"Atheling's Byzantines- Belisarus' Boukellaroi/Bucellarii" Topic

There is a whole gamut of pictures featuring the unit from various angles and single ranks on my blog here:
justaddwater-bedford.blogspot.com/2021/05/belisarus-boukellaroi.html

I present to you Belisarius' Boukellaroi/Bucellarii. I have enjoyed painting up this unit more then any of the rest in the army and I think that is really says something! Every unit from the Aventine Early Byzantine range so far has been a real pleasure to paint up. Minimal cleaning up, perhaps a little filing here and there and very crisp castings. Adam's sculpting is sublime. I really think the whole range is exquisite.

The banner will be a dead giveaway to many so it will come as no surprise that I have painted up this unit as Belisarius' Boukellaroi. I have tried to include as much variation in colour on the horses to keep a real sense of individuality. Same with the bards on the equines. I have equipped the Boukellaroi in similar colours as their equipment would have been personally handed to them by the general himself and a degree of uniformity with minor variations such as patterns on the caparisons beneath the horse armours to allow for a small degree of individual expression without diminishing the uniform look.

I have been debating with myself as to whether to include pennons at the end of the kontos. I am almost certain that pennons would not have been used to decorate such a lengthy weapon as it was used as both a thrusting weapon and a fencing weapon. Fencing with a four meter long "spear" would have been almost impossible with the added encumbrance of the pennon.

I have included a Draco standard in the back rank, carried by an officer, as I believe dressing the ranks would have been paramount for the unit as it entered combat at a cantor. The Draco standard also helps to offset the whopping great banner of Belisarius to the right centre of the unit. In art college speak by placing the Draco where I have the eye will move around the unit. Or at least that is my hope!

Stunning, absolutely stunning.

On the pennons: the Strategikon, admittedly half a century or so after Belisarius, says that the lances should have pennons but that:

"We do not recommend carrying pennons on the lances during battle. For they are as useless in combat as they are valuable for presenting a fine appearance at inspections, sieges or parades. …. The pennons may be flown until the enemy are about a mile away, then they should be furled and put back in their cases."

Fantastic job!!

Jim

Absolutely fantastic. I really love your "minor variations such as patterns on the caparisons". They are exquisite.

They look formidable indeed. Beautiful work!

Outstanding work Darrell

Very nice work. I gave up painting a 15mm Belsarian some years ago. Your skills are admirable.

Amazing work – thanks for sharing

Beautiful work! Love them.

Great brush work,outstanding.

Thanks you all very, very much for your kind and encouraging words.

[quotq]On the pennons: the Strategikon, admittedly half a century or so after Belisarius, says that the lances should have pennons but that:

"We do not recommend carrying pennons on the lances during battle. For they are as useless in combat as they are valuable for presenting a fine appearance at inspections, sieges or parades. …. The pennons may be flown until the enemy are about a mile away, then they should be furled and put back in their cases."

GurKhan
I very much agree. I assume you mean Book in reference to Cavalry FormationsII?

The Strategikon was my reasoning for avoiding adding any pennons. It stands to very good reason that when using a Kontos, all four metres of the damn thing, on a horse, possibly jabbing and fencing, the last thine one would need to add any encumbrance.

Also, if it's good enough to leave them out in a slightly later period where is seems more likely then not that the Kontos was dropped for the spear/lance it makes even more sense.

There is still that nagging Art School voice in my head saying, "Go on! Add them!" LOL