French Picard Pike

This is a slight deviation from the work in hand but how to tackle the French infantry has been playing on my mind for quite a while now, and, it's also my first day off.....what better way to spend it !

So, here's the carefully considered result.

From what I have been able to gather, the known proportion of native French infantry in the Valois army of 1513 is relatively low, or conjectural anyway; the only skirmishes with the English that summer were predominantly cavalry engagements. This will be reflected in the armee that I will put together; Lansquenets will make up the body of the infantry, after that adventurier crossbowmen and then some Picard pike.

The Pike, though relatively small in number (I'll probably do about 16 on a single impetus style base) will be a focal point and I intend to have them representing part of the Therouanne garrison - thus seeing a fair bit of action skirmishing with the English bow and bill during the course of the siege.

I have taken some inspiration as a starting point from the images below;

The painting on the right is from a series which chronicle Louis XII's campaign of 1507 in Genoa, from which it looks like the late 19th century print on the left appears to take some influence from.

The figure is a mix of various parts from the Perry mercenaries boxed set with a metal Tudor head added.

I chose to add the pavise as I considered that this would feature in siege sorties, particularly against the English bowmen. Also, the French captains instructed the front ranks of the Scots pike at Flodden to arm themselves in a similar fashion.

I want to have the whole unit in a standing pose so that all of their pavises with various designs can be proudly held and arrow spattered. I'll sculpt a bit of green stuff slashing on to the sleeves and legs of lesser armed companions.

I have enjoyed putting this figure together and will probably do a few more as and when the mood takes me. Though I think I shall see what is released over the coming year before I make a decision as to what to use for the command figures.......and erm, finish the Tudor army, yep - that's definitely still the priority !

Please do let me know what you think, I really want to get these right.

Stuart.