The Livonian Brothers of the sword

    LIVONIAN BROTHERS OF THE SWORD
Fratres militiæ Christi Livoniae

Figures from Curteys Miniatures pack MEE10

Bishop Albert of Riga founded the military order of the Livonian Brothers of the Sword (Latin: Fratres militiæ Christi Livoniae, German: Schwertbrüderorden) in 1202; Pope Innocent III sanctioned the establishment in 1204. The membership of the order comprised German "warrior monks".

Figures from Curteys Miniatures pack MEE14

Alternative names of the Order include the Christ Knights, Sword Brethren, and The Militia of Christ of Livonia. Following their defeat by the Samogitians and Semigalians in the Battle of Schaulen (Saule) in 1236, the surviving Brothers merged into the Teutonic Order as an autonomous branch and became known as the Livonian Order.  

THE KNIGHTS OF THE ORDER OF DOBRZYN

The Prussian Cavaliers of Jesus Christ

Figures from Curteys Miniatures pack MEE12

The Order was created by Christian of Oliva, the first Bishop of Prussia (1216-1228), to protect Masovia and Kuyavia against raids from the pagan Prussians who defied Duke Konrad I of Masovia's attempts to subjugate them. The creation of the Order was confirmed by Pope Gregory IX (1227-1241) in 1228. Duke Konrad granted the Knights the town of Dobrzyń (Dobrin) and the surrounding Dobrzyń Land (German: Dobriner Land), territory located south of and adjacent to Prussia. The Order of Dobrzyń was the only military order created in the territory of Poland.

Figures from Curteys Miniatures pack MEE14

In the face of the Order's lack of success in battle against the Prussians, as well as their small number (at its highest, 35 knights), in around 1235 the majority of the Knights joined the Teutonic Order, as allowed by a papal document, the Golden Bull of Rieti. In 1237 the rest of the Brothers were moved by Konrad to Drohiczyn to increase the military strength of that outpost. The Brothers of Dobrin were last mentioned when Drohiczyn was captured by Prince Daniel of Kiev in 1240.

Figures from Curteys Miniatures pack MEE12

All  shield, horse barding and penant tranfers are by Battle Flag available on the Curteys Miniatures website.

For more information on the Teutonic order follow this link,Teutonic home page.

The battle of Changping a Warring States demo game

Battle of Changping ( Part 1)

2006  Curteys Miniatures Demo game.

All figures are from the 28mm

Warring States and Han Chinese ranges by Curteys Miniatures

I was trawling through photos of some of our past demo games and thought it would be a good idea to do a series of blogs showing the games as a series of photos.

General and army standard, ready to lead the troops.

Initial set up looking towards the mountain pass.

The Zhao army forming up out side their camp.

View of the Zhao  4 horse heavy chariots.

Qin chariots supported by close order infantry .

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Close up of the mighty 4 horse chariots.

Qin left flank with native auxiliaries.

Armoured spearmen.

The Zhao army begins to advance.

Zhao chariots clash with Qin spearmen.

Qin reinforcements heading through the pass.

Armoured crossbowmen.

Zhao levies waiting behind improvised barricades.

Qin reinforcements held up by Zhao levies
 defending barricades in the mountain pass.

More to follow......

New 28mm Teutonic Knights by Curteys Miniatures

New 28mm Teutonic Knights by Curteys Miniatures

The Teutonic Knights



Figure from METo6 transfers on bardinf, shield and surcoat etc by Battle Flag

The knights oath.

"I... do profess and promise chastity, giving up all property, and obedience to God and the Blessed Virgin Mary and to you, Brother ... Master of the Teutonic Order, and to your successors, according to the Rules and Regulations of the Order. And I will be obedient to you, and to your successors, even unto death."

Officially recognised as a military order around 1190 AD ,during the siege of  Acre. The Teutonic Knights of the Hospital of the Blessed Virgin at Jerusalem as they were known became one of the greatest religious military orders in Europe. From their humble beginnings aiding sick pilgrims in the Holy land to controlling large amounts of territory in the Baltic.



Figures from MET06, transfers by Battle Flag

Curteys Miniatures have been releasing a range of 28mm C13th  Teutonic knights over the last few months inc  command, Knights with lance, couched and in upright positions also with assorted hand weapons .

Figures form packs MET06 and MET08, Flag,shields,crosses on barding etc by Battle Flag water slide transfers. 

These 28mm C13th Teutonic knights have been done to represent knights as they may have appeared when facing the Mongols at Liegnitz in 1241 or the Saracens in the Holy Land during the final years of the Crusades.

Shields, crosses on surcoats, horse barding and flag are all water slide transfers by Battle Flag available HERE, or direct from Battle Flag Waterslide transfers. More sheets are available.

New 28mm Turcopoles by Curteys Minatures

The Turcopoles were first encountered by the Crusaders during the 1st crusade while fighting for the Byzantines. These auxiliary cavalry were recruited from  mixed Greek and Turkish origin, but  later when employed by the Crusaders  were probably recruited from converted Seljuk Turks or Christian Syrians .

28mm Curteys Miniatures Turcopoles with bow ME60

Primarily employed as light cavalry   armed with light lance and bows the Turcopoles would usualy be found acting as skirmishers, scouts, and mounted archers, used  but on occasion could be as rear ranks in a charge to support the Frankish Crusading knights.

28mm Curteys Miniatures Turcopoles with spear ME57

Turcopole style light cavalry could be found serving throughout the Holy Land fighting for both military order and the secular armies of Outremer.
Following the expulsion of  the military orders out of the Holy Land Turcopole light cavalry  were established on  Cyprus with the Knights Templar on Rhodes and Malta with the Knights Hospitaller, while the Teutonic Knights called its own northern native light cavalry 'Turcopolen'.this pobably reflects the transformation from an ethnic origin to a name associated with the actions performed by troops of a certain type.

The 28mm Turcopole figures shown are the first 2 packs available towards our ever expanding range of C13th medieval figures, more packs including Turcopole command, Turcopoles armed with hand weapon or throwing spear and Turcopole archers loading are in the pipeline.