{"title":"Pike \u0026 Shotte Italian Wars (1494 to 1559)","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"pike-shotte-landsknechts-with-zweihanders","title":"Landsknechts with Zweihanders","description":"\u003cp\u003eEurope in the late 15th and early 16th centuries was a place of almost constant warfare. With no organised national armies, battlefields were the domain of the mercenary companies of the day – chief amongst these were the colourfully dressed Landsknechts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLandsknechts were instigated by the Holy Roman Emperor, Maximillian I, as a reaction to the Swiss mercenary pikemen that had dominated battlefields for decades before the Italian Wars (1494-1559).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey would be found in most armies in Western Europe of the time, even appearing in the British Isles in the service of Henry VIII. Clashes between rival Landsknecht regiments were particularly bloody, becoming known as ‘Bad War’.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe toughest of a rough bunch were the veteran Doppelsöldner – soldiers on double pay. Their extra payment was for volunteering to fight in the front ranks and the inherent risk that entailed. The trick was surviving to claim the extra pay!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDoppelsöldner would most often be armed with the ranged arquebus or crossbow and arrayed in front of the main blocks of pikemen. Alternatively, they may be armed with the vicious six foot long two-handed swords, the Zweihänders, or equally long halberds. Zweihänder-armed Landsknechts would generally be found in the front ranks of the pike blocks or occasionally detached to form their own unit for special roles as well as providing protection for the unit’s colour party. The famous German mercenaries, the Black Band, included 2,000 two-handed swordsmen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe figures in this boxed set can be used to represent the Landsknechts raised in Germany or other nations of the period and can be armed with either halberds or Zweihänder swords.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis box set contains:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003ePlastic and metal components to make 12 Landsknechts with two-handed swords and 12 with halberds\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlastic bases.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eModels supplied unassembled and unpainted\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Warlord Games","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44534488268985,"sku":"WLG202016002","price":44.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0669\/0101\/6761\/files\/202016002-Landsknechts-with-Zweihanders-box-front_1024x1024_98fb6a52-129f-45e1-bc5f-cc79fd694c97.jpg?v=1729184622"},{"product_id":"pike-shotte-landsknecht-pikemen","title":"Landsknecht Pikemen","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe late 15th and early 16th centuries in Europe were defined by near-constant warfare. National ‘standing armies’ were unheard of and the ambitions of empires were reliant on the mercenaries they could afford to hire.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThis box contains:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlastic components to make either 30 Pikemen or 24 Pikemen and 5 Arquebusiers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCommand sprue with options for officers, standard bearers, drummers, etc.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlastic bases.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBackground guide with 5 full-colour flags.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLandsknechts were instigated by the Holy Roman Emperor, Maximillian I, as a reaction to the Swiss Mercenary Pikemen that had dominated battlefields for decades before the Italian Wars (1494-1559).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOver the course of the Italian Wars, however, the Landsknecht tactics adapted far more than the Swiss and the use of firearms in conjunction with the pike would give them the edge, at least tactically.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMaximillian was keen to give the men freedom to wear what they wanted, and this resulted in plumes, slashed sleeves and bright colours. The figures in this boxed set can be used to represent the Landsknechts raised in Germany or the Tyrol as well as early Swiss pike regiments.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eModels supplied unassembled and unpainted\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Warlord Games","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44534488465593,"sku":"WLG202016001","price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0669\/0101\/6761\/files\/202016001_Landsknecht_Pikemen_box_front_1024x1024_f71b58e2-eba9-43b6-9b9c-a691742b6168.jpg?v=1729184627"},{"product_id":"wlg-landsknecht-missile-troops","title":"Landsknecht Missile Troops","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe late 15th and early 16th centuries in Europe were defined by near-constant warfare. National ‘standing armies’ were unheard of and the ambitions of empires were reliant on the mercenaries they could afford to hire.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLandsknechts were instigated by the Holy Roman Emperor, Maximillian I, as a reaction to the Swiss mercenary pikemen that had dominated battlefields for decades before the Italian Wars (1494-1559).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey would be found in most armies in Western Europe of the time, even appearing in the British Isles in the service of Henry VIII. Clashes between rival Landsknecht regiments were particularly bloody, becoming known as ‘Bad War’.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe most striking aspect of a Landsknecht force was their outlandish dress. Maximillian was keen to give the men freedom to wear what they wanted, and this resulted in plumes, slashed sleeves and bright colours.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Landsknechts, as well as other troops, made good use of the crossbow and then latterly the new arquebus black powder weapon as skirmish screens ahead of the blocks of pikemen or as tactical units in their own right. They were equally useful during sieges.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe figures in this boxed set can be used to represent the Landsknechts raised in Germany or other nations of the period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis box set contains:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlastic components to make 30 Landsknechts with either arquebus or crossbow.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlastic bases.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eModels supplied unassembled and unpainted\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Warlord Games","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44534938337465,"sku":"WLG202016003","price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0669\/0101\/6761\/files\/202016003-Landsknechts-missile-troops-box-f.jpg?v=1729191250"},{"product_id":"wlg-landsknecht-starter-army","title":"Landsknecht Starter Army","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe late 15th and early 16th centuries in Europe were defined by near-constant warfare. National ‘standing armies’ were unheard of and the ambitions of empires were reliant on the mercenaries they could afford to hire.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLandsknechts were instigated by the Holy Roman Emperor, Maximillian I, as a reaction to the Swiss Mercenary Pikemen that had dominated battlefields for decades before the Italian Wars (1494-1559).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOver the course of the Italian Wars, however, the Landsknecht tactics adapted far more than the Swiss and the use of firearms in conjunction with the Pike would give them the edge, at least tactically.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe toughest of a rough bunch were the veteran Doppelsöldner – soldiers on double pay. Their extra payment was for volunteering to fight in the front ranks and the inherent risk that entailed. The trick was surviving to claim the extra pay!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDoppelsöldner would most often be armed with the ranged arquebus or crossbow and arrayed in front of the main blocks of pikemen. Alternatively they may be armed with the vicious six foot long two-handed swords, the Zweihänders, or equally long halberds. Zweihänder-armed Landsknechts would generally be found in the front ranks of the pike blocks or occasionally detached to form their own unit for special roles as well as providing protection for the unit’s colour party. The famous German mercenaries, the Black Band, included 2,000 two-handed swordsmen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Landsknechts, as well as other troops, made good use of the crossbow and then latterly the new arquebus black powder weapon as skirmish screens ahead of the blocks of pikemen or as tactical units in their own right. They were equally useful during sieges.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis box set contains:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e96 Plastic Landsknecht pikemen with command options.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e24 Plastic Landsknechts with Zweihänders\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e24 Plastic Landsknechts with crossbows or arquebus\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e4 Metal Officers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMetal Handbüchse light gun and crew.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFull-colour flag sheet\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlastic Bases\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eModels supplied unassembled and unpainted\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Warlord Games","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44534938697913,"sku":"WLG209916002","price":171.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0669\/0101\/6761\/files\/209916002-Landsknecht-Starter-Army-07_1024x_43cfcf78-e295-4084-8d2c-6436bff9310e.jpg?v=1729191253"}],"url":"https:\/\/griffonslairgames.myshopify.com\/collections\/pike-shotte-italian-wars-1494-to-1559.oembed","provider":"Griffons Lair - Western PA","version":"1.0","type":"link"}