The Battle of Brunanburh 937

This scenario is based on the final novel of Bernard Cornwell’s, The Last Kingdom series. In the part, titled “The Slaughter”, the battle field and disposition of forces are described. While the book is historical fiction, the game does work well for a DBA3 game. Below are the necessary terrain features and composition of armies based on the novel. Enjoy the game. 

Terrain

The battle field is marked off by hazel rods and is 600 paces wide (7.5BW) and enough space should be allowed for the 6BW distance between lines and for elements to deploy in two lines. Two streams, to the rear and right of the Saxon deployment meet creating a patch of boggy ground. Streams delay crossing and banks add to its defense. A road crosses the battle field and the stream located at the rear of the Saxon deployment. A gentle hill is placed partially in the deployment area of the Norse Vikings. Wood surrounds the battlefield.

The Saxon army, positioned left to right.

Wessex, 1 x general (4Bd) Athelstan, 1 x hird (4Bd), 3 x select fyrd (Sp).

Mercia, 1 x hird (4Bd), 3 x select fyrd (Sp).

Northumbrian allies, 1 x general (4Bd) Uhtred, 1 x hird (4Bd).

Off table: 1 x household cavalry (Cv) Steapa

 

The Coalition, positioned left to right.

Scots, 1 x general (3Pk) Constantine II, 5 x spearmen (Sp). 1 x archers (Ps).

Strathclyde, 1 x general (Sp) Owain, 1 x spearmen (Sp).

Norse Vikings, 1 x general (4Bd) Anlaf Guthfrithson, 1 x household (4Bd), 1 x ulfhednar (3Wb).

Note

All mounted generals dismount at the start of the game and fight as their common troop type. Mercia and Northumbria behave as allied contingents of Athelstan as do Strathclyde and the Norse for Constantine II.

The sole mounted figure is Steapa who arrives on turn 5, no cavalry are listed for the Middle Anglo-Saxon, nonetheless as the scenario follows the author’s description, here they be.