Miniatures for a XVIIc. besieged city
Hi guys,
When we recreate the defenders of Girona (or whatever besieged city in this period) on the tabletop, we are not representing a formal army so much as an entire community under arms. The men who held the city’s walls in the 17th century were merchants and craftsmen, hunters and farmers, friars and servants; citizens united by the simple fact that the enemy was at their doorstep. This makes a siege a wonderfully rich setting for miniatures and full of character.
Of course, the following categories are common to most territories of Europe in general, and the Hispanic Monarchy in particular during most of XVII c.
These are the categories I have found.
1) Urban Militias: Girona’s Armed Citizens
The urban militia was composed of the city’s own neighbours: artisans, guild officers, shopkeepers, notaries, apprentices, and even a few minor nobles who commanded small companies. They were civilians, not professional soldiers, serving under Governor Francisco de Taberner with one motivation above all—the defence of their city and their families.
Their equipment reflected this civilian nature. Many carried old matchlock muskets or shotguns; others relied on short pikes, halberds, or arquebuses. Uniforms were rare. Most defenders wore their work clothes or a simple doublet, sometimes with a red cross sewn on the chest to mark their allegiance. Despite their lack of formality, they played a crucial tactical role. They garrisoned the walls, towers, and gates; manned guard posts day and night; supported the artillery by carrying powder, sand, and shot; repaired damaged parapets after bombardments; and rushed to extinguish fires in the aftermath of French shells.
_-_Great_Parade_and_Musket_Demonstration_of_the_Antwerp_Civic_Guard_on_the_Meir_at_the_Huidevettersstraat.jpg)
Contemporary testimonies show the determination of these defenders. One chronicler wrote:
“The city, though small in neighbours and with walls not very strong, found itself encouraged by the courage of its inhabitants.”
Another account describes their resilience under bombardment:
“Some neighbours died, and several roofs and warehouses burned; but the spirit of all was so constant that no one showed fear or discouragement.”
2) Rural Militias, Migueletes and Somatén
Beyond the city walls operated a very different kind of force. The rural militias—migueletes and somatenes—were made up of mountain folk from the Ampurdán, Sant Daniel, Amer, Hostalric and the surrounding valleys. These were former soldiers, hunters and labourers, accustomed to the rugged landscape and skilled with firearms. They were officially recognised as auxiliaries by the viceroy but operated with considerable independence under local chiefs and minor lords.
Girona could mobilise several hundred men in the countryside, while within the city itself up to 600 or 800 men could be deemed fit for arms, with around 300 more available in emergencies. The municipality carried out censuses prior to expected attacks—in 1637, 1667, 1675, and 1684—to determine who could serve. Even the cathedral chapter, the bishop, and the religious orders contributed armed companies during the worst sieges.
The migueletes and somatenes excelled in irregular warfare. They ambushed French convoys, destroyed baggage trains, cut communications, and fired from natural cover before vanishing into the hills. A contemporary account states:
“The migueletes and somatenes of the mountains caused constant losses to the French detachments, taking baggage and prisoners every day.”
Their clothing was equally distinctive and ideal for miniature painters: brown or grey woollen coats, linen shirts, red sashes, barretinas, and sturdy shoes or espadrilles. They often carried long flintlock escopetas, knives, and small leather pouches. Another source gives a vivid image of their appearance:
“The migueletes from Amer and Hostalric arrived wearing brown or grey clothing, low hats, red sashes, and a leather cartridge-box over the shoulder; armed with musket or blunderbuss. Some wore short checkered mountain capes.” I painted several Migueletes a few years ago, featured in this post:
https://spanishleadpainting.blogspot.com/search/label/Miquelets?updated-max=2021-01-09T12:18:00%2B01:00&max-results=20&start=2&by-date=false
Some of them were led by D. Josep de Trinchería, and later during the 9 Years War, by his son, D.Blas de Trinchería.
A detailed description of D. Josep de Trinchería has survived until today:
"He wears his hair long, following the custom of the time, and a waxed mustache curled upward in keeping with the family portrait. A mid-thigh coat (the habit), with open sleeves revealing the shirt beneath, trimmed along the edges and seams. It is buttoned at the front. Around his waist he carries a belt serving the dual purpose of ornament and support for his weapons. Draped over his left shoulder is a cape which, in the fashion of the era, wraps around his right hand, with which he holds the French-style hat (chapeau). He wears tight-fitting breeches of the same cloth, fastened with ribbons, and tall boots with gaiters. The boots include the gaiter that holds the spur used when riding on horseback.
He is armed with a cup-hilt sword hanging from a leather strap, a flintlock of three palmos and another shorter one, along with its corresponding pouch for stones and bullets, as well as a flask with a measure for carrying gunpowder."
D.Josep de Trinchería
3) Clergy and Non-Combatants
The city’s defence was not limited to armed men. Secular priests and members of the mendicant orders—Dominicans, Franciscans, Capuchins—were present on the walls, tending the wounded and encouraging the defenders. Women, servants, children and the elderly played essential roles as well, carrying water, soil and stones for the artillery and helping repair damage after bombardments. Public prayers and religious processions were organised to keep morale high.
A contemporary testimony describes their presence vividly:
“The friars of the mendicant orders assisted on the walls, encouraging the people with the word of God and aiding the wounded.”
4) Civic Officers and Command Figures
At the top of Girona’s civic defence stood the "Jurat en Cap" and the colonel of the militia. They added a rare note of splendour amid the city’s improvised forces. One account describes them as wearing crimson coats trimmed with gold during public ceremonies, and donning light cuirasses or breastplates over their doublets in battle. Their swords, it says, had gilt hilts with shell-shaped guards:
“The chief jurat and the colonel of the militia of Girona wore crimson coats with golden braid in public acts, and in combat covered themselves with a light cuirass or breastplate over the doublet. Their sword had a gilded hilt with a shell-shaped guard.”
Painting Girona’s defenders offers an extraordinary palette of textures and personalities—ragged walls, improvised weapons, bright red sashes, guild banners, mountain cloaks, friars with bandages, servants rushing powder barrels.
In future posts I will prepare siege workers and engineers for 30 Years War and also late XVII c.
The miniatures I am using for these chaps are:
-Priests : Perry miniatures 28mm Napoleonic/Carlists wars Spanish priest, I bought several of these, but I will only use those whose attire fit in XVII c. in classic friar appearance.
-Miquelets or Miguelets, I have already several of these, but I want another company of these skirmishers, I really like Front Rank Monmouth rebels with some conversions, I will also use the new Perry Napoleonic guerrilla fighter sprue in plastic, for pieces and headgear like the Catalan cap, the barretina, mixed with Front Rank or Northstar 1672 bodies.
-For civilians and urban militias I am using several miniatures from Anno Domini 1666 miniatures, a Polish company of great quality, also Bloody Miniatures 28mm ECW and TYW figures are stunning, and some of them are suitable for later periods, specially civilians.
I hope you like it!
Cheers
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