French Crossbowman - Formigny 1450

The Hundred Years War (1337-1453) was a particularly active period in a conflict that had existed between the kingdoms of France and England since 1066. The origin of it was the claims that Englands ruling family, the House of Plantagenet had over the throne of France.

The later stage of the war, once past the former glorious battles of Poitiers, Crecy, and Agincourt that brought o much renown to the English armies, was characterized for a predominance of the French. After the huge centralizing efforts of King Charles VII and the development of artillery, that allowed taking strongholds that would have resisted months in a matter of days, the English lost more and more ground until they were finally defeated in larger engagements, like the Battles of Formigny (1450) or Castillon (1453). After that, the English left their claims on Normandy forever.

Besides the Artillery, another development in the art of war was the use of huge pavises by archers and crossbowmen that allowed a much more effective use during sieges. Our figure carries such configuration of equipment and can be painted in many diverse ways. For our version, we have chosen a decoration that pays homage to Jean dArc, the martyr that was so inspirational for the French army in the latest part of the war.