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.