Stilicho vs. Alaric, a test case

Linear campaigns are a simple way of bringing continuity to a series of related battles. To avoid unnecessary bookkeeping to track the loss of particular troop types, a simpler method is to change the composition of forces for a subsequent battle, retaining twelve elements. The changes would make use of the alternative troop types noted on an army list; these may reflect strongpoints stripped of their garrisons, raised levies or a new ally. The following series of battles will put these options to the test.

II/78a Western Roman Army

1 x Stilicho (Cv), 1 x equites (Cv), 2 x equites Illyriciani (LH), 2 x legionnaires (4Bd), 3 x auxilia palatina (4Ax), 2 x auxilia palatina (4Ax or Ps), 1 x cataphract (3Kn) or clibanarii (4Kn) or horse archers (LH) or bolt shooter (Art).

II/65c Alaric and successors

1 x Alaric (3Kn), 2 x nobles (3Kn), 1 x cavalry (3Kn or LH), 4 x warriors (4Wb), 2 x prisoners or ex-slaves (4Wb or 7Hd), 2 archers (Ps). 

Elements marked red are replacements to appear in battle three and a fourth if needed.

 

Battle one; Alaric and noble knights attack the Roman left and to put Alaric off balance, Stilicho sends his equites Illyriciani to threaten the supporting Gothic warband. Alaric’s attack met with stiff resistance offering Stilicho the opportunity to place more pressure on Alaric’s infantry. Unfortunately, breaches in the Roman line could not be contained by Stilicho’s reserve cavalry and heavy losses forced Stilicho to withdraw his army. A victory for Alaric, 4-2

Battle two; the Roman left, protected by the river becomes the focal point for Alaric’s main assault. A fierce struggle develops pushing the Roman left back, nonetheless, elsewhere Gothic infantry suffer severely, forcing Alaric to call a retreat. Stilicho gains a marginal victory, 4-3.

Battle three; Stilicho places the newly arrived bolt shooters (Art) and archers (Ps) on the left flank to face Alaric’s ex-slaves (7Hd) and Alani horse archers (LH). Pushing his artillery and archers forward of the main battle line, the Goths are provoked to an attack. As the lines clash, the Gothic right is hard pressed by Rome’s superior advantage of cavalry. The flight of Gothic slaves exposes the Gothic centre offering Stilicho a clear path to victory, 4+2Hd-2.

Assessment

Alaric is forced to retreat eastward ending the campaign. Comparing casualties suffered, Stilicho’s victory was not as significant considering the 9 casualties sustained versus Alaric’s 12 (10+2Hd). A system of grading will need developing.  

The change in composition affect the deployment and tactics used, which worked well. Thinking further, this may take place earlier. This will also need developing. 

Note; horde do not count as an element lost when determining the winner of a battle, but are tallied when calculating the winner of a campaign.   

The duchy of Aquitaine, 1324

Between painting sessions, I am toying with a possible mini-campaign for our game next week. This will be a simple linear campaign with its outcome based on three or four battles. This campaign is loosely based on the War of Saint-Sardos in Aquitaine.

During this period, Charles IV increased his authority while expanding France’s territory. The Duchy of Aquitaine became a source of friction between England and France, though an English domain it still owed fealty to the king of France. Long periods of negotiations ended in failure prompting Charles of Valois to invade Aquitaine in August of 1324.

Forces

IV/23 Feudal English

1 x general (3Kn), 3 x knights (3Kn), 2 x city militia (Sp), 2 x Welsh longbow (3Lb), 2 x levies (7Hd), 1 x hobilar (Cv), 1 x Welsh javelinmen (Ps).

IV/4b Feudal French

1 x general (3Kn), 3 x knights (3Kn), 2 x communal militia (Sp), 2 x feudal spearmen (Sp), 1 x mercenaries (4Cb), 1 x archers (3Bw), 1 x archers (Ps), 1 x ribauds (5Hd). 

 

Invading Aquitaine, Charles of Valois encountered an English force deployed for battle. The English struck first directing their attack on the French centre and left wing. The entire French right, comprised of knights, charged the English left, bringing their planned attack to a halt.

Welsh longbowmen rained havoc on the knights leaving the proposed English attack on the French centre to resume, eventually forcing the French from the field. England 4-2

Recovering near a hamlet on the River Lot, the French gathered all their knights and positioned them in centre, Doing likewise, the English charged their counterparts across the field.

The English gained ground in the centre, but all was for naught as both flanks crumbled under the thrust of French spears. France, 5+Hd-4.

 

Retiring along the River Lot, the English deploy their knights in centre with the bulk of their infantry positioned on the left. The French mirror their deployment, ensuring an inevitable clash of knightly arms.

The knights meet mid-field; however, the French are not aligned drawing the Flemish infantry into the cavalry battle. This proves fortuitous for the English, as French losses become severe, bringing the battle to a close. A second English victory, 4-2.

The campaign season ends with England retaining their toehold in Aquitaine, however, events at home would soon change the political scene.   

 

Refining the campaign

This brief exercise has generated several ideas requiring further thought. 

Subsequent battles would use 12 elements, but optional elements may be put into play.

Optional elements would be based on losses incurred in the previous battle.

Campaign ends with one side scoring 12 or more casualties and two victories.

Latest production from the workbench

These are the new additions to the early period Hundred Years War project.

Mounted French knights now have an equivalent element on foot. Each is accompanied by a retinue figure to fill out the number of blade. The Blue Moon figures are dismounted English hobilars from their Crecy & Poitiers lists and fit well as lesser armoured French men-at-arms and blade elements for the IV/13b Medieval German and IV/57b Low Country armies.  

Knights of Burgundy

Knights of Beauvaisis, Knights of Artois and Constable of France

German heerban & Flemish Guildsmen

The Jacquerie

These are Blue Moon figures and make the 6 horde needed for two command of IV/64b Medieval French. The Jacquerie uprising lasted from 1357 to 1358; Froissart gives a start date of 1357 as this corresponds with the humiliating loss at Poitiers. The defeat meant unemployed troops, having no paymaster, formed roving bands of Free Companies acerbating the plight of the peasantry a decade following the Black Plague. 

For our games, the Jacquerie will form an ‘allied contingents’ restricting their forming groups with other French elements. 

Disaster at Nicopolis 1395

The Hungarian and Ottoman armies were enlarged to 24 elements forming a vanguard, main body and rear guard of equal strength. Simulating an army moving out of its camp to deploy on the battlefield, the defender positioned his vanguard first followed by the attacker. Placement of the remaining groups followed in the same pattern.  

The battlefield, as seen from the Hungarian position, have woods and a stream to the right and the gentle hills represent the slope of a hill line positioned table. Nicopolis is off table to the right of the Hungarian deployment.

Battle one

The Hungarians have deployed their light cavalry on either flank of the French and Burgundian knights positioned in centre.  

Ottoman infantry form the centre supported by Serbian knights with the majority of the Sipahis cavalry on the left, Akinji light horse on the right.

The battle began with the Akinji assailing the Hungarian left. As the lines closed, the Ottoman pursued his effort on the right losing control of the battle developing elsewhere. Taking full advantage of this the Hungarians scored a crushing victory, 11-1.

Battle two

A replay of the battle allowed the Ottoman an opportunity to reorganize the composition of his wings and centre. Artillery have replaced the Serbian knights and both wings have a balance of Akinji and Sipahis cavalry.

This time, the Ottoman struck both enemy flanks, inflicting heavy casualties on the Hungarian right. The situation became desperate drawing both commanders in single combat.

The situation finally stabilised, allowing the French and Burgundians to pierce the Ottoman centre, sealing a Hungarian victory, 8-3.

 

Battle three

The Ottoman, having a better plan, desired another match. The Hungarians deployed in the same manner with the Ottoman cavalry placed on the left and centre, the Ottoman infantry was positioned on the right.

In the engagement that followed, the Hungarian right suffered severe losses with the Ottoman close to turning the Hungarian flank.

Bringing more pressure against the Hungarians, the Ottoman attacked the enemy centre. Unfortunately, the French and Burgundian knights had other ideas and bested the Sipahis assault. Another Hungarian victory, 8-4.

 

Hindsight

I have no doubt the game would have turned in favour for the Ottoman if the French and Burgundians were to charge impetuously. However, the mounted crossbowmen (actually archers) positioned on each flank, reigned in their advance to 1BW per turn.

Refurbished Sudanese

My collection of Colonial Sudanese served for a period of time as ancient DBA Kushites and Noba, enemies of Imperial Rome. Improved painting technique of the recent Hundred Years War project prompted a reevaluation of some old collections, the Kushites and Noba rising to the top of that list.

My first thoughts were to reform the Kushites in two Beja armies, that begged the question of what to do with the extra 50 plus elements.  

After some time spent looking at army options, I decided to move forward and refurbish the collection, a solution would become apparent afterwards. Painting the Sudanese was to be “quick and merciless” and after an undercoat of mat white, I began painting the following day. Clothing was kept to a minimum of three colours, shields and skin tone, one colour.

Highlighting followed, using the same colour with a bit of white, I brushed the raised areas and painting muscle definition, I used the same colour but not thinned as much. This can be seen in the following photo.

At the workbench are 15 elements of cavalry and camelry which should not take much time to complete. Photos to follow next week.

Castille-Leon meet Andalusia

An Alternate Deployment

Recent discussions at the Fanaticus Forum led me to review an alternative deployment we have used for the standard DBA3 game. Both armies distributed their twelve elements to form three groups, an advance guard, a main body and rear guard. Rather than march our troops on to the table and deploy, troops were placed in the standard deployment zone alternating with the defender placing his advance guard followed by the attacker, the process concluding with the positioning of all three groups. 

Elements, within each group, may form a line or column(s), but groups must keep a minimum distance of 1BW from the next group. We found this an effective way to play out medieval games with armies organized in this manner. A level of uncertainty is present when key troops are found out of position and scrambling to relocate. Further embarrassment may come when placing a subsequent group and you lack sufficient space to deploy correctly. 

On the whole, the defender is not totally disadvantaged as the complement of each group remains hidden until placed on the board and the defender may still render a surprise to the enemy with the positioning of the last group. In the example below, photos illustrate the deployment sequence of Castilian and Andalusian armies (both armies are double size). 

Andalusia, as defender, places his advance guard followed by Castille.  

The main bodies are positioned.

Lastly, the rear guard.

The battle

Light troops, on the Andalusian left sprint forward to take a position among the rocks to the right of the massive array of Castilian knights. Outnumbered, the Andalusian cavalry and light horse demonstrate their bravado and move toward the enemy cavalry.

Seeing the line of Andalusian spearmen moving to support their cavalry, the Castilian knights counter sending a portion of their knights to deal with the threat. Elsewhere, both lines are closing the distance, eager to clash swords.

In the clash that followed, Castilian knights fell foul of the Andalusian light horse leaving a third of their original number to continue the fight against Andalusian sub-general.

As the cavalry continue their struggle, the centre of both armies is now fully engaged.

The fate of Castile is sealed when Berber javelinmen fall on the flank and rear of the Castilian right wing to end the battle.

Observations

In this test, Castilian knights formed the rear guard, when positioned they faced the Andalusian vanguard. Initially regarded as a masterstroke, I was equally surprised as Castilian knights fell to Andalusian light horse giving them a 3-1 advantage on turn three. Subsequent turns, Castilian troops were falling at a faster rate, ending with 8 losses to 2 for Andalusia.

The Twilight of the Huns

In preparation for our Tuesday evening game, I tested a possible clash between two cavalry armies, the Huns and Western Turks, each 24 elements strong. To refresh my skill with cavalry, I tested two standard games with the Turks as the aggressor.

Test one

Hunnic cavalry has formed four groups to face the Turkish host. The Turkish right moved off their hill position to assault the Hunnic left hoping to turn the enemy flank while the main Turkic host moved slowly forward.

Despite the Turkic heavier cavalry, the Huns were able to hold the conflict in doubt. A final effort by the Turks tipped the balance to claim a minor victory (score 4-3).

Test two.

Drawing a new terrain card produced an open field allowing the Huns to extend their line.

The Turks launched their heavy cavalry to break the Hunnic line, the line buckled but did not break, but this had the unfortunate result of the Turkish general meeting his demise.

Taking advantage of an immobile enemy, the Huns inflict casualties to claim a decisive victory (score 4+gen-2).

Note: Both tests lasted four turns and were devoid of the usual cavalry tactics.

 

Final test, a double size command.

The Huns, now the aggressor, caught the Turks in a precarious position with their backs to a river line.

Sensing the urgency a being trapped, the Turkish heavy cavalry assailed the Hunnic center while Turkish horse archers enveloped the enemy left flank.

Turkish heavy cavalry crushed the Hunnic first line, leaving the survivors to gather on the rising ground. While gathering their strength to renew the fight at the hilltop, the battle on the Turkish left were seemed less favorable for the Turks.  

Despite their numerical superiority around the hilltop, the Turks could not prevail against a tenacious enemy. The battle reached a critical point when the Turkic left collapsed giving the Huns their victory (score 8-5).