Lord Tankerville’s

Miniature Heraldic Knights and Book Shop

         



Home About Us Sales Terms Newsletters Site Links Show Schedules Sales Galleries Photo Galleries

Dioramas

Back to Top

The English under Edward II attacking The Scots & Earl of Moray at Bothwell Castle.

All Miniatures crafted by Brian Rodden.


Bothwell was regarded as a safe retreat for fugitives from Scotland, especially after Bannockburn. The Earl of Hereford, who had commanded a wing of the English army at that conflict, sought to save his soldiers by falling back on the Castle for shelter. Barbour relates the incident that the English attempt to withstand the victorious Scottish army, however, was hopeless, and they were forced to abandon the Castle. At a later date the first Earl of Moray had the strange task allotted to him to dismantle his own Bothwell Castle and also the Castles of Leuchars and St Andrews, to prevent them from being again occupied by the English.


"THE HUNT", a Limited Edition By Jacques Cuypers, Tiffany Miniatures.


A romantic vision of a typical day hunting in the great forests and game parks of medieval Europe! The scene comprises 12 miniatures of the H series designed by Jacques Cuypers. These are charming well executed miniatures, and some of my favorites. Pages 26 & 27 of my book Heraldic Knights and Miniatures of Jacques Cuypers, displays some of the variations in these limited edition sets.


The story unfolds as The Lord and his lady, first encounter a stag in their hunt, and then are surprised by an unexpected bear!




"THE TOURNAMENT" City of Bruges, Kingdom of Burgundy by Jacques Cuypers, Tiffany Miniatures


Of the several medieval definitions of the tournament given by Du Cange (Glossarium, s.v. "Tourneamentum"), the best is that of Roger of Hoveden, who described tournaments as "military exercises carried out, not in the spirit of hostility (nullo interveniente odio), but solely for practice and the display of prowess (pro solo exercitio, atque ostentatione virium)." Men who carry weapons have in all ages played at the game of war in time of peace.


Before the jousts at Bruges in Burgundy, heralds published in France, Scotland, Burgundy, Hainault, Flanders, Brabant and the domains of the emperor, the king's offer of safe conduct for competitors.


This sets the scene for the diorama, a Tournament with the Duke of Burgundy, viewing the knights from many countries jousting for Hournor and Glory! The Combatants include; The Duke of Burgundy, The King of France, Duke of Barbant, Sir Robert Lord Holland, Duke of Meckinburg, Krammer Von Worms, Sir Richard Bennett, The King of Poland, Robert II King of Scots, Sir William Douglas, King of the Fortunate Isles, Count of Flanders, Jean de Chambes, Jean Lord of Chateau Villain & Bertrand de Guesclin!!


Diorama_1 Diorama_2 Diorama_3

Click the picture to the right to view the Diorama.

A Scene from the Hundred Years War Featuring Heraldic Knights Crafted by Peter & Gilly Greenhill


Crecy & Poitiers are two of the most noted battles of the Hunded Years War, and having taken place in less than a ten year span (1346 & 1356 ).  Many of the participants or their Family's heraldry appeared in both battles!  Unfortunatly for the French, the outcome was the same.  English victories and a slaughter of French Chilvery!


The diorama displays many of the famous personalities that would have engaged on the battle field during that period.

 

A partial list of my favorite combatents:


Diorama_4

The English:

The French:

  • Edward The Black Prince of Wales (G-3)
  • King Jean II "le Bon" of France
  • Roger Mortimer Earl of March & Sir John de Sutten la fritz with the banner of the Earl of Oxford. (double limited Edition)
  • Eustache de Ribeaumont with the Banner of France
  • Trumpter in Mortimer Livery
  • Jean de Luxembourg, King of Bohemia. (know as john the blind King)
  • Sir John Treffry, reaching for the crown of the French King
  • Mahieu "le Borgue" de Rouvroy
  • Sir walter Woodland with the banner of the Black Prince
  • Piers,Sieur de Crqmaud
  • Sir James Audley capturing the French Marshal Arnould d' Audrehem (Limited edition Triple with running horse)
  • Geoffroi de Charny with the Oriflamme
  • Thomas Dutton with banner of James Audley
  • Comte de Blois
  • Reginald, Lord Cobham
  • Sieur de Rochedagon,Vidgme de Noyons with banner of the Bishop of Noyon (mounted)
  • Sir richard Penley with the banner of Lord Cobham
  • Phillippe de Valois Duc de Bourgogne (mounted by J. Cuypers)
  • Michale de la Pole
  • Charles de Valois, Dalphine (mounted)
  • Bertrand, sire de L'Esparre (mounted)
  • Arnuld de Cervolles, Arch-priest of Velines, bearing the arms of Count of Alencon (mounted)
  • Ayquehem-Quilheim, bastard of L'Esparre with banner


Battle of Miguel Garcia de Gorjgs Bosworth


Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond, receiving the crown from Lord Stanley at Bosworth 1485 by Freddy Ping.


In the aftermath of the battle that saw King Richard III of England killed, Ping provides us a view of some of the causalities of the conflict as a backdrop to the victor, Henry Tudor, receiving the crown at the hands of his ally Lord Stanley.  Bosworth is one of the most important battles in English history as it ended the Plantagenet's rule and placed a Tudor on the throne.  By 1485, the Wars of the Roses had been raging in England for many years between the Houses of York and Lancaster. The Lancastrian Henry later took for his bride Elizabeth of York thereby uniting the houses. Thus the Yorkist's were defeated at Bosworth and the Red Rose of Lancaster prevailed!


The miniatures in the diorama depict the following:


* Mounted Henry Tudor

* Mounted Standard Bearer with banner of Henry Tudor

* Thomas, Lord Stanley with crown

* Sir Reginald Bray standing next to Lord Stanley, Said to have picked up the crown of Richard III

* Man at arms lying dead in King Richard's livery ( parti Mullet & Blue with a white Boar)

* Man-at-arms wounded wearing Tudor livery

* Knight lying wounded un-known heraldry



Diorama_5

1066 Hastings - The battle for the throne of England

Miniatures by Freddy Ping


Some dates stick in your memory; 1492, 1776 and of course 1066. The diorama depicts a moment in the battle of Hastings, centered around the Wessex Dragon Banner of the English army under attack by Williams Norman Knights. All the miniatures were crafted by Freddy Ping, however several of the miniatures have been treated for lead rot and been repainted in the style of Ping by Jacques Cuypers.


History


The Battle of Hastings occurred on 14 October 1066 between the Norman-French army of Duke William II of Normandy and the English army under King Harold II.  It took place at Senlac Hill, approximately 7 miles (11 kilometres) northwest of Hastings, close to the present-day town of Battle, East Sussex and was a decisive Norman victory. The background to the battle was the death of the childless King Edward the Confessor in January 1066, which set up a succession struggles between a number of claimants.  Harold was crowned king shortly after Edward's death, but faced invasions by not only from William but also his brother Tostig and the Norwegian King Harold Hardrara


The exact numbers of forces present at the battle is unknown, although there are estimates of about 10,000 for William and about 7,000 for Harold.  The composition of the forces is clearer with the English forces being almost entirely infantry with few archers, while the invaders having about half their forces composed of infantry and the other half split equally between cavalry and archers. Harold appears to have attempted to surprise William, but scouts found the English army and reported its arrival to William, who marched from Hastings to the battlefield to confront Harold. The battle lasted from about 9 a.m. to dusk on the day of the battle, with the early efforts of the invaders to break the English battle lines having little effect.  It was not until the Normans resorted to the tactic of pretending to flee in panic and then turning on their pursuers that the English army was finally defeated.  Harold's death likely occurred near the end of the battle and led to the retreat and defeat of most of his army.  After further marching and some small skirmishes, William was crowned as king on Christmas Day, 1066.


Diorama_6 Page 82

Photo Galleries

Menu