The Great Italian Wars 1: The Expedition of Charles VIII into Italy and the Battle of Fornovo (Formerly from Gewalthaufen Blog)

A couple of months ago I was sent a proof copy of The Great Italian Wars 1: The Expedition of Charles VIII into Italy and the Battle of Fornovo which is due to be published soon by Helion and Company in a rather exciting series of books called From Retinue to Regiment which already include, Richard III and the Battle of Bosworth and Tanaka 1587. Japan's Greatest Unknown Samurai Battle and will soon include volumes examining The Army of the Swabian League. I'm sure there will be more to come in this series!

I'm going to review the book, I'm not sure when as I only have a proof copy but I'm about to contact the editor and see if he thinks it's OK to go ahead now or to wait.

I'll leave you with a picture featuring the front cover teaser which illustrates the quality of the plates within the book.

The vignette will of course be very useful when it comes to painting up my smaller 28mm Venetian forces at Fornovo, although it does model some of the forces of Venice to some 12 years later.

Pier del Monte di Santa Maria at the Battle of Agnadello, 1509 by Francesco  Sbarile 

(My thanks to Ratmaul for pointing me in the direction of the modeller of the above vignette)

Italian Wars Era from Helion Books

I was very pleased when these two little babies popped through my letterbox today. I have had the privilege of having a 'rough' pdf file of The Italian Wars, The Expedition of Charles VIII into Italy and the Battle of Fornovo a few months ago with a view to writing up a detailed review of the book.

The Great Italian Wars and the conflicts on the periphery have been of great interest to me for some years now but never have I had a book that concentrates on just one campaign complete with heraldry, in depth details of the captains and numbers of men serving under them. The 8 full colour plates are well illustrated and serve as a great painting guide for the battle.

In short an absolute gem of a book which is essential reading for anyone interested in the Italian Wars. If you are, then you really ought to know more of the origins of the war and this book is the best place to start.

I intend to write up a full detailed review of the book soon. I won't be giving away any specific information but will be describing what you can expect to get out of the read from a wargamers perspective.

At some point I will also be reviewing The Army of the Swabian League 1525 as well and in the same manner as the Fornovo book

Gonzaga; A Lot Less Pissed Off! ;>)

EDIT: Since I wrote this article earlier today the Editor of Wargames Soldiers and Strategy has made an apology. I've known him for a number of years and know him to be an honest and straightforward chap I have accepted his apology in full.

I apologise in advance for my rant! A month or so ago, whilst still trying to work within the cramped confines of the small space that I had at my folks house, post relationship break up I was asked if I could provide Wargames Soldiers and Strategy magazine with pics of the Gonzaga Crossing the River Taro vignette painted up by me a few years ago and featured on my Gewalthaufen Blog HERE . It's credited in the mag as belonging to the collection of Kevin Lowth- which of course it does not as it resides in my wargames cabinet!!

Surely it doesn't take too much of an effort for an editor of a wargames magazine to take note of who it is that has contributed to an issue and credit them with a small note next to the pic? I make a living out of painting and for me that is an essential part of the deal. Lets face it, without the painters out there who make the contributions (for free in my case!) there would not be a wargames media to speak of at all.

It has not just happened the once either.

Purely for my own satisfaction, here are the pics again:

Bye for now.

Found Them!!

Over a year ago I was sent some of the Perry European Armies Italian Men at Arms on Foot to paint up for their website. without going through the woes that befell me last year (suffice to say that things were very traumatic and that I've had to move twice in the space of six months).

These have been tucked away in my ex girlfriend's garage and I've been looking for them for months in order to send them off! They were sent with six shields and six archers that have yet to be located but I reckon I'm on the right scent now. My ex's idea of packing mini's up is to do it well, she no doubt picked that up from me, but to organize them into relevant boxes is beyond her. not her fault I know!

I was beginning to think that I'd never find them! They are based but no dry brushing nor Silflor has been added but I couldn't resist taking a few snaps of them- it feels like i have found an old friend!!

Bye for now.

St. Valantine

Saint Valentine of Rome states that he was imprisoned for performing weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry. There are other sources of the origin of the day but this is the one I have chosen to depict.

OK, seeing as it's St. Valentine's Day..... what could be more romantic (and chivalrous) than: Francesco Gonzaga and his Doomed Charge Across the River Taro at the Battle of Fornovo 

1495(?):

river.............

............

Bye for now.