In the year 936, the political landscape of northern
France was in a state of flux. Following the death of Rudolph of France and
Louis IV ascending the throne of West Francia the Bretons seized an opportunity
to divest themselves of Frankish hegemony and rose in revolt. Receiving some support from
Athelstan of England, the Bretons were able to expand their rebellion throughout
most of the peninsula and this brought them in direct confrontation with the
Northmen colonists living within the region. Through the course of three long
hard fought years, the campaign against the Northmen reached a conclusion at Trans-la-Fôret.
On August 1, 939, A Breton army lead
by Alan II and supported by the counts Hugh II of Maine and Judicael Berengar of Rennes, decisively defeated the Vikings bringing
an end to their occupation of the region and the establishment of the Duchy of Brittany.
The Battlefield
Travelling south from Mont Saint-Michel Bay over the
Coustenon River you can beach longships along a tributary within a kilometre
from Trans-la-Fôret. Where the battle actually
took place remains unknown, but the region is characterised with rolling hills
covered by forests. Even Gregory of Tours as describes the region as
sparsely populated in addition to it being heavily forested and hilly. The presence of wood enabled the Vikings
to construct a fort near the river making La Guyoult the most likely candidate
for a battle site.
Our battlefield should feature woods (2), a river, a
gentle hill and a fort. We recommend using an 80cm x 80cm board with the
maximum dimensions of the fort being 3BW x 3BW. If using a smaller board, then
omit the river and use medium size wood (2BW x 3BW or 3BW x 4BW).
The Armies
The
Vikings
The Viking are taken from Book III/40b which list eleven
blade (4Bd) and one element of either berserker (3Wb) or archers (Ps or 4Bw).
The
Bretons
In Book III/18 we find the Bretons of this period and
it is quite possible to field an all mounted force. If selecting two horde
(7Hd) options in place of mounted, the disguised Saxon option is not
applicable.
The Setup
The Vikings
are defending, determine which quadrant the ‘fort’ is to be placed and position
this adjacent to the board edge. One element must garrison the ‘fort’ with the
remainder of the Viking host positioned within their deployment area.
The Breton
player deploys his army opposite the Viking fort.
Recommended
Reading.
La chronique de Nantes (570 environ-1049)
Hope you play out the battle on the bigger board, so all the recommended terrain pieces are used.
ReplyDeleteChristopher,
ReplyDeleteOur standard board size is 80cm x 80cm.
Great, I am looking forward to the above mentioned setup and the battle reports!
ReplyDelete