An Iberian counter offensive 1340

The Marinid ruler of Morocco, Abu al-Hasan Ali ibn has called for a jihad against the great Iberian kingdoms, Castile, Portugal and Aragon – all of whom have conducted raids on the last surviving Islamic kingdom on the peninsula: Granada.

In this match, both sides deploy a large command of 24 elements with two generals.  To understand how this variant works, review Enlarging the Standard Command at the link.

https://dbagora.blogspot.com/2019/10/enlarging-standard-command.html

 

Match one

Castille took position on the right, Portugal on the left, both kingdoms deploy a second line to fend off any flanking attempts by the Berbers. The Berber army deployed a strong infantry centre with light horse on each flank..

Berber light horse harass Castille’s right flank, ahead of the infantry assault, scoring success against the Iberian.

Berber spearmen clashed with the Iberian infantry and are repulsed, continued assaults yield results as Spanish casualties begin to mount.

Castille, now under pressure, the Portuguese launch their attack on the Berber line to restore the balance. Disaster struck as Portuguese knights succumbed to camel mounted Tuaregs. The Iberian alliance, pressured on both flanks, flee the field (score 8-0).

 

Match two

A second test game was played in an attempt to restore Iberian honour. Armies deployed on opposite sides using the same terrain. The deployment of the Iberian alliance mirrored the Berber, a strong infantry centre and knights on the flanks, developing in a true test of arms.

Turn 3 saw a general clash along the entire front with the Iberian knights proving their value.

The battle raged on with both sides inflicting casualties at a steady rate, the Castilian CinC adding his effort to the tally. His impetuousness, however, brought him beyond the support of other knights, meeting an early demise. 

Despite the loss of their commander, the alliance prevailed nearly enveloping the Berber army. Avoiding the encirclement, the Berbers withdrew from the field (score 8-6).

Observations

The catastrophic defeat in test one was a result of poor deployment. Fearing flank attempts, reserve formations were spread thinly in the second line resulting in a pip drain later in the battle. 

Game two, deployed in three “battles”, the Iberian made effective use of their pip scores to create an aggressive game. After the fall of the Castilian CinC in turn 5, the Portuguese the sub-general assumed command. From an ideal position, the struggle could continue eventually leading to a victory.         

Assorted Burgundian and French knights

These 15mm Blue Moon figures are the latest addition to the Early Hundred Years War project. The pack of English longbow were painted as 4 x Burgundian longbowmen, 2 x French archers 3Bw and 2 x English mtd-4Lb. The Burgundian archers lack the St. Andrew cross as this was adopted around 1416, however blue and white clothing are dominant making them a key element for an Early Burgundian army (IV/76).

The first row of knights are Burgundian, though a vassal of France, they did initiate a number of campaigns against the Flemings and German entities. At the rear is a single element from Artois.

Three elements are of Beauvaisis and at their head is Jacques de Bourbon, Comte de la Marche, later Constable of France. More Blue Moon HYW figures have been ordered to fill the various options listed for the French and Flemings.  

The Iberian Kingdoms

Completing the armies for the Breton Succession Wars opened the project to include the armies of Iberia to have both France and England continue their conflict across the Pyrenees.  

The kingdom of Navarre was the first army to be completed as the majority of elements are spearmen, auxiliaries and skirmishers with a few mounted knights. From Ian Heath’s Armies of the Middle Ages, vol. 1, armour and weapons being similar, I mixed the composition of figures on each base with an assortment of Blue Moon miniatures. 

Next, the army of Castille needed Spanish knights and jinetes and an order was placed for these. One or two elements were needed for Castille and Portugal, the remaining nine mounted made Welsh cavalry and an English hobilar with appropriate shields from Donnington.   

The Portuguese became the beneficiaries of the extra figures as this army listed a host of options. Each mounted knight has an equivalent on foot, auxilia can be either 3Ax or Ps and bring the number of elements to 22. Of the three armies, the Portuguese may have allied contingent, the English.   

Navarre

Castille

Portugal

Neville and Percy confront the Scots

In preparation for our game night in two weeks, I plan to use two of the newly painted English and the Scots Common. To make the confrontation interesting and somewhat historical, a die roll would determine if Percy or Neville lead the main body of English with the second personality commanding an “allied contingent”. Two tests were planned with one taking place in hilly terrain, a second in arable.

Test one

Neville commanded the centre and right wing with a small contingent led by Percy on the left. Ignoring Percy, the Scots struck Neville’s position having weathered the rain of English arrows. The schiltrons shattered the English centre with Percy carried off the field; 5-1 for the Scots.

Test two

Percy in command, positioned Neville’s contingent in centre deploying the Flemish knights and Welsh on the left. As the Scots approached, the longbow effectively disrupted the schiltrons formations. With the schiltrons in disarray, the Scots redirected their effort against the English right placing Douglas to lead the assault. The Galwegians and highlanders succeeded in breaking the English right to end the battle, 4-1.   

Test three

To turn English fortunes around, a third test was played using the “collision course” variant. The Scots rapidly deployed two columns in line formation with a third column advancing along the river bank to meet Neville. Poor communication resulted in the English still forming their battle as the Scots advanced. Near the river bank, Neville fell victim to Highland archery opening an opportunity for the Galwegians to secure a position among the scrub.

Between the sodden field and scrub, the battle evolved as a series of isolated fights with both sides sustaining losses. By a narrow margin (4-3), Percy claimed victory.   

Observations

For each test, a terrain card was drawn which explains the river appearing in test two and three. The terrain cards speed the placement of terrain pieces to include less used features. Unfortunately for the English, no gentle hills were present in any battle.

Armies for the Breton Succession Wars 1341 – 1365

The Wars of the Breton Succession is an easy introduction to the early Hundred Years War period, competing factions of Montfort and Blois were supported by Edward III of England and Philip VI of France. At the heart of the collection are two Franco-Breton armies, both modelled after the French IV/64 army list, giving both sides an identical number of mounted knights, men-at-arms, pavisiers, crossbowmen and bidets. Our games, both sides may employ allied contingents of English or French. For an overview of the conflict, I would recommend “The Hundred Years War, Trial by Battle” by J. Sumpetion. Chapter XI is devoted to the early stage of the succession war. 

During the opening stage of the conflict, support for either faction formed a north versus south relation, that is Montfort received support from the coastal towns located in the north and west, and du Blois from towns in the south and east. Nonetheless, during the course of the 24-year conflict, the nobles were not averse to altering their allegiance. 

Blois faction led by Bertrand du Guesclin

Montfort faction

The Earl of Northampton assisted by Sir Thomas Dagworth and Sir John Chandos command the English. For the campaigns in Aquitaine and Spain, the Black Prince will command.   

Pavisiers – DBA3 Book IV/64b

The armies representing the factions of the Breton Succession War of 1341-1365, are modelled on the French Army list of the same period; each faction will have 3 elements of pavisiers. Blue Moon miniatures offer them under the list for Crecy and Poitiers. 

Shield patterns.

Pavisiers or communal infantry should have designs representing the armorial coat-of-arms of their town or city, unfortunately, this would prove a difficult task. In the Netherlands, our coat-of-arms can be found on maps of the late middle ages. Colours have remained unchanged, but the pattern has taken on a different design. A similar evolution might have taken place for towns in Brittany.

I selected six towns/cities supporting each faction and used their current coat-of-arms as a benchmark. Simplifying their pattern or altering colours, I settled on the designs as seen in the final photo. Each element carries a standard.  

Montfort

Brest, Rennes, Fougeres, Bruz, Ille-et-Vilaine, Ploemeur, Cesson.

Blois

Lanester, Saint-Brieuc, Lorient, Quimper, Saint-Malo, Vannes.

Blue Moon figures mounted on painting sticks. Blue Moon labels proved useful. Piercing the card, the shields were held in place making painting easier.

From the notations made, shield patterns were sketch with a pen.

The final step before varnishing.

Pavisiers of both factions. 

Crisis 2025, 1 November

I believe it has been more than ten years since my last visit to this wargame event in Antwerp, Belgium. With no intention of purchasing figures, I would see old friends and support our club’s demonstration game at this event.

Walking about the main hall, the event was smaller than previous years, metal miniatures are replaced this time with plastic and 3D resin items filled the trade areas. Not my cup of tea, but was fascinated by the well painted models. Two in particular caught my attention, a painted castle and fortified manor, both would fit well with my current project, the early period of the Hundred Year’s War.

The models are from Najewitz Modellbau of Germany and had a brief talk with Jens Najewitz, the owner. More items can be seen at his website, www.3dprintterrain.de  or at his Facebook page. The two models are now part of my collection and will appear in upcoming battle reports. The scale of 12mm which is perfect for the 15mm DBA collection.

Castle

Fortified Mansion