Vikings!

                                

Border Reivers

From Hoka Hey Wargaming ´s superb range of figures, sculpted by the late Jim Bowen and previously sold by Monolith under the Graven images label.
I really enjoyed painting these fine fellows, who now occupy a place of honour in my modest collection. 
Special thanks to Alan Rudd, Overlord of Hoka Hey Wargaming and Extraordinary Gentleman :D

Onde Vaz, Luís?

                          http://en.wikipedia.org/

The Moors - Berber

My very first 28mm Moors - Artizan´s Berber Foot Command:

 

Join the Archers, they said... travel the world, they said...

Apesar do seu reduzido número - c. 200-300 - os arqueiros ingleses presentes em Aljubarrota desempenharam um papel decisivo: quebraram o ímpeto da carga de cavalaria pesada Francesa que deu início à batalha, anulando-o; e castigaram o subsequente avanço da infantaria Castelhana ( na qual se incluiam Portugueses leais ao Rei de Castela) com uma pesada chuva de flechas, causando elevadas baixas.

            

                                             "Setting up the defense is a dirty job....

                                     but somebody´s got to do it....

   

                                                 .... maybe I´ll just stay here in the back, looking busy...

                                 ... cheer up, lads, I´m a 100% behind you!"

                                    
In spite of their small numbers - c. 200-300 - the English archers at Aljubarrota played a decisive role:  they broke the momentum of the French heavy cavalry charge, nullifying it; and punished the following advance of the Castillian Infantry (which included Portuguese, loyal to the King of Castille) with a heavy rain of arrows, causing a tremendous number of casualties.

Pedro González de Mendoza, "El de Aljubarrota"

Pedro González de Mendoza, Senhor de Hita e Buitrago foi um dos mais corajosos e notáveis nobres ao serviço de Juan I de Castela.   
Militar e poeta, foi denominado "o herói de Aljubarrota", por ter dado o seu cavalo ao seu Rei, permitindo-lhe escapar do campo de batalha durante a debandada das tropas castelhanas.  
Morreu combatendo, a pé, as tropas portuguesas. 
O seu galante gesto foi imortalizado na pintura de Mariano Salvador Maella, que hoje pode ser vista em Madrid, no Museu do Prado.

Pedro Gonzalez de Mendoza, Lord of Hita and Buitrago was one of the bravest and most notable nobleman at Juan I of Castile service. 
A soldier and a poet, he was called "the hero of Aljubarrota " for giving his horse to his King, allowing him to flee the battlefield during the debacle of Castilian troops. 
He remained, fighting on foot, and was killed by the Portuguese troops. 
His gallant gesture was immortalized in Mariano Salvador Maella painting, which today can be seen in Madrid , the Prado Museum .

Aljubarrota - Animatics

Aqui / Here