Tartar Horse Archers, PAINTED & READY

Well here are the twenty-four Tartar horse archers finally painted and based. I have issued two flags influenced by those thought to have been used by the Tartars of Kazan. Some historians have suggested that the dragon is a Russian distortion of a winged snake, the latter does have some historical links to the legends of the founding of their khanate. The figures are mainly Hinchliffe but I have added some Essex Miniatures to some spare horses for variation. All are on larger bases to confirm they are irregular raiding cavalry, and they can operate in bands of six, eight or twelve. These figures will also serve with my Ottomans, providing a much needed element to their army. MGB

NB.The flag renditions are taken from the excellent CRW FLAGS website for purposes of research.

Acemi Oglan Troops (Ottomans)

Here is my just completed unit of trainee Janissaries, or Azamoglami, drawn from the Acemi Oglan school. The figures are Hinchliffe with TAG officers and I'm quite pleased with how they have turned out. The castings were also very clean and tidy to work with. As I already have a fair number of Ottomans with firearms I may restrict this unit to garrison service (siege games), there is some evidence they occasionally carried out police duties. Contemporary paintings and prints show members in a uniform coat colour, usually blue, or a multi-range of coat colours. I think a uniform-issue coat seems quite probable if only for financial advantages. MGB