1st Game of Lion Rampant.

We managed to fit a run through of Lion Rampant this afternoon.

As they were still sat on the table from when i took photos for the starter armies, thought we might as well use them.

It'll take a bit of getting used to as we're used to larger games but should be fun.

The Mongol Horde swarm across the steppe, well a raiding party really.

A Teutonic host prepare to defend a farmstead. Buildings are from 1st Corps.

Teutonic Sergeants take up position outside the farm.

Knights crossing a plowed field, not a good idea trying to get across rough terrain.

No stopping the knights though when they make contact. We called it a day there as half the Mongol units were below 50%.

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.

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.