{"product_id":"landsknecht-starter-army","title":"Pike \u0026 Shotte: Italian Wars 1494-1559 - Landsknecht Starter Army","description":"\u003ch2\u003eLandsknecht Starter Army\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe late 15th and early 16th centuries in Europe were defined by near-constant warfare. National ‘standing armies’ were unheard of and the ambitions of empires were reliant on the mercenaries they could afford to hire.\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\u003eOver the course of the Italian Wars, however, the Landsknecht tactics adapted far more than the Swiss and the use of firearms in conjunction with the Pike would give them the edge, at least tactically.\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. 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\u003eThe Landsknechts, as well as other troops, made good use of the crossbow and then latterly the new arquebus black powder weapon as skirmish screens ahead of the blocks of pikemen or as tactical units in their own right. They were equally useful during sieges.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis box set contains:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e96 Plastic Landsknecht pikemen with command options.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e24 Plastic Landsknechts with Zweihänders\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e24 Plastic Landsknechts with crossbows or arquebus\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e4 Metal Officers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMetal Handbüchse light gun and crew.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFull-colour flag sheet\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlastic Bases\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\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":57785009373565,"sku":"209916002","price":85.6,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5162\/3999\/files\/209916002-Landsknecht-Starter-Army-07_777624ed-2891-41e9-83bc-a836c65f8395.jpg?v=1779214283","url":"https:\/\/battlecitygames.co.uk\/products\/landsknecht-starter-army","provider":"Battle City Games","version":"1.0","type":"link"}