{"product_id":"landsknecht-starter-army","title":"Landsknecht Starter Army","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe late 15th and early 16th centuries in Europe were defined by near-constant warfare. National 'standing armies' were unheard of and the ambitions of empires were reliant on the mercenaries they could afford to hire.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e Landsknechts were instigated by the Holy Roman Emperor, Maximillian I, as a reaction to the Swiss Mercenary Pikemen that had dominated battlefields for decades before the Italian Wars (1494-1559).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e Over the course of the Italian Wars, however, the Landsknecht tactics adapted far more than the Swiss and the use of firearms in conjunction with the Pike would give them the edge, at least tactically.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e The toughest of a rough bunch were the veteran DoppelsÃoldner - soldiers on double pay. Their extra payment was for volunteering to fight in the front ranks and the inherent risk that entailed. The trick was surviving to claim the extra pay!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e DoppelsÃoldner would most often be armed with the ranged arquebus or crossbow and arrayed in front of the main blocks of pikemen. Alternatively they may be armed with the vicious six foot long two-handed swords, the ZweihÃanders, or equally long halberds. ZweihÃander-armed Landsknechts would generally be found in the front ranks of the pike blocks or occasionally detached to form their own unit for special roles as well as providing protection for the unit's colour party. The famous German mercenaries, the Black Band, included 2,000 two-handed swordsmen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e The Landsknechts, as well as other troops, made good use of the crossbow and then latterly the new arquebus black powder weapon as skirmish screens ahead of the blocks of pikemen or as tactical units in their own right. They were equally useful during sieges.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e This box set contains:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e 96 Plastic Landsknecht pikemen with command options.\u003cbr\u003e\n 24 Plastic Landsknechts with ZweihÃanders\u003cbr\u003e\n 24 Plastic Landsknechts with crossbows or arquebus\u003cbr\u003e\n 4 Metal Officers.\u003cbr\u003e\n Metal Handbüchse light gun and crew.\u003cbr\u003e\n Full-colour flag sheet\u003cbr\u003e\n Plastic Bases\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Warlord Games","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56050047418746,"sku":"ZWAG-209916002","price":96.34,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0916\/9970\/8282\/files\/Landsknecht-Starter-Army.jpg?v=1760984579","url":"https:\/\/zatu.com\/en-fr\/products\/landsknecht-starter-army","provider":"Zatu Games","version":"1.0","type":"link"}