Landsknechts with Zweihanders: Wargaming Miniatures

Revised Content:

Europe in the late 15th and early 16th centuries was a tumultuous period, marked by near-constant warfare. In the absence of organized national armies, the battlefield was dominated by the mercenary companies of the era, chief among them the colorfully attired Landsknechts. The Landsknechts were established by the Holy Roman Emperor, Maximillian I, as a response to the Swiss mercenary pikemen who had dominated the battlefields for decades prior to the Italian Wars (1494-1559). These mercenary troops could be found in the armies of most Western European powers at the time, even making appearances in the service of Henry VIII in the British Isles.

The clashes between rival Landsknecht regiments were particularly brutal, earning them the moniker "Bad War." The toughest among this rugged group were the veteran Doppelsöldner, soldiers who received double pay for their willingness to fight in the front ranks, facing the inherent risks. These Doppelsöldner were often armed with ranged weapons such as the arquebus or crossbow, deployed in front of the main blocks of pikemen. Alternatively, they might wield the vicious six-foot-long two-handed swords, known as Zweihänders, or the equally long halberds.

The Zweihänder-armed Landsknechts were typically found in the front ranks of the pike blocks or occasionally formed into their own specialized units, serving as the color party's protectors. The renowned German mercenary unit, the Black Band, included 2,000 two-handed swordsmen among its ranks.

This boxed set allows you to recreate the Landsknechts raised in Germany or other nations of the period, armed with either halberds or Zweihänder swords. The set contains plastic and metal components to assemble 12 Landsknechts with two-handed swords and 12 with halberds, as well as plastic bases. The models are supplied unassembled and unpainted, allowing you to customize them to your liking.

product information: