Austria

A very brief overview.

At the start of the 15^th century, we find Austria with a similar division as Bavaria; an Upper and Lower Austria, each of two duchies. Unlike Bavaria, the Austrian domains were a result of political unification and a last will of a dying Duchess.

Austria

During the war against Hungary, Ottokar II of Bohemia managed to unite Styria with Austria in 1261 and later added Carinthia and Carniola in 1269. After his defeat by Rudolph I of Germany in 1278, the House of Hapsburg reigned until WWI.

In the 14^th and 15^th century, lands in the vicinity were acquired, the most significant being Tyrol, bequeathed to Rudolph IV of Austria in 1363. Following the reign of Rudolph IV, the domains, under the Treaty of Neuberg 1379, were distributed between his brothers Albert III and Leopold III to what is known as Upper and Lower Austria. 

Schloss - Tirol (Wiki).

Upper Austria included Salzburg and later Tyrol (Albert III)

Arch Duchy of Austria, Vienna (residence),

Country of Tyrol, Brixen (residence),

Lower Austria included Styria, Karnthen and Carniola (Leopold III)

County of Karinthia, Klagenfurth (residence),

County of Carniola, Lubach (residence), 

Austria in the Campaign. 
At the campaign opening, Austria has little interaction with Bavaria other than utilizing the water and land corridors en route to Switzerland. During Bavaria's internal squabbles, Austria can intermediate on their behalf. As the game progresses, Austria's attention will be directed to the political changes taking place in the east, the rise of the Ottomans. 

Austrian Army list

IV/13b Medieval German army 1151-1439 AD:

1 x General (Kn),

3 x knights (Kn),

1 x knights (Kn) or crossbowmen, either mounted (Cv) or on foot (Cb),

1 x crossbowmen (Cb),

2 x city guards (Bd),

2 x mercenaries (Bd or Pk) or city militia (Sp) or retainers (Hd),

2 x archers (Ps).

Terrain Type: Arable. Aggression: 2 Like Bavaria, the geography of Austria overlaps several types; Arable, Hilly and Forest. 

Cheers, 

A Time of Superstition

Months back, when I create a list of topics as background research for this campaign, I added Superstition. A player could always lay their misfortune as a result of a superstition overlooked, but other than black cats, witches and walking under ladders, my knowledge was very limited.

This past weekend I painted 16 Wolves from Coppelstone Castings and like most painting projects where my knowledge is limited, I screen the Internet for ideas. Along with the required details for wolf pelts, hunting patterns and the like, nuggets of useful information regarding superstitions and fables were uncovered.

Wolves (from Wikipedia)

"... in Roman mythology, the Capitoline Wolf nurses Romulus and Remus, the future founders of Rome. In the mythology of the Turks,  Mongols and Ainu, wolves were believed to be the ancestors of their people, while the Dena’ina believed wolves were once men, and viewed them as brothers."

"It appeared in the seventh century edition of the Physiologus, which infused pagan tales with the spirit of Christian moral and mystical teaching. The Physiologus portrays wolves as being able to strike men dumb on sight, and of having only one cervical vertebra. Dante included a she-wolf, representing greed and fraud, in the first canto of the Inferno."

The Malleus Maleficarum, first published in 1487, states that wolves are either agents of God sent to punish the wicked, or agents of Satan, sent with God's blessing to test the faith of believers.

Witches (from Wikipedia)

“Folk belief in reality of witchcraft had been denied by the church in earlier centuries; Charlemagne had specifically outlawed the old practice of witch burning "in the manner of the pagans" since witchcraft was originally viewed by many early medieval Christians as a pagan superstition.

By the 15th century, belief in witches was once again openly accepted in European society, but they typically suffered penalties no more harsh than public penances such as a day in the stocks. Persecution of witches became more brutal following the publication of the Malleus, with witchcraft being accepted as a real and dangerous phenomenon."

"In 1484 Kramer made one of the first attempts at a systematic persecution of witches in the region of Tyrol. It was not a success: Kramer was thrown out of the territory, and dismissed by the local bishop as a "senile old man". According to Diarmaid MacCulloch, writing the book was Kramer's act of self-justification and revenge. Some scholars have suggested that following the failed efforts in Tyrol, Kramer and Sprenger requested and received a papal bull Summis desiderantes affectibus in 1484. It allegedly gave full papal approval for the Inquisition to prosecute witchcraft in general and for Kramer and Sprenger specifically. Malleus Maleficarum was written in 1486 and the papal bull was included as part of the preface. “

Further Reading:

Middel Alder Centre (belief and superstition)

  

MedievalBeastiary

Medieval Superstitions

Mistress of the Magic Mountain

The Politics of Witchcraft Studies

Application within the campaign

This is a tricky topic to bring to the game table without a medieval DBA game becoming a fantasy HOTT battle. The early WRG Ancient rule sets allowed for sacred items to lift a flagging morale; the Ark of the Covenant, the Raven banner, and the Oriflamme, to name a few.  In one manner, the hesitancy, uncertainty or fear could result in a reduction of movement, such as would be brought on with a thick mist or no movement due to an eclipse of the sun as examples. 

After some thought, this item would have a better place at the strategic level. If an area were known to be inhabited by wolves, witches or other demons one would normally give the area a pass. 

Questionable areas can be marked on a map, that any player wishing to pass through would require an extra incentive (extra pip) to do so. 

You could view the + 1 requirement to cover the time necessary to find the local “priest/wizard or astrologer” who could bless, conjure or divine the propitious moment to move.  

Cheers, 

DBA 3.0 Battle: Hungarians and Wallachians

This was a slight detour from the usual medieval test of two similar formed armies. The Hungarians fielded equally as many knights as light horse and equal numbers of solid and fast foot types; in retrospect, a nicely balanced army. The Wallachians by contrast could match the Hungarians with light horse but the cavalry were somewhat outclassed. With the exception of two archer units, the majority of Wallachian foot were skirmishers.

As defenders, the Wallachians brought a maximum number of forest and a gentle hill to the board. Their deployment placed a majority of skirmishers on the left flank, while archers and light horse made use of the gentle hill on the right. The remaining cavalry were positioned in the center.

The Hungarians formed up in two wings. All the cavalry formed up in two lines on the left, while the infantry made a solid front of foot with skirmishers formed up on the right flank.

Both sides were plagued with poor die roll, so both armies placed their opening effort with their right flanks. Wallachian skirmishers supported by light horse seized the small woods outflanking the Hungarian knights. Bow fire had the effect of Hungarian knights recoiling. Nonetheless, the Hungarians for their effort were rewarded with a quick skirmish and first kill of the game. 1 – 0, Hungarians.

Bound three, the Wallachians took advantage and attacked the recoiling Hungarian knights while a small group of skirmishers attacked Hungarian crossbow at the other end of the valley. The Hungarians knights in their turn followed up the recoiling light horse, crossbow stood their ground to keep a steady fire on the skirmishers and both spear and billmen moved toward the waiting Wallachian cavalry. The Wallachian light horse succumbed to the knight’s pursuit. 2 – 0, Hungarians.

With a low pip score, the Wallachians could only reposition an element in anticipation of a counter attack, while archer fire had no effect. The Hungarians in response moved on the awaiting cavalry with the spearmen leading the assault. This set the Wallachian cavalry to recoil leaving the General exposed. Close, but no brass ring for the blade, the command element fell back in line.

 Bound five, the Wallachians needed to eliminate the immediate threat by the infantry to front before they could deal with the Hungarian knights. A renewed charge and one flank enveloped, the spearmen were eliminated, but the blade still held their ground.

2 – 1, Hungarians

By now, the Wallachians seemed to be stabilizing the battle line, so the Hungarians launched their reserve light horse to maneuver around the woods and seize the hill from behind. It was at this moment the Hungarian knights, led by their general charged forward to crush a lone archer element. 3 -1 to the Hungarians.

Bound six and despite a dismal die roll, the Wallachians pounded the billmen to dust and secured their point. The Hungarians on the other hand with their high die roll were presented with a laden buffet of choices. Together, the light horse and knights sealed off two Wallachian units. The archer unit remained slippery and beat back enemy cavalry to front and flank. The Wallachian light horse was not as fortunate. 4 – 2, Hungary.

Epilogue

This is certainly worth refighting as both sides were plagued with bad die rolls, which meant the light horse potential for long sweeping flank moves had to take a back bench to more urgent moves directed from the center position. This favoured the Hungarian knights and infantry.

Regarding terrain, I had overlooked the marsh as this is a better option to replace one of the larger woods. I will make this a mental note for next time.

The Hungarian infantry occupied the Wallachian cavalry long enough that the Hungarians could develop their battle around the flank. The march around the battle line to seize the hill behind the Wallachians was well timed. 

Cheers, 

Campaign participant - Swiss Confederation

The Swiss Confederation began as an alliance between communities with a common interest in free trade and the maintenance of peace along trade routes crossing her boundaries. Granted reichsfrei status, the cantons of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden came under direct authority of the emperor. By the end of the 14th century, the cantons of Bern, Zurich and Lucerne became part of the confederation.

An idyllic situation it was not, as the rise of the House of Habsburg meant the dissolution of reichsfrei status, thus bringing confederation into direct conflict with the Empire.

The Appenzell Wars

Lasting from 1401 to 1429, this successful uprising was between the farmers and craftsmen of Appenzell and St. Gallen against the House of Habsburg and the Prince-Abbot of the Abbey of St. Gall.

From Wikipedia:

The Battle of Arbedo was fought on June 30, 1422 between the Duchy of Milan and the Swiss Confederation. The victory secured Bellinzona and the Leventina to the Duchy. In addition the Duchy gained the Val d’Ossola, thus the Swiss losing all the territorial gains they had made. The defeat discouraged the Swiss expansionist intentions towards Lake Maggiore for a long time. It was the defeat at Arbedo that made the Swiss increase the number of pikemen.

In the campaign

Looking at the two army lists in the current DBA 2.2 book, our Swiss army falls in the transition period of weapons choice; from halberd to pike. As our campaign starts at the year 1400 AD, it would not seem unreasonable to field half pike, half halberd as the Battle of Arbedo proved a decisive point to increase the number of pike. With this in mind, the list is modified for our purpose.

IV/79 Late Swiss 1400 – 1522 AD:

1 x General (Bd)

3 x Halberdiers Bd)

6 x Pikemen (Pk)

1 x Handgunners (Ps) or crossbow (LH)

1 x Handgunners (Ps) or artillery

Cheers,

Illustration at top with thanks from Jiri Gajdorus (CH).

Campaign participants - Bavaria (the four duchies)

The campaign, Storm Within the Empire opens at the start of the 15^th century. Bavaria as we know it is split into minor duchies, each held by the sons and families of the then Emperor Louis.

Game map 1 shows the four duchies are colour-coded. Further, München and Ingolstadt are known as Upper Bavaria, while Landshut and Straubing make up Lower Bavaria. This is important, as the division reflects different geography which in DBA terms are Arable, Hilly, and Forest. As the campaign extends further to Bavarian holdings in the Lowlands, the geography around Frisia and Seeland can be classed as “Littoral”.

The below list are the residence (capital) and cities of each Duchy. If at first sight, some have a distinct advantage in size, historically, this fluctuated by further internal conflicts (family feuds) and alliances.

Upper Bavaria

– München (residence), Landsberg, Tölz, Rosenheim, Wolfratshausen, Mainburg, Burglengenfeld, and Schwandorf. (8)

- Ingolstadt (residence), Friedberg, Aichach, Schrobenhausen, Rain, Neuburg, Höchstädt, Hilpolstein, Freystadt, Lauf, Hersbruck, Weiden, Floss, Vhonestrauss, Ebersberg, Wasserburg, Kufstein, Rattenberg, and Kitzbühel. (19)

Lower Bavaria

– Landshut (residence), Moosburg, Erding, Müldorf, Eggenfelden, Braunau, Burghausen, and Mondsee, (8)

- Straubing (residence), Kelheim, Pfaffenber, Malersdorf, Dingolfing, Landau, Vilshofan, Deggendorf, Regen, Viechtach, Charn, Furth, Waldmünchen and Schärding. (14)

Outside the Duchy of Bavaria, are the following Free Cities:

- Garmisch, Partenkirchen, Innsbruck, Amberg, , Berchtesgaden, , Passau.

and Imperial Cities = in bold type.

-Augsburg, Nürnberg, Salzburg, Regensburg. (10)

All four duchies draw their forces from the same lists, IV/13b. As the campaign reaches the year 1440, option IV/13c can then be used until that time. Knights are not double based despite the references in the DBM(M) lists. The deployment of the wedge was not as widespread throughout the Empire and actually was a late 15^th century ideal falling outside our campaign period.

IV/13b Medieval German army 1151-1439 AD:

1 x General (Kn),

3 x knights (Kn),

1 x knights (Kn) or crossbowmen, either mounted (Cv) or on foot (Cb),

1 x crossbowmen (Cb),

2 x city guards (Bd),

2 x mercenaries (Bd or Pk) or city militia (Sp) or retainers (Hd),

2 x archers (Ps).

Terrain Type: Arable. Aggression: 2

Cheers,