THE FRENCH 1492-1534

This list is intended to cover the French from

the initial campaign in Naples until the reforms
of Francis I, which introduced the Legions
IN 1445, Charles VII implemented a series of
reforms intended to transform the feudal army
of France into a national standing army
organised into professional companies. The
reforms established 15 companies of 100 sixman lances, comprising a man at arms, two
Archers, a page, an esquire and a valet,
creating a force of 6,000 professional cavalry,
owing their loyalty direct to the king.
On April 27 1448, Charles proclaimed a further
ordinance; calling for each parish to provide an
archer armed with sword, dagger, casque and
bow, and to be known as Franc-Archers.
Despite the name, many of the Francs-Archers
carried halberds or pikes. Recruited from an
unwarlike peasantry, the failings of the French
infantry should have come as no surprise. In
1480, partly for financial reasons but primarily
based on their truly dismal performance at the
battle of Guinnegatte 1479, the FrancsArchers
were disbanded. Instead, the obligation on the
parish to muster a man was commuted to an
obligation to pay a tax with which Louis
established a Corp of 16,000 infantry.
Despite the abolition of the Francs-Archers,
the obligation upon the parishes to mobilise
men as part of the rural band remained. When
Charles VIII fought the Bretons, his army
included regiments of the Francs-Archers, and
during times of national emergency, such as
Charles Vs invasion of France, the FrancsArchers were mobilised.
Nonetheless, the desire to create a national
standing infantry force was briefly resurrected
in 1503, by Pierre de Gi, one of the two
Marshals of France. He proposed the
establishment of an infantry force comprising
20,000 archers and pikemen. The plan was
abandoned in 1504, and it was not until 1534,
with the foundation of seven legions of
6,000 infantry, that a national infantry force
was instituted.
The French preferred to recruit their infantry
from the outer provinces, where the inhabitants
exhibited a more warlike character. The
regions of Gascony and Picardy were preferred

recruiting grounds and bands of Norman and

Breton adventurers also enlisted. The main
infantry weapon of the French bandes
remained the crossbow and the French
maintained an attachment to this weapon,
notwithstanding the emergence of the
arquebus.
Following their destruction of the forces of
Charles the Bold of Burgundy, the Swiss
established themselves as the finest infantry in
Europe. At the battle of St Jacob en Biers, the
future king Louis XI, witnessed for himself,
the ferocity of the Swiss and this, combined
with their victories over Charles the Bold,
compelled Louis XI to recruit Swiss
mercenaries to replace the Francs-Archers.
The Swiss were also hired to train the French
infantry in the Swiss pike drill, but the French
forces lacked the same level of sheer ferocity
and steely discipline that had made the Swiss
so effective. The reliance the French placed on
the Swiss was well documented by
contemporary writers; it was remarked that the
Swiss were the backbone of the French army
and that when the French went to war with the
Swiss they felt themselves to be invincible.
However, as Charles successor, Louis XII was
to discover, the loyalty of the Swiss came at a
cost, the Swiss were professionals and
expected to be paid, when the Swiss were not
paid they abandoned the French.
The French army of Charles VIII, suffered
from a lack of good quality light cavalry, and
to remedy this Louis XII recruited 2,000
Stradiottii. In imitation of the Stradiotti style of
fighting, the French raised their own regiments
of light cavalry; the Argolouts. When the
Argolouts began to adopt the arquebus, they
aroused the animosity of the Gendarmes; who
nicknamed them Sheep biters
The French armies could also rely upon a large
and state-of-the-art artillery train, which had
help drive the English out of France. The size
of the artillery train impressed Italian
commentators. But it was the French policy of
calculated terror, by which besieged garrisons,
who refused to surrender to the French were
slaughtered, that so shocked and terrified the
Italians. Indeed it was the chief reason for the

rapid surrender of many of the Italian

fortresses to the French.
Army Composition:
Army of Charles VIII,
So as fear and hope ran equal on both sides,
they fought with unbelievable ardour, every
man feeling that victory lay in his right hand
and in his valour. The courage of the French
was stimulated by the presence and danger of
their King-for the Kings majesty is venerated
among the nation by ancient custom no less
than the name of God
Guicciardini, istoria
Characters: up to 25%
Cavalry: At least 30% of the army up to a
maximum of 60%. You must take at least one
unit of Gendarmes and 1 unit of Archers.
May not take Esradiots or Argolouts. Guard
Mounted Crossbow may dismount at 4 points
and become either skirmishers or Open Order.
You may not have more units of light cavalry
than heavy cavalry.
Infantry: At least 15% of the army. You may
take up to 1 artillery piece per 500 points.
Special: Gascon Arquebsuiers may be
designated as Poudriers at +20 points for the
unit. Poudriers are Mounted Infantry.
Allies and Mercenaries: up to 50%. May take
Swiss, Milanese and Neapolitan allies. May
take 0-1 Bandes Noir pike and 0-1 Bands Noir
arquebusiers. May take 0-1 units of Genoese
Partisans.
Army of Louis XII,
Characters: up to 25%
Cavalry: At least 30% of the army up to a
maximum of 60%. You must take at least one
unit of Gendarmes and 1 unit of Archers. All
cavalry options allowed. Argolouts may not
take arquebus. May take Salariato.
Infantry: At least 15% of the army. All options
May take 1 artillery piece per 500 points.
Allies and Mercenaries: up to 50%. May take
allies from thePapal and Neapolitan lists, may
take 0-2 Estradiots. May take Bandes Noir
from the Habsburg list. Bandes Noir may be
led by a Kriegsherren,
Army of Francis 1,
Characters: up to 25%
Cavalry: At least 25% of the army up to a
maximum of 50%. You must take at least one

unit of Gendarmes and 1 unit of Archers.

Dismounted Archers may not be used. 0-1
Argolouts may exchange their equipment for
arquebus (free)
Infantry: At least 20% of the army. May not
take Francs-Archers. May take 1 artillery piece
per 500 points.
Allies and Mercenaries: up to 65%. May take
Swiss, Bandes Noir, Florentine and Papal
allies, may take Estradiots.

Special:
En Hay
The correct manner of fighting for a gentleman
was in a single line, with no room for anyone
to remain away from the fighting. Gendarmes
may only count a rank bonus if the second rank
is made up of Archers
You must take 1 Archer for each Gendarme

The Swiss
Commentators observed that the Swiss had
become the backbone of the French army.
Despite, being selected form the Mercenaries
section, Swiss mercenaries are not subject to
the allies and mercenaries rule and may use the
generals leadership and can use the Army
Standard to re-roll failed break test.
Swiss are highly trained and may fall back in
good order if they loose combat and pass their
break test. Swiss are subject to impetuosity and
Bitter Rivalry of Landsknecht.
CHARACTERS:

0.1 Army General

0-1
King
Duc

M
8

WS
6

BS
3

S
4

T
4

I
6

W
3

A
2

LD
9

pts
180

150

The King rides a warhorse and wears full plate

armour, he carries a lance. May take cloth
barding(+4) or plate barding (+6). The Army
Standard Bearer has a sword, wears full plate
armour and rides a warhorse, he may take cloth
barding(+4) or plate barding (+6)
The Duc wears full plate armour and rides a
warhorse, the warhorse may have cloth barding
(+4), or plate barding (+6) and a lance (+4)
Special: Army General.
The King may only be taken in armies
exceeding 2,000 points, if taken, he is the army

DisMounted

general and must lead the Royal Guard

Gendarmes. The Royal Guard is Stubborn and
has WS 5.

WS
5

BS
3

S
4

T
3

I
5

W
2

A
2

LD
8

pts
104

Officers
WS
5
4

BS
3
3

S
4
4

T
3
3

I
5
4

W
2
2

A
2
2

LD
8
9

The Noble wears full plate armour, he may ride

a warhorse (+4), if mounted he may have a
lance (+4) and either cloth (+4) or plate
Barding (+6). If dismounted, he may have a
halberd, pike or double-handed weapon (+2)
The Kriegsherren, may only be taken if you
have a unit of Bandes Noir in your army.
The Kriegsherren carries either a pike or a
halbard and may have light armour (+2),
he may have heavy armour (+3) or partial
plate armour (+4). The Kreigsherren is
subject to Bitter Rivalry of Swiss and
Imperial Landsknechts

CAVALRY

M WS

BS

W A

L
d
8

Pts

10

M WS

BS

W A

8
4

3
3

3
3

3
3

3
3

1
1

4
4

1
1

L
d
8
8

Pts
23
13

pts
65
62

Must not outnumber any other unit of Archers.

If mounted, they replace their longbows with
thrusting spears and may take partial plate
armour (+2).
If mounted they may not outnumber any other
mounted unit.

Light Cavalry:
Argolout
Cosutilier
Mounted
Crossbo
w

M WS

BS

W A

8
8
8

3
3
3

3
3
3

3
3
3

3
3
3

1
1
1

3
2
2

1
1
1

L
d
7
6
6

Pts
18
14
14

Argolouts are skirmishers. They have feigned

flight and. swords or maces. They carry
javelins, shields and thrusting spears. They
may take light armour (+2), or light crossbow
(+2).

Coustiliers, have thrusting spears, they have

may take light armour (+1).

34

Gendarmes, ride warhorses, have First Charge,

wear full plate armour and carry lances.
Gendarmes may take cloth barding (+4) or
plate barding (+6). Gendarmes may be
veterans (+2), every unit may have WS5 (+2).
May be in a combined formation with Archers.

Mounted crossbow, are skirmishers and wear

light armour, they have light crossbows. In
armies led by the King, one unit may be
upgraded to a Guard regiment at +3 points.
Guard mounted crossbows are Veterans and
have Leadership 8. They must be the smallest
unit of light cavalry.

INFANTRY

Archers
Mounted

Argolouts with arquebus may be designated as

Mounted infantry.

Gendarme
Gendarme

If dismounted they are equipped with either;

longbow or crossbow, they wear heavy armour
and are veteran.
Special: Mounted infantry.

The Army Standard Bearer has a sword, wears

full plate armour and rides a warhorse, he may
take cloth barding(+4) or plate barding (+6)
M
8
4

0.1 Scots Archers:

Mounted
Dismounted

Special: Army Standard Bearer

Noble
Kriegsh
erren

They may take partial plate armour (+2)

0-1 Army Standard Bearer

.
M
8

If mounted, Archers, wear heavy armour and

carry thrusting spears. If dismounted, they
have longbows and wear heavy armour.

If the king is not chosen, the Duc becomes the

army general.

Army
Standar
d
Bearer

M WS

BS

W A

L
d
7

Pts
20

Francs-Archer
M WS

BS

W A

L
d

Pts

Archer

Equipment: Continental longbows (This has

the same range as a longbow but without the
1 save modifier)
May exchange their longbows for pikes (+1) or
halberds (+1). They may have light armour
(+2) or heavy armour (+3).
Special: Fear all formed enemy units they do
not outnumber by more than 2:1. Characters
may not join a unit of Francs-Archers.
The Francs-Archers can be used to represent
the infective Arriere- Ban of France, called out
in national emergencies.
Gascons/ Bandes dAventuriers:
Gascons

M WS

BS

W A

L
d
6

Pts
9

Equipment: Crossbows hand weapon and light

armour
May have heavy armour (+1) Every second
unit may exchange crossbows for pikes (free)
or halberd (free).
The French, held their infantry in low regard,
they referred to them as Pillards(looters),
rustres(Clodhoppers) and laquais. They
are described by one contemporary as being
for most partpeople of sack and cord,
rascals, fugitives from justice, and stamped, as
a rule, with the fleur- de lys on the shoulder;
they were without ears, whose absence they
hid under long bristling locks and ferocious
beards
0.1 Gascon Arquebusiers:
Gascon

M WS

BS

W A

L
d
6

Pts
8

Equipment: Arquebus, hand weapon and light

armour
May have heavy armour (+1)
French Pikemen:
Pikemen

M WS

BS

W A

L
d
6

Pts
8

Equipment: pike, light armour

Options: May take heavy armour (+1).
Special: Medieval phalanx
In 1480, Loius XI, established a training camp
at pont-de-lAche, where 6,000 Swiss pikemen

trained some 10,000 Picards in the Swiss art

of war, these 10,000 pike were to form the
Bande and later the Regiment de Picardie

Artillery
May take up to one artillery piece per 500
points at 50 points per artillery piece. May
have one master gunner per 1,000 points. May
take up to two additional artillery crew per gun
at +10 points per crewman.

ALLIES AND MERCENARIES:

Bandes Noirs
Landsknec
ht
Arquebus

M WS

BS

W A

Pts

L
d
7

11

Equipment: Blackbands are armed with pikes

or halberds; they may have light armour (+1),
or heavy armour (+2), or partial plate (+3). The
front rank may be upgraded to Dopplesoldner
(+3 per model), Dopplesoldner have twohanded weapons and WS4.
Special: Blackbands are subject to Bitter
Rivalry of Landsknechts in Imperial service
and Swiss. Landsknechts equipped with pikes
are a medieval pike phalanx.
Arquebus equipped landsknechts may be
designated as skirmishers (free)
Special: Each unit of Bandes Noir equipped
with pike may take a detachment of Skirmish
screen and may take a rear support of
halbadiers.
Bandes Noire or Black Bandes was the term
used by the French to describe the
Landsknechts who had defied the Imperial
decree against serving in the armies of France.
0-1 -Cent Suisses du roi
Suisses

M WS

BS

W A

4 4

L
d
8

Pts
16

Cent Suisses du roi are Veteran and Stubborn.

They have heavy armour and either halberds,
pikes or double handed swords. They may only
be taken in armies led by the king. As long as
the King is alive, they are immune to break
tests. They unit must not be larger than 10
model

Neapolitan Men at Arms

Man-at
Arms

M WS

BS

W A

L
d
8

Pts
33

Equipment: Partial Plate armour, lance, First

Charge, warhorses. May take cloth barding
(+4) or plate barding (+6)
Special: Are Impetuous. May claim a rank
bonus of up to +1.
0-1 Neapolitan Partisans.
Partisans

M WS

BS

W A

L
d
6

The French hired bands of Neapolitan

partisans to ambush the Spanish. The Spanish
were usually well prepared for any such
attacks and were able to avoid the actions of
the Partisans.

0-1 Genoese Partisans:

Genoses

BS

W A

L
d
7

Pts
10

Equipment, swords, light armour and bucklers

Special: Open Order.
Bands of Genoese Partisans rose up to defy the
attempt of Don Frederigo of Aragon to
conquer Genoa in 1494. They are described as
being skilled at fighting in rough ground and
aided the French in winning the battle of
Rappallo. They are only described in
connection with the battle of Rappallo and
have been included out of a sense of
completeness.

0.1 Ferrarese Salariato:

M WS

Mounted
Dismounted

8
4

3
3

BS

3
3

3
3

3
3

3
3

W A

1
1

1
1

L
d

8
8

0.2 Estradiots
Stradiotti

M WS

BS

W A

8 3

L
d
7

Pts
21

Feigned flight and Parthian Shot. They have

shields and ride horses, they have swords or
maces. They carry javelins and thrusting
spears. Estradiots. They may take light armour
(+2) in which case they become open order and
may take composite bows (+2).

Pts

Equipment: Crossbows, hand weapon, may

take light armour (+2)
Special: May be either skirmishers (free) or
Open Order (free)

M WS

The Salariato were a professional unit from

Ferrera, who assisted the armies of Louis XII.

Pts

22
12

If mounted, they have heavy armour and

thrusting spear, they are veterans. If
dismounted they may take either; have
longbows, or crossbows, and have heavy
armour, they are veterans. They must not
outnumber any other unit

May take Swiss Pikemen and skirmishers from

the Swiss list. Swiss Allies may use
detachments of skirmisher screens and Rear
Support.
Swiss skirmishers must be attached to a Swiss
pike unit. Swiss Pike are, unsurprisingly,
subject to the rules for being Swis