"The Gallowglass Warriors" Topic

A new SandRhoman film just published on YouTube (April 30):

YouTube link

As usual, very good visuals.

Barry

I quite enjoyed that, thanks for the link.

Good timing too, we are adding Medieval Irish to our catalogue in the next week or so, to join the Hiberno-Norse who are already there.

Pictures will eventually follow as I work my way through them! I think medieval Ireland is a fertile ground for 40mm skirmish style games. Lots of Lion Rampant opportunity.

(www.triguardminiatures.com)

Phil

thanks

I really enjoyed the video – as you say, the visuals are very good with some good ideas for painting minis. I thought that the claims regarding the Gallowglass being the best mercenaries in Europe somewhat exaggerated. The Swiss and the Landsknechts might have had something to say about that! No doubt that they were fearsome opponents though. Thanks for the link.

Does anyone know if the gallowglass in the 14th-15th century increased the armor that they wore, in response to changes in English armament? All the depictions I have seen of them show them in hauberks which is fine in the 11th-13th century versus knights and small bows, and again in the 16th century versus pike and arquebus (taking into account the low rate of fire of the latter). But against English warbows a hauberk alone is essentially worthless (modern day tests demonstrating the ease with which warbows pierce mail). So I'm wondering if in this middle period the gallowglass tended to add brigandines or coats-of-plates to their panoply. I haven't seen any illustration of this but it seems logical to me.

Hi Eumelus, I am not an expert on the period but I have conducted some research in order to paint an Irish contingent for my WOTR army. My interest was prompted by the battle of Stoke Field, that took place in 1487. There was an Irish force at the battle and whilst I cant find a specific reference to Gallowglass being present it seems reasonable to suggest that they were part of Sir Thomas Fitzgeralds retinue.
From what I can find, the Irish didn't seem to change their style of dress or armour throughout the period. There may well have been some individuals that picked up some extra armour plate but it seems that they relied on fast movement and a fearsome charge on the battlefield.
The Irish didn't fair well at the Battle of Stoke Field – 'The lack of body armour on the Irish troops in particular meant that they were cut down in increasing numbers by repeated showers of arrows'.
If you o to my blog you can find more of the research that I conducted – the ink below is to the Irish cavalry, who again, didn't seem to change their dress or tactics.
link
I hope that this helps, regards, Steve

@Arcane Steve:
I have always been of the opinion that Gallowglas WERE used at Mortimer's Cross and Stoke Field.
If you read Irish military histories, Gallowglas and Kerns often fought in close company. Also in Ireland, Kerns were mainly used for raiding and cattle theft. If a stand-up fight was intended then the Gallowglas would be there, they were the main line of battle troops.
Finally Albrecht Durer drew Gallowglas and Kerns in Germany in the 1520s. If Gallowglas can get to Germany then they could certainly get to England.

In my army list for the so-called Wars of the Roses I allow Kerns and Gallowglas on a roughly 50/50 ratio.

Barry

As I use only a couple of units in my Hail Caesar WotR army, I use them as a mixed unit, as below.

Deploy figures in two ranks with Kern at front as skirmishers.
When skirmishers are in front, shooters have a -1 to hit penalty.
Morale 5+ until shaken then 6+ for rest of game.
As a charge reaction a retreat behind the Gallowglas is free. A charge reaction giving closing fire and retreat is an order, a fail results in firing and retreating but combat is disordered.
After combat, it takes 1 move for skirmishers to be deployed in front again, this can be done as a free move by victorious unit (unless disordered or shaken).

We have them with a clash of 7, Sustained of 6, short range/support of 3 and no long range attacks. Morale is as above and stamina is the usual 6.

This has worked well when we have used it.