A Bohemian pike infantryman in mail or brigandine, kettle helm, long pike braced - the professional mercenary foot of early 15th-century Central Europe. Period: Battle of Grunwald, 15 July 1410.
Bohemian and Moravian mercenaries served on both sides at Grunwald - the most famous being Jan Ε½iΕΎka, then in Polish service before he became the great Hussite commander. Long-pike infantry braced the line for cavalry impact and was a Czech specialty decades before the Swiss reputation eclipsed them.
Painting tips
- Mail/brigandine: dark steel with sepia wash; brigandine rivets bright bronze dots.
- Kettle helm: dark steel, slight edge polish.
- Tunic under armour: muted red, brown, or natural wool.
- Pike shaft: warm wood with sepia wash; head: dark steel.
Historical sources & further reading
- Bohemian mercenary studies (Ε½iΕΎka era)
- Stefan KuczyΕski, Grunwald
- 15th-century Central European pike infantry
β Small parts. Not suitable for children under 14.





