Thomas de Beauchamp, eleventh Earl of Warwick, commanded the centre of the English line at Crécy in 1346 and fought at Poitiers ten years after. He was Marshal of England for a quarter of a century, from 1343 until his death, and a Knight of the Garter from the order's first year. He survived all of it. What killed him, at Calais on 13 November 1369, was the Black Death. That is the true shape of a medieval military life far more often than the chronicles let on: campaigns were settled as much by plague, dysentery and camp fever as by any charge, and men who came through the great battles very often did not come through the following summer. Crécy had already cost his family badly — a number of his relatives fell there, his own half-brother among them. He was brought home and buried beside his wife in the chancel of St Mary's, Warwick, where they still are.

Look at the helm. That white swan's head and neck is the crest recorded for this particular earl, and Tradition of London have put it exactly where it belongs, above red barding strewn with gold cross crosslets and crossed by a gold band — the Beauchamp arms — with a mace swung up and ready. He rides naturally beside Sir Richard Pembridge, who was at both the same battles, and opposite Gautier VI Compte de Brienne, the Constable of France killed at Poitiers. For the arm that made those victories possible, King & Country's English Archer Set covers the longbowmen. A commander with a mace raised needs to be looked up at — set him slightly above the rest of the diorama and let the line form below him.

Model: MK07 / Tradition of London / 54mm (1/32) scale / 1 piece set

All hand painted Toy Soldier sets packed in the Classic Tradition Red Boxes. All Toy Soldiers cast in quality white metal, and individually hand painted in gloss enamels.

Please allow 2-3 weeks delivery.