Here’s another set of my military figures sketched, one of those things I have always been doing as one of my hobbies. This is a new set and this time it shows not several on one sheet but as individuals with one figure per sheet. There are 9 individual soldier figures on each sheet having their country, its flag, and the country’s design. These sketches this time are of soldiers from the Renaissance times, 9 of them from a different country in Europe, having a different colour in their outfit, and having a set of different weapons and armours or outfits from the 16th-17th centuries.
16th-17th century Figure1: An English cavalier musketeer soldier, 1600’s England, 17th century: This sketch here shows an English musketeer soldier or a cavalier soldier from the English civil war in the 1640’s, a cavalry soldier from the English royal army dressed in the English national red outfit, the 17th century soldier’s coat with musketeer boots, gauntlets, and hat. Weapons: traditional 1600’s weapons, cavalry flint-lock pistol and an English rapier sword. The sheet too shows the English present day flag and the old crest of the 3 lions, the particular design, shown above is the English royal design of the roses and a red a pattern.
16th-17th century Figure2: A Spanish conquistador type infantry soldier, 1500’s Spain, 16th century: This sketch shows an infantry soldier of the Catholic Spanish kingdom/ empire or a conquistador soldier from Spain, probably shown as one in Spain itself or in the new conquered lands of the Spanish Empire in the 16th century. Wearing the conquistador helmet worn by soldiers with feathers above and the classic Renaissance armour of the chest plate an metal boots and simply just clothes under with balloon sleeves an pants with the Spanish national colours of red and yellow. Weapons: more of traditional 16th century weapons of a Spanish fine steel rapier sword and a musket pistol. The sheet also shows modern day Spanish flag and the Spanish kingdom’s mixed crest of the lion and castle of Castile and Leon and the Aragon red and yellow stripes, above a Spanish pattern of red and white.
16th-17th century Figure3: A German heavy infantry or musketeer soldier of the Holy Roman Empire, 1600’s. Holy Roman Empire, 17th century: This sketch shows a heavy musketeer soldier of the more elite forces of Germany and Austria or the Holy Roman Empire from the 30-year’s-war in the 1600’s. However this figure may have the same look as a German soldier from the 16th century too, from both centuries, they actually do look the same. This heavy infantry musketeer soldier from Germany itself during the events of the 1500’s-1600’s wears the same Renaissance soldier’s morion helmet with feathers and under a chest plate armour worn by the heavy infantry musketeer of that time and a san over it wearing a ruff too and under simply just a musketeer’s blue outfit with boots and a yellow cape over, the country’s colour. Weapons: holding a musket rifle held by musketeers and the gun’s focussing and support stand together with a rapier sword sheathed. The beet too also shows the modern day flags of Germany and Austria, which were the main countries of the empire and the Holy Roman Empire’s coat of arms of the black 2-headed eagle with the yellow background, above a black and white German pattern design.
16th-17th century figure4: a French 16th century heavy armed and special forces soldier of the Kingdom of France, 1500’s. France, 16th century: From the Renaissance French world, this a perfect sample of a French soldier on the figure above, during the French-Italian wars in the 1500’s, also the hight of French Renaissance. This French heavy-infantry soldier is mostly based on the French soldiers shown in a few scenes in Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood in Rome. This French soldier is part of the pikemen unit o the army, as seen wearing a modified Renaissance helmet worn by pikemen in the army, the helmet having feathers blue and white and facial guards to protect the sides of the face. This pikeman soldier wears a heavier version of the Renaissance chest-plate armour for more advanced soldiers, with metal shoulder pads and a larger chest-armor with France’s national blue stripes in the outfit inside and on the sash and sleeves, wearing a French blue cape at the back as the elite soldiers do, with metal boots and gauntlets too. As a heavy-infantry soldier, this one has more choices of weapons and stronger ones, a Renaissance pistol, a rapier sword sheathed and the pikeman soldier’s halberd or lance. The individual sketch sheet also shows the French flur-de-lis in the countries crest and in the French design above, the signature gold flower symbol with the blue background, the modern flag of France shows here too.
16th-17th century figure5: a Swedish special force musketeer soldier of the kingdom of Sweden, 1600’s. Sweden, 17th century: From 1600’s Sweden’s advanced kingdom with the superior army, this is a special-force soldier of the advanced, skilled, and organised army of Sweden during the 30-year’s-war in the army of Swedish king and general Gustavus II. This is another fine sample of a musketeer soldier of the elite forces out in battle still wearing the musketeer’s leather hat with the stripe and feathers. Wearing the Swedish army uniform under the musketeer chest-plate armour with a collar and a blue sash, and the uniform of the traditional Swedish blue and yellow, also wearing the new advanced waterproof boots invented by the Swedish army made with both leather and iron. For the weapons, this soldier has more of an advanced choice especially of that of the Swedish army, here it has the musketeer rifle, which is strong and effective but also focussed on a gun-stand held by the soldier, the musketeer’s sword sheathed as an alternate weapon, the gunpowder flasks also kept. The sketch also has the Swedish royal coat of arms, which was then used in its golden age in the 1600’s and above a random design pattern and also with the today Sweden flag.
16th-17th century figure6: a Dutch light infantry musketeer soldier of the Dutch Republic, 1600’s. United Provinces, 17th century: a powerful empire around the world with colonies but having only small territory in Europe, but still powerful at a golden age but with an army not so advanced. The Dutch army was commonly just a citizen army with soldier of less experience and training, like this one shown here, a Dutch citizen musketeer soldier of the lesser forces of Renaissance warfare. The soldier figure just wearing a leather hat with feathers and not a helmet, under not wearing any chest-plate armour or a national uniform but just a Dutch uniform worn by soldiers, which is just a vest with a collar and a sash but with sleeves and balloon pants. The soldier however with just a vest and clothes but with advanced boots, has a set of weapons held. The soldier’s sketch here olds a common Renaissance soldier’s rifle with the gun stand to focus it and with powder flasks attached, also carrying a musketeer sword sheathed. The sketch also shows the new Dutch Republic’s coat of arms, the lion with the new flag of orange, white, and blue and the Netherlands’ flag today similar to before, above is the traditional Dutch Delft blue and white pattern.
16th-17th century figure7: an Ottoman Turkish Janissary soldier, elite imperial soldier of the Ottoman Empire, 1500’s. Ottoman Turkey 16th century: this time another figure sketch from Renaissance Europe, this one from another part, the Ottoman Empire, another powerful empire in Europe and Asia, the soldier shown here is a Janissary or elite force soldier of the empire or also the imperial guard of the Ottomans like the Praetorian guard in Rome and the Varangian guard in Byzantium. This soldier has more of the eastern oriental look as it is from Ottoman Turkey but still a strong unit for a Renaissance soldier with a set of new weapons some more effective like the Ottoman rifle, which was thinner but with a more accurate range, the Janissary also holds a Turkish curved scimitar sword. The Janissary soldier wears a cloth headpiece supported by a headgear, part of the Janissary uniform; the outfit is different from the Renaissance soldiers, here it has no armour but thick layers of silk vests and clothes belted and tightly fastened serving as an armour but with colourful patterns and shapes like in Turkish designs. The sketch shows Turkish designs too like above a Turkish rug pattern and the Ottoman crest of the crescent moon and stars and the today Turkish flag. This Janissary soldier figure was partly based on the Janissaries from the Assassin’s Creed Revelations game.
16th-17th century figure8: an Italian elite forces soldier or pikeman soldier from any of the Renaissance Italian states, 1500’s. Italian states 16th century: Italy then in the Renaissance (1500’s) divide into several states like Tuscany, Venice, Sienna, the Papal States ruled by the noble families with armies under them, this soldier shown above, a heavy-infantry elite force soldier serving either of the Italian states, not mentioned which one but. The soldier figure above probably is part of the Tuscan or Papal forces as an elite force soldier with the Italian states colours during Italy’s war with France in the 1500’s. Shown wearing the new helmet designed for Renaissance soldiers and knights, this one with feathers and face-guards. The armour set worn by the unit here is heavier and more detailed than a common Renaissance soldier, near to the Medieval knight’s armour, this one having not just a chest-plate but armour covering the upper legs but opened showing the pants under with no armour protecting the leg, but with armour protecting the shoulders but not the arms still showing the striped sleeves, and a red cape at the back. In the arms and feet, wearing metal gauntlets in the arms and metal boots, making the look of an elite forces soldier then. The soldier also holds a set of weapons, both a Renaissance Italian-made pike, which the pikemen hold and an Italian rapier sword sheathed. The sketch has both the seals of the Italian state of Tuscany and the Papal States since it is unsure which one it serves, together with the today Italy flag. Above is a Renaissance Italian design pattern.
16th-17th century figure9: a French elite musketeer soldier or royal guardsman of the French Kingdom, 1600’s. Kingdom of France 17th century: Here’s another French soldier figure, this time from the 1600’s at the time of the musketeers instead of the Renaissance age with the soldiers still having plated armour, this time there is no armour but the French royal uniform. This one here is a lot different from a French infantry soldier but a French royal guardsman guarding the royal court under the kings of France in the 1600’s, such as Henri IV, Louis XIII, and Louis XIV. This elite musketeer guardsman wears no helmet but a leather hat with feathers, and no single armour at all but a vest and some clothes not usually seen, but as an elite musketeer guardsman, wearing the French royal blue cape sets covering the clothes in front and behind with the royal seal on it. The musketeer has no plated boots and gauntlets but just plain gauntlets and leather boots with metal under. The weapons shown here are a musket pistol and the gun stand to focus it in battle, also a musketeer sword but sheathed. The sketch shows the French royal seal, with no blue background this time, the today France flag and above a French Baroque period design.
16th-17th century figure10: a Polish elite Hussar or elite cavalry soldier of the Polish kingdom, 1600’s. Kingdom of Poland 17th century: This figure over here is a Polish Hussar or elite cavalryman in a standard light armour uniform; the Hussars were originally Hungarian armoured cavalrymen but were hired to serve the kingdom of Poland as their elite warriors, soon enough they evolved to be fully Polish serving Poland in war completely. The Hussars like this shown here has a steel round helmet with cheek and nose protection and feathers above, in addition the armour has wings attached to it as a decoration. The armour the Hussars use are light and not completely body covering but only protecting the chest, shoulders, and upper arms, metal bracers and leg guards are included as well although they did not use capes, the armour used has a Renaissance Hungarian design. This Renaissance Polish Hussar carries the standard Renaissance weapons, shown here is a Renaissance rapier sword, an early pistol which includes gunpowder and musket balls placed on 2 flasks attached to the belt; inside the armour is a red tunic and a neck collar sticking out. The sketch shows the seal of the Polish kingdom, which is a white eagle with red background, also the today Poland flag, and above a traditional Polish pattern design.
16th-17th century figure11: A Russian light infantry soldier or common soldier of the early Russian empire, 1500’s. Empire (Tsardom) of Russia 16th century: This figure here in the sketch is a light infantry soldier of the early Russian empire when it was newly established in the 1500’s and quickly expanded using not much military force. The Russian soldier shown here is barely armoured in fact only having a helmet only covering the top of the head and no armour at all, instead it only has a thick green cloak with fur underneath to help survive battle in the cold climate of Russia, it also has belts to hold up the cloak and weapons. This Russian soldier carries 3 weapons, a standard curved Russian sword, a large battle-axe, and a Renaissance musket with additional flasks for powder and musket balls. This soldier may look a little too backwards in time compared to the Renaissance soldiers of the rest of Europe since Russia was not an advanced but Medieval empire in the 16th century, but slowly, the Renaissance was getting to Russia. The sketch also shows the Russian imperial seal of a gold eagle in red background, also the today Russia flag, above is a traditional Russian pattern design.
…….. That’s all for this post of the 9 Renaissance soldier figures, there will be some posts soon about these military figure sketches….. The End
The Byzantium Blogger 