{"product_id":"landsknechts-with-zweihanders","title":"Pike \u0026 Shotte: Italian Wars 1494-1559 - Landsknechts with Zweihanders","description":"\u003ch2\u003eLandsknechts with Zweihanders\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEurope 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\u003eThe figures in this boxed set can be used to represent the Landsknechts raised in Germany or other nations of the period and can be armed with either halberds or Zweihänder swords.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis box set contains:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003ePlastic and metal components to make 12 Landsknechts with two-handed swords and 12 with halberds\u003c\/span\u003e.\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":57785009504637,"sku":"202016002","price":22.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5162\/3999\/files\/202016002-Landsknechts-with-Zweihanders-box-front_e12c623d-da1d-4d25-9c24-cfa47dcac27a.jpg?v=1779214286","url":"https:\/\/battlecitygames.co.uk\/products\/landsknechts-with-zweihanders","provider":"Battle City Games","version":"1.0","type":"link"}