{"product_id":"army-muster-landsknechts-with-zweihanders","title":"Pike \u0026 Shotte: Italian Wars 1494-1559 - Army Muster - Landsknechts with Zweihanders","description":"\u003ch2\u003eArmy Muster - Landsknechts with Zweihanders\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eArmy Muster is a brand new set of bundles tailored to those all-important core units in our mass-battle historical wargames. An easy way to expand existing and new collections alike, each Army Muster bundle contains three copies of one of our plastic boxed sets, plus a complementary product that will support your new soldiers nicely on the tabletop.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLandsknechts with Zweihanders Europe in the late 15th and early 16th centuries was a place of almost constant warfare. With no organised national armies, battlefields were the domain of the mercenary companies of the day – chief amongst these were the colourfully dressed Landsknechts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLandsknechts were instigated by the Holy Roman Emperor, Maximillian I, as a reaction to the Swiss mercenary pikemen that had dominated battlefields for decades before the Italian Wars (1494-1559).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey would be found in most armies in Western Europe of the time, even appearing in the British Isles in the service of Henry VIII. Clashes between rival Landsknecht regiments were particularly bloody, becoming known as ‘Bad War’.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe toughest of a rough bunch were the veteran Doppelsöldner – soldiers on double pay. Their extra payment was for volunteering to fight in the front ranks and the inherent risk that entailed. The trick was surviving to claim the extra pay!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDoppelsöldner would most often be armed with the ranged arquebus or crossbow and arrayed in front of the main blocks of pikemen. Alternatively, they may be armed with the vicious six-foot-long two-handed swords, the Zweihänders, or equally long halberds. Zweihänder-armed Landsknechts would generally be found in the front ranks of the pike blocks or occasionally detached to form their own unit for special roles as well as providing protection for the unit’s colour party. The famous German mercenaries, the Black Band, included 2,000 two-handed swordsmen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis Army Muster Bundle Contains enough miniatures to make 36 Landsknechts with ith two-handed swords and 36 with halberds. Additionally, this bundle contains the character Kaiser Maximilillian I for free, in both young and old guises Waging war against France and within Italy, Maximillian hired sleuths of Landsknechts and was keen to give the men freedom to wear what they wanted, resulting in plumes, slashed sleeves and bright colours.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"\u003eModels supplied unassembled and unpainted \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eProduct Details\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBrand:\u003c\/strong\u003e Warlord Games\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGame System:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pike \u0026amp; Shotte\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFaction:\u003c\/strong\u003e Italian Wars 1494-1559\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eStock Information\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf this item is not currently in stock at time of order, we will order it for you as a \u003cstrong\u003eDirect Order\u003c\/strong\u003e from Warlord Games.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDirect Order items are sourced directly from the manufacturer on your behalf. Delivery times may be longer than standard in-stock items and can vary depending on supplier availability.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlease Note:\u003c\/strong\u003e If your order includes a Direct Order item, these items may ship separately from in-stock products.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Warlord Games","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57785009275261,"sku":"209916005","price":66.8,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5162\/3999\/files\/209916005_ArmyMusterLandsknechtswithZweihanders01_b14f9fe2-958e-4bca-b2a8-795712601afc.jpg?v=1779212844","url":"https:\/\/battlecitygames.co.uk\/products\/army-muster-landsknechts-with-zweihanders","provider":"Battle City Games","version":"1.0","type":"link"}