Oliver Ingham - Seneschal of Gascony

Here is another Black Tree Designs figure from their Early-HYW mounted command pack. He's painted up as Oliver Ingham, a prominent military commander who served in Scotland during the reign of Edward II. He remained loyal to Edward II during that regent's civil wars. Imprisoned for his loyalty, he was later released and served under Edmund of Woodstock and later Edward III. He participated in the brief and disastrous (for the English) War of Saint-Sardos in 1324. Appointed Seneschal of Gascony twice, he still held that office when the Hundred Years War began in 1337. He died in 1344 in Norfolk, England.

The Ingham family name has its roots in ancient Anglo-Saxon culture, and associated with Norfolk well before the Norman Conquest. Indeed, Sir Oliver's arms are based upon those of Roger Bigod who also hailed from Norfolk.

The helmet is an early form of a visored bascinet. The axehead is an Old Glory spare part - brass rod is used for the shaft. Didn't want to use a lance as he'll be used Lion Rampant skirmishes.

Most of the illustrations of Sir Oliver show his limb armor as black. I'm still not convinced as to this and ended up painting it as a dark metal.

Although he died before Crecy and the other famous actions during the Hundred Years War, he'll be part of a Lion Rampant retinue with other English notables from that war.