"Italians Wars armies- what models are too early " Topic

I am most interested in the first decade of the 16th century so i use lots of stuff from the late 1490s. I use the Perry plastic European mercenaries.
I use the pike as Italian, Spanish, Low Countries and French Pike.
The crossbows are any nationalities crossbows.
I use the handgunners as Italian handgunners mainly.
I use Foundry landsknecht (keeping the Perry theme as much as I can)
Cavalry wise i use the Perry stuff for them and I just bought some of their stradiots which will be stradiots for the whole period! I have some old GW empire knights for barded gendarmes as well and foundry ones.
Swiss I haven't decided what to use yet for them. When did they start to where the puffy clothes?
Does any of my choices strike you as too anachronistic for 1508?

The problem with the Italian Wars is that they cover a period which saw frequent and often significant changes in military fashions. Some groups saw less change than others but all did see change.

Despite the description the Perry figures are somewhat out of date for the 1490s and lacks part of several national fashion styles. The god news is that 90% or more of wargamers will be unable to spot the erronous stuff. And given that these are great sculpts it is possible to be more forgiving. But for the 1500s they are increasingly out of date as far as armour and clothing are concerned

Why not use TAG (The Assault Group) figures for Spanish and Italians, very nice figures, shame they have not finished te period before commencing the Tudors.

All the best,

Mark.

Taking purely gaming point of view, I like the troops to be easily recognizable on the table, plus I like variety. So for me it's not a problem to have OG Landsknechts fighting Perry mercenaries (I use them for French troops, whom I always imagined to be a step or two behind the German and Swiss fashion-wise).
Add to that TAG and Foundry, and new stuff from Pro Gloria, and some Eureka cavalry… oh my!
I really see no reason to limit myself when there's so much good stuff out there. Life's too short for it. Of course, one has to draw the line somewhere, so no Vikings or XVII c. stuff in my Italian Wars, but I'm not concerned with 20-30 years' span.

I game the Italian Wars between 1495 and 1525. I tend to fudge quite a lot of stuff; for example, I use OG Swiss pike for Swiss for the whole period. My collection is eclectic.

Gendarmes: Foundry
Light cavalry: OG and TAG, a few Redoubt and Foundry.
Guns: OG, Foundry
Swiss pike: OG
Landsknecht pike: OG
Landsknecht shot: OG & Foundry
Spanish foot: OG
Italian pike: TAG
French pike: Foundry (Swiss)
Misc. Crossbows: Front Rank & Foundry
Misc. Arquebus: OG, Foundry, TAG

Is there a reason why only the first 10 years is important to you?

I can see why post 1525 is a bit of a boring period of the wars, but not the rest.

I do like the Foundry Gendarmes.

Sadly, for them, if I recall correctly, there is only a SINGLE horse pose. A shame, really.

Now if you like all of your cavalry horses to be clones, with all their heads turned to the side, and down, in unison, as if on command, then feel free to proceed.

Otherwise, you will need to purchase some others to intersperse with them.

I really like the Eureka ones, since there is a lot of choice offered by them.

Don't worry with it.

The costume changed during the time period, but not everyone would have had newer clothes. Tons of mercenaries and a great mixing of armies guarantee a mixing of clothes and armor.

I have no doubt that some old timers in 1525 as well as new recruits were probably very Medieval looking. Others had the newest foppish fashion.

Also remember that military fashion tends to follow "he who wins". So, early in the period everyone started to slash their clothes like the Swiss. As the Landsknechts rose to prominence, everyone started to copy their dress. Later, the as the Spanish infantry became dominate, everyone followed their example.

Long and short… Follow Olicana's example and you will be good to go ( it is almost my list- except that I really like TAG for some Spanish Pike, and I use some Foundry as well (they are later… but look good).. I also use some OG Gendarmes…)

No one will care if you are doing Ravenna and your Lansknechts are too foppish, or Pavia and your Swiss are from 1500!

Joe Collins

I have just finished a Holy Roman Empire army (+ a few bits)in 28mm:

Gendarmes/Mtd Archers: Foundry/Eureka/Perry
Light cavalry: Perry
Guns: Foundry/Artizan/Fine scale factory
Swiss pike: Essex (From my old Warhammer Army!) Foundry
Landsknecht pike: Foundry/Artizan/OG
Landsknecht shot: Foundry
Spanish foot: Hinchcliffe
Misc. Mtd Arquebus: OG, Essex
Camp (Lansknecht on the privvy – Stronhold, various drunk, gambling Redoubt
Coomaders: Redoubt/Foundry

Might not be totally accurate but looks jolly colourful!

Tally Ho!

The mian reason i like 1480-1510 is that is the period for Julius II first as a cardinal and then as Warrior Pope :)

I'll be having an eclectic mix in my Italian Wars army as well. Exactly because of the great variations in clothing is why I'm not too concerned with period correct, as long as they are from the Great Italian Wars era, they'll be fine.
I have GW Empire(Perry era) Landsknecht and Cavalry, OG Landsknecht, Spaniards, etc, Artizan and Eureka as well. Soon to add Pro Gloria and TAG minis as well.