"Afro-Caribbeans/Cimaroons" Topic

I have just gotten hold of a small band (24) of out of production Foundry "Elizabethan" (16th century) "Afro-Caribbeans" with machetes, bows and pole arms.

Has anyone used them and how?

What scenarios do you recommend?

These could be used as locals to add some flavor to late 16th Cent.-early 17th Cent. pirate games. Sir Walter Raleigh, etc. trying to capture the Spanish gold, only to be thwarted by a cimaroon revolt.

Jim

Also as rebels in Jamaica after the English conquest of the island

You can also use them for the 1760's great Jamaica Maroon revolts against the British planters.

These are very nice figures. They can fit into general pirate skirmish games as a third command, attacking Spanish and Pirates in games like the march to Panama. Or as allies of either side.

The DBR Army list of Buccanees has a few of these as Skirmishers(ordinary), Now that the Sk(O) type can shoot, these will be very useful. Mix with the "Negro" pirates with muskets.

The Spanish used them as levies in their conquests in Mexico and southern USA. Cimaroons (a Spanish term) were used by the Conquistadors in their battles with the Aztecs.

Ralph

Ralph (crhkrebs),

I cannot find the historical references for that practice (of using them as levies). Can you point me to them? Any links?

Thanks a million.

Hi Arturo Rex,

Cortes brought some slaves from Cuba in his initial invasion of Mexico. They were most likely porters and such. As the conquest continued and even after the fall of Tenochtitlan, more caribbean slaves were needed and used. Remember, at most, the conquistadors never numbered more than a few hundred men. Their ranks were swelled mostly from Mexica allies and caribbean levies. I use the term levies because they were conscripted by their owners, had no interest in being in Mexico, and were subsequently very poor fighters. I'm at work so I can't remember any specific book, but any good reference on the Spanish conquests of the caribbean and Mexico should do. Also try Oprey's "The Conquistadors".

Also note that the advice given by the others in this thread is also correct, but from a much later time period when the Spanish, English, French and Pirates were fighting in the Caribbean. Yo Ho Ho and bottle of Rum and all that. This isn't an area I know a lot about but by this time African slaves were being imported into the Caribbean. That's why your Foundry models are called Afro-Caribbean.
Hope that helps.

Ralph

Hi Arturo again,

I forgot to mention something in your original question regarding how to use these models and what scenarios can be made up. In Wargames Illustrated a few months back was an article on gaming Conquistadors in WAB. It had some photos of nicely painted Foundry Cimaroons who were less than enthusiastic allies of the Spanish in their battles against the Aztecs.

I wanted some of these figures and now I'm bummed out that they are not available anymore.

Ralph

crhkrebs,

Thank you so much for the info. Now I am really excited that I got 24 of them, and can't wait to paint them and use them in a modified (and, for now, skirmish) WAB WECW game.

Never fails. If I have a question about something I cannot find on my own, you guys always know where the information is. Thanks y'all.

Though I am on disaster relief deployment, I am told that the 24 Afro-Caribbeans have arrived at home and that they look fantastic, that the sculptor, whoever the genius was, did an exceptional work . . . exceeding the detail in many of the other Foundry ranges for that period (like the El Dorados, the Sea Dogs, etc.).

I cannot wait to get back home to see them first hand with my own eyes.

They are in and look amazing!

For a follow-up on this discussion:
TMP link

For those who want to game with figures of CIMARRONES, I have just added a photo to the Practical Soldier albums:

link

They are apparently Foundry "El Dorado Afro-Caribbean Renegades", not listed on the web site but are available if requested by phone.

Hope this helps.

CC