Pages

Wednesday 9 October 2013

Scottish cavalry

Not the most common of troop types in Medieval Scotland, so I am only planning this one unit, though I may get a few border horse types should there be a "Phase 2". Supposedly less well-equipped and certainly less numerous than their English counterparts, I fully expect these fellows to punch great holes in anything they meet whenever they take to the table!!!

Unsurprisingly, Scottish heraldry is not the most commonly available......Thus, I have used a bit of conjecture and included some stuff from later on, though managed to avoid the red heart motif on Douglas - that one is much later than 1314! Using the Osprey "Bannockburn" title and trying to match shades of grey against known livery from the Scottish shield plate (printed in black and white) in that book has been a good source.

The majority of the figures are Fireforge Mounted Sergeants, the rest 1st Corps. Douglas is a mix of the two. Banners are the usual calico and brass wire.

G

The whole shebang head on.

Front three-quarter no.1

Front three-quarter no.2

Robert Keith, Marshall of Scotland

James Douglas, "the Black". I tried a Fireforge figure on a 1st Corps horse for this one, building up the saddle to account for the fact that 1st Corps figures have the saddle moulded on the figure and Fireforge ones are moulded onto the horses.

Robert Boyd. I have seen a Scottish knight with blue and white checks on red, but I am sure this version is correct for Boyd.

Neil Campbell of Lochawe. I just fancied doing a gyronny pattern.

Lawrence Abernethy. He was belatedly on his way to join the English army for the battle, but fell in with Douglas' pursuing cavalry, so wisely changed his mind and joined in the pursuit of the fleeing Edward.

Conjecture time. I am claiming this one is Peter de Haga. The Osprey gives no colour at all to this, just the pattern, but I have seen evidence to suggest later De Haga's had blue and white colours though a different design, so went with the blue and white.

Somebody Sinclair I think. Possibly later, but I have borrowed it anyway.

Maxwell, again possibly later than 1314.

A couple of Keith retainers who have joined in to make up the numbers. The trumpeter is a 1st Corps figure on a Fireforge horse (minus moulded saddle!), the lancer Fireforge throughout.

7 comments:

  1. I´m going to redo my scotts cavalry for Bannockburn...I went too much for an unarmoured look. I´ll follow your example here..it Looks very impressive:
    The C-o-A for Robert Boyd is correct.
    http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Coats_of_arms_of_Boyd
    Sinclair. William "the Crusader" Sinclair of Roslin, Lord of Roslin
    http://www.geni.com/people/Sir-William-Sinclair-of-Roslin/6000000004533450985
    The Maxwell on is then Sir Eustace de Maxwell, of Carlaverock,

    http://www.clanmacfarlanegenealogy.info/genealogy/TNGWebsite/getperson.php?personID=I3846&tree=CC
    and fought at (as did all of them ) at bannockburn.
    The arms for Petrus de Haga 6th Laird are difficult . He was definately at bannockburn, but as part of the Clan Haig he would have more likely carried this
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Earl_of_Haig_arms.svg
    The only other one I know of is a yellow and red banded but as there´s no confirmation anywhere yours Looks ok.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Great info Paul. The link you have sent through for De Haga is the coat of arms I found myself in connection with another de Haga at Otterburn.

      The pursuit of Edward post-Bannockburn and the cavalry involved is a matter of some conjecture. There were only a few dozen pursuers and pursuit is obviously a task usually given to "light" cavalry, but how a few dozen skirmishers could be expected to chase down a King and his followers and inevitably fight them in order to capture that king is a mystery to me at least. My own opinion is that we would have a mix of types, but the likes of Keith & co would swap the destrier for a palfrey more suited to such a task. I certainly do not see him removing armour to make the horse's task easier, however. Pure conjecture!

      G

      Delete
  2. Great looking cavalry, beautiful shields!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Excellent brush work! Those flags are beautiful too!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks everyone for the info and comments, As always, the feedback is most welcome.

    G

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thankyou, I'm researching some colours for some 15mm wargaming knights and this has been very helpful. Much appreciated, and nice paint job.
    Many thanks :-)

    ReplyDelete