The Independent Duchy of Lolland

Here is the background of my semi-imagination for use in Maurice.

The Flag of Lolland

 The duchy of Lolland is ruled by Asger Knuth III, Hertug af Lolland and cousin to the King of Denmark. At only seventeen years of age he has already ruled Lolland for two years following his father's unfortunate and suspicious death. Asger has yet to prove himself in combat but has shown to be an astute student of tactics and quite the capable hunter.

Hertug Soren I

Hertug Asger III

Having split away from Danish rule the duchy of Lolland is isolated enough to move independantly in European politics. Further the rich farmland held by the Duke ensures that the Danish crown remains in debt to them, for without the Lollandic grain supply, the King would need to seek sustanance for his people abroad. Under the firm rule of the Knuths the duchy's military and navy has greatly expanded. Lollandic ships, commanded by Admiral Christen Benedixen, patrol the Westerm part of the sound enforcing the travel tax laid down by the current Hertug's late father, Soren I, as well as ensuring that no invading army, be it foreign or that of the Danish King, will set foot in their homeland.

Admiral Christen Benedixen

The army may not have the size of some of their neighbours but they make up for it by their high skill level. Military service is manditory in the duchy thus the well trained population can be called upon in times of need. During the previous Hertugi's reign the Lollanders began to emmulate the military of the Prussians. This can be attributed to the fact that both the late Soren and his brother Jakob studied at a Prussian military academy. The late Duke so impressed with the Prussian grenadiers instituted the wearing of mitres for all the Lolland army's infantry regiments.

Lolland is predominantly a Lutheran region and thus is closely linked to the other Scandinavian nations as well as Britain and the Northern German states, though this does not preclude conflicts from arrising between them as was seen during Soren I's reign. The Danish King threatened Lolland with invasion but after the naval battle in Strostrøm Bay the Lollanders sunk and captured a quarter of the Royal fleet forcing the monarch to the negotiating table. After this heroic action Hertug Soren I formally recognized the Lollandic marines and the Dukes now train them to become the most elite warriors of the island.

In times of need the Hertugi will lead the Lollandic army himself but when involving the duchy in foreign conflicts a general will be assigned to lead the Lollandic forces. Under the current Duke's reign this has been his uncle Jakob Knuth, an eccentric adventurer having served in a Prussian hussar regiment before returning to his homeland upon his brother's death. Jakob has the stern and well organised control of his forces, in the Prussian manner, as well as an easy going demeanour that has gained him great loyalty from the soldiers. This has caused a great bubbling of gossip in court where many nobles speculate that he may lead a coupe against his nephew and claim the duchy for himself. As of now though no tension is seen between the two. 

Generelt Jakob Knuth

Secret Santa!

Just want to say thank you to my "Secret" Santa. I had been floundering in the wind on the 6mm Maurice project but these Baccus figures have given me the drive needed. Soon I will be putting up posts about my (semi) Imagination, the Independant Duchy of Lolland.

Thank you Ian and Cath for making this a reality and I will most definitely be taking part next year again. I'm also excited that my gift reached the recipient and by the looks of it they are ecstatic! On top of that the supplier who I went through was most generous in throwing in freebies.

PS: There was a note in my order revealing who my "Secret" Santa was.

Recent Games

This Wednesday and the past I have played two outstanding games against Alex at my local club, here is his blog you should check it out. http://thebentbristle.wordpress.com/ He is a slow painter but a very good one that puts my speedy painting to shame.

Last week we played our first game of Song of Drums and Shakos in an attack and defend scenario where my boys of the Royal Irish Fusiliers fought off his Gordon Highlanders whilst defending a couple of casks of whiskey. The Irish were victorious at pushing back the Scots. I had planned to photograph the game and make a battle report but got so sucked into it I totally forgot. It had some great moments though such as my downed NCO managing to evade a bunch of bayonet thrusts long enough for his boys to come up and slaughter the Scottish NCO causing a bunch of the skirt wearing buggers to flee. I will try to remember to photograph the next game and write a report.

Then last Wednesday I faced off against Alex again while I was introducing my friend to Bolt Action. My friend Mykola and I played the defending Fallschrimjägers who had to stop the American paras from crossing the table. Again I forgot to take photos but luckily Firey Monkey Boy (another club member), who was looking up rules for us and picking our dice from the pot, took photos and wrote up a report. Here is his great blog and the battle that ensued. http://themonkeythatwalks.blogspot.ca/2012/12/dogs-eye-view.html

After last night I have decided I would like to expand my Fallschrimjägers to 1000 points and have been playing with the calculations to do that. It seems I will only need to paint up a handful more of the airborne soldiers and add a Stug III G. This may become a pre-Christmas project since I already have the infantry figures and a single tank won't break the bank for me.

Lastly in my free time I have painted up two more figures for the retinue of Thomas Grene and have begun on two more as well as the first test billman for John Tayte's retinue.

That has been my last couple of weeks in wargaming

Liebster Blog Award

Well I have been nominated for a Liebster award on my latest WOTR post, this caught me off guard since my painting is nothing special in my mind. The Liebster award is designed to bring greater attention to small blogs so that their readership may increase and to allow others to find like minded blogs that they may not have come upon otherwise. That said most of my nominations will likely be familiar to my readers. I was nominated by Moiterei (wish I knew his name but I don't speak German and can't read his profile) he is an awesome painter and I am honoured by his interest in my measly works. His blog can be found here http://moitereisbuntewelt.blogspot.ca/

The rules of the Liebster awards are as follows:

-"Copy and paste," the award on your blog and talk about it.
-Post a link back to the blogger who gave you the award.
-Select five blogs of 200 followers or less to nominate for the award and inform them of your decision by commenting on a post.

Here are my five nominations in no specific order.

1. http://inevitablespark.blogspot.ca/ Johnathan is painting up a marvelous Carthaginian force for Hail Caeser and also has some great ECW units. His painting style is clean and beautiful and he does what so few of us can do and focuses on a single project at a time.

2. http://arlequinsworld.blogspot.ca/ This is Jim's blog and though it doesn't contain much in terms of miniatures (I don't think I've seen a single miniatures post since I became a blogger) it is none the less one of the best miniatures blogs I know of. He is great at interpreting and re-writing rules and at giving summaries of historical conflicts to help gamers put them into perspective. This later skill has gained him my respect as a medievalist for he is well researched and has a clear writing style. Of great interest to me is his Wars of the Roses and Burgundian Succession rule tweaks for Dux Britanniarum.

3. http://scyldandseax.blogspot.ca/ Max is a young Frenchman with an interest in the Middle Ages. He, like Jim, is working on converting the Dux Britanniarum rules to place them into the 15th century. He also puts up reports of his test games with his great Perry conversions and builds. From his posts about his fictional nation  Runissia it is clear he has a great imagination that will serve him well in his wargaming.

4. http://flintlockandtomahawk.blogspot.ca/ This one is a little different. It doesn't do miniatures (though does have miniature related posts) but instead blogs about anything to do with the French and Indian Wars. Everyday I see there is at least one new post for me to look at and learn more about the period. My club in the new year will be starting forces for Muskets and Tomahawks set during the French and Indian Wars.

5. http://wattswargames.blogspot.ca/ Lastly I would like to nominate one of the guys at my gaming club who's painting is outstanding. I feel his blog speaks for itself and hopefully his light infantry will be up and ready for some SDS action soon.

John Tayte of Eastwood

The second warband I have begun as of late is that of John Tayte of Eastwood. The younger son of the lord of Eastwood John had no inheritance and sought his fortune working as a mercenary in Italy. He amassed a great amount of wealth and the loyalty of some of his mercenary soldiers but was recalled to England upon the death of his elder brother in an accident, to take over the Eastwood estate. 

Although England lacks the flamboyant air of Italy John has decided to dive directly into local politics to cement a name for himself in his homeland. The biggest hurdle he faces is the fact that the Eastwood estate is small, thus he has found in his father's records deeds to some of the neighbouring lands. Of course his neighbours, such as Thomas of Langley, are fighting in court the validity of these deeds but everyday it seems the two men are being drawn closer to armed conflict. If it comes to blows John is supported by some locals he has retained, but also a core of experienced mercenaries from his service in Italy.

This is my first fully completed and based cavalry figure (though I have also now based Sir Henry Grey and his retainer) and I am very happy with how it turned out. Comments and criticism is always welcome.

The Grenes of Langley Part One

Sorry for no updates as of lately but school has been in the way and then I was hit with a case of the lazies. After the release of Silent Invader's Wars of the Roses ruleset titled "By Arrow, Bill & Sword," I have been inspired to whip together and finish some warbands. The rules are free and can be accessed, along with Q&A pertaining to them here. http://www.lead-adventure.de/index.php?topic=48144.0

Here is the first installment of the warband of the Grenes of Langley. The Grenes hold the manor of Langley just to the South of Codnor and are a fictional family I am creating for my Wars of the Roses project. 

The oldest brother, Thomas, is a sly cunning tactician who makes up for his lack of physical strength by being treacherous and highly intelligent. The Grenes under his patrimony have risen quickly in wealth and status thanks to their well situated mill and the tolls levied there. These high tolls have begun to cause tension with Thomas' neighbours, especially John Tayte of Eastwood newly arrived from abroad after the death of his eldest brother. Right around the time the mill at Langley was built the neighbouring mills begun being attacked by an unknown arson. 

Here is Thomas with the first of his retainers. I still need to think of some sort of livery badge to paint onto them. Something simple enough for my mediocre painting skills. Comments and criticism always welcome.

Thomas Grene of Langley