A Lithuanian light cavalryman under Vytautas - mail, fur-trimmed cap or simple kettle helm, light lance and round shield, mounted on a small steppe-type horse. Mobile, agile, the troop type that flanked the Order at Grunwald. Period: Battle of Grunwald, 15 July 1410.
Lithuanian and Ruthenian contingents under Grand Duke Vytautas (Witold) formed the right wing at Grunwald. The famous feigned retreat of the Lithuanian centre - whether genuine rout or tactical withdrawal is still debated - drew Order cavalry into pursuit and broke the Teutonic line by counter-attack.
Painting tips
- Mail and helmet: dark steel, sepia wash.
- Tunic/kaftan: muted red, green, or natural wool.
- Shield: round, painted heraldic field - white pahonia on red is the classic Lithuanian device.
- Horse: warm bay, dun, or steppe-grey.
Historical sources & further reading
- S. M. Kuczyński, Grunwald studies
- Lithuanian-Polish chronicle accounts
- Eastern European 15th-c. light cavalry
⚠ Small parts. Not suitable for children under 14.





