"HYW mixed weapon units " Topic

Hi All , I am in process of painting up a large batch of very generic HYW figures from BTD, for no particular army or period. The aim is to get as many done as possible to use for both generic infantry in fantasy and historical when I need to boost numbers . There are allot of spearmen with their shields strapped to their back and allot of chaps holding various polearms ( voulge ?).All of the figures are wearing quilted gambesons. From a historical perspective , did the generic infantry have mixed polearm /spear units ? Thankyou in advance for any replies

Yes, and no. Dedicated "pike" units had uniform "stickers". But melee weapon equipped infantry always had a variety of weapons. Usually a "spear" unit had sidearms of variety, while all being spear armed. Shields were not strapped to the back very often. Shield bearing troops carried them to use them. The exception would be a small buckler carried by an archer or crossbowman. And those were usually carried at the waist, not across the back.

yeah I don't actually understand why BTD did all of the shields strapped to the back on these figures. Most of them are holding the spear two handed , but even from my re-enactment days I know I'd prefer a spear and shield used together if I had them .
Ok ill mix some others in ,, thanks

Are the BTD figures supposed to be Flemish pike?
I haven't seen source material with them strapping the shield to their back but it might explain the two handed grip if they are trying to portray them as pike.

Mediaeval mixed units may not just have been a jumble of whatever kit the men brought along. Looking at the Courtrai chest you could interpret the Flemish array as having long spears to the front, goedendags Heavy spiked clubs, after that and then chaps with buckler and falchion. Its not absolute proof, but it makes sense. They are defending against an army that advances with crossbows and then puts in charges of knights. The Flemish have skirmishing crossbows who withdraw as the enemy advances. The French then cannot shoot gaps in the line. The knights charge, are held by the soears and then bashed off their horses by the men with two handed weapon and finished off with a stroke of the falchion. The Flemish formation is a knight grinding machine. There is some logic and support for this in other formations too, such as the Anglo Saxons at Hastings. Based upon that logic it might be good to have your long spears in the front rank with two handed weapons in the rear.

14th Century Flemish soldiers on the Courtrai or Oxford Chest (Kist van Kortrijk)

Druzhina
14th Century Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers