Landsknecht Starter Army by Warlord Games

Landsknecht Starter Army

The late 15th and early 16th centuries in Europe were characterized by almost constant warfare. National standing armies were unknown, and the ambitions of territorial rulers depended on the mercenaries they could afford to hire.
The Landsknechts were established by the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I in response to the Swiss mercenary pikemen, who had dominated the battlefields for decades before the Italian Wars (1494-1559).

During the Italian Wars, the tactics of the Landsknechts adapted far more than those of the Swiss, and the use of firearms in conjunction with pikes gave them at least a tactical advantage.
The toughest of this rough bunch were the veteran double-pay soldiers. Their extra pay was for their voluntary participation in the fight on the front lines and the associated risks. The trick was to survive in order to receive the extra pay!

Doppelsöldner (double-pay mercenaries) were usually armed with the arquebus or crossbow and positioned in front of the main pike blocks. Alternatively, they could be armed with vicious six-foot two-handed swords or halberds of the same length. Two-handed Landsknechts were generally found in the front ranks of the pike blocks or were occasionally detached to form a separate unit for special tasks and to protect the unit's color group. The famous German mercenary force, the Black Band, included 2,000 two-handed swordsmen.
The Landsknechts, like other troops, used the crossbow and later the new arquebus black powder weapon for skirmishes in front of pike blocks or as a separate tactical unit. They were also very useful in sieges.

Contents:
- 96 Plastic Landsknecht pikemen with command options.
- 24 Plastic Landsknechts with Two-Handed Swords
- 24 Plastic Landsknechts with crossbows or arquebus
- 4 Metal Officers.
- Metal Handbüchse light gun and crew.
- Full-colour flag sheet
- Plastic Bases

The miniatures in this Landsknecht Starter Army set consist of plastic and metal components. They are unpainted and require assembly. Paints, tools, and glue are not included in the box.