THE GREAT ITALIAN WARS 1494-1529(or 1559)

I got dragged into 'Renaissance' gaming in the late '70s at Stockport Wargames Club. That meant 'Tercio', although I favoured George Gush's set. And that meant tons of factors and tables etc etc. as was the prevailing style. I had my doubts. And anyway what was the Renaissance? In wargames terms it seemed to stretch from c1450 to c1700 and as a 'period' it went the same way as Ancients, with mace wielding Burgundians facing off against Marlburians. My largely unpainted store of 25mm Castile Miniatures and Hinchliffe figures followed me around in and out of store for the next 25 years until - IMPETUS and I suddenly got the bug again. And some new figures as well as the old:

MORE MEN AT ARMS

These are Perry Wars of the Roses cavalry based for Italian Wars Impetus but they have in fact seen more action as Wars of the Roses cavalry in Lion Rampant despite being based incorrectly. I'm still toying with the idea of debasing them permanently (ort maybe just buying more!)

MERCENARY CANNON

Actually a GW Empire 'bombard' I think bought cheap at Crusade 2009.

Purists may argue the Ironwork should be red and the wood black -but I like it this way - and besides - prove it!

GENDARMES

Connoisseur Gendarmes based for IMPETUS - Italian rules for the Italian Wars...geddit?

MEN-AT-ARMS

Thes figs below are Essex Men at Arms from c1986 - I can't see them in their catalogue now, which is a shame, cos I want more

-June 2009 - having a browse I see they may be Burgundians  The Burgundian list is below the Reiters on the Medieval page but not listed in the index and unillustrated- so I'm going to have to buy a couple 'blind' and see.

LIGHT CAVALRY

And to lurk on the flanks and generally be a nuisance:

Some Redoubt Mounted Arquebisiers and...                                        Some Redoubt Stradiots

And of course you have to have some...

PIKE

Hinchliffe Landsknechts

Front Rank WotR masquerading as French pike

And a few shot and large swords

Front Rank handgunners and...                                                            Hinchliffe Arquebusiers and double handed swordsmen

CAMP

Of course in Impetus you need a camp to defend

Home made tent and cutlery and crockery - tables Gripping Beast. Trees and base home made.

TABLETOP

And put it all together on the table...

There are some Swiss pike and various crossbow (foot and mounted) units on there that I should photograph sometime. Next time we fight a battle perhaps.