DBA Armies

IV/13 MEDIEVAL GERMAN 1106 AD - 1518 AD

This list covers the core of the “Holy Roman Empire” from the accession of Heinrich V until the union with Spain after the death of Maximilian I. Before 1150, German knights fought better on foot with swords than mounted with lance, but then improved and became reluctant to join common foot. The full plate armour used from 1440 was only affordable by the richest knights, others less armoured on worse horses forming the rear of a deep wedge or “spitz”. Crossbow-armed cavalry supported the spitz’ right flank and armoured petronel cavalry firing primitive armour-piercing handguns while mounted covered the pikemen’s left flank, with light lancers in support. Maximilian created the flamboyant “landsknecht” pikemen, sometimes fighting in their front rank, and replaced feudal knights with Burgundian-style gendarmes. The armies of the Free Cantons of Frisia, Stedingen and Dithmarschen were tough farmers with long spears. References: Armies of Feudal Europe 1. Heath, Armies of the Middle Ages Vol 1 & Vol 2. 1. Heath.

IV/13a — Medieval German Army 1106 AD - 1150 AD

List: 1 x General (3Kn), 4 x Feudal knights (3Kn/4Bd), 1 x crossbowmen (4Cb), 2 x Feudal retainers (7Hd) or city militia spearmen (Sp), 2 x heerban with glaives or mercenary axemen or 2-handed swordsmen or halberdiers (4Bd), 2 x archers (Ps)
Terrain: Arable
Aggression: 1
Enemies:
Allies: III/40d or III/63a or III/73a

IV/13b — Medieval German Army 1151 AD - 1439 AD

List: 1 x General (3Kn), 3 x knights (3Kn), 1 x mercenary knights (3Kn) or Hungarian horse archers (LH) or Teutonic knights (6Kn) or crossbow cavalry (Cv), 1 x crossbowmen (4Cb), 2 x Feudal retainers (7Hd) or city militia spearmen (Sp), 2 x heerban with glaive or goedendag or mercenaries with axe or 2-handed sword or halberd (4Bd) or Brabanter pikemen (4Pk), 2 x archers (Ps)
Terrain: Arable
Aggression: 1
Enemies:
Allies: III/63b

IV/13c — Medieval German Army 1440 AD - 1493 AD

List: 1 x General (6Kn), 2 x knights (6Kn), 1 x crossbow cavalry (Cv), 1 x petronels (Cv) or crossbowmen (4Cb), 2 x mercenary pikemen (4Pk), 2 x crossbowmen (4Cb) or war wagons (WWg), 1 x city militia crossbowmen with pavises (4Cb) or Feudal retainers (7Hd), 1 x archers (Ps), 1 x archers (Ps) or bombards (Art)
Terrain: Arable
Aggression: 1
Enemies:
Allies: IV/79b

IV/13d — Medieval German Army 1494 AD - 1518 AD

List: 1 x General with “Burgundian” guard (3Kn) or with landsknechts (4Pk), 1 x “Burgundian” gendarmes (3Kn) or Landsknechts (4Pk or 3Bd), 2 x knights (6Kn), 1 x crossbow cavalry (Cv), 4 x landsknechts (4Pk), 2 x handgunners (Ps), 1 x bombards (Art)
Terrain: Arable
Aggression: 2
Enemies:

IV/13e — Free Canton Army 1106 AD - 1518 AD

List: 1 x General (3Kn/3Pk), 8 x spearmen (3Pk), 1 x Frisian dardiers (4Ax) or javelinmen (Ps), 2 x archers (Ps)
Terrain: Littoral
Aggression: 0
Enemies:
Allies: III/40d or IV/13a