Backwater Deathworld

  We have hardly any sources for 15th century Pomeranian coats of arms, but we do have municipal seals on which coats of arms are often based. Kolberg (modern Kołobrzeg), a bishop's see, featured crossed croziers, a mitre, and waves in its seal from the late 15th century.   For Stargard, its highly stylised Mill Gate featured on several seals. The gatehouse building was the meeting place of the Sailors' Guild, the most prominent guild in town.  (sources: Czerner 1989, "Herby miast województwa koszalińskiego", Gut 1995, "Rozwój herbu Stargardu Szczecińskiego...")

  In 1470s, the crossbow was the prevalent Polish mercenary infantry weapon, with barely any firearms on record. Only 20 years later, most marksmen carried handguns instead. They took forever to load, but were slightly cheaper than crossbows, and bullets delivered several times more energy than bolts. This guy here carries a matchlock arquebus used from around 1475 on in Burgundy, and in Poland presumably quite later. Since I aim at Pomerania in 1471, maybe he got an early overseas shipment? (sources: Grabarczyk "Piechota zaciężna" 2000, Williams "The Knight and the Black Furnace" 2003)

  According to a decree from Polish Sejm of 1477, during a war, towns were to supply foot soldiers armed with crossbows, shields, helmets, gauntlets and breastplates. Mercenaries from the period listed in the rosters of Poland and Germany, however, had way less robust gear. A Polish mercenary crossbowman carried a crossbow (duh), a sidearm (usually a sword, a sabre or a falchion), rarely a helmet and/or a shield – and nothing else. For Germans, pavise shields were common. And my Pomeranians? Maybe something similar to Poland or Germany. It's guesswork.   This fellow in yellow is probably quite well off, with his nice kettlehat helmet.  Sources: Grabarczyk 2000, "Piechota zaciężna Królestwa Polskiego w XV wieku"; Kutrzeba 1937, "Polskie ustawy i artykuły wojskowe: od XV do XVIII wieku", Kurfürstlich Sächsische Kriegsknechte 1475 .

  Crossbowmen formed the core of late 15th century mercenary infantry for both Poland and Holy Roman Empire. With few sources available for town militias of the Duchy of Pomernia, building crossbowmen has felt like a safe bet for me. Sources: Grabarczyk 2000, "Piechota zaciężna Królestwa Polskiego w XV wieku"; Kurfürstlich Sächsische Kriegsknechte 1475 reconstruction group. The lovely terrain in the background was made by my friend.

  In 1471, eleven towns of the Duchy of Pomerania renewed their alliance, pledging to send soldiers to each other in need. There were wars in Pomerania in the coming years, but we don't know if the soldiers of the promised alliance ever took arms.

  Last summer I joined the second Turm event held in Zagreb at UMS "Agram" by Ana Polanšćak of Gardens of Hecate fame. We were playing Forbidden Psalm , and my warband was the pious knight Sievert and the Grateful Dead. The idea for my miniatures came to me when I was looking for references for 15th century Duchy of Pomerania at a local library and I found a history article about this painting from Kołobrzeg cathedral:  (source: Wikipedia) The painting, which is an epitaph of one Siewert Granzin from 1492, shows a knight praying for the dead, and the dead raising from their graves to defend him from his pursuers. It has become an instant favourite of mine -- the dead look so happy! And the Noble Necromancer was an idea I've really liked at least since I read the Lord of the Rings chapter with Aragorn leading the army of the dead. Forbidden Psalm is based on the Mork Börg roleplaying game, and the RPG book uses a lot of moody old Public Domain art. So I thought us...

    Yesterday I finished my most involved sculpting project yet.