Scots Common Army Pikemen – Did they have shields?

wjhupp
Evocati

Posts: 113

Scots Common Army Pikemen – Did they have shields? Sept 14, 2017 20:26:06 GMT

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Post by wjhupp on Sept 14, 2017 20:26:06 GMT

We are working away on the Thistle & Rose figures and are now onto the Scots. We have 6 poses of Schiltron Pike figures both with and without shields (and an additional 3 poses kneeling.)

In looking through the available art work from the Osprey’s for Bannockburn, Otterburn, etc. and in looking at some other lines like the Claymore Casting Scot Pikemen dated 1388, it appears that from say 1290 on that the pikemen did not have shields. I have a lovely 54mm figure by Del Prato, which also does not have a shield.

I hate to make decisions based on my inspection of artwork vs. real history, but the only thing I can find in this early Scots research period is the requirements for the common army pikemen equipment and it does not include a shield.

Opinions, guesses and historical references welcome.

Bill Hupp

Thistle & Rose Miniatures

mellis1644
Munifex

Posts: 44

Scots Common Army Pikemen – Did they have shields? Sept 16, 2017 1:37:45 GMT

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Post by mellis1644 on Sept 16, 2017 1:37:45 GMT

The WRG feudal and medieval army books (old but still useful I find) have them with small shields - and lets be honest the name schiltron sort of implies a shield, at least in the early days. It's hard to have a shield wall (which is what it means I believe) without a shield... the name likely may stuck when shields were less used but still. The common troops were often poor as well so armor would be rare for these guys. Thus, I suspect a shield might have been easier to get (and supply to them) for a bit of protection - thus used for longer than some think.

So I suspect the use of shields did drop off as better amour was available but you might get some shield still in use in later times. After all is it better to be 'unfashionable' and carry a shield or just go to battle in your normal cloths for protection...

constabledavid
Munifex

Posts: 21

Scots Common Army Pikemen – Did they have shields? Oct 15, 2017 21:08:42 GMT

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Post by constabledavid on Oct 15, 2017 21:08:42 GMT

If they behaved like pikemen and held their spear in both hands, then a shield much bigger than 18" (450mm) might be a problem, however if you reduced manoeuvre you could get away with a large shield and spear held in both hands.

The problem is that the option of slow movement is probably only really reflected in 7Hd, but that might work.

David Constable