Saturday 2 April 2011

George Neville, Third Lord of Bergavenny (2)


Further to the previous post here we have Neville based with his standard bearer and some men at arms. The figure I chose for Neville is a Landsknecht artillery gunner but I think it works quite well and fits in with the other figures.


I was going to have a couple of billmen on the base but I chose not to as I wanted this base to look slightly different and have more of an emphasis that this is a general. Furthermore, the Tudor army list I have been using (DBR) states that up to 1513 commanders can be based on foot 'in the old fashion' rather than mounted so this gives scope for other lesser known battles of the early Tudor period. One such engagement which springs to mind in this instance is the battle of Blackheath in the summer of 1497 during which Neville was one of the principal commanders under Henry VII.


There were simmering plots throughout the early Tudor period which almost spread into open warfare a number of times, it would be interesting to inject a little license, paint up a few contemporary rebels (Richard de la Pole springs to mind) and game the wars of the roses in the early sixteenth century with artillery and mercenaries much more prevalent.


Now there's food for thought!

9 comments:

  1. Wow mate, these have turned out really well. I especially like the figure you've picked for Neville, it's got a lot of character!

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  2. Hi Stuart,

    I live in Abergavenny and have a strong interest in 28mm War of the Roses. Can you tell me why you are spelling Abergavenny - Bergavenny?

    Raglan,
    http://raglanswelshwargaming.blogspot.com/

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  3. Hello Raglan, good to hear from you.

    George Neville is listed(in old English)above his standard in the 1513 college of arms document as 'My Lord of Bourgayne'.

    In a later document of 1831 there is a line tracing of original standard with a note beneath the above inscription as follows; 'My Lord of Bourgayne (Bergavenny)'

    Where the entymology of the current spelling Abergavenny arises i'm not sure, it could be something lost in translation as in Welsh it is simply 'Y'Fenni' which is a reference to the River Fenni, I'm guessing at some point the Aber was added as a reference to the mouth of the river Fenni as in Abertawe also.

    I've visited Abergavenny quite a few times and have often wondered as to the significance of the black and white cows head which features on the town's crest, perhaps this is derived from the Neville's ?

    PS.

    I have only recently found out that the Talbot family resided at Goodrich at this time so my army has a strong Welsh representation so far!

    All the best

    Stuart

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  4. The black and white cow appears on Edward Neville's (Lord Abergavenny) standard during the War of the Roses. Its actually described as a pied bull passant, horned and hooved, crown about his neck.

    If you send me your email address, I will send you a photo of the standard and some pics of my collection.

    Raglan

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  5. That is a truly splendid base Stuart; good choice for the Abergavenny figure and great composition.
    Looks like you've painted one of his retainers at the rear with blackened armour - any chance of a close-up picture?
    Cheers
    Simon.

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  6. I shall indeed put some more photographs up for you Simon.

    I'd love to see your WOTR standard Raglan, my email address is shown on the right, I shall also dig out the second document from the college of arms for you, this has the Bergavenny reference on it.

    Stuart

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  7. Truly inspiring work Stuart. Love the command miniature in all his splendor!

    Helen

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  8. Greetings, what figure is that leader in the front rank whit his fancy plumed hat?
    Nice figures mate.

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    Replies
    1. Hello, the figure is a Wargames Foundry Landsknecht artillery gunner.

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