Red Box 100 1/72 16th c. Italian Infantry Set 2

When Charles VIII of France invaded Italy in 1494 he set off a string of events and battles which would scar the peninsular for over sixty years, as various European heavyweights and smaller city states fought each other for control. Italy’s recent military history had been dominated by the condottieri, mercenaries who have been accused of being more preoccupied with extending their period of employment and minimising casualties than engaging in serious combat. This is sometimes claimed to be the reason various Italian states were ineffective in resisting the French forces, though these generally also maintained their own, local forces. Over the years kings, dukes and popes made and broke alliances as they all competed for power or at least safety, and it would not be unusual to find Italian forces on both sides during these campaigns. RedBox have already made a set for these men, concentrating on the missile troops and command; this time the emphasis switches to the old-fashioned edged weapons. There are three basic types of weapon on show in this set: halberd, sword and spear. The arquebus and crossbow were mainly defensive weapons, as was the pike, but the men here are much more about assaulting the enemy.

Specifications

• Contents: 40 figures
• Poses: 10 poses
• Material: Plastic (Medium Consistency)