Rebel Right Ward Foot (2): Modelling

At last the remaining body of 32 soldiers has been completed for my Rebel Right ward. These figures I have determined to be rural levied infantry from the de Montfort and allied estates under the command of the last of my de Montfort sons, Guy de Montfort. I have taken some time to differentiate these soldiers from its sister unit - more of a reliance upon green hues and less on the browns to help identify them from their brethren under Simon de Montfort (younger).

I have kept with the same principles for shield depiction and the extension of the white cross onto not only clothing but shields as the rebel field sign. The cross was a much used symbol by de Montfort in his rebellion and rule stemming from his zelous pity and its application in a propaganda campaign to rally the population to his 'legitimate' cause and to motivate his armies in the field. Fixed to 'back and breast', the crosses are cited by the Chronicle of William de Rishanger and Matthew Paris (to name two chroniclers) as reiterated by Dr David Carpenter. Matthew of Westminister has them on 'breast and shoulder'. I threw in one sheild with a fresian cow pattern for a one off rustic repair job if you will for a sheild covering.

Further differences was my attention to details for the Lewes army. I have included a number of bare headed figures with rudimentary tonsures as an act of devotion, undertaken before the battle. I feel I read this somewhere but my sources, whilst relatively extensive, are not as ordered as I would have liked and I cannote quote the reference. Perhaps later. This just takes a little careful filing, being sure to go deep enough to overcome the additional casting levels which acount for a bulk of hair beneath the hair detail on the original sculpt. Also, given the 'freshness' of the shave, I've gone for the less tanned scalp.

The figures making up the command group are the same as the last unit: Gripping Beast from the first crusade range. The standard bearer was wearing a pot or non-nasal spanghelm (retained and described for my previous unit as archaic). For this unit, I sculpted a rim about the crown with greenstuff and delicately filed it back when set. I hope you agree that it is rather effective in bringing this character more up-to-date and into the 13th century.  Most of these figures are Curtey's.