"Tudor uniforms at Bosworth" Topic

Hello all. Henry had Welsh archers and French mercenaries at Bosworth. Any info on how these troops were uniformed (if any) would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

John

The Tudor livery colours were green and white so you could figures like this

I think that the majority of the French Mercenaries were actually Burgundian so may look something like this

Thanks Toronto!

Toronto do you have a link to your blog please

The French mercenaries from the King's domain, not Burgundy. It may be that some of the money given to clothe his men was spent by Henry on these mercenaries, in which case his livery is possible.

Hi Frostie

I don't have a blog The images I posted are from King and Country's War of the Roses Collection as seen on the Sierra Toy Soldiers site

This is the direct link

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The French mercenaries from the King's domain, not Burgundy. It may be that some of the money given to clothe his men was spent by Henry on these mercenaries, in which case his livery is possible.

The livery worn by a mercenary in the WOTR was dependant on who was paying him.

Henry had Welsh archers at Bosworth.

The livery worn by the Welsh archers would be dependant on whose retinue they were part of.

With both the French and the Welsh, depends if the money, cloth and time were all available.

As a further thing about Burgundy – some mercenaries were sent against Henry VII in 1487 by Margaret. I doubt these would be in the blue and white livery largely since I haven't seen anything about it still be used after Charles the Bold's death. The only livery I've seen suggested for the Hapsburg period is for some time after.

It may be that they wore the red saltire though I would guess not.

I didn't think mercenaries wore livery?

And also I thought the Tudor rose was invented after Bosworth?

I didn't think mercenaries wore livery?

The term "livery" comes from the concept of "livery and maintenance"
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In a sense, all the members of a 15th century retinue were mercenaries, in that they were paid for their military service. Mercenaries would show their allegiance to a particular leader in the same way.

And also I thought the Tudor rose was invented after Bosworth?

It was. I don't think anyone on this thread has said it wasn't?

"I don't think anyone on this thread has said it wasn't?"

So are the figures at the top in the white and green sporting Lancaster roses? Sorry I looked quick on my cell phone small pic. Although I doubt anyone was wearing the Lancaster rose as a badge at Bosworth.

"In a sense, all the members of a 15th century retinue were mercenaries, in that they were paid for their military service"

In a sense so are all soldiers except in the WotR some were under contract and some sworn to support their lord. I will look for the reference but I do remember reading recently "contract" mercenaries didn't wear livery so Henry's French most likely did not.

Possibly worth noting that Henry VII really pushed the Welsh "Red Dragon" thing in the Bosworth Campaign, including having a red dragon oh his standard. If someone were painting a Tudor livery for just that one battle, Tudor green and white with a red dragon in lieu of the later Tudor Rose might not be a bad guess.

Strictly a guess, though, given the (wretched) state of documentation on the campaign. For myself, I generally shoot for an army suitable for the war rather than a match for a particular battle. No way I'm building both a Towton and a Bosworth army, for instance.

I think Citadelsix is a very reliable source for livery badges that have been thoroughly researched. Geoff has these as the Henry VII livery
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The livery banners for Henry VII show a rose.
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