When a war starts, every war in every time,for who promoted it the beginning is always the same, “waving flags”, “God is for us”, “soon back to home” ....
No so different should have been the leaving of Arezzo army in early june 1289. The old bishop Guglielmino degli Ubertini and the imperial messenger bishop Percivalle Fieschi bless the army, the last one holding the standard of Donatus, martyr and saint, bishop of Arezzo in roman era. Guccio Tarlati in front of them orders the army to kneel for blessing while an Uberti knight, perhaps the son of Farinata himself, hold the Arezzo flag having a yellow cross on a red field.

All these people, except one, will die on june,11 1289 at Campaldino field, fighting against Florentian army, in the day of St. Barnaba.

My challenge to you, people, is to guess who will survive? Just to help you I can say that the death of one of these will told by Dante in Purgatory (VI) and another one was buried in Certomondo church and, during year 2008, trasferred to Arezzo cathedral.

All in 54mm, different pieces from Pegaso, Emi and a lot of spare and self constructed parts, as saddles, horse harness and stirrups.

Love your works Francesco!!!

Oda.

nice

Excellent work and painting

Mobo

Very nice set piece.

Excellent!

Me too!
My guess is the Imperial messenger survived. Based solely on the assumption he was delivering a message.

Excellent scene and well painted.
Cheers
John

Thank so much people, you are too much kind. Anybody else try to guess who will survive ?
Francesco

An old saying "Don't shoot the messenger" so I think he survives.

Before to discover who will survive have a look about the figure of the imperial messenger :

From 1263 he was chaplain of Urban IV; he then became a canon of Lincoln, perhaps after the fortunate diplomatic mission carried out in England by the card. Ottobono. In England he also obtained the archdeacon "de Bekingamia" and a canon in York. Added to this were other privileges, so that rumors ran that he was the richest prelate in the world.

For a while I can say that the other bishop Guglielmino degli Ubertini was killed in the battle.
Cheers and thanks again to everybody.
Francesco

Great work Franacesco, very colorful and eye catching.

Military miniatures painted by Eduardo Garcia

It's Percivalle Fieschi, the messenger, he survived the battle and probably died the following year.

Yes, you and Bob got the right answer !!!
Percivalle Fieschi survived tha battle and died in Rome in the 1290, the year following the battle.
Guccio Tarlati (the guy in front of the scene) died at Campaldino battle and Dante Alighieri, fighting this day with florence army, dedicated to him a place in Purgatory (L'altro ch'annegò correndo in caccia) . Also the son of Farinata, holding the arezzo's standard died in the battle and the flag was kept by florentine.

Great, people!!!!
Francesco

These old sayings must be right

" don't shoot the messenger"

A interesting link with York too.

The old saying is always right ...
Thanks to everybody to partecipate to my little contest.
Francesco

Fantastic vignette. Great Job
Phil

From the moment you painted them Francesco they are all and will be alive!
Excellent work as always!
Congratulations!!!

Thank so much to everybody!!!
Cheers
Francesco