Hi guys,
I have just finished a command base for my TYW French army in the Pyrinees/Catalan front.
As I normally play with Warlord's Pike & Shotte rules, I need several command bases for the different "battalias" in the games, so I was (and I am!) short of commanders for my armies in the 30 Years War period.
I wanted a commander who could be a generic general, but also I wanted to paint a miniature based on a real historical character.
So I opted for a Catalan who revolted against the Hispanic crown in 1640, Josep Margarit.
Josep Margarit was the main military commander of the Franco-Catalan forces during the Reapers' War (a War inside the 30 Years War). In January 1641, his actions prevented the Hispanic Crown from supplying its troops during the siege of Barcelona, contributing decisively to the victory at the Battle of Montjuïc.
He later led the defense of Camp de Tarragona, commanding the miquelets, and played a key role in multiple engagements that year: Valls, Cambrils , Constantí (freeing 400 prisoners), and fighting in Montmeló, Vilafranca del Penedès, and La Granada. Some historians attribute his effectiveness to experience in banditry and guerrilla warfare.
In September 1641, he joined a diplomatic mission that secured cooperation with Louis XIII.
Margarit’s military successes made him a prime target for the Hispanic Crown. In 1642, he blocked Castilian troops under Pedro de Aragón from crossing Catalonia to aid forces in Roussillon. He later led the recovery of the Val d’Aran (1643), organized grain supplies for Catalan troops in Lleida (1646), and became the leading figure in the resistance during the siege of Barcelona (1651–52), refusing to abandon the plague-stricken city.
After its capitulation, he continued leading military raids (Ponts, Solsona, Cardona, Ribelles, Cadaqués, La Seu d’Urgell) in an attempt to regain control of Catalonia. The Treaty of the Pyrenees 1659 ultimately ended his hopes of defeating the Hispanic Crown.
I chose a miniature that had that kind of strange moustache, long hair and that black hat similar to those worn by priests. Also the figure had to be in armor, and wear a white sash.
As you can imagine, a I had to make some conversion, I cut a plastic head from one of the commanders of the plastic sprue of Warlord's TYW/ECW captains, and the body of a metal commander from 1898 miniatures.
The other guy in the base is an officer from The Assault Group's TYW range. I painted them using some Foundry Triads , which I love for this period: Buff Leather , Dark African Flesh, Rawhide... I personally use a lot these 3 triad for boots, buffcoats, gloves etc.
the cloth armband in the officer's arm is black , which was the color (along with French white) of the Catalan units in French service or fighting the Spanish.
I hope you like it !
Cheers
