For the Holy Roman Empire!



The most famed and sought-after soldiers of the late 15th and early 16th centuries, the Landsknechte were exquisitely dressed in their signature "puff-and-slash" style of clothing which later became an immensely popular fashion style all over Europe (think Spanish Conquistadors or Snow White's and other Disney Princess' Dresses). Famous for their use of weapons like the Zweihander and their prowess in combat, these German mercenaries hailed from all over the Holy Roman Empire and fought in many wars and battles in the age of Pike and Shot.

The above painting depicts a Landsknecht man in a fluted cuirass (breastplate) with a Harquebus (an early form of the Matchlock Musket) during the sacking of Rome in 1527 who was the reference image for my skin. I would say the fluted cuirass was the hardest part to get somewhat right.

Fun Fact: The sack of Rome in 1527 was the inspiration for The Last Stand by Sabaton about the Swiss Guard defending Pope Clement. The Landsknechte along with Spanish troops would be the ones fighting the Swiss Guard.

It may not get first, second or third, but I tried to make it as historically accurate as possible rather than reinventing history to make it look better in pixels - and that's all that matters to me.