Anjou Maine Skirmishers VI

 Dark Age Skirmishers

Another quick unit off the table, I basically done these in between painting the Napoleonic’s figures as a break from belts etc. 

I do enjoy painting dark age - early medieval figures and this  unit can join my Anjou-Maine army for the 9th-11th century battles, which will become a focus in September as we are hosting a French professor of Carolingian to Viking history for three days, visiting sites and wargaming the local battles, so I have much to do, particularly Vikings and Carolingian cavalry. 

A mix of Footsore, Blacktree miniatures and mix of shields, LBM transfers and hand painted.

Dark Age Skirmishers

Cheers 
Matt

Dark Age markers

 Last week was hectic with Vanessa’s birthday, renovation of a timber floor and guests from Holland and France,  plus another birthday party so not a lot of time to complete much at all. I did get some time on the bench for terrain and a complete the basing of a few units. Today as a rest day I completed a few plastic kits that remained from my 30 day kit challenge.

This week I should complete another two units for my Breton independence wars and some more work on my ongoing Napoleonic projects, Baden, French and Prussians. Later in the week some more ww2 and medieval are also lined up in the queue as the weather has improved perfect for the airbrush! 

These markers were simple and have been sitting in my to do’s pile for some time, the shields have been completed for a long time, all transfers except for the Norman kite shield. I just needed to sand the bases paint and glue them on. More dark ages coming as I have started assembling my Victrix Vikings …..perhaps next month. 

Dark Age Disorder Markers

Cheers
Matt

Morvan Lez-Breizh The first King of Brittany

  

Morvan Lez-Breizh

Morvan (Murman or Morman) Lez-Breizh (literally "the hip of Bretagne")750-818

Thought to be the first King of a unified Brittany in the Middle Ages, his rule last a short four years after the death of Charlemagne. The Bretons were always in Revolt against the Franks. The Breton lords particularly active along marcher borders raiding but were never really united. Morvan controlled an area in the north called Poher part of the Kingdom of Cornouaille close to the border of Domnonée, Bretagne. He had a fortified Castra/Palace it is thought at modern Carhaix-Plouguer, capital of old Poher.

In 753 Pepin the Short ordered Frankish troops into the Armorican peninsula to subdue the kingdoms and ask for tribute, the Breton kings would remain semi independent but still owe fealty to the Franks. In 776 and 777 Charlemagne ordered armies into the Armorican peninsula again to create the Breton Marches, marching from Le Mans, Roland (Hruotland) (song of Roland Fame) obtaining tribute and land from the three petty kingdoms and moved the border marcher between Neustria and Brittany to to a line from St Malo to Nantes and set up Carolingian Castra in Rennes, port city of Nantes and the port city of Saint Malo (when the border marcher moved from the Mayenne-Maine and Loire river to the west to the la Vilaine river, also the first wood and stone castra/palace was also built at this time in Ville Mayenne by the Bishop of Le Mans in the same location as the current chateau).

After a refusal to pay tributes by some of the great Breton nobles, in 786 the Frank General Audulf, departed Nantes and campaigned between March and August 786, laying waste to the Breton cities and destroying its defendable castras (leaving the coast vulnerable to saxon pirates). The chronicle of Sigebert de Gembloux noting that several castra were captured and nobles and hostages were bought before Charlemagne at Worms in 787. In 799 Guy de Widonides a Frankish noble was appointed as the marquis of the Breton Marchers and Comte de Nantes. Guy then also campaigned in 799 and had the Breton petty kings bend the knee in person at Tours in 800. Guy again campaigned in 811 breaking a alliance of the northern Domnonée nobles who had threatened Rennes.

When Charlemagne died in 814, Morvan lez-Breizh gathered together the nobles from the Kingdoms of Cornouaille, Domnonée and Bro-Gwened and rebelled successfully, while the Frank armies were busy in Spain and Italy.

In 818 Emperor Louis the Pious along with his marquis Lambert de Nantes (Widonides) lead a large army (10000) to clear the country of fortified castras, take hostages and fealty. They met the army of Morvan somewhere between Priziac and Carhaix, it is said the battle was on a fortified ford of the Ellé river near Langonnet. A ridge nearby is called Minez-Morvan and he is said to be buried nearby in the Tumulus de Kermain a bronze age tomb.

“He [Louis] marched in person in Brittany with a considerable army, and held the general assembly of the nation at Vannes. Then entering the province of which we have just spoken, he took all the strongholds of the rebels, and soon made himself master without much fatigue of the whole country. In fact, after Morman, who had arrogated to it the royal authority in defiance of the constant use of the Bretons, had been killed by the emperor's troops, there was no longer a single Breton who resisted, or who refused either. to obey the orders he received, or to provide the hostages that were required of him "

- Annales d ' Éginhard , (Year 818)

The king figure is Morvan lez Breizh from Footsore, unsure of the priest but I did add the cross from a plastic set. 

For those interested jaunty marching tunes, as I do a nice Breton pipes tune Lez Breizh was written some time after, as a Scottish bagpiper the higher pitch can be a little hard on the ears after a while but worth a listen all the same. I will use it to rouse the troops on the table to fight the perfidious foe the Franks! 

"walk the battlefield in the morning, wargame in the afternoon"™ 

From Caesar to World War Two

Cheers

Matt

28mm HUGE Castle -Chateaux build Part 1

Huge 28mm Castle/Chateau Epic Build

28mm Castle Project Part 1

Last week at French Wargames Holidays Phillipe and I joined forces for an afternoon of working on the new 28mm Chateau terrain. This terrain board is based on Chateau Sant Suzanne which is a famous medieval hill top defensive Chateau and town. This very early circa 1060AD stone castle dominates the valley and the pass north from Maine into Normandy. Most famous for its siege by William the Conqueror in the 1059s and the 1080s which became the only Chateau in Maine he could not capture.

Saint Suzanne is only 30 min from French Wargames Holidays and is one of our top destinations for visitors, being listed as one of the most beautiful villages in France. It really captures the reason why such a castle controls the landscape as far as the eye can see....


I have spent a lot of time planning this piece as I want it to be able to swap out the fortifications over a lot of periods, I have already started filming and will post it on Youtube in stages so you can follow what I am thinking and planning. I really want it to be very versatile options will include:-A Gaulois oppidum, of either the Aulerci Diablintes or Cenomani (Le Mans) the first siege in the 1st century BC (of which only the roman siege camp remains outside the walls and burnt remains on the dig)A Carolingian Fort and watch tower, based on remains that was found during the archaeological digs from the 6th century-9th century.10th century stone Donjon and timber Motte and Bailey walls, the chateau was sieged William the conqueror during his wars with his son and the duke of Anjou. And again during the Plantagenet wars of Stephen and Matilda and then again during Richard the Lion hearts rebellion against his father Henry and finally by Arthur of Brittanys Claim to the crown over John Lackland.15th century Hundred Years War being sieged three times in the period.Wars of Religion sieged by the duke of Mayenne against the Protestants.possibly also used as a big mountain for 20mm WW2 Swiss-Normandy hills (Domfront to Flers ridge) or large mountain 28mm games for French Revolution or Napoleonic Games.
For scale the terrain piece will be 1.50m long x 1.2m wide, and about 50cm high. The board will be broke into the upper Chateau and the lower town, with permanent pieces that lift on and off for ease of storage, plus with additional pieces could have a mountain grass land on top or even perhaps ruins for landscape games.
Some pictures for inspiration

The planning of the layout begins.....




wish me luck


cheers
Matt

Loire Vikings V

More Vikings, striking terror in the Loire!

The first raid in the Carolingian empire was on the monastery at the Île de Noirmoutier in 799. It became the most regular raided monastery in France. They raided up and down the Loire and its tributaries. Another two  28mm V & V miniatures, they will join my Saga army to take the field in our battle of Brissarthe tour and Wargame Here

Cheers
Matt

Vikings IV

Another 3 Vikings completed for my Saga raiding group. Again lovely V&V miniatures, three more to complete before back to 100 years war.

 

Cheers
Matt

Vikings III

Vikings, striking terror in the Loire. The first raid in the Carolingian empire was on the monastery at the Île de Noirmoutier in 799. It became the most regular raided monastery in France. They raided up and down the Loire and its tributaries. Miniatures are 28mm V & V miniatures. These figures will join our collection for the battle of Brissarthe tour and Wargame, found here battle of Brissarthe-866 .

Cheers
Matt

Saxon Pirates in the Loire!

The Saxon pirates raided the south and west coast of modern Brittany and Pays de Loire, plus Normandy, settling permanently around Bayeux and on the Belle-Île in the mouth of the Loire, and along the St Malo coast. They were particularly active the 5th century raiding Angers and Nantes. A Roman allied contingent from Normandy also were part in the Roman Confederation defeat of Attila the Hun at Chalons in 451AD.

My Saxon pirate commander is named  Eadwacer, who raided up the Loire in the 5th century.  These figures are 28mm from the Footsore miniatures range.

Cheers

Matt 

Liticiani-Letavi -Letavii-Letaniae Breton Army part V

Breton Liticani infantry

Liticiani-Letavi -Letavii-Letaniae, the last unit completed for my dark age 5th -6th century Amorican Bretons. A mix of Gripping Beast and Footsore miniatures. Mentioned in a number ancient references with the field army of Aetius by Gregory of Tours. Mentioned by Jordannes at Challons with the Roman army of Gaul against the Huns and with Paulus and Riothamus defending Angers against the Saxon Pirates and Visigoths.

"walk the battlefield in the morning, wargame in the afternoon"™

Cheers

Matt

King of the Visigoths Alaric II

My painting mojo returned this week, I guess because I am over the hump of plastering, plumbing brickwork and timber work I need to finish so I could move forward on the top floor of the house. I also managed to get some time on the desk not tired which helps.

Hot off the desk (ok been part painted since March) is King Alaric II, King of the Visigoths. I need to add another three cavalry units at least to put a decent army in the field, so I have my eye on a purchase soon.....figure are Footsore miniatures and very lovely they are too

Figures are from the Footsore Miniatures range

Alaric II/Alaricus (Latin) (Alareiks, "ruler of all"), c. 458/466 – August 507) was the King of the Visigoths from 484–507. He succeeded his father Euric as king of the Visigoths in Toulouse on December 28, 484. His capital at Vicus Julio (modern Aire-sur-l'Adour, Aquitaine). His dominions included not only the majority of southern France but also Spain(excluding its northwestern corner)

The border with the Franks was established along the Loire river, Clovis seems to have tested the borders against the Goths resulting in the battle of Vouillé (near Poiters) where Alaric fell, Alain by Clovis in single combat according to Gregory of Tours. 

Cheers

Matt

Liticiani-Letavi -Letavii-Letaniae auxiliary skirmishers IV

Auxiliary Javelin 

 Second last unit of my Bretons completed, another simple skirmishers unit.

Figures are gripping beast hand painted shields.

Cheers

Matt

Liticiani-Letavi -Letavii-Letaniae auxiliary spear IV

Liticiani-Letavi -Letavii-Letaniae, Third last uni completed of Breton auxiliaries off the table, 2 more units and two command stands to go and the army will be complete for this year, I have enjoyed this build and would like to add some more pieces in the future.

A mix of Footsore and gripping beast with mixed shields, LBM studios

Cheers

Matt

Liticiani-Letavi -Letavii-Letaniae auxiliary spear III

Liticiani-Letavi -Letavii-Letaniae, Breton auxiliaries off the table, 3 more units and two command stands to go and the army will be complete for this year, I have enjoyed this build and would like to add some more pieces in the future.

A mix of Footsore and gripping beast with mixed shields predominantly LBM transfers.

Cheers

Matt

Liticiani-Letavi -Letavii-Letaniae Breton skirmishers III

Liticiani-Letavi -Letavii-Letaniae, skirmishers off the table, 4 more units and two command stands to go and the army will be complete for this year, I have enjoyed this build and would like to add some more pieces in the future.

Gripping beast miniatures hand painted shields

Cheers
Matt

Liticiani-Letavi -Letavii-Letaniae Bretons II

Breton heavy infantry 

The Liticiani-Letavi -Letavii-Letaniae, much conjecture surrounds them as to where the kingdom was located during the dark ages. Mentioned in a number ancient references with the field army of Aetius by Gregory of Tours. Mentioned by Jordannes at Challons with the Roman army of Gaul against the Huns and with Paulus and Riothamus defending Angers against the Goths and Saxons.

A mix of Footsore miniatures and Gripping beast, LBM shield transfers and flag.

Cheers
Matt

Vikings II

Norsemen cometh 

More norsemen off the desk last night to add to the growing raiding party. In our part of Pays de la Loire the vikings main targets were monasteries, linen, leather production and trading centers, they used the tributaries of Mayenne and Sarthe to raid and pillage up to Entrammes and Le Mans. Taking advantage of the continual infighting among the Frankish lords and using Breton alliances to control some of the region for 30 years.

Anjou-Maine Dark age infantry V

Carolingian Frank- Anjou-Maine Infantry V

Carolingian Frank - Anjou-Maine dark age heavy infantry, miniatures are plastic gripping beast, ready to repel the Viking or Breton invaders!

Figures are gripping beast plastics with Victrix plumes, a mix of hand painted, war flag and LBM transfers, with additional dry brushing.

Cheers
Matt

Vikings!!! In the Loire

Vikings, striking terror in the Loire and Brittany!

The first raid in the Carolingian empire was on the monastery of the coast of Nantes in Pays de la Loire (Nuestria) on the Île de Noirmoutier in 799 in the bay of Biscay. The northmen finally departed the Loire and Brittany in 1076. Noirmoutier monastery became the most regularly raided monastery in France and a major base for Viking raids of Neustria and Armorica (Loire, Brittany, Normandy and Aquitaine.)

I have been painting the lovely V& V Vikings on and off for the last two weeks while I prepare our Vikings in the Loire tour information and battlefield Wargame and tour release for 2020.

These figures will be for the skirmish raids that made up most of the fighting locally, as they tended to raid Monasteries, trading centres, salt and Linen production  centres along the Brittany, Pays de  la Loire, Normandy and Aquitaine coasts and up the large rivers and tributaries. Lots more coming this weekend.

Cheers
Matt