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).

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.