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 six-
man 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 Francs–Archers
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 V’s invasion of France, the Francs-
Archers were mobilised.
Nonetheless, the desire to create a national
standing infantry force was briefly resurrected
in 1503, by Pierre de Gié, 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 King’s 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
general’s 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
M WS BS S T I W A LD pts
0-1 8 6 3 4 4 6 3 2 9 180
King
Duc 8 5 3 4 3 5 2 2 9 150
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
general and must lead the Royal Guard Dis- 8 3 3 3 3 3 1 1 7 10
Mounted
Gendarmes. The Royal Guard is Stubborn and
has WS 5.
If mounted, Archers”, wear heavy armour and
carry thrusting spears. If dismounted, they
If the king is not chosen, the Duc becomes the
have longbows and wear heavy armour.
army general.
They may take partial plate armour (+2)
0-1 Army Standard Bearer
.
M WS BS S T I W A LD pts
0.1 Scots Archers:
Army 8 5 3 4 3 5 2 2 8 104 M WS BS S T I W A L Pts
Standar d
d Mounted 8 4 3 3 3 3 1 1 8 23
Bearer Dis- 4 4 3 3 3 3 1 1 8 13
mounted

Special: Army Standard Bearer

If dismounted they are equipped with either;
longbow or crossbow, they wear heavy armour
The Army Standard Bearer has a sword, wears
and are veteran.
full plate armour and rides a warhorse, he may
Special: Mounted infantry.
take cloth barding(+4) or plate barding (+6)
Must not outnumber any other unit of Archers.
Officers
M WS BS S T I W A LD pts
If mounted, they replace their longbows with
Noble 8 5 3 4 3 5 2 2 8 65 thrusting spears and may take partial plate
Kriegsh 4 4 3 4 3 4 2 2 9 62 armour (+2).
erren

The Noble wears full plate armour, he may ride If mounted they may not outnumber any other
a warhorse (+4), if mounted he may have a mounted unit.
lance (+4) and either cloth (+4) or plate
Barding (+6). If dismounted, he may have a Light Cavalry:
halberd, pike or double-handed weapon (+2) M WS BS S T I W A L Pts
d
Argolout 8 3 3 3 3 3 1 1 7 18
The Kriegsherren, may only be taken if you Cosutilier 8 2 3 3 3 3 1 1 6 14
have a unit of Bandes Noir in your army. Mounted 8 2 3 3 3 3 1 1 6 14
Crossbo
The Kriegsherren carries either a pike or a w
halbard and may have light armour (+2), Argolouts are skirmishers. They have feigned
he may have heavy armour (+3) or partial flight and. swords or maces. They carry
plate armour (+4). The Kreigsherren is javelins, shields and thrusting spears. They
subject to Bitter Rivalry of Swiss and may take light armour (+2), or light crossbow
Imperial Landsknechts (+2).

CAVALRY Argolouts with arquebus may be designated as

Mounted infantry.
Gendarme
M WS BS S T I W A L Pts
Coustiliers, have thrusting spears, they have
d may take light armour (+1).
Gendarme 8 4 3 3 3 3 1 1 8 34
Mounted crossbow, are skirmishers and wear
Gendarmes, ride warhorses, have First Charge, light armour, they have light crossbows. In
wear full plate armour and carry lances. armies led by the King, one unit may be
Gendarmes may take cloth barding (+4) or upgraded to a Guard regiment at +3 points.
plate barding (+6). Gendarmes may be Guard mounted crossbows are Veterans and
veterans (+2), every unit may have WS5 (+2). have Leadership 8. They must be the smallest
unit of light cavalry.
May be in a combined formation with Archers.
INFANTRY
Archers
M WS BS S T I W A L Pts
Francs-Archer
d M WS BS S T I W A L Pts
Mounted 8 3 3 3 3 3 1 1 7 20 d
 Archer 4 2 2 3 3 2 1 1 5 5 trained some 10,000 Picards in the Swiss art
of war, these 10,000 pike were to form the
Equipment: Continental longbows (This has Bande and later the Regiment de Picardie
the same range as a longbow but without the –
1 save modifier) Artillery
May exchange their longbows for pikes (+1) or May take up to one artillery piece per 500
halberds (+1). They may have light armour points at 50 points per artillery piece. May
(+2) or heavy armour (+3). have one master gunner per 1,000 points. May
take up to two additional artillery crew per gun
Special: Fear all formed enemy units they do at +10 points per crewman.
not outnumber by more than 2:1. Characters
may not join a unit of Francs-Archers.
ALLIES AND MERCENARIES:
The Francs-Archers can be used to represent
the infective Arriere- Ban of France, called out Bandes Noirs
M WS BS S T I W A L Pts
in national emergencies. d
Landsknec 4 3 3 3 3 3 1 1 7 9
ht
Gascons/ Bandes d‘Aventuriers: Arquebus 4 3 3 3 3 3 1 1 7 11
M WS BS S T I W A L Pts
d
Gascons 4 2 3 3 3 3 1 1 6 9 Equipment: Blackbands are armed with pikes
or halberds; they may have light armour (+1),
Equipment: Crossbows hand weapon and light or heavy armour (+2), or partial plate (+3). The
armour front rank may be upgraded to Dopplesoldner
May have heavy armour (+1) Every second (+3 per model), Dopplesoldner have two-
unit may exchange crossbows for pikes (free) handed weapons and WS4.
or halberd (free).
Special: Blackbands are subject to Bitter
The French, held their infantry in low regard, Rivalry of Landsknechts in Imperial service
they referred to them as “Pillards”(looters), and Swiss. Landsknechts equipped with pikes
“rustres”(Clodhoppers) and “laquais”. They are a medieval pike phalanx.
are described by one contemporary as being
for most part”…people of sack and cord, Arquebus equipped landsknechts may be
rascals, fugitives from justice, and stamped, as designated as skirmishers (free)
a rule, with the fleur- de lys on the shoulder;
they were without ears, whose absence they Special: Each unit of Bandes Noir equipped
hid under long bristling locks and ferocious with pike may take a detachment of Skirmish
beards…” screen and may take a rear support of
halbadiers.
0.1 Gascon Arquebusiers:
M WS BS S T I W A L Pts Bandes Noire or Black Bandes was the term
d
Gascon 4 2 2 3 3 3 1 1 6 8 used by the French to describe the
Landsknechts who had defied the Imperial
Equipment: Arquebus, hand weapon and light decree against serving in the armies of France.
armour
May have heavy armour (+1) 0-1 -Cent Suisses du roi
M WS BS S T I W A L Pts
d
French Pikemen: Suisses 4 4 3 3 3 4 1 1 8 16
M WS BS S T I W A L Pts
d
Pikemen 4 2 3 3 3 3 1 1 6 8 Cent Suisses du roi are Veteran and Stubborn.

Equipment: pike, light armour
Options: May take heavy armour (+1).
Special: Medieval phalanx
In 1480, Loius XI, established a training camp
at pont-de-l’Ache, where 6,000 Swiss pikemen
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 The Salariato were a professional unit from
M WS BS S T I W A L Pts Ferrera, who assisted the armies of Louis XII.
d
Man-at 8 4 3 3 3 4 1 1 8 33
Arms 0.2 Estradiots
M WS BS S T I W A L Pts
d
Equipment: Partial Plate armour, lance, First Stradiotti 8 3 3 3 3 3 1 1 7 21
Charge, warhorses. May take cloth barding
(+4) or plate barding (+6) Feigned flight and Parthian Shot. They have
shields and ride horses, they have swords or
Special: Are Impetuous. May claim a rank maces. They carry javelins and thrusting
bonus of up to +1. spears. Estradiots. They may take light armour
(+2) in which case they become open order and
0-1 Neapolitan Partisans. may take composite bows (+2).
M WS BS S T I W A L Pts
d
Partisans 4 2 3 3 3 3 1 1 6 9 May take Swiss Pikemen and skirmishers from
the Swiss list. Swiss Allies may use
Equipment: Crossbows, hand weapon, may detachments of skirmisher screens and Rear
take light armour (+2) Support.
Special: May be either skirmishers (free) or
Open Order (free) Swiss skirmishers must be attached to a Swiss
pike unit. Swiss Pike are, unsurprisingly,
The French hired bands of Neapolitan subject to the rules for being Swis
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:

M WS BS S T I W A L Pts
d
Genoses 4 3 3 3 3 3 1 1 7 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 BS S T I W A L Pts
d
Mounted 8 3 3 3 3 3 1 1 8 22
Dismounted 4 3 3 3 3 3 1 1 8 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