Siegmar von Willing: Difference between revisions

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===Black Company and First Potato War===
===Black Company and First Potato War===
[[File:Götz-eiserne-hand1.jpg|thumb|The second iron prosthetic hand worn by Siegmar von Willing from 1562]]
[[File:Götz-eiserne-hand1.jpg|thumb|The second iron prosthetic hand worn by Siegmar von Willing from 1562]]
Having loaned 500 [[Taler|Levantine Talers]] from a wealthy [[Koop]] merchant, Siegmar along with [[Knights of the Realm]] [[Giles de Gabion]] and [[Henri de Famichez]] recruited 25 men of various backgrounds to be their retinue.<ref>"A small loan of 500 Talers" from the chapter "The Art of the Steel". von Willing, Siegmar: ''My Feuds and Life'', [[Collinebourg Gazette]], pg. 16. 1981.</ref> These formed the core of what would eventually become the [[Black Company]]. Initially primarily performing escort services for wealthy merchants travelling between cities, chasing high profile bounties and protecting settlements from banditry, the Black Company grew in size to be a 100 strong by 1549. With his trusted Lieutenants [[Giles de Gabion]] and [[Henri de Famichez]] each able to handily lead detachments of the force, the [[Black Company]] was able to cover several tasks and duties at once, greatly increasing revenue.  
Having loaned 500 [[Taler|Levantine Talers]] from a wealthy [[Koop]] merchant, Siegmar along with [[Knights of the Realm]] [[Giles de Gabion]] and [[Henri de Famichez]] recruited 25 men of various backgrounds to be their retinue.<ref>"A small loan of 500 Talers" from the chapter "The Art of the Steel". von Willing, Siegmar: ''My Feuds and Life'', [[Collinebourg Gazette]], pg. 16. 1981.</ref> These formed the core of what would eventually become the [[Black Company]]. Initially primarily performing escort services for wealthy merchants travelling between cities, chasing high profile bounties and protecting settlements from banditry, the Black Company grew in size to be a 100 strong by 1549. With his trusted Lieutenants [[Giles de Gabion]] and [[Henri de Famichez]] each able to handily lead detachments of the force, the [[Black Company]] was able to cover several tasks and duties at once, greatly increasing revenue and in turn their numbers and strength.  


In 1556, during the [[First Potato War]], Siegmar and his mercenary army fought for [[Grand Duke of Yonderre|Grand Count of Yonderre]] [[Joanus II de Donne]]. During the siege of the city of Seewang, he lost his right arm at the wrist when a nearby cannon with a clogged barrel exploded, sending shrapanel everywhere. The wounded Siegmar was able to make his way to the rear where he received life saving first aid. In the following years, he had two mechanical prosthetic iron replacements made. The first iron hand was a more simple device, claimed to have been made by a [[Koop]] blacksmith and a saddle maker. The second, more famous prosthetic hand was capable of holding objects from a shield or reins to a quill. While recuperating from his horrific injury, Siegmar used a not-inconsequential part of his wealth to begin construction of his future home Siegmarsburg in Upper Eringau, [[Vandarcôte County]].  
In 1556, during the [[First Potato War]], Siegmar and his mercenary army fought for [[Grand Duke of Yonderre|Grand Count of Yonderre]] [[Joanus II de Donne]]. During the siege of the city of Seewang, he lost his right arm at the wrist when a nearby cannon with a clogged barrel exploded, sending shrapanel everywhere. The wounded Siegmar was able to make his way to the rear where he received life saving first aid. In the following years, he had two mechanical prosthetic iron replacements made. The first iron hand was a more simple device, claimed to have been made by a [[Koop]] blacksmith and a saddle maker. The second, more famous prosthetic hand was capable of holding objects from a shield or reins to a quill. While recuperating from his horrific injury, Siegmar used a not-inconsequential part of his wealth to begin construction of his future home Siegmarsburg in Upper Eringau, [[Vandarcôte County]].
===Early Great Confessional War===
 
Having made a surprisingly sound recovery, Siegmar von Willing rejoined his [[Black Company]] in the Autumn of 1558. In his absence, the Black Company, led by his Lieutenants [[Giles de Gabion]] and [[Henri de Famichez]], had signed up with the [[House de Weluta]]'s Catholic forces of the [[Holy League]]. The [[Black Company]] at this time had around 500 men under arms of which more than 50 were [[Knights of the Realm]]. Siegmar was selected to command the siege of [[Urceopolis (City)|Urceopolis]] which took place during the Spring and Summer of 1559, but which was broken up by a relief force led by [[King Donnchad III]] combined with defenders of [[Urceopolis (City)|Urceopolis]] sallying forth. When the [[Holy League]] troops under his command began to break, Siegmar ordered a retreat to the [[Urce River]]. Siegmar led his forces north in the direction towards [[Anglei]], fighting protestant warbands encountered on the way and mounting raids into protestant cities cities on the way, capturing and demanding ransoms for various lesser nobles while wintering in [[Ænglasmarch]]. In response to the news that the protestant King Donnchad had the Catholic Prince Aedanicus drawn, quartered, and beheaded in 1560, the [[Black Company]] once more crossed into Ionia and razed and looted the city Carsaila as a token of retaliation.
===Urcean War of Religion===
Having made a surprisingly sound recovery, Siegmar von Willing rejoined his [[Black Company]] in the Autumn of 1558. In his absence, the Black Company, led by his Lieutenants [[Giles de Gabion]] and [[Henri de Famichez]], had signed up with the [[House de Weluta]]'s Catholic forces of the [[Holy League]]. The [[Black Company]] at this time had around 500 men under arms of which more than 50 were [[Knights of the Realm]]. Siegmar was selected to command the siege of [[Urceopolis (City)|Urceopolis]] which took place during the Spring and Summer of 1559 and was placed in command of a number of [[Holy League]] troops to accomplish it. The siege was broken off however by a relief force led by [[King Donnchad III]] combined with defenders of [[Urceopolis (City)|Urceopolis]] sallying forth. When the [[Holy League]] troops under his command began to break, Siegmar ordered a retreat to the [[Urce River]]. Siegmar led his forces north in the direction towards [[Anglei]], fighting protestant warbands encountered and mounting raids into protestant cities on the way, capturing and demanding ransoms for various lesser nobles while wintering in [[Ænglasmarch]]. In response to the news that the protestant King Donnchad had the Catholic Prince Aedanicus drawn, quartered, and beheaded in 1560, the [[Black Company]] crossed into Ionia once more and assaulted and looted the city Carsaila as a token of retaliation.


===Later life===
===Later life===
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