to get them all in the same post:)

Gudrek Thorsteinson

Today it´s time for the daughters father...the Viking Warlord him self, Jarl Gudrek Thorsteinson and his entourage;)

Minis are 28mm from foundrys fantasy viking range.

The Warlords Daughter

Here are some more pictures from my Viking Commission,.This time the warlords daughter and her bodyguard. If she is hard to notice... she´s the one that blow the horn;)

Minis are 28mm from foundrys fantasy viking range.

Sorry for the poor picture quality...

Welsh for SAGA

I have just started to paint on my 2nd commission at the moment, that is a 4 point Welsh warband for SAGA.

It will in the end be
1 Warlord...of course;)
1 point of Heathguard
3 points of Warriors

All minis from Gripping Beast with the occational LBM transfer mixed up with my handpainted shields. The first minis to be painted was a group of 8 Warriors.

Scottorum Malleus Playtest #3

Here are a short AAR from playtest game of Dan Mersey, authour of the upcoming Dux Bellorum, latest (under development) wargaming rules "Scottorum Malleus".

The rules are a set of medieval wargaming rules. The size of armies/number of bases is similar to Dux bellorum and the rules are of similar simplicity, but most of the mechanisms are different.

Dan just started a new blogg in support for he´s books and wargaming rules, please make him a visit; merseybooks.

Back to the AAR, This time me and my mate Matts used my 15mm Catalan Company minis, we got us a Duchy of Athens army against a Catalan Company army.

OOB
In the OOB I uses the common DBx classification for the troop types...


Duchy of Athens
1xKn(Gen)
4xKn
2xPs

The army of the Duchy of Athens was made up to a large part of Knights, just with some few skirmishers in support, an real elit force.

Catalan Company
1xWb (Gen)
6xWb ???not realy the same troop type but close enough.
2xPs
1xLH
1xCv

The Catalan Company was a main Almogavar force with some light troops in support and one unit of Cavalry but no Knights...

The unit was made up with several of my bases with a front of 80mm, 2 bases for the Kn, Cv, LH and Ps. 4 bases for the Wb.

We used a 120x120cm gaming area.

The Duke of Athens deployed his knights in two lines in the center, leading from the front, just leting his greek skirmishig archers to secure the right flank.

The Catalan Commander deployed all his Almogavars in a long battle line partly behind a fiels (rought ground for the Knights) and sent his skirmishers to secure the vineyard to the right and the lone cavalry to stretch the main battle line...

The Duke of Athens ordered he´s brave Knight in a ferocious charge across the battlefield...

The Catalan Commander made some more careful manoeuvres...Unfortunally the Knights caught the poor cavalry unit...

Matts moving more Knights to follow up the first wave... 

In the center the Catalan Cavalry make a desperat stand against 2 units of knights... The Catalan ship are ready to take care of any survivors...

The Athenian Knights continue their charge and every one thought this would be an easy victory for them...

Allready removed are one of the Athenian Knights that was left behind... it was were down by persistent shooting by the Catalan Skirmishers:)

The Athenian Knights, regrouping after a short combat with some Catalan Cavalry...

In the center a hard combat for several rounds took place, the Almogavar managed to survive the first storm flood by clever use of the Rally order.

Then they started to fight back !!! with crucial support from the Skirmishers behind the enemys...

After a intence fight 2 units of Almogavar was beaten to the cost of one unit of Knights... 

The Duke of Athens followed up their victory by chargeing the Catalan Commander and beate him in single combat...The Duke feelt that the victory was close...

BUT... like a divine intervention the Catalan skirmishers managed to get some lucky shoots at a unit of Knights, that apperantly had got enought and broke...

This turned the tide and the Duke of Athens admited him self subdued...

Losses:

Duchy of Athens: 3x Knights

Catalan Company:1x Cavalry and 3x Almogavar including the General.

Once again a greate game, as it was the first for Matts, there was some rule explanations, but not much.

The game was all concluded in about 2 houres including set up, rule talk and beer drinking;)