"Martin Schwartz banner" Topic

Does anyone know what banner would be suitable for Martin Schwartz's German mercenaries fighting for the Earl of Lincoln at Stoke Field in 1487?

I've seen a picture of him with the Imperial double headed eagle flag, then again as he was hired by Lincoln's aunt Margaret Duchess of Burgundy would a Burgundian flag be more appropriate? Is there any definite information on this?

I don't think there is any definite evidence for a German mercenary banner or indeed if they had one at all.

I have always wondered what Schwartz's Mercenaries would have looked like,we are told by contempary accounts that they were well armed and armoured and were very tough and somewhat brutal fighters but no clue as to any livery or standards.If no one can shed any light on this subject i would suggest maybe the double headed eagle flag, at least you will know they are Germans.Sorry i cannot be much more help

The Reichsadler was the personal symbol of the Emperor and would not have been carried by Schwarz any more than a English mercenary captain in Burgundian service would carry a standard with the Royal arms of England.

The Wolfegg "Hausbuch" provides a glimps of German military fashion in the 1480's

Not sure if this request has been prompted by someone seeing our announcement but the Partizan give away figure at the show in June 2nd is Martin Schwartz, designed by Mark Evans.

There are pictures of the 'green' at the show website

partizan.org.uk

When doing the research for this I could find almost no pictures of what he should have looked like and certainly nothing anywhere near contemporary. We therefore went with the few modern interpretations that were available combined with what we knew of the style of German armour at the time. We also put him on foot as we presume he would have been late in the battle as the mercenaries were making their last stand.