RENAISSANCE BATTLES 1494-1700 Volume 1
by PETER SIDES
RENAISSANCE BATTLES 1494-1700 Vol 1
by Peter Sides First published 1996 ISBN 1 87435110 4 Copyright Gosling Press
Gosling Press 35 Cross Street Upton Pontefract WF91EU
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INTRODUCTION MORTEN SEMINARA FORNOVO CALVERN & FRASTENZ DONARCH BARLETTA CERIGNOLA GARIGLIANO KNOCKDOE AGNADELLO RAVENNA NOVARA GUINEGATE FLODDEN MARIGNANO BICOCCA PAVIA SEIGE OF VIENNE KAPPEL CERESOLE d'ALBA ANCRUM MOOR BOULOGNE THEPINKI JEMMINGEN
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The bit at the back
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1475 1495 1495 1499 1499 1502 1503 1503 1504 1509 1512 1513 1513 1513 1515 1522 1525 1529 1543 1543 1545 1546 1547 1568
Renaissance Historical battles is the fourth book in a series that allows the wargamer to re-fight actual historical battles with his own preferred set of wargame rules. I have based this book on WRG De Bellis Renationis rules plus I have included a section allowing the army lists to be read using other similar types of rules. My book gives enough information for you to re-enact the battle described in a concise and compact way covering why it took place; the forces engaged, given in elements and actual numbers of men; a deployment guide and illustration of the battles initial positions; the victory conditions and the historical outcome. The Battle map is drawn to scale and to simplify it I have used a. standard set of symbols to represent troop types , these are in 'The Bit at the Back'. I have described each battle in a compact form, my intentions are to allow people to re-fight the battle and in so doing learn the lessons on the battlefield. You will soon find the Renaissance was not the 'Golden Age' of tactical thinking and in order to stand a reasonable chance of changing the result of the battle a change in tactics may be necessary, but often the smallest army is supposed to win and in all cases the gap between victory and defeat is small. In representing the armies I have balanced the armies 'commands' to fit the historical command ability and flexibility of that battle, so in certain battles it will be this 'command' ability that will give the inferior force the edge it had in real life enabling it to win. The battles range from small to massive affairs and are for both for indi,vidual duels and battles requiring the resources of an entire club. Some of the bigger more spectacular actions making excellent demonstration games. The armies of this period are the most spectacular of the renaissance and certainly have the most character, from the hard professional Landsknechts to the wild an savage Swiss. Don't feel bound by history , you've got the army lists, you've got the terain , the rest can be up to you and your army.
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22 The BURGUNDIAN WAR Charles the Bold of Burgundy became involved in the war against the Swiss when, as the Swiss defeated their Austrian masters and expanded their borders to the Rhine, the Austrians attempted to buy them off and in doing so became heavily in debt to Burgundia who put up the money. The Burgundian plot to claim lands from Austria in security of payment was seized upon by both France and the Emperor who struck a deal with the Swiss and Austrians to pay this debt and foil the Burgundians. But when payment was offered Charles Duke ofBurgundia refused it. The result of this refusal was that local people seized the Burgundian nobleman a Peter von Hagenbach, already in possession of the pledged lands and cruelly exploiting them, and executed him in the presence of Swiss emissaries. Charles' re-action came in 1476 when he invaded Switzerland and the Swiss found the alliance with France and the Emperor worthless as they were abandoned to their fate.
ARMIES SWISS
A) Duke of Lorraine 1800 Mounted Knights (CinC + 6 L(O)) B.) Vorhut (Vanguard) 9200 men (Sub-Gen.+ 6 B(F); 17 P(S)) C.) Gewalthut ( cenre) 8000 men (Sub-Gen. + 5 B(F); 30 P(S) D.) Nachhut (rearguard) 6000 men (Sub-Gen. + 6 Sk(O); 2 B(F); 10 P(S);l Ligh{ Gun.A(!)) E.) Defenders of Murten 2000 (Sub-Gen.+ l B(F);2 P(S);3 Sk(O))
BURGUNDIANS 1.)Duke ofBurgundy 1500 Knights (CinC + 5 L(O)) 2.)Hagenbach 1500 Knights (Sub-Gen+ 5 L(O)) 3.)3000 Knights (10 L(O)) 4.)2000 Pike (5 Pike(O)) 5.)2000 Pike (5 Pike(O)) 6.)1050 Handgunners(5 Sk(I)) 7-14.)1500 man Xbowunits (8 Sk(I)) 15) Artillery (5 Medium Guns A(O)) 16) Camp (23 Baggage Elements)
DEPLOYMENT The Burgundians deploy first and the Swiss move :first. The battle was fought in the pouring rain so any rules degrading :firepower due to rain/weather should apply. VICTORY CONDITIONS For either army to force a command to be broken they need to destroy l/3rd of the oppositions elements. To cause a rout result 2/3rds of the opposition's elements need to be destroyed. Lost baggage counts against both commands.
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HISTORICAL OUTCOME Charles ofBurgundia first struck at the fortress of Grari.dson, by the lake Neuchatel which quickJy fell to Charles' army. Charles had the entire garrison drowned in the lake or hanged. The Swiss force marching to relieve Grandson now fell upon the Burgundian army still at Grandson and utterly defeated it, capturing a hoard of booty unparalleled in its history. However the Burgundian army was not destroyed and in June of that year the Duke attacked the walled town of Murten (Morat) between Lake Neuchatel and Berne with over 24000 men. His intention was to capture Murten as a base to move against Berne. Murten was garrisoned by Von Bubenberg with a Bernese garrison and remembering the fate of the garrison of Grandson who had surrendered, held out for re-inforcements. The Duke also remembered the lessons of Grandson when his army was destroyed before it could deploy and so invested the town with a ring of earthworks and artillery positions facing outwards to forestall any attack by a Swiss relief army. Unfortunately his position was screened by a forests to his rear allowing the Swiss to move close to his lines undetected. The Duke had failed to place piquets or patrols in these woods. Having secured his position, the Duke attacked Murten, regardless of losses in full knowledge that a Swiss army was on its way. The siege had lasted l 0 days when the Duke became aware that S~ss were close but he did not prepare to face them until the following day the 22nd June. He marched out of the camp and deployed for battle. The Duke waited until noon before deciding that the weather was to poor for fighting and withdrew his main force to the camp leaving his artillery to cover the withdrawal At this the Swiss, deployed in column in the woods, attacked, charging in pouring rain through the guns and crossing the lightly defended earthworks. The Duke immediately counter-attacked sending whatever troops that came up, straight at the Swiss who slaughtered these piecemeal attacks and swept through the camp driving all before it. The Duke's army scattered escaping north and south. The Burgundians had lost 10,000 killed and Charles the Bold's campaigns had come to nothing. He was to die 6 months later at the hands of his former ally, Rene of Lorraine and a force of hired Swiss Mercenaries. 5
SEMINARA June 28th 1495 FRANCE versus SPANISH and NEAPOLITANS King Charles VIII of France set out from Lyons for Italy at the head ofhis army on 27th July 1494 and conquered Florence and Rome in rapid succession, moving onto Naples in the same year. At Rapallo he defeated an army of the Kingdom of Naples composed mostly of militia infantry in entrenched positions. The French Gendarmes with Swiss mercenaries under the Duke of Orleans, after initially being forced back recovered, and drove the Neapolitans from the field. Charles' success in Italy and his entrance into Naples in February 1495 bearing the Imperial Globe, symbol of imperial authority, offended the Germans in as much they had custody of the Holy Roman Empire and worried Spain's Ferdinand of Aragon over his rights to Naples. So on March 3lst 1495 the Venetians, Maximilian I, Ferdinand of Aragon, Ludovico Sforza the Duke of Milan and Pope Alexander VI formed the 'Holy League' or (Venetian League) in order to restore Italian independence - or more obviously to curb France's power. Ferdinand, King of Spain sent Gonsalvo de Cordova with approximately 5000 Spanish troops to support King Ferrante II of Naples in defeating the now encumbant French army.
ARMIES SPANISH NEAPOLITANS 1.) King· FerranteII 900MenatArms (CinC + 3 GendarmesL(S)) 2.) de Cordova 300 men at Arms (Sub-Gen. 1 Gendarmes L(S)) 3.) 1050 Italian Xbow Foot (5 Sk(O)) 4.) 2000 Spanish Pikemen (5 Pike(I)) 5.) 1050 Spanish Buckler men (3 B(F)) 6.) 1050 Spanish Musket (3 S(I)) 7.) Artillery (1 Medium Gun .A(O))
FRENCH A) Duke of Aubigny 1200 Gendarmes (CinC + 4 Gendarmes.L(S)) B.) 3000 Swiss Mercenaries (Sub-Gen. 8 Pike.(S)) C.) 1200 Gascon Xbow Foot (6 Sk(O)) D.) 3000 Gascon Xbow Foot (15 Sk(O)) E.) 2000 Gascon Pikemen (5 Pike (I)) F.) Artillery (2 Medium Guns. A(O))
DEPLOYMENT The Spanish deploy first and the French move first. VICTORY CONDITIONS Both sides must lose l/3rd of a command to count as beaten and 2/3rds of the army must be lost to count as being defeated.
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HISTORICAL OUTCOME The Neopolitan army under King Ferrante II supported by his Spanish ally Gonsalvo de Cordova with about 5000 Spanish foot attacked a numerically superior French Army under Robert Stuart Duke of Aubigny. The French response consisted of the Gendarmes charging the Neopolitan men at arms and the Swiss mercenaries taking on the Spanish centre. The remainder of the French force stood in reserve. The French Gendarmes soon broke the Neopolitian men at arms and at this the Neopolitan foot threw down its arms and fled leaving the Spanish to face the Swiss alone. Though the Spanish fought well they were no match for the massed ·Swiss pike and were soon overwhelmed. De Cordova left the field with his own men at arms on seeing his army rout. The remaining French army in Naples under Gilbert, Comt de Montpensier found himself fighting on· three fronts, firstly the Spanish under Cordova ; the Neapolitan Barons and the people of Naples. Though he was to win all his pitched battles his army was destroyed through guerilla warfare and he surrendered in June 1496 at Atella. The King of Naples returned to his throne and Charles VIII was forced to sign a truce with Spain.
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FORNOVO
July 6th 1495
FRANCE vs MILAN and VENICE Following the battle of Seminara Charles VIII of France quickly conquered Naples early in 1495 • He then began to march North to re-open his lines of communication with the re-inforcements commanded by Louis, Duke of Orleans who was camped at Piedmont. The Milanese and Venetians under Giovanni Francesco Gonzaga, Marquis ofMantua were camped along the French line of march, two miles north of the village ofFomovo overlooking the river Taro. The French arrived at Fomovo on 5th July and Charles attempted to negotiate with the Venetian/Milanese faction to continue his march, but to no avail. Charles then deployed his force in a march column that could tum quickly to face its right flank in the event of an attack by the Italians.
ARMIES FRENCH A.}King Charles VIII, 300 French Gendarmes. (CinC + 2 L(S)) B.}MarshalDe Gie, 350 French Gendarmes. (Sub-Gen. + 2 L(S)) C.)Count ofFoix, 300 French Gendarmes (Sub-Gen +2 L(S)) D.)300 Gascon Crossbow (3 Sk(O)) E.)200 Royal Xbow (2 Lh(F}) F.)3000 Swiss Pike. (14 P(S);l B(F)) G.)2400 French Crossbow (24 Sk (0)) H.}2400 French Crossbow (24 Sk (0)) I.) Artillery (2 Medium Guns .A(O)) J.) Baggage(! Horde; 10 Baggage)
ITALIANS 1. )Marquis ofMantua,500 Men at Arms (CinC + 3 L(O)) 2. )Count of Caiazzo,600 Men at Arms (Sub-Gen. +4 L(O)) 3.) de-Montone, 500 Men at Arms (Sub-Gen +3 L(O)) 4.)Pietro Duodo,600 Stradiots (Sub-Gen+ 6 Lh (0)) 5.)1000 Milanese (5 Bw(O}) 6. )2000 Landsknechts (20 Pike(O)) 7.)500 Italian Mounted Crossbow. (3 Dr(I)} 8.)4000 Italian Xbow Foot (20 IBw(O)) 9.)3000 Italian Xbow Foot(15 Bw(O)) 10.)250 Papal Knights(2 L(O)) 11.)1000 Papal Xbow Foot (10 Bow(O)) 12.)300 Milanese (2 L(O)) 13.)250 Venetian (2 L(O)) 14.)300 Mounted Xbow Foot (2 Dr (I) 15.)Artillery (2 Medium Guns A.(O)) 16.)Camp (1Horde,=16 Baggage)
FIGURE SCALE 1 FIGURE= 50 MEN DEPLOYMENT The French deploy and move :first. Count the river as bad going. VICTORY CONDITIONS Both sides must destroy l/3rd of a command to cause a Broken result, and 2/3rds to win. The baggage counts as casualities as long as it's held by the enemy.
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HISTORICAL OUTCOME The Italian plan was to halt the colunm and engage it frontally with the light cavalry , p:inning it down so a mass charge in the flank by the mounted men at arms and knights, supported by the infantry could smash the French army. The Italian guns opened fire in support of the Stradiot's attack as soon as the French colunm was in range. The French brought up its own artillery and countered the light cavalry with missile troops, at this the Italian light cavalry broke off their attack, circled around the French army and raided its baggage train. The Marquis ofMantua saw the French starting to deploy and ordered an all out attack. The Italian plan failed at this point in that, as the Italians crossed the river, they became disordered and easy meat for the French. On the Italian right the Gendarmes halted in the face of French Infantry and artillery and were promptly routed by the French Gendarmes. The Milanese and Landsknecthts also attempted to cross the river but were smashed by the Swiss pike. In the centre much the same happened with the Italians being attacked as they emerged disordered from the river and being driven back into the river. After the initial Italian attack by the nobility and the first line of infantry the reserve lines seeing the debacle at the river withdrew to the camp. The Italian light cavalry thinking that the day was lost also broke off raiding the baggage. The battle had lasted 15 minutes. The Italians had 3300 men and been soundly routed. King Charles did not pursue the Italians beyond the river to destroy them utterly, but continued his march as before. 9
CALVERN March 22nd 1499 SWARIAN LEAGUE versus SWISS The cause of the war is explained under Domach. Maximillian I advanced on Orisons with a Swabian force of 15000 men and constructed earthworks close to the town in preparation for an assault. Benedict Fortana attacked with 6000 Swiss rather than await the inevitable assault and siege.
ARMIES
SWISS A.) Fortana, 3000 Swiss (CinC + 2B (F); 6 P (S)) B.) Orisons, 3000 Swiss (Sub-Gen.+ 2B(F); 6 P (S)) C & D) 300 Xbow (3 Sk (0)) E.) Artillery (2 Light Guns A(I))
IMPERIALISTS 1.) Maximillian I, 1500 Gendarmes (CinC + 5 L(O)) 2.) 1500 Men at Arms (5 L(O)) 3.) Reserve 3600 men (7B(F); 2P(O)) 4 & 5) 800 Pike. (2P(O)) 6.) 2000 Xbow (10 Sk(O)) 7 & 8.) 4000 Xbow (20 Sk(O))
DEPLOYMENT The Imperialists deploy first and the Swiss move first. VICTORY CONDITIONS The Swiss must destroy 24 elements to cause a Broken result and 48 elements to cause a rout. The Imperialists must destroy 1/3rd of a command's elements to cause it to be broken. and destroy in total 14 Elements to win. filSTORICAL OUTCOME The Swiss charged the thinly held earthworks and quickly drove the defenders back. The retreating first line of the Imperialists soon disorganised the reserves and cavalry in the rear. Then whole imperialist army fled. Fontana was to die shortly after in a skirmish close by, at a crossing on the Calvem River.
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SWABIAN LEAGUE versus SWISS See Donarch for the cause and process of the war. There is little detail of the proceeding events other than the Imperialists were marching towards Bern when they were con.fronted by Wolleb.
ARMIES SWISS A) Wolleb 1200 Forlorn Hope (CinC + 4 B(F)) B.) Cantonial Commander 1800 pike (Sub-Gen. + 5P(S)) C.) 1800 Pike ( 5 P(S)) D & E.) 1200 Halberd (3 B(F)) x2 F & G.) 600 Xbow (6 Sk(O)) x2
IMPERIALISTS 1.) Furstenberg 1500 Men at Arms (CinC + 5L(O)) 2.) 3000 Men at Anns on Foot (8 B(F)) 3 & 4) 800 Pike (4 P(O)) x2 5 & 6) 3800 bow (17 S(O))x2 7.) 1200 Xbow (6 Sk(O))
DEPLOYMENT The Imperialists deploy first and the Swiss move first. VICTORY CONDITIONS The Swiss must destroy 21 Elements to cause the Imperialists to be broken and 42 Elements in total to rout them The Imperialists must destroy 1/3rd of a command to cause the Swiss to retreat and 11 Elements in total to cause them to rout. Forlorn hope do not count as casualties if destroyed. HISTORICAL OUTCOME Heinrich Wolleb positioned himself amongst a larger than normal forlorn hope, supported them with his Halberdiers and charged head on at the Imperialist army that occupied a good defensive position on a hill. Wolleb's Forlorn hope smashed the centre of the Imperialist force and drove the whole army back in confusion. Heinrich W olleb was killed in the attack but again the Swiss had broken another Imperialist army through sheer ferocity.
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SWABIAN LEAGUE versus SWISS The founders of the Swiss Confederation had not intended to break their ties with the Empire and in fact they had been eager to have the Emperor confirm their special privileges. But successive Imperial officials high handed attitude had turned the Swiss away from acceptance of Imperial power. This animosity was :further embittered when during the Burgundian wars the Hapsburg Emperor did nothing to protect the Swiss garrison at Grandson from being massacred. This background of mistrust gave way to open rebellion against the new Emperor Maximilian I when he levied a tax on the entire Empire and overode local laws with an Imperial supreme court. Maximilian's response to the Swiss refusal to obey was .to head the Swabian League (a group of southern German states who had formed to prevent Swiss expansion and now saw the chance to expand into Switzerland with Imperial approval) in a punitive expedition to bring these unruly Swiss to order.
ARMIES SWISS 1.)Conrad 3600 Foot (CinC+ 7 (S);2 B(F).) 2.)d'Erlach 3200 Foot (Sub-Gen.+ 6P(S);2B(F)) 3.)3200 Foot( 6P(S);2 B(F)) 4.)1500 Xbow( 8 Sk(O)) 5.)1500 Xbow( 8 Sk(O)) 6.)Artillery (3 Light Guns A(I))
IMPERIALISTS A )Furstenberg 900 Men at Arms (CinC+ 3 L(O)) B.)600 Men at Arms ( 2 L(O)) C.)5000 Foot ( 9 P(O); 3 B(F)) D.)1800 Crossbow Foot (9 Sk(O)) E.)1800 Crossbow Foot (9 Sk (0) F).Artillery (2 Medium Guns A.(O))
DEPLOYMENT The Imperialists deploy first and the Swiss move first.
VICTORY CONDITIONS The Imperialists must destroy l/3rd of a command to cause Broken and 29 Elements in total to cause rout. The Swiss must destroy 13 to cause Broken, 26 Elements to cause Rout.
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HISTORICAL OUTCOME Domach was the :final battle in a series of battles fought along a 300 mile front. The fighting started after an attack by Imperial forces on the ancient monastery of Mustair in the Munstertal. But before long the people of the Grisons and their confederation were involved in the war against the German-Austrian alliance. In 9 months of war the Swiss lost their inspired leader Fontana during fighting on the River Calven but the Swiss soldiers outfought the Imperialist army. The final peace treaty of Basle, in September 1499, established Switzerland's virtual independence of the Maximillian Empire and though Switzerland gained no territory from the war it re-inforced its reputation, already established at St. Jakob and Morat. This reputation now made Swiss mercenaries highly valued in the armies about to embark on the conquest and defence ofltaly.
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BARLETTA July 1502 FRANCE versus SPAIN Louis XII came to throne of France in 1499 and determined to regain the lost possessions of his predessor. Louis had assumed the titles of King of France, King of Naples, and Duke of Milan. and these had become the reasons for the conflict. France was also weaker as a result of Charles' adventure as the Imperialists and Spain had both gained from the war, partly from Charles' bribes ofland prior to his invasion and partly through the conquest ofltaly. So Louis set about recruiting new allies, these being Switzerland and the Pope who feared Spanish inroads into Italy through Naples. Louis also entered into agreements with Venice (an enemy of Milan), Philip I Duke of Burgundy and H~nry VII of England. But it was a French/Swiss army that marched over the Alps to take Milan in 1500 at the battle of Novara where Sforza's (Duke of Milan), Swiss mercenaries refused to fight the French/Swiss mercenaries and so Sforza was captured. At this Louis allied with Ferdinand of Spain and carved up Naples together capturing the King of Naples and dividing the Kingdom between them But Ferdinand had no intention of sharing the Kingdom and with control of the seas around Naples and the French re-inforcements in Rome to persuade the Cardinal elections for Pope to elect a French candidate Ferdinand set about taking Naples.
ARMIES FRENCH 1.) Duke of Nemours 1OOO Gendarmes (CinC + 3 L(S)) 2.) 3000 Swiss Pike (Sub-Gen+ 8 Pike(S)) 3.) 23 00 Gascon Pike ( 6 Pike(I)) 4.) 1500 Scottish Longbow (8 Sk(O)) 5.) 2100 Gascon Xbow ( 10 Sk(O)) 6.) Artillery (3 Medium Guns)(A(O))
SPANISH A.) de Cordova 600 men at Arms (CinC + 2 Gendarmes L(S)) B.) 1000 Light Cavalry (5 lh(O)) C.) 1200 Pike (3 Pike(I)) D.) 2500 Spanish Musket (8 S(I)) E.) 2700 Spanish Buckler (9 B(F)) F.) 1200 Pike (3 Pike (I)) G. )Artillery 2 medium Guns (A ( 0))
DEPOYMENT The Spanish deploy first behind the earthworks and the French move first. VICTORY CONDITIONS The French must destroy 11 elements to cause the Spanish to be broken and 22 elements to win. The Spanish must destroy 3 Swiss elements or 10 French elements to· cause a command to be· broken, and 26 elements to win.
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HISTORICAL OUTCOME The French army with its Swiss mercenaries had smaShed all opposition up to this point and the French had become reliant on the Swiss to do most of the fighting. De Cordova, the Spanish Commander, realised after his defeat at Seminara that his troops could not fight the Swiss on their terms, so he changed the odds. He increased the numbers of Sword and Buckler men in his force and positioned himself behind earthworks of a ditch and mound. Louis d'Annagnac, Duke of Nemours appears to have paid little attention to the Spanish disposition and as before simply followed his Swiss mercenary pike into action, holding his other troops back to allow the Swiss easy access to the enemy. But the Swiss charge was first disrupted by the Spanish musketry and artillery and then further disordered by the ditch and mound. This is what de Cordova had planned, Disordered pike verse swordsmen are at a great disadvantage and the Spanish sword and buckler men drove the Swiss back. The French on seeing the Swiss attack fail, instead of advancing to support the Swiss and continue the battle, started withdrawing. The Spanish Swordsmen already pursuing the Swiss were then joined by a general advance of all the Spanish forces, turning the French withdraw into a bloody rout inflicting heavy losses on the French and particularly on the Swiss.
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CERIGNOLA April 21st 1503 SPAIN versus FRANCE France under Charles VIII invaded the kingdom of Naples in 1494 and initially defeated the Neopolitan army at Rapallo. The King of Naples saw his peril and appealed to the King of Spain to come to his aid. The Spanish responded by sending the great de Cordova and an army to help the Neopolitans. Their combined force was defeated at Seminara as was a Milanese Venetian army at Fomovo and in 1500 under the Treaty of Granada the kingdom of Naples was partitioned between France and Spain. But peace was not to last long and in 1502 the Spanish defeated a French army at Barletta by defending prepared positions. By now Cordovo had come into his own. He defeated the French at Barletta in 1502 and faced them again at Cerignola using the same tactics.
ARMIES FRENCH A Lollis d'Armagnac 300 French Gendarmes ( CinC + 2 L(S)) B. Yves d'Alegre 300 French Gendarmes (2 L(S)) C. 500 Italian and Albanian Stradiots,(5 Lh(O).) D. 4000 Swiss Pikemen, (20 P(S) ) E. 5000 Gascon Xbow Foot,(50 Sk(O)) F. Artillery (4 Medium Guns A(O))
SPAIN 1.)de Cordova 2000 Spanish Foot (CinC + 6 P(I); 2S(I);2B(F)) 2.)2000 Foot.(6 P(I);2S(I);2B(F)) 3.)2000 Foot.(6 P(I);2S(I);2B(F)) 4.)2000 Foot.(6 P(I);2S(I);2B(F)) 5.)100 Men at Arms, (1 L(O)) 6.)500 Spanish Genitors,(5 Lh(O).) 7.)500 Spanish Genitors,(5 Lh(O)) 8)Artillery (5 Medium Guns A(O))
FIGURE SCALE 1 FIGURE = 50 MEN
DEPLOYMENT The Spanish deploy first, and the French move first. VICTORY CONDITIONS The French must destroy 19 elements to cause a broken result 34 to win. The Spanish must destroy 28 elements to cause a broken result and 56 elements to defeat the French.
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HISTORICAL OUTCOME At Barletta in 1502 De Cordova had defeated a French Army with Swiss mercenaries by deploying his musket/pike formations behind earthworks. The Swiss had been defeated by the heavy fire and the sword and buckler men of the Spanish force. The French army had been routed as it tried to disengage. This time, as the French army under Louis d'Armagnac, Duke of Nemours closed on the Spanish, De Cordova applied the same tactic, making his base on the lower slopes of a vineyard and digging earthworks across his front. The Duke of Nemours was persuaded by the rash Yves d'Alegre to immediately attack the Spanish and so, after a brief fight with the Spanish light cavalry screening the earthworks the entire French command plus all the Gendarmes charged ,only supported by the fire of its artillery, at the dug-in Spanish army. The result was predictable. As the Gendarmes where halted by the earthworks they were shot to pieces by close range musket and cannon fire. The Gendarmes already in some disorder had most of their officers, and in particular the Duke ofNemors killed. The Swiss and Gascon infantry had come up at this time and assaulted the Spanish positions in an uncoordinated way only to be repulsed and left standing close to the Spanish earthworks being raked with musket and cannon fire. At this De Cordova ordered an all out attack and the Spanish troops poured across the earthworks to drive the French from the field.
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GARIGLIANO 29th December 1503 SPAIN versus FRANCE The defeated French from Cerignola withdrew to the fortress at Gaeta. Where they were joined by Ludovico, Marquis of Saluzzo with 4000 Italian infantry. In June de Cordova arrived and laid siege to Gaeta with his force of 11 OOO men, but all his attempts to assault the town failed and he withdrew to blockaded it. Reinforcements recruited by Louis XII included 8000 Swiss mercenaries marched on Parma where they were joined by Italian infantry from Milan and Mantua increasing the force to over 20,000 men. After marching on Rome in an attempt to pressurise the papal conclave to elect a French candidate to the post of Pope. The army under Gonzage marched on Naples along the Via Latina. At the approach of this army the Spanish commander De Cordova broke of his bloqkade of Gaeta and moved to tail this new threat eventually ending up back at his start position on the Garigliano river.
ARMIES FRENCH I ITALIAN A )Marquis of Salzzo, 400 French Gendarmes (CinC + 2 L(S)) B.)650 Gendarmes ( 4 L(S)) C.)500 Italian Stradiots (5 Lh(O)) D. )2000 Italian Ft.(lOS(I)) E.)2000 Italian Ft.(lOS(I)) F.)2000 Norman Ft. (20Sk(O)) G.)1000 Norman Pike (5 P(I)) H.)4000 Swiss Pike (20 P(S)) I.)4000 Swiss Pike (20 P(S)) J. )2500 Gascon Xbow & Italian Pike. (13 Sk(O), 6 P (I)) K)lOOO Gascon Xbow (10 Sk(O)) L.) Artillery ( 2 Medium Guns A(O))
SPAIN I ITALIAN I.)cie Cordova, 500 Men at Arms. ( CinC + 3 L(O)) 2.)Andrado,400(Sub-Gen+2B(F)) 3.)500 Genitors (5 Lh (0)) 4.)4000Italian Pike;Xbow(24Sk(0).:8P(I) 5.)500 Italian Stradiots & Bridging Coy ( 5 Lh (0) & 1 Pontoon(O)) 6.)500 Italian Stradiots (5 Lh(O)) 7.)2000 Spanish Ft.(6P(I);2 S(I),2 B(F)) 8.)2000 Spanish Ft.(6P(I);2 S(I); 2 B(F)) 9.)2000 Spanish Ft.(6P(I);2 S(I); 2 B(F)) 10.)2000 Spanish Ft.(6P(I); 2S(I); 2B(F))
FIGURE SCALE 1 FIGURE = 50 MEN. DEPLOYMENT The French deploy first and the Spanish move first. The river is impassible. This battle was fought in appalling weather and any rules governing bad weather should be applied. VICTORY CONDITIONS The French must destroy 1/3rd of a command to cause it to be broken and must destroy 62 elements to win. The Spanish must destroy 42 elements to cause the French to be broken. And 84 elements to defeat the French.
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106 inches
HISTORICAL OUTCOME Gonzaga attempted to cross the Garigliano in the face of the Spanish and managed to construct a pontoon across the river after much :fighting He was then however forced to postpone his attack due to the dreadful weather. The conditions in which the army lived were inadequate for the persistent bad weather and much of the French army withdrew from the river to find dryer and better quarters.· Also during this time due to friction in the command Gonzaga withdrew and the Marquis of Saluzzo took command. On the Spanish side, De Cordova remained close to his troops keeping morale up and when re-inforcements under Bartolomeo D'Alviano arrived, he set about preparations to attack the French. He moved his army to with 5 miles of the village. Sujo on the French side of the river and at dawn on the 29th December he constructed a prefabricated bridge across the Garigliano without opposition. De Cordova's plan was to attack from his bridge by the village Sujo and for Andrada to hold the French bridge to prevent any counter attack. De Cordova's attack routed the Norman infantry at Sujo and swept on to the village of Castelforte and San Cosma routing the Swiss soldiers before they could deploy for battle, The scattered, leaderless and unprepared French army could offer little organised resistance against the Spanish onslaught. The marquis and d'Alege did manage a counter attack but it was hopelessly outnumbered and unsupported. He fell back turning to fight again at Trajetto, ordering the French bridge across the Garigliano to be destroyed. But after heavy :fighting the Spanish captured this bridge and advanced on two fronts. The Spanish attack drove the French to the natural defile at Formia and again the Swiss and F):ench made another stand, but the entire weight of the Spanish army drove them back after an hour and the French forces fled back to Gaeta. After a brief siege the Marquis surrendered Gaeta and all his forces to De Cordova on condition the army was allowed to return home. Most of it died on the return voyage from fever . 19
KNOCKDOE August 19th 1504 ENGLISH versus IRISH The English hold over Ireland had never been complete and the Irish lords often assumed more power than the King would allow. This power was based on introducing a new type of soldier the 'Galloglass' - Foreign Warrior' to Ireland for the Irish had no warrior class of its own. The 'Galloglass' mostly Scots had settled in Ireland. Their equipment and armour was defiantly Dark age consisting of two handed axes and shirts of mail. The greatest battle in Irish history of these 'Galloglass' would be Knockdoe for they where employed on both sides. The protagonist's in this battle were Gerald Fitz-Gerald, the Great Earl of Kildare with a force from Dublin and the English Pale mostly from the northern half of Ireland or the 'Leath Chuinn' of ancient designation. And Ulick de Burgh, (or Burke) of Clanrickard supported by Munster warriors from the lower Shannon basin .The Earl of Kildare had risen to power during Richard IlI's reign and was present when the Pretender Lambert Simnel had been crowned King of England in Dublin. And so on Henry VII's accession to the throne after the battle of Bosworth he sent Richard Edgecombe to Ireland in 1488 to limit the Earls powers. Later Sir Edward Poynings parliament charged him with treason and he was imprisoned in the tower in 1495. But the Earl was the only man who could keep the peace n Ireland and in 1496 he was returned to power with King Henry's charge 'He is meet. to rule all Ireland, seeing all Ireland cannot rule him!' But during the Earl of Kildare's imprisonment many of the old fueds had restarted and Kildare returned to find himself at immediate odds with many of his old enemies. ARMIES ENGLISH IRISH A) Earl of Kildare 1200 foot (Cine + 6 Blade(S)) B.) 900 Archers ( 6 Bow(S)) C.) 900 Archers (6 Bow(S)) D.) 1200 Irish (6 Blade (I)) E.) 600 Archers (4 Bow(S)) F.) 1200 Cavalry (8 L(F)) G.) Baggage. ( 6 Baggage) Figure Scale 1 = 50men
IRISH I.) Ulick Burke 3400 (Cine+ 17 Blade (0)) 2.) 600 Mounted (4 Lh(O))
DEPLOYMENT The English Irish deploy and move first. The wall was a low-loose stone wall and had no defensive practicalities, I would ignore it but for cavalry who should count it as bad going. VICTORY CONDITIONS The English must destroy 7 elements to cause a broken result and 14 elements to cause a rout. The Irish must destroy 12 elements to cause broken result and 24 elements to cause a rout. The baggage will count as casualties long as it is held .
Page- 20
~G
a
E
2
I<
y
ENGLISH /IRISH
1zizlzz7lJ
RE13EL IRISH
50 inches
>I
HISTORICAL OUTCOME The de Burgh family, the greatest Anglo-Norman house in Connacht, had long been divided into two branches , that of MacWilliam of Clanrickard and the MacWilliam of Mayo. These two families were often hostile to each other and so on the death of the head of the Mayo branch a small war of succession took place between them This war unfortunately involved the town of Galway which had a royal charter allowing only entry to the Kings representatives , U1ick entered as an armed intruder. Wick's allies were mostly anti-English, the worst being Turlough O'Brian. Because of this anti-English bias, the Earl could legitimately remove many of his Irish opponents, while ostensibly working for the King. The two armies' assemblies differed in many ways. The Earls, by act of Parliament, had organised and equipped in the English fashion using bow and halberd. Wick's army would have been mostly 'Galloglass' relying on their two handed axes. Both forces met at Knockdoe on a hill, appropriately named 'the hill of axes'. The Earrs dispositions were to follow in the English pattern of billmen in the centre to fix the enemy , and archers on the flanks to pour in arrows. This he arranged along an existing low stone wall placed his own 'Galloglass' and cavalry on the extreme flanks and leaving a small reserve, under his son Garret Og, to protect the baggage. The Battle started as the commander of the Earl' cavalry (Baron of Delvin) had promised, by casting the first spear. Oddly, nothing is heard ofthe_English cavalry after its initial charge and one can only assume it withdrew to its flank after the attack. In the centre the main body of Wick's 'Galloglass' charged the English line and after suffering the English arrows engaged in a melee all along the front. Wick's Cavalry did not charge the 'Galloglass' to its front but circled round them and fell on the baggage in the rear, Garret Og and his force having left the baggage to join in the fighting. Wick's charge had not broken the English and now, having been halted, it started to be pushed back. Eventually Wick's army disintegrated through sheer casualties which were heavy on both sides. Interestingly, Knockdoe was the first battle in Ireland in which a firearm was used. A Dublin soldier surprised a disorientated Irish rebel returning from plundering the baggage and 'Struch him with a gun with both his hands and so beat out his brains.'. Page- 21
AGNADELLO 14th MAY 1509 FRANCE versus VENICE Louis XII, now campaigning against Venice as a co-member of the league of cambrca, was involved in a war of manoeuvre against the Count of Pitigliano. The Venetian army was slightly larger than the French army at 25000 against 20000 men but the French army contained 6-8000 Swiss mercenaries and therefore was probably a more dangourous army. Count Pitigliano feared a general engagement and took up a position on Vine-Clad hills and refused to engage the French. So Louis marched on the city of Rivolta and drew the Italian army into pursuit, whereupon the French army circled around to close on the rear of the Italian forces.
ARMIES FRENCH A Louis XII 300 French Gendarmes ( CinC + lL(S)) B. d'Amboise 300 French Gendarmes (Sub-Gen. + 1 L(S)) C. 300 French Gendarmes (1 (S)) D. 500 Italian & French Cavalry (3 Lh(O).) E. 3000 Gascon Xbow (15 Sk(O)) F. 4000 Swiss Pike (10 P(S)) G. 4000 Swiss Pike (10 P(S)) H. Artillery (2 Medium Guns A(O)) I. Swiss Artillery (2 Light Guns A(I))
VENETIANS 1.)Count of Pitiglianol500 Italian Men at Arms ( CinC +5 L(O)) 2. )d'Alviano 200 Italian Men at Arms (Sub-Gen.+ 1 L(O)) 3.)3000 Stradiots (15 L/C) 4.)5000 Italian Pike,Xbow (6 P(I); 13 Sk(O)) 5.)5000 Italian Pike,Xbow (6 P(I); 13 Sk(O)) 6.)5000 Italian Pike,Xbow (6 P(I); 13 Sk(O)) 7.)2000 Italian Militia (10 Sk(I)) 8.)3000 Romandiole Foot (8 Pike(O)) 9.)Artillery (2 Medium Guns A(O))
DEPLOYMENT The Venetians deploy first and the French move first.
VICTORY CONDITIONS Both sides must inflict 1/3rd casualties on a comand to cause it to become broken. The French must destroy 54 elements to defeat the Venetians. The Venetians must destroy 30 elements to defeat the French.
22
-~'·
VENETIANS ',
FRENCH
E
58 inches
HISTORICAL OUTCOME The French Vanguard had orders to attack the Italians as quickly as possible in order to pin down their army and bring it to battle. whereas the Italian rearguard was to hold the French vanguard until its army deployed for battle, then withdraw giving the Italian main body time to escape. The battle started with an artillery engagement when the French cavalry charged across the dry riverbed only to be quickly repulsed by the Romandiole infantry. D'Alviano commander of the Italian rearguard, now over-confident about his position, refused to withdraw when ordered to by Count of Pitigliano and even requested re-inforcements. Ambroise and Trivulzio the French vanguard commanders increased the pressure on the Italians with repeated attacks and further artillery bombardment which drove the Italians into more open ground. Once in more open terrain Brisigella's infantry were cut to pieces by the French gendarmes plus re-inforcements from the French main battle. The Italian rearguard fell apart and fled to the main body of the Italian army which withdrew and split up into a number of fortified cities.
23
RAVENNA 11th April 1512 FRANCE versus SPAIN and THE PAPACY Louis XII's of France had placed his army in Italy under the young but capable Gaston de Foix, Duke of Nemours who, early in the campaign,had driven the Spanish from Bologna and invaded Lombardy, besieging Brescia. During this siege the Viceroy of Naples, Ramon de Cardona, reoccupied most of Romagna. This forced the French commander to return to Ravenna and besiege this important city. De Cordona was forced to attempt the relief of this city and possibly play into the French hands by fighting an open battle. So he marched to within 2 miles ofRavenna and dug a defensive position on the banks of the River Ronco. The Duke of Nemours was indeed eager to bring the Spanish to battle and as the Spanish camp was so close to his forces, he marched out to engage them
ARMIES FRANCE A )Gaston de Foix 780 Gendarmes (CinC+ 2 L(S)) B. )Marshall de la Palice 900 Men at Anns (Sub-Gen+ 3 L(S)) C.)Yves d'Alegre 300 Gendarmes (Sub-Gen+ 1 L(S)) D. )Caraciolo 300 Horse Arquebus. (Sub-Gen+ lLh(I)) E.)600 Mounted Xbow (3 Lh (F)) F.)800 Stradiots (8 Lh (0)) G.)2000 Ital. Foot Pike&Xbow (3P(I);4Sk(O)) H.)3000 Picard Pikemen (8 P(I)) I.)5000 Landskecht (12 P(O)) J.)3500 Gascon Xbow(l 7 Sk(O)) K)4000 Italian Pike&Xbow (6P(I);8Sk(O)) L. )F oix' s Artillery (4 Heavy Guns A( 0)) M. )D'Algres Artillery ( 1 Light Gun A(I)) N.)Ferrara's Artillery (4 Medium Guns A(O))
SPAIN and THE PAPACY 1. )de Cardona 900 Men at Anns
(CinC + 3L(S)) 2. )Fabrizio Colonna 900Papal Men at Anns (Sub-Gen+ 3 L(S)) 3.)Carvajal Spanish 450 Men at Anns (Sub-General+ 3 L(O)) 4. )D.Pescara 900Mounted Papal Arquebus (Sub-General+ 5Lh(I)) 5.)800 Genitors (8 Lh(O)) 6.)2000 Papal Infantry (5 P(O)) 7.)2000 Spanish Ft.(6P(0),2S(I),2B(F)) 8.)2000 Spanish Ft.(6P(0);2S(I);2B(F)) 9.)2000 Spanish Ft.(6P(0);2S(I);2B(F)) 10.)2000 Spanish Ft.(6P(0);2S(I);2B(F)) 11.)Artillery (6 A(O)) 12.)War Carts. (6 A(I))
DEPLOYMENT The Spanish deploy first and the French move first. The River Ronco is impassable.
VICTORY CONDITIONS Both sides must destroy l/3rd of a command to cause it to be broken. The French must destroy 52 elements to defeat the Spanish. The Spanish must destroy 58 elements to win.
ffiEJ M
river ronco
2
1 1
SPANISH
:2
[]§] 7
8
~ /lJ00
~5
~LB
~~ c
.I
..c: ~ N
ID
~4
70 inches
HISTORICAL OUTCOME Having left 2000 men to maintain the siege of Ravenna the Duke of Nemours crossed the river Ronco and deployed his army around the Spanish earthworks. Alfonso d'Este, Duke of Ferrara, took much longer to get into position having travelled by a different route. The Battle started with a long artillery duel which drove the Spanish infantry away from the earthworks and into the shelter of low lying ground behind. But the French Landsknechtes and Gascon infantry also fell back in some disorder. After two hours of bombardment with both sides taking mounting casualties, the Spanish cavalry in an attempt to start the main battle and end this artillery duel, charged out on both flanks. On both flanks the Spanish attacks were held and eventually driven back and routed. In the centre, the Gascons and Landsknechtes charged the earthworks only to take heavy casualties from the Spanish arquebus men and the light artillery carts. They were driven out by the Spanish sword and buckler men. The sight of the fleeing Spanish cavalry heartened the Landsknechts and re-inforced by 1OOO Picardy pike. They recharged the earthworks. It was the remaining and rallied French cavalry attacking the flanks and rear of the Spanish forces that broke the Spanish infanry. In 1inal stages, as the Spanish army fled, the French Commander Gaston de Foix charged two companies of Spanish arquebus and was killed. The Spanish lost over 9000 men killed and many Spanish nobles and men at arms were captured.
25
NOVARA 6th June 1513 FRANCE versus SWITZERLAND Charles VIII died in 1498 and was succeeded by Louis XII who claimed the Duchy of Milan and with the support of Venice overthrew Ludovico Sforza Duke of Milan. The Milanese soon tired of the French rule and supported Maximilian Sforza who with the aid :from Maximilian I tried to retake Milan with German and Swiss mercenaries. Louis XII despatched Louis, La Tremouile with an army of 12000 men to retake Milan. As they marched across the Alps the Swiss fell back in the face of the French army and c.ollected 4000 men :from Novara in the process. The Swiss leaders then sent appeals for re-inforcements and about 68000 men were SOQn on their way to re-inforce them at Novara. During this time La Tremouille blockaded Novara and captured the rest of the Duchy, but on the approach of the relief army he withdrew to Trecate 2 miles east of Novara on the Milan road. He stood to arms till evening and then dispersed to his camp for the night. But the Swiss advanced out of Novara at dawn the following day and attacked the encamped French at first light.
ARMIES FRANCE A Louis de la Tremouille 500 Gendarmes ( CinC + 2 L(S)) B. 450 French Gendarmes (2 L(S)) C. 1000 French & Albanian Stradiots (5 Lc(O)) D. 2000 Navarrese Crossbow (10 Sk(O)) E. 2000 Gascon Crossbow (10 Sk(O)) F. Duke ofFlorence 6000 Landsknechts. (Sub-Gen.+ 10 P(0);2 B(F);3 S(I)) G. Artillery (2 Medium Guns. A(O)) H. Baggage (1 Horde (0);12 Baggage Elements)
SWITZERLAND I.Duke of Milan.200 Milanese M at A ( CinC + lL(S)) 2. )Mottinus of Unterwalden 6000 Swiss (Sub-Gen+ 12P(S);3 B(F) 3 )1000 Swiss Foot (3 P(S)) 4.) 2000 Swiss Foot (5P(O)) 5.) 200 Swiss crossbow (1 Sk(O)) 6.) Aillery ( 2 Light Guns A(I))
DEPLOYMENT The French deploy first and Swiss move first. VICTORY CONDITIONS The French must destroy 1/3rd of a command to cause broken and 18 elements to cause rout. The Swiss must destroy 1/3rd of a command to cause broken and 32 Elements to cause rout. French · baggage counts as casualties as long as its captured.
26
2
c
F
l><:I H
k
G9 inch
IDSTORICAL OUTCOME The battle started with the vanguard of the Swiss column emerging from the woods and charging into the town of Trecate nearly capturing La Tremouille in the process. As the French Gendarmes formed up the Swiss skirmishers fell back to the woods but this diversion had allowed the Swiss march column to deploy either side of the wood and attack the French encamped along the road. The Swiss right hand column fell upon the French baggage and stradiots who broke leaving the Swiss to plunder the baggage. The centre right Swiss column smashed the disorganised Naverrese and Gascon foot but the extreme left hand Swiss column having taken longer to get into position faced the German Landskechts who had formed up behind its artillery. The Landskecht's position was isolated from the main French army by a wood so when the Swiss charged it had to fight unsupported and after a brief fight the Landskechts broke. Bouillon's gendarmes attempted to rally the Landskechts but the Swiss turned the abandoned Landskecht artillery around and soon broke them again. La Tremouille all this time had charged up the road to Novara and attacked the Swiss skirmishers in the woods and on the road, but seeing all his army in flight and in danger of being captured he retreated. The entire French baggage, artillery and over 5500 men were lost, the expedition to recapture Milan had been smashed.
Page- 27
GUINEGATE August 16th 1513 ENGLAND versus FRANCE The new King of England Henry VIII saw his chance at military glory and diplomatic prestige by supporting the Imperialist against France in the vain hope of being seen as an important arbiter in European politics. Jn 1511 he made his first foray into the European field by providing 1500 archers to Margaret of Savoy to assist her against the rebellious Duke of Guelders in the low countries. He later sent a larger force of 5000 men under the Marquis of Dorset to north-eastern Spain in support of his farther-in-law Ferdinand of Aragon in the hope that he would recover some of his erstwhile possessions in south-western France. In the event, Ferdinand used the English force to cover his French flank whilst he captured the independent Spanish Kingdoms of Navarre and left. the English to rot in Garrison duty. The English expedition returned having achieved nothing but Henry was already planning to send a much larger force in the following year as part of the 'Holy League' to invade northern France. Henry landed at Calaise on the 30th June 1513 with an army of35000 men and as before was used more by Henry's ally the Emperor Maximilian I to further his own aims than to further those of Henry. The first action of the English army was to invest the fortified town of Therouanne. The town was held by the English vanguard and rearguard but the siege was not drawn tight enough to prevent the French infiltrating the English lines. On the i 6th August the French attempted to infiltrate a company of light horse loaded with powder and provisions through the English lines to relieve the Therouanne garrison.
ARMIES IMPERIALIST ENGLISH A )King Henry & Maximilian I + 150 Men at arms (CinC + 1 L(S)) B.)Vanguard 900 Men at Arms (Sub-Gen+ 6 L(O)) C. )900 Mounted Foot Archers ( 6 Dragoon(!)) D.)2400 Halberd Foot (12 B(O)) E.)9600 Foot Longbow (48 Bw(S)) F.)Artillery (2 Light Guns A(I))
FRENCH 1. )La Palice 2000 Gendarmes
(CinC + 14 L(S)) 2.) 1OOO Light Cavalry (Sub-Gen+ 10 Lc(O).)
FIGURE SCALE l FIGURE= 50 MEN. DEPLOYMENT The English deploy first and the French move first. The French unit 2. dices to arrive each turn (1D6 needing 5,6 to arrive.) VICTORY CONDITIONS The French must destroy 25 elements to cause the English to be br9ken and 50 elements to force the English to rout. The English must destroy 5 elements of "commandl", and 3 elements of "command 2" to cause them to be broken and 8 elements of"commandl", and 4 elements of "command 2" to cause them to rout.
28
A
m.lJl
F
(Ll]
ENGLISH
T 111' Qi
.c
c
D
E
2
64 inches
HISTORICAL OUCOME A diversionary attack was mounted by the French from the north-west whilst a relief force with 2000 French Gendarmes made an attempted to get past the English from the south. But Henry had moved the main battle south blocking the French route and the French Commander La Palice found himself facing l OOO English men at Arms. King Henry quickly deployed archers and light guns beillnd the hedge to the flank of La Palice who attempted to withdraw in the face of the enemy, at which he was charged , turning the withdrawal into a rout. To compound the situation he met the light cavalry returning from its failed attempt on the English siege who turned and fled on seeing the headlong flight of the Gendarme The attempt to resupply Therouanne had failed and so a few days latter the Town surrendered. The French commander failed to grasp his advantage at the initial meeting with the English, had he immediately attacked the unsupported Vanguard the battle may not have been such a forgone conclusion.
Depiction of the 'BATTLE of the SPURS' as the English Knights Charged
29
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N
FLODDEN September 9th 1513 ENGLISH versus SCOTTISH. Henry VIII intended invading France in support of the Imperialist cause led by the Pope and the Emperor Maximillian in the continuing power struggle over control of Italy. Louis XII of France reminding James IV of Scotland of the 'old alliance' between them persuaded James to invade England in order to forestall Henry's invasion. Henry drew his invasion troops from southern England crossed the channel on June 30th leaving Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey, to guard the North. James with military aid and cash from France set about reforming his army on continental Swiss/Landshneck lines and crossed the border into England with 60,000 men on the 22nd August. By the time the two armies met at Flodden, James' army had lost 20,000 men to sickness and desertion, but .he had taken up a position on the Flodden Massif: a very strong defensive position. Surrey beset with supply problems attempted to mediate with James for a different battle site but James refused to move.
ARMIES ENGLISH A) Earl of Surrey 5000 Foot
(CinC+3 B(O); 10 Bw(S)) B.) Lord Admiral 9000 Foot (Sub-Gen.+5 B(O); 18 Bw(S)) C.)Howard 3000 Foot (2 B(O) 6 Bw(S)) D. )Sir Marmaduke 2000 Foot (1B(O);4 Bw(S)) E.)Lord Darce 1500 Foot & 1500 Cavalry (4 Bw(S); 5 L(F).) F.)Stanley 3500 Foot (2 B(O); 7 B(S)) G.) Artillery (1 Medium A(O)& 4 L\Guns A(I))
SCOTTISH l.}King James IV 15000 Foot. (CinC+8 P(S) 30 P(O)) 2.)Gordon 10000 Foot (Sub-Gen+ 15P(0);10Wb(O)) 3.)Montrose 7000foot (8P(O) 20P(O)) 4.)Highlanders 5250 (14 Wb (0)) 5.)EarlBotham 5000 Foot ( 12 P(O)) 6.)50 French Gendarmes(! L(S)) 7. )Artillery (2 Heavy Guns A(S))
DEPLOYMENT The Scots deploy first and the English move first.
VICTORY CONDITIONS Both sides must destroy 1/3rd of a command to cause it to be broken. The English must destroy 80 elements in total to defeat the Scotts. The Scotts must destroy 48 elements in total to defeat the English.
30
3 2
1
SCOTIISH
6
~-----
K
68 inches
HISTORICAL OUTCOME Surrey's army was formed in two parts, the vanguard under his younger brother Edmund, Admiral of England, and the rearguard under Surrey himself During the English approach to the Scottish position across the river the vanguard became dangerously isolated from the main body and King James could at this point, have destroyed the bridge and annihilated half the English army. However he remained on the defensive. The English advanced as far as the Pallinsburn stream before joining into one force. (The battle map shows them at their positions at 3.0pm as they approach the Scottish army and the earliest point the Scots could have attacked them without going beyond the Pallinsburn valley.) On seeip_g the Scottish deployment Surrey revised his own to suit by absorbing Darce's division into Surrey's, leaving the horse separate, and Marmaduke's division being absorbed by the Admiral's division, with elements also going into the two smaller divisions. All this took about an hour so the English attack did not start till 4. Opm The battle started with an artillery duel. The English guns being lighter, more manoeuvrable and more numerous soon won, thus silencing the Scottish battery. The English then marched to the stream and let its artillery goad the Scots. Gordon's Division of pike and highlanders attacked first, advancing down the hill at Howard's division who fled at the first contact. Seeing the English division break James ordered an all out assault and his whole army advanced. With Howard's division gone the vanguard was in danger of being flanked, but Darce's light horse managed to halt the Scots' pike by attacking its flanks and at that point both divisions broke off the fight. In the centre James' Division crossed the stream and struck Surrey's division with Montrose attacking the Admiral's division and a long and bloody fight ensued. Stanley had advanced beyond the stream to flank the Scots and engaged the Argyle Division. Botham's division had advanced to reinforce King James who had managed to drive back the English from the stream into the clear ground beyond. The Scots had fought disordered across the stream and now uphill against the English had taken too many casualties to break the English. Stanley had outmanoeuvred the Highlanders and routed them, he had cut off any hope of a Scottish retreat and King James was slain in the fighting. The result was a massacre of the Scottish army and much of its nobility.
31
l
MARIGNANO 13th September 1515 FRANCE versus SWITZERLAND On January lst , 1515, aged 20 Francis I became King of France after the death of Louis XII. Louis after the defeat of his army at Novara still intended recapturing Milan and had prepared an army of30,000 men for the task, and so Francis I took this army over the Alps to Italy. Milan was still in the control of Maximilian Sforza with his Swiss mercenaries and so Francis I made his camp at Marignano and entered into negoitiations with the Swiss captains. Francis had already paid large subsidies to his other neighbours to ensure his borders and again he used lavish bribes to buy off the Swiss.
ARMIES FRANCE A King Francis I
SWITZERLAND
500 Gendarmes ( CinC + 1 L(S)) B. Duke of Alencon 300 French Gendarmes (Sub-Gen+ 1 L(S)) C. Claude Duke of Guise . 9000 Landsknechts (Sub-Gen. + 16 P(0);2 B(F);8 Sk(O)) D. Admiral of France 300 French Gendarmes (Sub-Gen.+ 1 L(S)) E. Duke of Bourbon, 4000 French Pikemen (Sub-Gen.+10 P(I)) F. 2000 Gascon Crossbow (10 Sk(O)) G. 100 French Gendarmes (1 L(S)) H 200 French Gendarmes (1 L(S)) I.. 100 French Gendarmes (1 L(S)) J. 500 French Light Cavalry (2Lc(O)) K Artillery (3 Medium Guns A(O)). L. Artillery (3 Medium Guns A(O))
1.) Maximilian Sorza 500 Milanese men at Arms ( CinC + 2 L(S)) 2.) 3000 Swiss Pike (6 P(S); 2B(F)) 3.) 6000 Swiss Foot+ General (Sub-Gen.+ 15 P(S)) 4.) 3000 Swiss Foot (6 P(S); 2 B(F)) 5.)Artillery (4 Light Guns A.(I)) 6.)Baggage (1 Horde(O);ll Bagage)
DEPLOYMENT The French deploy first and the Swiss move first.
VICTORY CONDITIONS The French must destroy l/3rd of a commands elements to cause it to be broken, and 26 elements to cause rout. The Swiss must destroy 1/3rd of a commands elements to cause it to be broken and 40 elements to cause rout. Swiss baggage counts as casualties as long as it's captured.
32
A
1
earthworks
I
-!!.I
~l
marsh \\(f
~
k
58 inches
>I
HISTORICAL OUTCOME There should have been no battle but 12000 Swiss and Maximilian Sforza determined to attack and smash the vastly superior French army. The French were encamped behind a series of ditches close to an area of marshy terrain and a river making attack difficult, but the Swiss advanced in its normal formation of vanguard, centre, and rearguard who deployed into echelon and charged the French lines. The fighting started with the vanguard attacking the duke of Bourbons position. Attacks from the Gendarmes of Florence and Dijon plus supporting artillery slowed the attack of the Swiss vanguard and finally stopped it after it had crossed the first line of ditches and engaged the French foot. The Swiss vanguard had started to drive the French foot back when the main body of the Swiss crossed the ditches and charged the Landskechts who had come forward to support the first line of French. Again charges in the flanks of the Swiss by the Gendarmes halted the Swiss attack and artillery fire caused many casualties but the battle continued until nightfall. During the night the French fell back to its last line of trenches, redeploying so that the Duke of Bourbon stood on the right, Francis plus his artillery and Landsknetchs in the centre and Alencon on the left. The Swiss covered their left with some skirmishers and guns opposite Bourbon's men. The main column was in the centre and the rearguard opposite Alep.con. At dawn the Swiss attacked. The centre column suffered heavily from the artillery and arquebus fire was then charged in the flanks by the Gendarmes. The Swiss rearguard drove back Alecons foot and was halted by the French Gendarmes so, as the day wore on, with mounting casualties on both sides, it may have been a bloody stand off but for the arrival ofFrancis's Venetian ally Bartolomeo de Alviano who plundered the Swiss baggage. At this, the Swiss, realising all was lost, left 400 men to hold the French as the others made their escape. The French wiped out the Swiss forlorn hope but was exhausted and did not follow the Swiss army. The French had lost over 6000 men and the Swiss up to 10,000 men.
33
BICOCCA 27th APRIL 1522 FRANCE versus SPAIN Following a campaign of extensive manouvering the French army in Milan, commanded by Odet de Foix Marshal Lautrec, had been driven out of the Duchy of Milan by the Imperialist army under Prospr Colonna, who's army was composed mostly of Spanish troops. In the spring of 1522 Lautrec received reinforcements from King Francis I these included 16000 Swiss and with this force Marshal Lautrec retook Novara and beseiged Pavia. Colonna did not wish to engage this tougher French army and positioned himself in the fortified monastery of Certosa.
ARMIES FRENCH
SPANISH IMPERIALISTS
A.Odet de Foix, 750 French Gendarmes. (CinC + 3 L(S)) B. Duke of Urbino, 200 Italian Men at Arms (Sub-Gen. + 1 L(S)) C. Arnold Winkefried 4000 Swiss Foot (Sub-Gen +8 P(S); 2 B(F)) D. Albert Von Stein 4000 Swiss Foot (Sub-Gen.+ 8 P(S); 2 B(F)) E. 6000 Italian Foot (8 P(I); 7 S(I)) F. 6000 French Crossbow (30 Sk(O)) G. 3000 Italian Arquebus (8 S(I)) H. 250 French Gendarmes (1 L(S)) I. 200 Italian Men at Arms (1 L(F)) J. 300 Italian Mounted Arquebus (2 Lc(I)) K French Artillery ( 4 Medium Guns A(O)) L. Swiss Artillery (2 Light Guns A(I))
1. Colonna 2000 Spanish Foot (CinC+3P(0);2 S(I) 2. Antonia de Layva,200 Men at Arms (Sub-Gen. + lL(O)) 3. Duke ofMilan400 Men at Arms (Sub-Gen +2 L(S) 4. Von Frundsberg 4000 Landsknechts (Sub-Gen+ 8 P(O); 2 S(I)) 5. 100 Spanish Men at Arms (1 L(S)) 6. 100 Spanish Men at Arms (1 L(S)) 7. 1000 Spanish Genators (5 Lc(O)) 8. 4000 Landsknechts (8 P(0);2 S(I)) 9. 2000 Spanish Arquebus ( 5 S(I)) 10.1500 Milanese Crossbow (8 Sk(O)) 11. Artillery (7 Medium Guns A( o)) 12. Baggage (1 Hore (0) 15 Baggage)
DEPLOYMENT The French deploy and move first. Count the embankment as bad going
VICTORY CONDITIONS The French must destroy 1/3rd of a commands elements to cause it to be broken and 32 elements in total to cause the army to rout. The Imperialists must destroy 1/3rd of a commands elements for it to be broken and 52 elements total in to rout the French army. The Imperialist Baggage count as casualties as long as its captured.
34
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HISTORICAL OUTCOME Marshal Lautrec realised Certosa was too strong a position to be attacked so he positioned himself at Monza cutting off supplies from Milan to the Imperialists and forcing Colonna to abandon Certosa and move to an equally strong position at Bicocca four miles north of Milan, with Francesco Sforza, Duke of Milan with 6500 men coming to re-inforce them Unfortunatly at this point the Swiss commanders in the French army demanded they attack at once as they had not been paid and did not wish to engage in a protracted war of siege. and manoeuvre. The enemy where at hand and they were resolved to fight him or return home. Lautrec could do nothing to dissuade them and so knowing how deadly the Spanish defences were, planned to advance up to the enemy position and then after a protracted artillery bombardment, as at Ravenna, to storm the position. Unfortunately the Swiss commanders ignored the plan and simply charged head-on at the Spanish behind a sunken road , an embankment made higher by earthworks and lined with Spanish Arquebus and artillery. The Swiss attack was halted at the embankment but the Swiss did not retreat and continued fighting against impossible odds. During this Lescun's Gendarmes attacked down the road and managed to get behind the Spanish position but were driven out by the Spanish horse and only succeeded in preventing the Duke ofMilan's re-inforcements entering the battle. The Venetians in support of the Swiss attempted to outflank Bicocca on the other side only to be halted by the marsh. The Swiss attack was slaughtered with 5000 Swiss dying in the sunken road. The French and Swiss eventually withdrew seeing the position was hopeless but the Imperialists, perhaps suspecting a trap (as large bodies of French remained intact) did not pursue in any strength.
35
PAVIA 24th February 1525 FRANCE versus THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE The French defeat at Bicocca in 1522 and the following inconclusive fighting between the French and the Imperialist forces weakened the French King's hold on his nobility. In 1523 the Admiral of France led an invasion army to take the Duchy of Milan, the Constable of France joined the Imperialist cause. The French attempt on Milan ended in failure and defeat at Sesia when the Imperialists attacked the French in their dispersed camp. But this French reverse came to nothing. The Imperialists failed to capture Marseilles and they were driven back into Italy. By October the French were back besieging Milan.
ARMIES SPANISH IMPERIALISTS
FRENCH A.King Francis I, 600 French Gendarmes. (CinC + 2 L(S)) B. Duke of Alencon, 300 French Gendarmes (Sub-Gen. + 1 L(S)) C. Duke of Florange 4000 Swiss Foot (Sub-Gen+ 8 P(S); 2 B(F)) D. Charles Brandon 4500 Landsknecht (Sub-Gen.+8 P(O); 6 Sk(O)) E. 2000 Italian Foot (3 P(I); 4 Sk(O)) F. 2000 French Foot (3 P(I); 4 Sk(O)) G. 500 French Light Cavalry (3 Lc(O).) H. Light Artillery (2 Light Guns A(I)) I. Artillery ( 5 Medium Guns A( 0)) J. Artillery (4 Medium Guns A(O)) K Baggage. (5 Horde(O); 16 Baggage)
l.Fernando d'Avalos 2000 Spanish Foot (CinC+5P(O)) 2. Alfonso d'Avalos 3000 Spanish Arquebus. (Sub-Gen+ 7 S(I)) 3. Duke of Bourbon 4000 Landsknechts (Sub-Gen+ 8 P(O); 2 S(I)) 4. Von Frundsberg 4000 Landsknechts (Sub-Gen+ 8 P(O); 2 S(I)) 5. Courit of Sain 800 Men at Arms (Sub-Gen+ 3 L(O)) 6. 200 Spanish Genators (1 Lc(I)) 7. 2000 Italian Pike ( 10 P(I)) 8. 2000 Spanish Pike (10 P(O)) 9. Artillery (3 Medium Guns A(O)) 10 Defenders of Pavia (Sub-Gen.+5P(0);2 B(F); 5 S(I); 5 Horde (0))
DEPLOYMENT The Imperialists deploy first and the French move first. Count the river as impassible, the wall as Earthworks. The defenders of Pavia may sally out once the French retreat level has been achieved and start attacking the French camp.
VICTORY CONDITIONS Both sides must cause l/3rd casualties to a command to cause it to be broken. The French must destroy 56 elements in total to defeat the Imperialists, and the Imperialists must destroy in total 36 elements to defeat the French. The French baggage counts as casualties as long as it is captured.
36
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HISTORICAL OUTCOME Charles de Lannoy Viceroy of Naples withdrew eastwards from Milan and left Antonia de Leyva to defend Pavia. Francis started to besiege Pavia on October 28th 1524 and was still there in January 1525 when an Imperialist army under the Viceroy of Naples attempted to relieve the city. Francis redeployed his forces on the approach of the Imperialists in a defensive line along the Vemacula brook. The Imperialists dug their own lines and proceeded to besiege the French. For the next three weeks both sides fought across these defenses, and during this time suffered considerable losses from sickness and desertion. Both sides could not sustain these losses and as Francis refused to break off the siege , so the Imperialists attempted to capture the park of Mirabello and gain access to Pavia. Under the cover of an artillery bombardment the Imperialists marched upstream, crossed the brook and cut through wall of the park. As they entered they overran one of the French camps and the alarm was raised. The French immediately sent light cavalry against the Spanish vanguard but these could only fall back as the Imperialists advanced. Then the French artillery redeployed to face this new threat, :firing on the Imperialist columns and driving them back in confusion. The French gendarmes charged, breaking the imperialist cavalry, but as they were unsupported, they were soon driven off. The Swiss on the French left found themselves pinned in place by a combination of lightly wooded terrain and a mass of Imperialist muskets. The French then launched another unsupported attack by its Landscknects who were flanked as they advanced and massacred. The French gendarmes continued to launch uncoordinated attacks on the Imperialists until a counter attack by the Imperialists captured Francis I. As the French retreated the defenders of Pavia sallied out to capture the French camp and Alencon, the remaining French commander seeing all was lost retreated across the river, destroying the bridges. The French had lost over 10000 men and many of its nobility as well as the King being captured.
37
SEIGE OF VIENNA October 12th 1529 OTTOMAN INVASION OF AUSTRIA Europe was wracked with wars and religious conflict and as a result, the Ottoman invasion of Hungry by Suleiman the Magnificent in 15 26 went unnoticed even when he decisively defeated the Hungarians at Mohacs. By 1529 Suleiman, with an enormous army of 120,000 men, had arrived at Vienna having defeated all opposition and taken hundreds of thousands of women and young boys as slaves. Only Presburg resisted Suleiman and this he by-passed, knowing that if Vienna fell, Presburg would be in a hopeless position. The Western powers were so entangled in their own wars that they could do little to resist this invasion. The Habsburg Emperor Charles V was at war with France and this tied down the bulk of his seasoned Spanish and German troops. When his Brother Ferdinand asked for assistance to halt 120,000 invading Turks the Emperor sent 700 Spanish Arquebus under Luis de Avalos. The Imperial Diet voted more troops to help the Viennese but the relief force under Frederick had onJy reached Krems when they found the Turks had surrounded Vienna and so did not attempt to close on the Turkish forces. Vienna was fortunate in its geography, having rivers on two sides, the Danube and the Wiener Bach. In addition it had two seasoned warriors in command, Count Von Salm and Wilhhelm von Rogendorf These professional military men foresaw the siege and put the city in proper defensive order, removing thatch from the buildings roofs and demolishing outlying buildings to improve fields of fire. The Turks arrived on 23rd September and within 3 days had surrounded the city placing 300 siege guns and a Turkish flotilla on the Danube.
ARMIES OTTOMAN TURK 1.)13500 Mounted and Foot (Sub-Gen.+ 8 Si(S).15 Wb(O) 6 Bw(I); 6 S(F) ) 2.)13500 Mounted and Foot (Sub-Gen. + 8 Si(S). 15 Wb(O) 6 Bw(I); 6 S(F)) 3.)6000 Foot +Grand Vizier Pasha (CinC.+ 15 Wb(O))
AUSTIUAN A)Von Salm 600 Mounted (CinC+ 2 L(O)) B.)Sub-Gen 3250 Foot (Sub-Gen. + 2 B(I); 2P(O); 2S(I). 4 Sk(O)) C.)Sub-Gen. 300 Foot (Sub-Gen.+ 4P(0).8 Sk(0);.2 L/Guns A(I)) D.)Sub-Gen. 3200 Foot (Sub-Gen.+4P(0).8 Sk(0).2 L/Guns A(I)) E.)1200 Foot (3 B(I))
DEPLOYMENT The Turks deploy and move first. The Corinthian Gate counts as a walled built up area.
VICTORY CONDITIONS Both sides must destroy l/3rd of a comand to cause it to be broken and 2/3rds of the army to win.
38
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HISTORICAL OUTCOME The Turks concentrated their efforts on the southern wall and only lightly covered the other approaches which made the job of the defenders much easier, the action was fought around the Corinthian Gate. Six days after Suleiman's arrival, Rogendmf with 2500 foot sallied out and attacked the Turkish work parties, killing many of the engineers and nearly ~apturing the Commander-in-Chief, the Grand Vizier Ibrahaim Pasha. By October lst the bombardment began on Vienna's medieval walls. Von Salm had prepared earthworks and fortifications within the walls so when they were destroyed the enemy found himself :fighting over rubble, against men in prepared positions. Suleiman attempted to drive the defenders away with mass missile attacks. This proved of little use so digging mines and tunnels became the preferred tactic. The Austrians equalled the Turks and counter-mined the Turkish mines breaking in to them and :fighting underground with pike and sword. On 6th October Count Von Salm sallied out with 8000 men and attacked the Turkish positions doing great slaughter , but as he fell back his troops could not pass through the Corinthian gate fast enough to avoid the Turkish counter attack and many Austrians were killed. By the 12th of October with mounting sickness and losses from the siege Suleiman was now faced with a change in the weather as winter started to tell. He determined that the city would be taken by one final mass attack. Two mines were dug either side of the Corinthian gate and his remaining soldiers, approximately 30 - 50,000 men, prepared for one last charge. The Game depicts this last attack which was the decisive action in the siege. The mines were blown bringing down the walls either side of the Corinthian gate and Suleimans army charged. Suleiman had offered massive incentives to the first into the city, the officers whipped their men into battle, but the heart had gone out of the Turks for this fight and against the professional soldiers of the Empire. The attack crumbled. By October the l 7th it was snowing and the Turkish army retreated in disarray. This retreat turned into a rout as the peoples they had persecuted on their advance took their revenge on a straggling, frozen and exhausted army.
39
LD M
KAPPEL llth October 1531 SWISS RELIGOUS WAR The rise of Protestantism in Switzerland came about as a result of the Swiss involvement in the Italian wars and a general influx of Protestant peoples escaping persecution in their own countries. Its main preacher and teacher Huldrych Zwingli was based in the state of Zurich and soon had sufficient influence to persuade the city to refuse to sign an agreement with France to provide mercenaries. Zwingli's influence soon actively pushed the established church authorities out of Zurich by arranging the churches prerogative to be controlled by the State council. Zwingli's influence, being particularly favourable to the people, spread and soon Basle, Schafthausen, St. Gallen, Grisons, ·Glams and Appenzell had all gone over to the Protestant faith. The :final blow came to the confederation when Berne also joined the Protestant alliance in 1528 and the so the remaining Catholic provinces joined in a Christian Alliance with Southern German states under the Hapsburgs, Switzerlands inveterate enemies. The battle lines were now drawn with both sides appealing to outside countries for military aid but at the last moment both sides drew back from civil war, broke their alliances with outside countries and resolved to co-exist. But it was not to be. Zwingli had decided to convert the whole of Switzerland and then join the Protestant movement in Europe as a major power. To acheive this aim he started an economic war of blockade against the Catholic Cantons. Unfortunately, after a poor haivest, the Catholic Cantons seeing no alternative, declared war in October 1531 and with eight thousand men marched on Zurich.
ARMIES SWISS CATHOLICS
SWISS PROTESTANTS
A. Main Body Wolfgang Kolins 7000 Foot
(CinC + 2 B(F);lO P (S) ;lOSk(O))
l. Golgi 1200 Foot
(CinC+ 2 P(S)2 Sk(0);2Medium Guns A(O)) 2 .Zwingli 800 foot (Sub-Gen. + 2 P(S); 1 Medium Gun A(O)) 3.Joner 300 Foot (Sub-Gen.+ 3 Sk(O))
B. Vanguard Hans Jaunch 5000 Foot
(Sub'-Gen.+ 1 B(F);8 P(S); 6 Sk(O))
DEPLOYMENT. The Protestants deploy and move first. The position at 2pm, shown on the map, is the first point they could attack the enemy.. Re-inforcements Zwingli's force - these could have been as much as 4000 men if the Zurich council had not scattered its meagre force in futile garrisons. You may wish to cover this option so the Protestant player dices 1D6 and multiplies the number of foot in Zwinglis' force by that number. Terrain, count Kappel Abbey as a fortified built up area and the hills as gentle. VICTORY CONDITIONS The Protestants must destroy l/3rd of a command's elements to cause it to be broken and 30 elements in total to cause the army to rout. The Catholics must destroy l/3rd of a comand to count it to be broken and 8 elements in total to cause the army to rout.(Increased re-inforcements will change this)
40
k
44 inches
HISTORICAL OUTCOME Although men had been on the move since late September, the Zurich Council dismissed any reports of hostilities and only had 300 men under arms with Joner at the Kappel Abbey. So when news arrived of the Catholic army marching on Zurich reached them, they could only muster 4000 men and 6 cannon. The council then split the force sending all but 700 men and 4 cannon to face the immediate threat. The Protestant Army commander Lavater, though experienced was now cautioned by the council to limit his actions to defence only. They feared they might appear as the aggressor and lose the support of Bern who had already pulled out of the economic blockade and had little stomach for Zwingli's ambitions. Jorg Goldli was placed in charge of the force sent to oppose the Catholic forces marching on Kappel. He arrived late in the day having swelled his force 1200 men on the march. On arrival at Kappel the Protestant command fell into dispute as to which hill to hold. That at Scheuren was closer to Kappel Abbey but that at Monchbuhl was behind the river and closer to the re-inforcements following. Goldi declared his intent to hold the Scheuren Hill. He then settled his force down for the night , failing to clear the woods on his flank or send out scouts. At 12 o clock on the 11th October the Protestants at Kappel Abbey opened fire on the vanguard of the advancing Catholic army. The Catholic vanguard moved north to face the Protestants on Scheuren Hill, but coming under artillery fire, moved back. The entire force of the vanguard and main battle moved behind the Kalchofen woods. At 3pm Lavater and Zwingli arrived with re-inforcements but this only increased the Protestant force to 2000 men and 18 cannon. So with the Catholics out of sight, but not apparently prepared to attack the Protestant force prepared to withdraw to Monchbull hill. This is when a small force of Catholics under Hans Jaunch suddenly attacked the flank of the Protestant force pinning it, whilst the main Catholic army looped around the woods and crushed the Protestant forces. The Protestant artillery was partially prepared for moving and proved ineffective. TheProtestant forces managed to hold on, throwing back two attacks before :finally breaking and :fleeing for the bridge over the Muhlebach river. Zwingli was killed during the fighting and his death took the fire out of the Protestant cause and the war :finally fizzled out in an inconclusive peace. 41
CERESOLE d'ALBA June 1543 FRANCE versus IMPERIALISTS The defeat of the Turks at Vienna in 1529 was not to be the last of the Turkish menace in Europe. The Turks held the attention of the Mediterranean states throughout 1530's. During this time the succession of the Duchy of Milan fell into dispute between the Emperor Charles V and King Francis of France. That war proved inconclusive and a peace treaty was agreed because the Turks renewed their aggression and the Emperor realised that he could not hope to fight a war on two fronts. At the meeting at Aigues-Mortes in 1538, Francis agreed to abandon further alliances with the Turks and Charles promised to yield most of Piedmont to France. This did not of course resolve the Milan Question or the problem of the Turks. The Turks continued their pressure capturing Corfu and invading Hungary in 1538, forcing the Emperor again to try and repel them which he failed to do. Francis, seeing the Empire engaged against a common enemy, declared war on Charles in hopes of easy gains. Following an inconclusive campaign Francis lost Luxemburg and southern Peidmont.
ARMIES IMPERIALISTS A.) Marquis del Vasto 200 Men at Arms (CinC.+ 1 L(O)) B.) 6000 Pike (Sub-Gen.+9 P (O); 6 B (0)) C.) 6000 Pike (Sub-Gen.+9 P (O); 6 B (0)) D.) 400 Light Cavalry ( 4 Lh (S)) E.) 400 Light Cavalry ( 4 Lh (S)) F.) 3000 Arquebus Foot (10 S (I)) G.) 1500 Arquebus Foot (8 Sk (0)) H.) 1500 Arquebus Foot (8 Sk (0)) I.) Artillery (3 Medium Guns A (0))
FRENCH 1.) d'Enghien 450 Gendarmes+ 300 L/Cav. (CinC+ 2 L (S) ; 2 Light Cavalry (F)) 2.) 3200 Pike (Sub-Gen. +6 P(I); 2 B(F).) 3.) 3200 Pike (Sub-Gen .. +6P(I); 2 B (F).) 4.) 3000 Arquebus Foot (10 S (I)) 5.) 1800 Arquebus Foot ( 9 Sk (0)) 6.) 1800 Arquebus Foot ( 9 Sk (0)) 7.) 450 Gendarmes+ 300 Light Cavalry ( 2 L (S); 3 Light Cavalry (F)) 8.) Artillery (3 Medium Guns A.(O))
DEPLOYMENT The French deploy first and the Imperialists should copy the deployment. Terrain appeared to have no influence on the battle but the position of the flank missile units are in dispute. They could be placed between the Cavalry and Pike units or as shown, in front of the Pike blocks. VICTORY CONDITIONS Both sides must suffer 1/3rd losses to force a command to be broken, and 2/3rds losses to rout the army.
42
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HISTORICAL OUTCOME The loss of Luxemburg and southern Piedmont did not conclude the war with France. Francis of France still hoped the pressure from the Turks would force settlement on the Emperor in France's favour. Instead, in February 1543, Charles entered into an alliance with Henry VIII of England against France. The intention was to invade France in a pincer movement, Henry from Calais and the Emperor from the Low countries. Unfortunately the campaign was stalled as the Emperor had to again fend off the Turks. This allowed. France to launch its own offensive and in Piedmont Francois d'Enghien, cousin of the French King, laid siege to the Imperial fortress of Carignano. The commander of the Imperialist forces the Marquis del Vasto decided to force the issue by offering battle in an attempt to relieve the fortress. The two armies met about 30 miles south east of Turin. The French commander deployed his army in an innovative formation which the Imperialist commander mirrored. The armies had Cavalry on the wings, then Arquebus foot either between or in front of the pike blocks with the centre held by artillery and Arquebus infantry. The intention was to fight the battle on the flanks and use the flank arquebus foot to destroy the front ranks of the enemy pike blocks killing the officers and seasoned troops before the 'Push of Pike'. The Imperialists attacked with Gendarmes against the-French right flank, intent on clearing away the French cavalry before committing his foot , whereas the French commander committed his entire right flank in a single attack. The result of this was that the Imperialists drove off the French cavalry on the French right flank in preparation for the main attack. The entire Imperialist right wing was being driven from the field by the French 'Provincial legions' and units of Swiss pike. At this point del Vasto attempted to withdraw but in doing so had to give up all his artillery and lost about 6000 men. Though the battle was a victory for France, the siege was raised as the French force was recalled from Piedmont to face an Imperialist invasion of Champagne and the English Invasion of Boulogne.
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43
ANCRUM MOOR February 12th 1545 ENGLISH versus SCOTS The disaster at Flodden in 1513 and the death ofJames IV left Scotland without an effective king, James V being only four years old, so the English raided across the border and the Scots feuded amongst themselves unchecked. This was of course fine for Henry VIII who was heavily involved in France. By 1526 with James V now seventeen James attempted to bring this situation under control and set about limiting the power of the 'Red Douglases' in Scotland. This unfortunately he succeeded in doing by driving them onto the English side. He continued to try and exert his authority on the border and in 1542 made his biggest blunder yet. He launched an expeditions of 10,000 men towards Carlisle only to be utterly defeated by 3000 English, this disgrace was to much for him and he died on 14th December 1542. This left the infant Mary Queen of Scots as the heir apparent. At this the 'Old Alliance' rose its head and she was betrothed to Francis II of France. The nobles captured at the debacle at Carlisle agreed terms with Henry of England that she should marry his son (being held prisoner by the English probably had something to do with their enthusiasm for the idea) unfortunately the Scottish parliament wasn't a prisoner of the English and not smprisingly rejected the idea (Edward, Henry's son, being Protestant and having hereditary syphilis didn't help the situation). Henry was incensed at this apparent double dealing and instructed "Put all to fire and sword, burn Edingburgh Town, raze and deface it so that it may remain for ever a perpetual memory of their falsity and disloyalty. Sack Leith and burn and subvert it, all the rest putting man, woman and child to the sword without exception. " .Henry's instructions listed destruction as far as St Andrews and their was no shortage of supporters of the idea as authorised raids on the Scots was an easy source of income. Herford had made two such raids in 1544 Unfortunately most of the places attacked were actually sympathisers of Henry and the English cause.
ARMIES ENGLISH A) Sir Ralph Evers 1500 Border Horse (CinC + 10 L(F)) B.) 3000 Mercenary German & Spanish Foot (10 Pike(O); 5 S(I)) C.) 700 Scots mercenaries (5 Wb(O))
SCOTTISH 1.)Earl Angus 3000 Foot CinC. + 4 Pike(O); 4 S(I); 8 Wb(O))
Figure Scale 1 = 50men DEPLOYMENT The Scots deploy and move first. The hill is a gentle slope with a crest line. VICTORY CONDITIONS The Scots must lose 6 elements to be broken and 12 elements to cause them to rout. The English must lose 10 elements to be broken and 20 elements to cause them to rout. *Note; The Scottish mercenaries will change sides if the English become Broken. - They will count as casualties to the English player but will not increase the Scottish Broken & Rout levels but will count as casualties for the Scottish side if lost. *
44
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HISTORICAL OUTCOME This raid was to be a big and brutal affair, led by Sir Ralph Evers who in previous raids had shown himself to be particularly blood-thirsty and savage, he was to lead a force of 3700 mercenaries and 1500 Border English. The raid fell upon the lands of the Earl of Angus, a Red Douglas who was alienated by the now dead James V (and therefore a potential ally to Henry). The Eari joined by the Earl of Arran had a small but highly mobile force of mounted infantry who now tailed the English raid and gathered troops on the way. The English having looted Melrose, and preparing to move on to Jedburgh, encountered the Scottish force. This force could not be ignored, although they were outnumbered by the English who camped at Ancrum Moor before crossing the river to Jedburgh. Though Scottish recruits were still coming to the Earl's force he knew he must bring the English to battle soon before the desire for revenge made the Scots attack at a disadvantage. He therfore resolved to ambush the English. Ancrum Moor is a great crested hill so, with the English camp at the foot of the hill,the Earl Angus paraded his force on its crest. whilst sending his followers and baggage towards another hill. The English captains seeing how small the Scottish force appeared urged Sir Evers to attack lest the Scots, who appeared to be retreating already, escape. It was already late in the day and most of the English force had been marching all day carrying heavy plunder, but with a quick charge the Scots could be broken. So calling his men to arms Sir Evers charged off after the Scots. On reaching the crest the Scots seemed to have gone, until they were spotted at the foot of the hill. The English now strung out in a long line headed by the cavalry cha_rged head long into a dense well formed body of Scottish pike,musket and halberd. The cavalry paid a heavy price and after a brief carnage dragged themselves back up the hill into the mercenaries who were still arriving and forming into line. The Scots now charged as a body up the hill, sweeping the cavalry with them, and into and through the German/Spanish mercenaries line. The mercenaries fell back and tried to reform at the crest only to be pushed back by the advancing Scots. The situation now grew desperate. The Scots were uphill of the English who had lost their cavalry, and their German and Spanish mercenaries were badly shaken. The Scottish mercenaries so far unengaged decided that it was time to rip off the red badge of England, cry a Scottish war cry and kill the nearest English/German or Spaniard. The English force, now shattered, fled the battlefield. Unfortunately it had to flee through the areas it had just sacked and so suffered the revenge of the local populace. 45
THE 'CAMISADE OF BOULOGNE' January 1546 ENGLISH versus FRENCH Henry VIII captured Boulogne on the 18th September after a siege that lasted nearly two months only to find his ally the Emperor had signed a separate peace with Francis I of France after spending most of the season besieging St.Dizier. This peace treaty allowed Francis now to send his main army against Henry knowing his borders were secure. Henry on learning of the approach of the French forces under the Dauphin made a hasty retreat back to England leaving only 4000 men to guard his recently gained possession. The Dauphin arrived on the 7th October with approximately 30,000 men and saw the defenses had not been repaired since the English had stormed the town. He selected 23 Companies (2300 men) of French and Italian Infantry to lead the assault keeping large bodies of Swiss and Landsknechts in reserve. The initial assault was against the lower town and was successful in capturing the town, but then the attackers, having lost many of their commanders in the assault, set about plundering the houses. Meanwhile the English were rallied by Sir Thomas Poynings in the upper town and counter attacked driving the disorganised French from the town killing about 800 men. After this the Dauphin left Marshal de Biez with a holding force on the south side of the river Laine. The English held Boulogne throughout 1545 against a French force that never mustered enough troops to seriously threaten its defence. In September 1545 Henry appointed the Soldier Poet Howard Earl of Surrey as Lieutenant of Boulogne.
ARMIES FRENCH A) Commander 500 Gendarmes ( CinC.+ 4 L(S)) B.) Sub-General 4000 Landsknechts ( Sub-Gen+ 10 P(O);lO S(I)) C.) 4 Baggage Elements
ENGLISH 1.) Early of Surrey 1OOO Men at Arms ( CinC.+ 7 (0)) 2.) Sub-General 2500 Foot (Sub-Gen.+ 5 B(0);4 S(I);5 Bw(S))
FIGURE SCALE 1 FIGURE = 50 MEN.
DEPLOYMENT The French deploy first and the English move first. VICTORY CONDITIONS Both sides must destroy l/3rd of a command to make it broken and 2/Jrds of the army to rout it: The French lose automaticly if all the baggage is destroyed or driven from the field. The English lose if the infantry are routed before the baggage is destroyed.
46
ENGLISH
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HISTORICAL OUTCOME The defence of Boulogne became Henry's prime interest in France, although amongst his close advisers, it was not popular. The Duke of Norfolk advised his son to " animate not the King too much for the keeping of Boulogne; for who so doth at length shall get small thank" . Only The Earl of Surrey encouraged the King by harassing the French convoys, until in January 1546 Surrey overreached himself On learning of a French convoy nearing Boulogne, he gathered all the men at arms and 2600 foot of the garrison and intercepted the convoy near Boulogne. Unfortunately for Surrey he did not bother to reconnoitre the force first and found himself facing 4000 Landsknechts and 500 Gendarmes. Surrey with the men at arms quickly defeated the French Gendarmes and went onto destroy much of the convoy. He failed to support his infantry who, made up of mostly English foot plus some Italian Arquebus footmen, were no match for the Landsknects. The English foot were routed and over 200 men and several standards were lost -. the losses were small because the French cavalry had been defeated and were unable to pursue. Though the English destroyed the French convoy it was seen as an English defeat and Surrey was replaced by Hertford, the rising star on the Tudor military and political scene. The King toyed with the idea of sending a fresh expedition to France but it came to nothlng and a peace treaty was signed at Camp on the 7 June 1546. The Treaty of Camp provided for the return of Boulogne to France after a period of eight years and as Toumai had also been returned to France in 1519 Henry had nothing to show for 35 years of military activity on the continent. FRENCH ASSUALT ON BOULOGNE 1544 A. Lower Town of Boulogne B. Upper Town of Boulogne C. French Encampment. D. Roman Light House
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PINKIE September 10th 1547 ENGLISH versus SCOTTISH The death of Henry VIII in January 1547 allowed Edward Seymour, Earl of Herford to assume power as 'Lord Protector' of the future King, Edward IV, who was only 10 years old at this time. Edward adopting the title Earl of Somerset now showed his true colours from mild AngloCatholic to intensely bigoted Protestant and apart from enforcing bis Protestantism on the churches, also set about plunging England into war with both France and Scotland. Scotland at this time under the regent Lord Arran was organising itself and preparing for war and so when Somerset arrived. at Berwick in September 1547 the Scots had an army of over 30,000 men in the field. The English army, though smaller at about 20,000 men was well organised and contained many experienced foreign mercenaries. The army marched North up the coast from Berwick accompanied off.shore by a fleet of thirty warships and thirty two transport ships. Somerset moved in a slow but organised way and met no opposition on bis route until he came upon the Scots at Fawside on the Esk Estuary.
ARMIES SCOTTISH A) Lord Arran 11600 Lowland foot (CinC+30 Pike.(O)) B. )Earl Angus 7000 County Foot+ 1OOO Priests (Sub-Gen.+16 Pike(O); 3 Hordes(O)) C.) 11100 Highlanders and Islanders (Sub-Gen.+8 Bow(S); 19 Warband(O).) D.)3750 Scottish Cavalry (12 L(F)
ENGLISH 1. )Lord Grey 4000 Men at Arms ( C~C. + 13 L(S)) 2. )Warwick 4800 English (Sub-Gen.+6B(O); 8 Bw(S)) 3.) Don Pedro 1OOO Spanish cavalry (Sub-Gen.+ 5 Lh(I)) 4)Sir Mewtas 3000 German Arquebus (Sub-Gen+ 15 Sk(O)) 5. )Sir Bryan 2000 Light Cavalry (10 Light Horse(O)) 6. )4800 English Foot (6 B(O); 8 Bw(S)) 7.)1500 English Foot (4 Bw(S)) 8.)Artillery (2 Medium Guns A(O)) 9.) Artillery (1 Medium Gun A(O)) 10.) 3 Warships (6 Heavy Guns A(S)
DEPLOYMENT The Scots deploy and move first. The English warships cannot move other than to pivot to change their arc of fire. The beach counts as swamp. VICTORY CONDITIONS Both the English and Scottish commands must lose a third of their elements to cause a broken result and 2/3rds of the total army for defeat.
48
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HISTORICAL OUTCOME The Scottish position behind the broad fast flowing Esk with well emplaced guns was a strong one and excellent for barring an advance on Edinburgh. But the Scots seeing their numerical superiority where eager to attack the English and on the 9th (the day before the main battle) Lord Home with 1500 Scottish troopers challenged the
[email protected] cavalry to open combat. Lord Grey seeing how poorly armoured the Scots were (hence their classification as Cavalry) accepted and charged with 1000 men at Arms and 500 Demi-Lancers. The Scots defiantly came off worse in this unequal contest in which Lord Home was killed and his son taken prisoner. Somerset had placed most of his artillery on the left overlooking the Scottish positions and on the morning of the lOth placed the remainder on his right again on high ground. Lord Arran had completely misread the situation and foolishly crossed the Esk to form up in open battle in the plain crossed by the Pinkie Brook. The Scots advanced quickly but soon came under a tremendouse barrage from the Warships at anchor off the Musselborough sands as well as the English artillery. This barrage unopposed by the Scottish artillery, left well in rear, forced the Scottish left flank to withdraw behind the centre battle and allowed the English men at arms to flank the Scottish pike and pin their advance. But the English men at arms could make no impression on the Scottish pike blocks and repeated charges only caused mounting English casualties. The Scottish. cavalry could have counter attacked at this point but Earl Angus maybe remembering the fate of the cavalry the previous day held them back lest their defeat unsteady the army.With the Scottish advance halted, and the English attack thrown back Somerset ordered forward his Spanish and German Arquebus to open up the ranks of the Scots as well as ordering a redoubled artillery bombardment. The Scots under a hail of cannon, arquebus and longbow were driven back and finally broken. The Esk river now trapped the retreating Scots who could only cross at a single bridge or be drown in the fast flowing waters. Many fled to the Musselbourgh Sands or the Moss a dangerous swamp but the pursuit was bloody and thousands died. Somersets objective in the war was to break the Scottish alliance with the French by forcing an alliance with the English but he failed for Mary Queen of Scots was rushed off to France to marry the Dauphin and French troops remained in Scotland.
49
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JEMMINGEN July 21 1568 EIGHTY YEARS WAR Spain had gained the control of the Netherlands through marriage within the Hadsburgs and their links to the Spanish throne. A policy of centralisation, Spanish religious intolerance and brutality at the hands of unpaid Spanish mercenaries soon drove the Dutch into revolt. The Dutch forces where an equally undisciplined rabble made up of Dutch exiles, German mercenary Huguenots and the whole army was referred to as 'the beggars'. The Spanish response to the rebellion was typically short sighted and based on terror. The initial reverse at Heiliger-Lee put heart into the Dutch cause and drove the Spanish to fearful excesses of brutality which only stiffened the Dutch resistance.
ARMIES DUTCH (BEGGARS) 1.) Louis ofNassu + 150 Swordsmen (CinC + 1 Blade(S)) 2.) 300 man work.party (2 Shot(I)) 3.) 600 Cavalry (4 Pistol(!)) 4.) 5000 Foot (25 S(I)) (10 Missile Foot;5 Swordsmen;lOPike) 5.) 5000 Foot (25 S(I)) (10 Missile Foot;5 Swordsmen;lO Pike) 6.)Artillery. (1 MediumGunA.(I))
SPANISH A.) Duke of Alva 15 0 Cavalry (CinC + 1 L(S)) B.) 400 Forlorn Hope (4 Sk(S)) C.) 300 Cavalry ( 2 L(F)) D.) 1500 Muskets (15 Sk(S)) E.) 300 Cavalry (2 L(F)) F.) 2500 Spanish Foot (6 S(I);6 Pike(O)) G.) 2500 Spanish Foot (6 S(I);6 Pike(O)) H.) 2500 Spanish Foot (6 S(I);6 Pike(O)) J.) 2500 Spanish Foot (6 S(I);6 Pike(O)) Figure Scale 1Figure=50 men
DEPLOYMENT The Dutch deploy first and the Spanish move first. Count the flooded area as bad going or marsh. VICTORY CONDITIONS The Spanish must destroy 19 elements to cause a broken result and 38 elements to cause a rout. The Dutch must destroy 24 elements to cause a broken result and 48 elements to cause rnut.
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HISTORICAL OUTCOME This followed a success at Heiliger-Lee where the Dutch lured a Spanish force of 5000 men into swamps by pretending to retreat and then turning on them massacring 1500 Spanish including their commander. Prince Maurice of Nassau marched on to besiege Groningen but at the approach of the Spanish Duke of Alvas and his army, Maurice retreated to Reyden on the Ems. Reyden was a good defensive position but Maurice advanced to Jemmingen and placed his army in a crook in the river with his sides and rear cover by the River Ems and his right flank covered by a tidal inlet. The position was one that allowed for no manoeuvre or retreat. The Duke of Alvas on seeing the Death or Glory stance of the Dutch 'Beggars' army promptly marched to engage it, confident that it could not stand against his Tercios. At some point Maurice ofNassua's nerve broke and being unable to retreat he ordered the dyke by the inlet to be cut, turning his position into an island and making any attack impossible. By the time the Spanish were close, though still out off sight , most of the Dutch front was waist deep in water but The Duke ordered forward a small force of forlorn Hope supported by cavalry who drove off the working parties on the dyke and held the position until they could be re-inforced by 1500 Spanish musket. The Dutch attacked this forward unit but failed to recapture the breach in the dyke, but the Duke did not commit his main force and fooled the Dutch into thinking this was the total Spanish force where upon the Dutch charged from their position to clinch an easy victory. Of course once the Dutch had committed themselves to the attack, the Duke ordered forward his main body and routed the 'Beggars' army , who were trapped. Most were killed but Prince Maurice escaped by swimming the river.
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THE BIT AT THE BACK Unless otherwise stated all the battles in this book have been based on the same figure scale , being 1 figure equals I 00 men . Thus a base of 4 figures represents 400 men. The Artillery tends to be I Gun model represents 5 guns. - In smaller Battles I have stated the figure scale where it differs. The Battle maps are also all drawn to scale relative to a 15mm figure scale element size base so the Blocks of Troops should occupy the same area on the wargames table as they do on the map. In addition I have standardised the troop representation to a standard set of symbols representing the various troop types as listed below.
TROOP TYPE MAP REPRESENTATION KEY
1%)
MOUNTED
FOOT
GENDARMES
~CAVALRY
0
LIGHT CAVALRY
t.ii7l L/Cav+mi ssile ~
armed
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WARWAGONS
~ MOUNTED FOOT
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PIKE SPEAR HALBERDS SWORDSMEN MISSILE FOOT
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LIGHT FOOT L.:_J • FORLORN HOPE
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0,, Sub-General
~ foot type
L.LJ heavy/medium 1.ii1.1 ~RTILLERY f'7I BAGGAGE L.TJ light &orgongu~ CinC
OTHER DBA/DBM TYPE RULES The battles are listed in a fast play format for any rules along the lines of DBA/DBM. But if you are not using DBR then the Troop clasicifications may be slightly different. For Blade read- Halberd or Swordsmen. Blade S. =Forlorn Hope. Pike= pike or Spearmen Bow= Missile Foot armed with Longbow or Xbow. Shot= Missile foot armed with Arquabus. Either may also be Skirmishers under DBR. Lancers are Gendarmes or Cavalry. Pistols = Missile armed cavalry. Light Horse or Dragoons = Mounted Missile Infancy or light cavalry. The Victory conditions are also set up for DBR and may be changed according to whichever rule set you use.
LISTING CONVENTIONS To save space I have abbreviated the WRG's conventions on troop type; L =Lancers. Pi= Pistol Cavalry. Si= Sipahis. Lh = Light Horse. D = Dragoons. P = Pike. B = Blade.
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