Battle reports thread - King of the Romans PBM

[econ21]

This thread is for battle reports in the M2TW HRE PBM "King of the Romans".

[Lucjan]

Dietrich mounted his horse and looked about the men around him. Save for his own company of retainers he'd never seen any of them before in his life, and yet he was expected to lead them to victory against a stone fortification a thousand times their size and with every defensive advantage. He sighed heavily and felt the warmth of his own breathe stick to the inside of his helm.

Most of the preparation for the siege had been accomplished before he even arrived, but he soon realised how bloody a day this would be. Two siege towers and a ram had been arrayed against a stone fortress with a single entrance, surrounded by four defensive towers and the entire enemies force could potentially be mounted on the walls. The siege towers stood, titans on the field, a funnel through which men moved up, and carcasses came down. And then there was the ram, a wooden and leather inferno waiting to happen.

The captain formerly in charge of these men rode up to him. He was a noble of lesser station, probably the cousin or a nephew of a fief's lord, but he spoke respectably and presented himself with some degree of dignity to the steward. "Governor Dietrich, I have been ordered by Kaiser Heinrich to turn this over to you upon your arrival." The man handed him a scroll of little spectacle, save for being stamped with Kaiser's seal and tied with silk. Dietrich had an idea of what it was.

"Designation of army commandership?" He asked, breaking the seal as he spoke.

The other man nodded silently, and maybe even sensed a little of the steward's uneasiness. He started what almost seemed like the beginning of a ramble. "You know... they're not so sure about this anymore. Everything is fine and you get anxious just starving the enemy out, but when the day comes that you need to go spear to spear, you get nervous. And then there's the walls, the biggest weapon you've had for keeping the enemy in one spot suddenly becomes the biggest weapon they have for keeping you out. Kind of asinine really."

"I'll speak to them." Dietrich replied, and the man began discussing the current situation with him.

It didn't take long before the only available options became apparent and clear. They had no advantage in numbers, in quality of arms, in experienced men. A well deployed enemy would take them in the blink of an eye. The only option they had was to make the enemy blink both, and strike them when their eyes were shut. "We don't have much to go with." Dietrich started. "I want the spear militia on the eastern wall with a siege tower, they are, under no circumstances, to actually try to take the walls. Taunt the enemy, hassle them, keep their attention on that side of the wall. One of our archer units should move up to the front gate with the ram, supported by the other, while our spear sargeants wait for the enemy to get distracted at the gates then move up to the western wall with their tower. It's a fairly cut and dry plan, draw the enemy as far east on the walls as possible then scale the west side with our best troops." He almost cringed as he said that, their best troops being barely more capable than the militia.

As the final preparations were made, Dietrich rode up to the center of the line and delivered his speech to the ragtag host they were calling an army. Fine Germans! Today we carry out the first task of many in reuniting our fractured empire. Today we carry out not just the will of the Kaiser, but if we are truly meant to be the leaders of the Christian world, then today we carry out the will of God. Christians our foes may be, but they have turned a deaf ear to the edicts and laws of the Empire, and have proven themselves as both traitors and cowards. Their treachery will not go unpunished on the field this day. God spares no mercy for the wicked, and neither will I! A resounding cheer followed, nervous as the men were, and the march began.

The following battle, though it seemed as an eternity of anxious all wrapped up into a moment for the men involved, lasted no more than a few brief minutes. The siege that had been carried on now for two whole years would end in less than a quarter of an hour.

But it began with the creak of moving siege wheels, and Dietrich's call to "MARCH!".
https://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p108/lucjian/Sieges/Hamburg/dietrich.jpg

The ram moved foward and the archers spread into a loose formation to keep the casualties from enemy fire to a minimum.
https://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p108/lucjian/Sieges/Hamburg/ramforward.jpg

But as they approached the gate, the enemy commander launched a brazen assault through the gates, charging the ram and the archers with a regiment of the local militia.
https://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p108/lucjian/Sieges/Hamburg/brazendefense.jpg

Dietrich's cavalry looked uneasy, some like they were about to panic, horses started to move and men leaned backwards, looks of inclination to flee on their faces. Without the ram the cavalry couldn't get through, and the spears assigned to take the walls would face the full weight of the enemy's defence. From the heart of his demoralised and panicing cavalry, Dietrich did the only thing he could think of. He ordered a charge. "Forward! Forward! The enemy commander has exposed himself! Take him! Take him now!" As the order was given it seemed to spark a little fire in the men immediately around him, drawing out a rush of adrenaline and pushing them forward rather than back, the rest followed suit. In moments they were riding through the archers loose formation and coming up, lances lowered, into a clustered charge of shoulder to shoulder cavalry with nowhere to go but straight through the open gate in front of them. The enemy commander, seeing the massed cavalry charge in front of him, was unable to calm the chaos that broke out in his regiment as they tried to reform near the gate. The cavalry drove into them with reckless abandon.
https://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p108/lucjian/Sieges/Hamburg/withrecklessabandon.jpg

Before the first ranks of the charge even knew it, they'd punched a hole straight through into the city. The enemy militia were overrun, their commander trampled beneath the hooves of a hundred or so cavalry, and all hope for the defenders had been crushed in a single decisive charge, straight through the main gates.
https://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p108/lucjian/Sieges/Hamburg/breachingthegates.jpg

"Quickly! Forward! Their archers are on the walls, don't get caught by their arrows! Into the side streets! Use the buildings as cover! Form up for a charge when they come down and let them have it!" Dietrich was barking orders everywhere now, the mass of cavalry had ceased to be anything relating to cohesive regiments and was now a cluster of armored horse and men, barreling into everything in their way with deadly effects. There was nothing the defenders could do now, when they came down from the walls the streets merely formed a channel for the cavalry to shove straight through. Two regiments of enemy archers and a regiment of militia were run down without a chance. It was a massacre.
https://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p108/lucjian/Sieges/Hamburg/Amassacre.jpg

As they reached the courtyard, one lone spearman cowered amongst the cavalry, surrounded on all sides.
https://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p108/lucjian/Sieges/Hamburg/coward.jpg

The men paused, as if waiting for their commander's orders. Dietrich eyed the man from a distance, his horse plodding over the corpses in the street. It was an unforetunate thing to have to order, but he knew, in this battle at least, that an example had to be made. Thinking back to his earlier speech, he found its finale a fitting command. "God spares no mercy for the wicked, and neither will I."

The surrounding horsement converged on the man, and the battle was done. Perhaps the greatest witness to the battle was just a young boy, hiding in the top branches of a tree in the courtyard, looking down upon the conquerors with awe. His gaze fixated on the army's commander, his armor glinting in the sun. The chronicle of an Empire's revival had begun.
https://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p108/lucjian/Sieges/Hamburg/hidinginthetrees.jpg




((OOC - All in all a resounding victory.))
https://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p108/lucjian/Sieges/Hamburg/victory.jpg
((OOC - After the battle, unrecoverable losses amounted to a mere 25 archers and 37 mailed knights. Sacking the city earned us 2,000 florins. I think this kicks us off to a good start on the northern frontier and a good start to the game overall.))

[econ21]

The Siege of Metz

"Is that it?" thought Prinz Henry. He'd expected a great citadel. What lay before him was scarcely more than a walled compound. Architecturally, it was overshadowed by a fine monastery on a hill nearby.

Henry shook his head in disappointment, then turned to Sigismund's report. Sigismund had been welcomed into the Royal family unexpectedly. Henry was only 24, Sigismund 27. Yet, Emperor Heinrich had embraced the promising commander as an adopted member of his family. In part, this was because Heinrich had only two sons - Henry and Leopold - rather few to ensure succession in a time of plague and war. Both sons were told to treat Sigismund as a brother. But Henry in particular was instructed to pay special attention to the newcomer. Heinrich had confided that Sigismund, not Leopold, was to succeed to the throne if both Heinrich and Henry should die.

Henry skimmed the report and then looked sideways at its author. What had his father seen in the man that had made him so favoured? Sigismund was looking at the wooden castle in front of them, watching the enemy's movements closely. But there was no hesitation, no apprehension evident in the man's face. Sigismund looked every inch the conquering hero. Henry glanced back at the report; if only he could be so confident!

Sigismund had estimated the Burgundian strength at 60 knights, two regiments of town militia and one of archers. Henry's forces comprised 70 knights, 60 mounted sergeants, two regiments of spear militia and two of archers. He did not have much of an edge - an extra regiment of archers and some mounted sergeants, whose usefulness in the narrow confines of a castle was questionable. If only Henry could persuade his proud knights and their sergeants to dismount, but no - the minor nobles and their lackeys were too proud. "What do you think we are, English?!" a particularly obnoxious one had challenged the Prince.

Still, Sigismund was confident and Sigismund was no fool. They had to learn from Dietrich's victory at Hamburg. Horsemen could be useful in a siege. But they needed to pick their moment. Simply trying to ride into the castle through the gates would only result in two dead heirs to the throne. What was to be done?

"Father ordered two rams to be provided for us." Sigismund observed.

"Father"?! Henry still found it hard to get used to Sigismund calling Heinrich that. He wondered how Leopold felt about it. Did Leopold know he had been passed over? Damn it, focus, thought Henry. Sort out this mess first, let the succession take care of itself.

"Yes, two rams." said Henry, not getting the significance of Sigismund's observation.

Sigismund smiled lightly. "Give me one; I'll go round the back."

Henry stared at him. Sigismund's smile was infectious and Henry laughed. Christ almighty, Sigismund was right! Henry had been thinking of trying to barrel through the front, using one ram as a spare in case the first caught fire. But that was a strategy as subtle as going at the Burgundians with a blunt fruit knife.

"Take it, brother. And may God go with you." said Henry, trying to inject a note of solemnity. The chivalrous Sigismund nodded dutifully and shook Henry's hand firmly, as if in reassurance.

"I will meet you in the castle square." said Sigismund.

Watching the confident warrior leave, somehow Henry's had little doubt that Sigismund would keep his promise.

******************************************************

Henry could see Sigismund's column march around Metz, heading for the rear, north gate. At first, the defenders ignored the flanking movement. Then Henry could make out the Burgundian archers heading from the castle square to the north. Right, if the archers are going for Sigismund, it is time to bust open the south gate, thought Henry. Let's do it now, before they have a chance to double back and shoot us to hell. Hastily, he ordered his half of the army to advance. But Henry did notice that the Burgundian archers failed to stop at the north gate, instead rushing out of the safety of the walls in their eagerness to fire on Sigismund's column.

https://img293.imageshack.us/img293/3653/metz1mt2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

What do they think they are doing?


"Mistake." thought Henry, happily.

https://img292.imageshack.us/img292/8792/metz2ns2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Could Sigismund pull off a cavalry charge? Is the Pope Catholic?

Henry's battering ram reached the south gate, but Sigismund had no need of his ram - he pursued the fleeing Burgundian archers through the north gate.


https://img293.imageshack.us/img293/3579/metz3pl3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Sigismund is the first German into Metz.

With almost perfect synchronisation, Henry's battering ram broke through the front gate as Sigismund's knights rode in from the back.


https://img293.imageshack.us/img293/5175/metz4eq4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Burgundian knights patiently wait for Henry's battering ram to breach the gate.


The Burgundians sent one regiment of town milita to the north gate to meet Sigismund, while the other regiment and their knights poured out of the breached south gate to stop Henry.

Sigismund had no intention of getting his riders bogged down fighting infantry from the front. So instead of facing the town militia approaching from the castle square, he led his knights on a wild ride south, skirting the castle walls, hotly pursued by the Burgundian foot. At the same time, Sigismund's regiments of spears and archers were racing into the castle, targeting for the rear of Burgundians chasing their commander.

To the south, Henry faced a stiffer challenge. As the Burgundians tried to sally out of the breached gate, Henry ordered his spearmen to form a schiltrom and brought up his own escort in support. But his plans did not work out as he hoped. The militia were too ill trained to quickly form a schiltrom and his own knights did not have sufficient run-up to mount an effective counter-charge. Instead, the southgate became a seething mass of men, hacking and cutting at each other. Henry was near the front, as the Germans pushed their way through the gate. But this was not good - this was not clever strategy, this was just butcher's work.


https://img293.imageshack.us/img293/6117/metz5ol1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

A desperate struggle errupts at the south gate

Henry cut and thrust, but then heard a loud hurrah! Sigisimund had worked his way through Metz and was launching a charge into the rear of the Burgundians blocking the south gate!

https://img293.imageshack.us/img293/9717/metz6le7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

He's behind you!

The defenders of the south gate broke, helplessly caught between the butchery of Henry's frontal assault and the elan of Sigismund's rear charge. Soon all that remained of the defenders was the regiment of town militia that had pursued Sigisimund from the north gate. Again, Sigisimund refused to face them frontally. Instead, he pulled his men out north and calmly waited until the Burgundians were locked in combat with the Henry's column pushing in from the south gate. Then he launched a charge into their flank. The Burgundians capitulated almost instanteously.

https://img135.imageshack.us/img135/3958/metz7si2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Sigismund waits for the last regiment of Burgundians to get locked in combat before striking at their long flank.

After the battle, Henry magnaminously spared the citizens of Metz from any abuse. Only a miserly 52 florins were gathered for the Imperial treasury from the occupation. Henry wanted to keep the respect of the chivalrous Sigismund. And anyway, the little castle really was rather insignificant - blackening the good name of the Empire to sack or exterminate it would only bring a few hundred florins.

But in truth, Henry cared little for Metz. What mattered was that he had weathered his first battle and emerged with some credit. He had taken a castle guarded by 366 men for the loss of only 55 Germans - 33 of them, unfortunate spearmen who had failed to form schiltrom in time to fend off the Burgundian knights. With some schadenfreude, Henry later learned that a small French army had been spotted south of Metz. The Germans had not only defeated the Burgundians - they had beaten the French in the race to the castle.

That night, Henry feasted well, drinking to the health of Dietrich, who had taught him the utility of cavalry in a castle assault, and to Sigismund, who had reminded him he had two rams.

https://img292.imageshack.us/img292/9281/metz8pt4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

[OverKnight]

The Assault on Bern

https://img151.imageshack.us/img151/8835/enemybc5.jpg
https://img170.imageshack.us/img170/3833/friendhs5.jpg

Otto von Kassel gazed at Bern from a hill near the castle. The wind whipped against him cutting through his cloak. Winter had descended on the Alps and still the rebels held out, with a limitless supply, it seemed, of food and patience. The Kaiser, not having the latter, had ordered an assault. Nearly 700 men lay waiting for them in that castle, two companies of knights, two units of crossbowmen, and four units of sergeant spearmen, their numbers barely reduced by the long siege. Otto commanded almost 900 men, and he had been ordered to take that hulking stone castle with less than an advantage of 200 men. Suppressing a shiver, Otto did not know if from the cold or the thought of what lay ahead, he turned and faced his Lieutenants. He spoke to Count der Stolze, who had led two companies of spearmen, plus his own household knights, from Metz.

"Sigismund, I am afraid that there is no rear gate for you to assault this time. Your Swabian militia spearmen will man the two siege towers placed to the right of the only gate. I'm also assigning you my unit of mailed knights to command. You are to follow behind the towers with the cavalry."

Sigismund nodded his assent. Otto continued, "My own sergeant spearmen will man the one siege tower to the left of the the gate and the ram itself. They have the best armor of the footmen, and I hope that protects the men on the ram as they will not have the towers to shelter them. I will follow behind with my escort and the mounted sergeants."

The commanders of the spearman and knights voiced their understanding while Otto faced the leader of the archers, "Jan, your men will be flanked out on either side of the castle, two units on their right, and one on their left. You'll have the ladders. I want your most reliable man to command that lone company."

"Ja General," replied the archer.

Having taken care of the disposition of the men, Otto spoke of the plan of attack, "I doubt those bastards in there will kindly open up the gate like they did in Hamburg, and as I just said, they only have one. However, that means that can't sally out to get our archers without impaling themselves on our spearman.

"I'm flanking the archers to draw some of their men away from the gate. The towers will go in first. The ram will follow after a short time, and then the cavalry."

Sigismund looked puzzled and interrupted, "Otto, without archers covering the advance of the towers, they'll be vulnerable. . .Ah, but you're smirking, what do you have in mind?"

Otto chuckled, "We have spent too much time in this camp dicing for me to get anything past you Sir! The towers are merely a distraction. We don't have a large enough advantage in men to slug it out on the battlements. The towers will serve to cover the troops until they get to the walls. The focus is on the ram, the towers will draw fire away from it and make sure as many of the schwein as possible stay on the walls and not move to the gate. A few moments before the gate is shattered, our spearmen will leave the towers and rush it. I hope to overwhelm the men there before reinforcements arrive down from the walls.

"Once we have breached the gate and entered the castle, I hope to catch their men coming off the walls, they'll be out of breath and disorganized, easy to break. I hope their commander, seeing this, will decide that those archers are just a distraction. He'll redeploy his men to the more imminent threat. Jan, that is when the archers will scale the walls! Once they're up there the archers on their right flank will be in a perfect position to fire down into the courtyard. The unit on the left will have to advance into the Castle a bit.

"Once those pieces are in place, there's not much left to do but converge on the courtyard. Cavalry, flank them if you can, and don't, don't get ahead of the spearmen! Infantry, stay together. Archers put as many arrows into that courtyard as you can!

"We don't have the advantage in numbers here for a proper siege assault, we have to rely on deception and timing. See to your men, emphasize this, and remind them of the pillage that awaits them!"


The host was drawn up as ordered. Otto, with Sigismund riding beside him, rode down the line surveying the troops. Stopping in between the Bavarians and Swabians, Otto motioned for the Count to speak.

"Men of Bavaria, follow von Kassel to the death. I know the bravery that lies in your hearts; do not allow fear to set in. I know the Swiss better than most; I have traveled around Bern many years ago and I know the valour which these mountaineers show. But they are only mountaineers, not city dwellers. Their skills are of little use against valiant Bavarians.

And to my fellow Swabians and Burgundians; follow me lads, follow me, and there will be honour and glory for us all in equal measure.

For Gott, the Kaiser, and the Reich!" (OOC: Contributed by Ignoramus)

Otto grinned at Sigismund, "Finer words were never spoken my lord!"

Raising himself up on his stirrups, Otto bellowed to the army, "You heard the Count! Together there is no force on this earth that can stop the Reich! We will storm this castle! We will sow confusion and fear among them! They will run before us, and they will die! For the Kaiser! For the Reich!"

"For the Kaiser! For the Reich!", echoed the host in a thunderous cheer.

Turning his horse to the castle, Otto drew his sword and pointed it toward the gate, "Attack!"

Spearmen heaved against the siege towers and they began to move ponderously forward. The assault on Bern had begun.

https://img241.imageshack.us/img241/7642/0004is0.jpg

Arrows and bolts began flying towards the siege towers. Men, Otto's men, began to fall. A few fire arrows found the ram, and Otto cringed inside. The ram was the key, if it burned, he would be unable to bring his cavalry into play and the battle would be lost.

"Go for the towers," he muttered trying to will it so.

https://img241.imageshack.us/img241/9026/0006qg8.jpg

As if in answer to Otto the siege tower to his left blossomed into flames, its men abandoned it, holding their shields aloft for some small protection as they began to march to the gate. Otto swore, diversion or not he hated to see a tower burn. The ram continued on its way, but with the left tower gone it was coming under heavy attack. Time to offer another target. "Cavalry forward!", yelled Otto.

https://img241.imageshack.us/img241/3315/0007tn9.jpg

"Sch**ße!", Otto screamed. Missiles were falling among the cavalry now, a knight to his left was thrown from his horse as a crossbow bolt tore into his shoulder. The army was taking heavy losses. But over the din of battle, Otto could hear the reverberation of wood striking on metal. The ram was at the gate! Otto could hear a horn blow to his right, Sigismund was ordering the men of the last intact tower to the gate.

https://img241.imageshack.us/img241/1535/0009ph2.jpg

The gate was breached! Otto bellowed, "All spearmen into the gateway!"

https://img442.imageshack.us/img442/7301/0011xj2.jpg

As the human wave of troops poured through all organization was lost, but the gambit had worked, only one enemy unit of spearmen opposed them. Otto could see, however, troops rushing along the battlements to the gate towers, they would be emerging from the stairways very soon. The momentary advantage in numbers and momentum would be lost if decisive action was not taken, "Cavalry, charge!"

Knights, nobles and mounted sergeants rushed to join the chaotic melee at the gateway. It was far from ideal use of cavalry but they were needed to punch a hole through the spearmen.

https://img442.imageshack.us/img442/705/0013fc8.jpg

Reeling from the onslaught, the surviving rebel spearman, and a few crossbowmen caught fleeing the walls, began to run to the safety of the castle courtyard. Otto spurred his horse after them, they must be run down before they could reach the square! The Imperial army surged forward, glad to be rid of arrow fire and finally killing the enemy.

Almost too late Otto realized that half of the rebel knights were charging forward to cover the retreat of their footmen. "Cavalry halt! Spearmen forward!", Otto cried, praying that the spearmen, already down to half strength would be able to hold.

https://img442.imageshack.us/img442/4128/0016li2.jpg

A repeat of the battle at the gate ensued with spearmen and cavalry from both sides engaged. As Otto fought for his life, he heard the sound of arrows striking metal and flesh. Looking up to his left, he saw that two units of his archers had indeed scaled the battlements and were now firing down into the castle yard! Wheeling to his right, he saw the other archer company making its way through the castle from the west.

The rebels were momentarily stunned by this development, and Otto took the opportunity to charge their captain. The man took Otto's first sword blow on his shield and struck back quickly, the slash glanced off Otto's shield and caught him on the side of his helm. The world went white.

https://img442.imageshack.us/img442/931/0017hv1.jpg

A Bavarian spearman skewered the captain before he could deal the killing blow. Otto regained his senses and saw the rebels were falling back, disheartened by the loss of their leader. "Hold! Let the archers earn their keep!", he yelled as he tasted blood in his own mouth.

https://img442.imageshack.us/img442/3673/0021nv7.jpg

The remaining rebel knights, arrow bit and desperate, charged out. They were followed by crossbowmen, drawing their swords. They were both repulsed by bloodied Imperial spearmen. Seeing that he had broken the back of his enemy Otto called for an advance by his horsemen, "Finish them!"

https://img442.imageshack.us/img442/5557/0024oz9.jpg

As he was gutting one of the few crossbowmen left in the square, Otto looked up and saw the last company of rebel spearman engaged with his archers on the wall! Gathering his remaining men he charged to releive them, but he was too late. An archer company had been slaughtered and they were running for their lives.

The rebel spearmen, now free of their bloody work, looked down and saw the host in front them. They saw that their comrades were slain and that they were surrounded. Making their way down the stairs of the nearest tower they threw away their spears, freshly covered with the blood of German archers, and raised their hands in surrender. The battle was over. They would be spared.

Otto paused, the castle was his, the day was his, but at a terrible cost. His grand plan had devolved into a bloody mess. A cold rage filled him. Those schwein had killed his archers, adding to his losses, even knowing they were defeated. And now they wanted mercy, fresh from that deed!

"Kill them all!", Otto commanded as he spurred his horse toward the rebels. Screaming in fury, in pain, and in triumph the Imperial army followed him. The battle was over very shortly after that.

https://img442.imageshack.us/img442/3148/0027gq5.jpg

Bern was sacked with 1566 florins going to the Imperial coffers. 541 civilians lost their lives.

The Butcher's Bill:

https://img62.imageshack.us/img62/2941/casultiesbernel0.jpg
Starting Troop Levels:
https://img170.imageshack.us/img170/3833/friendhs5.jpg
Ending Troops Levels:
https://img442.imageshack.us/img442/597/aftermathni4.jpg

[TinCow]

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/TC/stettinstart.jpg

The Steward of Bavaria surveyed the army before him. It was a strong force, capable of breaking a large army on an open field. “Such a shame they’re behind walls,” Mandorf growled. He looked with displeasure at the Franconian force.

They had erected three great rams with which to bring down the walls of Stettin. The construction had been done properly and they would do the job admirably. Such a shame that there were only two regiments of foot to man them. Half the damned army was cavalry and two of the four regiments of unmounted men were simple peasant archers. The rest were fine quality cavalry. Magnificent specimens of German soldiers… who would die quickly in a pitched street battle against massed spears.

Mandorf shrugged, if this was the army that Dietrich supplied him with, the Duke of Franconia would have little cause to complain when they needed fewer stables to house them. “At least I won’t be responsible for butchering good Bavarian sons.” Mandorf looked down at the rough map sketched in the dirt before him. He called over his second in command.

“Take two rams and the knights to the east wall. Break through there and destroy whatever opposes you.” The Steward of Bavaria pointed with a stick at a mark indicating the front gate. “I will attack with the remaining ram…” he moved the stick slightly left, “…here.”

A look of confusion crossed the Second’s face. “You have something to say?” asked Mandorf, with little enthusiasm.

“Sir, a flanking maneuver is most wise, but why does the direct assault go against a wall rather than the gate? It will be far more costly to repair such a breach than to simply replace the doors.”

Mandorf snorted. “Yes, but it will not be Bavarian money that will be spent fixing the damage, will it? Besides,” he gestured at the view before him, “this place is a hovel. There is nothing worth possessing here anyway.”

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/TC/stettincity.jpg

He looked over at the Franconian force. “Well, let’s get this butchery done with. I long to return to Bavaria. These northern lands have the worst wine I have ever encountered. I do not know how Dietrich tolerates such places.”

Mandorf swung up into his saddle. “Time to smother these rebels in Franconian horseflesh.”

…

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/TC/stettinattack.jpg

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https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/TC/stettinend.jpg

[GeneralHankerchief]

Florence, 1114

The messenger was brief.

"Mein Kaiser! Sergeant Anshelm has spotted a large group of brigands immediately to the west of here!"

Kaiser Heinrich sighed. "Again?" This would not be the first time that he had to deal with brigands near the Reich's newest Italian possession. The last time, the guilty party had been blocking the road to Rome.

"It's different this time," said the messenger. "They're bigger... stronger. They are, how do I say this... I am not a learned man you see..."

Heinrich had a pretty good idea of what the man meant. "A legitimate opposition?"

The messenger nodded. "If what you just said means a worthy enemy, then you're right, mein Kaiser."

Heinrich looked at his captain of the Florentine garrison. The captain, expecting an order, finished the Kaiser's sentence before he even started it.

"Muster the garrison, mein Kaiser?"

Heinrich smiled thinly. "Not yet. Get them ready though. I'm going shopping first."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_037.jpg

The shopping that the Kaiser referred to was that of recruiting mercenaries in order to make the task of defeating this force of brigands slightly easier. Ordinarily, the Kaiser would have frowned upon such tactics, but his own force was of particularly low quality and the money was coming easier than it had been in many years.

The mercenaries immediately began to prove themselves, however, when the regiment of crossbowmen hired started firing at the enemy long before the peasant archers were in range. They were accurate, and powerful too.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_038.jpg

Despite this, the enemy army (for it truly was an army, especially if Heinrich's scraped-together force was to be considered one) kept coming as if nothing had happened. This in itself was strange, but there were many other signs that the Kaiser had noticed.

First of all, the way it was set up, the way they deployed, the way they marched, seemed... professional. As if this wasn't just some ragtag band of farmers that didn't like life under the Reich. And then there was the army composition. Sergeant spearmen? Those were currently the top-quality units recruited in Innsbruck. Pavise crossbowmen? Staufen was far away from making those shields for their archers. And then there was the commanding regiment.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_039.jpg

Feudal Knights! Heinrich could only dream of having those men defend the Reich! How could simple brigands afford that kind of armour, that kind of decoration for their horses? And their leader! This Alcabe de Buona wasn't decked in a simple suit of armour; no, he had a worthy commanding uniform on! Something was up.

The battle progressed, and Heinrich soon put his thoughts about Signor de Buona away and concentrated on winning. The added crush of mercenaries was a large help, and numbers soon trumped skill. The rebel commander ordered his men back in order to reform and probably make a concentrated push. However, Heinrich wasn't about to let that happen. He charged straight for the enemy knights, which had taken a beating from spears as well as arrows.

The melee quickly broke into individual engagements, pitting Heinrich's elite escort against the mysterious Feudal Knights. Heinrich hung back for a minute, then saw a fight which could use his intervention.

However, de Buona was thinking of the same thing and angled right for the Holy Roman Emperor.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_040.jpg

The result was a one-on-one clash between the two commanders. They eyed each other before striking, neither wasting any unnecessary breath on speaking.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_041.jpg

The duel began, and another thing that struck Heinrich as odd was how experienced and polished this man was. Usually, when he fought cavalry duels against rebels, the men were sloppy and easily defeated. But de Buona hung tough, and actually gave the Kaiser (who wasn't getting any younger) a difficult fight.

However, experience eventually paid off and Heinrich smote de Buona, causing the rebel commander to fall off his horse, who promptly toppled on his former rider. He could only look in pain as the rout commenced.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_042.jpg

~~~~~~~~~

After the battle, the semi-conscious de Buona heard the approach of several riders to his position. The lead one dismounted, and walked over to him. The man removed his helmet, and de Buona was staring into the eyes of his vanquisher.

"I have an excellent surgeon as part of my staff," he said in a brisk voice. "I can perhaps arrange it that you are healed by him."

De Bouna, voice long gone thanks to the large animal crushing his diaphragm, nodded. Hopefully he would last that long; the previous several minutes had been spent by him saying silent prayer.

Kaiser Heinrich looked at him happily. "Excellent. Perhaps if you are cooperative enough, I can even arrange you being sent back to Pope Gregory for no ransom."

De Buona widened his eyes in surprise. But... how did he know?

Evidently that was all the Kaiser needed to see. He clapped his hands excitedly and looked over at his escort. "Excellent," he proclaimed, "that's all I need! Surgeon! Please assist this man, perhaps we should get this horse off of him first..."

To de Buona it appeared that the Kaiser's voice was trailing off, but that was only because he was fading from this earth.

~~~~~~~~~~~

That night, back in Florence, the people around the Kaiser noticed his grim, resolved mood. His wife would fall asleep watching him staring out the window toward the south again. Towards Rome.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_043.jpg

[Ignoramus]

Bern, 1118

https://img523.imageshack.us/img523/3206/sigismund11xz3.png (https://imageshack.us)

It was a cold and crisp day at Bern, and soft flakes of snow were gently falling. Inside the stone castle, Sigismund shivered as he mounted his horse.

Outside of those gates were over 700 Milanese wanting to kill him. And not only kill him, but also every single man that fought with him.

He sighed as addressed his men.

“Soldiers, we are going to sally forth and utterly drive the Milanese back into the plains of Lombardy.

Do not be dismayed by their numbers men; I have good news for you men. Otto von Kassel and 60 knights are only a few miles distant.”

Sigismund smiled at the cheering of his men. They were an eager lot, and he felt confident that they would be victorious – if von Kassel arrived in time.

https://img395.imageshack.us/img395/2716/sigismund21as1.png (https://imageshack.us)

Sigismund organised his men to sally out of the gates. He would lead the sally, with the Spear Militia directly following him. Behind them stood the Sergeant Speamen, more experienced soldiers than the milita in front of them. In the vanguard stood the Mailed Knights followed by the Mounted Sergeants. Sigismund placed the Peasant Archers on the walls.

https://img395.imageshack.us/img395/7140/sigismund31wj2.png (https://imageshack.us)

A shout came from the captain of the archers. “My lord Count Sigismund, the Milanese are within bowshot! Shall we fire upon them?”

Sigismund smiled to himself, “Yes, and let each arrow tell.”

https://img523.imageshack.us/img523/3553/sigismund41ch8.png (https://imageshack.us)

Meanwhile, Otto von Kassel and his knights were riding at full pace through a pine forest near Bern.

“Faster noble sirs”, shouted Otto, “we must assist Count Sigismund in his sally.”

https://img373.imageshack.us/img373/2355/sigismund51qp5.png (https://imageshack.us)

Back at Bern, Sigismund gave the order, “Open the portcullis, we sally forth.”

The portcullis creaked as it was slowly raised.

Sigismund nudged his horse and he and his retainers issued forth out off the castle.

“Follow me, men,” commanded Sigismund.

The spearmen and horsemen followed Count Sigismund and issued from the Castle.

https://img395.imageshack.us/img395/3018/sigismund61ww9.png (https://imageshack.us)

As Sigismund and his retainers exited from the gatehouse, the Milanese archers rushed forward to shower the issuing Germans with arrows.

Sigismund called to his retainers, “Follow me, and let us teach these peasants that their arrows are no good against German valour.”

So saying, Sigismund kicked his spurs into his horse and rushed towards the enemy.

https://img395.imageshack.us/img395/8426/sigismund81wc7.png (https://imageshack.us)

Lowering their lances, Sgismund's retainers made short work of the Milanese archers who dared fire upon their lord.

https://img395.imageshack.us/img395/2884/sigismund91ay6.png (https://imageshack.us)

Meanwhile, Otto von Kassel and his knights had reached the monastery of St. Boniface, on the outskirts of Bern.

I can see Count Sigismund and his men, exclaimed

https://img395.imageshack.us/img395/3794/sigismund101pd3.png (https://imageshack.us)

Sigismund had lined his men up for battle, and he was surprised that the Milanese had made no attempt to hinder him from doing so.

He glanced anxiously to the west, and to his delight he saw Otto von Kassel and his knights atop the hill of the monastery.

https://img395.imageshack.us/img395/9691/sigismund111gu8.png (https://imageshack.us)

Exhorting his men, Sigismund exclaimed, “Mein soldiers, see that banner to the west? That is von Kassel and his knights!”

The soldiers cheered heartily at the sight, and charged at their opposing line of Milanese spearmen.

https://img373.imageshack.us/img373/2649/sigismund121zl6.png (https://imageshack.us)

At the monastery of St. Boniface, Otto von Kassel's retainers and his accompanying knights were feeding their horses at the monastery's stables. Otto von Kassel was talking to the abbot about the strength of the Milanese.

“Von Kassel!” shouted Rupert von Aachan, a knight of Otto's train, “The battle has begun!”

Otto von Kassel rushed our holding a large sausage in one hand and a mug of beer in the other.

“Hurry!” mumbled von Kassel, as he skulled his beer and snatched a bite of his sausage, “Mount your horses!”

It took a few minutes for the confusion to cease, and finally the knights were on their mounts.

Otto addressed his knights and retainers, “Men, we just took that castle. It was paid for in Imperial blood and I'll be damned if we let those merchant schwein take it from us! Sigismund is the anvil and we are the hammer! Charge into their rear and flanks and scatter them! Ride them down without mercy, so that the few fortunate bastards who survive will spread fear of the Reich and its soldiers among their countrymen! Forward!"

https://img206.imageshack.us/img206/9749/sigismund131ka6.png (https://imageshack.us)

Back at the scene of the battle, the Milanese spearmen countercharged the Imperials, and a bitter fight ensued.

Sigismund exhorted his men to keep firm and not to break ranks. “Gut soldiers of the Reich, when the Kaiser hears off how you fight today, he will hear of one or two things. Either he will how you good Swabians and Bavarians fought like lions and sallied forth against the might of Milan, or he will hear how you fled as cowards from the foe!”

Inspired by Sigismund's words, the spearmen exerted themselves to the uttermost, but even so a few could not help but cast aside their weapons and flee.

https://img407.imageshack.us/img407/9702/sigismund151ku7.png (https://imageshack.us)

Otto's retainers and knights left the abbey witht the monks praying for an Imperial victory.

“Faster, my sirs, faster!” cried von Kassel to his men.

https://img407.imageshack.us/img407/2332/sigismund161qa8.png (https://imageshack.us)

The knights that accompanied von Kassel were the first to reach the enemy, and they charged fearlessly into the right flank of the Milanese spearmen.

https://img206.imageshack.us/img206/4158/sigismund171ea9.png (https://imageshack.us)

Meanwhile, Sigismund and his retainers were engaging the Milanese reserve. They were most obstinate in their resistance to the Count.

https://img395.imageshack.us/img395/499/sigismund181tt9.png (https://imageshack.us)

Finally, they saw the hoplesness of their situation, most threw themselves at the mercy of Count Sigismund. A few, however, attempted to escape with their captain, Francesco.

https://img225.imageshack.us/img225/7825/sigismund191qo1.png (https://imageshack.us)

The remaining Milanese now fled, each attempting elude the swords of the Imperial cavalry. Count Sigsimund, however, commanded that only the flat of their swords were to be used, and that no futher blood should be shed, instead ordering the knights and sergeants to bring the Milanese back as prisoners.

https://img225.imageshack.us/img225/351/sigismund201rb0.png (https://imageshack.us)

Captain Francesco was the last prisoner to be taken. He was finally tracked down, and received a sword blow to his head, knocking him unconscious.

When he was finally brought round, he was looking into the kind eyes of Count Sigismund.

“You fought well, mein freund, but I am glad that it was I who was the victor. You and your remaining men are free to leave unharmed and with their weapons. Consider it a kind gesture on my part.”

The Italian was stupified. He was expecting to be killed, or at the very least held for ransom.

“I thank you, Count Sigismund, he said, I shall tell of your generosity and chivalry to my lords. I am humble to receive such a favour and praise from an enemy of mine.”

https://img407.imageshack.us/img407/8125/sigismund221pq7.png (https://imageshack.us)

As the Milanese were marching off, Sigsimund said to von Kassel, "Go back and fetch your sausage, and then come and join me in the keep."

[Ignoramus]

*Battle of the Alps*

To be written.

[Ignoramus]

*Battle of the Savoy Pass*

To be written.

[OverKnight]

The Assault on Milan

A gray twilight spilled over the foothills and plains of Lombardy. Dawn was coming, but had yet to arrive. Men moved through the failing shadows towards their goal, the city of Milan. The sleeping locals they passed would have been shocked to see the Eagle of the Reich emblazoned on the standards that were now being unfurled in the burgeoning light. Those few who had been awake to see the passage of so many men had been silenced by scouts and outriders. The city was unaware of their arrival.

The army of the Reich, 675 men strong, stopped for a moment on a wooded hill overlooking their target. A man on horseback spurred himself ahead of the force and gazed toward the city.

It's good to be out in the field again, thought Otto von Kassel, Simpler, much simpler. I do what I'm told, I attack where the Chancellor says attack, and it is he who has to worry about the consequences.

Peering towards the gatehouse closest to him, Otto saw a torch drop from an arrow slit. He chuckled darkly. I may not agree with Sigismund on his course of action, but the Chancellor is competent. Our man is there to open the gates. What would have taken years with siege, we'll do in a day. The man is fast.

Turning from the city, Otto trotted over to his captains, "No ruses this time. We run for the gate as quick as possible, our spy will open it for us and in we go! There's a Milanese lordling running the show with some retainers of his. He's got two units of Italian spear militia, two units of Genoese crossbowmen and a chewed up company of mercenary crossbowmen. The bastards will be scattered all over the city and we'll kill them piecemeal! Knights, you may pursue those who run, but don't get too far ahead of the spearmen. Infantry, try to keep up. Archers, get in shots when you can. No time for a speech, form up!"

https://img442.imageshack.us/img442/7040/1milanmyforceshv8.jpg

As his force approached the city in the dawn light, Otto was amazed that they hadn't been spotted yet. From what our agent said, this man Cataldo was supposed to be a confident defender, perhaps too confident.

https://img442.imageshack.us/img442/5236/2milanenemycommanderes0.jpg

Suddenly, a scream went up from the walls in front of him. Shouts of alarm broke out up and down the defenses. In the distance a church bell began to peal. Otto swore and had his bugler signal the charge.

https://img442.imageshack.us/img442/3585/3runtogatetk3.jpg

This was no close order march, but a wild sprint to Milan's sabotaged gate. Otto's retainers and knights made it into the city first. Pausing briefly in the gateway he spyed a unit of crossbowmen frantically trying to redeploy off to his right and a company of spearmen pouring off the walls, some still pulling on their armor, to his left.

"Cavalry to the right! Kill those archers!"

https://img442.imageshack.us/img442/1337/4crossbowmenmj8.jpg

"Infantry to the left! Engage the spearmen!"

https://img442.imageshack.us/img442/1663/5spearmenfw9.jpg

Otto spurred his horse towards the crossbowmen. He expected them to be dead and trampled by the time he arrived, but they fought resolutely. Charging into the fray, Otto hacked at one of them, cutting through the man's neck and the strange shield on his back at the same time.

"They're just bowmen! Kill them now!", bellowed Otto, but they fought on for a long time until the sheer number of horsemen overwhelmed them.

https://img442.imageshack.us/img442/2696/6cbroutzb7.jpg

"Christ on the Cross! Why don't I just recruit an army of them and not waste time feeding horses!?", Otto swore at the knights. "Nevermind! Back! Back to help the infantry!"

https://img442.imageshack.us/img442/508/7spearroutpv3.jpg

The Imperial army swarmed up the roadway after the routed spearmen. Otto, looking up after skewering a militia man, saw the Milanese lord and his retainers charging toward them. There's something oddly familiar about this, Otto thought before yelling, "Cavalry hold! Spearmen forward!"

https://img442.imageshack.us/img442/8011/8milanchargeue6.jpg

The Milanese commander, Cataldo, having tried to catch the Imperial horsemen disorganized and isolated instead found himself charging into a spear wall. Once the spearman had absorbed the charge, Otto screamed, "Knights, forward!", and the counter-charge broke the Milanese nobles and killed their leader.

https://img442.imageshack.us/img442/7667/9leaderdeathab5.jpg

The routing spearmen turned to try to save their master but were repulsed. Otto's cavalry pursued but were met by the remnants of the garrison. As horsemen began to fall, speared by the militia and hacked at by more of those stubborn crossbowmen, Otto cried, "Go past them! Past them! Infantry engage!"

https://img442.imageshack.us/img442/484/10lastgaspft8.jpg

Most of the cavalry were now free of the melee. Otto yelled, "Turn and flank them!"

https://img442.imageshack.us/img442/7678/11coupdegraceey7.jpg

Finally, the spirit of the defenders broke. What was left of the garrison turned and ran or surrendered on the spot. The din of battle subsided and all Otto could hear was the moans of the wounded and the church bells ringing in the morning air.

"Take them prisoner!", Otto commanded, "I won't fight cornered men today. We need all our men to garrison this city. I doubt the merchant schwein will let their capital be occupied without another battle or two. After we secure the captives, then we can pry open their vaults and take some restitution. Milan is ours! The Reich is whole!"

The men cheered, whether for the prospect of plunder or patriotic zeal, Otto did not know.

Milan was sacked, providing 10,955 florins for the Reich. 2,981 souls who opposed reintegration into the Empire were put to the sword.

The Butcher's Bill:
https://img215.imageshack.us/img215/6867/casultiesmilansp1.jpg

[GeneralHankerchief]

Genoa

To the Diet:

The war on Milan, as you know, is going fairly well. Their capital city has just been taken thanks to the efforts of Otto von Kassel, and now the people who once dared to attempt conquest on our lands have been reduced to two cities isolated from each other. Today, I aimed to reduce that number to one.

News had reached me of another war in the Italian Front opening up with the treachery of Venice. I, who had long warned the Diet of Venetian intentions, was somewhat distracted by this news, probably more than I should have been. This caused me to be looking ahead to the upcoming takeover of their possessions, when I should have been taking things one at a time. As a result, I did not realize how evenly matched we were with the Genoan garrison.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/kotr_052.jpg

The interesting thing about this battle was that Chancellor Sigismund ordered me to assault the city without any siege equipment or engines whatsoever. However, he explained in his letter to me that a spy had been placed inside the city, which would cause even more chaos for the Milanese since all gates would be simultaneously opened.

The Milanese apparently agreed, and we found the walls abandoned.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/kotr_053.jpg

I figured that this was a mixed blessing as the Milanese would probably be massing in the city square. The best way to defeat this would be to surround them and attack from all streets leading into the square, but in order to do this a good position must first be established so that the Milanese do not disrupt your plans. I therefore ordered all units into the city at a run. We would split up later.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/kotr_054.jpg

It is a good thing I did, for the spearmen found the heaviest cavalry the Milanese had to offer (their leader's bodyguard) charging their position. Luckily, our men were massed, so I can imagine that Count Catelano had a nasty shock when he rounded the corner.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/kotr_055.jpg

He, along with most of his bodyguard, quickly perished thanks to our spears. However, about ten horsemen survived, riding back to the safety of the city square.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/kotr_056.jpg

Reverse angle shot of the Milanese count's death

The next attack on our position was slightly more determined.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/kotr_057.jpg

It was repulsed with heavy losses, but the Milanese continued to cede ground with a fight. All in all, it threw my plan of surrounding and defeating them in the square into the fire. This would be a nasty, brutal, street-by-street fight. Their count's death apparently did nothing to break the Milanese's spirits; in fact, I think it buoyed them to fight harder. We must be careful about killing future commanders early on in the battle.

I finally followed through with a modified battle plan - a two-way attack. The infantry would continue with the main push to the city square, while the cavalry would be detached and provide the final hammer blow. It reminded me of the ancienct Alexandrian tactics of the phalanx that pinned, and the Companions that shattered. Perhaps this effect would come back into style after today's battle.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/kotr_058.jpg

The plan was put into good effect, and eventually our infantry hacked their way to the city square where the Milanese still fought like wildcats. Evidently the situation that played out in their capital city would not happen here.

"Oh, well," I thought, "That's why they invented cavalry."

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/kotr_059.jpg

The infantry do their part.

But then, good Electors, something had happened that did not go to plan. Whoever was commanding the remnants of the Genoan garrison (if it was anyone) detached some units of his own to attack the cavalry's position. Mostly they were the men who had survived the initial assaults on the gate that we had just taken, back at the start of the fighting. There was a good mixture of spearmen and cavalry, deadly in compact spaces, but they were far under-strength.

Captain Ludwig, my close friend and second-in-command, seemed to notice my hesitation and chipped in with his opinion, always welcome in the past:

"Mein Kaiser, order us forward! We can break this rabble!" A few other men cheered. They were gearing for a fight, having missed out on the main bloody push by the infantry.

"Very well, charge! Smash them!"

I will never forget what happened next, for it was a mistake that ranks up there with allowing Pope Gregory to push me around all those years ago. I saw the looks on my men's faces (those that did not have visors covering their faces), grinning, ready for anything. I saw them eagerly spurring their horses forward, and I heard the thunder of hundreds of hoofbeats.

I saw the charge stop dead against a green wall. I saw a pileup of men and horses, all wearing Imperial colors. I saw the men lucky enough to be on the edges of the street (where they faced little opposition and prepared to take the spearmen from the side) get torn apart by the remaining Milanese cavalry, including the ten men of the escort that had lost their leader so long ago.

Desperate, I ordered my own escort forward hoping to break the spears. It worked to a point. For every inch of ground we made more good men fell. Finally, when we had met up with the infantry, as was our original plan, only two horsemen were still up. The men, shocked, ordered me to the back. Some routed. Once I was in a safe spot and still recovering from the shock of what happened (as well as futilely trying to rally a regiment that had routed), I glanced over at who else had survived that doomed charge. Amazingly, it was Captain Ludwig, who had proposed the move in the first place. He looked sick to his stomach, bent over in the saddle. I did not need to chastize him about what had just happened.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/kotr_060.jpg

Eventually, good Electors, the city was taken but I stress that it was not easy. The infantry had to make due on their own, continuing to push even after they had pused all the way to this point, since most of our cavalry littered a side street.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/kotr_061.jpg

It didn't make matters easier that the last Milanese still refused to give up, even in the face of tremendous odds.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/kotr_062.jpg

When the final man had fallen, there was no cheering. Only a collective sigh of relief. We reluctantly plundered the city, bringing over 5,000 florins into the Imperial treasury. It also made us sick to execute the prisoners after the Milanese Duke, all the way in Dijon, refused to pay the ransom. These warriors deserved a better death.

Good Electors, let this serve as a lesson to all of us. I may not admire Dietrich von Saxony's childbearing skills or his politics, but he is apparently the only one who knows how to use cavalry in a siege assault. The shattered remnants of my escort are living proof of that.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/kotr_063.jpg

Heinrich, Kaiser of the Holy Roman Empire, reporting from Genoa.

[econ21]

Outside Dijon, 1126 AD

Prinz Henry stared at the inquisitor and the inquisitor stared back. The cheek of the man, the presumptuousness! Henry was the heir to the Holy Roman Empire, Duke of Swabia, Army Commander, Knight. And this inquisitor, in his plain white and black commoners’ garb, was what? He was nothing. And yet there he stood, in front of the Prinz, baldly staring him down.

Henry looked uneasily around him. His handpicked knights stood respectfully to attention. His best men, the men who would guard him with their lives, had ushered the inquisitor reverently into Henry’s presence, had bowed and scraped in front of the commoner. And slowly it dawned on Henry. These men owed their allegiance to Henry, yet Henry was but a man. The inquisitor was an agent of God almighty and no man took precedence over Him. The knights were good Catholics first, loyal Germans a distant second. And so Henry started to understand what Manfred had once said to him: I am not afraid of dying in a castle breach. I fear no man at arms. I fear only the Inquisition.

Only Henry’s guard dog, Verginius, showed the appropriate degree of hospitality to the Papal guest, growing lowly at the inquisitor. Henry primly admonished the beast, although inwardly, his heart was filled with satisfaction at the animal’s undiplomatic display. The inquisitor must be a Frenchman, Henry mused. He had named his dog Verginius after a Roman Republican who shared the canine’s hostility towards the French.

I trust his Holiness is well? Henry inquired blandly.

The inquisitor nodded, disinterestedly, but then barked: ”His Holiness is most displeased at your prosecution of this war”.

Henry slowly poured a glass of wine, picked it up and sipped it before deigning to reply: ”As you know, Milan started this war by an unprovoked attack on us. We can hardly be condemned for fighting back, can we?”

”You are embarked on a war of conquest! You have taken Milan, Genoa and now stand poised to strike before Dijon! Your response is most disproportionate! His Holiness is very displeased at this spilling of Christian blood! You must end this fratricidal war!”

Henry pursed his lips and then mused: ”I rather think that is what Chancellor Sigismund intends.” End this war on our terms, with the extinction of Milan, Henry meant.

The inquisitor looked at the Prince sat in front of him, and shook his head.

“Your father embarked on a long conflict with the Holy See. You would be foolish to follow in his path.”

Henry spoke coldly: “Were you an Emissary of the Holy See, Sir, I would be happy to discuss matters of diplomacy with you. I would assure you that I have only the friendliest of intentions towards his Holiness. And indeed venture to suggest that the Pontiff has no truer supporter in the Diet. But you, Sir, are no Papal Emissary and have no standing in my court. I invited you here out of respect, but I see now that it is not reciprocated. I wish you farewell, Sir, I have a battle to attend to.”

“You are a fool, young man, to treat a Papal servant with such disregard. I will leave you now to your blood letting. But know this - you have come to my attention and only the most pious regard that development with equanimity. Good day, young Prince.”

Henry waved the inquisitor off, distractedly. But inside, he felt a ripple of dread. Damn it, let’s get this assault over with and get the hell out of here, he thought uneasily.


Right, let’s see. What’s the situation? We have 602 men. We are well provided with cavalry and missiles, but sorely lacking in infantry - only one regiment of town militia and 54 spear militia. Is this a joke? How am I supposed to take a settlement with only cavalry and missiles? What siege equipment has Sigismund ordered prepared? Only one ram? And two sets of ladders? What am I supposed to do? Carry our warhorses up the ladder?

What’s the opposition? Two regiments of Italian militia and two of Italian spear militia. Great, what we lack - solid infantry - they have in number.

How to do this? Try to use one ram to break open two gates? No, the enemy towers would cut down our men before they left the first. Use our missiles to fire over the settlement walls? No, without line of sight, our missiles would be ineffective while our archers themselves would be cut down by the enemy towers. Try to barrel through with my own escort? No, against so many spears packed in the narrow streets, the only result would be Sigismund as the new faction heir.

I have to fight clever. But how? Let’s distract them. Set up two battle groups: one, at the front gates, to the south, and one at the western gates. Both should be equipped with the ladders, with cavalry and with archers. Then, let’s hide a third battle group near the east gate. Keep it small: the few spear militia carrying the battering ram, my escort and a regiment of peasant archers. With any luck, the enemy will be preoccupied with my two visible battle groups and not notice the third until it is too late.

https://img463.imageshack.us/img463/3660/dijon1jv5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Henry manages to deploy the battering ram against the unguarded east gate of Dijon.

And so it was. The Milanese deployed pairs of regiments to face the south and western battle group; but no men were set to guard the east gate. Even when the battering ram smashed down the gate, no troops moved east. Even when Henry ordered his cavalry to move round the settlement to the east gate, there was no Milanese reaction. Only when Henry’s men were racing for the town square did the enemy turn away from the two battle groups of Germans with ladders.

Henry’s 54 spearmen briefly occupied the town square, but found themselves facing six times their number. Though Henry and his archers tried to provide support, it was hopeless and the Germans were driven from the square. But the spearmen had bought Henry time. Time for his mounted sergeants to get to the east gate; time for his ladders to move unopposed onto the enemy walls.

Henry’s archers fell back from the town square towards the east gate, pursued by one regiment of Milanese. Before the Milanese could reach the east gate and man the towers, Henry rallied his few spearmen and led them, and his escort, in a counterattack. The fighting was brutal and for a time Henry feared he may fall, but the toughness of his escort and the demoralising effect of the fire arrows loosed in support broke the morale of the first enemy regiment.

A second regiment of Milanese militia headed back to the south gate, as German archers scaled their ladders. Henry ordered the mounted sergeants to provide support to the archers. They bravely attacked the Milanese militia from the front, but in the narrow streets were unable to charge and soon began to suffer terribly. They withdrew towards the east gate, pursued by the enemy militia. In doing so, the pursuers exposed their backs to the German archers on the walls, suffering grievously from their arrows. Soon the enemy militia were wavering. When the German mounted sergeants realised this, they halted their horses and returned, putting the Milanese to flight.

On the west gate, the German town militia had also scaled the walls unopposed, but the third regiment of Milanese returned to the walls and hurried to intercept them. With the towers now firing in support of the Milanese, the Germans realised that contesting the walls was unsound and so they raced down the steps, off the walls, towards the town centre. The fourth Milanese regiment was also hurrying from the town centre to catch the German town militia, but the Imperial infantry were able to take another road back - evading both pursuing regiments.

Having broken the first enemy regiment, Henry now reoccupied the town centre. He ordered fire arrows be loosed at the fourth enemy regiment and then sent his regiment of knights to battle them. Cavalry versus spearmen in narrow streets was a potentially foolhardy move, but the Milanese were losing spirit - they routed without much loss to the German knights. Then the German town militia turned to face the third enemy regiment. Supported by Henry’s own escort and the other horse, the Germans slew the garrison captain, bringing a successful end to the assault.

Henry ordered the town occupied. Sacking it would yield only 4000 florins, not worth blackening the good name of a future Emperor. When Henry looked at the casualty lists, he whistled: he had lost only 122 men - most notably half the mounted sergeants who had bought time at the south gate. Given the trepidation which Henry had begun the assault, this was a good result. Still, Henry hoped not to enjoy his victory for too long. Immediately on taking up residence in the town, he wrote the Chancellor an urgent note, informing him of the conversation with the inquisitor and begging to be moved rapidly away from his orb, to Bern and perhaps in time to Innsbruck to help his father face the Viennese threat.

https://img182.imageshack.us/img182/8324/dijon2sj9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

[Ituralde]

Defense of Vienna

"The men are ready for the sally, mein Herr!"

"Tell them, that they will have their fight, but it won't be us attacking. Looks like they finally got around to assaulting our walls."
Leopold stood on the battlement over the gate, his gaze directed at the Venetian column advancing towards the city. Ever since the reports had come in that the Venetians had withdrawn the larger part of their infantry from the siege, he had tried to get confirmation of this. Finally a spy had reported that the attacker's force had indeed been diminished and Leopold had immediately ordered his men to ready themselves for an attack in the morning.
It seems that the Venetians had gotten information on their own preparations and were now marching on the city. They had a ram built and also some ladders.
As their force consisted mainly of Mailed Knights and the bodyguard of Allessandro Selvo their general, their only two units of infantry were now manning the siege equipment. Peasant Archers were pushing the ram and Italian Spear Militia was ready to scale the walls.

https://img154.imageshack.us/img154/7594/coming.jpg

"Looks like a straightforward attack, Rainer. Let's organize a straightforward defence then."

"Jawohl, mein Herr!"
Leopold was already leaving the battlement to saddle his horse and address his men. With the Venetians heading straight for the south gate, that would be the place to meet them.
He organized three of his Spear Militia in a box around the gate, ready to give a sharp welcome to anyone coming through the gate. The walls around the gate were manned by Town Militia and Spear Militia respectively. The Spear Militia positioned to the left of the gate were the ladders were to be expected. The rest of the Town Militia was arrayed behind the Spears to charge once combat has begun. Leopold and his bodyguard blocked the main causeway to the city square to lend their support to the Spears directly in front of them.

https://img154.imageshack.us/img154/1214/square.jpg

Soon enough the Italian Spear Militia was scaling the wooden walls, while the ram hammered at the gates of Vienna. Fierce fighting erupted on the battlements, but it looked as though the Imperial forces could hold.

https://img154.imageshack.us/img154/4849/walls.jpg

https://img154.imageshack.us/img154/2487/breached.jpg

The gates had been breached.
"Steady men, Steady!" cried Leopold to the assembled Spears that would have to take the charge from the Venetian cavalry and had to hold.
Furiously the Venetian cavalry charged through the gates and their commander even threw his Peasant Archers into the fray.
"Advance!" yelled Leopold once the fighting in front of him had ensued.

https://img154.imageshack.us/img154/3953/advance.jpg

A glance to the walls showed that the Imperial troops had held and the remaining Italian Spear Militia was already fleeing the field.
"Rainer! Get a messenger up the walls. Let's put those ladders to use, shall we! Tell the Spears to get down there and block the gates from the outside. That vile oath-breaker will not escape from my city!"

While Leopold charged forward with his bodyguards, the other Town Militia was already in contact with the enemy horsemen. Already many of them were pulled off their horses and the battle seemed to go bad for the Venetians.
As though sensing his doom, Alessandro Selvo ordered a hasty retreat. Unfortunately before the Spears had closed off the gate.

https://img154.imageshack.us/img154/8660/shortcut.jpg

"Damn coward! Ride! Ride hard, Ritter of the Reich. I will not let that traitor escape!"
Spurring his horse onward, Leopold led his retinue out of the gates in hot pursuit of the Venetian cavalry.

https://img154.imageshack.us/img154/6127/pursuit2.jpg
https://img154.imageshack.us/img154/5338/pursuit.jpg

Alessandro Selvo made good use of his head-start though and was able to escape the grasp of Duke Leopold.
Disheartened Leopold and his men return from their pursuit. He meets up with Rainer at the Towns Square where the captured Venetians await their fate.
"Mein Herr, what do we do with the prisoners?"

Leopold glances briefly over the men in front of him. One of them is a young noble, a retainer of Alessandro Selva surely. Leopold fixates him with his gaze:
"You have entered my lands under the cover of goodwill! I gave you assistance and trusted in the power of our alliance! You betrayed your word, you have lost your honour. There's nothing left for me to do, but to hand you the fate of every traitor!"
He turns to Rainer, a determined expression on his face. "Kill them!" Rainer looks at his master as though to object. "They're traitors and oath-breakers, they deserve nothing less!" Without another glance to the prisoners Leopold leaves the town square, while Rainer instructs his men to do the grizzly business.

https://img154.imageshack.us/img154/6638/victory.jpg

[OverKnight]

The Defense of Milan

https://img141.imageshack.us/img141/1883/1versusgi6.jpg

Otto von Kassel was sitting down to his breakfast porridge when a messenger intruded, "My lord! The Venetians are bringing up a ram to attack our east gate!"

"What!", said Otto slamming down his spoon, "Did they bring up reinforcments during the night?"

"Well. . .no", mumbled the messenger, "That company of crossbowmen has decided to attack."

"They're idiots! Oh well, this will let me end this farce! Have our 'garrison' drawn up, archers to the walls next to the east gate. . .

https://img141.imageshack.us/img141/6817/2archerspu5.jpg

. . .and my retainers to the south gate. I'm going to finish my breakfast."

https://img141.imageshack.us/img141/7238/3cavrg6.jpg

With Otto's men in position, the brave, but stupid, Venetians began their assault.

https://img141.imageshack.us/img141/7690/4vassaultri4.jpg

Despite suffering losses the pavise crossbowmen were able to bring the ram to the gate. In their haste to enter the city, however, they failed to notice the cavalry charging toward them through the mist.

https://img141.imageshack.us/img141/9769/5cavmisteb4.jpg

It would be their last mistake.

https://img141.imageshack.us/img141/8885/6cbbreakvn0.jpg

All the Venetians were killed or captured.

https://img141.imageshack.us/img141/8440/7cbhuntvv4.jpg

Otto surveyed the bound prisoners in front of him. From the little Italian he knew, he understood that they were begging for their lives. They mentioned the chivalrous Chancellor Sigismund, known throughout Europe for his mercy towards prisoners.

As the morning mist burned off, Otto looked east past his captives, squinting into the sun. He could see a large dust cloud on the horizon. A much larger Venetian force was on its way. This victory was only temporary.

"Of course you may join your comrades", Otto told the prisoners, "You have fought bravely and will be released. After, of course, we hack off your thumbs. I will not have you firing crossbows again!"

Otto chuckled darkly as the prisoners began screaming, he called for a chopping block and an axe.

After the deed was done, and the Venetians' digits were placed in their coin purses, Otto spoke again, "Now go! Tell that army to the east what awaits them if they come here. Next time I will cut off more than just thumbs!"


The Butcher's Bill:

https://img141.imageshack.us/img141/8232/8casualtiesto7.jpg

[Kagemusha]

Battle of Kamienski

https://img58.imageshack.us/img58/2814/polishbattle1wa1.jpg

Dietrich of Saxony was not happy. He sat on his war horse on a hill near the village of Kamienski, to South East from Stettin. A beutifull valley opened under his eyes,as he sat on his horse looking at a dust cloud in the distance, created by rapidly advancing horse of one of his scouts.The ground was lovely,but he had no missile troops to protect the hills he had deployed his men on.

https://img74.imageshack.us/img74/8720/pbattle1un2.jpg

The scouts had spotted the enemy force and the reports sayed that there were nearly 200 Polish mounted noblemen coming at his way with about 100 Nobles on foot. He had little over hundred Spearmen and about same amount of Peasants as his infantry and Adolf Von Mahren´s and his own knights,amounting 62 men on horseback.
He had the high ground,but what to do with it? The Polish were known of their use of missiles on horseback so they could just run around his force,hurling missiles from their horses,while the heavier German Knights couldnt catch them. There were only glumps of trees on the hills,so he Dietrich could not protect his force by going inside an forest. Dietrich sat there for a while looking around and thinking.
For a little while he forgot the Polish army aproaching the battlefiield and the upcoming battle.He didnt think of the last years marching around the Reich on muddy roads with his men, building watchtowers and waiting for the message from Kaiser that he wouldnt be the Duke of Franconia anymore. In his eyes he saw his beutifull wife,smiling at him,like she had done on many quite evenings,when they were with each other smiling talking and doing what lovers do.
Dietrich woke up from his thoughts,as he heard the loud yell from the aproaching messenger: "The Polish are coming! The Polish are coming!"
Quickly he called to him,Von Mahren and the captain of the Spearmen.
Dietrich spoke with determination in his voice:

"Gentlemen. We are not here to die today! We will beat the Polish here today.Captain! Take command of the Peasants also and deploy your men to that ridge between these two hills."

Captain looked in Dietrichs eyes and nodded like a man who is going into a certain death and started to turn around to give orders to his men. But before he could,Dietrich continued:

"Captain, listen carefully. You will be our bait with your men. I will deploy my Knights on the other side of this hill we are standing so the Polish wont see us from the valley. Von Mahren will deploy his Knights,there behind the other hill on your right side. When the Polish Nobles see that there are only few men on foot on a hill against them, they will come right at you. Now listen carefully,since what you do then can decide the battle. When The Polish cavalry aProaches your men, you order your troops to run. And you will keep running untill you reach the highest spot on the ridge. Then turn around and fight and hold the line.I will attack the Polish right and Von Mahren their left flank. If God will´s we will trap them and the day is ours.If not,then atleast no one can say we didnt try."

Dietrich stared the captain of the Spearmen for a second and continued:

"Did you understand my orders?"

Captain nodded,looking same time worried and anxious.

"Then go man and give your orders to your men!"

Dietrich turned towards Von Mahren and sayed:

"My good man Mahren, what we are about to do could be the last thing for both of us. Do you have any questions?"

Mahren answered briefly:

"My Lord! Nothing to ask.Lets run down the Polish scum!"

Dietrich smiled becouse of the determinanation of the younger man and continued:

"Remember.Wait untill the Polish get in melee with our foot men.We cant let them escape or we are Finished.We will meet at the center once the Polish have been slain. Good luck and may God be with us all."

Von Mahren nodded and started galloping towards his men.

The Battle ensued first like Dietrich had planned.The Polish Nobility charged the Spearmen and two units of them were trapped between the Spearmen and German Knights. Third Unit of the Polish Nole cavalry charged the same mass and routed Dietrichs peasants, but Dietrich rallied them with his warhorn after some time. Dietrich charged and formed up and again and again and again. He saw how on the right Von Mahren fought like a beast with his men,giving blows to right and left. But the Polish were no peasants and they just kept on fighting untill also the dismounted nobles entered the fray. Dietrich and his men were covered on blood of their own and their enemies,while forming up again and again. While after each charge there was less and less of them. Finally he had only three of his knights with him and he saw that there were not much more men left of Von Mahrens Knights. Dietrich thought that it was just matter of time,when the younger Lion or himself would be struck down to the mud.
But suddenly as Lord himself had watched over the German army.The Polish commander was struck down by one of the remaining spearmen. This cutted the backbone of the Nobility of Poland,that had so far fought equally to any German. The Polish still outnumbering the tired Germans,broke of through and rode away,while the few German Knights led by Dietrich and Von Mahren charged after them.

https://img58.imageshack.us/img58/7475/pbattle4sy9.jpg

The ridge was a grim site of butchery.Dead and dying men and horses with the ground coloured red from the blood. The Polish horses were faster, so after short time Dietrich ordered his knights to turn around and finish of the reminders of the Dismounted Polish.
Dietrichs tired men,what was left of them had captured only few prisoners,but as there were not many of them left themselves either. Dietrich had no choice,but execute the prisoners and move his army of the area before another Polish army would arrive.

https://img70.imageshack.us/img70/7948/pbattle2az3.jpg

The Butchers bill:

https://img440.imageshack.us/img440/7888/pbattle5lb5.jpg

https://img440.imageshack.us/img440/3896/pbattle6vj2.jpg

[Ignoramus]

Battle in the Alps

[Ignoramus]

Defence of Bologna

[Warluster]

Northen Italy, 1136

Jobst von Salva looked out into the open plains, near the Alps. Here was the spot where the troops of the ROman Republic fought over 500 years ago, and now here are there predecsors. This battle was a small one, and the first battle Jobst von Salva has commanded.

There aim was to destroy the Veneatian Soldiers. A outline appeared on the hrizon, and slowly that outline turned into the figure of a horse and its rider. It turned out to be a scout. The scout wore armour silver and gull, and a helm for his head. He raced up to Jobst von Salva and stopped.

"Please,Jobst von Salva, sir, I have a report on the Veneatian Army" said the scout, Jobst von Salva nodded.
The scout continued,
"It is a meager force of 200 troops, 3 units of Armoured soldiers, one company is seriously short of soldiers" said the scout. Jobst shooed the scout away, and turned to his Majors.
"How should we approach them?" asked jobst, the Majors looked out onto the plains.
"There protected by a forest on one side" commented one,
"So we can not attack from that way" said the other major, Jobst von Salva nodded. Jobst looked on the other side, and pointed.
"Theres hills and mountains on that side aswell" said a Major,
"The troops could easily march over the hills" said another,
"yes but imagine, they'd be sweating baddly climbing the hills, and when they engaged the Veneatians..." said jobst, not finishing his sentence,
"Then we attck downhill" finished one major. Jobst shook his head,
"That leaves us one thing, so heres the battle plan" said Jobst, the 2 Majors lisntened closely.
"All 6 companies of our soldiers shall charge the Veneatian army herad on, distracting them." said jbost, he continued,
"There will be a buffer, so when they are in battle, 1 soldiers are to wothdraw to the forests, then strike out behind the Venetian Buffer. Meanwhile my Bodyguard and me, shall travel over the hills and hide, then when the buffer is gone, our army attacks the Generals unit, while thats happening two units are to go either side, and block us from view, we will round around them, and attack from behind" finished Jobst von Salva, the Majors nodded, it was a good plan, enough to get them through alive. jobst issued hos orders, and watched the Majors hurry off, and heard them yelling out commands to there companies. Jobst was relieved, remembering the days of when he was a Knight, and had fought with Dietrich von Saxony in poland. jbost sighed, those days were tough. Now he was a General, Jobst formed up with his bodyguard, a unit of highly experinced Knights, all hand picked by Jobst von Salva. He knew them all well, and knew they knew him, as they trained with Jobst. Jobst von Salva stayed with his unit, and made signals that the Roman Army is to start the battle plan. The veneatians had not moved yet, and were standing still. The Imperial Army moved forward. Jobst waited patiently, finally the army was close. Trumpets sounded, soldiers cried, and the army ran forward, swords and spears raised. The two armies clashed, and from where Jobst was, couldn't see anything. then Jobst von Salva remembered his Battle Plan, and the Bodyguard moved to the hills. When they were behind the hills, they saw not a lot, as thye were concentrating. But they saw the Veneatian buffer rout, and the Imperial Army ran foward and attacked the Generals unit. Jobst saw the signal, the two units of Imperial spearmen moved to the sides, blocking tje Cavarly from view, and Jbost and his bodyguards moved around the fighting queitly, until they were behind the Veneatians. Then they charged. And hit the Veneatians hard, the two sides clashinh like waves. Jobst von Salva unit hit the Venetians, the back soldiers fell forward like a wave, and the front soldiers fell like a wave. And soon all but 24 were dead. They had won the battle, and had caputred 150 venetian soldiers. An offer of Ransom was sent to the Venetians, they refused, that night there were none from the venetian army left, but 20 who escaped.

[Kagemusha]

Battle of Stendal, September 10th, 1136 Anno Domini

http://img19.imagevenue.com/view.php?image=31559_P2battle1_122_205lo.jpg

The Franconian force was camped between Stettin and Magdeburg in region of Stendal for a while now. Dietrich had sent letters to Chancellor Sigismund,so he could engage a small Polish force consisting of Polish Vendic allies, hardy woodsmen armed with axes, who were blocking his army from moving to Stettin. For some reason Sigismund had not accepted Dietrich´s proposal and had only allowed some armoured Sergeants to enter his army.
At the morning of the 10th, Dietrich was talking with the Captain of the Spearmen about drilling of the peasants in his force when suddenly a scout rode to the camp and confronted Dietrich.

"The Vends have broken down their camp North from us and are heading here."

The Scout informed. Dietrich didnt know what to think about this turn of events.

"Why would the Vends challenge us to an open battle when we outnumber them and they have no cavalry".

Dietrich thought outloud,but the captain didnt have time to answer, when a loud sound of horn came from the South.

"Thats the war horn of Von Kastilien. To arms men!"

Dietrich shouted and ordered his page to get his armour. As he was getting on his suit of armour,he saw how the escort of Von Kastillien came in to the vicinity, behind one of the hills to the South. As Dietrichs servants got ready with his armour,Gunther Von Kastillien rode in to the camp and adressed Dietrich still from the horseback.

"Mein Duke. Two small armies are heading towards us! One from the South and one from the West. The Southern one is advancing rapidly,becouse its all Polish Noble cavalry. One from the West is infantry,but they should be here soon also.

Dietrich understood the situation. They were trapped from three directions and becouse most of his army was infantry they couldnt retreat in time from here. Dietrich sayed to Von Kastillien.

"It seems that the Polish have outsmarted us and trapped us on open terrain with good strategy. I think they leave us no choice other then give them fight,right here,right now. It is time for you to get your pabtism of war today Von Kastillien,are you ready?"

Von Kastillien spoke with terrible smile on his face.

"Mein Lord,this is the day i have waited for all my life. Lets give helll to the Polish dogs!"

Dietrich smiled to Von Kastilliens will to fight and continued.

"Allright again we will have to face Polish Nobles with their Javelins. In the battle of Kamienski,we were able to get them in the melee with feigned infantry retreat and that is exactly what we are going to do again,since we still dont have a single archer in this army."

Dietrich deployed his force pretty much the same way is he had done at Kamienski.Infatry in the high ground and cavalry hidden behind a ridge on the both flanks.

http://img28.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=31565_p2battle2_122_179lo.jpg

The Polish Southern cavalry army appeared in the field first and immediately attacked the german infantry,hurling missiles and killing men,while the infantry run like they were running away. But this time the cavalry counter charge worked better then last time. Gunthers men on the right charged and Gunther killed the enemy captain with his first swing of his sword.

http://img106.imagevenue.com/view.php?image=31571_P2battle3_122_89lo.jpg

As Dietrich sharged the last unit of the Polish nobles and Gunther catched the second one immediately after the first one,when the German infantry entered the strife the Polish broke and started fleeing. The Captain of the Spearmen shouted:

"Enemy infatry to the North and West aproaching!!"

Dieter shouted back,

"Infantry folllow the cavalry,on the double!"

http://img45.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=31573_p2battle4_122_260lo.jpg

As the German cavalry chased the remainders of the Polish mounted nobles of the field Dietrich commanded his infantry to create a line facing North West. Tired from the running the infantry got a little brake as the cavalry of Dietrich and Gunther deployed on the right side of the infantry. This time they were facing unit of Polish dismounted nobles and another one of peasants. Dietrich saw how the success of early battle had got into the army. They were ready to strike down the aproaching enemy.

http://img175.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=31579_p2battle5_122_203lo.jpg

German infantry took the charge of the Polish noblemen as Dietrich´s cavalry hit them on their left flank.Simultaneously Von Kastilliens Knights smashed into the Polish peasants.The Polish broke down as the German knights pursued them relentlesly.

http://img164.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=36221_p2battle6_122_80lo.jpg

Soon there was nothing left of the second Polish army and Dietrich ordered the Spearmen to the line,Von Kastillien to the right and he himself stayed on the left as the Vends came running towards them yelling their war cryes and wawing hteir fearsome war axes.

http://img154.imagevenue.com/view.php?image=36228_p2battle7_122_233lo.jpg

As the Woodsmen touched the infantry line,The German Kights charged on their both flanks with devastating force. One of Von Kastilliens Knights run through the Polish captain with his lance.

http://img175.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=36234_p2battle8_122_110lo.jpg

As Dietrichs men hit the other end of the Polish line,they broke and run. Again German Kights pursued them untill there was no Vend left.They were all either killed or captured.

http://img125.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=36241_p2battle9_122_24lo.jpg

After the last Polish had been killed or captured,the German Infantry raised a huge victory roar. Maybe many of them had thought this was their last day on earth and were now so happy after seeing that instead of death they had gained an heroic victory.
Dietrich rode to Von Kastillien and the two shaked hands with their blood soaked gauntlets still on their hands.Duke of Franconia ordered Gunther Von Kastillien to kneel and sayed with a loud voice that men around could hear.

"By the Grace of our lord and saviour! I knight thee Gunther Von Kastillien as knight of Franconia and the Holy Roman Empire! You have shown skill and valour today that are hard to match even by the most experienced of Knights.After counting, did you not just slay the enemys cavalry captain,with your own hand,but you and your men killed 140 Polish and captured 111,while loosing just 7 knights. I am happy and honoured to have men like you with me. Rise Knight Von Kastillien!"

The army gave load cheer to Von Kastillien as he stood up after Dietrich had touched both of his shoulders,with the tip of his sword.

The Butchers Bill:

http://img173.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=36247_P2battle10_122_257lo.jpg

http://img150.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=37738_p2battle11_122_261lo.jpg

After the battle Dietrich sent messengers to Magdeburg with offer of returning the prisoners to the Polish if they payed ransom, but the Polish rejected the offer so the 251 captured Polish were put to the sword.

[Ituralde]

Battle of the Danube Crossing

Duke Leopold sat on his horse staring glumly ahead. The river Danube flowed through the valley in front of him, where a massive stone bridge spanned a narrow gap. Gottfied von Holstein had set up his army just opposite the bridge where it occupied a formidable defensive position. Steep hills rise to both sides of the road giving plenty of high ground to the defenders and promising vicious uphill fighting for any attacker.

Today the attacker was Leopold and at the thought of this he felt his anger rising. He had adressed the Chancellor with his request for a field battle against the Venetians. Instead he now had to adress an aspiring guildmaster with a rag-tag retinue of Archers and Crossbowmen. Leopold would have preferred to deal with the Venetian struggle first, before turning to von Holstein.

The man had long been a rival of Leopolds tax policies in the City Council. When war had broken out, not only with Milan, but also with Venice and now even Poland, trade, the life blood of the city of Vienna, had trickled to a near halt. The guildmaster was rightfully upset at the lowered trade revenues, but when he had mustered a small army and occupied the strategic river crossing close to Vienna he had gone a step too far.
The man had never possesed enough backbone to oppose Leopold in this way, but the recent sieges of Vienna had shown Leopolds vulnerability and further damaged the trade. He had hoped that with the Venetian thread banned from Austrian lands, Holstein would see reason again and turn down his weapons.

His orders from the Chancellor were clear though. He had read through them so often that he could repeat them from memory. He was not happy with this situation and hopefully soon the reforms proposed by Prince Henry would be passed in the Diet and ducal affairs would be settled by the Duke in question and not by Imperial orders. At least Sigismund had agreed with his request and given him enough florins to muster mercenary forces to deal with this threat adequately.

Those were problems for another time though, currently he had an army composed of Missile Infantry and some peasants in front of him. The only real thread were von Holstein and his bodyguard of Feudal Knights. Leopold couldn't imagine where he had taken the money from to lay his hands on these kinds of superb fighters.

Lazily Leopold raised a hand to signal the advance. There really wasn't anything to do for him than cross the bridge as fast as possible.
The Mercenary Spearmen would be the first across the bridge, no need to waste precious Austrian soldiers in this fight. Slowly the column of Austrian soldiers set in motion while the Rebel defenders were already preparing their bows, ready to deliver the first volley.

https://img154.imageshack.us/img154/6956/aufstellung.jpg
https://img154.imageshack.us/img154/7052/enemy.jpg

Leopolds plan relied solely on the initiative of his fighters. They had to cross the bridge as fast as possible and attack any Archer in sight. Luckily the narrow gore did not provide too much maneuverability for Holsteins Feudal Knights. His men had to keep momentum and push forward, if they were halted for just a second the Rebel arrows would take their bloody toll. Seeing that the Mercenary Spearmen were already hesitating halfway across the bridge as they anticipated the hail of bolts and arrows that would soon come in their direction Lepold bellowed a cry of frustration and anger and spurred his horse onward. If those Mercenaries were scared of Missile attacks he had to show them that their leader was not!

https://img154.imageshack.us/img154/8626/shield.jpg

Bolts and arrows rained down on Lepold and his retinue as his horses had gallopped to the fore, taking the punch from the Rebel projectiles he urged the Speamen forward: "Charge! Charge you coward dogs! Take the bank!"
Immediatelly the Spearmen rushed forward. Seemingly intimidated by this display of valour von Holstein panicked and ordered a hasty retreat. He was not willing to face the Austrian charge head on, but instead ordered a retreat to the ridge just west of the road.

https://img154.imageshack.us/img154/3959/flight.jpg

Leopold urged his men onward now that the bank was clear and the enemy was on the run it was important that they don't loose momemtum. He ordered the Mercenary Spearmen up the ridge to follow von Holstein, while he took the Town Militia with him in a wide berth to eventually attack the Rebels flank. His Miltia Spearmen were ordered to support the Mercenaries where necessary.

Once the Mercenaries had crested the ridge, von Holstein ordered his army around and let his Missile units attempt a desperate charge, led by him and his Feudal Knights. His end came quickly at the hands of a Mercenary Spearmen.

https://img154.imageshack.us/img154/900/melee.jpg

Leopold had also brought his men in position and now charged the flank of the remaining mass of Peasant Archers, Peasants and Crossbowmen. With their leader killed in the initial assault and pressure from several sides, the enemy soon succumbed and tried to flee the field.

https://img154.imageshack.us/img154/7046/rout.jpg

All except a unit of Hussars were throwing down their weapons and asked for quarter. With half his army occupied with securing the prisoners the Hussites had enough time to set up position further west on the river bank and opened fire on the Mercenary Spearmen following them, who had just driven back a futile attack of von Holsteins followers.

With the prisoners secured Leopold urged his horsemen onwards to destroy the last pocket of Hussite resistance. With Austrians swarming over their position the Hussites were quickly dealt with.

https://img154.imageshack.us/img154/1985/hussites.jpg

Meanwhile von Holsteins followers had mustered up the courage for another attack this time on the Town and Spear Militia left behind to deal with the prisoners.

https://img154.imageshack.us/img154/645/bodyguard.jpg

Their charge was quickly broken however and finally the last of the Rebel scum fled the field.

https://img154.imageshack.us/img154/905/victory1.jpg

Gottfied von Holstein had already met his deserved fate and Duke Leopold gave the orders to have the other captured ringleaders executed to serve as an example against future rebellion!

Although Leopold had disagreed with the Chancellors plans, he felt delighted to have beaten von Holstein so thoroughly in this battle. The City Council and the merchants would consider it twice before they raised their arms against his rule again.
His delight lasted only a short while though as he remembered the Venetian forces to the South. If the Chancellor gave him the orders he would be ready to strike at them in the field. If not, he would have to wait at them once again, hovering like a coward behind Vienna's mighty walls and have to kill every last one of them once they attack.
This once again brought an evil smile on his face.

[econ21]

The Siege of Bologna, 1138

Henry watched his young son Hans sleeping peacefully and thought of the slaughter that the day would bring. What kind of sick world were we bringing children into, he thought? Slowly, he turned away to refocus. The coming battle required all his attention.

I wonder what siege equipment Sigismund has provided for me this time, Henry mused with a vague feeling of foreboding? Henry had been pleasantly surprised when his father had provided two rams for him at Metz, but he had struggled to take Dijon with only the one ram and two ladders provided by Sigismund.

Henry saw the engineers lounging outside the manor he was bivouacked in and stiffened, approaching them with a lofty air:

“You fellows, let’s see the siege engines you have constructed then.”

One thickset man with curly hair slowly turned to look at his jowly companion. Both gave each other blank looks, then the jowly companion rubbed his arm across his dripping nose and cleared his throat awkwardly:

“Well, you see, Sir, it was like this. Count Sigismund just told us to come ‘ere. He didn’t say nowt about building anything. We thought some of your French lads were goin’ handle that side of things.”

“What?!” yelled Henry. “You are siege engineers. This is a siege. You are supposed to build siege engines. How can you not get that?”

The jowly engineer narrowed his eyes together and repeatedly more slowly, as if Henry were an idiot. “Like, I was saying, Sir, we thought some of your French lads…”

Henry turned and threw his hands up in the air, then stalked back inside the manor. Inside, he cursed like a trooper, unaware that his son Hans had risen.

“Why are you banging your head against the wall, father?” Hans inquired curiously. Henry stopped abruptly. Aww, don’t stop, Dad, thought Hans, It’s funny.

Henry shook his now rather sore head and instantly regretted it. Oh well, Hans was old enough to understand, he supposed.

“I am supposed to take this city - Bologna, your grandfather’s old estate - today but I have no siege engines to get us over the walls.” Henry explained. And, silently adding, we’ll be stuck here, making me look like an idiot while Dietrich bathes in the adoration of the Diet for his victory. Dietrich was Henry’s greatest rival as a commander - ever since Dietrich shot to fame with his stunning capture of Hamburg in a coup de main, it was clear that he was the man to watch. Henry had been left scrambling in the man’s wake, trying to rival his accomplishments. It would not do for a future Emperor to be outshone by his generals. Dietrich’s self-imposed exile had removed the pressure from Henry, but the Franconian Duke’s heroic defeat of the Poles showed he was back with a vengeance.

“Is there no way you can take the city without siege engines?” inquired Hans.

Henry thought. No, it was hopeless. There were no Imperial agents in Bologna that would open the gates for him. But wait…there was a small Venetian relief army nearby. Already it was marching to reinforce the garrison. Henry brightened and spoke to Hans:

“Remember the funny story I told you about the Nubian?”

Hans nodded, sitting expectantly. “Tell me it again, father.”

“Well, the Nubians live in a hot dry place and often have to travel far from any known water source. So, when they get thirsty and don’t know where there is water, do you know what they do?”

Hans jumped up: “Catch a monkey!”

“That’s right.” said Henry. “They trap a monkey and put some salt in front of it. The monkey loves the salt and licks it greedily. But then what happens?”

Hans shot up again: “The monkey gets thirsty!”

“Indeed, the sun is burning and the salt makes the monkey very thirsty. So then the clever Nubian lets the monkey go and races after it, as it leads him right to the nearest watering hole.”

Hans smiled contentedly, but then said puzzled: “That’s a funny story. But what does it have to do with capturing this city?”

Henry smiled back and said enigmatically: “You have to wait here, my son. I’m off to catch me a monkey.”


https://img370.imageshack.us/img370/8932/bologna1yj1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Henry saw the Venetian relief force approach - they seemed to be moving at a run. Three regiments of missile troops, including pavise crossbowmen, and one and a half regiments of Italian spear militia. They would be the devil’s own job, if inside the city manning its walls. But out in the open, they would be easy prey.

https://img110.imageshack.us/img110/4115/bologna2ze3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Lacking any cavalry other than his own escort, Henry repeatedly charged the Venetian missile troops. It was not a battle, it was a slaughter.

https://img110.imageshack.us/img110/4582/bologna3mu6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
His mercenary spearmen charged the Venetian spear militia, but the Italians’ hearts were not in it - all they wanted was to get inside the safety of the settlement walls. Like a thirsty monkey running for a watering hole, Henry thought.

“Stop men, hold back. Let them go. Follow them at a distance.” Henry restrained his escort. It was important that the fleeing relief force not be completely caught and destroyed in the open - they had to make through the city gates. Timing was everything - close too soon and they would be destroyed before they made it; close too late and the gates would be closed in Henry’s face.

Damn it, they were rallying under the castle walls. That’s it, we have to go in now.

“Forward men, smash through them” cried Henry and pray that the poor fools manning the city gates take pity on them.

https://img110.imageshack.us/img110/4457/bologna4ly5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

For a minute, Henry thought the city defenders were going to let the relief force die outside the gates, like Vercingetorix did to his women folk and children at Alesia. But the Venetians were made of softer stuff than that legendary Gaul and slowly the gates opened to let the routing Italians through.

https://img110.imageshack.us/img110/9323/bologna5mn1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

“Onwards, men, onwards.” Henry urged his men through the gates. Soon they had run down one regiment of Italian spears. But out of the corner of his eye, Henry could see the other regiment appearing behind him. It had manned the city walls after entering, but now that Henry was inside, the Venetians were coming down off the walls and slamming the city gates shut behind the trapped German cavalry. The Italian spear militia lowered their spears and set off towards Henry’s men.

Henry decided to press on, racing his men forward, away from the pursuing spears and towards the city centre. He needed to put a decent distance between his cavalry and the spearmen behind him. Everything depended on turning on the enemy behind him, but getting a good charge off in a crowded city street was a tricky matter. Henry needed time and space to pull it off.

Just as he was approaching the city centre, he halted. He did not want to attract the garrison to him before he had control of the south gate once again. He needed the gate to bring up his infantry.

“About turn, men. Let’s do it.”

His escort turned back up and set off towards the Italian spearmen who had closed the south gate on them. As his horse built up speed, Henry wondered - could they do it? Could they get off a proper cavalry charge? Then he noticed the Italian spear militia in front of him - they were hastily forming a schiltron. Clever fellows, Henry thought admiringly, then with alarm, he thought: this could get messy. Just as Henry started to panic, the lances of his knights came down and the unfortunate Italian spearmen were caught by a ferocious charge.

https://img110.imageshack.us/img110/3906/bologna6xa4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The brave Italian spear militia were overrun in seconds. After that, the end was not in doubt. Henry’s men reopened the gate and a mass of German infantry advanced towards the Venetian garrison, now concentrated in the city centre.

Henry’s escort ran down a couple of ballista’s who were too slow to reach the centre.

https://img102.imageshack.us/img102/7094/bologna7dg1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

A few brave Venetian knights tried to stem the tide of German foot.

https://img102.imageshack.us/img102/4291/bologna8rf7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Then the battle bogged down in a struggle through the street leading north to the city centre. Venetian armoured sergeants battled their German counterparts. Henry despised battles of attrition and whipped his horse through the narrow city streets, aiming to approach the city centre from the east. However, a second regiment of Venetian armoured sergeants had anticipated his move and was rushing to block him. Blast it, thought Henry - about turn again, we’ll approach from the north instead. The greater mobility of the horsemen eventually paid off and Henry was able to burst through into the city centre, into the rear of the first regiment of Venetian armoured sergeants.

https://img370.imageshack.us/img370/9282/bologna9th5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The second regiment of Venetian armoured sergeants was still huffing and puffing far away in pursuit of him. When it finally came up, it was alone. Henry was able to position his cavalry in a side road, so that the Venetians were trapped between Henrys’ horse to the west and the German infantry to the south.

https://img102.imageshack.us/img102/6151/bologna10zx5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Frozen with indecision, the Venetians started to fall to the German crossbows, until eventually their brave captain recognised the inevitable and sued for terms.

The butcher’s bill:

https://img110.imageshack.us/img110/563/bologna11lt1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Henry released the captured Venetians and occupied Bologna, giving him a reputation for respecting his enemy. For taking a city without siege engines, he would henceforth be regarded as a siege expert. And, to little Hans at least, he would always be known as a man who could tell a tale.

[Ituralde]

Battle of Graz

Leopold had been travelling hard the past days, from the Danube crossing over Vienna he had headed south directly. Accompanied by nothing more than one company of Mercenary Crossbowmen and one of Frankish Knights he was supposed to attack the Venetian Councillor Bartolomeo who had brought the same troops to the field. Curse Sigismund that chivalrous bastard! was all Leopold could think of at the moment, while he waited for his outriders to pin down the exact location of the enemy. It would come to battle today in the surroundings of the border village of Graz. It had been good to show Imperial and Dukal presence this far south where nothing but Venetian armies had been seen during the last years.

I have the men in Vienna ready to crush that Venetian upstart underfoot! His reports had indicated that Bartolomeo was treated as the successor of his father in the post of Doge and that he wanted to cement his aspirations by dealing with the Austrians where many others before him had failed.
If only Sigismund had given me enough men I'd be swarming over these hills and ferret him out!
Duke Leopolds scout had been looking for the equally small Venetian force and so far the Councillor has avoided Leopold.
Chivalry! What was the man thinking. Rumour had it that he had to duel it out with Alessandro Selva instead of shooting him to pieces by his accompanying army. Chivalry was for the tournament field or for open diplomacy. But on the battlefield. You won. Period. You did everything you could to achieve this goal, especially against those Venetian oath-breakers. They deserved death, and Leopold would be giving it to them.

A rider appeared on the outcrop of the ridge and advanced towards Leopold.
"My lord, the Venetians have set up camp two miles to the East!"
Excellent!
"Let's move men and teach those merchant dogs a lesson, coming to our lands uninvited!"

https://img179.imageshack.us/img179/8690/deploymentcc6.jpg

Bartolomeo had set his men up on one of the rolling hills, while Leopold advanced with his army from the south. He turned to the leader of the Mercenary forces: "Let your Crossbowmen advance in a straight line. Loose formation and open fire as soon as you're in range! I will take the Frankish Knights over the right flank. You just keep shooting at them. Try to target their Knights, I want them wounded or dead before we charge."

https://img144.imageshack.us/img144/2592/faceoffkc3.jpg

With Leopold's forces set up on the flank of the enemy, Bartolomeo adjusted his troops slightly. His main line was still facing the Crossbowmen however and he had sent his own Missiles forward, wich opened fire. Several volleys of crossbow bolts were exchanged, before the Venetians withdrew closer to their lines.

https://img413.imageshack.us/img413/6943/advancejh7.jpg

Target those damn Knights! They're cavalry is outnumbering us, we have to even out the odds.
As ordered by Duke Leopold the Mercenary Crossbowmen now concentrated their fire on the Frankish Knights making use of the armour penetration of their bolts.

https://img179.imageshack.us/img179/3936/punchws6.jpg

It was a slow exchange of volleys, but slowly the Frankish Knights lost more and more men to the Austrian bolts. At the same time the Frankish Knights were obstructing the Venetian Crossbowmen who were decimating Leopolds Missile troops. Slowly the number of cavalry turned in favour of Leopold. Not wanting to waste more of his Crossbowmen he ordered the charge. The Frankish Knights were supposed to charge head on, while he would try to outflank the enemy and strike at their back.

https://img179.imageshack.us/img179/5453/chargepp9.jpg

Once the Frankish Knights had engaged, Bartolomeo ordered his retinue forward to join the fight. This gave Leopold exactly the time he needed to form up a charge into the Venetian rear.

https://img144.imageshack.us/img144/19/flankum2.jpg

The impact of Leopolds bodyguard crushed the Venetian resistance. Councillor Bartolomeo was killed during the charge by one of Leopolds retainers, who had surely earned his spurs this day. Shocked by the surrounding Germans and without a leader the Mercenaries soon turned to flee.

https://img213.imageshack.us/img213/549/gonerd3.jpg

"Chase them! Chase them! Let none escape!" Leopold urgeds his followers onward to capture not only the fleeing Crossbowmen but also all of the remaining retaineres of Councillor Bartolomeo.
Every last captured men was put to the sword by the Austrians. Leopold wanted it to be known that every Venetian setting foot on Imperial soil again had forfeit his life and would not be spared. This of couser entailed any Mercenary company foolish enough to collaborate with the Venetian enemy.

https://img178.imageshack.us/img178/2664/heroicjb0.jpg

[TinCow]

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/Chancellorship/rebelstart.jpg

"They've been camped up there for months, m'lord."

Maximillian Mandorf squinted, but the fog was too think. For a moment he thought he could see movement, but it was gone before he could focus on it.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/Chancellorship/rebellhill.jpg

He turned and looked at the Bavarian woodsman. "Archers?"

The man shook his head. "Not that I saw, but nearly every one I saw had a crossbow." He looked up the hill. "They'll give it to you good when you go up the hill."

Mandorf barked an order to the nearest militia sergeant; the entire line began to move. "That's why we're not going up the road."

...

Half an hour later, the view was reversed. The militia had taken their time in climbing the hill, but they had avoided the road held by the brigands. With the army now assembled on the top of the hill, the situation had been reversed. The crossbowmen were now below, with the militia on top.

Nuremburg was a town of merchants, few men knew how to use a bow. The few that could be found were largely hunters from the local forests. They were peasants and unskilled in battle, but with this height advantage, they could shoot nearly as far as English longbowmen.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/Chancellorship/rebelarcher.jpg

The unarmored crossbowmen began to fall fast. Realizing their predicament, they charged up the hill, desperate to close the distance and return fire. The arrows continued to bite though, and both groups had lost nearly a quarter of their number before they were in range.

They had just begun to crank back their primitive crossbows when Mandorf raised his sword and yelled. "For God and the Reich!"

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/Chancellorship/rebelcharge.jpg

The thin lines crumpled in bloody mess. Those on either side who had survived fled for their lives. The German knights rode them down without mercy. When the carnage was over, Mandorf rode back towards the militia lines. The archers were already showering the remaining armored spearmen.

A flicker of movement from the top of the hill startled Mandorf. His sword was halfway drawn when he saw the line of knights emerged from the fog. The Steward of Bavaria lifted his visor in amazement. They were of the Teutonic Order.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/Chancellorship/rebelknights.jpg

One knight rode forward and gave a respectful bow. "Good morning, my lord. We were surprised to hear the sounds of battle so close to Nuremburg. Is this perhaps something that we could help with?"

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/Chancellorship/rebelmeet.jpg

Mandorf looked back over his head. Half of the enemy spearmen were dead or dying. They continued to try and advance up the hill, but walking into the heavy rain of arrows was making their progress slow. "It appears that the militia is capable of finishing these ruffians. They've been harassing travelers on this road for years now, some of these men have lost friends. They have little cause for mercy."

The knight nodded. "As it should be. Those who prey upon unarmed men have forsaken the Word of God." Both men paused and watched for a few moments. Half a dozen men fell in only a few seconds.

"By chance do you know if Hildegard von Bingen is still in Nuremburg?" Mandorf looked over at the Teuton and nodded. "Yes, today she is, but she is riding out with me tomorrow. We shall not be back for some time."

An archer came running up, red-faced and breathing heavily. He bent over and took several deep breaths before speaking. "Sir... the... boys.... out of... arrows."

Mandorf looked over at the knight. "Pardon me a moment." He lowered his helm and spurred his horse forward.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/Chancellorship/rebelend.jpg

...

The Steward of Bavaria was still wiping blood from his sword when the Teuton rode forward. "Might I ask where you are traveling to?"

"Everywhere. I have recently been appointed Chancellor and I need to see the Reich for myself. There is only so much that can be done from my manor. With so many wars on all fronts, there are no regiments available to keep the roads safe for the commoners. This was but one of several groups of vagabonds that have been extorting good Bavarian Christians for years now. I mean to bring them to justice." Mandorf shrugged his shoulders. "Perhaps I will go west to Swabia afterwards, but I have not decided yet."

The knight paused to consider this for a moment. "We have come a long way to see Hildegard. We have heard she has visions from the Lord. It would be a shame to have to return to Frankfurt without having met her. Perhaps... would you accept our company on your travels?"

Mandorf smiled broadly. "I had hoped you would offer you services, Sir..."

The man put out his mailed hand and the two men shook vigorously. "Welf, my Lord, of the Teutonic Order."

"I would greatly enjoy the company of true Knights of Christ on my travels. I have taken vows of my own recently and no longer feel the same connection to my friends that I once did."

Sir Welf nodded. "Those of us who give our lives to the Lord have a clarity of purpose that bothers some of the less faithful. We would be honored to act as your guard during your Chancellorship. Perhaps when your term is over, you will consider joining our Order."

"That is a long time from now, Sir Welf. Come, let us spend one last night in Nuremburg. If we leave for the city now, we will still have time to hear evening Mass."

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/Chancellorship/rebelresults.jpg

[GeneralHankerchief]

Outside of Florence, 1142

Ah, Kaiser Heinrich thought, a proper battlefield.

This was the first time in many years that the Kaiser would be facing a professional army on a true field of battle. Ever since his automatic Chancellorship the only foes for the picking were random brigand parties and the occasional city garrison, although the Milanese in Genoa gave him fits and annihilated his entire bodyguard, save for Captain Ludwig.

Here though, it was finally different. He was facing a large Milanese army, commanded by a proper man of nobility. The field would be mostly open and flat. It would come down to the army's strength and his generalship.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/kotr_064.jpg

The stakes were high for both sides. Not only was the Milanese heir to the throne (although it was little more than two islands now) present, but this was their final army on the mainland. They had besieged Florence in hopes of gaining a toehold onto the mainland. If this army was to be defeated then they would be crippled for quite a long time.

Meanwhile, on the Imperial side, the Kaiser had just suffered an embarrassing defeat in a bid for his second Chancellorship. If he was to lose this battle then his reputation would never recover and his plans would be useless. In addition, the Imperial heir, Prinz Henry, was also present. If things were to go terribly and both royals were to die, the Reich might very well be plunged into civil war trying to figure out who would rule.

Right now, however, that was not on the Kaiser's mind. He was focused on relieving his beloved city of Florence. He would not be alone in this task. The city's garrison, over 500 strong, was sallying out to assist Heinrich in this operation.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/kotr_065.jpg

Their placement would be crucial. The way the Kaiser had deployed, making the Milanese face him, put the garrison in the one spot of the battlefield that wasn't flat and open. It also happened to be in the Milanese rear.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/kotr_066.jpg

In the best-case scenario, their presence would go unnoticed and they would slam into the already-engaged Milanese being pushed to the limit by Heinrich's army. In the worst-case scenario, they would simply keep several Milanese regiments occupied while the Kaiser defeated the main body of troops in front of him. He hoped that the garrison commander realized what his objective was, in any case.

Heinrich's main plan was to simply walk right up to the Milanese army and crush it. Nothing subtle. He hoped that Prinz Henry was paying attention, as the Prinz had just gone behind his back in the most recent Diet elections, all but securing Maximillian Mandorf the Chancellorship. The Kaiser prided himself on being up front and a man of action, and was slightly disgusted that Henry was turning out to be the opposite.

The march took place, but before the main engagement a fierce archery duel took place. The Milanese had superior weapons and numbers (Heinrich caught Prinz Henry muttering something about Staufen and pavisses), so his archers were tasked to do little more than absorb fire until he deemed the time right to attack with the infantry.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/kotr_067.jpg

Anxious, the Kaiser ordered the charge quickly and the melee was on.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/kotr_068.jpg

With the Florentine garrison being tied up in the woods, the Milanese enjoyed a small numerical advantage which was beginning to tell. Despite spotting some men running for the rear, Heinrich could see that his line was cracking. He motioned to Prinz Henry, who trotted over.

"Now, we charge in and push things in our favor."

Seconds later, the Prinz was still dumbfounded as he watched the Kaiser, followed by his escort, charge into the thick of fighting. A second later he recovered and followed his father into the melee, both of them catching and mauling a regiment of Italian militia trying to flank.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/kotr_069.jpg

Captain Ludwig, armor stained with blood, rode up to the Kaiser and the Prinz.

"Where the hell did they come from?"

A glance towards Florence provided the answer. Apparently the worst-case scenario with the garrison had happened.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/kotr_070.jpg

Several regiments that had routed the Florentines were making their way down the hill. Things were not looking good for the Empire.

"We'll never survive against that," Heinrich said to both escorts. "Let's overturn this line and free up the infantry. CHARGE!" Waving his red-gleaming sword high into the air, he plunged into the main battle line, several quicker horsemen following.

Prinz Henry just looked at Captain Ludwig, who shrugged. Was the Kaiser being this reckless on purpose? Also shrugging, he lead the rest of the cavalry into the fray.

The Imperial advantage lasted exactly three seconds. A series of loud swears signalled the arrival of Count Manno, the Milanese commander, and his escort. Now it would simply be which side's leader would go first.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/kotr_071.jpg

This was not terribly difficult to figure out. The two Imperial escorts were battle-hardened and extremely loyal, not to mention being more numerous and of German stock. Meanwhile, the Milanese were known for counting their money more than for their fighting prowess. Add in the fact that they were very hungry, having lived off of the Italian countryside for years, and the outcome was inevitable. Manno's cavalry ran, with Heinrich and Henry giving chase. Eventually the Milanese heir was slain, providing the turning point for the battle.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/kotr_072.jpg

Unfortunately, the Imperial army had no other cavalry, and the two escorts' mounts were too exhausted to provide chase towards the fleeing Milanese. The victorious army could only watch, trying to catch their breaths, as a significant remnant of their foe, spurred on by their second-in-command, headed for parts unknown.

Intelligence reports that the army circumvented both the Papal forces and Genoa, and passed out of our line of sight to the west of Milan itself. I assume that they are in the whereabouts of Marseille now, the Kaiser wrote in a letter to Chancellor Mandorf that night. In the future, I request more cavalry so the job can be properly finished.

He sealed the letter and sent it off. There. Now to move on to more pressing matters.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/kotr_073.jpg

[Kagemusha]

Assault on Magdeburg,15.4.1144 AD

http://img172.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=50890_passault1_122_265lo.jpg

Dietrich Von Saxony had been awake since early morning. He had been awake,since a messenger from Capital had woken him up in the middle of the Night. Messenger had carried grim news. Sigismund Der Stoltze had been assasinated near Dijon.
"I didnt like that man,but death like that is no way to die for a nobleman" Dietrich thought. Before the first light, Dietrich summoned Count Von Hamburg, Dietrich´s Veteran Captain Herman and the captain of the Mercenaries to his tent.

"Der Stoltze has been assasinated" Dietrich sayed to the gathered men. For a moment no one responded,complete silence fell to the tent.
"While i dont think this is good news,i think that this kind of news,used the right way should give just the kind of spirit we need for the army,in order to take that castle we have sieged for quite some time." Dietrich continued. "Men are tired of building all this siege equipment,but they are also tired on the Polish and their pillaging of our lands. With right trigger,we can chance their frustration into to an rage that will give us that castle." The others nodded,becouse they knew what Dietrich was saying was indeed true.
"I want you to go back to your men now and prepair to attack the walls just like we have planned. I will soon sound alert to the army and tell them the news."

At first light the German Warhorn´s sounded an alert on the camp. Sergeants drew the sleepy men out of their tents and gathered them in front of Magdeburg castle,where Dietrich,with his officers and bodyguards,waited fully armored and mounted,the sun rising behind the castle and colouring the dawn red. Once the army was gathered,Dietrich roared:
"Men! A German Elector and previous Chancellor Sigismund the Chivalrous have been murdered by our cowardly enemies! I wouldnt be suprised if it was the cowardous Polish who are behind this gruesome act and i think it is our duty as Germans to avenge the Death of Count Der Stoltze. So today,let it be our motto,Vengeange!Vengeange to all who oppose the Reich!"

The army started banging their weapons to their shields and as one man a terrible groan raised from their throats: "Vengeange!Vengeange!Vengeange!"
Dietrich roared over the warcry of the Franconian army: "Now men to your post! Leave none of the enemy alive!" And so the assault on Magdeburg started.

http://img163.imagevenue.com/view.php?image=50892_passault2_122_117lo.jpg

The army was deployed on three parts.Spearmen with ladders on both sides of the castle and the main army in front of the single entrance. With the thundering roaring all the parts started runnning towards the walls simultaneously. Just as the ram was getting close to the gate,suddenly the gate opened and all the Polish on horses charged out.

http://img162.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=50897_passault3_122_85lo.jpg

Count Von Hamburg shouted to Dietrich: "The Polish are sallying!" Dietrich sayed nothing just raised his sword and then swung it towards the Polish Nobles. With that sign all the Germans on horses charged the Polish cavalry.The fight was over in matter of seconds.The Polish didnt have time to spread out and charge,before they were crushed under the hooves of German knights.Polish commander of the garrison was amongst the first to fell.

http://img154.imagevenue.com/view.php?image=50903_passault4_122_146lo.jpg

Simultaneously on the walls,the Polish Woodsmen came down from the walls in order to support the brave but foolish sally of their noblemen. Only the Polish Nobles on foot kept fighting vigorously on the Western wall,causing large amount of casulties to Dietrichs spearmen.
On the gate Dietrich yelled: "Ram!Ram to the gate!". Before the woodsmen got anywhere near the gate,it was broken down and all that was left to do for them was to be mauled by the German Knights running over them.

http://img169.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=50908_passault5_122_250lo.jpg

Once the central of the castle was taken,Dietrich ordered all his infantry to kill of the remaining Polish Nobles on the Western wall. He turned towards Von Hamburg and ordered for him to dismount. As still they could both see men dropping of the western wall,shouting and killing each other. Dietrich knighted Von Hamburg.

http://img25.imagevenue.com/view.php?image=54599_passault6_122_95lo.jpg

Soon the brave Polish nobles were killed to the last man and Magdeburg was taken. Dietrich looked around and was happy about what he saw. Polish had developed Magdeburg well.There were training facilities for all main troops he needed,cavalry,spears and archers. This castle could serve Franconia well for supplying troops for the Duke.
Soon an Scout galloped through the battered gates."My Lord! I have spotted an rebel force west to us.Maybe they were thinking of looting our camp incase we had been defeated here today." A narrow smile came to Dietrichs face as he addressed Von Hamburg "Von Hamburg,organise the defence of the castle,bury the dead and stop the looting,before our men have killed each and every living soul in this place.Il go attend these rebel scum myself." Dietrich gathered some of the men and rode out to meet the rebels.

Butchers Bill:

http://img9.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=54606_passault7_122_263lo.jpg

http://img46.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=54611_passault8_122_166lo.jpg

[Kagemusha]

Battle of Wotanwald

http://img173.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=42072_rebb1_122_592lo.jpg

Ever since Dietrich had taken command of his archer reinforcements,he had been on brilliant mood. He had inspected the gear of the archers and had tryed their bows personally,while constantly loosing when shooting at targets,becouse he was no match in archery for the hunters and foresters that were assigned in his archer troops.
The rebels had been running all over Franconia,trying to escape Dietrichs forces. The campaign had started to be more like hunting party then army in search of the enemy.
Finally today, the starving and exhausted rebels had stopped running and had gathered on a hill near an ancient worship place, that had given the name for the area,Wotanwald.

http://img155.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=42073_rebb2_122_352lo.jpg

Dietrich had gathered the commander of the archer and his other commanders to an ridge,where they could see the rebel forces. "Here is the plan mein herren. I have always wanted to see that ancient pagan worship place,so i will take the cavalry there out in the open, so the rebels can see us. Meanwhile you captain and your archers,will move around that hill and glimb from the other side, so that you will move in the flank of the rebels. Once you are there release few volleys on their dirty necks and me and my knights will come take care whats left of them.Understood captain?" Captain smiled on Dietrich and sayed "Exellent plan sire.We will put some arrows on their skulls,so they will understand that being a rebel in Franconia is short lived profession." Dietrich smiled back to the captain. He liked this simple man,who was somewhat an humorist on his simple and rugged way. "Allright then. If there is nothing to add. Lets go undo those rebel scum." Dietrich sayed and nodded to the men present.

As Dietrich moved through the open terrain with his knights,he could see how the rebels stood up and watched his men. The Franconian knights rode towards the ancient ruins, like they were on a field trip and didnt bother to watch the rebels.
Soon the Franconian archers had moved into the flank of the rebels and captain of the archers commanded "Loose!".

http://img165.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=42079_rebb3_122_599lo.jpg

The rebels were completely suprised. Dozens of men died instantly on the arrow storm and all the rebel commander could do was to order his spear men forward towards the archers.
Once Dietrich saw that the rebels had divided themselves. He ordered "Charge!target the crossbow men!" When the knights struck the crossbows,behind the enemy spears, the whole rebel army routed.

http://img139.imagevenue.com/view.php?image=42086_rebb4_122_589lo.jpg

Rebel spearmen had tryed to advance towards the Franconian archers,but all they had done was that they were struck an volley after volley of arrows. Once the crossbows behind them were crushed by Dietrichs knights,their morale soured and they ran. Only problem was that there was no where to run,so at the end all but four rebels were killed or captured.
Once the battle was over Dietrich lined up the remaining rebels and spoke to them.
"I am the Duke of these lands and by the law of the Reich i should hang each and everyone of you. But today i think you have seen that there is no point trying to rebel against your true lords. So you men are free now. The rebels were amazed, becouse they were sure that they would be all executed. Before any of them tryed to leave,Dietrich sayed "And one more thing. If i ever see or hear of your filthy faces accused even of stealing an egg. I will not only hang you,but your families and all your relatives i can get my hands on. I hope i have made my self clear."

Butchers bill:

http://img131.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=42093_rebb5_122_346lo.jpg

http://img17.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=45691_rebb6_122_539lo.jpg

[OverKnight]

The Battle of Trent, 1146

Otto von Kassel was riding north with his retinue to meet the infantry contingent of the new Bavarian Household Army. Messengers had been sent ahead, and the meeting of the two forces was to take place near the town of Trent on the Reich's border with Venice. I opposed that amendment, thought Otto, but Maximillian's brainchild will be quite useful.

It felt good to be out of Bologna and in the field. Otto did not want to admit it, but it was a relief to be out of the presence of his fiancee. She is but a child, a child who still believes in the bedtime stories of Roland and Lancelot. She thinks war a game, battle a song and that Knights are paragons of Christian virtue. I do not have the heart to tell her different. Being in her presence made him feel old, worn and strangely lacking in the virtues she thought all Knights had. Elsebeth is the lucky one, she can still believe in those fables, but I have to deal with the world the way it is.

A rider came up beside Otto, disturbing his reverie. "Count Otto", said Rupert von Aachen, his second, "Our scouts report that a large column of Venetian troops are pursuing us!"

"How close are they to us, Rupert? What is their composition?", asked Otto while turning in his saddle to glance south.

https://img223.imageshack.us/img223/1381/c3trentfoevp2.jpg

"A mile or two off my lord, there's about 600 men, four units of spears, four units of bowmen."

Otto thought a moment, "No cavalry, eh? They can't catch us until we've met up with our own foot."

Rupert asked, "Should we spur our horses? Pull away?"

"Nein," replied Otto, "We shall stay ahead of them, but we won't pull away. We have to keep them interested. Once we meet our footmen, we'll turn and engage them. Most likely that force is a majority of the garrison of Venice, I don't know of any other sizeable Venetian army in the area. They stripped their city of men to come after me, we should take advantage of that."

Rupert chuckled, "Perhaps the Doge heard of the edict you proposed in the last Diet."

Otto grunted, "Perhaps. If that's the reason, then it has accomplished it's purpose. Angry men do stupid things. Why stab a man, Rupert, when he will throw himself on your knife? Once we've met our footmen, form up for battle."

https://img223.imageshack.us/img223/7707/a1trentbattleforcefx4.jpg

Bavarian Army:
https://img223.imageshack.us/img223/1341/b2trentfriendro2.jpg

Otto formed up his united army in a small wood. Having just travelled from the south, he knew the lay of the land and where the Venetians would be coming from.

https://img154.imageshack.us/img154/7941/d4trentdeployuc3.jpg

His plan was to move on the Venetians, but keep a wooded hill between his forces and the pavise crossbowmen. The hill, thought Otto, and the rain should negate their superiority in missiles.

https://img340.imageshack.us/img340/3528/e5trentavoidgk8.jpg

The Venetians seemed surprised to find the Imperial Army, with infantry no less, on their right flank. Otto saw a company of bowmen break off from their main body and head towards his army.

Otto, whose retinue was the only cavalry force he had, was on the left flank. Drawing his sword, he pointed it toward the archers and ordered a charge.

As Otto galloped towards the archers, he thought he saw a glint of metal in the woods in front of him. Otto swore to himself. "Break right! Schnell!"

https://img256.imageshack.us/img256/2849/f6trentambushavoidhc9.jpg

Having narrowly avoided impaling his men on a hidden spear-wall, Otto ordered them to charge the Venetian bowmen.

https://img256.imageshack.us/img256/7302/g7trentchargeyh1.jpg

After scattering the crossbowmen, Otto wheeled his men back, to return the favor to those spearmen.

https://img256.imageshack.us/img256/6158/h8trentwheelvt2.jpg


Seeing their fellows in trouble, and with their bowmen in no shape to return fire, the remaining spearmen companies advanced to engage. They suffered heavy casualties from Imperial missles.

https://img256.imageshack.us/img256/8242/i9trentlinesmeetfe4.jpg

Otto returned from routing the first company of spearmen to help break them.

https://img256.imageshack.us/img256/6310/j10trentcrumblecs7.jpg

Otto looked about, Venetians were running in every direction. Spurring his horse after a group of the nearest spearmen he screamed, "Kill them all! Don't let them get back to their damn city!"

One unit of spearmen, however, had not given up hope. Otto and his retainers crashed into them while chasing other routers.

https://img256.imageshack.us/img256/3290/k11trentscarsa9.jpg

While swinging at a man on his left, Otto didn't notice another spearman on his right. The Venetian thrust up at Otto. The spearhead glanced off his breastplate, carrying it upwards where it found the gap between Otto's visor and helmet. Otto screamed as the metal sliced open the right side of his face. Bellowing in fury Otto swung his sword around, cleaving the spearman from shoulder to stomach. At that, the final Venetian unit broke and the rout was on.

Breathing heavily in pain, and unable to see out of his right eye, Otto wished he had more cavalry. Soon enough, Otto thought, but my knights are it for now.

https://img256.imageshack.us/img256/3632/l12trentbutchersg2.jpg

After the battle, a surgeon was seeing to Otto's wounds. Rupert approached as Otto swore at the man. Looking at Otto's face, Rupert drew a sharp breath.

"How is it?", asked Otto, a deep cut, poorly stitched and inflamed, ran from his right temple to his chin, "I want to look my best for the wedding."

"It should be fine my lord," replied Rupert, "It speaks to your bravery."

Otto held up his right gauntlet and caught his reflection in it. Otto grimaced and fresh blood seeped from the wound. After taking a drink from a flask of wine, he spat onto the ground. "Tell me Rupert," Otto asked, "How many disfiguring scars did Roland have?"

The Butcher's Bill:
https://img136.imageshack.us/img136/920/casualtiesbrennerol4.jpg

[GeneralHankerchief]

Rome, 1146

The Eternal City:

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_076.jpg

It was in panic like only a few times before in its storied history. Once Kaiser Heinrich's army had crossed the border (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showpost.php?p=1465707&postcount=49) into Papal territory, word had spread like wildfire that he was coming straight for the Seat. After all, where else would this cagey old man be going? Surely he wasn't taking his army on an excursion to see the sights of Campania.

The people's fears proved to be right. Some time after the Papal borders had been violated, the city had awoken to find an Imperial Army knocking at its door.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/Chancellorship/excomm3.jpg

The outnumbered garrison had quite a task to do even before it set off to do battle with the Kaiser's forces: calm the people. Eventually, Guido de Avena, commander of the garrison, made his way to the city square, got everyone's attention, and made the following announcement:

"QUIET!", he boomed. "God will see us through these hard times. After all, the Kaiser has no siege equipment, and by the time he builds enough to overcome these walls, good Pope Gregory will be here and dispel this monster forever!"

Meanwhile, outside the city gates, Kaiser Heinrich gave his orders.

"Ballistae, forward!"

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_077.jpg

The sound of bolts hitting the gate suddenly set the city back into a panic. Guido, fed up, directed his forces to the point of battle. This was not supposed to be happening!

The Kaiser watched the ballistae work with uncontained satisfaction. At long last, the gates broke open and the road to Rome and redemption was clear.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_078.jpg

As the men walked down to road to the city, a spontaneous cheer erupted for their gallant leader. Few knew how long he had brooded and dreamed of this moment, but all knew that he still harbored some resentment towards Pope Gregory.

This is my moment, he thought to himself as he entered the city personally.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_079.jpg

Guido de Avena marshalled his forces in a desperate attack to try to drive the Imperials out and kill the Kaiser, but his opponents' morale was quite high. After all, how many men could say that they took part in the capture of the Eternal City? It was hopeless. This was a day for Heinrich. Guido was quickly swarmed and fell victim to hundreds of spear-thrusts.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_080.jpg

The yellow-and-black steamroller continued to plough the way to the very city square that had been used as a point to calm the people of Rome less than half an hour ago. From there, a horn sounded, and Kaiser Heinrich and his escort charged triumphantly in, cementing the Imperial victory.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_081.jpg

Victorious, Heinrich turned to his men.

"Take whatever you want. This is a day of celebration. However, leave the churches alone."

Cheering, the men proceeded to loot the city.

This is the easy part, the Kaiser thought to himself. What will be difficult is predicting and dealing with Gregory's revenge.

[Dutch_guy]

The scribe cursed, why had he been ordered to recheck all these seemingly ancient documents? At least a dozen pieces of parchment always seemed to be under those he had just picked up, what tedious work this was, not to mention he had to re-write them all. Times like these he really hated the job, even though he was paid quite generously

A dusty and fairly heavy bit of parchment caught his eye, neatly curled up bound with his master’s seal it was carefully placed at the bottom of the chest he was going through. Overwhelmed by curiosity he quickly gazed through the room, checking for any unwanted visitors. He didn’t want to get caught opening a seemingly private and important looking note bearing the Knight’s seal, his master was good to his subjects, but he knew he shouldn’t try to push his luck. Rumours concerning the sudden disappearance of his predecessor hadn’t passed him by, and the fact he had been found stabbed in the chest with a pen was telling enough.

Still, his curiosity got the better of him and he quickly broke the seal. Various little drawings were found on it, names and numbers of troops, and even of individual soldiers. Drawings which looked like battle formations were also present, although he had no idea what to make of that. He had never been one of military mind. Still reading on, his eye was caught by what seemed to be some kind of report, of some kind of past battle. As he liked the good war story like everyone else, he read on:

North of Magdenburg, 1140 AD.

[/URL]https://img376.imageshack.us/img376/2512/medieval220070313143112pg3.jpg (https://imageshack.us/)


Finally, noble lords, have you granted me permission to lead a force in battle. A minor battle nonetheless, but a battle for the Reich is always of great importance, in this case our supply lines have to be protected, if we are to keep the flow of money and weapons to my dear friend von Saxony intact. These petty so called ‘rebels’ are in this way of this, and they need to die for it.

After assigning the various soldiers to their respective groups the assault began. It was to be a simple procedure; the two companies of cavalry would march to a patch of land to the left of the rebel force, and the main bulk of my modest force, the infantry, would march head on to the rebels, who had prudently decided to camp on a minor hill. Once the infantry had engaged, the cavalry would charge in the back and right flank of the engaged rebels, followed by myself, and my noble bodyguards.

https://img444.imageshack.us/img444/4862/medieval220070313144108fb6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The infantry men, with the mercanary spearmen leading the force, soon were in sight of the rebels and were ordered to charge in. The mercenary troops charged into the waiting rebel spearmen, and the other two of the infantry companies were commanded to envellop the spearmen, and attack the awaiting rebel milita who were still unengaged where they to move and assist their comrads. The cavalry were ordered to start moving towards the melee, and charge the rebels in the flank. I would assist them, personally.

https://img352.imageshack.us/img352/6060/medieval220070313144336zj3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

It didn’t take long at all to break the rebels, the spearmen and now engaged sword militia were pinned down by the infantry force, and charged in the rear by the cavalry. The broke and fled.

https://img352.imageshack.us/img352/4536/medieval220070313144421ik7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The enemy captain, in an act of unsuspected bravery, tried to make a last stand, but was promptly cut down by a group of cavalry.

https://img352.imageshack.us/img352/8854/medieval220070313144443te5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The fleeing survivors were soon cut down, to the last man. The assault had been performed in a perfect fashion, with the loss of a mere 10 soldiers, mostly of the hired band of spearmen.

https://img352.imageshack.us/img352/1706/medieval220070313144555gy3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

This concludes the report, noble lords.

Yours,

Günther von Kastillien.

The scribe put down the parchment, stood up, and walked out of the room. He was sure his master was going to want to see this, this seemingly lost and forgotten, albeit quite important, piece of parchment. Probably the reason I had to recheck all of these, he thought to himself, leaving a large pile of parchment behind.

:balloon2:

[TinCow]

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/Chancellorship/rebels2start.jpg

The two armored knights sat and talked for a long time. Even from a distance, Maximillian Mandorf could see from their body language that they respected, even liked, one another. Several more minutes passed before the clasped arms, turned their horses, and came back to their respective lines. Sir Welf made directly for Mandorf.

"They will fight," he said with a heavy sigh.

Mandorf nodded. "They are good men, I would not have expected otherwise."

It had only been a matter of time. The Kaiser's excommunication had caused unrest all over the Reich. Most had chosen to remain loyal to their feudal Lords, but some, like Sir Rolin, had found that their loyalty lay first with Pope Gregory. Mandorf admired them for their courage and sacrifice. Had he not been Chancellor, perhaps he would have been the rebel on the other side, leading a small rebellion against the Kaiser.

But I am Chancellor and I must protect the Reich, even when we are led by a man like Heinrich. Sir Rolin is fulfilling his duty to God and I am fulfilling mine to the people. Hildegard will damn me for sure.

Mandorf turned his horse to face the Bavarian and Teutonic knights. "Give them a clean death, men. They are good Christians and they do not deserve to suffer." Many men crossed themselves and murmurred quick prayers for forgiveness. Mandorf lowered his visor and led his Bavarians up the hill to the west, as the Teutonic Order advanced their horses into a trot, their lances held high.

It took several minutes to close the range with the enemy. As they approached, a line of crossbowmen ran forward and began loading their quarrels. The Teutons picked up speed, their lances moving to a slight angle. The crossbowmen began to get visibly nervous. Some fumbled and dropped their weapons, while others let loose straight into the groud. Most were able to get off a full volley though, and two of the Teutons were thrown from their horses. As if of one mind, the rest of the couched their lances and pushed their mounts into a full gallop. SOme of the crossbowmen began trying to reload, but most began looking around franticly for a means to escape. There was nowhere to go.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/Chancellorship/rebels2charge1.jpg

The impact was extremely brutal. Men were thrown into the air, trampled under foot, and impaled on lance tips. Within seconds, they were all dead.

Less than a minute later, a similar act was occurring to the west. Mandorf led the Bavarians in a downhill charge against the commoners. They were brave and stood their ground, but few had true spears and they had not been trained to fight cavalry.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/Chancellorship/rebels2charge2.jpg

Two horses were impaled, but the rest trampled over the pooly trained rebels. Half a dozen survived and ran for the woods. Within 30 seconds, Sir Rolin had lost half his army. Determined to die with honor, he led his knights into the attack against the Chancellor of the Reich. A fierce melee began.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/Chancellorship/rebel2melee.jpg

Sir Rolin's men fought bravely, but they were green and no match for Mandorf's veterans. They fell quickly to the Bavarian swords.

The remaining group of spearmen moved to protect their Lord's rear, but the Teutons had reformed. A full charge hit the spearmen before they could form a proper line.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/Chancellorship/rebels2charge3.jpg

...

Sir Welf found Mandorf kneeling in the grass, praying over the body of Sir Rolin. He waited patiently until the Chancellor was done.

Mandorf stood, looking immensely tired. "Let us give them proper Christian burials. There will be no mass grave here. Every man is to have his own peace and his own cross." A few drops of rain began to fall and Mandorf looked upwards. "The Lord weeps."

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/Chancellorship/rebel2results.jpg

[econ21]

The battle of the Alpine Fort, 1154 AD

Henry was glad to be out the Diet and back campaigning in the field. He felt both powerless and useless in the Diet. Powerless because his father had exploited a loophole in the Charter to subvert the will of the Electors and have the Empire excommunicated in the course of an old vendetta against the Pope. Useless because Mandorf, the Chancellor, was intelligent and level-headed enough to do everything that could be done to cope with the resulting crisis. Henry had no role, except perhaps as a stand-in should his father fall in his assault on the Pope at Genoa.

So here Henry was, high in the mountains, west of Milan. A fort stood in front of him, small and squat, commanding the Alpine pass.Under his command was the recently formed Household Army of Swabia. By rights, it should have been commanded by Count Sigismund, but the chivalrous leader’s untimely death at a French assassin’s hand had robbed the men of their beloved leader. It was bitterly ironic - the fort had been built by Sigismund himself and now was being used by the French against men who still mourned him. What is more, Sigismund had done his work too well. The compact wooden fort was solidly made and robustly functional, now crammed with over 700 French soldiers.

Henry had over 1100 in the Swabian army, but no obvious way of leveraging his advantage. The walls and density of the defenders neutralised the potential edge that could be provided by the many German cavalry and crossbowmen. That left only the German infantry to be relied upon. Henry did have at his command the Empire’s first regiment of dismounted Feudal knights, but otherwise his men were an undistinguished lot. Henry wondered if he had made a mistake when governing Staufen in not prioritising building barracks to train armoured spearmen. Still his early emphasis on improving the lands had paid off and his home was now the first and only fortress in the Empire.

The Chancellor had ordered three rams to be prepared. Consequently, Henry divided his army into three groups - south, west and east - each with their own ram, as well as a regiment of crossbows, spears and of knights. Henry himself would lead the eastern force, marching north to the rear gate in the hope of enticing the defenders to leave the safety of the fort - as had happened before at Metz. The dismounted knights would support the first assault on the main southern gate. The eastern attack would breach a wall in the hope of overloading the enemy defence.

Unfortunately, the French could not be persuaded to sally out of the fort. Indeed, they retired to the centre of the fort - out of range of the besiegers’ crossbows. The Germans were able to breach the fort in three spots and to enter unopposed, but that still left much bitter fighting before the defenders could be overwhelmed.

The worst of the struggle was in the south, where a regiment of German spearmen was ordered to engage the regiment of mounted French knights garrisoning the fort.

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A mass of French infantry moved to attack the rear of the Germans and soon the spearmen were in danger of being overwhelmed. Belatedly, the Germans committed their dismount feudal knights to confront the mass of French infantry. In a bitter frontal struggle, the German knights fought well - losing a third of their number but killing three times as many as they lost.

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Nonetheless, the dismounted knights were not able to reach the German spearmen engaging the mounted French knights. The mass of French infantry opposed them was simply too great. Caught between that mass and the fine French knights, the German regiment of spearman was gradually whittled down. Eventually, only a handful of survivors remained. They broke and ran, but not before they had left a great pile of dead horses before them.

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As this first regiment of German spears ran, a second - sent from the north gate by Henry arrived to finish off the French knights and their unfortunate Captain.

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Henry himself led his escort through the north gate to support the third breach of the fort - in the east. The French had sent a regiment of spearmen to try to stem the breach, so Henry ordered his bodyguard to attack the rear of this force. Unable to charge, it was a risky tactic to use cavalry against spears, but the alternative was to allow the battle to degenerate into frontal attrition. The armour and experience of the German royal knights gradually told.

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The remainder of the German cavalry, Henry managed to direct into the centre of the fort. The French had moved all of their melee capable infantry out of the centre, into the south or east. Only two regiments of French archers remained. Soon the centre fell, as did the spearmen fighting Henry, leaving only the mass of the French infantry still locked in combat to the south with the dismounted knights. Leaderless, without a central refuge and with a couple of hundred cavalry to their rear, the French infantry soon lost heart.

Henry decided to halt the slaughter - the French had nowhere to run and the new Household Army of Swabia would need every man it could get if it were to continue to avenge Sigismund. Henry ordered the prisoners and wounded well looked after, then road back to meet with the Chancellor who was en route to Milan. Under the principle of a rotating command Henry had outlined for the Swabian army, Count von Salza would be the one to lead it onwards to Rheims. Quite what task the Chancellor would assign Henry, the Prinz was unsure. But in truth, his mind was not on that question. It was focussed to the south, on Genoa, where Henry’s father had trapped the Holy Father and was preparing to kill him without mercy.

The butcher’s bill:

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[Kagemusha]

Placeholder for Battle on Reinhards crossing.

[Ituralde]

Fall of Zagreb

"Well, if you're not going to join the battle, then let me at least explain to you what I'm planning to do, so that you get it right. This will be our first victory over the Venetian foe that has troubled us for so long. It will be an important victory and I want you to give it the glory it deserves!"

A young blonde scribe was sitting across from Leopold in his tent. The young man had approached him earlier in Vienna and told him that he was a biographer and planned to write down the story of Leopold's live. Leopold had been flattered by the offer at first and taken the young man with him. How he was to write everything that happened while refusing to join him on the battlefield was beyond him though. A little frustrated he leaned over the maps panned out in front of him and beckoned the biographer closer.

"Look, we have been encamped here in the East of the city for the past months. We outnumber the garrison under Gerrardo Selvo, here. There is another small Venetian Militia force somewhere to the South of the city. So far our troops were able to keep them from joining their comrades, but once we attack they'll surely attempt to attack our backs. It could get nasty if we don't breach the walls quick enough and are caught between the two forces. We have a superiority in training and men, but that's no excuse for wasting lives. If we want to move on Venice the next season we have to make sure that the taking of Zagreb will be nice and clean."

He looks at the Scribe who has been nodding and scribbling down notes for the whole time. Leopold wasn't entirely sure the man understood what he was telling him though.

"What we do to minimize our losses is a ruse my friend. Gerrardo Selvo is expecting us to attack from the East, where our main army is camped. The South gate he believes covered by his reinforcements outside the city. Tonight, under the cover of darkness I will move the majority of my army to the South gate, including a ram, and leave a small force in the East. Once we succeed in bypassing the reinforcements I will give the signal and the remaining forces in the East will light their torches, advance on the city and make a clamour that Selvo will fear an attack. They won't attack though just bind the defender's forces while I move our main forces up the South gate, knock it down and enter the city unopposed. That's the plan, that's how it will pan out."

And so it did. The reinforcements did not detect the Austrian movement and were too far away and unprepared to take a role in the oncoming fight.

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The Venetian Militia had manned the Eastern walls, where Austrian Mercenary Spearmen and one unit of Sergeant Spearmen had taken up ladders in feigned preparation of an assault.

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In the South Leopold had led his army up to the South gate unopposed and now ordered the ram to advance. Soon it hat reached the gate and began its work on the woodwork. This had not gone entirely unnoticed by Gerrardo Selvo who left the Town square with his retinue to repel the invaders. Once the gate was breached Selvo immediately charged the Spearmen that had taken the ram up to the gates.

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The Spearmen pushed forward and were able to enter the city, but Selvos bodyguard extracted a heavy toll.

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Meanwhile news of the breached South gate had reached the defenders on the Eastern wall and the first regiment began hurrying South.

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The situation at the gate became worse as more and more Spearmen fell to Selvos bodyguard. Leopold ordered his Mailed Knights to charge into the melee and push Selvo back. With the punch of the Knights behind them the Spearmen were able to turn the tide. Gerrardo Selvo fell to a German spear and his retinue soon fled. The road to the Town Square was open and Leopold urged his cavalry forward to take possession.

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Once Leopold had taken up position in the Town square the remaining Militia left the Eastern wall to attack the intruders. With the Eastern wall clear the Spearman began scaling the walls and soon the Eastern wall was under Imperial control.

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The Militia sent to the South were quickly dispatched by the Austrian infantry and now also made their way back to the Town square, where the other Militia unit had locked in combat with the Austrian cavalry.

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Although their general had died the Venetians put up a fierce fight in their town square and it took a long struggle to crush the last resistance. The fleeing troops from the South gate were able to reform, before they were crushed by Leopold's cavalry in their back.

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Finally the last pockets of resistance were crushed and the city was under Imperial control. Not many Venetians had been taken alive, many of them preferring to fight to the last man. Three nobles of Gerrardo Selvo's bodyguard were under them and Leopold advanced on the men.

"This has only been the first step in righting the wrongs your people have caused Austria and the Reich! Many more victories will follow and many more of your nobility will kneel before me. I only ask one thing of you: Lie down and ask forgiveness for the sins you have committed against my countrymen and I will forgive you!"

"NEVER! We will.." a young heated nobleman cried out before he could be silenced by one of his older comrades "My lord he meant no disrespect, of course we.." But Leopold had already turned away from the men.

"You know what to do Rainer!" he nodded at his battle-hardened companion, who ordered the remaining prisoners to be quartered and executed to serve as an example against disobedience. Smiling to himself the Duke of Austria surveyed the carnage. 'I wonder what the biographer will make of this'

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It was a clear victory and once the reinforcements realized that the city had switched sides during the last night they fled to the countryside.

[Dutch_guy]

The icy wind blew mercilessly into Günther’s face as he rode to the field on which he had deployed his force. A host of 1400 German troops had assembled, mostly German spearmen and a handful of knights and peasant archers. They were waiting, waiting for him, his orders, and the enemy. They knew their situation, were they to survive this day of hard fighting they’d probably be in Thorn living the good life by the end of the day. This fact was the only thing keeping them standing in the icy gale blowing from the north.

About 500 yards to the north, situated on top of a small hill, an array of Polish nobleman were awaiting the coming assault. They had nowhere to run, and had to fight. Their sole comfort being the fact that the Polish nobleman Boleslaw Herman would be arriving soon, bringing his own bodyguard and a few well armed spearmen to the fight at hand. The Polish had no way to go, they’d either be in Thorn by the night, or be dead, knowing their homes would be in German hands. Something they’d die for just to prevent.

Günther was riding hard now, eager to get this thing started. He could, and his soldiers as well, already see the Polish nobleman arriving. Best get this started before he get’s into a position to help the Polish noble cavalry. Their javelins were more than enough to worry about, and the extra heavy cavalry the nobleman would bring along wouldn’t lessen the troubles the battle would bring.

Günther was about to order the troops to move forward when a lone messenger called out for him:

Sir, I have a message I was bidden to bring to you before the battle commenced. It seems I’m just in time then. He finished glancing at the enemy horsemen on top of their hill.

Günther, slightly annoyed, took the thickly rolled piece of parchment, broke the familiar seal and unrolled the parchment.

He immediately recognized the efficient and neat handwriting, he knew where the message came from before even having to check the signature at the end of it.

Günther scanned the message. Surprised by its content, he read it again. And again.

‘This can’t be’ Günther muttered to himself ‘Surely not, why would he wish this in God’s name?’ He was silent for a moment.

He gave you this directly then ? He nodded at the parchment, and then at the messenger.

Yes lord, he did, he most certainly did. The messenger quickly replied.

Günther remained silent, then ordered one of his servants to dispose of the letter. It was best if no one else saw it’s contents, he thought.

A mere moment or two the previous thoughts had been prevalent, before the thought of the battle at hand come to mind again.

The battle begun


https://img402.imageshack.us/img402/9739/medieval220070318215457jb4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The peasant archers were commanded to proceed into fireing range, carefully screened by the spearmen and cavalry. However, the Polish, realising their danger, quickly moved twenty paces back, attempting move out of range of the archers. It worked, the peasants armed with bows quickly upped the pace, becoming more and more seperated from the more disciplined spearmen supposed to screen and protect them.
The Polish noble horsemen immediately seized their chance, and ran forward. Attempting to catch the archers off guard. Günther, obviously annoyed by the peasant’s lack of discipline, immediately ordered his cavalry to charge the enemy horsemen head on. And ordered the spearmen to follow as fast as the could, whilst watching out for the enemy re-enforcements coming from the right.

The German cavalry quickly engaged the Polish horses, and a fierce battle ensued.

https://img109.imageshack.us/img109/477/medieval220070318220847vz1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Both sides took casualties, although the German knights significantly less. Helped by the higher quality of shields and armor, and by a fierce charge by their very general himself.
Not long after the initial fight, the first batch of Poles were routing. This wasn’t as promising as it seemed, as the enemy re enforcements had decided to throw themselves into the fray. They were met head on by the German spearmen.

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The fighting was brutal, and the feared enemy bodyguard took a heavy toll on the spearmen. Even managing to break one of the companies, before help arrived in the form of German Knights and bodygaurds.
The final stage of the battle had begun, and Günther had even ordered his archers to stop shooting and join in the melee taking place around the enemy nobleman’s bodyguard.
Not long after the order, the archers attacked the nobleman’s horses in the back. The enemy general was now completely surrounded. And fighting to death. A good thing, or was it ?

https://img400.imageshack.us/img400/381/medieval220070318221216rl9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

A few Polish bodyguard did manage to break through the circle, making a run for it. Fanatically persued by the more lightly armoured German knights. Needless to say, he didn’t make it far. He was quickly hunt down and captured.

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The battle was won, the enemy general captured, enemy captain slain, and a score of the Polish cowards were now caught. It did come costly, and the Polish had sold their hides dearly.

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That night in his command tent, Günther finally laid down his stylus. He had completed his letter, and beckoned the messenger, the same one as earlier that day, to take it. Stone faced he handed it over.

Tell your master they have been released, the entire lot of them. Günther spoke to the leaving messenger.

I will Sir, I will. The messenger replied, eager to get out of this tent.

You make sure you do, a little over 260 good men gave their lives for it, and the city isn’t even theirs. Günther finished.

The messenger listened quietly, avoiding the general’s gaze, then quickly turned around and left the tent and went on his way.

Groaning, Günther picked up his stylus again. He had to write his battle report, the Diet would want to know how the battle had gone

Sometimes that man's quite the enigma, Günther thought of the messenger's master. Quite the mystery indeed.

:balloon2:

[GeneralHankerchief]

The Diary of Kaiser Heinrich

Genoa, 1154

"Sir? The men are waiting."

I shook myself awake. Captain Ludwig, my second in command and close personal friend, was standing by my bed, uniform already on, prepared for battle. Outside my tent, I could already hear the unmistakable noise of men on the move, gathering what they need, ready to fight. How could I have overslept on this day, the most important of them?

In years past, I would have frantically jumped out of bed and rushed to put on my armour. However, in years past I also would not have arisen so late in the day. I found that the best I could do was a slow, agonizing series of moves to prepare myself which nearly killed my knees. Ludwig, also getting up there in his years but in better shape than me, stood by with a look of sympathy on his face. He knew that he would be facing this eventually, but knew better than to say anything.

Finally, when I was dressed appropriately and had scarfed down a quick meal, I asked Ludwig a question.

"How long have the men been waiting?"

Ludwig looked like he didn't want to answer, but I put a look on my face that made it clear that I wanted to know. Finally, he mumbled "about an hour and a half, Mein Kaiser."

An hour and a half. For me, a man who has lived his entire life based on a schedule, both politically and militarily, this was extemely discomforting. I sighed.

"Sir? Are you feeling all right? We can always fight the battle tomorrow."

I shook my head. "No Ludwig," I said sadly, "We must fight it today, now. Everything is in place. If we wait then my condition will only worsen. The only way it can improve is if we are victorious. Gregory is doing this to me, either through God or Satan. One way or another, it ends here, today. For the health and souls of us all, it must be today."

"Well then, Mein Kaiser, let us get going before we take up too much of the day."

"Not yet," I said with a touch of finality, "First we must pray." Together we knelt down, in our battle armour, facing the figure of Christ on the crucifix in my opulent tent.

"O my God, I am heartily sorry
for having offended Thee,
and I detest all my sins,
because I dread the loss of Heaven
and the pains of Hell,
but most of all because they
offend Thee, my God,
Who art all-good and deserving
of all my love.
I firmly resolve, with the help
of Thy grace to confess my sins,
to do penance
and to amend my life. Amen."

Finally we exited the tent, mounted our horses, and made our way to the battle line, which was still in magnificent order despite the two commanding officers not being present. I looked them over for a minute, admiring these men who served under me. They were loyal, and they were ready to do what their Kaiser asked them. They believed I was right and would follow me to the gates of Hell. Ironically enough, that is where some members of the Diet wished I would go.

So it ends here, I thought. How appropriate. The city that stood before me, Genoa, had been so intertwined with my long conflict with the Papacy that it had almost as much significance as Rome itself. Genoa was quite close to Canossa, that infamous castle that I walked to and stood outside for three days, wearing nothing but a hairshirt, begging for forgiveness from Pope Gregory. Since the quest to redeem myself began, Genoa had been a large military obstacle, almost ending my long journey in life thanks to a few dedicated Milanese spearmen. And of course, Genoa had been the key to legally declaring war on Rome. I had gifted it to the new Duke of Bavaria Otto von Kassel, who had promptly exercised his Ducal powers and declared that the Pope's army was unlawfully trespassing on his land. War followed, and now the man that represented all of my failures in life held the city.

For a little while longer, anyway.

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The official commander of the Papal Army was one Falcone Olearius, but everyone present knew that the true objective was the Pope, and most likely he would have a larger escort of heavy cavalry than Falcone.

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"The hour of judgment has arrived, Hildebrand!", I shouted aloud, more to the men that to the Pope. "By the end of this day the Investiture Controversy will be over and we shall see whom God truly favors! I hope that you have had Last Rites prepared to make your passing easier!"

I doubted that last part, of course. It was starting to become common knowledge that the Pope was actually quite irreligious.

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However, it didn't really matter what his exact beliefs were. He had still managed to put most of Catholic Europe under his spell, claiming divine right to appoint all church officials, not to mention thoroughly humiliating me and putting the Reich in mortal danger. For years I had been chasing him, plotting against him, even meeting with him once. When the moment to strike finally arrived, he had poisoned the Diet so much that one Elector had threatened to kill me!

But now, he was here. And he was trapped. This day would right all wrongs once and for all.

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I was not alone in this fight. My faithful Duke of Bavaria, Otto von Kassel, and his subject Gerhard Steffin had brought the entire Bavarian Household Army and were assaulting the eastern side of the city. I hoped that their intervention would be decisive. I also hoped that Otto would survive this encounter. He had helped me through much of this, and I knew how much this crisis was harming him internally.

The plan for this battle would be simple - divide and overwhelm. Pope Gregory had with him a frighteningly large amount of Italian Militia and pavise crossbowmen, but if that number were to be split in half then their effect would be quite a bit less devastating.

Just as I was about to begin the assault, a courier approached me from the east.

"Mein Kaiser, Duke Otto's men are in position. Shall we begin the assault?"

I shook my head. "Not yet," I told the young man, "We must be methodical in this action. Tell him to wait for me to wheel the ballistae around. When they finish breaking down the eastern gate, tell him to signal me. We go in together."

The young man nodded and took off back to the eastern position. I sighed. He was full of youth, of vitality. Evidently this was his first action. By tomorrow he would be a hardened man, perhaps incapable of any other emotion other than weariness.

This has to end.

Most of the soldiers, myself included, were lost in our thoughts during the long, slow wait for the ballistae to break down the southern gate, move to the east, and break that gate down too. Mostly, I think, we just wanted something to happen. Death would be a welcome change from this endless waiting, this eternal suffering. Either way, salvation awaited every soldier present wearing Imperial colors, be it earthly or posthumously.

Finally, after what seemed like several days, a faint crack could be heard to the east. About a minute later, I spotted that same courier from earlier heading my way. I waved, indicating I knew what had happened, and turned to my men.

The moment, at last, had arrived.

I pointed to one set of ladders and one siege tower, and indicated that they were to go forward. As harsh as this was, their job was to simply keep the men on the walls busy, to buy time, to die while the bulk of the force made their way into the streets where the confused Papal infantry was still shifting. The walls did not matter. The city and the Pope did. I didn't want to watch as the men scaled the ladders, completing their final task in life, but I couldn't help it. These soldiers were supremely loyal, and were willingly about to die for me. Was it truly for me, though? Was there some higher cause that prompted them to be the shock troops, the side effort?

In the end, their cause, just like their objective, did not matter. They fought and died well.

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Meanwhile, the time for the main push had begun.

"All units TO THE GATE!!!"

For the first time that day, all of my men crossed into crossbow range, but thanks to them busy fighting off two regiments on the walls no harm befell the main body of troops making their way to the gate. Instead, they were met by a fierce, albeit numerically miniscule resistance. The Italians, realizing that they would soon be flanked and annihilated if they continued to fight immediately past the gates, retired slightly until they were on a narrow side street, thus nullifying our numerical advantage. The push to the center of the city would be a long, slow, brutal affair.

Unfortunately, I could do little more than watch as the men did their work and shout the occasional encouragement. I could only imagine that the sight for the infantry in the front lines was a wretched one, with reeking blood and corpses everywhere, and the feeling of sheer exhaustion, yet at the same time the knowledge that, if you rested, you would surely die.

Finally, several minutes and only a few feet later, I couldn't take it anymore. Sounds of battle were being heard to the eastern end of the city. I motioned to the escort to move. We would ride and view the situation personally.

On the way there, I took a look around me. Most of the buildings were boarded up, although there were some people looking out the windows at the carnage, some of them transfixed with a look that wasn't quite terrified, wasn't quite intrigued.

Finally, we arrived at the eastern gate, where a fierce melee was taking place, although it was mostly between cavalry, as the infantry had already been eradicated. Our men joined the fight, rolling over the unsuspecting Papal Mailed Knights. A second later, I saw Otto von Kassel, helmet off, waving me over. I sidled over to him.

"Heil, Mein Kaiser," he said grinning, "And thanks for the help! How goes the fight to the south?"

"Slow," I shouted, because another battle horn had just sounded, "But we're making progress!"

"Incoming!"

We all turned to the streets leading to the city square. For a second, I thought that the Pope himself had joined the battle, but it only turned out to be Falcone Olearius, his escort, and some rallied cavalry. All of our escorts (mine, Otto's, and Gerhard Steffin's), along with a hodgepodge of knights that were still alive, countercharged the Papal cavalry, hacking our way through until only Falcone and a few others remained. They fled back to the city square, leaving the Imperial forces alone again.

"They'll be back. Let's rest for a moment," I ordered the men. After sizing up the condition of my escort's horses, I signalled a man to ride back to the south and give a summary of what was going on over there. There was a series of tense minutes that gave absolutely no relaxation to the men. Oh well, at least the horses were catching their breaths.

We could see the center square from our point of view. Many of the men were watching it intently; hoping to observe Papal infantry running there and rallying. They would not be denied, and a small cheer went up among the men.

This meant nothing, however. The last time we were on the cusp of victory at Genoa, I had nearly died.

Another couple of minutes passed. The rider I had sent to report on the western developments came trotting back, horse clearly in bad shape.

"Mein Kaiser," he huffed, out of breath, "Your men have beaten back the Papal infantry. They were about to give chase but then the men on the walls came down and so our infantry was forced to turn around and engage them. Our infantry's backs are to the city square and are thus extemely vulnerable to a cavalry charge."

There was a pause at this. I believe that Gerhard's loud swearing expressed all of our emotions. Gregory's position was still not accounted for, and 46 heavy cavalry slamming into our men's rear would have quite an impact. We had little time to debate this latest turn of events, however, as Falcone, the remainder of his escort, and the Papal infantry that had just ran into the square came charging back.

"Forward, and this time don't stop!"

A few of our men went down, but more of theirs did. I received a blow to my right knee, and all of the pain from this morning came rushing back. Grimacing, I signalled to charge to the city square, where only Falcone had survived.

The swiftest of our men ran him down and ended his life just as he had reached the square.

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Our men stand over the corpse of Falcone. The main villain, however, had yet to be dispatched.

As the rest of us made our way into the square, there was a brief moment of calm, and then a collective gasp. Coming our way, from the opposite direction, was the Papal Escort. Gregory had declined to strike our infantry, giving up the possibility of a general rout and leaving us stranded. Instead, he had opted to charge straight for us.

Straight for me.

There was no holy radiance coming from this man; no Light of God reflecting off of his uniform. But there was still a great power emanating from the man who called himself Pope. His sword raised in the air, ghostly white horse, and banner he carried all held our men in a stupor for some amount of time. We would all die watching him kill us, in awe.

I was probably the last one to snap out of it, truth be told. I attribute it to my age. All around me I watched as the three escorts of the Reich battled Gregory's cavalry.

The young courier that Otto had sent to me before the battle began was one of the first to fall. He and his horse were still full of reckless abandon and had simply charged too far in. I caught a glimpse of his face, de-helmeted, before he fell. It had a shocked expression of one who clearly did not expect to die, yet was about to do just that. His eyes were already starting to glaze over.

Another second went by. More men went down. The tide of battle was moving me away from my own escort and closer to that of Otto's and Gerhard's. I would have accepted this turn of events and followed the flow, but at that very moment, I saw Gregory angling his horse straight for me. By the time he would reach me, I would not have been turned around and ready to face him. Muttering a quick final prayer, I screwed my eyes shut and braced for the killing blow.

...it never came. I opened my eyes and looked to see what was happening. Captain Ludwig, vigilant Captain Ludwig, who had proposed that devastating cavalry charge in this same city so long ago, had seen what was about to happen and moved to block the Pope. I could only watch as my friend and second did battle with my arch-enemy.

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After the initial block, Captain Ludwig and Pope Gregory duel.

It seemed very fast. Gregory recovered from the block rather quickly and slashed at Ludwig's arm. Ludwig dropped his sword in shock, and then the killing blow had hit. I saw my friend go down, his blood dirtying the Pope's uniform.

I didn't scream Ludwig's name. I couldn't. I was unable to do anything other than look at the man who had killed my friend. I did not comprehend that the Pope had just violated one of the Ten Commandments, or that he had done so at the expense of one so close to me, or that he was now continuing his charge for me. I was simply staring blankly as he did the latter.

I'm not sure what happened next. I felt a vague movement under me. My horse was doing what I was unable to. I only continued to watch as the Pope re-angled his charge based on this movement, which brought him in more dangerous territory. The next thing I knew, he simply fell, speared by an anonymous lance.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_091.jpg

Pope Gregory falls.

Otto, who had seen it happen, rode over to the Pope's body and removed the man's helmet. His eyes were open and he was still breathing. However, Otto ignored this, raising the helmet for all to see.

"The Pope is dead," he cried. "There is nothing to fight for!"

Gregory's escort fought on, although with little intensity. They were quickly dispatched, and once again we had full control of the city square. Otto rode down, alone, to the street where our infantry were bravely putting up a losing fight against the Papal forces. Once again, he held the helmet high.

"The Pope is dead! Gregory is no more! Lay down your arms! This battle is over!"

From what I could see of the Papal infantry, there was a great gasp, and then a grim realization that what Otto said what was correct. The sounds of spear and sword hitting shield ceased. Some men screamed in Italian, others in Latin. Some men cried "NO!" A few just sat down, infinitely weary and disgusted. It was clear that all the fight had been taken out of these men. The battle, for all intensive purposes, was over.

Otto, who had seen Gregory's fall but not Ludwig's death, rode back to me with a look of triumph on his face. Gerhard, too, came to my side, uniform scratched and dirtied. He would be knighted for his bravery.

"Mein Kaiser," Otto said, "Let me congratulate you today, on this day of your ultimate victory."

I nodded, but said nothing. Victory had never felt so horrible. So many people were not around to share it. The brave infantrymen that I had ordered to die in the opening stages of the battle. That young courier who had so much to live for. And of course, my good friend and advisor, Captain Ludwig.

That night I dined with the nobility, toasting the defeat of Gregory and victorious assault of the city, feeling absolutely no emotion. Gregory was still alive, being held prisoner in the city's palace. Tomorrow I would deal with him, as well as inform the necessary people of what had transpired here. But that night, I simply went to sleep, my knees crying out in pain as I dressed for the night. And this time, I had no one to assist me, no one to stand by.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_092.jpg

[OverKnight]

The Third Battle of Genoa 1154

https://img246.imageshack.us/img246/7650/aprebattlegenoapl4.jpg
https://img246.imageshack.us/img246/6297/bforcesgenoakl3.jpg

Looking up at the Milanese forces perched on a hill, Otto swore loudly into the morning air. Beside him Gerhard Steffen, knighted by the Emperor himself after the assault on Genoa, laughed at his Duke's profanity.

"You won't be laughing, Gerhard, when we have to dig those bastards out of that hilltop", Otto said turning to his vassal, "There's only one damn path up that hill, unless we flank out, and they've got bowmen and spears."

"Do you think they'll stay up there mein Duke?", responded Gerhard, "We're between them and their ships, and they've been living off the land for years. Starvation has driven them this close to Genoa. I doubt they will stop now, so close to rescue."

Otto grunted and fingered the scar on his face while looking up the hill, "You might be right, still we have to prepare for the worst. I'm going to deploy the crossbowmen ahead of the spears. You'll take the cavalry and keep it in column on the left flank. If they come down flank them. If they stay up, circle around the hill and catch them from behind. Remember, you're job is to disrupt them, force their hand, not to get into a pitched battle. Heroics are for dead men. Understand?"

Gerhard nodded and went to gather his forces. Otto watched him go. Was I ever that young and brash? He's a knight, but let's see if he can lead a large force of men. If he can, I can use him. Someone will have to defend Bavaria when I take the Cross.

https://img246.imageshack.us/img246/1949/cdeploymentgenoabg6.jpg

The men deployed as Otto ordered. Gerhard began to advance his cavalry. Otto saw motion on the hilltop, I'll be damned, the boy was right.

https://img246.imageshack.us/img246/6913/dbowmenadvancegenoadn4.jpg

By that point, Gerhard had deployed his cavalry in a line perpendicular to the Imperial foot. As missiles began to fly between both armies, Otto heard Gerhard's bugler blow a note. The cavalry charged.

https://img246.imageshack.us/img246/9466/ebowmencrushedgenoavk5.jpg

The bowmen were crushed and dispersed. Yet the cavalry stayed to butcher more. Bindello Columbana with his retainers, Frankish Knights and spearmen quickly advanced to catch the Imperial horse. Gerhard was cutting it very close.

"Get out of there you fool!", yelled Otto, as if his commands could actually be heard.

https://img246.imageshack.us/img246/1723/fgerhardescapesgenoalj3.jpg

As if on cue, Gerhard turned his horsemen around and galloped back to Imperial lines, just ahead of the pursuit. The mercenary Frankish knights broke off and turned to charge the crossbowmen on the right of Otto's line.

"Spearmen forward!", Otto yelled. This command was heard.

https://img246.imageshack.us/img246/1094/gfrankishknightschargegff8.jpg

The knights struck the spearmen with a terrible impact. Men were thrown into the air or were trod under shodded hoof. The charge was halted though by the rear ranks. The units from the left and right moved in, stabbing at the horsemen from the flanks. The knights were engulfed, and paid with their lives for charging impetuosly without orders. A few galloped away under a heavy barrage of missiles, leaving their fallen comrades behind.

At this point, trying to take advantage of the disarray of the Imperial line, Columbana charged with his men at the center. This time the spearmen had enough warning to brace themselves, and the assault floundered. Sensing the crisis point approaching, Otto drew his sword.

"Break them!", Otto scream as his retainers galloped into the fray.

https://img246.imageshack.us/img246/8484/hcounterchargegenoaph5.jpg

While this was happening, on the left a unit of Italian spearmen had pursued Gerhard's horsemen as they made their way back to the line. Gerhard expertly swung his cavalry behind the protection of his own spearmen. The Italians changed course to engage the foot, and that is when the young knight pivoted his horsemen and bore into their flanks. Panic quickly spread among the Milanese foot.

https://img246.imageshack.us/img246/7479/icavflankafterpursuegenfb1.jpg

Back in the center, the weight of Imperial numbers began to tell. Otto's bodyguard and spearmen wore down Bindello Columbana's escort until he was struck down.

https://img246.imageshack.us/img246/258/jbindellodeathgenoaxu6.jpg

With their leader dead and their infantry in disarray, the Milanese broke. Having given up the advantage of height and a narrow path, they had to overcome those same obstacles as they tried to escape.

https://img246.imageshack.us/img246/8031/krunawaygenoawo1.jpg

Otto, his men and the unit of mailed knights pursued the spearmen. The mounted sergeants galloped after the remnants of Columbana's escort. Gerhard Steffen and his retainers rode among the Milanese crossbowmen and gathered a grim harvest. Of the 653 men who had deployed on that hill, only 26 escaped.

https://img246.imageshack.us/img246/3328/lsteffenkillsbowmengenomh5.jpg

The prisoners were gathered and bound. Sheathing his sword, Otto dismounted and approached the three men who had survived from Columbana's escort. They were haggard and looked half starved. The oldest stared up at him defiantly and spoke, "Von Kassel, you figlio di puttana. One day we'll get Milan and Genoa back. This isn't over!"

Drawing Elsebeth's dagger, Otto toyed with it in his hands while looking down at his captive, "That day may come Signore, but it is not today. You are defeated. You should have accepted the Chancellor's peace offer."

Otto wanted to kill this man, make an example of him and these prisoners. Yet Otto remembered a phrase he had written long ago, 'Some wars are waged on the battlefield and others in the bedroom'. I have won here, but I have lost the other. I will not take up the Cross with more blood on my hands.

Otto reached down and with his wife's blade cut the man's fetters.

https://img246.imageshack.us/img246/4726/mreleasegenoass6.jpg

"You and your men are free. Go to your ships and return to your islands. It would be wise if you urged your Duke to make peace, for if I see you on the mainland again, you will be destroyed."

https://img246.imageshack.us/img246/8781/nretreattoboataa1.jpg

Returning to Genoa with his army, Otto spoke to Gerhard, "A good day for you, young man, 230 Milanese killed and captured by you and your retainers. Between this and the last battle, you've proven yourself. How would you like to have an army of your own?"


The Butcher's Bill

https://img249.imageshack.us/img249/9507/casualtiesneargenoaek5.jpg

[GeneralHankerchief]

Rome, 1160

Prinz Henry, on his way to the Diet for the final day of deliberations, passed by the city's barracks and noticed a strange sight: They were empty.

The Prinz immediately grew nervous at this sight. The entire garrison, over 500 men, should have been out drilling by now. Henry changed course and went inside the barracks, hoping to find someone that was behind. He was not disappointed. A crossbowman with a broken leg was sitting calmly, not at all surprised by the Prinz's entrance.

"Soldier, where are your comrades?"

The crossbowman looked lazily up at the Prinz upon this question. "Why, they've gone to the river northwest of the city."

Henry's blood turned cold. Pope Accattus and his army was currently occupying the bridge on that very river. "On whose orders?!", he demanded, even though he already knew the answer.

"Your father's, Mein Prinz."

Curses. The old man was at it again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The barracks, several hours earlier

Kaiser Heinrich entered the sleeping quarters, making an awful racket by clanging his sword onto a random shield. The poor soldiers awoke to find their Emperor already fully-dressed for battle.

"Arise, soldiers of the Reich! We have some marching to do this morning!"

Some soldiers mumbled (under their breaths of course) that it would not yet be light out for another several hours, but they obediently got out of bed and suited for battle. This would be a brutal nighttime march a few miles outside of the city. Heinrich talked to the soldiers all along the way, describing their target and why they were fighting.

"Pope Accattus has gone behind my back and threatened the entire Reich, good soldiers. He has threatened our capital and he has threatened my life, and now the Diet is about to make sure that his reign is allowed to proceed without consequence. I cannot let this happen, and you are all going to help assert Imperial authority once more!"

Finally, they had arrived at their target - The Tiber Bridge. On the other side was Pope Accattus and his army, completely oblivious to the threat that faced them. While the Imperial Army was preparing for an assault, it seemed as if a shockwave had passed through the Papal camp, followed by frenzied movement to prepare.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_097.jpg

Finally, the Papal forces were ready, just in the nick of time. Their largely mercenary army had no infantry, only crossbowmen and cavalry, and therefore could not make good use of the classic bridge defense that had served many so well.

Instead, upon viewing a massed infantry charge across the bridge, the Pope ordered his Frankish Knights in to break up the disorganized infantry. Unfortunately, in the narrow confines of the bridge, numbers trumped skill and power.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_098.jpg

Next, desperate to break this infantry charge, Pope Accattus threw his own escort into the fray. Immediately he realized the folly that he just committed, but it was too late to turn back. The old Pope desperately fought on, to no avail.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_099.jpg

Pope Accattus faces to the many spearmen of the Reich.

Eventually, along with the rest of his escort, he fell, but at least his death was more honorable than that of his predecessor (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showpost.php?p=1476344&postcount=35).

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_100.jpg

After the Pope's death, the remaining Papal forces (the majority of the crossbowmen and a handful of cavalry) routed and were chased down by Heinrich's escort.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_101.jpg

Once the clean-up operation had been completed, Heinrich turned his men around and marched them straight back to Rome where they would catch up on his sleep. He, however, was preparing to face an irate Diet, although this didn't faze him much as there had been plenty of practice recently.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_102.jpg

[Ituralde]

Fall of Venice, 1166

https://img123.imageshack.us/img123/1198/attackmk4.jpg

Leopold felt strangely calm as he surveyed the large city sprawled before him. Thin plumes of smoke rose from the chimneys towards the moon that was standing fully visible over the city. It should have filled Leopold with joy, or at least excited him. Finally the captial of his enemy was within his grasp. Soon Imperial banners would fly from every tower in the city and all the riches, all the trade of Venice would belong to him, to the House of Austria. Months ago the mere thought at this prospect had filled him with glee. But since he had taken up the office of Chancellor things had changed. He had more in mind now, more to care about than just Austria. He was responsible for the Holy Roman Empire, and it was beset on all sides by enemies. The taking of Venice, while important, was just another step that had to be taken, to advance the Empire, an important step, with Zagreb under siege and the French and Poles readying for attacks. Not to mention the Portugese and English that had appeared in the north.
He was ready to take this step, calm and composed, one step after the other.

Leopold raised his hand and the columns under his command started the advance. As with Zagreb, Leopold had used the cover of darkness to close in on the defenders. His main army with him, while his Mercenaries would attack the main gate. His ruse did not play out as smooth as in Zagreb though. The gate in front of him was manned and ready to repell the attackers. Slowly the ram moved forward while his Sergeant Spearmen advanced with their ladders, ready to scale the walls.

https://img119.imageshack.us/img119/8925/mainod7.jpg

It did not take long for his men to close in, taking the arrows sent at them from the towers.

https://img119.imageshack.us/img119/7007/scalewa1.jpg

The defenders were staying behind in the street and luckily weren't occupying the walls. Soon the ram had reached the gate and the wood gave way under the hammering.

https://img456.imageshack.us/img456/6796/breachcm0.jpg

Distant sounds of fighting told him that the Mercenary Spearmen with their siege towers had started their attack as well and were closing in on the walls.

https://img105.imageshack.us/img105/6760/diversionjb0.jpg

The Pavise Crossbowmen were retreating at the main gate as well, letting the Mercenaries take the walls without resistance. Within minutes both defensive positions had been overrun by the Austrian Household Army.

https://img119.imageshack.us/img119/9232/wallseu3.jpg

Seeing that the gates were lost the Italian Militia sent to repell Leopold were making a hasty retreat. Immediatelly Mailed Knights and Leopolds own bodyguard rode forward to slaughter the Militia in the street, before they could dig in in the Town Square.

https://img456.imageshack.us/img456/1996/chargezd7.jpg

Soon all defenders were overtaken and Leopold and his men could now set up their men in the town square of Venice.

https://img119.imageshack.us/img119/3179/waitun3.jpg

The remaining Venetian garrison, commanded by their captain were putting up a fierce fight at the main gate, though. The Mercenary Spearmen were only slowly able to subdue them.

https://img48.imageshack.us/img48/6558/gatefg3.jpg

Finally their commander was slain!

https://img48.imageshack.us/img48/5575/generalrq6.jpg

With their commander dead on the field and the Town Square held by Imperial troops the rest of the garrison surrendered. Venice had been taken!
At last, standing in the Town Square and surveying his troops, Leopold felt a small jolt of joy and happily gave the order for his men to sack and plunder through the rest of the night. Let them enjoy themselves, while Leopolds mind had already turned to more important matters, concerning the defense of the Reich.

https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/4415/venicedb0.jpg

[GeneralHankerchief]

Rome, 1168

It was a little after 1:00 AM in the Eternal City. However, despite the ungodly hour, there was still movement going on in the Reich's capital. Kaiser Heinrich, fed up with his prize being under siege and unwilling to die until Rome was free, had roused his soldiers up for a nighttime sally.

The target of Heinrich's aggressions was once again the Papacy. The Kaiser's latest approved choice was Pope Andreas of Denmark. He had been complacent - for a while. However, recently he had made the mistake of besieging Rome. The time had come, as Otto von Kassel would put it, to exercise his veto against Andreas.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_103.jpg

During the march to the northern gate, where the action would take place, an unnamed soldier fell into line with Heinrich's escort, dressed appropriately for the occasion. After seeing the Kaiser stare at him for a minute, this new soldier removed his helmet and his true visage was shown. It was none other than the Fifth Elector of Swabia, one of Heinrich's few remaining allies in the Diet.

Before the Kaiser could say anything, the Swabian Elector spoke.

"With all due respect, Mein Kaiser, you're 62 years old. Someone needs to watch your back."

Heinrich chuckled. "I've gotten into my share of engagements over the years, good sir. Which is more than I can say for this priest that is waiting for me (who also happens to be 62 by the way)."

The discussion turned slightly more serious as the ride continued.

"62 is quite an age to live to in these times. You've survived rebellions, wars, battles, disease, and assassination attempts. Aren't you getting tired?"

"Very," sighed the Kaiser. "The truth is, I think I have willed myself to live for these past couple of years. I do not fear the judgement that awaits me after death. I fear the fact that my plans will not go to fruition if I am not around to see them done. I fear for the Reich's future."

There was a respectful silence as the host marched by a church.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_104.jpg

Then, the Kaiser continued. "But what about you? Why do you risk death when it is not necessary? You realize that should you fall this morning, your position in the Diet will go to Prinz Henry's darling child Hans."

"Hans is replacing me anyway. Why would the Prinz keep me, an ally of his enemy, in the Diet when he can throw his own son in my place?"

"Well, sons don't necessarily mean anything. Look at my two sons and their elevated opinion of me."

The two shared a laugh, but it was short-lived. The host had just passed by the statue of Marcellus Aemilius, signalling that the northern gate, and thus the battle was near. The Kaiser began deploying his men.

"Crossbows on the walls! Everyone else behind the gate! We lure them in!"

"Mein Kaiser?" said a crossbowman who had just climbed the walls. "They're pulling back out of range."

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_105.jpg

"No point in seeing if they'll take the bait," Heinrich said to himself. "Spears! Catch 'em while they're retreating! CHARGE!!!"

The spears did as they were told, with Heinrich's escort trailing behind at a walk. The Kaiser's plan wasn't completely effective, but the Papal mercenary crossbowmen did only manage a few volleys before they were forced to fall back.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_106.jpg

The battle was purely an infantry melee for a short amount of time. The Imperial spearmen fought and made gains against the less-numerous Papal spears. Seeing this, Pope Andreas charged his 46-strong escort in to even the tide, but Heinrich did the same with his.

The battle instantly grew less organized. Heinrich was aiming for the Pope, but the way things went, he and Andreas were at opposite ends of the "line." Heinrich wanted to charge his way through, but saw only Papal cavalry. As a matter of fact, that was all he saw, period. He was completely cut off from any support!

Some of Andreas's escort noticed this and circled in for the kill.

So, this is the way I go out. Surrounded by enemies and the Swabian Elector nowhere to be seen. Then let everyone know I go down in a blaze of glory!

Heinrich, King of the Romans, held his sword high in the air and bellowed something that could not be translated in any language other than that of battle-fury. His frail arm started hacking at the first thing he saw.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_107.jpg

The Kaiser's last stand?

Continuing to scream and battle, more akin to the Germanic barbarians of old than the ancient Romans, Heinrich did battle alone with the endless tide of Papal cavalry, preparing for his end. He received his share of blows, but none were strong enough to unhorse him. Meanwhile, he kept slashing away, bringing down horseman after horseman.

This is something that Henry will never understand. You must be strong, always. Even in death.

His body was weakening, his mind clouding. His saddle had turned red with blood. The end had come, he was expecting it, he would fight to the end...

...finally, relief. An Imperial horseman had seen the plight his Emperor was in and had come riding to the rescue. It was, of course, the Fifth Elector of Swabia.

Not bothering to apologize, he immediately took over where Heinrich left off, chopping and hacking at the Papal cavalry. A barely-conscious Heinrich watched with pleasure. However, it was clear that the Swabian Elector was not imbued with the same fury, the same battle lust. He took his share of blows and returned them in spades, but eventually the same event happened to him that would have happened to the Kaiser were it not for his intervention.

Heinrich could only watch in horror as another comrade fell. No one came riding to his rescue. No one rode to save him. The effort to defend his Kaiser, although valiant, had failed. And now, the remaining Papal cavalry had turned their attention back to the weakening Heinrich.

...there was a gasp on the other side of the battle. Heinrich, although hurt and not fully alert anymore, still knew what had happened. He had heard the sound twice before: When Gregory had fallen, and when Accattus had fallen. The same proved true with Andreas.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_108.jpg

The rout on the Papal side was instant. The men about to kill the Kaiser now turned and fled at the sight of him. Heinrich's horse, in a much better state than its mount, turned to pursue the routers, leaving behnd the pile of Papal corpses and the one Imperial body.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_109.jpg

The next thing Heinrich knew, it was day, and he was in bed. An odd light was shining around him.

Am I dead? Is this heaven?

At that instant, the light was blocked. Staring at him from above was a surgeon, not an angel.

"You're lucky to be alive, Mein Kaiser. Rome is safe, but you are hurt. I don't know how you managed to survive all those wounds at your age."

Heinrich mumbled. "And the Swabian?"

The surgeon shook his head. "I'm afraid that he..."

The words trailed off as the Kaiser fell back to sleep. Apparently, there was still work to be done, plans to go to fruition. But now there was one less ally to help him.

Maybe, just maybe... we can get Otterbach in now... and peace...

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_110.jpg

[Dutch_guy]

Battle in the cold dense forests of Thorn.

The sound of armour shifting, and heavy boots pounding filled the air as Günther von Kastillien finally finished giving his second in command the final pre battle orders. The battle plan was simple, straight to the point.

The large Polish force had camped in the dense forests, and was awaiting the German force. Both forces were about equal in number, but the German force was of substantial better quality. Both in weaponry, and morale. Plus, the German force was also in possession of a new fighting force, the feudal foot knights. This was the first time they’d see battle, as far as Günther knew, and he was eager to try them out against the bold Poles.

As far as his scouts had told him, the Polish forces were positioned straight in front of the German force, with a small company of Polish nobles on the Polish right flank. Their formation was simple, spearmen were to main fighting force, assisted by weak archers and a few sword armed peasants. That said, they’re were a lot of them, and loss of good German troops was suspected. The Javelin armed Polish nobles always took their toll on our infantry, they were always a feared foe.

The plan was as followed. The archers would be sent to deal with the enemy archers, preferably taking such a heavy toll on them that they’d be unable to thin out our precious feudal knights and sergeant spearmen. The few cavalry that was present at the battle were to deal with the Polish nobles. A charge would probably brake them, and send them running for help. The cavalry would give chase, until positioned sufficiently behind the main bulk of the Polish force. In the mean time the German spearmen would march towards the enemy and take them head on. The feudal knights would act as shock troops, and would flank the enemy’s right side, after contact between the two main bodies was made. The archers would continue their barrage, stopping only to differ their targets from the enemy archers to the enemy infantry – and general. Günther would lead his own bodyguard against the enemy general on the battlefield, if the archers hadn’t taken care of the Polish fool by the time he got there.

Günther had given his orders, time to see if they’d be as effective as he hoped they would.

https://img61.imageshack.us/img61/8332/medieval220070403180329az2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The archers moved in range, and immediatley started to take enemy fire. Losses were kept at a minimum by spreading out and returning fire themselves. In the mean time the enemy stood their ground, awaiting the impending onslaught.

The feared Polish nobles, however, were taken completely by surprise by the knights sent after them. They fell in moments, as they didn’t suspect the charge at all. They were hit in their side and they routed almost on contact.

https://img70.imageshack.us/img70/9005/medieval220070403180728fm3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The German cavalry were just beginning to chase the cowardly Polish nobles, when the first of the german infantry made contact. The right flank was now engaged, the left flank would follow suite as soon as it could.

https://img54.imageshack.us/img54/9625/medieval220070403180734mb5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Polish peasants were selling their hides dearly, but they were losing 5 soldiers to each German one. They knew this, and they steadily fell back, leaving their right flank to take on the power of the Reich.

The Polish right, having stood by idlely after the initial contact on the other side, were now facing a dilema. They could help their comrades on their left, or brace themselves against the impeding charge of the feudal knights. They chose the latter option, and moments later they were hit head on by the eager knighst fighting on foot.

https://img70.imageshack.us/img70/1566/medieval220070403180852wx5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The fight continued, and the Polish slowly lost ground. The Polish right crumbled faster than the Polish left, even though they had been fighting a significantly shorter time than their brothers on the left side. The Feudal knights broke the enemy spearmen, and proceeded to charge the steadfast levy swordsmen, still fighting the German spears on the right, in the back. They didn’t stand a chance and broke as soon as the first German swords were plunged into Polish back.

Günther finally sent in his own bodyguard, and sent orders to the remaining cavalry to chase the routers, and capture them. It seemed, however, that the cowardly enemy captain had fled once the battle had tipped in German favour, and was already many a mile away.

Even though the Poles were soundly defeated the Germans did lose quite some men, 237 as told in the latest report. 237 good men against 1000 + enemy soldiers, not counting those who were captured and eventually killed once the ransom was turned down.


https://img54.imageshack.us/img54/4043/medieval220070403183142eo1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)




:balloon2:

[Stuperman]

"Conrad, we will attack tomorrow," Gerhard announced just before the evening meal, "and I have something rather odd to ask you, will you carry the banner of the Commander in to thios battle?"

"But of course, Sir" Conrad replied "but why?"

"The Hungarians that we face tomorrow have has superior infintry and equal cavlery to our own forces, we must use the power of surprise, and If I carry the Command Banner I cannot hide with our new Teutonic knights, it will be your job lure the young unskilled Capian into a charge of our line. But enough of that, we will discuss the particulars after we eat, Rally the men, let them eat heartely tonight, WE BATTLE TOMORROW!"

http://www.imagehosting.com/out.php/t481130_Startofbattle.JPG (http://www.imagehosting.com/out.php/i481130_Startofbattle.JPG)

We deployed a long formation with most of the Cavlery hidden on the right flank (facing pic):

http://www.imagehosting.com/out.php/t481448_Cavhiddenonrightflank.JPG (http://www.imagehosting.com/out.php/i481448_Cavhiddenonrightflank.JPG)

The lack of command expierence makes it's self known when the hungarians charge, with thier archers getting cut down in front:

http://www.imagehosting.com/out.php/t481481_theenemyadvance.JPG (http://www.imagehosting.com/out.php/i481481_theenemyadvance.JPG)

Our Troops counter charge, and the hungarian left desintegrates:

http://www.imagehosting.com/out.php/t481486_leftflankcollapeseonoutcharge.JPG (http://www.imagehosting.com/out.php/i481486_leftflankcollapeseonoutcharge.JPG)

With Panic racing through the hangarian line, there is quickly Chaos:

http://www.imagehosting.com/out.php/t481500_theroutespreads.JPG (http://www.imagehosting.com/out.php/i481500_theroutespreads.JPG)

Conrad (foreground) and Myself (background) meet the Hungarian Prince and show him how real men fight.

http://www.imagehosting.com/out.php/t481532_NoblemenOfBavariaandTheHungarianPrince.JPG (http://www.imagehosting.com/out.php/i481532_NoblemenOfBavariaandTheHungarianPrince.JPG)

Our spearmen circle around from behind and trap the Prince, He's Captured, The Battle Is WON!!

http://www.imagehosting.com/out.php/t481558_thehungarisnprinceFALLSPUSH.JPG (http://www.imagehosting.com/out.php/i481558_thehungarisnprinceFALLSPUSH.JPG)


"You fight very well Conrad, " I said to him over drinks back at camp, "Most honourabley taking the prince Himself on, I think Ritter Salier has a nice ring to it doesn't it?"

He stared at me in slight disblief, "Congradulatons you've earned it"

In the morning when I got the official word from Rome that our coffers were pittifully low, I ordered the prisioners to ransomed back to Hungry, alas they are a cheap bunch thosew huingarians and wouldn't even take thier own flesh and bloods back.

http://www.imagehosting.com/out.php/t481565_ransom.JPG (http://www.imagehosting.com/out.php/i481565_ransom.JPG)

http://www.imagehosting.com/out.php/t481566_ransom2.JPG (http://www.imagehosting.com/out.php/i481566_ransom2.JPG)

Butcher's bill:

http://www.imagehosting.com/out.php/t481578_Butchersbill.JPG (http://www.imagehosting.com/out.php/i481578_Butchersbill.JPG)

http://www.imagehosting.com/out.php/t481579_Butchersbill2.JPG (http://www.imagehosting.com/out.php/i481579_Butchersbill2.JPG)


Butcher's bill:

[Warluster]

1172, Near Dijon.

Thunder rumbled through the afternoon sky, and the groound shook and ears were pressed hard. Jobst sighed in hgis tent,as he sat by the door, watching soldiers go by readying for battle.

A week before the Chancellor had contacted him to tell Jobst that a French army was nearby, and Jobst was to mop them up.

And here Jobst was. Rain pelted onto the roof of the tent, but softly.
jobst surveyed the surrounding area, looking for weakness in the Frenhc Army set up on the other side of the plains, and the landscape.

The Frenchies they were verusing were 794 strong, compared to Jobst's army of 731, mainly made up of Crossbow Miltia.

While Jobst was surveying the land, someone stood in front of him.Jobst got up quickly, drawing his sword. the person was no threat, it was his Biographer.

'Sorry for startling and disturbing you sir' said his Biographer. Jobst coughed and sat back down.
'Your French aren't you?' asked Jobst,
'Yes sir' said the man, Jobst nodded in a creepy way, and the Biographer spoke again nervoulsy.
'I was wondering if you...' the man was cut short of finishing his sentence by Jobst,
'Would like to say anything more on my biography?' said jobst amuseingly,
'Why, acutally sir that was exactly what I was to say, anyhow, do you sir?'
'No, now leave me in Peace, I need to speak with my Majors' said Jobst. This was a lie, he no logner needed his Major's help, now it was all his thinking. The Biographer hurried off, and Josbt lasped into silent thought again.

Some hours later someone shook him awake.
'Sir,sir, the French are assemblign in battle formation!' said a soldier, Jobst woke up with a start and sprang up.
'Get into Triple line formation! NOW!' yelled Jobst, it had stopped raining, but still no sun. Voices rang across the camp as majors yelled out Jobst's order to their companies. Soon the army was ready, Crossbowmen in front, Infantry behind and Cavarly behind them. And then ti started.

Jobst's Bodyguard rode up behind the Cavarly line, and waited. Trumpets rang across the plains, and a loud voice,
'Give up now you Germans, and we shall give you mercy!' yelled the voice form the French Army, Jobst rode to the front of his army and yelled back,
'When I am walking through your city of garbage then shall you give up froggie, ot do we have to make you hop away every time!?' yelled Jobst, and some of his soldiers laughed. Then silence, and Jobst turned to his army and spoke,
'I say to thou now, do not pray to the almighty god for victory, as we already have victory in our hands, we just have to shut our hand!' said Jobst,
'Now sending them back to the places they stole from us, and remember those killed in Metz, for Swabia, for The EMpire and Reich, for victory!' and Jobst raised his sword and ordered for the barrage of arrows to start.

Josbt rode back to his General unit, and at once the French Army moved forward. Dirt was kicked up as The French Cavlry moved forward, and a twanging sound whipped through the air, and tens of Horsemen fell from their horses.

'Sire, their losses are gettign highed, we have no losses!' siad Jobst's Flag Bearer, Jobst nodded.
'Move the Infantry forward jsut behind the Crossbowmen!' yelled Jobst, and the Indfnatry did that.

And then the armies impacted.

Lots of Crossbowmen were killed at once, but many fought well, killing many.
The Infantry moved forward and they fought. FOr long the armies were locked together, with Jobst's Bodyguard stealthily moving behind the French, but they went to far behind.
'Their behind you, behind you!' yelled a group of French Soldiers who were behind Jobst's unit, Peasent Archers. At once Jobst's unit rode forwrad and attacked the French from behind. And then ti was over. All of the French routed, runnign into traps of Infantry. ABd The Germans rode them down. The Germans went back to camp, and sang victory songs, and drank beer all night. But in the morning a new problem arose. Jobst was shaken awake,
'What now?' he demanded,
'Sorry mein prinz but we have a problem'
'WHich is?' muttered Jobst,
'We captured 200 or so soldiers, now we don't know what to do with them' said The Major. Jobst thought over it,
'Kill them' he said, and so they did, and on that day 461 French died.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Battle Stastictics (sp?) ( I don't have picture of battle victory screen)
Deployed Lost Enemies-Killed
(The Player) Prince Jobst 731 352 461
(French Enemies) Captain Lucas 794 672 122

men remaining for:
Jobst: 379
Captain Lucas:122
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
End of Report

[Ituralde]

The Fall of Budapest, 1174:

https://img442.imageshack.us/img442/5329/bupadestattacklx1.jpg

Night had descended upon the Hungarian capital of Budapest so the time was right for the Austrian Household Army to make their move. Leopold had spoken about his plans with Hans several times now and between the two of them it had reached a perfection that would lead this assault to success.

Leopold had hired some Slav Mercenaries and Balkan Archers to bolster his forces. Equipped with one set of ladders they were to attack the main gate of Budapest.

https://img457.imageshack.us/img457/1296/southgz3.jpg

Leopold himself took the Crossbowmen and Seargant Spearmen with him to the West Gate.

https://img515.imageshack.us/img515/6091/westgatevc5.jpg

Hans had taken the Mailed Knights with him to the East gate.

https://img258.imageshack.us/img258/9031/eastgatehx2.jpg

Both men had one ram with them, ready to knock down the gates, while the defenders were distracted. The Hungarian captain was no fool though and had split his forces equally between the three gates, whether that would help him in the long run, remained to be seen.

Leopold ordered his ram forward, while one of his Spearmen units took up the ladders to scale the walls.

https://img404.imageshack.us/img404/5677/westscalecq5.jpg

At the same time the assault on the Southern and Eastern gates began. Seeing the largest host under Leopold approaching from the West, the Magyars abandoned the Southern gate to the oncoming mercenaries.

https://img515.imageshack.us/img515/3664/southflightxn7.jpg

The ram on the Western gate had been quick though and were ready to break the gate. On the other side Hungarian Nobles were already waiting for Leopold , once it was breached.

https://img404.imageshack.us/img404/4176/westbrokenhh5.jpg

The Spearmen on the battlements were fighting desperatly against the Hungarian Militia, gaining ground slowly.

https://img375.imageshack.us/img375/723/westbattlementsbd2.jpg

Below Leopold charged his bodyguard through the gate engaging the Hungarian Nobles, who quickly abandoned the battle to flee towards the city square. The Western gate was open and the Imperial soldiers entered the city.

https://img409.imageshack.us/img409/5417/westenteredcw0.jpg

Meanwhile Hans ram had done a good job in crushing the Eastern gate.

https://img442.imageshack.us/img442/173/eastbrokenpx5.jpg

He immediatelly spurred his large host of cavalry forward towards the Town Square. He was met halfway by the Hungarian cavalry that had not been sent to the Western gate. Fierce fighting ensued in the streets, with both sides fighting vigorously for every inch.

https://img258.imageshack.us/img258/1281/eastencountercj6.jpg

In the South the Mercenaries had finally scaled the walls surrounding the main gate unopposed and were now making their way forward to the Town Square.

https://img405.imageshack.us/img405/856/souhtsecuredgq8.jpg

Finally Hans had broken the resistance of the Hungarian horse and could now pursue them to the Town Square himself.

https://img258.imageshack.us/img258/7172/eastpursuitdj6.jpg

The remaining defenders had rallyed in the center of the city and were preparing their defense. It was a desperate choice with Imperial troops closing in on them from three sides. It was Hans with his cavalry that reached them first from the East, soon supported by Slav Mercenaries coming in from the South.

https://img441.imageshack.us/img441/5596/easttownsquarexc3.jpg

Duke Leopold was still held back at the Western end of the town square were some units were resisting his attack. Finally he got them to flee and now the path was free for him to charge the remaining enemies!

https://img441.imageshack.us/img441/3274/finalchargetu0.jpg

The ensuing battle was gruesome and through the mist of battle Leopold could see that young Hans must have taken several hits and his once shiny armor was covered in dark stains. Still both men continued to hack away at their enemies until the last resistance was removed.

Spurring his horse onward Leopold approaches Hans, raising his visor. "You look terrible son!" He bellowed loudly.

Hans who looked relieved had already taken the time to take off his helmet and was grinning in response. "So do you, uncle!"

"Get off that horse boy, now! You think you did well in the battle? Did you?"
Looking a little uncertain Hans obeys, while Leopold leaps from his horse to land on the ground close to him. Walking two steps towards the young man, who slowly bends one knee, Leopold draws his sword again, which is still stained with the blood of his enemies, raising it high he stands in front of Hans, slowly lowering it to hover above his shoulder.

"For your honourable service to the Reich and House of Austria! For bravery shown in the face of the enemy! For fighting were others would have fled! For commanding and inspiring your men to follow you! I hereby declare you an Imperial Knight."

"Now stand up, Knight Hans of Swabia!"

https://img178.imageshack.us/img178/3817/budapestfallkt2.jpg

[Dutch_guy]

‘Damn them, damn them all’ Günther exclaimed ‘this ‘ll set us back another year’ he continued, scaring the scribe writing down his every word. He had been travelling back to Thorn after the competent scouts of the Reich had detected yet another weak Polish force headed for the castle of Thorn. It seems they even have the manpower to sacrifce their soldiers on suicide missions, whilst the wise thing would of course have been to actually combine those forces. And preserve them...

The inevitable assault on Breslau would have to wait just that bit longer, and Günther never was the man known for his ever lasting patience...

‘We’ll do this the easy way’, Günther thought aloud, ‘our spearmen will engage and our horses will flank’. This will be over in no time. He ended, knowing he was wasting precious time on matters easily done by someone lower in rank.

https://img118.imageshack.us/img118/4046/medieval220070413162449hc8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

As soon as the Poles were seen, Günther sent in the Peasant archers. The battle may not be as large as his ego demanded it to be, yet he still liked to minimise friendly casualties.

The archers were to be guarded by the heavy shields of the friendly spearmen, and would continue to fire into the enemy ranks until the very last moment before impact between the two main lines. Which, Ironially, consited of one Polish battalion.

Two contignents of spearmen where ordered to flank the Polish right and left, and position themselves for the inevitable charge once the lines were engaged, and once the fight would begin in earnest.

https://img102.imageshack.us/img102/9403/medieval220070413162759yh5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

As the spearmen slowly advanced, and the archers continued their shower of arrows on the enemy lines, Günther ordered his personal guard to circumvent the enemy left. Adding yet another hammer used to strike the soon to be engaged Poles.

Once the troops were positioned, the spearmen in front of the enemy were ordered to engage. Walking at first, but steadily increasing their tempo they engaged the enemy; spears raised up high, and shields low. The first men were beginning to fall, on both sides...

https://img78.imageshack.us/img78/7370/medieval220070413162812ja8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

A horn was sounded, and the archers directed their fire over the first line of combatants. Targetting the enemy general. The flankers were now given the order to engage, and were soon followed by the general himself.

https://img118.imageshack.us/img118/1784/medieval220070413162834yn2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The fighting didn’t last long, and the enemy tried to flee once they noted the fact that they were being attacked from all sides. Few, however, made it through the steadfast Germans.

Their general wasn’t one of the lucky ones; he was cut down by Günthers bodyguard, whilst trying to out run them. Foolish Poles.

https://img452.imageshack.us/img452/6444/medieval220070413162928qu8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The battle didn’t last long, and the Poles were almost destroyed to the man. The survivors were stripped of their weapons and valuables – but spared. They were to be ransomed, if the Poles wanted their cowardly comrades back that is...

https://img118.imageshack.us/img118/4124/medieval220070413162944cw9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Another battle won, surely many more would follow.






:balloon2:

[flyd]

Hamburg, 1174

It was a very cold morning. A fresh snow had fallen over night, and there was still a heavy cloud cover. It was dark, and it was cold. Normally, the streets of Hamburg would be largely deserted, but this morning quite the opposite was the case. It seems that everyone was in the streets, running in a generally northernly direction, although no one seemed to know why. Upon arriving at the north gate, it became clear why everyone wanted to see it, for it was a very peculiar sight: the gate was wide open! Furthermore, the entire garrison of the city had just marched out. Somebody yelled, "They're abandoning us, the city has been abandoned to the English!" which prompted loud cheers from one part of the assembled mob, and lamentations from the other part. With no governor and no garrison present, order quickly began to degenerate, until someone else yelled, "the English are gone!"

Everyone paused for a moment, and then rushed to the gate. Those who could not gain access to the gate began scaling the wall, entering the towers, and climbing the nearby houses to gain a view. The English camp, which had been there for 8 years, was still just outside of the city, as were the siege works. However, the English army, the entire English army, was most certainly no longer present. Order again began to degenerate as a large-scale argument erupted over what had happened. No one had any real answers, and no one was quite brave enough to ride out. Shortly after, a group of peasants, about 100 in number, approached the city from the north, carrying most of their possessions. As they entered the city, they were quickly surrounded by the mob, and bombarded with questions. Through it all, they managed to relate that they were from a nearby village, and that they were told to take refuge in the city as there was about to be a battle.


North of Hamburg, 1174

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y208/flydude18/initk1.jpg

"Put the cavalry on the left. All of it."

Fredericus looked down at the old, worn-out copy of the book he was holding. On Military Tactics, by Tiberius Coruncanius.

He continued to speak quietly, to himself. "Right. We shall use the massed cavalry and the incoming reinforcements to create a 'local superiority' on the left flank, and attack their 'weak point', which are those peasants on the left, and that will create a.. a.. 'chain rout'." He looked unsure. He had never commanded an entire army in battle before, and was now tasked with defeating an enemy army which had a much larger number of infantry, and exactly the same number of cavalry as his.

He tried to reassure himself. "This has been done before. Our sergeants are superior to their militia, they will hold the line for a long time. The cavalry will have plenty of time to strike, the peasants will rout. The line will know what to do, we even practiced the maneuvers at..."

"The English advance!"

Well, it was too late now. There was but time for a short prayer before the lines collided.

The lines did collide, and the cavalry advanced on the left. As planned beforehand, they stopped, they turned around, and they charged.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y208/flydude18/uhohk1.jpg
English peasants engaging the Germans, blissfully unaware of their impending doom!

The first peasants routed. The cavalry withdrew to perform another charge while the reinforcing spear militia advanced to envelop the right of the English line.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y208/flydude18/flankinitk1.jpg
The Germans prepare to envelop the enemy's right.

As this was executed, the English commander attacked in the center with the remainder of his cavalry. Fredericus moved in personally to prevent the line from being broken.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y208/flydude18/centerk1.jpg
Fredericus defends in the center (image left), while the Germans continue to gain superiority on the left (image right).

This action caused the death of the English commander, and a subsequent rout, from left to right, of the entire English line.

Well, it worked, but the casualties were heavy. The spearmen took many casualties while the lines were engaged with each other, and the cavalry and others did as well while they flanked. Those old Roman reports must be exaggerated. Either that, or their enemies were far more incompetent than they'd have you believe.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y208/flydude18/hamburgresult.jpg


Outside of Hamburg, 1174

A representative from the city, whose name escapes me at the moment, came to the army camp to meet with Fredericus, who inquired about the status of the city.

"There was some disorder," he answered, "but everything is fine now. The people are happy that you are back. They are preparing a large feast in your honor."

"That's wonderful, but I must move on to Frankfurt with no delay, it is being sieged by the Poles."

"But the city has been under siege for eight years. You won't even stop by for a moment?"

"I can't," Fredericus insisted, "there are matters to take care of. Speaking of matters to be taken care of, I need you to take care of the prisoners captured here, about 300 in number. They're just militiamen and peasants. I doubt they wanted to be dragged here and forced to fight their Saxon brothers. Ensure their safe return to England."

The representative nodded and exited. One of the knights complained that they would not stop by Hamburg even for a short time. He was particularly concerned that they would not get to meet any of the women who would be... grateful for the rescue. Fredericus responded:

"The city has been under siege for eight years, while I was a short distance away in Magdeburg. I think they'd much rather want to hang me than to have a feast in my honor. We'd best be moving on, we have other cities to rescue."

[GeneralHankerchief]

Southwest of Florence, 1176

As the rain poured down on what was to be the day's battlefield, Conrad Salier sat alone in his tent. He had already briefed the men about his battle strategy for the day; this was his time to mutter his usual series of prayers. Today, however, there would be a few extra - this was the first time that he had actually led men into battle.

I am but a tool of the Lord, he thought to himself. Today, that tool happens to be a weapon.

His faith had been somewhat shattered in 1160, the year in which he officially joined the Imperial Diet. A meeting with his benefactor, Maximillian Mandorf, had left him shocked and questioning much. However, he had learned to put that all behind him (at least, publicly) and focus on the task at hand. Besides, God was most likely testing him, much like he did to Job.

As he sat in his tent praying, he could hear the patter of the rain get louder, as well as the shifting of his men in armour. It was time to kill the Milanese, in the name of God and the Reich.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_112.jpg

The composition of the two small armies he faced were the oddest that he had ever seen or heard about. The first army immediately in his vicinity was commanded by one Count Augustino, and accordingly had a large heavy cavalry escort with him. Backing him up was only one regiment of infantry, and they were peasants at that. However, there were three well-trained regiments of catapults as well, which would wreak tremendous havoc, even in the rain, if allowed to keep up a sustained barrage.

Despite the presence of the catapults, the second, reinforcement army worried Conrad more. They only numbered 361 men, but for each man a horse was present. He faced six regiments of pure cavalry.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_113.jpg

"Men," cried Conrad, finally ready for battle along with his soldiers, "Be thankful for the weather today! The Lord has provided us with a great opportunity for victory! He makes life difficult for those catapults to fire properly, and He also allows us to rid ourselves of any blood that may dirty our uniforms!"

A few of the more vulgar men chuckled at the last comment. Apparently, it was possible to mix Christianity with the more unpleasant tastes.

"Forwarrrrrrrrd... MARCH!!!"

The soldiers started to walk, as planned. The Milanese facing them did the same, although the catapults stopped as soon they were in firing range. As the remainder of the armies continued marching towards each other, the catapults fired a salvo into Imperial ranks, to little effect. However, that was the signal to end the charade that Conrad was putting on.

"All cavalry CHARGE!"

On cue, the numerous Imperial horsemen accelerated to a run. While less in number than the Milanese reinforcements that were making their way to the battle, they were still significant, and plus, they were heavy. The peasants broke instantly, and Count Augustino's escort was in serious trouble. Things were going well enough to send two regiments towards the catapults.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_114.jpg

Shortly after, Count Augustino fell, a victim of momentum.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_115.jpg

That was it was for the first army. However, as he mopped up the fleeing remnants, Conrad looked at the ridge to the southwest. The second army was closing in.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_116.jpg

This would be close. Conrad fiercely ordered his men to form up, to meet the threat, to face the cavalry. His men did so, and just in time.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_117.jpg

The Milanese cavalry descend the ridge.

The impact was horrendous, for both sides. The Milanese charge stopped dead and a significant fraction of their men dropped. However, it was done so at a terrible cost to the Imperial infantry, who lost more than half of their number. A few of the weaker units broke outright after stopping the initial charge.

At that point though, the relatively-healthy Imperial cavalry swarmed in. After a short period of time, the tide turned, and whoever was commanding the cavalry ordered them to get out.

Conrad and his men pursued, catching some of them.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_118.jpg

Most likely they'll go back to their ships to the west of here, he mulled. Perhaps if we get lucky this rain will turn into a storm and sink them.

Satisfied at the results of his first battle as a commander, Conrad made his way back to his tent, drafting a letter informing Chancellor Leopold of what transpired.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_119.jpg

OOC: Much of the casualties resulted in the infantry's defense of the cavalry charge. You wouldn't believe how fast the numbers went down. Other than that the losses were pretty light.

[Ituralde]

Battle near Zagreb, 1176:

Leopold didn't like being here. Chasing some Croatian Rebels while a large Hungarian army led by Banos Gergely was burning his lands near Vienna. He could strike at the Austrian capital at his will or even recapture Budapest. All the while the Venetians had just bypassed Zagreb and were heading for Venice.

Still this was a battle that had to be fought. The rebels had blocked an important Danube crossing, blocking passage and denying Leopold a safe route to Zagreb, and more importantly denying reinforcements from Zagreb to reach him. Reinforcements he desperately needed after the hight casualties sustained in the assault on Budapest. He needed the roads safe for his defensive strategem to work. Constantly travelling between Zagreb and Budapest wherever the next threat would be apparent.

One could almost feel sorry for the Rebels. Only a small number of Croat Axemen ready to fight for their lives in the face of a superior Imperial army outnumbering them vastly. It was an easy task and one Leopold took care to carry out right.
He advanced his crossbows within firing range, backed up by the host of his armiey. Not daring to attack the superior foe the Croats took the beating of the Imperial bolts. They took it well enough, but after their numbers had been halfed a last bolt struck down their Captain that had been holding them together until know.

https://img267.imageshack.us/img267/1111/boltshn0.jpg

Taking this as a signal the Croatians started to flee. Smiling to himself Leopold ordered his Crossbowmen to hold their file. Drawing his sword he spurred his head forward giving his Knights the signal for the attack. The rest of the Rebels were mowed down by Imperial Cavalry.

https://img339.imageshack.us/img339/2599/flightvc0.jpg

Finally the roads were secure again and Leopold could turn his attention to more important matters.

https://img180.imageshack.us/img180/8176/rebelscrushedzk0.jpg[/

[Dutch_guy]

The winter had only just begun, however, seeing as every lake in the near proximity was turned into ice one would have thought the winter to be in its prime. Günther couldn’t quite shake of the depression haunting his mind. It always came in the winter, when the days were short and nights long, but it bothered him more this time around. Yet another Polish force had been detected, again heading for Thorn. Under the cover of the winter snow, the Poles had again managed to sneak an army through the German lines. And again, Günther had had to order his army to head back to Thorn, and deal with them. How he hated these uninspiring battles. Even the enemy soldiers knew the outcome beforehand – no challenge whatsoever. And Günther absolutely hated that.

Promises of plunder, woman, and hot food were wasted on the men when they marched back to the castle of Thorn. Knowing they wouldn’t stay in the castle, they wouldn’t even visit it, but merely take care of the Polish threat, and then turn around for Breslau again. The men didn’t like it, but they were Germans, and they didn’t falter.

It was a clear day when the Germans marched up to the Poles, who were outnumbered at least 2 : 1, and commanded by the anonymous captain who went by the name of Vaclav. The enemy captain had positioned his forces as far away from the Germans as he could, and awaited the inevitable German assault.

https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/9810/medieval220070420230321xm4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)


Günther, finally being able to vent his frustration on yet another poor Polish captain, ordered his archers to engage, and his large force of cavalry to make a large flanking movement. Ideally to attack the Polish rear, or at least cut of the Polish nobles from the main force.

Once the archers started their deadly barrage, the Polish missle cavalry were sent in to deal with the archer attack. Spears were thrown at the German archers, and some hit home. However, the Polish hadn’t counted on the German cavalry, approaching from behind.

https://img519.imageshack.us/img519/9701/medieval220070420230933yx2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Captain Vaclav had not even thrown his first javalin, or issued his first order, when the superior German cavalry charged in from behind. Decimating the Polish force, and spearing the unfortunate captain.

Immediately after the death of the enemy captain, Günther ordered his archers to shoot fire arrows at the demoralized enemy. Chaos ensued when the Polish spearmen were hit with the dreaded fire, and they weren’t able to turn the vicious cavalry charge. Let alone the impetuous feudal foot knigts, eager to get up close and personal with the fearful Polish spears.

https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/5137/medieval220070420231326vh0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)


The routing Polish were hunted down, many falling to the persuing cavalry, and or surrendering to the feudal knights.

https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/1431/medieval220070420231402qv0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)


The battle didn’t last long, and the sun wasn’t even setting when the last Poles were rounded up, stripped, and were ordered to dig the graves of their worthy German overlords and unlucky comrades.

All in all, about three hundred graves had to be dug, forty German ones and a little over 250 Polish graves.

https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/2337/medieval220070420231459jw4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

When the sun had completely set, and the Germans on their way to main camp, another 150 bodies were littered on the frozen battlefield. Polish soldiers not considered worthy enough to be bought back. What a barbarous tribe it is, will they ever learn ?

If not, we’ll have to make them.


:balloon2:

[FactionHeir]

Battle of Thessalonica plains, December 1178

The Hungarians had been pursuing them into Venetian lands ever since one of the men Adalberth had brought along to the escape from Budapest was spotted while collecting wood in the sparsely covered mountains west of Sofia. Hans had hoped that the Magyars would have stopped at the border not wanting to offend the Venetians, but luck was not with him today, nor any of his men, for they would all have to fight to the last to see the dawn - possibly even in a Hungarian prison camp. There was no route for retreat. They had been surrounded by a host of over a thousand, maybe two thousand Barbarians and he, as the commander, would have to find a way to break through one of these lines. If he was lucky, they'd be able to escape into Byzantine lands. If not, god would have mercy on their souls.
With the sound of hooves and boots approaching, Hans raised his sword to inspire his men.

https://img292.imageshack.us/img292/7886/hans1bm9.jpg


He even felt that a light hearted joke would raise the poor morale among his entourage that numbered only 25 men and himself.

https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/4226/hans2la2.jpg


He was glad that he knew Hungarian tactics from his battle at Budapest and knew it would be bloody. A fact he did not intend to keep from his men.

https://img393.imageshack.us/img393/9673/hans3ml8.jpg


Hans placed his bodyguard behind a snowy hill, hoping to exhaust the Hungarians as they marched towards him. To his surprise, the enemy lines of crossbows numbering in the thousands ran in front of the main army with a single magyar cavalry regiment leading the charge towards his position. Feeling that this was the time, Hans called for his men to ride proudly into battle and charged the cavalry, hoping it would be a good shield against the enemy crossbows. He was right.
Many of the enemy horses fell as their brethren unleashed a host of bolts that darkened the horizon without regard for their presence. Only few managed to hit Hans' men.

Seeing that several regiments of nobles were approaching from both flanks attempting to encircle him, Hans forced his men backward, breaking from the melee and charging up against the similarly eager nobles. Again, the Hungarians were foolish enough to let their men be caught between him and their own missiles and took heavy losses. Maybe soon they would be able to find a breach in the enemy lines? Hans wondered, but right at this moment the enemy captain approached on his horse attempting to thrust a sword into the absentminded young man. With quick reflexes, Hans managed at the last moment to avert the blade and in turn stab his through the side of the captain, dismounting him. In horror, he noticed that the Hungarians did not break as their commander lay dead.

https://img393.imageshack.us/img393/3521/hans4vp5.jpg


Without much hope of surviving in his current situation, Hans again forced his men to break from melee and allow him to reassess the situation. His bodyguard was down to some 10 men now and all of them were injured, including him. A few more fell as the Hungarians restlessly pelted them with bolts from afar. Morale was terrible, but Hans knew they would be able to break through the enemy lines soon. With the vigor of youth, he ordered several charges into the enemy infantry in an attempt to break them. His men took heavy losses but ran their lances through over a hundred magyar bodies.

https://img388.imageshack.us/img388/7694/hans5qe0.jpg


Alas, with one of the spear units routing, Hans finally saw an opportunity to escape from the vast horde of Magyars, but he would have to be quick about it. He had several bolts sticking out of his armour and blood was seeping through, coloring the proud Imperial eagle red. Adalberth was heavily wounded and Hans had to bind him to his own horse while another soldier tried to cover their retreat. That man soon fell, hundreds of arrows and bolts piercing his body, but his death allows Hans and Adalberth to break through the last resistance of the routing spears and escape certain death

https://img388.imageshack.us/img388/6754/hans6cz0.jpg

[Ituralde]

Northern Croatia, 1180:

It was a warm day in the north of Croatia. The Hungarians had been visible for days now by the large columns of dust risen by their Horses. It was those same horses Leopold was afraid of. His own army was a decent mix. Good Spears, some Crossbow support and close to 100 Mailed Knights. His enemy was led by Banos Gergely and although he had to fill his army with Slav Mercenaries and Balkan Archers to equal their numbers he could rely on Feudal Knights both Dismounted and on horse along with Hungarian Nobles.

https://img168.imageshack.us/img168/4747/setuptr6.jpg

It was a lush forrested valley where Leopold had finally caught up with his enemies. They had bypassed him earlier and avoided him, trying to sneak towards Zagreb. The enemy had avoided him. It has reached his enemiey that they were facing one of the Reichs best generals. And one who was not known for his kindness towards his enemies.
Now they had set up a defensive position on a hillside overlooking the valley. Leopold marched his troops over the left flank of the valley coming at the Hungarians on equal ground.

Trying to repell the attacker Banos sent his Foot Missile units forward, too far though. Immediatelly the Imperial Mailed Knights rode forward and charged the Missiles unopposed.

https://img408.imageshack.us/img408/3783/hilladvancedj6.jpg

They fled soon, while the Hungarian main army came forward to meet the Attackers. This was the signal for the Mailed Knights to retreat to their own lines closely followed by the Hungarian host.

https://img408.imageshack.us/img408/266/retreatzs2.jpg

The Hungarian counter-attack was swift and brutal. While Leopolds right was showered with arrows the Slav Mercenaries advanced on the left. Wanting to push the Horse Archers further away Leopold advanced. This was the moment the Hungarians chose to send in their cavalry. The Feudal Knights wrought havoc amongst the Sergeant Spearmen anihilating about one hundred of them in their initial charge. Leopold ordered his own bodyguard into the fray while the Mailed Knights charged the left flank where Banos Gergely was leading the attack.

https://img168.imageshack.us/img168/4464/chargecy5.jpg

The decisivness of the Imperial charge was shaking the enemy troops. The Mercenaries were the first to succumb and soon after the Mailed Knights managed to slay Banos Gergely.

https://img257.imageshack.us/img257/595/generaldeadba7.jpg

With their leader only some Dismounted Feudal Knights continued fighting while the rest left the field.

https://img413.imageshack.us/img413/4470/swarmingte0.jpg

Leading his men personally Leopold made sure to let none of the Hungarians escape, before ordering their execution. His enemy had rightfully feared and avoided the confrontation with him and now they were all dead. Leopold knew that those would not have been the last Hungarians he would face in the future.

https://img339.imageshack.us/img339/5720/victoryra1.jpg

[Stuperman]

placeholder for X-th battle of Vencie.

[Kagemusha]

Battle of Nicae 1184

http://img170.imagevenue.com/view.php?image=51491_Jihad1_122_378lo.jpg

Dietrich sat on his horse on the hills East from Nicae. The day of battle had arrived. He was facing a large army of Egyptians led by Al Amir Nasir,who were trying to attack the Bysantian lands. The Battlefied was set so that the Egyptians were North from the Vanguard of the German crusader army. A small contingent of Bysantines was approaching the field from the West lead by the Bysantine Emperor John.

After s short negotiation Dietrich gave the orders to the army. The army was set on a plateu next to an large East West pointed ridge,far enough from the ridge so the Egyptian missiles couldnt shoot the Germans from there. Maximillian Mandorf took the command of the left of the army,while Jonas Von Mahren was in charge of the right.Dietrich himself was in the center behind the lines of crossbows and infantry and foot knights.

http://img175.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=51493_jihad2_122_441lo.jpg

As the battle started the Germans were able to see the heathen muslims for the first time. These men were mostly infantry and first thing Dietrich noticed was that they were not very heavily armoured.

"I think our crossbows will kill many of these bastards today"

The Bysantines marched on the field on the west of the muslims with their catapults and few infantry men and started pounding the muslim army. Dietrich stood calmly and waited what would happen next.
The Egyptian commander divided his troops and deployed his missiles against Germans,while leading his infantry into assault against the Bysantines. Dieetrich gave an brief command.

"Crossbows aim for the horses of the horse archers! Right flank cavalry prepair!"

after couple volleys from the 6 units of crossbows,most of the Egyptian horse archers were shot dead,Dietrich ordered.

"Right flank cavalry charge! Crossbows cease fire!"

http://img152.imagevenue.com/view.php?image=51499_jihad3_122_634lo.jpg

Dietrich joined the cavalry charge also and in a matter of seconds as two general bodyguards units and an unit of Teutonic knights charged over the archers,they were slain.Few of them got away,but Dietrich halted the cavalry.He watched carefully to the North West and saw that the Egyptian infantry was engaging the Bysantines heavily and he commanded.

"Whole army to the high ground! Mandorf and Mahren keep the flanks!"

http://img150.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=51507_jihad4_122_666lo.jpg

The army moved over the bodies of the dead Egyptian archers.
As the Germans approached they could easily see how good the situation was.

http://img120.imagevenue.com/view.php?image=51514_jihad5_122_482lo.jpg

If they could move fast enough, they would arrive on the rear of the now engaged Egyptian force.Dietrich ordered the army to move on the double quick.
Soon the Bysantines were getting enough and started routing from the field,but that didint help the Egyptians. Now the crusader army was completely in order behind them the crossbows were wreaking havoc among the lightly armored muslims.

http://img154.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=52918_jihad6_122_1033lo.jpg

As the Egyptian commander ordered charge uphill,Dietrich smiled to himself and sayed to his Lietenant besides him.

"Poor bastards,they are doomed."

The crossbows fired still few volleys to the advancing mass of Egyptian infantry.After that they retreated behind the main line of Germans. Dietrich had moved on the right and as the Egyptian infantry reached the German crusaders main battle line Dietrich blowed on his warhorn and on the right lead by himself and on the left commanded by Von Mandorf the German knights hitted the Egyptians with devastating force. Now also the German foot knights and spearmen charged and soon the whole Egyptian army was a mass of routing men trapped between the Crusader cavalry and infantry.
A mere 45 Egyptians escaped as the rest lowered their weapons.The Crusader army had won a resounding victory. After the battle the three German noblemen gathered and decided that there should be no mercy for the heathens and every prisoner was put to the sword and sent back to what false god they were worshipping.

The Butchers bill:

http://img17.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=52923_jihad7_122_1087lo.jpg

http://img162.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=52929_Jihad8_122_460lo.jpg

[Ituralde]

Fall of Ragusa, 1184:

https://img107.imageshack.us/img107/4269/setupns0.jpg

Leopold did not get it. There in front of him sat one of the mightiest Castles he had ever seen. In fact it was rightfully called a Fortress. Two sets of walls had to be scaled and that was after the attacking army had been funneled on top of a plateau through a narrow rise. Then after the first gate was breached the way to the second gate would expose any intruder to Fire from the inner wall, raining fiery death or worse on the attackers. It was an attackers nightmare. Leopold had considered asking for Trebuchets to be brought in from Venice to even have a remote chance of taking this Venetian stronghold.

That's why he did not understand why the Venetians had neglected to defend it. The Fortress was virtually deserted, with only one Venetian Noble and his retainers trying to organize the defense. He almost pitied Barbus Selvo, but the stupidity prevented him. It was true that reinforcements were coming from the East, but it was too late. Imperial spies had managed to gain access to the gates and would open them during the attack. Leading his men Leopold advanced the Fortress in a slow canter.

https://img107.imageshack.us/img107/7044/fortresszs4.jpg

No men had manned the gate and so no arrows greeted the Imperial army as they made their way to the gate. Barbus Selvo had chosen to stay in the Central Plaza awaiting the attackers. Why he even had the nerve to stay and fight instead of just handing over the castle was beyond him. He would make the Venetian pay for his decision.
Unopposed Leopold entered the strong first gate.

https://img395.imageshack.us/img395/6720/enterdz3.jpg

Barbus Selvo must not have accepted such an easy entrance for the Austrian army. His surprise didn't last long and he spurred his bodyguard onward to meet the Imperial troops in glorious battle.

https://img395.imageshack.us/img395/6664/sallyzb0.jpg

Leopold ordered his own bodyguard to lead the way against the Venetian attack, closely followed by his Mailed Knights. He would teach his adversary how foolish it was to charge a whole army all by himself. Some would have honoured his foe for his bravery and chivalry. Leopold just admired the mens stupidity.

The two horse groups clashed in one of the narrow streets leading to the second gate. The battle was bloody, both sides fought bitterly. Finally Leopold had managed to reach Barbus Selvo and traded decisive blows with him.

https://img395.imageshack.us/img395/8351/oneononeck7.jpg

Finally Leopold was able to breach his enemies defense and deliver a killing blow. The rest of his bodyguard finally realized the foolishnes of their action and tried to flee. None of them escaped.

https://img395.imageshack.us/img395/8199/victorypp2.jpg

[Warluster]

1184
The Second battle for Dijon - The Sally Forth

Once again the city of Dijon was sieged by the forces of the Kingdom of France. Being Jobst Von Salza's given city, and treasured, he was too defend it. Or die trying.

it was nearly night time, most soldiers were falling asleep at their posts. That was untill a booming voice woke them up,
'Get to the Western gate! We are to sally forth, or you shall be slain by those French!' eylled the voice, and the Garrison of Dijon reaied themselves for the forthcoming battle, and waited by the Western Gate.

The French were also ready, waiting silently, among their meager ranks was also some mercanires, Spearmen and Frankish Knights. Both considerbly good, in Jobst's eyes.

While allt his happened, Jobst was waiting at the main Castle of the city, leaning over a balcony, watching. His Captain and BodyGuards waiting patiently behind him.
'I fear...' muttered Jobst, the Captain was slightly disheartened.
'Of battle sir?' asked the Captain.
'No! I shall never fear for battle... only for Swabia and The Reich' said Jobst,louder.
'Is it of Von Kassel's Chancellorship mein prinz?' asked the Captain.
"never, Chancellor Von Kassel is a good soldier,leader and man, I would never speak behind anyones backs, I would prefer to say it to their faces! But it is forwhat might happen to our Duchy, we are in grave danger Captain.' said Jobst,
'But now to battle!' he said cheerily.
'Yes mein prinz'
And Jobst put on his armor, a full bodied play of armor. And he strided downstaris, onto his amored horse and Jobst and his Bodyguard rode to the Western Gate.

When he reached their he nodded to his Captain, and then to the front of his army.
'Once again we face these vile French, the one The Reich is determined to stop conquering our lands, but most of all, the ones who Swabia despies! The ones who pillaged metz, killed The great Sigismund'(jobsts eyes darkened)' and wish to burn this great place of Dijon, so I say to you, Sally Forth with no fear, and kill as many as you can, OR DIE TRYING!' yelled Jobst, and a earth shattering roar issued from the army. And they turned to the gates, where they rode through, and too the sunset and battle.

At once Jobst ordered the Peasent Crossbowmen forward, who started firing at the enemys dismounted knights. Then the other four archer units started firing at once.

Jobst carefully observed the battle, and saw the enemy front line burning. The captain spoke,
'By god, what is that devillary?' he asked,
'Why, that is our archers fire arrows, burning their line' replied Jobst, and so it was. A horrible screaming could be heard, and burning flesh.

'Section the army into groups, the normal spearmen and townpeoples, then the elites' said Jobst,
'Elties sir?'
'Our dismounted Knights, the Seargent Spearmen, those Elites' said Jobst. The captain nodded, and so they were. Then they were ordered to attack certian areas.

Some Normal Spearmen went around the enemy, the other nrmal spearmen attacked the Frech Spearmen/Town Miltia, and the Elites attacked the highly armored ones.

And with several minutes of bloody fighting, it was all over, as the enemy routed.

And Dijon was saved, to fight another day!

https://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s193/Warluster/medieval22007-05-0216-39-18-84.jpg
https://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s193/Warluster/medieval22007-05-0216-39-13-21.jpg

[Ignoramus]

*placeholder*

[Ituralde]

Battle near Ragusa, 1186:

https://img102.imageshack.us/img102/6461/infsetupnj0.jpg

The Venetians had been quite surprised to find the Fortress they had been sent to relieve already in enemies hands. Leopold had ridden forth to meet them and drive them back south. They had chosen the more orderous path north though, probably hoping that they could use the mountains as cover. Not wanting them to join with some Venetian remnants further north, Leopold pursuied his enemy deep into the mountains. When he was finally able to get them to battle he surveyed the battlefield with much dismay.

https://img102.imageshack.us/img102/7268/infdefenseya3.jpg

Mabye it would have been less strenuos to have faced this men in the Fortress at Ragusa than attempting to attack their formidable defensive position. He could count himself lucky that there were no Missile units among the enemy. Instead he was faced with some of the most formidable Heavy Infantry known.

Not wanting to exhaust his men too much Leopold tried to advance up a somewhat shallower slope to the East of the enemy, hoping to gain some equal ground from where he could attack him. Mabye sensing his plans or eager to engage the enemy the Venetians also set out towards a downhill slope to the left of their position.

https://img409.imageshack.us/img409/2020/inffieldyl0.jpg

This gave Leopold enough time to deploy his men in a defensive fashion. Now turning the battle. His enemy would be charging downhill but he outnumbered them and once the Infantry was within reach of his Crossbowmen a deadly hail of bolts began, breaking the first attempts of attack.

Soon the Venetians engaged the Imperial troops in earnest though. Due to their superior numbers and positioning the enemy soon found himself outflanked. Leopold had meanwhile maneuvered his cavalry further up the slope from where he could survey the whole battlefield, and more importantly lead a downhill charge!

https://img444.imageshack.us/img444/9050/infchargexe0.jpg

The Venetian resistance was quickly dispersed and none of the Heave Infantry lived up to its reputation as they were hacked down one after another. Those that fled were mercilessly cut down, it would not have made sense to take them prisoner. After all he had just conquered Ragusa to deny his enemy access to these elite troops, so he surely had no intention of ransoming anybody.

https://img251.imageshack.us/img251/5639/victoryinfyz0.jpg

[econ21]

The First Battle of Adana, 1188

“How long has it been since we last fought a battle, Ernst?” Henry wondered. Ernst, his most devoted guard, looked back impassively, having long ago learnt not to interrupt the Kaiser’s soliloquies.

“How many years? Ah, my brain hurts even trying to think on that. What was our last battle, Ernst?”

Ernst watched the Kaiser stride around the tent, Henry’s agitation and excitement clear to behold.

“I remember now - it was against the French while Manfred was still Chancellor, just after poor Sigismund fell. What has become of Swabia now? It has lost its way, and the French still menace us.”

A fellow Swabian, Ernst looked down dolefully.

“But now, at last, we are back. And what a battle. Dusan reckons there are 1500 of the Mohammedans.”

https://img157.imageshack.us/img157/9276/adana1nt8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The balance of forces: while the Egyptians have numbers on their side, the greater quality of the German forces means that the battle begins 2:1 in their favour.


“Am I too eager to be back on the field of battle? Hans and Dietrich seem to think so. Damn, I am sad to see Otto’s gone. It’s not good to go into battle with reluctant warriors. Still, Hans and Dietrich surely understand that this battle, at least must be fought?”

Henry looked carefully at Ernst:

“You haven’t got much to say for yourself, have you?”

Ernest was about to respond to the Kaiser, when he heard footsteps approach and turned round to see Dusan Kolar stride into the tent, his black cloak swirling.

“Still talking to your damned dog, Kaiser” said Dusan, as he scratched Ernst’s ears and the dog thumped his tail from side to side excitedly. “Some people would say you’re going mad. Gone to the dogs, even.”

The Kaiser looked irritatedly at his presumptious advisor, who was crouched happily petting Ernst, Henry’s faithful guard dog.

“Come, Kaiser, you must put on your cloak - we’ve a journey to make. The Egyptian General, Mahmoud Ahmad, has requested a parley.



*****


Henry looked at the commanding young figure in front of him. Mahmoud Ahmad was only 33, but he spoke with calm authority and moved with grace.

https://img404.imageshack.us/img404/2750/ahmad1jn7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Egyptian General: although it is not a term he would recognise, Europeans might even call him chivalrous.

“Great Kaiser, it is truly an honour to meet you. I am grateful for you agreeing to talk.”

Why the hell am I talking? Kaiser wondered to himself. This is to be a battle, not a breakfast! What was Kolar thinking? Henry tried to compose himself and said reservedly:

“Do not mention it, General. What was it you wanted to discuss?”

Mahmoud waved to his servants to bring Henry a small pot of coffee. The Kaiser tasted the drink cautiously, finding the sober, bitter beverage much more suitable for the time before battle than the wine, beer and spirits routinely consumed by the Germans. When the Kaiser had sipped from his cup, Mahmoud continued calmly.

“Kaiser, as I believe you know, my orders are to march on Constantinople. While our countries may now be at war, I have no intention to strike at you. I respect your strength and that of your warriors. If we fight today, the losses may be so great I may arrive at Constantinople with too few men to accomplish my mission. Or I may not arrive at all.”

Henry admired the young men’s candour and so returned it.

“General, you are a good and loyal soldier. There are good and loyal generals in my camp who think of my situation, as you think of yours.”

Mahmoud’s eyes widened slightly:

“Then Kaiser, take your army and pass by. No one need die this day.”

Henry drained his cup, as the last bitter drop of coffee fell, it only added to the empty feeling inside the Kaiser and he shook his head, sadly.

“I am sorry, General. It is impossible. Constantinople is the capitol of my allies and I am honour bound to assist them.”

Mahmoud looked down, and nodded.

“I understand the calls of duty and friendship, Kaiser. And, of course, I am not surprised. You have already stopped one of our armies heading for Constantinople, perhaps I was foolish to think you would not do so again.”

The Egyptian general looked up and narrowed his eyes:

“But there is one thing, I ask of you, man to man. When this day is over, whichever way Allah wills it, let is not end the way of the last battle of our peoples. Let us treat each other’s men with the respect we two generals have shown each other today.”

Henry stared into the young generals’ eyes. He knows. He knows he is outclassed. He has not called me here to avoid battle. He has brought me here to plead for the lives of his men. Henry found himself admiring again the composed young Egyptian facing him.

“General, you are brave and honourable man. You have my word.”

As the Kaiser left the Egyptian camp, he cursed Dusan Kolar.

“What the hell were you doing, bringing me here? We are here to kill these people, not drink coffee with them!”

Dusan Kolar smiled quietly. “You may have been drinking, Sire, I have not. Look around you. Know your enemy.”

Damn it, thought Henry: Kolar’s made me look like an idiot again! Here we are, in the heart of the enemy camp before battle, seeing their every regiment, able to size up the opposition. This kind of intelligence is invaluable! Henry looked around at the seething mass of enemy soldiers readying themselves for war. Around General Ahmad’s tent, the bodyguards seemed covered in very heavy armour - even their horses were protected from head to toe by the heaviest coats of armour. Henry could even see catapults and trebuchets towering over the Egyptian tents. Henry noted all this with admiration, but then his eyes travelled further afield. As he travelled out of the camp, most of the Egyptian soldiers around seemed ill equipped, undrilled but with eyes that burned with a passion: young excitable Mutatawwi’a and fanatical Ghazis, grey haired Sudanese warriors and robed Bedouin cavalry. Many of the enemy were chanting or praying. In their devotion, Henry thought sadly, these are Manfred’s children, born under a different sky. The abundance of cloth and bronzed flesh stayed in Henry’s mind as he returned to his camp, to be greeted by serried ranks of heavily armoured knights. This was not going to be a battle, it was going to be a slaughter.



*****


“Now, Dietrich, I want you up on the heights on my right. Take the pavisse crossbowmen. We can’t allow the enemy to gain that ground. I can spare you a regiment of dismounted knights and one of spearmen, and you can take Jonas too.”

https://img404.imageshack.us/img404/7246/adana2hc2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

In order to deny them to the enemy, the Germans occupy the heights on the right. However, the Egyptians deploy in the centre, leaving Duke Dietrich’s right division somewhat detached from where the main battle will be fought.


Dietrich nodded. Henry embraced the old warhorse. No further instructions were necessary. Dietrich could be trusted to lead the right division as the situation dictated.

“Hans, you will be on the left flank, next to me. The Teutons will be on my right. The rest of the infantry will be formed up in column next to the spur under Dietrich’s heights. Put the crossbow militia in front, then the armoured sergeants, followed by the knights. The pilgrims can bring up the rear. Their numbers can add to an impression of strength, but I don’t want them anywhere near the enemy.”

Why do I want Hans so close to me? Henry wondered. Is it so I can protect him from danger? Or because I don’t trust him not to go charging off on his own?

“We will move the line forward until we are on the crest of the spur to the right, then we will take it from there.”

Henry could see Dietrich looking at him quizzically. Yes, not much of a plan, I know, God damn it, Henry thought in a fluster. But we will improvise.

Slowly, the German line shuffled forward, its deliberate step contrasting with the fleeting grace of a regiment of mercenary Turcopoles, who raced towards the Germans’ right. All four regiments of German crossbows targeted the horse archers, but their speed seemed to protect them from damage. In a flash, they were almost upon the crossbow militia, who ran backwards in disorder.

https://img523.imageshack.us/img523/1674/adana4oi1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Turcopoles occupy the spur above the main German line, and from their Cantabrian circle, fire down on the approaching attackers.


From the heights above, Duke Dietrich watched the turcopoles in frustration. His pavisse crossbowmen seemed to be making no impression on the horse archers. But then the old Duke saw the enemy begin using a Cantabrian circle to protect themselves against missile fire.

“Jonas!” Dietrich roared. “Now we have them! Charge those heathen dogs!”

https://img404.imageshack.us/img404/7152/adana5se8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Although the Cantabrian circle helps the turcopoles avoid the German crossbow bolts, it means that they are not able to skirmish away from Jonas’s knights.


In the centre of the German line, Henry’s attention had been fixed on the flamboyant turcopoles and only belatedly did he see a regiment of Egyptian archers coming racing forwards. Astonished by their audacity, Henry ordered his own escort to drive them off. Dusan Kolar looked at the Kaiser in incomprehension - he was abandoning command of the army now, before the battle had even started?

https://img404.imageshack.us/img404/2393/adana6jp8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Kaiser chases off the skirmishing Egyptian archers in the centre of the battle.

The charge was badly botched - the Kaiser’s escort was on the right flank of the Egyptian archers and was not properly aligned for a charge. Moreover, the Egyptians were remarkably fleet footed, reaching the safety of their lines before the Kaiser’s men had come into contact. The Kaiser’s exhilaration turned to anxiety as in front of him loomed a fast moving mass of over a thousand Egyptian infantry.

“Pull back! Pull back!” he screamed, but in the roar of battle, it was hard for his frantic voice to reach the helmeted ears of his bodyguard.

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The Kaiser’s charge overruns into the approaching central mass of the jihad.


Over on the left of the German line, Hans had been left to face the second mercenary Turcopole regiment. All the crossbowmen were far away on the right or in the centre right of the line, so Hans and his slow moving escort were powerless against the fleet footed horse archers. Hans watched his father’s escort wheeling right to chase the Egyptian archers. He watched the arrows of the Turcopoles thud into the heavy armour of his men. The extra padding and horse armour would protect them for a while, but the young man was damned if he was going to let the enemy come up to his nose and start shooting. Hans ordered a charge to drive off the Turcopoles.

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The second regiment of Turcopoles taunts Hans and his men stationed on the left of the German line.

Hans’s charge was, as he knew, an exercise in futility. The greater speed of the Turcopoles meant they could easily outpace their pursuers, and their skill with the bow meant that even flight did not put an end to the barrage they were able to lay on Hans’ men. However, the pursuit did put Hans behind the main enemy lines and so he was able to break off, about turn and crash into the enemy infantry approaching the German centre.

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In a battle marked by little tactical subtlety, Hans is able to pull off a rare rear charge into the enemy lines.

In the centre of the battle, Henry had managed to extricate his bodyguard from the main body of the jihad with the loss of only one knight. But the situation was grim. General Ahmad clearly had no intention of leaving his men standing around and being shot down by the German crossbow bolts. His army was moving en masse towards the spur on the centre right on the German lines. There would be no time to for a missile duel. Henry began to realise with alarm how narrow his front line was - formed in a column, two regiments abreast. Hastily, he ordered the two regiments of dismounted knights to move alongside the two regiments of armoured spearmen. Even then, his frontage was less than half that of the enemy. With Hans gone from his left, his own escort in disorder, all that remained to hold his flank was a fine regiment of Teutonic knights. Reluctantly, Henry realised he had no choice but to order these sixty elite warriors forward, in a frontal attack on the central enemy mass of over a thousand fanatical warriors.

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The Teutonic knights, flower of Germanic Christendom, will be cut down in this battle.

When he gathered his own escort together, Henry ordered it back into the central melee. There was nothing for it now, but hard fighting: German iron against Egyptian cloth.

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Battle is now fully joined, as the Kaiser charges his men back into the central struggle.

On the right, from above the heights, Duke Dietrich watched the chaotic battle that had erupted in the centre of the German lines. His left division was about a third of the Reich’s forces, but its deployment had left it out of touch with the main conflagration.

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The view from the German right. Dietrich’s division is positioned to sweep down on the Egyptian left.

Dietrich roared at the men around him:

“Down and at them, men! The Kaiser needs us! Forward, for God’s sake! I have promised him my support! Would you make me a liar?”

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As the Teutons and dismounted knights in the German centre begin to take heavy losses, Dietrich strikes deep into the Egyptian left flank.

Over on the German left, the Turcopoles who had been harassing Hans observed his escort, locked in battle with the Egyptian infantry and decided to strike at their exposed rears. Hans, however, welcomed this chance to come to grips with those who had earlier been his tormentors and managed to successfully extricate his escort to face the enemy cavalry.

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Alone on the left flank, Hans must anchor the otherwise hanging German line.


Amidst the chaos of battle, Henry wondered if he had forgotten something. Hacking through the mass of Egyptian infantry was one thing, but surely there was more to it than this? And then he remembered - the heavily armoured men who had guarded General Ahmad. Come to think of it, where was Ahmad himself? Dusan Kolar seemed to read his Master’s mind and he pointed over to the centre left of the line. There, Henry could just make our a compact body of enemy horsemen emerging out of the mass of Egyptians.

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General Ahmad enters the battle, driving straight towards the faltering German centre left.

With alarm, Henry realised that his left flank was exposed. Hans was alone on the far left, now surrounded by Turcopoles and ghazis. Closer in the regiment of Teutons was holding back the tide of the enemy infantry but it could not endure forever. Already, the furthest left regiment of dismounted knights had been destroyed in the central melee, a dozen broken survivors running to the rear. General Ahmad was leading his heavily armoured, veteran band of cavalry straight to the weakest point of the German line.

“Crossbows - shoot them down! Escort - about left!” shouted Henry, taking his escort around to meet the enemy general “With me, men, with me! Ride! Ride!”

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Henry races to intercept General Ahmad

Things were going better on the German right, as Dietrich’s cavalry cut its way deep into the flank of the Egyptian mass, reaching its war machines.

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Dietrich’s veterans carve their way into the heart of the enemy lines.

The tide was beginning to turn. As Henry’s escort made their appearance on the centre left of the German lines, entire Egyptian regiments started to break. Barefoot warriors from Sudan, some old men with grey hair - others, slim boys - could not stand before the heavy horse and iron of the elite German knights.

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The Egyptian resolve begins to fail.

On the extreme left, Hans and his men had managed to see off the Turcopoles and were making short work of the Ghazis who stubbornly held on.

https://img442.imageshack.us/img442/1143/adana18cf9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Although he has lost a third of his men, Hans has held the left flank and emerges victorious.

Gradually, the Kaiser’s escort cut its way through the Egyptian lines until it was able to reach General Ahmad and his bodyguard. Although by convention it was a great honour to battle your opponent, hand to hand, Henry was rather glad that he was not the one to slay his honourable young opponent.

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General Ahmad is slain by Henry’s escort.

With the death of their general, the will of the Egypt army began to sap. Henry led his men forward into the central mass of the enemy jihad, determined to break any regiments that resisted.

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Things fall apart - Henry leads his men to smash through the wavering Egyptians.

“Forward! Forward! They won’t stand!” shouted Henry. “Bring forward the pilgrims too, come on! Don’t let them get away!”

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From the heights, the pavisse crossbowmen watch the rout of the Egyptian jihad.



*****


After the battle, Dusan Kolar approached the Kaiser:

“Sire, about the prisoners. We have nearly 500 of them. What do you want done with them?”

Henry looked at Dusan wearily. Germany had lost over two hundred men, but numbers did not tell the full story. The quality of the men the Reich had lost was what mattered. Over 100 dismounted feudal knights and an entire regiment of Teutons. Dietrich would doubtless advise the Egyptians all be executed, as the Duke had done at Constantinople. There was a certain logic in that. Could the Reich afford to face these men again? To see another two hundred German knights slaughtered by waves of unarmoured fanatics? But no, there had been enough killing today. Ordering an execution was inconceivable. In his youth, the Kaiser might have released the prisoners, but that option was scarcely worth contemplating. The others on the Crusader Council would not understand. Henry looked back at Dusan, helplessly:

“What am I to do?”

Dusan stared at his master, a man physically and emotionally drained by the day’s battle. The pagan magician’s eyes sparkled and he said light-heartedly:

“Let God decide. Offer them for ransom. If God wills it, they will be free. If not,…”

Henry nodded heavily, so be it. Nearly 500 prisoners - what would such men be worth, Henry mused? When he later heard it was a scant four florins per man, the Kaiser was surprised at the low value of a man’s life. But that idle thought was of little consequence compared to the great relief the Kaiser felt at being able to honour his promise to the late Mahmoud Ahmad.

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The butcher’s bill

[TinCow]

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The thin wind whipped twirling funnels of sand across the emptiness around him. One of the Byzantine guides had called them dust devils. Devils indeed. What else could live in a land disconnected from the Lord? Maximillian raised his visor and squinted at the horizon, or what he thought was the horizon. There was no color in these lands. The earth and sky alike were mottled shades of tan and brown, absent of life and virtue.

For several moments he stared, searching, but there was nothing to see. They had split away from Kaiser Henry’s main force of Crusaders over two weeks ago, but the Turkish Jihad had not yet been sighted. Without access to the great supply train that traveled with the main army, food and water was scarce. If they did not find a source of sustenance soon, men would begin to weaken and die.

Maximillian turned and looked at his companion. “The Lord is testing us, Otto. It is not enough that we bring force of arms to his Great City. We must be worthy of possessing the lands of Christ. I shall give thanks for the hardships we bear, for they serve to purify the souls of those who have taken up the Cross for baser reasons.”

Chancellor von Kassel opened his mouth to speak, but gust of wind blew sand in his face and his words turned into a fit of spitting and coughing. It didn’t matter, words were not necessary. “Thank you for coming, Otto. It is good to have a friend with me during these times. Sir Welf is a skilled and pious knight, but reverence has taken the place of friendship between us. I suppose it is so for many who did not know me in my youth. I threw off the shackles of sin long ago, but the memory of that taint is what keeps my soul pure and my loyalty to God alone. Those who do not know my past do not know who I am.”

Otto nodded. “I expect that Kaiser Henry has engaged the Egyptian Jihad by now. It is possible that we are all that remains of our glorious Crusade.”

All that remains. A curious thought, indeed. “If it is so, then it is because they failed the test of God.” The Chancellor did not respond. There was no need to. Maximillian knew his feelings about the Kaiser were obvious. Henry was a good man, to be sure, but he had fallen from the Light. Maximillian had hoped that by taking the cross Henry would come into greater communion with God, yet since their departure he had fallen further and further into sacrilege and heresy. He had mistaken earthly power for heavenly spirit. In his search for God, he looked only to the world around him, not the world within him. It was this failure of the soul that had led him to that pagan magician. A man that Henry mistook as a priest, but who was nothing more than a trickster and a charlatan. The years spent watching that man’s ‘miracles’ had given the Kaiser superstitions that some called silly. Maximillian called them heretical.

It had been nearly a month ago that he had decided to remove himself from the presence of the Corrupt. Perhaps Henry would succeed and the glory of the City of Christ would restore some piety to the fallen man, but Maximillian thought it more likely that he would lead them into doom. So, he had proposed to split off from the main army and save those who could be saved. From the fortress of Adana, he would spread true Christianity to these barren lands, creating a bastion of sanctity in a land of devilry. No matter what the fate of Henry’s soul, Christendom would be victorious.

A shout came from Maximillian’s left. He looked over to see one of his bodyguards pointing at the horizon. At first, he could see nothing but a blur, as if a green moss had covered the crest of a distant hill. Yet this moss was adorned with pennants and banners flying the unholy symbol of the Mohammedan horde. It was the Jihad.

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“God help us…” Otto gave voice to the thoughts of all who could see the battlefield. The Turks had positioned themselves at the top of a cliff which dominated a vast, sunken land. There they had assembled massive siege engines; catapults and ballistae which could hurl deadly projectiles deep into the valley. The Chancellor turned to him, “If we descend these slopes, we will never rise again.”

Maximillian galloped forward to get clear of the main body of men. When he was 50 yards in front, he stopped and surveyed the land. To the west was a ridge which spanned the depression. From there, the Turkish position could be approached without descending into the Valley of Death. He turned and galloped back to the lines. “Captains! On my march!” He turned west and raised his sword. The battle had begun.

It took only moments for the entire army to shift direction, a sidelong movement which became obvious to the infidels almost immediately. Whoever commanded there had prepared for just such an act. Maximillian could see the entire body of the Turkish force begin to move towards the western ridge. “Double speed! Captains! Get your men into position!”

As one, the entire Crusade army broke into a run. It took only a few minutes to reach the assembly point atop the ridge, but the Mohammedans had moved with devilish speed. A giant mass of men surged forward on the horizon. They would be on the Crusaders in moments. “Form up! FORM UP!”

The sun rose from the north that day; a glowing ball of fire ascending the sky. At first, Maximillian took it for a good omen, but as suddenly as it had appeared, the sun ceased its ascent and began to fall. As a body, the entire Crusade army stopped and looked up as the great ball of fire passed overhead.

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The flaming ball of pitch crashed down to Maximillian’s left.

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The army stood mesmerized by the sight, their formation stalled and their lines disorganized. The trance was broken as a second ball of pitch tore through the easternmost line of crossbowmen, barely missing Chancellor von Kassel’s bodyguard. Men screamed and flailed as they were covered in sticky, burning mass.

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“God help us.” There was no safe haven on the battlefield, no place they could take refuge from the artillery. Though the lines were not yet formed, Maximillian knew they had no choice. The only place the catapults would not fire was into their own lines. It was death by fire or death by blade. He lowered his visor. “CHARGE!”

As the Crusaders surged forward, the Turkish mob came forward to meet them. The main body clashed along the crest of the ridge, while the catapults continued to rain devilish fire on the line of crossbows which had remained in the rear. Maximillian moved to the left flank of the line, watching for breaks and encouraging his men. Otto rode with him. Suddenly, the Turkish lines parted and a mass of heavily armored horse charged straight into the German spears. A dozen men fell almost instantly. No orders were needed. Maximillian and the Chancellor moved in unison. Around the left flank they galloped, then reversed course and engaged the Turkish horse.

For several minutes, Maximillian knew nothing but battle. Ringing steel, shouts of pain, and screams of terror. His trance was broken as a fiery ball flew right into the middle of the engaged German spearmen. Either the Turkish artillerymen had superb aim, or they did not care about hitting their own men.

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“MY LORD! SIR MANDORF!” Maximillian turned and saw Sir Welf behind him. “A large mass of infantry is coming up out of the valley on our right. Hundreds of them! They will flank our line within minutes!”

Before he could respond, another ball of pitch exploded into the German lines, incinerating several spearmen at once

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The entire infantry line was already committed, the only men left to hold the flanks were the cavalry. If all four brigades moved to meet the flanking Turks, they would surely hold the line. But even with such a move, the catapults would continue to fire and the Crusaders would be decimated. “Sir Welf, tell the knights to hold back the right flank at all costs. AT ALL COSTS!”

The Teuton grinned broadly, pleased with the prospect of meeting the Infidel charge head-on. “NO! Not you, Sir Welf. You must take your Teutons around the left flank and deep into the enemy rear. You must stop the Turkish artillery before it kills us all!”

“My Lord, the two brigades of German knights will not be able to hold off hundreds of axemen on their own!”

Mandorf nodded. “Those who fall in the service of God shall live on forever at his side.” He crossed himself. “NOW GO!”

Maximillian turned back to the fight. Otto’s men had dropped many of the Turkish horsemen, pushing deep into their lines. Yet one man still stood his ground, his position surrounded by the fallen horses of half a dozen German knights. As Maximillian turned and galloped towards the Turkish general, the rain of fire continued.

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Mandorf’s gallop had drawn the attention of several nearby knights and spearmen. As a body, they turned and followed; moving as one, deep into the Turkish right flank. The infidel saw Mandorf’s approach and lifted a horn to his lips. A loud double note sounded, and at once a dozen armored horse pulled out of the main line and came galloping to his side. Maximillian lifted his sword and held it shoulder-high as he kicked his mount into a gallop towards the enemy. With a mighty swing, he brought the blade down onto the back of an engaged horseman. The man screamed as the blade cleaved his shoulder from his spine; his armor opened like a split berry.

Time seemed to slow. A lifetime passed in mere moments. Men fell on both sides and the ground was stained red with the blood of pious and heretic alike. Through it all, the enemy catapults continued to fire and Germans continued to burn.

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The prospect of flaming death was putting terror into the hearts of even the most valiant Crusaders. If Sir Welf did not silence the Turkish artillery soon, the line might break. On the right flank, the German knights held back the mass of flanking infantry, but they had paid a huge price. Two thirds of the men were down and the rest were being pushed back. As Mandorf watched, two more were pulled from their saddles.

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If they broke, the line would be flanked and the army would be destroyed. Yet there were no men to spare. Mandorf prayed. He parried a slicing cut by a curved sword. Flaming pitch crashed down into a group of horsemen to his right. Christian and Muslim alike were engulfed in writhing flames. “Lord above, hear my prayers! Deliver us from evil and spare our earthly forms so that we may spread your Truth!” He thrust his sword forward; sparks flew as it met sharpened steel. “GOD, GIVE ME STRENGTH!”

Mandorf threw aside his opponent and spurred his horse forward. A dozen paces ahead, the Turkish general saw him coming and lifted his sword to parry. When they impacted, the battlefield went silent. For a moment, it seemed as if all had stopped to watch the meeting of God and Devil. Yet, the mass around him still surged, swords still swung, and mouths still moved. The ringing sound of the impact had echoed through his helm and momentarily deafened him. As sound slowly returned to the world, Mandorf turned around and looked at the Turkish general. He lay on the ground, his head cut cleanly from his body; his sword broken in two at the spot it had met Maximillian’s. The Crusader looked at his own blade. It was unmarked. It had cleaved through watered steel, armor, flesh, and bone, and it had not so much as a nick about it.

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“The Lord is with us.”

As if in agreement, a sea of shining armor appeared over the crest of the ridge far to the north. The Teutons had arrived.

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With the Mohammedan commander fallen and the artillery captured, the Turkish morale broke. The main line crumbled as the men turned to flee. Mandorf rode them down as Chancellor von Kassel led three regiments of spearmen to the aid of the knights. With their army broken and the force of numbers no longer on their side, they broke as well.

“We have won!”

Maximillian turned to see Sir Welf breathing heavily, his horse sweating profusely. “Yes, but we are not done.” He gestured towards the mass of fleeing men. “Capture them all.” The Teutons joined Chancellor von Kassel and the remnants of the German knights as they chased the routers into the valley. None of the infidels escaped.

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…

Two hours later, Sir Welf returned. “It is done my Lord. We have captured over 700 of the Mohammedan soldiers; nearly three-quarters of their strength! They had a great supply train as well. We have more than enough food and water to reach Adana. What do you wish done with the prisoners?”

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Mandorf looked over at the crowd of disarmed men, surrounded by a ring of German steel. “They are the servants of the Devil. We must make an example of them.” He dismounted and took off his helmet. As he strode towards the captured army, he drew his sword. Its unmarked face glittered in the fading light.

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...

One week later, the Crusade approached the fortress of Adana. Word of the defeat of the Turkish Jihad had not reached the stronghold, as no one had survived to report it. The place was nearly empty of soldiers, all having been called away in service of the Devil. The Turkish Crown Prince was the only significant fighting force present, supervising the construction of yet more artillery to use against Christian sons.

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The reduced garrison did not even notice when a German spy slipped inside the walls and opened the gates. A group of engineers was pushing a pair of ballistae along the wall road when the mass of German knights entered the fortress. The Teutons spread out into the town as Maximillian’s own men put the artillerymen to the sword.

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When the infantry entered, the Crown Prince made a valiant charge into the sea of spears. His death was quick.

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Mandorf turned to survey his new holding. It was a mighty fortress with a double-ringed wall of immense thickness. Within its confines was sufficient space to train many armies of holy Christian warriors. “Yes, this will do nicely.” He turned to a nearby sergeant. “Find all Mohammedan priests and put them to the sword. Strip their temples bare, melt down their holy symbols, and then tear the structures down to the foundations. Tell those who live here that they can renounce their devil worship or they can die.”

Maximillian Mandorf knelt to pray.

Christianity had arrived in the Holy Lands.

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[Warluster]

Dijon , 1188.

A building crumbled to the ground, as loud voices rounded the corner. Peasents brandishing picthed forks were yelling and screaming, burning houses.

But quickly there was a trotting of feet, and a unit of Knights appeared,
'Move along you scum, burning your own bloody houses!' spat one Knight, and was stabbed by a nearby Peasent, whos head was quickly chopped off. More Knights arrived, lower class ones.

They clapped their swords against their shields, yelling and roaring, sometimes killing, untill quickly it was over. The peasents ran away, yelliing, or simply bleed on the ground.

The higher class knights trotted off to the City Centre, while the others stayed behind, policeing the area.

The higher classed knights leader coughed, his throat full of smoke,
'Those bloody peasent scum are getting worse, should slaughter them next time' he spat.
'We shall not and can not, as Prinz Jobst as ordered so'
'But what diffrence will he make!?' one said thickly through his helmet.
'A lot, as the peasents are much more obidient when mein prinz is here' one said, and they all murmured in agreement. But there was one fact they couldn't avoid, Dijon was restless, and rioting, and Jobst was far away dealing with, others....

****

The other side of the mountains of Staufen , 1188.
'I wonder...'
'You wonder too much sir' said the captain, and Jobst laughed.
'At least I am using my brain when I wonder!' said Jobst ,and both men laughed, but the laugh was short lived, as both mens faces dipped back into anxious looks, as battle lay ahead.
'I was going to say how I wonder Dijon is... I hope the lower classes are not problematic' said Jobst thoughtfully, Jobst's Second in command, Fritz, did not wish to tell him of the letter the he had received the day before, clearly outlining and pleading for Jobst to come back and install control, but this would only worry Jobst, especially as - 'And I also hope Heidindrudis is okay' muttered Jobst, Heidindrudis was Jobst's wife, Heidindrudis von Salza.

While the two men sat in thought in the command tent, a messenger came riding swiftly into the armies camp, demanding Prinz Jobst. At once a Knight of Jobst's Bodyguardcame walking into the command tent, bearing a message, from several sources.
'Sir, we have several messages here' said the Knight, fingering through them.
'One from your wife, a couple from military leaders stating about the Crusade, and other places' finished the Knight, kneeling down and handing Jobst the messages, Jobst clapped him on the shoulder,
'Good man, now you go off and prepare for the battle ahead' said Jobst, and the Knight rushed out. Jobst then ripped open the letters eagerly, wanting infomation from the outside world. One was about the capture of Adanna near the Holy Land, one of the capture and sacking of Marseilles, and one about the stae of the Diet, which some Councillers were disproving of. But one thing bugged Jobst -
'NO Bloody letters from Ulrich or Friedrich! I want to bloody hear from them, or I shall speak to them myself!!!' roared Jobst, and the area outside of the tent went quiet. A Knight rushed in,
'Is everything all right sir?' he asked, he knew everything was all right, but it was his obligation to ask.
'Yes Franz, yes' said Jobst, looking at the ground, the Knight withdrew. And silence resumed until;
'Aren't you scared sir?' asked Fritz.
'No I am not Fritz, as eventually we all die, in battle or near loved ones' Jobst said.
'But it is a strange world Fritz' whispered Jobst,
'How mein prinz?' asked Fritz.
'We enter this cruel world crying, smiling faces around us, we leave the world smiling, with crying faces around us' said Jobst. Fritz took this in, and thought on it.
'PRINZ JOBST! MEIN PRINZ!' yelled someone outside, Jobst stood up, and was wearing all his armor, full plate armor. He rushed outside,
'Yes?' Jobst said inquirelny, someone nearly ran into him, but halted , and bowed.
'Battle Awaits!' muttered the person.
"Excellent, EVERYONE! TO ASSIGNED FORMATIONS!' roared Jobst, and the camp blew up with movement, as hundreds of soldiers moved forward, stumbling, cursing and swearing as the tripped over. But eventually they were no longer a rablle, but a army. Jobst was mounted on his horse, and him and his 44-strong bodyguard moved forward.

'Crossbows, move forward and engage enemy ranged units!' yelled Fritz. As their pasive crossbowmen and peasent crossbowmen marched forward, and loaded. But before the could fire, several fell, and many saw bolts sticking from them. Eventually there was a full on skirmish, the air full of crossbow bolts. But the losses were getting worse.

'Infantry and Cavarly move forward and prepare to engage' yelled Fritz, who then turned to Jobst.
'Mein Prinz, do you wish for the bodyguard to engage?' asked Fritz, Jobst nodded, and Fritz prepared to yell orders. But Jobst put a hand on his shoulder,
'Not staright forward Fritz, we're going around them' smiled Jobst,
'Again sir? They can't be thst thick to fall for the sneak trick again!' laughed Fritz. Jobst smiled grimmly.
'We're not going for the peasents, we're going for that 120 unit of Swiss Pikemen.' said Jobst, nodding ahead. And so they did, as they rode out towards the mountains. menwhile the soldiers at the battlefield had stopped,
'mein prinz is abandoning us!' cried some, but others were more confident.
'He'll be back' they muttered, and so he was, as the 44 strong unit appeared 10 minutes later, except behind the enemy. The commanders unit of Swiss Pikemen panicked.
'Turn around, turn around' he yelled in French. But the trumpets of the Swabian House blared, and the bodyguard unit was there, and at once a unit with 120 pikemen were shortened to 10, and they tried to run, but ALL were killed.
'YES!!! THAT"LL TEACH 'EM!' roared Jobst, and the rest roared their uttermost agreement. Soon the whole enemy army was dead, all 400 gone, bleeding to death on the German Lands of the Reich. Jobst, grinned, another bloody good battle.

***
A few weeks later a letter arrived at Dijon, addressed for Heidindrudis von Salza. She eagerly received the letter, and was estatic to see it was from Jobst. She ripped the letter open and read it;

Dear Heidindrudis,
I am returning at once to Dijon, as my second in command,Fritz, told me of your situation today, I am dearly sorry for not responding to your other messages, as I am busy dealing with rebel scum.

I know your woried about the battle, but its over. With our 400 (estimated) troops against their 400, we killed every single one, leaving none alive.

I shall be back in less then a year, until then, take care.

From Prinz Jobst,
Count of Dijon,
Third Elector of Swabia,

End of Report

[OverKnight]

The Battle South of Acre, 1192

News of a Egyptian relief force on its way north to Acre reached Otto from the agent in the castle. With Count Hans having besieged the fortress, and the Kaiser overseeing the final preparations for the move on Jerusalem, Otto decided to take much of the Crusade south around Acre and intercept the large Egyptian force. They seek to break the siege, Otto thought, or to help in the event of Hans's attack, but I'm not going to give them that opportunity. I will destroy them so that our way to Jerusalem will be clear.

https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/8867/aprebattleacrewg0.jpg
The Egyptian army:
https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/4476/benemyacrepi0.jpg

Coming out of the hills from the east, the Crusade caught the Egyptians on the road to Acre. Squinting into the setting sun, Otto saw trebuchets and catapults turning toward his forces as the Saracens redeployed to face the unexpected threat. A shiver ran down his spine, he remembered the terrible damage the wooden monsters had inflicted on the Crusade when he had fought side by side with Maximillian against the Turks at Adana. They must be our first target, I will not have my men suffer under a constant barrage.

Making up his mind, Otto ordered the deployment of his army. The infantry was to deploy in a line. The crossbowmen would also be in a line behind them. Taking advanatge of the slope of the hill, they would be able to fire in a flat trajectory without endangering the men in front. The cavalry would be in column on the right.

https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/4274/cdeploymentacremp4.jpg

The infantry were ordered forward a bit to counter the Egyptian deployment, while the crossbrowmen stayed on the ridge of the hill. Otto, among the cavalry, ordered the column forward. If they respond to the flanking manuever with their horse archers, I'll charge them. If it's infantry, I'll bring up my own. If they choose to ignore us, then we shall see how their dread machines stand up to Imperial lance and sword.

https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/9963/dadvanceacrenh0.jpg

The Saracen horse archers and bowmen advanced to skirmish with the Imperial infantry, with their spearmen following behind. Ordering his men to a trot, Otto smiled, the fools were ignoring his cavalry, a terrible mistake. Soon the column had redeployed to a line abreast facing the artillery.

https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/5065/ecavflankacrekw6.jpg

Otto could see the machines firing at his infantry, but due to the hill their aim was off. Still some of his Crusaders were falling, and the infantry lines were about to meet. Time to gut them.

https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/3764/fcavchargeacrein3.jpg

With Otto and the mailed Knight charging the catapults, Jonas von Mahren and the Teutons rushed the trebuchets.

https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/9200/gmahrenchargeacreks3.jpg

There would be no more artillery fire.

https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/2710/haftermathacrebj8.jpg

The Saracen infantry, already outclassed by the Imperial footmen, now faced the prospect of an attack from the rear. They broke and were pursued.

https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/1376/iroutacreqn7.jpg

Captain Youseff and the Mamluk horse archers tried to stem the tide, but they broke as well. The Captain was eventually run down by the mailed knights.

https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/7163/jyouseffacrefi0.jpg

After the battle, Otto could not help but feel satisifed. The infidels were routed, none of them would trouble the Reich again and he had been able to leave behind the duties of Chancellor for a time. It was good to lead men in battle again.


The Butcher's Bill:

https://img291.imageshack.us/img291/2995/kresultsacrebs9.jpg

[FactionHeir]

The Fall of Acre, 1192

https://img508.imageshack.us/img508/5352/01ac8.jpg

Hans surveyed the fortress that lay before him. So that is Acre, he thought to himself. The walls that rose in front of him did not seem as imposing as the spy had reported, but nonetheless it was defended. A heathen noble had taken refuge inside, unable to support his unholy kindred that were battling just south of Hans' position with the chancellor. As such, it was left to Hans to take Acre while the reinforcements were delayed, and he had to do so swiftly.

He gave a short speech to incite the men to battle and immediately ordered them forward towards the gate, which the spy had reportedly opened. He could only hope that this was true and there would be no surprises.
https://img508.imageshack.us/img508/6713/02gv0.jpg

As he advanced, he noticed how the heathens had only manned the left section of the wall. It would certainly cost some Imperial lives he thought to himself. Lives, that were his to protect, as he was the commanding general with whom lay the responsibility.
https://img509.imageshack.us/img509/6819/03xu0.jpg

As such, Hans was glad when he saw the Egyptian spearmen disappear from the walls only to withdraw further inward. Could it be true? Was the enemy abandoning the battlements?
https://img525.imageshack.us/img525/91/04us7.jpg

When the gates opened before him, he was still in disbelief at such a bland tactical error on side of the enemy general, and it seemed that just in that moment the noble must have realized his mistake and his bodyguard advanced back towards the gate.
https://img143.imageshack.us/img143/3391/05it9.jpg

It was too late however, as Hans had quickly ordered his bodyguard to stand to the left of the gate, his swordsmen to the right and the spears in the center, breaking the approaching heathens swiftly and removing their leader from command.
https://img525.imageshack.us/img525/8900/06ig4.jpg

As the general fell from his horse, Hans pushed his bodyguard forward into the masses of the heathen horde, striking about him with god-given fury, breaking their morale and chasing them towards their last stand.
https://img142.imageshack.us/img142/6256/07al1.jpg

As he approached the castle square, Hans noticed how several spearmen regiments, who had been resting there advanced out towards him. Quickly he ordered his men to stand ground and his tired own spearmen forward to stop the advance while sending his groups of religious fanatics around the other side to strike the enemy in the rear.
https://img155.imageshack.us/img155/6050/08tz8.jpg

As Hans noticed the enemy spears starting to waver and holes opening in their formation, he ordered his bodyguard forward into the horde of spears. His gamble was successful and the spears quickly dissipated and broke.
https://img153.imageshack.us/img153/1930/09sk3.jpg

Riding with haste, he managed to slay several before they were able to reach the castle square, where they bravely made their last stand, catching several of Hans' entourage offguard and unhorsing them. Driving his men further onward against the enemy spears, Hans ordered a regiment of crusaders to break through the enemy lines at high cost to grant a third route of attack. Again, his gamble paid off and the enemy spears started to get distracted from three side now, as the fanatics closed in.
https://img179.imageshack.us/img179/1536/10oz6.jpg

Within minutes, the battle was won and Hans bloodied all over. A strange feeling overcame him as he gazed upong the pile of bodies that his horse strode on and his sword, which bore the blood of countless heathens he had slain today. With some shock, he realized he took a liking to fighting at the frontline to save the lives of as many men as he could, and after the battle, he was informed that he must have slain over 100 men. It did however take the lives of his personal entourage, mostly men he did not know much about, save Adalberth, who smiled upon the reckless young noble after his first victory.
https://img227.imageshack.us/img227/2465/11uc1.jpg
https://img145.imageshack.us/img145/8386/12qb6.jpg

Once the celebration died down on the field, Hans quickly ordered his men to take from the heathens whatever they wished and to strip all buildings of religious items that did not resemble those of the catholic church. He would see to Acre being christianized and its populace brought into the fold.
https://img145.imageshack.us/img145/2365/13st6.jpg

[Ituralde]

Battle in Southern Austria, 1192:

https://img248.imageshack.us/img248/6467/setupmz7.jpg

Leopold surveyed the battlefield in front of him. He despised rebels. It was not that he could sympathize with their dedication to take up arms to enforce their goals, but he despised their stupidity, their zealousness. Taking up arms was all fine, but not layint them down when faced with a superior fighting forde that will crush you just bordered insanity. Those rebels had come today to fight unitl death and death they should receive.

Leopold set his troops up in a defensive position, preparing a slow and ordered advance to the rise occupied by the Rebel forces. Driven by their zeal however the Rebels decided to charge into Leopolds superior forces, which he quickly reorganized into a defensive position.

https://img248.imageshack.us/img248/5860/encounterux3.jpg

The initial assault was devastating to the attackers as more and more Armoured Sergeants swarmed over the enemies on all sides. Leopold glanced quickly to the right wing where Rainer, his trusted friend had taken command of his cavalry and was slowly moving towards the enemies flank. The only nuisance were the Hussite Crossbowmen whose bolts had caused considerable damage to Leopolds troops. Giving Rainer some more minutes to get into position Leopold finally raises his sword to call the charge.

https://img296.imageshack.us/img296/3972/chaseip1.jpg

Driving his enemies before him, while the bolts of his Crossbowmen take their deadly toll around them, Leopold erupts in dark laugther as one after another fleeing Rebel falls to his sword. They had asked for death and he was delivering.

https://img299.imageshack.us/img299/1269/victoryyb6.jpg

[Dutch_guy]

Placeholder for the battle of Breslau, both of them.

:balloon2:

[econ21]

The Capture of Jerusalem, 1194


https://img50.imageshack.us/img50/4199/jerusalem1io8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)


Kaiser Henry turned surprised to Chancellor Otto: “A relief army? I never expected this would be a real battle.”

Otto shrugged his shoulders: “A few regiments of spearmen and siege engines - they are no real threat to us, Sire.”

Henry nodded and studied the map thoughtfully. “Very well, I’ll take some crusader sergeants through the front gates and evict that ridiculous Egyptian governor. Chancellor, I would be indebted to you if you would command the bulk of our forces and see off the relief army. Your tactics were so exemplary at Acre, I see no reason why you should not demonstrate them again.”

The Chancellor bowed and then left, with Hans and Jonas following eagerly behind.

As the knights left, Dusan Kolar emerged from the shadow. Henry looked up fleetingly at the tall black cloaked figure and then returned to staring at the map.

“You did not tell them.” Dusan observed.

The Kaiser rolled up the map impatiently. “I have already advised the Chancellor of my intentions regarding Jerusalem. The fact that he chose me to command this assault suggests he can abide by them.”

Dusan snorted. “He could hardly deny you, the Kaiser, the right to be in at the end of this “glorious crusade””

Henry looked up angrily: “Now look here, I am becoming sick of your sarcasm and insinuations. We came here to return Jerusalem to the Pope and that is what we will do.”

Dusan nodded and raised an eyebrow. “But you are keeping the Chancellor, the other Counts and most of your “crusaders” away from the city, just in case they do not share your vision?”

“Jonas is a model of chivalry: even you with all your cynicism cannot fail to be impressed by that. I trust him completely. Otto too is a good man.” Henry paused, deliberately omitting to mention Hans. “But our men are tired and excited; I cannot vouch for how they will behave when they are finally in the holy city. I do not want it desecrated by the blood of innocents. I will take a few good men into the city. After we have turfed out the governor, Jonas will talk to the city council. We will arrange a bloodless occupation. But yes, you are right - by distracting our men, the relief army has made that job easier.”

“You are making a mistake.” said Dusan. Henry ignored him, so the pagan magician continued. “Jerusalem is a large city. If you sacked it, it could give you 20,000 florins. Will the Diet understand your abstemiousness? And if you show mercy now, will the local people respect you? Or see you as weak?”

Henry turned his back on Dusan, so the magician added after a pause:

“Weak, like your father always said you were.”

Henry spun round and advanced angrily on a smiling Dusan.

“Remember your position, Kolar! You are not indispensable.”

“Get rid of me, Kaiser? Would that be strictly legal? Is it not against your precious charter, or something?”

Henry looked at Dusan vindictively: “There are men in the Reich who would be glad to see you gone: Maximillan, for example, who you drove away to rot in Adana. If asked Maximillan or, maybe Hans, I am sure they would be happy to arrange for you to be removed.”

The smile was gone from Dusan’s face now: “Sire, you have lost your way again. You came here for a reason - to begin the transformation of the Reich into a power that dominates Europe and the Mediterranean as the Roman Empire did of old. But with your holier than thou attitude and squeamishness over shedding blood, you have forgotten how the old Romans subdued Jerusalem."

Dusan paused for effect, then said emphatically:

"You will learn.”

With that he left the room. The doleful eyes of Ernest, the Kaiser's dog followed Dusan out of the room. Henry looked down at Ernst sadly and muttered: “I’ve never understood what you see in that man.”



*****


https://img238.imageshack.us/img238/3955/jerusalem2sh4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Henry stands outside the gates of Jerusalem.

Kurt Altman was proud to ride into battle with the Chancellor. Although Altman was a veteran warrior, this was his first day serving with the Chancellor's bodyguard. Disease and casualties were taking a toll amongst the crusaders. Those experienced soldiers like Kurt who survived the ordeals of the crusade often found opportunities for advancement.

Like most Germans on the crusade, after the departure of Dietrich, Kurt recognised Duke Otto as the finest general in the army. To face the spearmen and war machines of the Egyptian relief army, Duke Otto had arranged his army in a similar formation to that used outside Acre. Jonas and the remnants of the mailed knights were on the right flank; Hans and the Teutons on the left. The centre was held by the unhorsed and dismounted knights, flanked by fanatics and screened by a regiment of pavisse crossbowmen.

Kurt immediately understood his general’s battle plan: hit the siege engines at the rear with the cavalry while the heavy infantry engaged the Saracens frontally. Otto himself stood in reserve behind the front line, positioned to best control the course of the battle. Unlike the over-eager Kaiser, Kurt was sure, Otto was one general who would not go gallivanting off into the enemy line as soon as the battle opened.

Kurt looked confidently over at his general, but was alarmed to see Otto peering anxiously at the approaching Egyptian relief army.

“Sire?” asked Kurt, wondering what on earth could unnerve his general at this early stage of the battle.

The Chancellor looked sharply at Kurt, taking in his white hairs and gnarled skin: “You, man, are your eyes still good?”

Kurt smiled: “Sire, the captain of your guard does not let in blind men to be your bodyguards.”

Despite his evident anxiety, Otto smiled: “Very well. Tell me, what do you see there, in the Egyptian lines? Right at the back, behind the archers, behind the spear line, behind the siege engines.”

https://img509.imageshack.us/img509/4996/jerusalem3uc0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Otto is surprised to spot something to the rear of the Egyptian lines.


Kurt squinted. “It looks like … looks like a regiment of Saracens, Sire; on foot, with lances.”

Otto asked intensely: “Is it moving?”

“No, Sire, they are just standing there while the war engines prepare to fire. I think they are guarding them, Sire.”

The Chancellor shook his head admiringly: “They are learning, by God, they are learning.”

One of his aides stepped up: “Shall I call off the cavalry, Sire?”

Otto held up his hand. “No, by God, we cannot stand here under their fire and slug it out with them frontally. The cavalry go in. The Egyptians have got another thing coming if they think one regiment of foot can stop our knights.”



*****


Kurt watched the cavalry move in, riding hard. He could see Jonas detach the regiment of mailed knights to take a small group of Saracens in the flank…

https://img524.imageshack.us/img524/2259/jerusalem4xr7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)



…while along the front line, the German infantry moved to intercept the Egyptians marching to relieve Jerusalem:

https://img509.imageshack.us/img509/1212/jerusalem7pw8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

In the distance, Kurt could see Jonas’s bodyguard crash into the Egyptian war machines.

https://img175.imageshack.us/img175/1417/jerusalem5ry1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The battle unexpectedly opens with Jonas’s men decapitating the Egyptian command structure.

The veteran warrior watched in admiration as Jonas artfully disengaged his men but then plunged them back into the fray:

https://img524.imageshack.us/img524/4747/jerusalem6zs8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Having extricated his men from a battle of attrition against the Saracen spearmen at the rear of the enemy artillery park, Jonas orders his men back in to attack the crews still manning the engines.

Kurt’s eyes returned to the struggle nearer at hand. Otto was signalling to a band of fanatics to move up alongside Jonas’s mailed knights and begin to turn the enemy’s left flank:

https://img524.imageshack.us/img524/4815/jerusalem8rx3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The flanking movement by the mailed knights and fanatics seems unnecessary: the Egyptian line is already starting to crumble


In the distance, Kurt could make out Hans charging into the right flank of the enemy artillery park. A double envelopment, Kurt thought admiringly, why couldn’t the Kaiser try something like this outside Adana?

https://img524.imageshack.us/img524/8396/jerusalem9rk8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Hans joins Jonas in striking at the enemy war machines.


Just as Kurt was getting comfortable, admiring the way the battle was unfolding in such an ordered, favourable manner, he heard the Chancellor call out:

“Charge!”

What?! The Chancellor was directing his bodyguard towards some enemy archers skirmishing in the Egyptian front lines! This was just like what the Kaiser did at Adana - what was it about noblemen and archers? They only have to see one to want to run them down! Must be something “unchivalrous” about a peasant shooting down a knight.

Kurt spurred his horse to follow the Chancellor. One thing Kurt knew from long experience was that a cavalry charge seldom stops at its intended target, especially when led by a high lord such as Duke Otto. The discipline the Lords expected of their underlings seldom seemed to be applicable to themselves. Soon, Otto’s bodyguard were fighting in the middle of the enemy front line, amid the lances of the Saracen foot. Kurt looked in alarm as he spotted Otto surrounded by a sea of enemy spears…

https://img509.imageshack.us/img509/7007/jerusalem10sd0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Chancellor finds himself alone in a sea of spears.


Oh my God, thought Kurt, oh my God - my first day on his bodyguard and I am going to see the Chancellor get himself killed. Christ Almighty, the Kaiser will never forgive me! The veteran warrior spurred his horse into the mass of the Egyptian foot, hacking and slashing, desperately trying to reach the isolated Chancellor.

But when Kurt finally reached the Chancellor, he saw him laughing, casually striking blows left and right. Then Kurt looked at the Egyptians milling around them - the fight had gone out of them. While the many enemy infantry could have easily unhorsed the two German knights, the only thought of the Egyptians was to get away from them, from the battle. It was over.



*****


https://img148.imageshack.us/img148/573/jerusalem11ba3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

While Otto fights a brisk action against the relief army, a smaller body of crusaders smashes their way into Jerusalem


Kurt later learnt that the Kaiser’s entry into Jerusalem had been uneventful. The Egyptian governor had attempted to stop the crusaders in the narrow city streets. But the Germans had simply formed schiltron and the governor’s mounted bodyguard was quickly despatched.

https://img148.imageshack.us/img148/2015/jerusalem12mk1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Egyptian heavy cavalry can make no impression on the German schiltron.

https://img520.imageshack.us/img520/3556/jerusalem13li6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Henry occupies Jerusalem


After the battle, the Chancellor warmly thanked Kurt for his keen eyes and for his coming to his master’s assistance, even if it was not required.

“I have a special assignment for you.” The Chancellor said to Kurt. “The Kaiser has ordered a Teutonic knight to join the retinue of every crusading general here in Jerusalem. I want to return the favour - I want you to join the Kaiser’s bodyguard.”

Kurt bowed deeply, rendered speechless by the honour. As the pair approached the Kaiser, sitting in the main hall of the palace of Jerusalem, the Chancellor discretely pointed out one of the courtiers, a tall commanding figure with a long black cloak:

“There is one man in particular I want you to keep an eye on….”



*****


The butcher's bill:

https://img147.imageshack.us/img147/4159/jerusalem14lj5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)



OOC: For OK:

https://img147.imageshack.us/img147/3774/jerusalem15bs3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

https://img148.imageshack.us/img148/2209/jerusalem16hw3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

[OverKnight]

The Battle North of Acre, 1196

https://img99.imageshack.us/img99/3581/aacredeployxl3.jpg

Otto looked down at the Egyptian force bathed in moonlight. "They're growing desperate Jonas. As soon as their men are trained they're sent against us, and without cavalry or bowmen."

Count von Mahren looked at the Chancellor impassively, "The sooner we kill them, the sooner I can take the first ship home. The Crusade is over, the Pope has Jerusalem and our work is done. I wish to see Franconia again."

Otto grimaced and rubbed the scar on his face. His body ached, new wounds and old ones were laced across it, testament to the hard fighting of the past few years. Sighing, Otto replied, "I understand your desire to return home, to rest. I too yearn to see the Alps again, to see snow in winter, but I would say our work here has just begun. We must defend Jerusalem and carve out a place for the Reich to do it. This is not the last army of infidels we will face."

Jonas grunted, unconvinced, "Maybe for you Chancellor, but it is for me. Now let's be done with it."

Otto shook his head and spit, "There's no challenge to this. We'll have our foot hold their line while the cavalry will take them in the flank and rear. An old trick, but I'll keep doing it until they learn."

https://img99.imageshack.us/img99/7733/bacreintialle2.jpg

The lines closed on each other as the cavalry took up flanking positions. The lines met in a clash of metal.

https://img99.imageshack.us/img99/4803/cflankacreri0.jpg

Then the cavalry took the Egyptians from behind, and the rout was on.

https://img99.imageshack.us/img99/7379/dacreroutgc3.jpg

The last man was brought down, none escaped.

https://img99.imageshack.us/img99/6605/ealoneacrebz7.jpg

An offer of ransom was refused. The prisoners were put to the sword.

The Butcher's Bill:

https://img99.imageshack.us/img99/1208/facreresultsbu6.jpg

Now, for Otto the way was clear to Antioch, and for Jonas, home.

[Ignoramus]

*placeholder*

[econ21]

The Battle of Antioch, 1200 AD: The Prelude

Captain Conrad watched the advance of the first and largest of the three Egyptian armies known to be marching on him. He had done his job. His raiding of the surrounds of Antioch had provoked the Egyptians to attack.

https://img501.imageshack.us/img501/3088/antioch2id6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Captain Conrad leads the Turcopoles of the Imperial Advance Guard. To the left, in the rear stands the hill on which Henry will make his stand.

“It is good ground.” he said, turning back to survey the land he had found for the approaching Imperial army to defend. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”


*****

Henry looked coolly at Ulrich Hummel and Kurt Altman: “So, we come to it: the climatic battle for Outremer.”

https://img510.imageshack.us/img510/8469/antioch1sn1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Henry walks into the lion's den - challenging three Egyptian armies to attack him.


Ulrich nodded impatiently. Henry smiled: a young man in a hurry. Me, thought Henry, I don’t have many years left for war. I am going to savour this. All my life I have lived under the shadow of my overbearing father. Now, I have a few brief years as Chancellor to make a difference and then I must slink back to the shadows. This is my hour.

Kurt looked at Henry guardedly - why are we here? - he wanted to ask. Why fight three Egyptian armies at once, when you could take them apart one by one? Why strike Antioch when you ordered Ulrich to clear the path to Aleppo at such great cost? When your plan was supposed to be convert Antioch first and then occupy it to the acclaim of its born again Christian population? Do you even know why you are here? But Kurt was a soldier and Henry was a King. He remained silent.

Henry held Ulrich by the shoulders: “I am so glad you are here, at my side. To come all this way from France to serve, to atone: it is an inspiration to us all. You will take the position of honour at the centre of our lines. You will command if I am out of contact. You will be our last reserve: if all fails, you must be the one to salvage things. Can I count on you?”

UIrich looked fiercely back at the Kaiser: “Do you need to ask?”

Henry embraced the ex-Duke and then spoke to both men. “This is to be our deployment. Captain Conrad has found us a fine hill; we will make good use of it. The front line will be our crossbowmen. I want them to have an unimpeded shot at the enemy.”

Kurt frowned, but the Kaiser did not notice.

“Behind them - our main battleline; sergeants and foot knights intermingled. They should be able to take anything the Saracens can throw at them. Place the fanatics on the flanks behind them. The mailed knights will be on the right flank; I will take the left. One regiment of turcopoles will occupy advanced positions on each flank. Any questions?”

Kurt watched Ulrich, wondered if he would require more details - want to know “the plan”. But in this kind of situation, there could be no plan. One merely had to endure and improvise. Ulrich was too shrewd a commander and merely shook his head.

“Good hunting, gentlemen.” said Henry.

https://img501.imageshack.us/img501/6054/antioch3ga7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Henry’s deployment

[econ21]

The Battle of Antioch, 1200 AD: The First Wave

“Are they going to move?” Horst Mueller, the Teuton, inquired anxiously of Kurt Altman.

https://img256.imageshack.us/img256/8103/antioch4gr4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The first Egyptian army forms up and stands motionless below the Imperial positions…


Kurt shrugged and looked at Henry. Damn it, thought Henry. They are waiting. They are waiting for the other two armies. If they do that, the odds against us worsen dramatically.

“Are they going to move?” Horst repeated. Kurt threw him a withering look.

Henry could not afford to wait. Every minute brought the other two armies closer. He had to act now.

“Advance!” he shouted.

“Bloody hell!” exclaimed Horst. “I thought we were supposed to be the defenders!”

“This was a nice hill. I liked this hill.” said Dirk Freihafen, a bear of a man and one of the Kaiser’s most trusted bodyguards.

“Shut up, you fools. You sound like a pair of old women.” Kurt snapped. Wait - what was that? Kurt’s keen eyes had picked out something in the lines below - a ripple. Movement! “Sire!” Kurt shouted out and now Henry had seen it too. Praise be!

“Halt!” shouted Henry and he smiled broadly at Kurt. “We stick to the plan.”

“What plan?” whispered Dirk into Kurt’s ear, but the veteran warrior discretely elbowed him in the stomach.

https://img256.imageshack.us/img256/5762/antioch5tg1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Game on - the battle begins with a lop sided missile duel as the Egyptian army advances up the hill



*****

Kurt watched the enemy advance - slowly, methodically. The missile superiority of the Germans was largely irrelevant, as the German crossbowmen concentrated their fire on the skirmishing Egyptian archers closest to them. This was most unfortunate for the two regiments of Egyptian archers, but they were serving their purpose: the dense rows of Saracen spearmen would arrive at the Imperial lines largely unharmed.

Oh God, here it comes. What Kurt feared was happening - breaking through the lines of Saracen militia came the Egyptian cavalry. And they were heading straight for the German crossbowmen at the front of the Imperial line.

https://img174.imageshack.us/img174/8335/antioch6dh6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Their left already engaged, the Egyptians charge their cavalry through the centre.


“Send forward the spears! The spears! Forward, NOW!” Kurt screamed at his aides. He cast a sideways glance at Henry, how could you not see this coming? Kurt saw lines of worry deepen across the Kaiser’s brow. The German crossbowmen were retiring, but in a race a man in chain mail carrying a pavise on his back was no match for an Arabian horse.

https://img174.imageshack.us/img174/5404/antioch7lp2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Egyptian charge is countered by crusader sergeants, but not before they have cut down many crossbowmen.

The Kaiser cast a quick look at Kurt - their eyes met and the Kaiser knew, knew that Kurt had anticipated this. You knew this and you did not warn me? The two men turned away from each other. There was no time for recriminations. The pavise crossbowmen in front of them were also scattering - this time fleeing from the Saracen militia. The spearmen would soon be upon Henry’s own escort.

“Ride! To the left, ride!” Henry barked and his bodyguard spurred forward, evading the pursuing Saracen spears and racing round one flank of the attacking Egyptian army.

https://img174.imageshack.us/img174/9192/antioch8fz4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

On the German left, the Kaiser moves his cavalry off to turn the enemy flank.


On the opposite side of the German line, the enemy had made contact sooner and the superiority of the more heavily armoured Imperial infantry began to tell. The Saracen militia broke. Ulrich nodded coolly to the mailed knights on his left flank. “Now is your time.”

https://img516.imageshack.us/img516/6391/antioch9op5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

With the Kaiser doing his usual trick of gallivanting off into action, Count Ulrich is left in de facto control of the battle. He orders the mailed knights in to the failing Egyptian left.

Ulrich watched with satisfaction as the Egyptian left started to crumble. But to the rear, he saw a regiment of Mameluks advancing in wedge formation. Fortunately, the mailed knights knew what to do: meet them head on.

https://img512.imageshack.us/img512/5713/antioch10hz7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The mailed knights and the Mamelukes engage in mutual assured destruction.


Ulrich knew the outcome would be bloody, but the Mameluks had to be neutralised. All along the line, battle raged. Ulrich’s own small escort was the only German unit not engaged. The young general felt an urge to join the action, but his duty was clear - he had to maintain control of the battle.

Over on the left of the Imperial line, Henry had manoeuvred his escort to the rear of the Saracen flank. Impatiently, he spurred it to attack. His target was a regiment of Saracen militia, facing his horse with their spears.

https://img512.imageshack.us/img512/1749/antioch12gx7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Henry strains to break the Egyptian right.


Kurt Altman hacked and thrust at the stubborn Egyptian infantry around him. This was not smart, not smart at all. Where was the German infantry that should have pinned down the Saracens frontally, allowing the German cavalry to rout them easily? In desperation, Kurt broke loose and yelled at the nearby German crossbowmen to fire into the melee, aiming for the backs of the Saracen infantry. As the Saracen spears thrust at the stationary knight’s horses, Kurt yelled at Henry in exasperation:

“Kaiser, this is madness! Pull us out of here!”

Henry looked at Kurt and remembered their earlier glance, and all that had gone unsaid with it. He saluted his veteran warrior and roared:

“Disengage! Men, pull back!”

The Kaiser’s escort was just completing their disengagement when a fiery ball crashed into the remnants of the melee. It was too much for the Saracen militia, to be charged by an Emperor’s guard and then fireballed by their own side - they fled. So, I am not the only one to order my men to fire into a melee? thought Kurt, savouring the sense of the schaudenfreude.

https://img512.imageshack.us/img512/8247/antioch13pv8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Kaiser finally breaks the Egyptian right by the unorthodox tactic of running away and letting the Egyptians fireball themselves.


The rest of the battle against the first wave of Egyptians degenerated into a pursuit.

[econ21]

The Battle of Antioch, 1200 AD: The Second and Third Waves

The second army of Egyptians to attack was the smallest of the three and for some reason, it came on alone - not waiting for the other army to provide support.

https://img153.imageshack.us/img153/1873/antioch15fv8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

After the pursuit of the defeated first Egyptian army, Henry and Ulrich re-established their hill top defence.

https://img153.imageshack.us/img153/5152/antioch14ab0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Imperial line is still in good shape, when it reforms after seeing off the first wave of Egyptians


“Make sure the crossbowmen are in the second line.” Kurt said gently to Horst Mueller, the Teuton, careful that the Kaiser could not hear him.

Kurt watched in quiet satisfaction as once again, Egyptian cavalry broke from the centre to charge the German line. This time the Germans were ready for them and the Egyptians charged straight for a braced line of crusader sergeants.


https://img340.imageshack.us/img340/7907/antioch16gu4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

“Must have been taking lessons in tactics from the Kaiser.” quipped Dirk Freihafen, before Kurt threw him a fiery look that somehow made Dirk think of a flaming shot from a catapult.


But on the left, the Egyptian advance was more dangerous as their general charged his escort into Captain Conrad’s turcopoles.

“Damn it, I thought they were supposed to know how to skirmish!” cursed Henry. “Come on lads, let’s help them out!”

https://img521.imageshack.us/img521/3598/antioch17pz6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Imperial escort join the Turcopoles in a protracted melee against the general of the second Egyptian army before he is finally cut down.


After the death of their general, the second wave of Egyptians was quickly despatched. This time, however, the German pursuit had to be called off prematurely as the third and final Egyptian army approached.

https://img521.imageshack.us/img521/2658/antioch18wa1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The German line is ragged but still strong as the third wave of Egyptians approach.

Henry looked at the Egyptian deployment - four regiments of Mameluk horse archers were on the right; the infantry and general were on the left. The Egyptians formed up, in a neat, well ordered deployment. And halted.

https://img340.imageshack.us/img340/285/antioch19js0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The third Egyptian army.


They know, thought Henry, they know they cannot win. They are not coming. I can’t let them get away - not after all this. This is to be my great victory - I cannot leave it half done.

“Onwards! Germans, onwards!” Henry cried out. “Spears and crossbowmen - make for the horse archers. The rest - forward!”

“Oh bugger” muttered Dirk. “I really did like that hill.”

Kurt shot him another withering look. The Egyptians remained stationary as the German infantry approached the bottom of the hill. Then two regiments of Mameluk archers approached.

“Halt!” shouted Henry and he waited for the crossbow fire to start up.

https://img518.imageshack.us/img518/2193/antioch20gm2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Two regiments of Mameluk horse archers approach the Imperial line…

https://img521.imageshack.us/img521/5268/antioch21ol3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

With predictable results.


When the crossbowmen had despatched the two advanced regiments of Mameluk archers, the rest of the Egyptian line approached. On the German right, the main body of the third Egyptian army charged home, led by their cavalry.


https://img521.imageshack.us/img521/6240/antioch22hz2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

This time, the Egyptian cavalry is not so easily dealt with…

https://img340.imageshack.us/img340/8682/antioch23nn3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Reinforced as it is, by their General’s bodyguard and supporting infantry


As a bitter struggle erupted on the German right, the two remaining Mameluk horse archer regiments started to make Cantabrian circles on the German left.

Oh no, you don’t! thought Henry and he ordered his escort to charge the Mameluks.

https://img340.imageshack.us/img340/2479/antioch24qd2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Mameluk horse archers engage Henry’s bodyguard.

The Mameluks battled bravely with the German knights and for a moment, Dirk was alarmed to see his Kaiser, alone surrounded by mace wielding Egyptian horsemen. Not now, not after all this, thought Henry’s bodyguard in alarm.

https://img518.imageshack.us/img518/2466/antioch25jk1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The sight of the Kaiser alone amid the Mameluks sparks alarm among his escort, until the Germans realise the fight has gone out of the horse archers.

Then Dirk noticed the Mameluks rushing the Kaiser were not attacking him, but fleeing past him. Dirk raised a mailed fist at the fleeing horse archers, but then heard Kurt cry out:

“Behind you! Look behind you!”

Dirk slowly turned in the saddle: “You have got to be joking…”

https://img407.imageshack.us/img407/1464/antioch26mq4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

He’s behind you! No sooner have the Kaiser’s men driven off the Mameluk horse archers, than they are charged by the enemy general.


At the same time, Henry saw the elite heavy cavalry of the last Egyptian army charging towards him. He felt a sinking feeling in his stomach. The battle was almost over and yet here he was, in the gravest peril of the whole day.

“Around and at ‘em lads! Meet them head on!” he shouted.

https://img407.imageshack.us/img407/7201/antioch27xv4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Kaiser faces the final challenge of the day: the general of the last Egyptian army

Kurt saw the Kaiser push forward, sword point downwards, pushing into the melee. He called out to some nearby Crusader sergeants to aide them, but the Egyptians fought like devils. The day lost, it was clear the enemy general was determined to go down fighting - and take the Kaiser with him if he could. To lose a battle but kill the enemy King? Now that was a fair trade, thought Kurt bitterly. He looked at the melee - incredibly, the Egyptians were gaining the upper hand. The Crusader sergeants lost hope and ran. No, thought Kurt, this can’t be happening - not today, not after all this.

Kurt charged into the melee and found a tall German knight, a fearsome, grizzled brute of a man who was tasked with carrying the Kaiser’s shield on ceremonial duties.

“You, there!” Kurt shouted at the shieldbearer: “The Kaiser is in danger - grab the reigns of his horse and get him out of here!”

The shieldbearer’s dull eyes alighted on Kurt’s and the man grunted. He pushed into the melee, unceremoniously seized the reigns on the Kaiser’s horse and smacked it with the blade of his sword, to startle it out into a run. As the pair rode off, Kurt signalled for the rest of the Kaiser’s escort to retreat. As they raced away from the victorious Egyptian cavalry, they approached the many regiments of German crossbows that had earlier been ordered to engage the Mameluk cavalry. Kurt turned back to see the Egyptian heavy cavalry in pursuit, so he called out to the surrounding crossbowmen.

“Stand fast! Any man moves an inch backwards and I swear, I will cut him down myself!”

Slowly the crossbowmen cranked up their bows and levelled them at the approaching Egyptians.

https://img182.imageshack.us/img182/6605/antioch29xr2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

For the first and only time in the battle, German crossbow fire is able to stop an Egyptian attack in its tracks.

As the massed heavy crossbow bolts whistled through the air, the pursuing Egyptians first wavered, halted and fled - the enemy general being caught by the fast riding Turcopoles. The battle was over.

After the battle, the German cavalry pursued the routing Egyptians. A total of 1189 were captured. Henry offered to ransom them, but it was refused. Captain Conrad and his few surviving Turcopoles entered Antioch unopposed. Faced with a large hostile city, Henry knew he could not afford to be as magnanimous as he had been at Jerusalem. Although Antioch and Aleppo provinces were now free of significant Egyptian forces, there remained significant armies menacing Acre and Jerusalem. Unless the population of Antioch were cowed into submission, it was likely the entire Imperial army would need to be garrisoned there. Henry summoned Count Ulrich and embraced him.

“Ulrich, I am in your debt. Your leadership of the army at the time of crisis was invaluable. I have heard much of your exploits on the field of battle - they say your escort alone captured 347 of the enemy!”

Ulrich looked awkwardly at his feet during this praise.

“I understand Staufen needs upgrading to a citadel.” Henry continued. “Antioch is a rich city. You will find gold enough to pay for Swabia’s capitol. Go now, do what must be done, Prince of Antioch.”

At the sound of his new title, Ulrich bowed deeply and moved to undertake his grisly task. Henry looked sadly at the young man leave. He had planned to enter Antioch as a liberator, like he had done in Jerusalem. Now, he wondered if he could ever bring himself to enter the city at all. He later learnt that the sacking of Antioch had brought the Reich 16604 florins in plunder, but led to the massacring of 5314 innocents. Henry sat down, finding the moment of his great victory hollow.

From the shadow, Dusan Kolar watched Henry and whispered scornfully in a voice not unlike that of the late Heinrich: “Weak…”

https://img182.imageshack.us/img182/6778/antioch30dy6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The butcher’s bill.

[FactionHeir]

Battle on the hills of Adana, 1208
https://img375.imageshack.us/img375/1683/0012yb6.jpg

Hans had been pursuing the enemy ever since they abandoned their siege of Adana, Mandorf's resting place. It was clear why they dared not fight him with Adana's garrison as reinforcements, for the enemy had mustered only spearmen and a few horse archers. Admittedly the Turks also brought along an entire siege train, but what good were catapults and ballistae against good German steel and commitment, Hans thought to himself. His men were weary from the long march across the hills, so Hans decided to give a short speech to inspire his men for the upcoming battle.

https://img375.imageshack.us/img375/745/0000ry0.jpg
https://img375.imageshack.us/img375/9647/0001kv5.jpg

As he surveyed the hill covered landscape, he decided to position his force atop the largest one to the west, leaving his enemy to likely deploy in the valley beneath him or at the far north west. His tactical move seemed to play out nicely as he noticed the first few Turkish banners crop up beneath him.
https://img375.imageshack.us/img375/5866/0002zr9.jpg

Hans waited and watched his enemy reform below, wondering whether they would dare move up the hill to face him or whether he would have to order his knights down the slope. It seemed that the Turks currently had no intention of coming to him, so Hans moved his men closer towards the battleline, allowing his Armenians to start unloading their arrows onto the heathens.

https://img375.imageshack.us/img375/1186/0003yn3.jpg

It was not until long that the Islamic horde realized that they would have to come to him or be shot to pieces by his archers, and their horse archers started galopping up the steep slope. Hans watched in amusement as these hapless horsemen were dismounted by the rain of his Armenians' arrows. As he turned to survey the rest of the battlefield, Hans suddenly heard some clamor coming from the main bulk of the Turks, followed by the searing heat of fireballs flying over his position, one of them hitting the few Teuton veterans he had brought along, with devastating effect.

https://img375.imageshack.us/img375/9092/0004ft5.jpg

So it seems these catapults do have some use in the open. But not for long he decided, and sent his cavalry down the hill right into the Turk's right flank, followed by his brother Elberhard on his right and a regiment of Feudals each with them.
https://img375.imageshack.us/img375/8544/0005ft1.jpg

The Turkish archers, already dismayed by the loss of their kin to the hail of arrows immediately started to lose heart and rout as they noticed that the Germans had decided to charge them head-on.
Hans ordered the Feudals to follow the horse archers to see them off the field while he and his brother went straight for the artillery.
https://img375.imageshack.us/img375/3965/0006rn8.jpg

As they slaughtered the crews unopposed, stopping the rain of fireballs, Hans could see exactly why: The entire Turkish army, or rather what remained of it, was charging uphill against his heavily fortified position, with their general leading the charge.

https://img375.imageshack.us/img375/7216/0007js4.jpg

Hans could only laugh loudly at this tactical mistake and ordered his Feudals to give up chase and charge the rear of the Turkish infantry instead while motioning for his infantry to surround the heathen noble. He was not sure whether they could see his waving of not, but Adalberth, who he had left in command with the Teutons, must have been thinking the same, for the general was quickly surrounded and unhorsed.

https://img375.imageshack.us/img375/2168/0008to3.jpg

Once the heathens noticed their general had shown cowardice and surrended to the Germans, they all broke and fled for the hills from whence they came. Hans and his knights managed to capture all the cowards save the horse archers which his heavy cavalry was not capable of pursuing.

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https://img502.imageshack.us/img502/1066/0010xi7.jpg

---

Hans looked up from the letter Adalberth had handed him. It was indeed a grim day that the Turks refused to pay the ransom for their captured general and just about 400 of their men. As Hans could not risk letting them run free and threaten the infant outremer kingdom, he ordered them to be put to the sword.
https://img375.imageshack.us/img375/9405/0011jl5.jpg

Afterwards, he wrote a letter to his father, among other issues, detailing the events that passed on this day.

---

As Hans held the newly arrived letter in his hands and skimmed through the lines, he motioned for Adalberth to call in his brother, Elberhard. So father allows me to do it, I am glad. As Elberhard entered his tent, Hans rose, ordered Elberhard to kneel, and spoke: "Elberhard of Swabia, for your services to the empire and your valor in battle, I hereby promote you to knight of the empire. Rise, Knight Elberhard of Swabia, and walk with pride."

[econ21]

Outside of Acre, 1208

Kurt Altman looked at Henry watching the Egyptian army approach. The Kaiser was in a dark mood and had become unreadable. The veteran warrior turned followed his master’s eyes to observe the enemy. Both Egyptian and Imperial armies were trying to claim a central hill in the middle of the battleground outside Acre. However, it was clear that neither side would achieve uncontested control of the hill before their two lines met. This was going to be a messy meeting engagement.

“Where is Otto?” barked Henry. “The man should be here by now!”

https://img510.imageshack.us/img510/6290/acre1kv9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Egyptians have menaced Acre for too long – now Henry arrives to drive them away.


Henry spoke harshly to Kurt: “Put the pavise crossbowmen in front, I want them to get a clear shot at the enemy.”

Duke Otto had organised the training of many pavise crossbowmen in Acre – it was to be one of the few advantages the Imperials had over the Egyptians in the battle.

Kurt looked at his Kaiser with ill concealed apprehension. Henry snarled back. “Yes, yes, Kurt. I know what you are thinking. Just make sure the heavy infantry are close behind this time.”

The rebuke stung the veteran warrior – Henry was blaming him for the mishap during the opening of the battle for Antioch. Forget about it, focus on the enemy, Kurt told himself. The Egyptians approached – like the Imperial army, they had regiments of Turcopoles on each flank. Unlike the Imperial army, the Egyptians pushed aggressively forward with theirs.

https://img220.imageshack.us/img220/4638/acre2ry0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

On the right of the German line, the Egyptian cavalry try to scatter the pavise crossbowmen but run into the supporting Germany infantry.

Kurt saw the enemy Turcopoles approach so close he could see the whites of their eyes.

“Charge!” Kurt heard Henry roar. Damn it, thought Kurt, it has gotten to the point where the Kaiser cannot see an enemy before he launches into a precipitous charge! Who is going to command the army while Henry is galvinating off? There is no Ulrich here today to pick up the pieces.

https://img134.imageshack.us/img134/9507/acre3yi2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

What seems to have become Henry’s trademark tactic – a headlong charge at the beginning of a battle.


Carried away by the ferocious charge, Kurt could not observe what was happening in the centre of the battle. The Imperial line was assaulted by three regiments of Tabardariyya, fierce axe-wielding guards of the Sultan.

https://img84.imageshack.us/img84/6347/acre4wd9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Without leadership, the Imperial line is unprepared for a new challenge: the Tabardariyya, elite Egyptian shock troops.

https://img520.imageshack.us/img520/9150/acre5ph7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Perhaps the German foot knights can stand up to the Egyptian axemen, but the sergeant spearmen provide a less equal match up.


The battle was in the balance.

https://img134.imageshack.us/img134/4696/acre6px8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

On the right, a regiment of Feudal knights break the Egyptian flank and are able to provide support to the beleaguered German centre.

https://img134.imageshack.us/img134/1074/acre7xq9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

On the left, the heavy armour and combat prowess of the German foot knights triumphs over the axe-wielding Tabardariyya, even when reinforced by Bedouin cavalry.

The Kaiser’s own charge had lost impetus and he withdrew his escort to regroup and reform. In the temporary calm, he ordered that all his knights - other than his own escort - make for the rear of the Egyptian lines and hunt down the Egyptian general, Nasir ad Din.

“And send a rider to Duke Otto. He must come here at full speed, we need him now, not tomorrow!”

https://img154.imageshack.us/img154/5568/acre8qa6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

At the rear of the enemy lines, the German knights attempt to bring down the Egyptian general. However, his heavily armed veteran Ghulam bodyguard is more than a match for the Imperials and triumph, slaying virtually all the noble Germans.

Kurt’s keen eyes could make out the contest at the rear of the enemy lines. It was not going well. Closer to home, in front of him several regiments of spear wielding Saracen militia were massing to attack.

Henry roared in frustration: “Forwards!”, charging forwards once more towards the enemy.

To Kurt’s horror, the spears of the Saracens were braced when the charge hit home. A bitter struggle developed. Even Henry realised the inefficiency of the engagement and ordered his escort to retire once more.

“Pull out, Sire, pull out!” Shouted Kurt, but as his escort retreated, the Kaiser stubbornly remained at the rear, alone and hacking at the Saracen spearmen.

https://img187.imageshack.us/img187/4794/acre9yh3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

A close shave for the Kaiser


When the Kaiser finally retired, one of Otto’s aides had arrived. The Duke and his escort had arrived at the side of the Kaiser’s men, riding at full speed.

“Tell your master to charge, now!” the Kaiser barked at the Duke’s liaison.

The aide looked at the lines of Saracen spearmen facing the German cavalry and said tremulously:

“You wish my master to charge into a spear wall?”

“Damn it, don’t question me, fool! Tell Duke Otto to find an opening in their lines or make one!”

https://img502.imageshack.us/img502/2703/acre10oi7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Duke Otto hurtles into the battle

Kurt watched anxiously as his old master, Duke Otto, led his escort in a furious charge into a small gap in the Egyptian lines. However, the enemy were not caught napping and a regiment of Saracen spearmen on the Duke’s flank charged to try to close the opening.

In horror, Kurt saw his old Duke had been snared by a mob of enemy spearmen.

“Sire, the Duke!” Kurt called out to the Kaiser.

https://img517.imageshack.us/img517/126/acre11lz5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Duke Otto is waylaid in the middle of his charge.


For a second, Kurt thought he saw a mask fall from Henry’s face, as the grim façade cracked and a sliver of vulnerable humanity broke through. Henry strained to make out the form of Duke Otto, hacking and slashing at the Saracen militia surrounding him. For that brief moment, it looked to Kurt as if the Kaiser feared losing everything – risked losing his soul.

Henry cried in anguish: “Pull back men, with me! We ride to the Duke’s aid!” The Kaiser turned to Kurt “Bring our Turcomans in, God damn it. We pay them to fight – let’s see them fight.”

Kurt raised his sword to signal understanding and then rode to call the fleet footed Turcomans to charge into the rear of the Saracens mobbing the Duke.

https://img524.imageshack.us/img524/8280/acre12wz9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Otto almost falls, while in the rear the Imperial Turcomans prepare to charge to his aid.
https://img521.imageshack.us/img521/2893/acre13aj8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

In the distance, the Kaiser’s own escort is also coming to the Duke’s aid. But Otto’s tough bodyguard has already broken the will of the Saracens.

By the time Kurt had cut his way to Duke Otto’s side, the battle had swung decisively in favour of the Reich. Otto’s veterans – Kurt’s old friends – had smashed the Saracen militia. Now the Egyptian army was streaming to the rear in rout. Only a few determined bands of Tabardariyya had reformed and continued to cause mischief.

https://img514.imageshack.us/img514/9382/acre14hf8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The rest of the Reich’s knights decimated, the Kaiser’s own bodyguard has to lead the assault of the remnants of the Egyptian army.

Kurt noticed the wound on Duke Otto’s leg, but then heard Henry call out:

“Otto! Nasir ad Din has slain my young knights! I would have my vengeance!”

Kurt looked appalled as in pain Otto raised his head. The Kaiser had looked so alarmed at losing the Duke a moment ago, and now he was sending him wounded on the most dangerous mission of the battle? As Otto closed his visor, it was not possible to see the wounded Duke’s expression, but as he turned and led his men off, his body language oozed reluctance, disdain and hurt.

https://img133.imageshack.us/img133/1395/acre17qy2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Duke Otto’s bodyguard crushes the Egyptian general’s ghulams.

After the battle, Kurt gingerly approached the Kaiser:

“My Lord, Duke Otto is injured. Will you see him?”

Henry spoke callously: “It is but a leg wound. You may attend to your old master in Acre. I have business in Jerusalem.”

Kurt watched the darkened face of his master, as he turned and cantered over to a black cloaked figure waiting on the road to Jerusalem.

https://img518.imageshack.us/img518/4151/acre16el0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The butcher’s bill.

[OverKnight]

The Assault on Jerusalem, 1210

Otto stood south of Jerusalem, gazing at the huge city while his newly promoted Master Archer, Jan, and his Teutonic Knight, Lucas, stood with him. Dark clouds hung over the Holy City as if to highlight its state of unrest. The Muslim residents had thrown off the authority of the Pope, and Kaiser Henry, much to Otto's surprise, had ordered him to take back the city in the name of the Church.

Jan, leaning on his bow, spoke up, "So, your Majesty, how are we to take the city with two rams and a siege tower?"

There was a tinge of levity mixed with respect in his voice and Otto chuckled and rubbed the scar on his face.

"It is quite simple Jan, I will order the Saracens to open the gates. They will have no choice but to obey their rightful King."

https://img48.imageshack.us/img48/6984/ajerprebattleie4.jpg
https://img48.imageshack.us/img48/5533/bjerenemyov1.jpg

"Don't call me 'your Majesty' anyway Jan. I am grateful for the title, but we'll have to see what the Diet thinks about it in the next session. Besides, you've been with me since we took Bern, you knew me when I was an appallingly eager young Ritter."

"As for how we're to take the city with what has been left to us, each of us will take a gate. Jan, you will take the depleted unit of Pavise Crossbowmen and a unit of Turkopoles and deploy the siege tower at the east gate. Use the same tactic we employed at Bern, hold the attention of any rebel units holding the gate for as long as you can, when they withdraw to respond to the other attacks, take the gate and join in for what's left of the fighting."

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Otto turned to Captain Lucas, the Teuton. The man had stood aloof from the joking. Otto had once berated him in front of his fellow sworn knights over the affair with Count Hans, and they were not old friends. Still Otto had seen potential in him after the dash through Hungary. He had requested him when the Teutonic order had offered him a liasion after the city had been taken for the first time.

"Lucas, you shall lead one of our rams, half the infantry and crossbowmen and the other unit of Turcopoles against the South Gate. You are to attack as soon as we are deployed."

https://img48.imageshack.us/img48/9945/ejersouthgateex4.jpg

"I will take the rest of the army and the remaining ram and attack the west gate."

https://img48.imageshack.us/img48/1444/djerwestgatewe5.jpg

"Our numbers are almost equal with the rebels, but the quality of our men is greater. By spreading out the enemy I hope to exploit our superiority all at once so we overwhelm them and sustain less casualties. Not only do we have to take the city, we have to hold it once were done. If we're bled too much we won't be able to."

Lucas spoke up.

"Your Majesty," he said without irony, "If one of the rams burn, what should we do? What if they both do?"

Otto nodded grimly, "It is a concern. If a ram burns, the men assigned to that gate will move to the next. If both burn, we'll fall back to the tower. The rest is in God's hands."

As if on cue, it began to rain.

Otto looked up and smiled as water trailed down his face.

"It's not exactly a burning cross in the sky, but it'll keep the rams wet. I'll take it."

Turning back to his retinue, he spoke in a more serious tone, "You have your orders, deploy your men. God willing we shall meet in the center of the city."

-----

Otto's force, while losing some men to arrow fire, breached the gate and ran off the cavalry unit guarding it.

https://img48.imageshack.us/img48/4750/fjerwestgatecavroutrz7.jpg

Captain Lucas had a harder time of it at the south gate, he was met by spearmen. The fighting was very fierce.

https://img48.imageshack.us/img48/9548/gjersouthgatefightzs3.jpg

The melee was in the balance until the rebel leader was slain.

https://img48.imageshack.us/img48/286/hjersouthgateleaderdeatcb1.jpg

The rebels fled back to the main square, with the Imperials in pursuit.

https://img48.imageshack.us/img48/1511/ijersouthrouthi0.jpg

Succesive waves of spearmen, horsemen, and camel riders broke themselves against Otto's men as they advanced on the square. Otto, glad to be back in the field, was very active in the fight.

https://img48.imageshack.us/img48/2753/jjerwestroutze1.jpg

Jan held the attention of the two spear units holding the east gate as long as he could. When they departed to respond to the advancing forces to the south and west, he took the gate.

https://img48.imageshack.us/img48/5861/kjereastgateabandonmy4.jpg

A grim battle developed in the main square of Jerusalem as Otto and Lucas met. The rebels, their morale restored and bolstered by the two units from the east, were putting up a determined resistance. There would be no yielding today, they would make the Empire bleed if they could.

https://img48.imageshack.us/img48/4906/ljerwestsouthmeetsquarexh3.jpg

While Otto was winning, the fight in the sqaure was turning into a battle of attrition. If this continued there might not be enough men to hold the city.

But then unexpected help came from the east.

https://img48.imageshack.us/img48/87/mjereastjoinsquareqq5.jpg

The Turcopoles charged into the back of the rebel spearmen and broke their cohesion. Sorrounded, they doggedly fought on, but their numbers were waning.

https://img48.imageshack.us/img48/615/njerlastgaspdd4.jpg

They Saracens fought to the last man.

https://img48.imageshack.us/img48/1504/ojerlastmanzc0.jpg

Otto, Jan and Lucas did indeed meet in the center of the city. As Otto was congratulating his retinue a member of the city's Christian population approached him.

"My lord, you are truly the guardian of this city. Please take these relics we hid from the rebels with our thanks."

The man handed Otto a small chest. After he had left, Otto opened it. Inside were a number of relics suspiciously similar to the ones presented to Kaiser Henry when he had taken the city, who knew if they were real.

Seeing the last item in the chest, Otto let out a very un-Christian oath.

It was a Chalice.

-----

The Christian and Jewish quarters of the city were spared, for Otto would not harm his fellow Catholics and he remembered the Jewish Physician who had skillfully healed his leg. The Muslim quarter, however, was sacked for 18,000 florins. 3,000 who had aided the rebels lost their lives.

The Butcher's Bill:

https://img509.imageshack.us/img509/8416/xjerresultssn9.jpg

[TevashSzat]

The Assault of Rheims 1216

Duke Scherer stood outside of the city of Rheims laughing at what he has hearing from his advisors. Preliminary reports said that the city was only held by a few hundred militiamen along with some ballistas. The French sent a quick reinforcement group which is camped nearby but it only consisted of some poorly trained peasantry and some cheaply bought mercenary.

He wanted the battle to go perfectly well; Rheims was going to be the first French city captured by him and did not want much blood of his men on his hands. The battle was all but won the night before given his numerical superiority, but the Duke and his advisors planned a little bit extra for the French.

As noon broke, final preperations were set for the assault. The assault was to occur simultaneously on two sides of the city wall. The cavalry of the army was to destroy and reinforcements while the infantry takes the city.

As soon as the battle started, something surprising occurred. There was no derfenders at the southern wall of the city leaving no opposition to the troops bearing ladders and battering rams. French reinforcements came quickly, but they were too little and too late and was overran quickly by cavalry. Once the walls were taken and the gates down, the elite infantry was sent through the city taking out any opposition while the cavalry rode down and took the lightly defended city square.

Later in the evening, Duke Scherer allowed his men to have a night's rest and loot the city as they saw fit.

Casualties:
https://img240.imageshack.us/img240/8341/untitledgx9.th.jpg (https://img240.imageshack.us/my.php?image=untitledgx9.jpg)

[Dutch_guy]

Battle placeholder for the massive battle near Krakow.

:balloon2:

[Stuperman]

Placeholder for the battle north of Rome.

[TevashSzat]

Sally at Rheims 1218

Not soon after Duke Scherer ordered his men to sack all of Rheims, a quick French force managed to slip past the scouts and besiege the city intent on taking it back.

Duke Scherer was at first concerned thinking that his men was tired from a recent battle, but preliminary reports of the enemy force put him to ease. Although the enemy brought many well trained soldiers, all 700 were infantry with no cavalry or missle support. With such a versatile army at his disposal, Duke Scherer had do doubt in his victory.

At morning, he began to order his troops to prepare for battle hoping to take the French by surprise, but the battle was delayed until midday when the French had already gotten up and ready for any battle. Duke Scherer saw no point in delaying and ordered his troops out.

https://img156.imageshack.us/img156/7710/untitledlq4.th.jpg (https://img156.imageshack.us/my.php?image=untitledlq4.jpg)

His plan was simply. His infantry line and crossbowmen would come out from the main gate and start skirmishing against the enemy. The Duke and his cavalry would sneak around through a side gate and catch the enemy by surprise.

As soon as the Duke's forces came out, the French began moving back towards a more defensible position on top of a hill. The skirmishing began as planned, but the French seeing a lack of cavalry decided to charge in immedietely. Duke Scherer was concerned, but his captains did well and engaged with the infantry line.

Soon after, Duke Scherer and his men charged right into the left flank of the French immedietely spreading terror and fear. The French soldiers began breaking ranks and soon started to flee in terror. Those fleeing would almost all be captured.

https://img169.imageshack.us/img169/4508/untitled2gq9.th.jpg (https://img169.imageshack.us/my.php?image=untitled2gq9.jpg)

The Duke, feeling generous that day decided against execution of the 360 prisoners and instead offered to ransom them back to the French. The French refused and the Duke promptly ordered those captured dead.

[Warluster]

North of Frankfurt, 1217 AD Germany

The sky of the day should've been black with sorrow and dread, because that was what most soldiers of the EIA were feeling like. Doomed, destined to fall in forests thick with pine cones.

It had all started earlier that morning, Prinz Jobst was sitting in his command tent,reading on all that was happening in the Diet, when a messenger came through, panting and puffing. he caught Jobst's attention at once due to the insignia on his sleeve, the Kaiser's Messenger.

"You are prinz Jobst?" asked the messenger, Jobst nodded, and the messenger bowed.
"mein prinz, I have come from Dijon, looking for you, some told me of you leading this EIA?" said the messenger, but he pressed on without waiting for a reply "I have commands from the Kaiser himself mein prinz, it is top secret" said the messenger, Jobst motioned for him to continue.

"The Kaiser orders the European Imperial Army to move to the forests north of Frankfurt. He says he has something...going to happen there" said the messenger. Jobst nodded,
"Tell the kaiser, I shall, but why?" said Jobst,
"The Kaiser also said if you asked why, too bad" smiled the messenger, who left in a hurry. Jobst grinded his teeth.

The Forests north of Frankfurt, 1218 AD, Germany

The European Imperial Army was waiting silently amongst the trees of North germany, many peacefully listening to the whispering of the leaves. That beautiful silence was broken by the dound of marching iron.

"C'mon! We have to make it through Imperial territory! The germans won't be happy about us marching through here...crusade or not my lord" said the voice, another one, a snarling voice, replied,
"Of course Eadgar, of course. At least the Main imperial army is in italy,heading to Poland" said the voice, and both voices laughed, though one was quite forced.
"they don't know anything of our approach do they Eadgar? Adalf?" asked the snarling voice,
"No sir"
"Of course not, how could they my lord?" The lord laughed.
"excellent" Many of the German Soldiers felt like laughing as well, they were so close to Crusading Danish Army, compared to what they thought. Jobst was positioned right next to the the direction the Danes were taking. Slowly but surely, the Prince of Denmark's Bodyguard came riding through.

about 500 metres behind was the coming Danish Crusading army. It was 1402 men strong, compared to Jobst's 693. They were outnumbered and outclassed, but the germans had the advantage, a hill, the weather and the position.

Jobst watched the Danish prince ride pat, and he muttered to Fritz and Luka
"I swaer I'm going to take the prince out myself, got it?" asked Jobst, Luka nodded,
"Of course mein prinz, it shall stregthen your capabillitites" said Luka, but Fritz had inquires
"And the other 5 Danish lords protecting the prince sir? What of them?" asked Fritz, Jobst clapped him quietly on the shoulder,
"Why my friend, we'll take 'em out ourselves" beamed Jobst silently. Jobst made a hand signal, which meant prepare for battle. They drew their swords, notched their bows, and got into positions. 2 battalions of Dismounted Feudal knights on one side, accompying the Mailed Knights. And on the other side two battalions of Armoured Spearmen,2 units of Pavise Crossbowmen a group of Teutonic knights and Jobst's Bodyguard itself, acting as an assain shock group.

"CHARGE!" roared josb't and Fritz repeated the order. They spurred their horses on, thundering down the slopes of a hill, narrowly avoding trees.
"The germans! The germans!" yelled Danish voices in norse. Jobst laughed loudly as his horse thundered down towards the Danish prince's bodyguard. Then a large-
THUD!
as Jobst and his fellow knights crashed into the Danish prince's Bodyguard. Jobst saw the two lords who had betrayed the Danish prince snak behind the Imperial Lines, and he confindently rode forward. Most Knights fell to Jobsts sword as he headed to the Danish prince, and eventually he found the prince, duelling on his horse with Fritz.
"leave him to me Fritz" yelled Jobst, Fritz nodded and tracked down a Danish lord. The Danish prince looked at him,
"So...who may you be?" asked the prince in German.
"I am the Prinz of the Reich, Imperial germany. I know you are the Prinz of Denmark, Harald" smiled jobst, Harald looked shocked,
"How do you know my name, how do yuo know we were here!?" yelled harald over the roar of battle.

"I know you, as you recently contacted mein kaiser, to ask that he could kill your father" said Jobst. Harald nodded,
"And you've come to help?" he said, Jobst shook his head,

"I've come to kill you Harald"

Jobst eaped forward and slashed at Harald. WHo doged it and swung back. This continued for a few minutes,neither gainign advantage. Suddenly jobst felt his horse give way, and they crashed to the ground. A blot was protruding from the horses head. The Pavise Crossbowmen were engagaed with the Danish Knights.

"Now who is too die, Prinz of germany!?" spat harald, standing over jobst with his sword raised, ready to kill. Jobst prayed silently,
"Long live the Kaiser" murmered Jobst, "Long live the Reich" he finally muttered, and Harald's final stroke fell.

All went black, Jobst was fristing into the world of death,silently dieing, then it all rushed back in a thunderous roar.
"Mein Prinz!" cried Fritz from outside the battle,
"mein Prinz where are you!?" he roared, a body fell onto Jobst, dead, and Jobst blacked out again. Then it came back.

"Why you f-!" Fritz cursed nearby, Jobst looked over and saw him duelling with Harald, who leaned forward.
"Your prince is dead, I killed him" snarled Harald. Fritz harged forward, but was knocked back by Harald. Jobst staggered up, grabbed a crossbow which was lieing nearby, and drunkenly fired at harald. He heard a scream of pain and a thud, and opened his eyes. there lieing dead was harald, Prince of Denmark.

Jobst felt a arm pull him up and found Luka pulling him up, with Fritz duelling with one of the five Danish Lords. jobst rushed forward and speared the lord with his sword, before calling a horse forward. The battle was over.

The Teutonic Knights had smashed into the Danish Army from behind, with the mailed knights. They then had wedged them together, killing over 400 soldiers, with the loss of only 120.

The Imperial Army went back to camp,where the soldiers celebrated a great victory, the danish prince killed, 600 soldiers of the Danish Army killed, and more captured.

But in the command tent...

"mi lord, we led the Danish Army here for you" said one of the Danish Lords,bowing before Jobst. Jobst slapped him on the shoulder,
"I give you free pasage right into Germany for two years, you amy return to Denmark if you wish" said Jobst, the man gleefully retreated to outside the tent, where the second lord came in. He was not the one who ahd been speaking that morning, in fact he had a French accent.
"Mi lord I set the-" jobst grabbed him by the shirt,
"A frenhc spy, I should've picked you the moment I saw you" Jobst threw him forward, oulled out his sword and hacked off the mans head.


The EIA (European Imperial Army) had defeated the Danish Crusaders, and killed their prince. Jobst returned to the Diet where he knew he was to cop remearks and trials, but he had won, and thats all that mattered...

https://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s193/Warluster/medieval22007-05-2717-27-04-59.jpg

[TevashSzat]

Assault of Paris 1220

Duke Scherer was very confident as he set forth from Rheims, intent on taking Paris, the capital of France and the jewel of the country. His recent victories at Rheims made the French defeat seem inevitable.

The march to Paris was quick and easy with all French soldiers nearby having been recently been defeated in Rheims. Upon reaching Paris, he ordered his spy to infiltrate Paris and garner some information.

The news that reached him was alarming. The garrison within Paris although inexperienced and mostly includes militia, had a fully 300 more men than the Duke's army. Furthermore, French reinforcements were in just a day or two's march away.

Concerned about French reinforcements, the Duke attempted to take the city quickly. His spy who luckily had some family within Paris managed to bribe his way into getting the French captain of the walls to look the other way for one night. The gates were quickly opened and the Duke was ready to fight.

https://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z39/Xdeathfire/untitled.jpg

The Duke confident of his elite cavalry's fighting ability ordered his infantry and crossbowmen to take the walls as he quickly charged towards the center of city eager to take the French by surprise. The French however, has been training for a siege for the past few months and had their militia quickly fall back to the center of the city.

The Duke's infantry found almost no resistance at the walls and it was only then did they realize that the bulk of the French army was already marching towards the city center and would certainley catch the Duke by surprise.

The Duke's cavalry quickly reached the heart of the city and caught three units of militia by surprise. They were being quickly cut down when another 3 regiments appeared from a side street and even more comming from various other directions.

Sensing that his luck has changed, the duke quickly ordered most of his cavalry back, but ordered his most trusted cavalry to stay and fight on in order to cover his hasty retreat. They were quickly cut down, but their sacrifice saved most of the cavalry and the Duke from almost certain death.

What followed afterwards was a slaughter. The French unable to mount a counterattack, holed up in the city's central square. Swabian crossbowmen were moved into position and began firing upon the French troops before the bulk of the army charged in and killed everyone down to the last man.

https://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z39/Xdeathfire/untitled2.jpg

Angered by the loss of his cavalry, the Duke ordered all of Paris to be sacked and its gold brought back to the Empire.

[Kagemusha]

Battle on mountain pass near Durazzo 1222

http://img181.imagevenue.com/view.php?image=87608_vbat9_122_507lo.jpg

"Damned!We are stuck gentlemen!"

Jonas Von Mahren shouted to the men gathered in his command tent.

"The reports from scouts are clear. The Venetians have blocked the pass with a larger army then ours and marching around them is impossible,becouse Durazzo will block our route on the coast.The longer we will wait,more powerfull the Venetian host will get."

Austrian knight commander stood up and sayed.

"The reports are clear.There is more then half thousand Venetian Knights in that pass and atleast the same amount of infantry. Their army outclasses and outnumbers ours clearly.There is no sensible way for us to engage them,without high risk of annihilation."

http://img172.imagevenue.com/view.php?image=93939_vbattle2_122_556lo.jpg

Jonas buried his head on his hands for a while and then continued.

"Well ofcourse there is high risk that we will be defeated, but if we stay put we will be definately defeated,since there is no other Imperial army near by we have to push through that pass. Gentlemen, be prepared we will attack when the time is right.Dismissed."

As the last Austrians walked out of his tent,Von Mahren took another look on the map for about the hundred time and thought.

"There is nothing there in the ground that will help us. The pass is mostly flat and there are no forest or any other things which could help us either,we have some missile troops that Venetians doesnt have,but in that bloody pass there isnt any point where we could lure the Venetians to an place that would benefit our infantry against their large host of knights."

After a moment Jonas got tired on looking at the map as if there was anything usefull there.Instead he decided to go for a walk inside the camp. As he came out from his tent the cold breeze made him shiver and he decided to stop by on a kitchen tent where few men were eating. The cook handed him a warm beer and Jonas stood there for a moment sipping from his warm drink. As he had finished the drink and was walking towards his tent,it started. Heavy snow flakes started dropping from the sky on increasing pace and eventually a full blown blizzard hit the camp. After a short period of time Jonas started laughing out loud and roared.

"Sound the assembly we will move out!Move it men!"

After the army had assembled Jonas mounted with the Austrian captains explained his plan.

"With the help of this blizzard we will move past the Venetian force without them knowing that we even passed. But if they will see us,there is only one way for us to save ourselves. Not a man can brake rank. In a colum we can fend of the Venetian cavalry,but if we brake formation the Venetians will run down our men like grass.Now move it,but silently.If we are lucky we will go unnoticed."

And so in the thick of the blizzard the Austrian household army started marching the right side of the pass.

http://img5.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=93944_vbat3_122_598lo.jpg

The column of troops was tightly packed.First the Pavise crossbowmen,second the armoured spearmen, after them the dismounted knights and last the two mounted units of knights and Von Mahrens personal escort.

http://img108.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=93945_vbat4_122_671lo.jpg

The blizzard howled around the men,so it was impossible to hear anything and as the colum was half way through the pass,Jonas was getting optimistic about their chances of getting through unnoticed. Then things started go wrong.

Luigi Di Pietro was just an ordinary levied spearmen from Venice and his reason for being so far from the Venetian camp was far from beeing on a chivalrous guarding duty.
For past week Luigi had tryed to convince a local daughter of an peasant that there was nothing bad with tender feelings between two adults,while he kept his mouth shut about his family in Durazzo.After long period of courting the girl had started to warm up for Luigi´s tricks and the two were currently in a haystack inside of a barn when suddenly the mother of the sayed peasant girl came running and screaming into the barn.

"Germans!There are thousends of Germans marching towards the farm!"

Shouted the peasant woman with mixture of Croatian,Italian and German.

"Are you out of your mind?"

Luigi stated as he pushed the girl inside the haystack as if the mother wouldnt have known that the girl was in the barn with a Italian soldier.

!Come see! Stupid Italian!"

Yelled the mother. Reluctantly Luigi rose up from the hey and walked out of the barn to see what the grazy woman had seen. But after a short glimpse he got more energy in his moves then never before in his life. A large German host was marching straight towards the farm and as the mother tryed to hang on his sleeve and daughter on his foot screaming about how the germans would rape and kill or vice versa them all,Luigi decided that if there was never a time for him to run,this was it.

Meanwhile Von Mahren had no idea that they were spotted. And the German army marched silently and carefully forward.
When the army was just about to cross a small hill.The drumming and trumpet sounds started from the Italian camp.Von Mahren cursed and lined the men into battle. He rode through the troops and shouted over and over again.

"Stay together.Crossbows aim for the horses,then retreat behind the spears.If we stay together we have a chance."

After a short while the drumming stopped and large grumbling sound started to come nearer and nearer and suddenly hundreds of Venetian knights came out charging from the blizzard.

http://img159.imagevenue.com/view.php?image=93947_vbat5_122_635lo.jpg

Jonas felt bad for the front line spearmen already. The crossbows shot a fast volley and run behind the spearmen.The next second the Venetian cavalry smashed on the center and right of the German force like thunder.

http://img128.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=93954_vbat6_122_529lo.jpg

The ranks of spearmen wawered but held. After the initial charge Jonas commanded the dismounted knights to attack the gaps of the line and committed his two units of mounted knights to the right rear that was getting stressed of the numbers of Italian Knights charging there.He stayed alone on the left flank of the line shouting constantly.

"Hold the line men!Hold the line,they cant brake us!"

The battle raged hard and the Venetians charged the German line over and over again.Men dying on both sides.Von Mahren stood stubbornly on his place on the left flank while now there was even some Venetians behind him routing some of his crossbows. Jonas just sat on his saddle fending of the occasional Italian knights that penetrated the line or tryed to flank the Germans and he roamed.

"Hold the line!Not a one step back men!"

Suddenly a relief came as the Venetian captain had charged also the German lines and a stab of a German spear ended his life.

http://img154.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=93971_vbat7_122_1121lo.jpg

Now it was the time.Now or not ever.Jonas commanded a general charge and the Germans started pushing.Little by little the Italians turned and started running and after a while general rout begin. Von Mahren tryed to coordinate the pursue,but the troops were completely mixed and all he could do was to gather units there where a Italian knight unit decided to turn around.Even this was hard since there was only a handfull of mounted Germans alive and many times few men were pursuing a very much larger troops. Finally The last Italians were driven of the field and as the blizzard slowed down and ended the whole gruesomnes of the battlefield appeared infront of their eyes.

http://img182.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=93978_vbat8_122_386lo.jpg

The field was a sea of corpses of men and horses most dead some still alive and wounded.After the battle Von Mahren ransomed the Italian prisoners back for a amount of 1300 florins.Also he sent a message to Durazzo with them reading.

"We have destroyed the best you have.Your city will be next."

http://img184.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=93979_vbat9_122_449lo.jpg

Butchers bill:

http://img172.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=93981_vbat10_122_543lo.jpg

[FactionHeir]

Allied Battle for Constantinople, Spring 1224 AD

After Hans had defeated the small Hungarian rear guard, he wondered where the large army that had taken Constantinople a few years ago had set up camp. He still remembered the pledge he made to both himself and the empire's ally that he would personally secure the border of their capital and drive the Magyars back to whence they came. Several days passed, during which Hans restlessly walked up and down inside his tent, waiting for his scouts to report back on any large troop movement. And on the seventh day, he was in luck. It was not quite what he had expected, for it was not one of his scouts that had entered his tent but a Byzantine messenger. At first, Hans was apalled by the looks of that man, who was clad merely in rags and was bleeding from places more than one, but it was not upon him to judge the empire's ally's looks. Quite brashly, the man had requested some water, which Hans gestured forth, before he began to speak, in a cracking voice that Constantinople was once again under siege. These words had resonated for quite a while in the young noble's ears, for he felt that he might have come too late once again. As he steadied himself however, he quickly called for the camp to be broken and force marched his men eastwards.

That was several days ago now. Hans stared at the host in front of him that was busily building siege equipment and heaving heavy catapults into position to fire upon the walls of the great city. He almost wished that he had brought his host of infantry with him so he could surround and defeat them easily, but luck had not been with him, for the bulk of his army rested several days back in the west, unable to march further and not able to catch up in time for battle. As Hans looked about him, he brought to memory each and every one of the few mounted knight regiments that he had brought with him. They, too, were tired, but they had made their pledge and were ready to fight and die for him. It almost brought tears to his eyes when they collectively had raised their swords high and declared that they would follow him to free Constantinople. And now was the time...
https://img355.imageshack.us/img355/8281/0007gr7.jpg

Hans deployed his cavalry on a gentle slope at the rear of the Hungarian force, while his Byzantine allies would come from his left, hopefully in time to flank the bulk of the opposing force.
https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/2307/0009zf2.jpg

As the Byzantines were still far off, the Hungarians immediately turned and marched towards Hans' position. The number of banners flying over the host's heavily armed foot soldiers was quite concerning, and while the apparent lack of spearmen would make matters easier, the fact that every single one of the enemy's foot soldiers was a knight would make for a long and difficult battle.
https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/2096/0010qp4.jpg

To Hans' surprise, the Hungarian captain seemed to struggle keeping his forces in line and readying his artillery, for their siege engines kept turning to and fro, not knowing how to deploy. It almost made the young chancellor laugh out loud as after severak hours, the Hungarians still had not mustered the courage to engage his force nor fire a single arrow at his knights. It was good this way however, as it allowed his weary knights and horses the rest they so desired. Nevertheless, Hans did not allow a single man to dismount, for only if they used the momentum - and used it well - would this day be a victory for the empire.
https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/5665/0011ww8.jpg

As his Byzantine allies' banners finally started appearing on the horizon and some Hungarians worriedly turned left and right, not knowing where to go, Hans sounded the battlehorn and charged forth towards the Magyars.
https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/6249/0012tc6.jpg

The enemy was clearly take by surprise, yet under the shouting of their captain turned towards and started charging towards him. Perfect Hans cheered everything is going as planned as he ordered his knights to turn and ride back up the hill, some Hungarians still in pursuit while the others were either disoriented or moved towards forming a new line against the Byzantine advance.
It was then that Hans gestured for all his units to turn and charge back down the hill after their successful feint that broke the enemy formation.
https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/2992/0013om8.jpg

The Mailed Knights broke deep into the enemy lines and charged down several dismounted knights only to quickly break away from the incoming pursuers, make a sharp turn and charge back into the Hungarian archer regiments.
https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/2787/0014wc7.jpg

Meanwhile, Hans was charging towards several foot knights that were planning to get into the rear of the mailed knights and his mounted feudal knights charged the flanks of his opponent.
https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/3755/0015hi0.jpg

As the mailed knights had done, Hans broke immediately after the charge from melee only to charge the lines of foot knights next to his former target. He could clearly start sensing the fear in his opponents even through their visors, as they started to waver and the back rows started to turn and run.
https://img398.imageshack.us/img398/9458/unbenanntew6.jpg

It was then that Hans noticed the enemy Frankish knights trying to get to his right flank, formed up in a wedge.
https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/9735/0017fg7.jpg

Immediately, he sounded the horn to have all his knights fall into the enemy knights' flank and destroy them.
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The enemy knights broke quickly, yet some fighting to the death as they saw no escape from their dire situation. Fireballs started flying through the sky as both Hungarians and Byzantine catapults started firing at each other and the lines started to engage. A perfect opportunity to charge the Magyar's rear and have the Byzantines mop them up Hans figured and forced his men to disengage from the remaining frankish knights to charge the nearest foot knight lines.
https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/3753/0019ky4.jpg

Men flew into the air as lances and horses crashed into them, leaving a sea of corpses in their wake.
https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/1060/0020ks5.jpg

Yet again, as Hans' entourage impacted with the footknight regiment, he broke to charge their neighbors, wreaking utter havok to the enemy's formation, men, and morale as they tried to turn towards him with the Byzantines now in their rear.
https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/2593/0021sb5.jpg

Riding through the gap in the Hungarian lines, Hans and his entourage struck knights left and artillery crew right, seeding fear into the enemy's hearts as all but their captain's regiment started to turn and flee for the hills in panic.
https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/9464/0022hx3.jpg

His mounted knights in the meantime started to break the last resistance among the enemy artillery crews, who breavely stood their ground, fearing both their captain's fury and German steel.
https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/5885/0023wk5.jpg

Yet even they decided that German steel was the greater threat and started to run, nearly all of their compatriots being captured by either Hans' forces or the Byzantines. Only 19 made it into the hills, with Hans' knights too tired to pursue them. The day was won regardless and the two Roman empires once again cheered together as brothers, to their heroic victory over the barbaric Magyars as Constantinople was saved.
https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/9413/0024qf2.jpg

https://img355.imageshack.us/img355/5466/0025xm8.jpg
https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/6557/0026ad9.jpg

[Kagemusha]

Battle of Durazzo 1226

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The Austrian household army had briefly besieged the City of Durazzo. Before the siege Jonas had instructed the commanders of the army including Arnold of Austria who had joined the army.

"Gentlemen this isnt really a siege. There are lot more Venetian troops inside Durazzo then we have. As my son Erhart is not far from this army,our plan is to lure the Venetians out of the city and destroy them."

Arnold replied.

"Von Mahren.Isnt this bit risky? Why do we have to take a such an risk,when we dont have to take Durazzo at first place,since Duke Leopold´s intention was just to ravage the Venetian land and not to conquer it. Didnt we already give them a blow enough when you destroyed their army on that pass near this place?"

Jonas looked at the younger man and was impressed on his wits.

"Those are all valid points,but i think that if we leave Durazzo be,the Venetians will strike us at the back when we turn our attention in other directions. I take full responsibility on this tactics and i think the risk is worth taking.The men didnt run in front of Venetian knights,i doubt they will when facing militia either.

Arnold nodded,but muttered to himself.

"It may be so,but when i take charge of this army this kind of tactics will not be used."

After few hours,a Venetian messeger brought a word to Doge Benasuto of Venice who was at Durazzo.

"Sir,sorry to interrupt you,but there is a minor problem."

"What kind of problem?"

Doge asked and continued

"Speak up man! Have the troops caused trouble again in the city or what is this about?"

The messenger swallowed heavily and sayed.

"Well...Sir.We are besieged...Not technically speaking surrounded,but there is a middle sized German army in front of our front gate and they are cutting down trees to make siege engines."

Doge Benasuto took a carefull look at the man in front of him and sayed.

"You are aware of the consequences of drinking while in duty? Why would Germans besiege us,when they dont have an army as large as ours inside 100 kilometers or even more?"

The messenger answered.

"Yes,sir!Im not drunk infact havent touched a beer this day, but the fact remains the Germans are outside the city and it seems they want to battle."

Doge scratched his head and after a minute or so of thinking he sayed.

"Well then.Sound an assembly.I think we should go meet the grazy Germans and give them a lesson."

Meanwhile outside the walls Jonas was sitting on his horse and talking with Arnold when the sounds of drumming and warhorns started inside the city.Jonas sayed to Arnold.

"I think you can order the men to abandon the work on siege engines and line up the right flank,becouse i think that we will soon have company. We have a hell of a fight coming.I trust that you will lead the right with honour.I will do my best on the left."

Arnold rode off to the right and just as Jonas was about to give orders for assembling the left wing of the battle line, a loud sound of warhorn came from North East. Jonas sayed to his trusted Teuton that had followed him from the holy land.

"The boy is right on time."

The Teuton named Wolf replied with a smile on his face.

"Well he shure as hell doesnt come to his father."

Jonas laughed and slapped his trusted knight on the back.Then he commanded the battle line to assemble.Meanwhile the Italians opened the gates and swarms of soldiers raced out from them.

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Von Mahren and Arnold respectfully ordered all the crossbows to start loosing arrows on the Venetians while they were trying to get their units ready for attack,the arrows made heavy toll on the Italians.

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For a while it looked like the arows were causing panic among the soldiers,but after a short time,with a large roar. The Italian mass of infantry crashed the thin black and yellow line of Germans on foot and a heavy fight started.Some of the German crossbows couldnt get away from charging Venetians and they had to draw swords also.

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For a time the battle raged and with all their effort,the Knights of Jonas and Arnold were able to keep the flanks of the army together. Jonas constantly keeped his eye on the the nearing force of his son.The Knights were gallopping on full speed and the few crossbowmen behind were far away as Erhart raced towards the battle.
When Jonas saw that his son was almost ther he commanded his own body guards to move to meet the new comers.There was not much time to talk,becouse the battle was in critical phase as the German foot knights and spearmen massacred the Italian levies,while more and more attacked them.Jonas cryed to Erhart,as they met.

"Wellcome! Lets flank the bastards you take the left side and i will form on the right and keep contact to our own flank. Now Charge!"

Erhart had just the time to say.

"Greetings! Lovely gathering you have here!"

The next minute the mounted knight units crashed the Italian right flank with devastating effect.

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On the German right flank Arnold was desperately pushing back the Italian flankers who were trying to roll up his line.He ordered even the crossbows to melee to drive the flankers away. Striking with his sword,left and right he yelled.

"Hold the flank!Hold the flank or we are all dead!"

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On the left Erhard and Jonas had scattered the Italian right flank,but just as the Italian spearmen were running away,Erhart and his men met the Doge´s bodyguards.

http://img169.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=58644_venebat7_122_450lo.jpg

Jonas tryed to fight his way towards his sone yelling him to stop,but to no avail.Erhart was crushing the Venetians under the hooves of his horse and it seemed nothing could stop the young man. Just as he smashed through another rank of spearmen the Italian knights charged at his men. Jonas could see his son striking down many of them,but suddenly the crest of Erharts helmet disappeared in the crowd. The young Lion was down. Erhart could feel as the Italian spear from beneath him strucked on his lower back. He turned around and dropped the head of the spearman who struck him with single blow from his sword. He turned around and was only able to see the Italian lance coming towards his chest. The lance went straight through his stomach,but still Erhart gathered his remaining strength and smashed his sword on chest of the Knight that pierced him with his lance. Then it seemed as if the time was getting slower.
Erhart wondered why he didnt feel any pain. Then his vision blurred and the young knight dropped from the saddle.
On the right flank Arnold turned around when he he heard the agonizing roar of Jonas.

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Jonas had smashed his way through the crowd,but he was too late. He saw his eldest son, dead and bloodied in the muddy ground. At that moment something snapped in his head. He raised his eyes on the Doge and his men who had just slain his son and all that came from his mouth was a terrible roar.

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"Doge Benasuto!"

Jonas Von Mahren went berserk.He galloped straight in the midst of the Doges bodyguards killing everything that got on his way.No orders came from his mouth,he just kep roaring The Venetian Doge´s name over and over. As he was calling him to an duel.
The whole German army entered the same state of mind and now nothing could stop them.Just as minutes a go,the Venetians were pushing them almost to the ground now the Germans ripped through the Venetians,giving no quarter.
Jonas butchered his way through the Venetian Doge and duel was about to commense as the two got some room,but like many times in battle a German foot knight couldnt see the situation and striked down the Venetian Doge from behind.

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Soon the Germans on foot ran over the dead Doge and started chasing the fleeing Venetians to the city.
For a while Jonas just sat on his horse and watched the corpse of the Doge. No one dared to confront him and the troops followed the Venetians into the city killing and burning everything.
Soon Jonas was alone on the field with only corpses and wounded as his company. He dismounted from his horse. Walked to the dead body of his son and dragged him under a tree,where just sat byrying his face on his hands. After the battle he ordered the extermination of the city and killing of all the prisoners,basicly that order had already been fulfilled already. Also Arnold was knighted and he took over the command of the army.
Jonas gave orders to Wolf to go inform the Diet and gave Erhart´s sword with the Teuton. After that he ordered to move Erharts body to his own tent where he spent the night with his dead son,crying, just as much any father ever could.

Butchers Bill:

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http://img128.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=65021_venebat12_122_518lo.jpg

[econ21]

The battle of Southern Syria, 1226 AD

OOC: in my normally copious notes for each battle, I managed to write only one word for this one:

hell!


Henry let the scroll fall to the floor. “We assassinated a Princess?” he asked Horst incredulously.

The young Teuton could not meet the Kaiser’s eye. “A French Princess by the name of Agnesot.” he mumbled.

Henry shook his head. “May God have mercy on her soul, and ours. How many more assassinations have we been behind?”

Horst shrugged: “I do not know, Sire, it seems there are several mentioned each Diet report. You now have a reputation for being fine with political murders.”

Henry’s face darkened: “Not once in my time in office as Chancellor did I authorise an assassin to so much as get out of bed, let alone kill a young woman! I promised Hans my support on condition that he would follow the path of light and this is road he follows. I told him we were cursed: that if he was Kaiser, every blow from our assassins would scar his immortal soul. And now the father must pay for the sins of the son.”

Horst tried to placate him: “Sire, this is beyond your control. And it could have been worse - Prinz Hummel could been elected.”

Henry spat out contemptuously: “At least with that snake you knew where you stood.”

Then, as rapidly as it had arrived, the fire seemed to leave Henry and he slumped back in his seat.

“The Reich seems set on a path of remorseless expansion. Rheims sacked, Paris sacked, Durazzo sacked, Sofia … no doubt due to be sacked. We are marauding across Europe. We are no different from the horse lords. At least they have the decency not to worship a loving god or spout balderdash about chivalry…”

Horst looked alarmed: “My lord, you are beginning to sound like Kolar again!”

Henry looked at Horst pityingly: “Kolar taught me many things. His words taught me that just because the church says one thing does not make it right. And his actions taught me that just because an act is expedient for your kingdom does not make it right either.”

It was not clear to Henry whether Horst understood his meaning or not, but it did not matter. Looking at the Teuton’s mutilated hands, the Kaiser had no inclination to debate the merits and failings of the monster who inflicted that torture.

“I am too old for this. Too old to be a puppet, a figurehead, for the new generation.” Henry paused, watching the figure of Kurt Altman come into his tent. “I am weary. And I am losing my touch. I thought I could just march out and attack the horse lords. It took my son to remind me that, by the Charter, I required Diet approval first.”

Kurt saluted the Kaiser and said almost under his breath: “Well, that at least is one thing you won’t have to worry about, Sire.”

https://img114.imageshack.us/img114/6792/mongol1lt0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The horse lords attack the Kaiser’s Imperial Army


*****

Kurt heard the Kaiser give the opening speech - the veteran warrior thought he could detect in it something of young Elberhard, especially the Kaiser’s quip that his men should feel pity for the Mongols and ”especially their horses to support such boney arses.”. However, there was something more authentic in Henry’s closing call to his men to ”pray, you brave fools.”.

Seeking to replay the victory at Antioch, Henry deployed on the highest piece of ground he could find. However, it was but a gentle slope. The Imperial left was anchored by some heights, but the right was wide open and this was where Henry placed most of his cavalry, including his own escort.

https://img516.imageshack.us/img516/5016/mongol2ds6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Henry hopes it will be a shooting match, with the advantage lying with his many pavise crossbowmen.


It seemed only moments before Mongol heavy archers were moving fast towards the pavise crossbows stationed on the right of the Imperial line. Damnation, cursed Kurt and he urged the supporting heavy infantry forward to protect his missile troops. They caught the first Mongol regiment just in time.

https://img201.imageshack.us/img201/3901/mongol3jt7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

First contact.


While the heavy archers seemed to stumble into their charge, the Mongol attack on the German centre right was more deliberate. First, light lancers struck, followed by heavy lancers and soon even the Mongol general, Bayan the Wrathful, joined the assault.

https://img114.imageshack.us/img114/6228/mongol4de4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

https://img201.imageshack.us/img201/1049/mongol5ek9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The battle begins in earnest with a massive melee between Mongol melee cavalry and Imperial infantry.


For a moment, Kurt imagined that the centre would hold. Stout German spearmen could perhaps hold off the finest Mongol cavalry. But then he realised that what was missing was heart - as a regiment of sergeant spearmen started to break and run to the rear, it looked as if the whole Imperial position would collapse. Kurt heard the Kaiser cry:

“Send in the cavalry! Orders to the regiments on the right: forward charge! Bodyguard, ride with me!”

https://img201.imageshack.us/img201/2707/mongol7wh3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

https://img201.imageshack.us/img201/3152/mongol8jg6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Henry stabilises the line by committing his knights, and himself, to the central melee.


The fighting was hectic and brutal - Henry hand no time to carefully manoeuvre his army; his aides had only one instruction - to ride along the line and make sure that every regiment was in action.

Eventually, the sheer weight of the Imperial forces committed - eight regiments of foot and five of horse - prevailed over the seven regiments of Mongol horse in the melee. But it would not be fair to say the Mongols broke. They merely died. If the odd regiment did rout, it was only to rally seconds later and return to the fray. Soon all that was left of entire Mongol regiments was a single horseman or two, still wandering the battlefield looking for a fight.

https://img201.imageshack.us/img201/844/mongol9vx3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Imperial breakthrough begins on the open right, spearheaded by Henry’s escort and involving the bulk of the German cavalry.


Once through the Mongol cavalry, Kurt saw Henry rejoice to see below clumps of Mongol infantry and archers. The Kaiser had been studiously ignoring the throngs of light Mongol horse archers still unengaged. He knew from bitter experience with the Mameluks that sending German cavalry in pursuit of such foes was a fool’s errand - the cavalry would be whittled down and never catch their enemy, or even bitterly regret it when they did finally come to blows. No, the Kaiser was too savy to chase horse archers, but Mongol infantry could not flee.

“Hah!” shouted Henry. “There they are, boys! At ‘em!”


https://img460.imageshack.us/img460/6695/mongol10hh6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Kaiser launches into the Mongol infantry

After the battle, Kurt wondered if Henry had failed as a commander that day - if his tactics of headlong charges into the enemy were crude and inefficient. But at the time, there was no time. Everything happened so quickly - the chaos of battle was so great, any careful manoeuvring seemed impossible. And when a regiment was out of combat, the relentless archery from the Mongol horse was withering. A regiment of halberd militia was reduced from 80 to 20 merely marching from its victorious melee against the Mongol heavy cavalry down to meet the Mongol infantry. The Kaiser reasoned that the safest place for any German to be was at the throat of a Mongol and even with the wisdom of hindsight, Kurt could not quarrel with that.

The only Germans who were not in melee or racing towards it that day were the pavise crossbowmen in the rear. If Henry did make one mistake that battle, it was in taking his eye of the enemy general, Bayan the Wrathful, who we last left locked in the opening central melee. Bayan was a mighty warlord, cruel and cunning, driven by rage. Somehow while his heavy cavalry were dying all around him in the central melee, he broke through to the rear.

https://img460.imageshack.us/img460/6089/bayanrh8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Henry’s antithesis and worthy opponent.


There, he lay about the pavise crossbowmen, charging into regiment after regiment with only a handful of fellow riders to guard him. Slowly, the German command realised what was happening behind its lines, but it lacked any reserves to counter the marauding warlord. Eventually almost all the regiments of crossbows in the army were tasked with shooting down the Mongol general.

“Stand and fight! He is only one man! Shoot him! Shoot him!”

Bayan was soon stripped of his escort, but his own fine armour seemed impervious to even the steel stringed arbalests of the Germans. Volley after volley of the crossbowmen succeeded only in killing their own kind, the unfortunate ones that Bayan visited on his own indomitable solo charges.

https://img49.imageshack.us/img49/6636/mongol11br6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

While Henry is at the front, Bayan runs amok in the rear of the German lines. Alone, he charges several regiments of pavise crossbowmen - causing considerable losses and distracting most of the Imperial firepower from the main battle.

Eventually, the inevitable happened.

https://img133.imageshack.us/img133/8853/bayandeadss9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The indomitable Bayan is finally brought down - surrounded by the corpses of the crossbowmen killed at his hand - or by “friendly fire”.


It will never be known with certainty, but from discussions after the battle, Kurt came to the conclusion that Bayan alone probably claimed more crossbowmen’s lives than all seven regiments of Mongol horse archers.

Shortly after Bayan’s death - and even perhaps as a consequence of it - Henry finally broke through the Mongol infantry. Unlike their mounted counterparts, significant numbers of the Mongol foot did turn and run. Whether they could possibly have known of their leader’s death, far to the German rear, Kurt was never sure. But Mongol communications and battlefield coordination were exemplary, so it could not be ruled out.

Kurt looked at Henry - he seemed almost maddened and cried out, fierce in battle:

“There’s still more of them lads! Look, down there! The foot archers! Charge!”

https://img49.imageshack.us/img49/6889/mongol13cp6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

One last push - Henry orders a general advance on the Mongol foot archers.


While the German centre was charging forward, smashing into regiment after regiment of Mongol foot, the flanks were suffering grievously from the Mongol horse archers. On the German right, when the horse archers had sufficiently weakened a regiment of mailed knights and one of sergeant spearmen, the Mongols closed in for the kill and routed them. It was now a bloody war of attrition - a race to see who could kill the most, the fastest: the Germans on the centre or the Mongols on the flanks.

https://img155.imageshack.us/img155/2770/mongol14kb1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Even the Mongol foot archers stand up to the fast disappearing Imperial cavalry.


Such was the ferocity of the fighting that it seemed to die out suddenly, but with almost every Mongol on the field dead or, in the case of some foot, captured. Only one enemy regiment of any significance remained at the end: a unit of Mongol infantry that had rallied and returned to the fight.

https://img155.imageshack.us/img155/1461/mongol15xa5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The rout of the only Mongol regiment left on the field marks the end of the battle.


After the battle, Henry wandered the battlefield whispering:

“My knights, my poor knights, where are they all gone?”

His cavalry had been almost annihilated, along with most of his spearmen and a good proportion of the rest of his troops.

“I must contact Otto and Leopold immediately.” breathed Henry to Kurt Altman. “It is most urgent.”

If one Mongol stack could do this while attacking, how would Leopold’s crusade fare against three Mongol stacks each with the advantage of defence?

https://img237.imageshack.us/img237/7818/mongol17oo6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The butcher’s bill.



*****

After the battle, Kurt Altman presented Henry with 240 Mongol prisoners and asked about their fate. Henry looked conflicted, the bitterness of his losses and his newfound ferocity in battle darkening his countenance. But then he seemed to soften, as if his true nature reasserted himself.

“Those men do not have riding boots. They are almost all infantry. And infantry we can deal with. I have heard the Mongols have a considerable war chest from all their depravations. Let them spend some of it to get those fellows back. Besides - the Mongols want to come to Christian civilisation. Let us show them how civilised men wage war.”

Kurt nodded, unsurprised to see his master’s chivalry emerge even under this most extraordinary of trials. But the veteran warrior was equally unsurprised when the heartless horse lord Khan refused the ransom and invited the Germans to put to the sword those Mongols unworthy enough to surrender rather than die fighting.

[FactionHeir]

Assault on the citadel of Sofia, 1228 AD

Hans grabbed the note from the ragged messenger and gestured to Dirk to pay him. Inpatiently, he scrolled it open and read the few lines that had been scribbled rather hastily onto it.
Good Hans thought out loud, managing to raise Adalberth's eyebrow. "It is time we pressed on to capture Sofia", spoke Hans "tell the men to break camp." "My young lord, how are we to take this mighty citadel without any siege equipment if I may ask?" Adalberth looked clearly confused. "This message my good man is from our spy within. He has managed to put the guard captain to sleep and steal his uniform. The gates are wide open for us." "Oh, then we should truly make haste."
It had been a long journey from the hills to the east to this castle. Truly impressive were Hans first thoughts when he had seen it. It would be his first time attacking such a well defended place, for Hungarian reinforcements were rumored to be arriving from north west and both the citadel and the reinforcements would exclusively be knights on foot.
https://img469.imageshack.us/img469/329/0003uw5.jpg

Hans did not wish to lose valuable time on long speeches and decided to only speak of bravery so his men would stand their ground against the hard odds that they were facing. His mounted knights and crossbowmen would be of little help this day and his spearmen would at best be able to hold their ground against the enemy prince - if they even got that far.
https://img469.imageshack.us/img469/1338/0005ci6.jpg

After his short speech, Hans held up high the grail that he had received from his father and asked his men "Do you know what this is, soldiers of the empire? This is the most holy grail and it is rumored that it will grant vigor and salvation to any chivalrous man who gives his best in battle, whatever the odds!" His men would need all the encouragement they could get, for today would be a long battle. Hans walked over to the Feudal knights to his right and gave the commander orders to ride as quickly as he could to the northwest to intercept the Hungarian reinforcements before they would reach the citadel. To the mailed knights, he commanded to stand their ground and screen against any armies that could have been missed in their back. Hans would not be taking any chances today.
https://img469.imageshack.us/img469/3584/0006sp9.jpg

As usual, Hans put himself at the front of his army and rode through the widely opened first gate, his infantry far behind him, and decided to charge the first best target he could see: a regiment of dismounted chivalric knights, ignoring the feudals scrambling for the inner gate.
https://img469.imageshack.us/img469/3058/0007bu5.jpg

The Chivalric knights quickly ran up the small hill surrounding the walls to prevent being impaled completely, and only a quarter of their men fell to the initial charge.
https://img469.imageshack.us/img469/2285/0008ud8.jpg

However, they were distraught over the masses of German infantry pouring through the entrance gate and their comrades running for their lives and started to flee.
https://img469.imageshack.us/img469/534/0009nc3.jpg

Hans pursued and captured every one of them while ordering his infantry to keep moving forward and take the second gate.
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Meanwhile, the tired Feudal knights were in the vincinity of the reinforcements.
https://img469.imageshack.us/img469/9184/0011cs8.jpg

The commander urged his knights to charge the footknight regiment with which the enemy captain travelled with success: The captain was impaled by an Imperial lance immediately, but his men did not flee, contrary to what the commander had expected.
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Back in the citadel, some knights were still on the battlements manning the towers that shot mercilessly at his men, but as they noticed how the gates fell, they abandoned their positions and headed for the inner gate. They were intercepted and surrounded by Hans' men, yet put up a good fight, not a single one of them abandoning their oath to their nation.
https://img469.imageshack.us/img469/4647/0013gq7.jpg

The Feudal knight commander kept charging his knights into the flanks of his enemy and finally, some of them started to break and run even faster towards the citadel. "Damnation" he shouted and urged his men to fight even harder, but several knights got entangled and fell to the footknights. Eventually, all of the reinforcements routed except for the leaderless footknight regiment at the front which made it through the gate and now held its ground against the mounted knights. After what seemed like hours, the footknights had yet to lose more than a handful of men while the feudal knights were starting to waver as their commander was struck and fell off his horse. The second in command quickly had the knights retreat out the citadel, causing the footknights to cheer and march on towards the citadel's main plaza: A mistake, for the second in command was no fool and his feint worked perfectly, as he charged into the rear of the footknights, finally routing them.
https://img469.imageshack.us/img469/9303/0014dk4.jpg

Hans was the first to ride through the last gate of this wretched citadel. I had never expected this place to be this big he noted to himself. My men look weary, I wonder whether they will hold up against the fresh troops in the plaza, who are fighting for their lives, their homes, their fortune. But this was no time for doubts as he clenched his fists around his sword and ordered his men to charge the Magyar prince head on.
https://img469.imageshack.us/img469/7297/0015tf6.jpg

Hans motioned to his crossbowmnen to screen off the enemy footknights coming down the walls so they would not be able to interfere, albeit at a high cost to these meek missile troops.
https://img469.imageshack.us/img469/7878/0016cb1.jpg

Adalberth, at the back of Hans' entourage shouted to the spearmen to run faster and infiltrate the ranks of the prince's bodyguard, which they did under heavy casualties. It was worth it however as soon half the bodyguard lay dead on the floor.
https://img469.imageshack.us/img469/7364/0017ce1.jpg

Hans meanwhile ordered his footknights to run around the back of the enemy and strike their rear.
https://img469.imageshack.us/img469/5066/0018uv6.jpg

The results were devastating, even though his footknights were exhausted. Enemy knights fell like petals from a rose under blows from German steel.
https://img469.imageshack.us/img469/9920/0019wu0.jpg

However not all was well at the other side of the citadel, for the Feudal knights, while pursuing the cowardly reinforcements ran into a footknight ambush at the second inner gate and fell quickly to their blades, running for their lives.
https://img469.imageshack.us/img469/3475/0020pb1.jpg

Hans however did not know what was happening at the other end of the citadel. All he cared about was to bring down the enemy prince and claim victory this day. It would not be long that his wish be fulfilled as the prince, struck both by Hans and several footknights fell from his horse.
https://img469.imageshack.us/img469/4118/0021bh0.jpg

Without their leader and the Germans having finally managed to mount their flag on top of the citadel, the remaining knights accepted their fate and surrended to Hans.
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[TinCow]

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"GONE?! What do you mean they are gone?!"

The Austrian peasant gulped, confusion clouding his face.

"M'lord...?"

Lothar Steffen grabbed the man by his shirt and yanked him forward.

"WHERE?!"

"Er... uh... Ea... East. M'lord. East, m'lord."

The Bavarian youth let out a bellow of rage; his face crimson and his veins throbbing. He shoved the peasant away forcefully, then turned and looked towards the rising sun. The man stumbled and fell into the dirt. He was too stunned to stand up. Why is he not happy? The Hungarian army is gone! It is certain victory.

The eldest of the Steffen brothers turned back to the dirty form sprawled on the ground. "How many are left?"

"Uh, not many m'lord. Not many at all. Just ruffians and merchants, no proper soldiers. Some with bows, some with axes, and a small mounted contingent." The man's eyes flicked over the ranks of armored knights and spearmen standing stretching down the road. "Nothing to compare with your men, m'lord."

Lothar Steffen scream in frustration.

It cannot be like this! Not like this! This was to be my grand blooding! The battle that would bring me fame and glory. A fearless General and his small group of loyal soldiers facing insurmountable odds against a vicious foe! All for the salvation of the innocent citizens of the Reich!

Lothar spat on the ground.

Outnumbered three to one! Hell, even two to one would have sounded good in the taverns. We outnumber them now two to one. How can I ever receive a Knighthood for a squabble like this? No one in the Diet will even notice the battle!

He shook his head and stared at the horizon. Smoke from the early morning fires could be seen rising from the distant smudge that was Zagreb. Smoke from cooking fires. The city was waking; breakfast was being prepared.

I have already left a large host behind to prove myself. If taking a small host was enough to get me noticed once, perhaps it will work again.

The Bavarian turned back to the peasant. He was on his feet again and was attempting to brush the dirt from what passed for his clothing.

"You."

The man stopped and looked up, a wary expression on his face.

"Yes, you. Go back to the city. Find some vagabonds and tell them that I will pay each of them half a silver florin if they open all of the city gates when my men come."

The peasant bowed. "Y.. Yes m'lord." He paused. "Now, m'lord?"

"YES BLOODY NOW!" Lothar put his hand on his scabbard and started to draw his sword, but the man was already off and running. The teenager turned to his lieutenants.

"Split the regiments into three groups. Send one each to the North, East, and South gates of the city. I want them to take the gatehouses and prevent anyone from fleeing the city."

One of the men cocked his head. "What of the west gate?"

"I will enter at the west gate with my personal guard. I will deal with the garrison personally. Once the gates are secured and you are sure that none can slip pass, advance through the streets towards the town square. Herd all the Hungarians you can find towards that spot, but do not, DO NOT, attack them. Do you understand me?"

The men all nodded. "Good, now go!"

One way or another, I am going to have my glory.

...

The gates pealed open before him, just as expected. He didn't even have to slow his mount to a walk. The first man into the city, that should count for something.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/zagreb/zagreb_gate.jpg

He paused momentary when he cleared the walls. Turning his head from side to side, Lothar realized quickly that there was no opposition to be found. He let out another yelp of frustration. "FIND ME SOMEONE TO KILL!"

They rode through the city, making as much noise as possible. Austrian heads poked out of windows to see what the commotion was about. After several minutes, the commoners started vanishing quickly, followed by the sound of crossboards being thrown across doors and windows. When they rounded the next corner, they found a large group of mounted swordsmen facing them. Lothar shrieked with joy and charged.

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He had fought dozens of opponents in hundreds of individual combats during his short life, but it had always been with blunted practice weapons; the killing blow held back. Now, for the first time, he felt the added resistance as his sword dug into a body. He looked into the face of his wounded opponent and saw disbelief. He pulled back his arm and marveled at the extra strength required to drag his blade from its living scabbard. The dying wish to keep the instrument of their demise. Blood fountained.

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Lothar laughed and turned to find his next victim. The Hungarian horse outnumbered his men two to one, but they were poorly trained. Half of them fell before the first of his own bodyguard was unhorsed. Through the din of battle, the pounding of boots could be heard further down the street. A large body of unarmored archers turned the corner and saw the battle. They drew long, curved swords rushed to support their horsemen. Lothar whooped with glee and kicked his horse into the thickest part of the melee.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/zagreb/zagreb_archreinf.jpg

Metal rang on metal. The shrieks of death surrounded him, echoing off the walls of the city. Echoing... He turned in his saddle and saw a group of Hungarian axemen assaulting a wall of Bavarian knights in the town square. His regiments had completed their cordon and arrived in the city as ordered. Despite the long axes, the Hungarians were not faring well. There were nearly fifty bodies scattered in the square and Lothar could not see a single Imperial uniform amongst them. They are dying too fast! They must fight harder!

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/zagreb/zagreb_square.jpg

He pulled back from the lines and galloped to his knights. "Pull back! Let them have the square! Do not attack these men!" The Bavarians looked at him and hesitated. He pointed his bloodied sword at the nearest knight. "I SAID PULL BACK!" He did not wait to see them comply, the axemen were going nowhere and his bodyguard were still heavily engaged. Only moments after he rejoined the struggle, the remaining horsemen broke and attempted to flee.

"STAND AND FIGHT! STAND AND FIGHT YOU COWARDLY BASTARDS!" Lothar began cutting down the fleeing Hungarians, but none would face him. His men followed suit and soon every last mounted foe was down. He turned his full fury on the archers, who were falling even faster than their brethren had. "Fight like men damn you!"

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More footsteps thundered on the pavement and two regiments of Bavarian foot appeared in the rear of the Hungarians. Lothar gestured at them frantically. "DO NOT ATTACK! STAY WHERE YOU ARE AND HOLD YOUR GROUND! GODDAMN IT I SAID HOLD YOUR GROUND!" By this point his own guards were beginning to look at him warily. I will have my battle and the rest be damned!

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/zagreb/zagreb_reinf.jpg

But the young general's bloodlust was too much for the Hungarians and they attempted to flee as well. Lothar screamed in frustration. "No quarter! No quarter!" Another massacre began.

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After a few moments, only the handful of axemen in the town square were left standing. They had slain over a hundred men, yet only seven of his personal guard were down. The axemen were trapped, they lined up in an orderly rows, a last ditch attempt at a protective battle line. Lothar's guard rode in to engage them.

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They put up more of a fight than the cavalry and the archers, felling eight horsemen in the first moments of the melee, but their weapons were slow and unwieldy. Once they stuck in a body, they were nearly impossible to remove. Thus vulnerable after their initial success, the Hungarians were butchered like the rest.

It took Lothar a few moments to realize there was no one left to fight. I have won! I have won a great victory! I have personally slaughtered an entire army. He looked around the town square. It was covered with the bodies of the Hungarian dead. They were clad like peasants and their weapons were crude.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/zagreb/zagreb_end.jpg

Lothar dismounted and tried to walk, but the thick tangle of limbs made him stumble and reel. Why are they not celebrating? My men should be celebrating... I... He staggered, his arm outstretched, before collapsing to his knees. Can't breathe... He tore off his helmet and gulped air into his lungs. It took him several moments to notice the stench. He was a victorious warrior, the bodies of his slain enemies lying scattered around him like cut wheat. A few still writhed and moaned. Glory... He vomited.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/zagreb/zagreb_results.jpg
https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/zagreb/zagreb_stats.jpg

[Ituralde]

Damascus, 1228:

PART I:


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Night had descended over the desert just east of Damascus and already the chill of the night had descended. Leopold moved uncomfortably, the chill being amplified by his armour. Slowly he turned his head around to gaze upon the columns of soldiers beside him. Many of them carrying the white Coat of those that had taken up the cross. It filled him with pride to see these men marching alongside him, but as he looked ahead he was also filled with dread.

Aradai the Wrathful was known to be a great general and as he surveyed the Mongol Horde before him he couldn't help but appreciate his adversary. His army did not seem surprised but was instead well prepared and had taken up a defensive position near a steep hill. His infantry deployed in the front while a large screen of Cavalry could just be made out stretching across the horizon.
Henry hadn't lied when he had cautioned Leopold to attack those Mongols head on.

Lifting a hand lazily he gave the sign to advance. There was nothing for them but to advance. Leopold was on the left flank along with most of the Cavalry while Fredericus von Hamburg had taken to the right. As he looked to his right he saw Rainer and gave a brief smile: "Let's see what these Mongols are mad of, ey? I bet they bleed just the same when our steel greets them!"

And thus the German line advanced steadily under the defensive fire of the Mongol Infantry. Their arrows lighting the sky and taking a deadly toll among the Imperial troops.

https://img50.imageshack.us/img50/912/wrathfuladvancepb2.jpg

Soon both lines met at the foot of the hill. Suddenly Leopold realized that this was quite a steep incline and with Mongols fighting every inch of the way it would be an ordeal to take it from them. Raising his sword high above him he ordered his escort to charge. Accompanied by two hundred Crusader Knights the earth trembled as the Heavy Knights advanced on the Mongol position.

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After the initial shock the advance was quickly stalled and with arrows peppering the Knights back every inch was gained at a high cost of Christian blood that soon covered the slope making it treacherous footing that slowed the advance even more.

The right flank under Fredericus von Hamburg had a lighter incline and thus could advance quicker and soon the Mongols were surrounded. Led by Aradai the Wrathful they were not going to give in.

Many German warriors died, before the Imperial Knights had finally gained the height and were able to slaughter Aradai in close combat. Finally the resistance had been broken and without their fear of Aaradais wrath the remaining Mongols soon fled the field. All that was left, was a field of carnage.

https://img55.imageshack.us/img55/2808/wrathfulcarnagerv2.jpg

A lot of Germans had paid a steep price for this initial victory against the Horse Lords.

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Wearily Leopold rode forward to meet Fredericus von Hamburg amids the carnage: "You fought well today, but thas only been the first step. Tomorrow our true goal awaits us. The Mongol Khan and his heir! You have shown bravery and could leave now, an honourable man."

He looked at Fredericus expectingly and then nodded: "I wouldn't have thought anything else. I am glad to have you at my side tomorrow!"

As von Hamburg retreated, Rainer rode up to his master: "What do we do with the prisoners, mein Herr?"

"Kill them, we can not bother to guard them and the last thing their Khan will receive from me is a call for ransom!"

https://img501.imageshack.us/img501/1424/wrathfulexecutegz4.jpg

[Ituralde]

Damascus ,1228:

Part II

I am Gerhardt von Schenk, the biographer of Duke Leopold of Austria.
This is the story of his death:

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After thoroughly defeating the Mongol invasors led by Aradai the Wrathful in a bloody night battle, Leopold continued to march on their Khan Jebuk and his Heir Khanzada Batudhun who were besieging Damascus, goal of the Second Imperial Crusade, which was led by Duke Leopold of Austria!

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Battle was met just East of the city, where a large cliffside dominated the battlefield. Through his superior maneuvering and tactical knowledge of the land, Duke Leopold was able to field his men on top of the cliff, while sturdy German warriors protected the right and left flanks.

https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/7765/khanpositionxv2.jpg

The foolish Khan Jebuk knew that he was doomed should Leopold the Mighty decide to attack. Desperately he sent his warriors in to defeat the stout Christian followers of my master in a headlong assault. The Imperial line held firm against the onslaught.

On their right flank!

https://img521.imageshack.us/img521/7696/khanrightflankhf0.jpg

And on their left flank!

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As Leopold the Honourable saw Khan Jebuk approaching he ordered his men to join battle with the leader of his enemies. He rushed his Cavalry forward and fought against the heathen Horse Lords!
Such was the ferocity of his attack that soon all of Jebuk the Cowards bodyguard had perished, and giving true meaning to his name, the Great Khan of the Mongol Horde decided to flee the battlefield.

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Duke Leopolds men were quicker though and overtook and captured him!
His Ornate Armour could not save him from German steel!

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With their Khan captured it now lay with his Heir Khanzada to defeat the Imperial Crusade. His forces at come in on the Imperial right flank and were now pushing to get through. Spurred onwards by his recent success, Leopold the Brave stormed forward to attack Khanzada Batundhun the Unsuccessful.

https://img508.imageshack.us/img508/8432/khanheirdefeatedot9.jpg

It was a brief fight and soon Khandaza Batundhun was surrounded and followed his Khan into Imperial emprisonment. The tide of battle had turned and Duke Leopold the Chivalrous charged his knights headlong into the next enemies and into the next after that. Spurring his men onward to defeat each and every Mongol left on the field.

It was at this moment when a stray arrow hit Duke Leopold the Healthy through his visor, taking out one of his eyes. Blinded in such way he fought on mercilessly against the Mongols surrounding him, slaying away and sending hundreds of them to the grave!
His arm tired though and the Mongols had him surrounded. Not able to see his opponents clearly Leopold the Merciless was overwhelmed and killed by those marauding dogs!

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Encouraged by the death of their greatest leader the Imperial forces surged onward and killed every Mongol they could find, earning the Reich a Clear Victory over the Mongol heathens!

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Fredericus von Hamburg was with my formes master to all of this and fought bravely at his side. For these services he shall forever be known as Fredericus the Brave!

Once the battle was over, the Mongol prisoners were rounded up. Fredericus who had now taken command was still contemplating what to do with his foes when Rainer, the most trusted of my masters bodyguards arrived from the field of battle, carrying with him the mutilated body of Duke Leopold.

As he saw the men before him that were responsible for his death he dismounted, took the sword of my master, he had gathered from the field and advanced on Khan Jebuk filled with righteous fury. One swift stroke was all it took to behead the leader of our foes. A second beheaded Khanzada Batudhun. Seeing this, our soldiers let their emotions run free and slaughtered those Horse Lords foolish enough to surrender to the Imperial might!

https://img515.imageshack.us/img515/3742/khanexecutedab7.jpg

[OverKnight]

"Don't you dare throw your life away!"

Otto looked up from sharpening his sword, his last task before going into battle. Normally, his wife's rages bemused him, but not now. Otto had been in a black mood since learning of Leopold's death.

"The Mongols must be stopped," Otto replied, continuing to scrape the whetstone on the blade, "Leopold must be avenged."

Otto's flat, grim voice matched the sound of stone on steel.

"Why now Otto? Wait a year, let the horselord come to you. This is madness! Leopold rode willingly to his death, why should you follow him?"

In reply, the stone continued to travel along the sword edge, unceasing.

"Yes, he was a great general, but he's dead, what good is any of this for him now?"

The grate of stone on steel continued.

"Let Khan Jebe continue to Jerusalem, face him there, and gain the gratitude of the Pope. They will ally with us again. Think!!!"

Otto continued to hone the blade to a fine edge.

"Listen to me you fool! Honor will only get you killed!"

Otto stood abruptly. Casting the stone aside, he glared at Elsebeth with a naked sword in his hand. The Princess stood her ground, staring at her husband.

Otto sheathed his sword, his expression grim again, "I am not a fool, Elsebeth, I am a coward."

"Ah, so it's pride then, not honor. Would you die to prove a point to a dead man?"

Otto gently took Elsebeth by the shoulders.

"One way or the other, my dear, I'm running out of time. The Mongols must be stopped. Leopold must be avenged. Outremer must be defended. I must strike now."

Elsebeth bit her lip and looked away.

"That's not true! There's still time! Years!"

Otto leaned in and kissed his wife.

"Of course, I must go, I'll try not to die."

----

The Battle of Galilee, 1228

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Otto scanned the terrain east of the Sea of Galilee. The situation was not good. The Mongols had the high ground, 14 units capable of withering missile fire from that hill and superior numbers and quality in cavalry.

Otto turned to his Lieutenants, Jan the Master Archer and Lucas the Teuton.

"Jan, since we'll be marching uphill, the crossbowmen will be deployed in front of the infantry line in a loose formation. That way, they can shoot more effectively with a flat trajectory and not risk harming our own men. I hope putting them in a skirmish line will cut down on casualties from the Mongols' arrows. You must emphasize to them that no matter what happens, they are to stand and fight if attacked."

Jan nodded, but looked a bit doubtful. Otto turned to Lucas, who would be commanding the cavalry.

"You Sir, are to gather the Knights and Turkopoles on the right flank. They're outnumbered, but maybe we can create a local superiority. I hope the crossbowmen will be enough to protect our left flank."

https://img245.imageshack.us/img245/4083/bgaldeployhl3.jpg

"By putting the crossbowmen out in front, I'm hoping to lure the enemy to us, rather than have us slog uphill to them. Still, if we have to attack, we'll focus on their lancers and infantry. Trying to chase down their horse archers while the first two are still in play would be suicidal."

Otto looked at his two commanders sternly and spoke in a fell tone, "We must kill Khan Jebe at all costs. Even if we are defeated, if he dies, the Mongol forces in the Levant will collapse."

----

The Mongols did not take the bait and Otto was forced to march his men uphill until the crossbowmen were in range.

https://img245.imageshack.us/img245/1346/cgalskirmishbi7.jpg

Two units of Mongol Heavy Horse Archers took advantage of the lack of a cavalry screen on the left flank and engaged three units of the Pavise Crossbowmen in a long range duel.

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The Mongols got the worst of it and Jebe decided to advance some of his footmen to balance the scales. The losses began to mount among the crossbowmen and Otto decided to advance his infantry line to compensate.

https://img245.imageshack.us/img245/5692/egalinfadvancenw4.jpg

The Mongols footmen began to withdraw to their original positions. Otto, frustrated that they would not advance to meet him on his terms, rode ahead of the infantry to goad Jebe into a mistake.

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Reining in his horse in front of the Mongols, Otto yelled, "Khhaaaaan! Khan Jebe! Come and fight me you coward! Are you frightened? I'm all alone. Will you not face me in a duel?!"

The Mongol lines did not move.

Otto, hoping that Elsebeth would not hear about it, decided to use a more direct method.

https://img245.imageshack.us/img245/118/ggalottochargesxw8.jpg

Otto and his retainers killed many archers, but the Mongols again did not take the bait. Losing some men, and arrow bit himself, Otto ordered the infantry to advance while the Mongol foot archers were still retreating.

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The Infantry line pulled up in front of the Mongols. Yet still they would not charge.

Otto, again behind the lines, and bleeding and angry, yelled to Jan, "Have the crossbowmen target the Lancers! Maybe that will get their attention!"

https://img245.imageshack.us/img245/1476/igalmongolsholdiq3.jpg

Bolts began to take a heavy toll among the Mongol heavy calvary. Still they held their ground waiting for their own archers to form up again. The Turkopoles on the right flank, having exhausted their arrows, took advantage of the lull to finish a unit of isolated horse archers.

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Still, even after most of the crossbowmen had run out of bolts, the Mongols did not advance.

"Cowards!", Otto screamed, "They think to mop us up after we've loosed all our missiles. Nein, we'll go right for them!"

Pointing his sword at the banner of the Khan, Otto bellowed, "A thousand florins to the men who kill Jebe! Charge!"

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Even the crossbowmen who had run out of bolts were ordered into the melee, motivated by Otto and greed.

The Mongols, surprised by the charge, were thrown back. The Lancers could not use their fearsome charge. The footmen were unable to decide whether to use their bows or swords. Confusion reigned as the Army of Outremer swarmed over them.

https://img245.imageshack.us/img245/8918/lgalmeleeie0.jpg

Many men would claim the thousand florins.

https://img245.imageshack.us/img245/9387/mgaljebedeadot1.jpg

Still, the Mongols recovered and the horsemen from their right flank charged into the melee, though too late to save their Khan. They fought with tenacity despite the loss. The ground became soaked in blood.

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The battle devolved into a swirling maelstrom as units crisscrossed the battlefield hunting each other. The Imperials had the upper hand now, but the remaining Mongol units would quickly rally if put to flight, adding to the confusion. Even now, Otto's men took heavy casualties.

Eventually the few remaining Mongols retreated, but they never routed.

https://img245.imageshack.us/img245/5994/ogalroutqe0.jpg

----

After the battle was over, Otto, bleeding from several wounds, returned to the peak of the hill. Looking at the tangled mass of men and horses where the lines had met, he mourned his losses. Victory was his, but almost two thirds of his men would not live to see it.

The Butcher's Bill
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Hunting among the piles of corpses, Otto found his prey. Removing the helm sculpted to look like a demon's fierce visage, the King of Outremer looked upon the dead features of the last Khan of the Mongols. In contrast to the helm, Jube seemed to have a look of shock and surprise on his face.

"You should have charged when you had the chance, Mauler," Otto spat as he drew his well sharpened sword.

The Khan's neck proved as obstinate as his army, as it took Otto four chops from his blade to sever Jube's head.

"Rest in peace, Leopold," prayed Otto as he placed the head in a canvas bag. He limped back to his horse with blood running down his armor, the Council must be informed of the destruction of the Mongols and, a shudder ran through Otto, his wife placated.

https://img245.imageshack.us/img245/4903/qgalgonepv0.jpg
https://img245.imageshack.us/img245/2778/rgaldestroyedfl7.jpg

[flyd]

Damscus, 1230

There is no doubt that Damascus is a holy city. Even the road to it is special. It seems that the only path leading to it is the narrow path, whether you're traveling a short distance from Jerusalem to persecute Christians, or sailing all the way from Germany to seek personal glory.

Some who did not know him well might be surprised, but Fredericus von Hamburg was not a pious man. He was largely motivated by the potential for personal gain. Sure, he joined the outcry against Heinrich when Rome was sacked, but that was largely because the will of the Diet had been circumvented, and Franconia put in danger as a result. Yes, he did join in calling for the first crusade, but it would mean that many of the rival generals would be sent half the world away. It only left him and von Kastilien, but when von Kastilien was named Duke, and with western Franconia still generally quiet, he gladly joined the second crusade, for there were new lands, enemies, and titles in the Outremer.

But that was before the journey on the Road was taken. I cannot say exactly what it is. Maybe it's seeing the masses of people abandon everything they have, except a cross and a sword, and march happily into danger. Maybe it's being stuck for a long time on the same boat as Conrad Salier, who would only talk of religious matters, and would only leave you alone if you were reading the Bible. Maybe Jesus spoke to him on the way. Whatever it was, one thing was clear, von Hamburg was a different man. When he joined Leopold in calling for a direct attack on the Mongols, he justified it by saying that it was the only way to protect the Christians in the city. The difference was, this time he meant it.

But it was not over yet. There was one more curve in the Road.

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This was it, the final battle. Sir Fredericus the Brave vs. Sir Medhat the Not-Quite-So-Brave-As-Sir-Fredericus. Conrad Salier, Karl Zirn, Jan von Hamburg, and Elberhard were also there, as were 1500 other Germans, two spies who sabotaged the gates, and a friendly and largely Christian population. Less than 1000 Saracens stood in the way, largely militia and horse archers, with a few catapults.

There was a question of who would be the first to enter the city. It would certainly be the position of honor, but it was highly risky. He who advanced first would come under prolonged missile fire, and would have to face the enemy frontally immediately upon entering the city. Though the crusade had come far and been through much, it was still possible to die here just as anywhere else. Fredericus was determined to ignore the ceremonial significance of the battle, and treat it with proper tactics. He did not want to waste any lives that were not expendable. Well, that's not to say that some are expendable, it's just that, well, some lives like being expended. As such, the religious fanatics got the honor of storming the gate.

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The armed and zealous pilgrims enter the city.

They quickly secured the immediate area of the gate, attacking nearby Saracen units, and scaling the walls to kill the archers and javelinmen. The other troops followed at a normal pace. A large number of Saracens came down the main street, directly from the city square. The fanatics blocking that route were soon no longer able to hold, and the regular troops moved in, with about half of the enemy army attempting to come down that street.

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A large contingent of the enemy army funnels down the main street.

While there were some skirmishes on the side, and some units went around, most of the early fighting occurred on that street. At first a regiment of crusader sergeants held the line, and when they became exhausted, they were replaced by militia armed with halberds. Unlike the sergeants, they went on the offensive, and being attacked by lightly armored horses and men, did very well with their fearsome weapons.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y208/flydude18/street-k2.jpg
The halberdiers slowly make their way up the street.

Both regiments took their turn, and were eventually replaced by armored sergeants, as other units made it along the side streets to envelop what remained of the enemy. About half of the enemy army remained, and they concentrated at the city center. The enemy general was still there, a small number of horse archers, much of the remaining militia, and three batteries of catapults. The presence of catapults was particularly worrisome.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y208/flydude18/catapults-k2.jpg
A unit of sergeants takes a catapult hit.

Because of the danger posed by the catapults, all the remaining units were ordered to charge up the street and immediately engage the enemy.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y208/flydude18/charge-k2.jpg
The German infantry charges into the city center, while the cavalry comes in from the sides.

The enemy infantry was partially encircled, and since they had nowhere to retreat, all that remained to do was to wait for them to be cut down. Strangely enough, the enemy general, along with his numerous and heavily armored bodyguard, merely looked on.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y208/flydude18/general-k2.jpg
The Saracen general watches as his troops are butchered.

After dispatching the rest of the enemy army, the German troops surrounded the enemy general.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y208/flydude18/surround-k2.jpg
The army surrounds the enemy general.

One of the halberdier regiments carefully closed in on the general's bodyguard, in formation, with their halberds in a defensive position. They came close enough to initiate communication.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y208/flydude18/halberds-k2.jpg
The halberdiers carefully approach the enemy general.

Soon, one of the halberdiers reported back to Fredericus. Apparently, the enemy general offered to surrender the city. This was the response:

"Now!? Now he wants to surrender? After he watched every last one of his men get killed. Right there, right in front of him. Every last one. Even the last one died while trying to stab with his spear. And now he wants to surrender? Does he also wish to return to Egypt on a comfortable carriage, with all the wine he can drink, served by 50 beautiful women? Does he also..."

By this point, the halberdier had already returned to his formation, and they attacked, being quickly followed by the surrounding infantry.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y208/flydude18/collapse-k2.jpg
The infantry collapses on the enemy general.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y208/flydude18/death-k2.jpg
The terms... were not accepted.

Some of the general's bodyguard attempted to escape the infantry, but the entire German army collapsed to the city center.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y208/flydude18/theend-k2.jpg
There were no survivors.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y208/flydude18/kills-k2.jpg

The city was spared any looting and destruction. The Road has come to an end.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y208/flydude18/crusade-k2.jpg

[TevashSzat]

Battle West of Paris 1232

After Paris has been stabilized somewhat and the Swabian House Army has been reinforced, Duke Scherer began planning forays into French territory. He planned to strike at Caen quickly cutting Bruges off to be taken later and granting a closer are for reoutfitting his army.

His hopes were dashed however when an assassin happened to have found a large French force massing only a week away from Paris preparing to take back their capital. Not wanting to be under siege for a month or two, the Duke decided to take out his army and fight the French on the ground of his choosing. The Swabian House Army has still not recovered fully from their early conquests of Rheims and Paris, but the Duke thought that the battle would be won easily.

As he began to prepare for battle, scouts reported that the French force was larger than previously though, with a full 400 men more than the Duke’s army. To make matters worse, French reinforcements were hiding nearby and consisted of another 650 men. The French outnumbered the Duke two to one. He however could not retreat back to Paris as the French would easily have cut him off and then assaulted from two sides so he decided to fight a defensive battle and hope for the best.

https://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z39/Xdeathfire/untitled-1.jpg

As the main French army began to move towards the Duke, he had a pleasant surprise. Some French reinforcements got lost on their way to the battle and were seen right behind the Swabian army isolated and unable to be helped by others. The Duke quickly ordered most of his men to charge at the French reinforcements and they were quickly annihilated.

The French main army seeing their reinforcements getting butchered, started to march at a faster pace towards the Duke, but he was on the top of a big hill and the Swabian army was already back in position by the time French skirmishers reached the line.

The Duke’s plan was simple. He and his cavalry regiments would hide on a small hill near the right flank of his infantry line. His crossbowmen would cut down the French as they marched upwards. They would be pulled back towards the left flank as the infantry lines engaged and then his cavalry would sweep down and hopefully take the French by surprise.

The plan did not go through smoothly to say the least. The French charged at the Swabian crossbowman earlier than expected and they had to be withdrawn without doing significant damage. Once the infantry lines were engaged, the Duke and his cavalry were seen by the opposing French general and they engaged in a bloody fight. Off towards the left flank, French cavalry engaged his crossbowmen and they were unable to help the left flank of the infantry line, which was held only by halberd militia. The militia was quickly overrun and it seemed as if the whole infantry line would collapse upon itself.

Fortunately, the French general had to retreat once most of his cavalry was gone and the Duke was able to help the right flank. His crossbowmen also defeated the French cavalry that charged at them and barely stopped the left flank from collapsing. French reinforcements however came and charged into the fray buckling the Swabian flank. It seemed that the Duke’s whole infantry line would start to rout if it weren’t for a great stroke of luck.

The French general too busy with saving his own skin than helping his troops was running away when he ran right into some of the Duke’s mounted crossbowmen. He was killed and the French morale was destroyed. Slowly, but surely, the French infantry began to flee and the Swabian morale was restored. It wasn’t long before the whole French army was in full retreat.

https://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z39/Xdeathfire/untitled3.jpg

[TinCow]

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/budapest/KOTR001.jpg

Wet. Everything was wet. Lothar's full plate armor, a coming of age gift from his father, kept blades and spears away from his body, but the rain seeped in through every joint. While the men who had crafted the suit were master of their art, Bavarian blacksmiths were not known for their prowess at ventilation. It was cold outside, but his own body heat made the armor stifling. Between the sweat and the rain, every inch of his skin and underclothing was soaked. Many of mounted knights were suffering similar difficulties. Lothar looked at his escort. They had ridden constantly for the last two hours and man and horse alike were tired. Simultaneously, seven dozen men began to adjust various bits of flesh and cloth while mounted on horseback. The task was not made easier by the mail and plate which encased their bodies and the stiff gauntlets they wore. The young Bavarian snickered and shook his head. He turned back to the battlefield and raised his visor.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/budapest/KOTR002.jpg

The armies were out there somewhere. The Hungarian besieging force and the Budapest militia. The Bavarians, Steffen family retainers and Templar alike, had ridden as hard as they could but they had not arrived in time to join with the city garrison. A runner, sent to find help, had told them that Captain Philipp, the local commander, was mounting a sally in force this very morning to wreck the Hungarian siege works. Lothar had thought about riding around the Hungarian army, but the enemy force was large, the ground was unknown to any of his men, and thick fog covered the landscape. They were as likely to run stumble into the enemy's camp as they were to find the militia. So, they moved slowly, up and down the rolling landscape, until at last pennants began to appear through the fog.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/budapest/KOTR005.jpg

"Looks like we'll see some fun today, sir."

Lothar nodded. Gregory was an aged veteran of many battles. His mother had named him after the reigning Pope when he was born, a fact that must have made life in Bavaria difficult for the man as a youth. Gregory had not been a popular name for several decades at least. The childhood mocking had ended when he killed an older boy with his bare hands. At the age of 15, Gregory had become a Steffen man-at-arms to escape the noose. Lothar liked him a great deal.

"Yes, Gregory, but this is not our battle. Zagreb was one thing, but this is another. There is a fine line between bravery and stupidity, and this..." he gestured towards the Hungarian host.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/budapest/KOTR003.jpg

"Well... let's just say that my father and the Chancellor can only scold me when I am alive."

Gregory snorted and started to reply, but a faint whistling sound distracted him. Suddenly the air was full of missiles. They were fired at extreme range and had lost most of their penetrating power, but luck or the devil guided one bolt through the visor of a Templar. The man was dead before he even hit the ground, blood washing from his eyeslit.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/budapest/KOTR006.jpg

They had been spotted. A large group of crossbowmen had broken from the main Hungarian line and were shooting at them. Lothar looked at Gregory and mount. "Well, perhaps a little fun would be alright." He lowered his visor and raised his sword. Simultaneously, eighty horses began a canter that would eventually bring them into a full charge. Lothar spurred his mount forward and the Steffen retainers followed, leaving their 'Holy' brethren behind. This was likely the only combat they would see for the day, and he was not about to let the Templars enjoy it alone. The Hungarian crossbowmen were still loading their next quarrel when the charge broke on them.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/budapest/KOTR007.jpg

In a shower of bodies, blood, and broken lances, the regiment evaporated. The handful who escaped uninjured broke and ran for their lines. Lothar raised his visor. His men were jeering and making rude gestures at the retreating enemy.

"You know Gregory, it appears to me that there are a large number of archers and crossbowmen in that army. Indeed, they appear to be closer to us than to the militia. Perhaps we should make a maneauver to protect ourselves? Surely my father would not be upset if we engaged in an active defense."

The veteran warrior grinned. "It would be most prudent, sir."

The Hungarian archers were focused on the approaching militia; they were oblivious to the threat behind them. The first that any of them knew of the German cavalry was when the rearmost rank suddenly sprouted long shafts of wood and iron from their chests.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/budapest/KOTR010.jpg

The results were predictable. To Lothar's right, the Templars were inflicting similar misery on a large group of unwarry crowssbowmen.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/budapest/KOTR011.jpg

The attack did not go unnoticed by the Hungarian commander, though. Hundreds of spearmen, their weapons deadly to the unarmored German mounts, turned to chase them away. As one, Lothar's men and the Templars pulled back to the top of a hill. The spearmen returned to the main army, but stayed in the rear, guarding against any further sallies from the small band of cavalry. In turn, the knights drew up in a long line to watch the armies clash.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/budapest/KOTR012.jpg

The crunch of the initial impact was surprisingly loud even at this distance. For the men in the front ranks, it must have been a deafening roar. Thousands of men were pitted in a struggle to the death. For some time, it was impossible to tell if either side was gaining an upper hand. The lines blurred into an anarchy of death. Lothar trotted his men forward a ways, looking for an opening from which to take the enemy in the rear, but the Hungarians had ringed themselves with still more archers, crossbowmen, and spearmen. There was no way to reach the main force without breaking through that line first, and yet the two lines were so close that a charge risked carrying them right into the midst of hundreds of dismounted Hungarian knights.

I will not sit here and do nothing! If the Chancellor will not give me an army to command, at least I can do my share of the sword work.

He raised his sword again and the knights straighted into a line, thigh to thigh, in the proper style. They were well trained and disciplined. Templars were renowned as the fiersest of holy warriers and the Steffen retainers were amongst the most vigorously trained in the entire Reich. They were still several hundred meters away from the rear line when horns began to echo from across the battlefield. To Lothar's eyes, it appeared that the German lines suddenly doubled in depth. It took him a moment to realize that they were breaking and running.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/budapest/KOTR014.jpg

The shock of what was happening coursed through him. The right flank was routing after only the briefest of melees; the militia unwilling or unable to hold back the Hungarian foot knights, despite their numbers.

Those fools! They will break the entire army! The Hungarian foot will sweep into the main body from the flank and the entire garrison will be destroyed! And I'll be stuck out here with 80 knights to face a thousand stinking Magyars! Oh, Hells...

Lothar kicked his horse into a full gallop and held his breath. Maybe, just maybe, the sight of his small band of cavalry would rally the fleeing militia. The Templars hit the rearguard spearmen first, the impact throwing several men high into the air.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/budapest/KOTR015.jpg

The charge was devastating, but the line remained standing. It wavered, but remained unbroken for the few heartbeats before Lothar's men plowed into them from the rear.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/budapest/KOTR016.jpg

The survivors would surely have routed at that point, if there had been any. Yet, this display of support for the army did not seem to help at all. Across the field, every regiment of the militia was in full flight.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/budapest/KOTR018.jpg

Two-thirds of the garrison were still on their feet, yet they were broken and beaten. Over seven hundred victorious Hungarians still stood upon the field, many of them heavily armored foot knights. The Magyars would follow the fleeing men right through the city gates. The only men that stood between the German city and the attacking army were eighty mounted Bavarian knights. Gregory pulled up next to him.

"Scheiße. So much for fun."

Lothar did not reply. There was nothing to say, no choice to be made. If they did not win, tens of thousands of Austrians would be subject to rape, sack, and sword. As the last of the militia left the field of battle, the entire Hungarian force turned on the two small groups of mounted knights. Silently, Lothar raised his sword and charged.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/budapest/KOTR020.jpg

He stopped keeping track after the fifth charge. Charge, withdraw. Charge, withdraw. Each time they inflicted immense damage on the enemy, but each time their numbers were thinned. No matter how quickly he signalled the retreat, some men were invariably overtaken by the rush of Hungarians. Yet, as the Germans numbers dwindled, the Hungarian lines began to fracture. Units became isolated from one another. With their flanks vulnerable, Lothar began coordinating charges with the Templars, hitting units from two sides at once.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/budapest/KOTR021.jpg

For hours it seemed to go on. Lothar was nearing exhaustion and his mount could barely muster the strength for the uphill retreat.

It will be over soon. My horse is too slow and I will be pulled down from my saddle and butchered. Too few to fight, too tired to run. At least I am capable of dying properly.

He lowered raised his sword for one final charge into the advancing Hungarian foot knights.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/budapest/KOTR022.jpg

At the moment of impact, he closed his eyes. Death greeted him with a roar. Hundreds of voices crying out in dismay; the angels themselves shouting in despair. It was a glorious sound, a fitting end for a Bavarian. Yet, there was no pain. Lothar opened his eyes and saw the Templars hit the Hungarians from the flank.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/budapest/KOTR023.jpg

Retreating Magyars blocked the way of advancing troops. They tripped and fell over each other, a huge mass of men caught in a tangled weave on the hillside. Into this mass broke the German lances. The sheer brutality of the result sent shockwaves through the Hungarian army. Hit time and time again by heavy cavalry charges, they had become depleted and exhausted. The massive enemy army looked nearly undiminished to Lothar, but over five hundred men had been killed right out by this handful of German knights. Knights who gave no sign of stopping, no sign of breaking. In the end, it was more than the Hungarians could take.

All across the field, the scattered survivors of the mounted nightmare took to their heels. With only sixty knights remaining, there were not enough men to guard prisoners. Lothar was too tired to think of the consquences. His sword rose and fell, scattering blood on the muddy, trampled grass of the battlefield. His men followed suit. Thoughts of the town square of Zagreb filled his head.

Butchery looks the same, be it in a city or a field.

A short time ago, a similar slaughter had brought him to his knees. This time the only thing on his lips was a smile.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/budapest/KOTR024.jpg
https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/budapest/KOTR025.jpg
https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/budapest/KOTR026.jpg

[econ21]

Edessa, 1236, Part I

https://img515.imageshack.us/img515/589/edessa1eb4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Henry’s army is heavy in missiles and cavalry – not the best troops for storming a well defended settlement.


“I am supposed to attack a city garrison of 1300 men with three regiments of foot?” Henry fumed.

Kurt looked down, avoiding the eyes of his furious Kaiser.

“Where the @#$% is Elberhard?!” Henry roared.

So that’s where he gets it from, Kurt thought, remembering the foul tongue of the young Prince.

“Elberhard is some way back, your majesty, with the baggage train.”

“What men does he have?”

“Four regiments of foot, Sire.” Kurt said, embarrassedly, closing his ears to a new barrage of expletives from the Kaiser.

“Can we bring some of them up to help us?”

“No, Sire – they have spotted a force of Egyptians in the field. They cannot safely move.”

Henry shook his head.

“OK, so how do we do this?”

“Athalwulf has infiltrated some men into Edessa. They should be able to open the gates for us.”

Henry rubbed his forehead: “Making a run for it, trying to bludgeon our way even through open gates does not sound like a sensible tactic. The garrison has many Saracen spearmen and archers – they would pin us by the gates and shoot us down as we stood.”

Kurt volunteered: “Athalwulf suggests we wait for dusk. As we lack siege engines, the garrison will be at their ease. Most of the guards will be in their barracks, eating and saying prayers.”

“Very well – we will try that. Tell every man to hold position. If the enemy lowers its guard, we will strike. We do not have enough infantry to attack in strength at more than one point. The main army will stay with me outside the front gate. Send two regiments of horse to cover the east and west gates. Horst can lead the western force. They are to move in if our spies signal the way is unopposed.”

Kurt nodded. He had no idea if the Egyptians really would abandon the walls as Athalwulf promised, but they had little to lose by holding in place. Fighting their way under fire from the battlements would be murder, whether attempted quickly or at leisure.

https://img338.imageshack.us/img338/6059/edessa2wi5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Henry’s army waits as the defenders leave the walls, heading off for supper and evening prayers.



*****

Horst waited patiently for a signal from Athalwulf. He had been given a regiment of his brother Teutons to command, along with one of mounted sergeants. His orders were to get inside the city when the signal came and to raise hell with the infidels. His scarred hands tightened on the reigns – this was what he lived for.

There was a minor commotion in the ranks and an old man appeared, dressed in civilian clothes. An Arab scout was leading the aged Egyptian.

“Captain, he says he has a message from Athalwulf." translated the scout. "He says the time is now. And that the garrison are sending some catapults to bombard us.”

Horst smiled – this was better than he had expected. “You hear that, boys? The Egyptians are sending their artillery to greet us! It would be rude to keep them waiting!”

With that, the Teutons and mounted sergeants began racing for the eastern gates.

https://img248.imageshack.us/img248/9625/edessa3ph4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Horst leads the eastern cavalry group into Edessa.


Once inside the city walls, Horst’s men quickly found two batteries of catapults making their way east. The Teutons hacked into one; the mounted sergeants attacked the other. The battle was too easy, but suddenly Horst looked up and was surprised to see a regiment of Mamluk archers riding to the assistance of the artillerymen.

https://img515.imageshack.us/img515/2840/edessa4da6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Mamluks reinforce the catapult crews being overrun by Horst’s Teutons.


Horst had ridden with Henry long enough to have developed a healthy respect for the Mamluks – the elite soldiers of the Egyptian army. This is going to be a stiff fight, thought Horst grimly. But then, as suddenly as the Mamluks had appeared, they were gone. Horst looked around puzzled, but then heard a faraway cry of battle. Henry was through the frontal gates and the Mamluks were responding to that, more serious threat.

[econ21]

Edessa, 1236, Part II

Once word had reached Henry of Horst’s entry into the city, he had spurred on his main force towards the central gates. As Athalwulf had promised, agents opened the gates for the Germans and the Imperial army was able to spill into the walled city. Word of the disaster soon reached the Egyptians mustering in the centre of the Edessa, however, and enemy regiments of foot began racing towards the central gate.

Even in the dusk light, Kurt’s sharp eyes could make out the nature of the enemy:

“Three regiments of archers, Sire!”

Henry could not believe his luck and spurred on his bodyguard.


https://img257.imageshack.us/img257/8995/edessa5vd9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Henry leads his escort into the Egyptians packed along the main road to the city centre.


The fighting was brutal – the city streets were too narrow and the enemy too thick on the ground to allow Henry’s men to charge. Instead, there was a bitter struggle, as the veteran knights hacked into the enemy around them. In the crush, knights found themselves dragged from their horses. Gradually, the opposition stiffen as the Mamluk archers, Arab cavalry and Saracen militia began to reinforce the Egyptian archers unlucky enough to have formed the vanguard of the garrison.

Two fifths of Henry’s escort had been cut down when he heard a loud hurrah from behind the Egyptians massing against him. Horst had led his Teutons in an attack on the rear of the enemy blocking the entrance to the city centre.

https://img253.imageshack.us/img253/2523/edessa6rz6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Horst charges his men into the central melee, aiming to relieve the pressure on Henry. It is a brave, but foolish move.


Kurt looked on appalled, as he saw fresh regiments of Saracen militia moving up behind the Teutons from the city centre.

“Poor brave bastard.” Said the veteran warrior under his breath. But soon his attention had to be turned to the struggle immediately around him.The enemy archers and most of their cavalry were gradually slain. But that left the Imperial knights were now left fighting a tightly packed mass of Saracen spearmen.


https://img338.imageshack.us/img338/9673/edessa7da6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

After prolonged fighting, Henry’s escort is down to a mere dozen men and Horst is the sole survivor of the brave Teutons from the eastern cavalry group.


Horst hacked at the enemies around him in fury, but it was no good. His brothers were all dead and he had mere seconds left to live. For the second time in his life, Horst felt certain he would not see another sunrise. The blow, when it came, was more agonising that any torment Kusan Dolar had inflicted on the Teuton. A Saracen spear cut depth into his lower side; hands grabbed at him and he was dragged to the ground. More spear points were thrust through his plate mail, feet kicked at him and a crowd engulfed his fallen body.

“He is mine! He is mine! Off him, get off! Can’t you see he is a noble? The Captain wants him for ransom! Do you defy your captain?”

A fierce Saracen sergeant had thrust his way into the kicking and stabbing crowd, protecting the wounded Teuton from a killing blow.

Horst looked up at his unlikely saviour as an enormous Mamluk Captain rode up:

“You fought bravely, Teuton,” said the Mamluk. Horst would later learn that this was Captain Fathy, commander of the Edessa garrison. “As does your Kaiser.” continued the Captain – pointing in the distance to the last of the Imperial knights battling the Saracen militia.

“You must forgive me, Teuton, but I have things to attend to. Sergeant: see put him in one of these houses by the street. Tell the occupants they will answer to me for his treatment.” With that the Captain rode off alone down a side street. Horst would later learn that Captain Fathy would single handedly duel the Horst’s entire regiment of mounted sergeants, slaying most of their number during the battle.

[econ21]

Edessa, 1236, Part III

The battle settled into a war of attrition. When only three of Henry’s escort remained, Kurt prevailed on the Kaiser to withdraw and let the crusader sergeants take his place in the struggle for the central road to the city. Two regiments of Saracen militia made their way around the flanks of the Imperial main force. One was caught between the single regiment of dismounted feudal knights and Horst’s mounted sergeants, and destroyed. The other appeared as if from nowhere on the battlements on the west of the city. At first, Henry ordered the pavise crossbowmen manning the captured battlements to retreat but then he noticed they were holding their own against the Egyptians. Consequently, they were ordered to hold their ground while the dismounted knights puffed their way from the east and mounted the battlements behind the Saracens, surrounding and destroying them.

The battle was now swinging in favour of the Imperials. The five regiments of crossbowmen and archers were able to fire over the heads of the crusader sergeants into the Egyptians massing along the main city route. Although Horst’s cavalry group was almost eliminated, the western cavalry group was able to enter the city unopposed, butchering the remaining Egyptian artillery. Slowly, the Saracens blocking the entrance to the city centre were worn down, with the arrival of the German dismounted knights driving back the survivors.

https://img405.imageshack.us/img405/8651/edessa8cw0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Germans make their way to the centre of Edessa, but still facing four strong regiments of Saracen militia.


Kurt and Henry approach the final stage of the battle patiently, like hunters stalking a dangerous wounded prey. The modest number of Imperial foot was aligned in front of the enemy as a shield, while the crossbowmen and Armenian archers fired volleys over their heads into the remaining Saracen defenders. A larcenous German sergeant found Horst lying bleeding in a house off the main street and he was brought before Henry. Henry heard admiring of the chivalry of Captain Fathy. But the discussion was interrupted by a young rider from Horst’s mounted sergeants, who told in horror of how his regiment was being dismembered by an indestructible giant Mamluk.

https://img168.imageshack.us/img168/7932/edessa9sb8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The indomitable Captain Fathy carves through the mounted sergeants (for the third time that day!).


Henry’s eyes lit up – his escort was all but eliminated and could play no sensible role in battling the hundreds of Saracen spearmen still stoutly defending the city centre. But he personally could ride to the aide of his sergeants.

https://img264.imageshack.us/img264/2737/edessa10fm9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Henry seeks out Captain Fathy.


The slow moving barded Imperial horses were no match for the agility of Fathy’s Arabian mount and the Egyptian Captain effortlessly evaded Henry and his few surviving bodyguards. The brave Captain charged back into the mounted sergeants, like a fox running amok in a chicken coop. Finally, Henry and his men caught up with the enemy general. With a well judged blow, Kurt slew the fearsome Egyptian, who fell among the many German sergeants lying dead around him.

https://img511.imageshack.us/img511/9747/edessa11sa7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Kurt Altman finally brings down the Henry seeks out the heroic Captain Fathy.


The noose around the neck of the brave Egyptian defenders was tightening ever further. The Teutonic and Feudal knights of the western cavalry group launched repeated charges on the rear and flanks of the Saracen militia holding the city centre. Henry himself charged bravely into the mass of enemy spears, as if heedless of the danger. The Egyptians fought on bravely, never routing or surrendering, but dying to a man.

https://img505.imageshack.us/img505/6483/edessa12xv8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Saracens are finally overwhelmed.



*****

Henry had lost a full third of his force, including Horst’s entire regiment of Teutons. The crusader and armoured sergeants were so depleted in number, they ceased to be effective combat units.

https://img377.imageshack.us/img377/4215/edessa13av0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The butcher’s bill (fought at 2:1 odds).


Henry ordered Kurt to estimate the enemy casualties – trying to ascertain how many were slain by archery, by cavalry or by the Imperial foot. As Henry expected, it was his three regiments of foot that had been most effective – accounting for 425 of the enemy losses. More than half of these were claimed by the single regiment of dismounted knights. The five regiments of cavalry – including Henry’s own, now eliminated, escort – had accounted for only 247 of the enemy casualties; while the five regiments of crossbowmen and archers claimed 175.

“Maybe I should propose a constitutional amendment that all siege forces include adequate numbers of foot.” Henry grumbled.


https://img248.imageshack.us/img248/1337/edessa14pz1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Dismounted foot knights excel at urban combat.


Faced with the choice of what to do with the large city, Henry ordered it merely occupied. In recognition of Edessa’s brave fallen captain, the Imperial army was given stern instructions not to loot or massacre innocents.

After the battle, Athelwulf sought out Henry and presented him with a sacred relic discovered in the city – an icon not made by hands, sent from Jesus to heal the King of Edessa.

https://img338.imageshack.us/img338/8649/edessa15yv6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

A holy relic is discovered on occupying Edessa.


Mindful of the plague now raging in the Antioch, Henry gave thanks for this divine gift and then passed it to his son Elberhard for safekeeping. Together, father and son drove off the final two Egyptian armies from the province. The kingdom of Outremer was now complete.


https://img514.imageshack.us/img514/6668/edessa16hf3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The butcher’s bill, addendum: battle fought at 20:9 odds

[Stig]

Near Thorn, 1238


It would have been a nice winterday in the fields in East Prussia, would it not have been that two armies had chosen this ground as their field of battle. A vast Russian army had crossed the borders of the province of Prussia-Thorn, belonging to the Holy Roman Empire, and chancellor Hans had ordered a small Franconian army to march against it. And even though the Franconians would be outnumbered 2 to 3 they decided that this was the best that they could do.
When scouts spotted the Russian army however they quickly saw that it lacked strenght and was mainly made up of levy's, apart from its regiment of Druzhina, but even these did not match up against the Teutonic and Mailed Knights in the Franconian army. The battlefield however was not in favour of the Franconians, it was a small forest, ideal for command with light skirmishers, and just the thing that the heavy knights did not like.
Thus Ansehelm von Kastillien, count of Thorn decided do deploy his little but strong force on a small hill just of the road and away from the dangerous forest, which might be full of ambushes.

https://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/the_Stig_/Forumite%20Battle%20Result/0066.jpg

Well aware of the dangers lurking in the forest, and knowing the incapablity of his knights to fight in forests he moved his army to the right of the battle field in order to avoid the forest and move onto the enemy from one flank, forcing him make a turn while under arrow fire.

https://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/the_Stig_/Forumite%20Battle%20Result/0069.jpg

Not soon after Ansehelm moved his army into position he ordered his missile units to open fire on the enemy ranks.

https://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/the_Stig_/Forumite%20Battle%20Result/0071.jpg

The enemy however disregarded the punishment it was getting and decided to stay where he was. Inspired by his early success Ansehelm decided to send in his regiment of Mounted Sergeants to destroy the now almost destroyed unit of Boyar Sons.

https://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/the_Stig_/Forumite%20Battle%20Result/0072.jpg

This bold move however was the signal for the enemy general to attack and he quickly moved in his forces. Now however the Franconians quickly took the advantage. The Spear Militia regiments were no match for the battle-hardened Franconian footknights and walked into a massacre. Ansehelm quickly ordered his father Günther to take the Teutons and the Mailed Knights and to swing around the enemies left flank, in order to attack from behind. At the sight of this show of force the enemy infantry regiments quickly started to rout, while the remaining men, who where still willing to fight fled into the woods.

https://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/the_Stig_/Forumite%20Battle%20Result/0073.jpg

The battle was already lost for the Russian though, the Druzhina's had sacrificied themselves in a hope to save the battle but this did not help. Ansehelm himself, together with the Mailed Knights, led the charge into the forest and quickly the Crossbow Militia regiments started to rout. After Günther enprisoned almost an entire regiment of Crossbowmen he too turned and charged into the forest hoping there would be something left for him.
He was too late however, as the Russians had already decided to flee from the field and the Teuton and Mailed Knights made short work of the men who tried to flee and enprisoned them.

https://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/the_Stig_/Forumite%20Battle%20Result/0074.jpg

Ansehelm won himself his third battle, an easy victory, given the fact that his men were far better than the ill-fated Russians.

https://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/the_Stig_/Forumite%20Battle%20Result/0075-1.jpg

https://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/the_Stig_/Forumite%20Battle%20Result/0076.jpg

Ansehelm however was left with loads of prisoners, and because he did not want these men to return to Russia, which seemed a wealthy country he orded the prisoners to be executed, to teach these Russians a lesson: Do not even try to enter the Holy Roman Empire

[TevashSzat]

Northwest of Paris, 1240

The French had just recently pulled away from their siege of Paris in which Duke Scherer was at in order to prepare for the incoming English threat.

The Duke was not in a good mood having been cooped up in an overcrowded city lacking the technology he was used to back home deep in the Reich.

As an act of retribution, the Duke decided to take some of his forces and attack the nearest French army. When he heard news from his scouts, his reaction was mixed. The army in front of him was battle heartened with every man trained under real military conditions with no militia members.

The Duke however had a ragtag army of subpar troops with most of his House Army still away for retraining. The only elite troops the Duke had were his trusty Imperial Knights and his Pavise crossbowmen.

https://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z39/Xdeathfire/untitled-2.jpg

As the battle started, he ordered his bodygaurds and his cavalry to hide in some nearby trees. The French only seeing a weak infantry line before them thought it was going to be an easy victory and began to charge. The Duke's elite crossbowmen though made the French pay and took out many French soldiers in their first two volley before falling back behind the infantry line.

The French still weren't deterred and everything seem to be going well for them for the Duke's infantry line was slowly but surely breaking. Suddenly, the Duke and his whole cavalry force charged from behind instantly crushing scores of soldiers. The others confused from the charge suddenly believed a huge force was upon them and fled.

OOC: I forgot to take a battle screen, but I had a heroic victory with 217 casualties on my side and I killed 200 soldiers while capturing 305.

Being merciful, the Duke offered the nearby French castle of Caen their troops in exchange for a hefty ransom and to his surprise, the French accepted and he let the captured go.

[AussieGiant]

1240; Austrian Hungarian Border

Arnold paced the rug in his command tent. Sunset outside meant that in a few hours the attack would begin.

This was his first real action as army commander and the horrors of Durazzo flashed through his mind briefly. Arnold wondered if every battle would be as gore filled as his first under the walls of the southern city now occupied by the Papal States.

At least there were no Roman Nobles to get killed he thought…that was a positive.

Being cooped up in this self made fort was certainly not the plan when they made it all those months ago. At the time is seemed a prudent plan but the Hungarians had rapidly deployed two smaller armies to block and surround him.

Of course the Hungarian’s had thought they had the upper hand by hiding a second force to the north, but, Arnold realised that neither Hungarian Captain knew he would be able to attack at night.

He remembered how his father showed him the art of teaching his Regimental Captains how to fight effectively at night. Hours upon hours of planning and repetition had gone into this attack. At the time of building the fort he had made sure all the captains had walked the terrain until they had memorised every tree and hill.

The past day he had spent drilling them until each Captain could physical move his unit by memory on the simulated battle map he has made in the forts centre.

Now it was simply a matter of waiting until darkness fell and then sallying out to crush the Hungarian pigs.

His thoughts drifted to Sigismund. He was meant to be here and he was meant to be knighted at this battle. Alas that was not to happen. What was even more disturbing was Sigismund’s actions now cast in the light of a letter he had received from his mother. It had explained in great detail the relationship between his father and the oldest surviving member of the von Mahren son’s. He had a brother, but that brother was older and could lay claim to the Austrian lands. There had been plenty of previous examples of that happening throughout the Reich over the centuries.

To hell with it!! Stop thinking and start taking action.

He quickly had his squires finished off covering him in armour. The new suit was from Italy and it was one of his best. It was so finely crafted he could move with ease and even jump off his horse without causing any lose of balance. He always felt the rush of adrenaline when he was ready…covered from head to foot in metal, his father’s long sword hanging from his side, his shield arm weighed down with the Austrian Coat of Arms proudly displayed. This was war and this was what he was destined to do!!

Stepping out into the cool night air Arnold nodded to his assembled Captains;

“Ok you bastards!! I’ve had it with being stuck in this fort with you scum!! YOU ALL STINK AND IT’S TIME TO RECTIFY THAT!!

As a group the captains could be seen grinning in the fading light, their teeth shining white in the gloom.

THERE’S NOTHING TO SMILE ABOUT YOU HEATHEN PIGS!!

Pacing now, Arnold's energy could be felt by all. The Guards either side of his tent gripped their weapons tighter, the hairs on the back each mans head stood in anticipation.

This is the first battle those stinking Hungarians are having with me, so there's a few things I need from you all this evening!!

Pausing in his pacing Arnold stares at his Captains...the torch light glinting of an increasingly malevolent glint in his eyes.

I WANT…every living thing out there killed this evening!!

I WANT them to fear me just as much as my father!!

I WANT these filthy stinking, whoreson’s sent to hell!!

I WANT this night to be the beginning of total Hungarian fear towards me!!!

Get the men ready!!! We leave in thirty minutes!!

Oh and one other thing boys!!! Let a few men escape and return word to the Hungarian Nobility that Duke Arnold has now come of age and will be hunting them until he dies!!

The situation:

http://screenshot.xfire.com/screenshot/natural/c0091e4b3d862a772ae1c7f58d9fabcb3a88afe0.png

Sallying Forth:

http://screenshot.xfire.com/screenshot/natural/f68395b69a276aeef0062783f39ab7fa25aef609.png

The crossbow hail storm:

http://screenshot.xfire.com/screenshot/natural/c9e5393a284efb0fb72201506a66cbe7cda150b5.png

Arnold with a rush of blood:

http://screenshot.xfire.com/screenshot/natural/f3328fb3ef7463fb82a6d65e1a994f60dfcc5d3a.png

The charge:

http://screenshot.xfire.com/screenshot/natural/48acc213daa5b6a4ae23f5a0612dd349bd1c6737.png

The Hungarians breaking:

http://screenshot.xfire.com/screenshot/natural/0594d24c1396a2a15414a6b157fca5e8fb4aa17d.png

The Rechnungen:

http://screenshot.xfire.com/screenshot/natural/bf5a6600e995fd0264add7e0553cb4fd08db83ab.png

http://screenshot.xfire.com/screenshot/natural/48fb00fe670931df7928997fbe5d59b7779d5834.png

The Dread:

http://screenshot.xfire.com/screenshot/natural/8ab744a9f3407e54f56e8a2a40dd4f0307ee84c0.png


*****

Looking back the plan was brutal in its simplicity, as all good night actions should be.

Storm out, let the crossbowman murder them in droves, then charge!!

All in all it was a pretty successful evening thought Arnold.

Now where was that maniac Sigismund. If he didn’t get his ass back here soon he’d miss out on the next battle with the Northern Hungarian force.

Looking around the battle field Arnold was suddenly extremely thirsty

You there, stop hacking that mans arm off and get me a drink!!

[TevashSzat]

1242, Battle northwest of Paris

After a quick removal of a French expeditionary force that was too close for the Duke's liking he began to move towards Paris at once hearing news of a large French force sighted near the city.

On his way though, the Duke was suddenly ambushed by a French force waiting for him to pass by. The French forces however did not plan out their ambush very well and the Duke was not taken that much by surprise.

https://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z39/Xdeathfire/untitled2-1.jpg

Again the Duke finds himself with little elite troops to fight with having mostly halberd militia recently recruited from Paris, but the French force did not have much elite troops either with even peasants stationed in their infantry line.

Once the battle begun, the Duke quickly charged into a small crossbow force that was brave enough to fire at him and the force had to quickly retreat. The French infantry line soon followed however, but the Duke was quick and retreated off to the flanks.

The French infantry thinking that the Duke had run off to save his own hide charged into Swabian militia with great eager. The battle seemed to be all but won when suddenly the duke came out of nowhere with his elite bodyguards and quickly dispatched the commanders of the French force spreading panic throughout the French infantry.

The French quickly began to rout, but it was too late for most were captured by Swabian forces and quickly executed to show what happens when the Duke gets annoyed.

https://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z39/Xdeathfire/untitled-3.jpg

[TevashSzat]

Battle West of Paris, 1246

Duke Scherer has been very annoyed recently, he and his army was stuck right outside of Paris due to some unforeseen circumstances making him go through yet another cold French winter. The reinforcements that should have arrived in Paris to help the never ending French assaults have yet to come without any news of whether they will ever come.

Only did urgent news that the French have besieged Paris, currently with a minimal garrison of some crossbowmen did the Duke manage to get his men to march in the snow. Upon arriving within site of Paris, the Duke was gravely concerned. There was one huge and well trained French army divided in 2 surrounding the Western and Southern gates of the city.

https://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z39/Xdeathfire/untitled-4.jpg

The French brought the very best of their army, with no militia or under trained troops nearby. The Duke was going to fight against soldiers that have fought in many campaigns before.

After much argument with his advisors, the Duke came to the realization that he cannot take on the whole army by himself or with the garrison from Paris, so he had to sneak attack the larger of the two parts.

That night, the Duke had a clever plan. His cavalry and him will be deployed off to the side hidden from the French. The few pavise and mounted crossbowmen he had would be used to draw the French into an open and unorganized charge at his infantry line.

Before the French could reach the infantry line, the Duke and his cavalry would break ranks and charge. The French forces would be between a rock and a hard place. No matter whichever force they will choose to engage, more of the Duke’s forces will be ready t charge them from behind. Their hesitation proved fatal as they received the charge of the Duke’s cavalry and infantry together and the French forces, sleepy and hungry routed almost instantly only to be chased down and executed as a symbol of the Duke’s displeasure.

(OOC: I forgot to print screen post battle statistics yet again so here are the stats: I lost 93 men, but killed 280 and captured 503)

[Stig]

Place holder for the fifth battle for Imperial Thorn

[Warluster]

West to Hamburg, 1248 AD
Battle Fought by Kaiser Chancellor Jobst
Knight Siegfred is present on the Battlefield.

Extract from the Diary of Jobst von Salza.
Battle Report

The fight started off normally enough, the Teutonic Knights lineing the battlefield in front of me, the SPearmen and Feudal Knights up front, and crossbowmen firing at the front.

I sent Dieter ahead, to scout out the enemies army. We dwarf their army, our numbers of 716 against their 418. I am training Assasains, so when this happens.

The Battlefield was fine We occupied a hill, and they were stuck in a ditch.

End of Diary

The Imperial Army waited, while the Danes came. Jobst was scanning the battlefield, when a ball of fire appeared in the sky.
"What the hell is that?" wondered Jobst,
"Sir! Move!" roared Dieter, Jobst, on his horse, galloped away, as a massive flaming stone crashed where he was seconds before. Splinters flew off, one embedding itself in Jobst's armor. Seconds later, a massive crossbolt speared a man nearby, sending him flying.
"Sir, the enemy has Ballistas and Catapaults!" roared Dieter over the twang of arrows, and the crashing of rocks.

Soon, another flaming rock crashed into the front line, sending men sprawlkng, dead by the blast. others nearby caught fire, and their screams filled the air.
The front line was smashed, with a unit of 80 men declining to 40 in mere minutes.
The line of archers ran, as the Dismounted Huscarls charged at them.

Soon, they whole place was embroiled in fighting.
"For Germany!' roared Jobst, and he and his unit charged into the fray.

As Jobst leaned from his addle and cleaved a Danes head, and raised his sheild to block a attack, under the sun he saw Flaming rocks heading towards him. he was doomed. All of a sudden, Siegfred and his unit charged into the Catapault unit, and saved Jobst's life. As the rocks went high. Jobst smashed off another Danes head, inwardly thankful, as he life was in Siegfreds Debt.

"Sir, Captain Ulf is dead!" cheered Dieter, Ulf was the Dane Comander.

Victory!

Jobst approached Siegfred.
"I owe my life to you Knight Siegfred" Jobst old him, Siegfred seemed to nod, but said nothing.
"I have never been in such danger, and you saved me. For your efforts, I make you a Knight."

(Stats:

Emperor Jobst
716 Lost 88 Remaining 628

Captain Ulf (Deceased) 468 Lost 278 Remaining 198)

[OverKnight]

The Battle South of Florence, 1250

Matthias was overjoyed, he was finally taking ship to the Holy Land and Chancellor von Hamburg had ordered him to bring the Kaiser's Justice to a band of brigands on his way to the fleet. After years of kicking his heels in Bologna, he was finally going to lead men into battle.

I should have voted for him the first time around, Matthias thought with some regret.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/southofflorence/adeploy.jpg

The brigands had fled when he and his men first approached, but Matthias pursued them, and as night fell he cornered them against the sea. He deployed his infantry in a line with the Mailed Knights and his own retainers on each flank.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/southofflorence/bapproach.jpg

The cavalry moved to encircle the brigands, but something bothered Matthias. There were two units of them, one behind the other, where was the third he had seen before during the pursuit? He ordered his men to approach at a slow pace rather than charge in.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/southofflorence/cabortedambush.jpg

The Mailed Knights spotted the unit of spearmen before they could spring their trap from a small copse of trees.

Matthias ordered them to hold. The ambush had almost worked, but now the brigands were isolated from each other. The Imperial infantry was ordered to sorround the other unit of spearmen while Matthias took his retainers around the flank to take the peasants behind them. The Knights would remain out of the battle for now, though they would charge the would be ambushers if they moved to assist their comrades. When the men were positioned, Matthias ordered the charge.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/southofflorence/dcharge.jpg

The infantry and horsemen made contact at the same time. The brigands reeled before Imperial might.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/southofflorence/econtact.jpg

The rebel leader was trampled in the first moments of Matthias's charge.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/southofflorence/ftrample.jpg

The two units routed almost instantly. The third unit tried to charge the Mailed Knights but they galloped out of range except for an unlucky few. They broke as well when they found the rest of the Imperial forces at their backs.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/southofflorence/grout.jpg

Once the routers had been run down, Matthias surveyed the field. It had been terrifying, the shouts of men, the sound of hooves trampling flesh, the tug at his arm when his sword found bone, and yet it was wonderful too. He had brought his men through with light casualties, by the grace of God, and they could now continue to the fleet, and then Outremer.

The Butcher's Bill:
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/southofflorence/hresults.jpg

[Northnovas]

Iconium 1250

Count Zirn had his orders to mobilize his army for Iconium. There was a Turkish army in the area led by Kujuk-ad-Dawlah he was ordered by the Chancellor to clear this force out before reaching the city. Dieter Rhem a member of the Count's entourage had finally been put to good use. He was responsible for the logistics to have the troops moving at top speed. They had made initial contact with ad-Dawlah who was able to disengage and retreated for Iconium. However, the Count was ready and was able to catch up by mid noon.
https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1250secondcontact.jpg

*****
The battle was ready to begin and Ingo suggested a evening attack. However, Karl wanted to save the trrops for the seige and did not want to have unnecessary losses in night time fighting.
https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1250-3.jpg

The Count positoned himself on a hill and there were many in the region. He wanted to protect his seige equipment from damaged but wanted to make use of them on the high ground.

The Turks came charging over the hill.
https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1250Turksoverthehill.jpg

The Turkish General made the first contact.
https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1250turksGBGleads.jpg

The battle continued on the side of the hill with no side being able to get advantage of the terrian.
https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1250fightonthehill.jpg

Young Wolfgang Hummel was assigned to protect the trebuchets and was desperate to get into battle. The Turkish general pulled back form the line and was quickly engaed by some mailed knights. The enemy began disengaging with some of the units routing. When the artillery was no longer in danger Wolfgang was set upon the routing units.

Within hours the battle was over and the Turks disengaged. The Count decided not pursue the enemy and rest his troops for the seige. The end results.
https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1250end.jpg

Prinsoners report.
https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1250prisonerlist.jpg
They were all released on the Count's orders.

Iconium the prize was within grasp.
https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/Iconiumseiged.jpg

[TinCow]

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/ajaccio/KOTR012.gif

The citadel of Ajaccio stained the Corsican hillside like an unlanced boil. Squat and foreboding, it had been the seat of Milanese power since their expulsion from the Italian mainland. Its three immensely thick concentric walls encompassing massive training facilities from which the exiled merchants readied their armies for raids into Bavarian lands. They had even expended massive amounts of coin to obtain the services of a master swordsmith, ensuring that Milanese blades were always superior to those of their Imperial foes.

Lothar and Markus Steffen sat astride their war horses and stared at the spectacle. Better to keep their minds on the battle ahead than to think of what lay behind them. The Bavarian army had finally trapped the witch Danae in the wooded hills to the east two days before. Lothar shivered at the memory of the encounter.

*****

She cackled and laughed like a banshee. That was wrong. No one acted like this when their life was at an end, especially an end as grisly as the one she was meeting. It was all Lothar could do not to turn away in disgust. Her entrails spilled across the wooden plank. Her eyes were nothing more than charred smudges, dripping ichor across her cheeks. Her fingers and toes lay scattered across the ground like marbles, laying where they had fallen after each had been cut cleanly from her body. Yet still she grinned.

She could not see, could not point, did not even move, yet Lothar knew she was speaking to him.

*Your family is cursed, evil one. Nothing can save you now. The wrath your father invoked with his sin against Pope Gregory is but an infant, a babe of misery the likes of which you cannot comprehend.*

The torturer sliced cleanly through an intestine, severing it from her body, and tossed it into the witches face. She did not even shake her head to remove it.

*I glory in my end, for it is paradise in comparison to that which awaits every man who bears the Steffen name.*

Lothar could take it no more. He strode forward and impaled his dagger into the crone’s throat, pinning her head to the table and severing her spinal cord. Her last exhaled breath came through bubbling blood, but it carried with a sound that was so foully joyful that all within hearing distance began to murmur loudly and back away in fear. She was dead, but he had a feeling as if some greater evil had been unleashed…

*****

“LOTHAR!” Markus was shaking him by the shoulder. The eldest Steffen brother shook his head, as if waking from a deep sleep.

“Sorry, Markus. I have been having trouble concentrating ever since…”

Markus nodded. “I know, I have too. We all have.” He pointed towards the citadel. “That is why we must concentrate on our duty. Idle minds do the devil’s work, so let us put them to use. Do you think we can take it?”

Lothar pursed his lips. “It will be difficult, no doubt about it. Three solid ring walls, each must be breached in turn and they will not fall easily. We outnumber the Milanese by two to one, but other than the Steffen retainers and a small group of Teutons, we have nothing but untrained militia and a handful of Frankish mercenaries to call on. Scouts say that the Milanese defenders are knights to the last man, armed with watered steel that can shatter even the finest Bavarian weapon.”

Markus grinned. “At least they’re not led by a Steffen!”

Lothar snorted and shook his head. His brother was right about that. If the gossip from the local peasants held any grain of truth to it, Count Beca, the Duke of Milan’s heir, was possibly the worst military commander the world had ever seen. Apparently Danae had not liked him any better than she had them.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/ajaccio/KOTR004.gif

“It’s a good thing too. They’ve burned all the wood for miles around the castle. We’ve only been able to scrounge enough planks to assemble a single siege tower and a small ram. I would almost be tempted to return to Bavaria and come back with proper siege equipment, except that would require a fleet to transport us!”

Lothar did not know what had happened to the Imperial fleet. The Admiral had promised to return quickly with provisions for the army, but that had been weeks ago and not a single Imperial ship had been seen since. Nearly everything worth scavenging had been stripped from the land and sequestered inside the citadel. As a result, they only had a few more days’ worth of food before rations would have to be cut. When that happened, the army would begin to weaken and any chance at victory would evaporate. Yet attacking had its own risks, without a fleet to fall back to, defeat would mean certain death for every last man in the army.

“Ah, I’m glad you’re here, Markus.” Lothar put his arm around his brother’s shoulder. “If two Steffens can’t get this done, no one can.”

The difficulty was plain for all to see. The concentric ring walls would have to be taken one after another, yet the Bavarians possessed nothing that could strike at the inner gates except the single battering ram. If that ram was somehow destroyed, victory would be impossible, their food would run out, and the army would be obliterated. So, the ram had to be protected at all costs.

Lothar raised his sword. “Forward the tower!” He pointed it at a wall some ways to the west of the main gate. The gesture was dramatic, but unnecessary. The spearmen manning the siege engine knew their destination: a portion of wall on the flank of one of the groups of dismounted knights defending the outer wall. This particular group of militia were better armored and more experienced than their comrades, so they had been chosen. Once up on the wall, they would not have any support until the entire unit had disembarked on the top, allowing another unit to climb behind them. It would take only a few minutes, but in melee with elite defenders, they would be excruciatingly long minutes. Every last man prayed that Count Beca had demoralized his own men enough that the knights would break after only a short fight. If that happened, the outer wall could be taken without risk to the ram. If it did not…

As the siege engine neared the wall, fire arrows began to rain down on it from the few archers manning the nearby towers. The Bavarian watched, unblinking, as half a dozen, then a dozen, then a score of fire arrows thudded into the wooden structure. Even with a thick coating of mud to dampen the wood, it was nerve-wracking. Finally, the tower reached the outer wall and the men began to climb. Lothar spurred his horse forward, riding towards the wall, ignoring the arrows that whistled down around him. Perhaps his presence would reassure his men and keep them fighting harder. God knew that they needed every help they could get.

The militia poured out onto the ramparts and the effect on the defending knights was visible, even from the ground. They were nervous, subdued, and clearly not eager for combat; far from the usual disposition of trained knights. Yet they stood their ground, and that was enough. The combat was a brutal, close-quarters affair. As the militia continued to stream in off the tower, men were being continuously pushed towards the steel line of the Milanese. Despite their battle experience and padded armor, the militia were no match for the heavily armored swordsmen. Bodies began to pile up quickly on the ramparts, and few wore the green livery of Milan.

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“Fight harder! Kill them!” Lothar half screamed, half pleaded with his men, but he knew it was futile. Two-thirds of the militia had already fallen and they had taken down no more than a handful of the defenders. There would be no access to Ajaccio by this route.

Lothar cursed in frustration. “Markus!” The younger Steffen heeded the call and rode to his brother’s side. “Send in the ram!”

“If it is set alight…”

“We have no choice, the tower is lost.”

“God help us if the ram is destroyed.” Markus crossed himself and rode off.

With an interminable slowness, the militia crossbowmen began to push the ram towards the main gates. The Steffen brothers cringed as the fire arrows began to thud into the animal hides layered on top.

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The last of the militia on the wall broke and ran long before the ram reached the walls, freeing even more tower archers to concentrate on the approaching engine. The fate of the entire Bavarian army depended entirely on the hide coverings resisting the flames being directed at them. After an interminably long period, the ram finally entered the gatehouse overhang, protecting it from further arrows and allowing the crossbowmen to begin battering down the iron gate. The work went surprisingly quickly, and Lothar urged the entire army forward to exploit the opening as soon as it occurred.

He rode over to his brother. “Markus, take the cavalry and sweep the streets around the gatehouse clean as soon as the ram is through.” The younger Steffen nodded, lowered his visor, and rode off to battle. As the gate finally disintegrated in a shower of splintered metal, a cry of joy began to emanate from the rearmost ranks. From their vantage, they could see the Milanese knights disappearing from the ramparts. With the outer gate lost, they were abandoning the wall and retreating to the interior.

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Markus’ spearhead caught a large group of the men exiting from a door near the gatehouse. A fierce melee erupted in the street, as knight slew knight and the rest of the army swarmed in behind them.

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Markus’ sword was already thick with blood when Lothar rode up moments later. “These bastards won’t break and there is no way to get behind them!”

Lothar grimaced, “Find a way. I will ride deep into the city and try and cut off any other men from retreating to the second wall.”

Markus shook his head. “Alone? That’s insane. Take the Teutons with you, I can hold this line with what I have here, you will need them more than I.” The brothers nodded to each other, clasped arms, and broke in opposite directions.

Most of the streets of Ajaccio were tight, twisting affairs, dominated by towering buildings that loomed right up to the paving stones. As they rode, the knights scanned left and right, constantly on guard for an attack. Yet they did not see a soul until they neared the road that led through one of the middle wall’s gates. As they neared it, the houses began to thin out, their roof lines became lower, and their facings were set father back from the streets. With the added visibility, flashes of green could be seen in the breaks: Milanese soldiers on the move. The second group of knights was nearing the safety of the inner gatehouse when the Teutons broke on them.

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*****

Back at the main gate, Markus was becoming increasingly frustrated with the lack of progress against the Milanese foot knights. He gestured to a lieutenant. “Send in the halberdiers to hold the line, I am going to find a way around these damned buildings. Perhaps if they are taken in the rear they will be broken.” The man nodded and turned to his business as Markus Steffen rode off.

*****

Lothar was coated in sweat. He swung his sword down at yet another opponent. He had been fighting for only moments, but already his sword arm ached.

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He did not understand it. These men simply would not break. Despite the fact that they were outnumbered two to one, despite the fact that their commander was rumored to be the most inept military leader in history, they fought like demons. Even with the skill of the elite Teutonic order and his own trained bodyguards, the Bavarians were taking grievous casualties. It was a battle of attrition, and neither side was gaining on the other.

*****

Markus could see their backsides. It had taken an interminably long time to find a way through the streets and to the rear of the main gate defenders. Yet he knew the maneuver would pay off as he spurred his horse forward, urging his men to charge into the unprotected rear of the Milanese knights.

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The effect was instantaneous. The knights, who had stood their ground without wavering for many minutes, slaying countless Bavarian knights and militia alike, crumpled like parchment under the impact of the heavy horse. The survivors tried to flee, but they were cut down where they stood. Finally, the main gate was clear and the ram could begin to move towards the second of Ajaccio’s great walls.

When order had been restored, he rode out to find his brother, the army trailing in the streets behind him. The two Steffens met at the site of Lothar’s battle outside the second gatehouse. The mound of dead, horse and man alike, told of the result.

“The entire outer ring is now secure, my brother.”

Lothar clapped him on the shoulder. “Excellent work. You have down well today, Markus. I will see to it that you are properly knighted at the first possible occasion.” He winked. “As if that was ever in doubt.” He turned and gazed at the second gatehouse, standing silent and hostile. “Now… what shall we do about that?”

“Only the ram can breach it, but sending it straight in will risk its destruction once again by the inner tower archers. We need a distraction to draw the defenders away.”

“Indeed. During my days of schooling, my tutor made me study the records of many battles. I remember a few references to attacking armies gaining access to inner ring walls through unguarded doors in the outer walls. Let us send the militia around the city and try and find a route into the inner walls from the rear.” Markus nodded and rode off to give the orders.

While the militia marched around the flank of the middle wall, the crossbowmen resumed their toil and pushed the ram into position near the second gatehouse. At one point they ventured too close to a defended segment of inner wall, and half a dozen fire arrows lanced out before the men could react. They scrambled as fast as they could to push the all-important siege engine out of harms way, eventually taking a much slower back route to ensure that a similar encounter did not occur again. Finally, they arrived in position.

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The minutes dragged on as the men waited for word from the flanking militia. Finally, an exhausted runner turned a corner and approached Lothar. He gasped a few words and then collapsed in a panting heap on a nearby stoop. Lothar screamed with rage and pounded his mailed fists against a nearby doorway.

“Can nothing go right today?! Heavens above, perhaps we really are cursed.”

Markus walked over to his brother. “What is it?!”

Lothar scowled. “The militia reached the wall and found the door, but they cannot get inside it! It is barred and those fools cannot figure out a way to break it down.”

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“We have no choice, order in the ram.” Once again the fate of the entire army depended on a few scattered animal hides strapped to the top of the siege engine. The fire arrows thudded into ram and flesh alike, but the former remained unlit and the few burning crossbowmen were quickly replaced by their comrades. The Bavarians’ luck, if it could be called that, held and the ram reached the safety of the gatehouse overhang, where it began its bone-rattling work.

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At least the men who operated it were competent at their task. The second iron portcullis was soon thrown asunder, but with his knights heavily depleted and with the infantry still on the other side of the castle, any attempt to cut off the retreating Milanese knights was foolish. The Count and the knights who held the middle wall escaped into the third ring of fortifications without molestation.

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Lothar signaled to one of the dozen or so Teutons who had survived the earlier melee. “Go and open the side gate near the militia. And tell them to move on the double, the day is growing late and we cannot stay in this town at night if it remains hostile. We must make haste to overcome this last wall or all will be lost!”

The Teutons saluted and rode off to comply. When the side gate was finally raised, the entering militia were greeted by the mocking stares of the mounted knights. “Good work taking the walls, boys.” One of the Teutons jeered.

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*****

Lothar conferred with Markus “Alright, let’s try this again. Scouts have reported that this time there is an unbarred doorway on the middle wall that should lead to the ramparts of the inner wall. It will take precious time, of which we are growing short, but it is still better than risking all to the whims of the flame for a third time.”

Markus chuckled. “Let’s hope the militia are capable of breaking into an open doorway. When we return to Italy, remind me to ask someone why the Bavarian Household Army is composed of nothing but militia.”

Lothar shook his head. “The entire Reich is falling to pieces around us, Markus. We had best start looking after ourselves.”

*****

The militia began their long march around the walls of Ajaccio once again. The knights holding the last wall followed them, manning the towers as they moved ever westward, towards the reportedly open doorway. At one point, a unit of militia strayed too close to the second inner gateway and three men were quickly cut down by defending arrows.

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After many long minutes, yet another runner approached Lothar. “Milord, the men have reached the doorway and it is indeed open. But… but, there appears to be a second doorway some distance inside the wall which our men cannot breach. They cannot obtain the inner wall.”

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Markus expected his brother to lash out again in anger, but this time only fatigue washed across his face. He waved his hand and dismissed the runner. “We are cursed Markus, make no mistake about it. Father was not wrong to spend so many years in that Roman abbey. The foul witch truly did have power over the fates.”

Markus broke the awkward silence that followed. “We cannot fail now that we are so close to victory. Only one wall remains between us and Count Beca. If we breach that, we have only a hard fight and then some hard drinking. If we can distract the defenders long enough to get the ram to the wall unmolested, we will have won.”

“And how, little brother, do you suggest we do that?”

“Simple. Tell the militia to assemble outside the secondary gateway.”

Lothar’s eyebrows arched. “They will be shot to pieces…” Markus nodded as his brother continued on, “…thereby depriving this gate of any archers who could set the ram alight! Markus, you’re a blood genius!”

*****

The defenders of the inner rampart realized the deception, but it was too late. Barely a dozen had made it to the gatehouse when the ram broke through the final barrier between the Bavarians and remaining Milanese garrison.

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For once, not a single fire arrow had tested the integrity of the hides covering the top of the siege engine. The remaining defenders abandoned the walls and retreated to join the Milanese Ducal heir in the parade ground at the base of the keep. They would make a final stand in a place where retreat was not an option. The knowledge would surely make every Milanese soldier fight to his last breath, negating any advantage from Count Beca’s ineptitude.

Once again, the Teutons rode around the walls to open up the side gate and let the militia through.

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There was no amusement on their faces this time when the infantry began to stream through the final wall; only mutterings about militia and the occasional curse.

The entire battered and exhausted Bavarian army began to assemble in lines around the remaining Milanese knights. Time was very short, but Lothar knew the final assault had to be properly prepared. The Milanese would not turn and run from this place, but his men might if they began to fear for their lives. Fear was a disease that spread as quickly as the wind. The men were already exhausted, many were bloodied, and without the training of professional soldiers their discipline was in doubt. They had to be held together for one final push.

The signal was given and the charge began from all sides. Lance, spear, sword, and halberd were all brought to bear against the enemy from every conceivable direction. The dismounted Milanese found themselves enveloped on both flanks, while Count Beca’s mounted bodyguards were taken simultaneously in front and rear. The spearmen and halberdiers were proving extremely effective against the horsemen. A quarter of the Count’s bodyguards were already down, but the Bavarians were taking losses as well.

As Lothar feared, the exhaustion and sheer terror of combat proved too much. Before his eyes, a battered group of spearmen broke contact with the Milanese bodyguards and fled. He blew his signaling horn in an attempt to rally the men, but it was futile. As if in a nightmare, the panic began to spread just as he had predicted. The halberdiers dropped their weapons and ran for safety. Count Beca’s rear was now totally free and his retainers turned their full force on the men to their front. It was only a matter of time before they too broke, at which point the entire army would disintegrate and the battle would be lost.

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Lothar spurred his horse forward and charged into the battle with his counterpart’s men. He was tired and bloodied from the previous fighting in the street, while his opponents were fresh and outnumbered his men by two to one. Yet he had no choice. Lothar slashed wildly at all who surrounded him while simultaneously shouting encouragements to the wavering men all around him.

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“Fight on, you Bavarian bastards! Fight for your Duke! Fight for God! Fight for yourselves!”

Men fell screaming all around him. Limbs were cleaved from bodies, helms split in twain. He parried a blow by a man to his right and riposted, driving his sword deep into his foe’s chest. He pulled back to yank the weapon out, but his grip slipped. The blade was embedded deep in bone and mail and his hand was slick with blood. The Milanese knight fell back off his horse, taking Lothar’s sword with him. Noticing the helpless Bavarian, another bodyguard unleashed a vicious assault on him. Lothar held his shield high with both hands, but he could do nothing except endure the blows that continued to break over him again and again.

By the sixth blow, his shield began to splinter apart. On the ninth blow, the left side collapsed altogether. The tenth landed directly on his left shoulder. The mail held and prevented what would surely have been a mortal cut, but the impact threw him from his horse. As he fell flailing, the remnants of his tattered shield disappeared into the confusion around him. He was totally defenseless, sprawled on the ground in the midst of the enemy.

The bodyguard who had so brutally battered him rode a few steps forward and brought his sword up for one final, devastating cut. Instinctually, Lothar raised his hands to shield himself from the blow that would end his life. They held there in the air, shaking heavily, while time seemed to slow around him.

He could see the glistening sweat on the face of a Bavarian militiaman. A drop of blood flew lazily through the air from an arcing blade. He could even see the ridges and slits on the hoof of a rearing horse. All was clear, all was visible, and all was silent.

It took Lothar a few seconds to realize that the fatal blow had not fallen. He lowered his hands and saw his brother, Markus, grappling with the Milanese knight who stood over him. The two men were locked, arm in arm, in a titanic battle of strength and will. With one immense push, Markus threw his opponent back, reached a hand to the dagger at his waist, and plunged it into the man’s chest. He screamed and fell from his horse.

Markus turned to look at Lothar, a grin on his face. He lowered his hand to help his brother up from the ground, but froze midway. His smile disappeared and the blood drained from his face. Then his forward momentum resumed and he toppled down, off his mount. As he fell, Lothar saw the sword pull free of his brother’s back. He screamed.

Markus’ own retainers fell on the man who had stabbed their Lord. The wave of battle flowed past them and the Milanese line crumbled. Somewhere, a joyous cry showed that Count Beca had fallen. Shortly afterwards, the sounds of battle turned into cheers of celebration.

Lothar Steffen heard none of it. Cradling his brother in his arms, he wept openly. Markus, his face white as snow, coughed once and gave a half smile. “I’ll be alright. It’s not that…” Markus never finished the sentence. His eyes closed and his head sagged as death took him. Lothar screamed.

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It was several minutes before anyone dared to approach Lothar. Finally, one of his bodyguards summoned up the courage. “Milord, what shall we do with the captives?”

The eldest son of Gerhard Steffen did not look up. “Kill them. Kill them all.”

“The… the prisoners, my lord? They could give a good ransom.”

“The prisoners. The Count’s retainers. His servants. His wife. His children. His dogs. His horse. His people. All of them. They will pay for what they have done to my brother.” He looked up at the man. His eyes were red, his face streaked with tears. “The whole citadel. Put it to the sword.”

Minutes later the screams of death resumed. They continued for hours as the Bavarians rampaged through the town, killing everything that moved. Still, Lothar heard none of it. All he saw was his brother’s lifeless face. All he heard was Danae’s last words, echoing through his mind.

“…I glory in my end, for it is paradise in comparison to that which awaits every man who bears the Steffen name.”

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[Northnovas]

Siege of Iconium 1252

Count Zirn had followed the Turkish Army to the City of Iconium. He has immediately set up the siege equipment and was ready to starve the city out. His goal had been Iconium on direction of the Diet to capture the city from the Turks and offer it to the Byzantine Empire.

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The previous encounter with General Kujuk ad-Dawlah was not in the operation plan but the battle was short and the victory clear. The Count had sufficient resources to take the city.

The battle plan was to utilize the artillery and then move in with the troops calvary was scarce and Count Zirn knew the plan would involve not only his men but that of young Wolfgang Hummel. It was time he earned his spurs. The lad was eager to go.

The Count waited for nightfall. This was a different tatic and he knew his opponet was a nightfigher but darkness would help to breach the large city.

0002 hrs Shock and Awe
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The artillery let loose and things were going well till impatience set in and the confusion of darkness. The captians moved out after the gates were breached but the walls had many archers.
As a diversion the siege platform was put to the wall but was engulfed in the flames of the defending archers. One regiment of knights was sent far off to flank the enemy.

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The maneuver worked and 2 regiments of defenders headed for the ladders on the wall.

The gate house was taken and the Turks had artillery set up in the main street to defend the gate. The troops poured through the gate taking the archers off the wall and rushing their way down the main throughway.

At this point the two generals mad their move into the city and fighting along side streets to the centre square. Young Hummel staggered behind at the gate to assist the foot troops with the last few defenders.

Count Zirn crashed into the centre square just as his spearmen were coming in the other direction. General ad-Dawlah went for the infantry. More artillery was set up in the square and the balistas were ready to fire on the mass of troops converging. The Count encourages his men to fight.

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Wolfgang arrived in the centre in time and takes out the artillery units before any damage his done. General ad-Dawlah falls in battle but the Turks are not discouraged. Just when it appeared that battle could be a draw the other Reich units poured in from different streets to converge on the remaining Turks.

It's over and at a huge cost to the Count.

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The Turks were destroyed those that surrendered were released on the Count's orders. Their general was no longer a threat.

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In the heat of battle he forgot what the goal of Iconium was about; there was no strategic value it was going to another empire. Good men wasted, could he have besieged them longer till they sallied out? Did the men move in too soon? Questions he could not ponder on for too long. He must return east has the Horse Lords are now in contact with the Reich Armies in the Outremer.

There was also a new general that would be given his own command. The dispatch was send at once to the Chancellor to advise him of the gallantry that only a true knight could display like young Wolfgang Hummel.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Outside Aleppo, 1252

"Okay, here's the plan," Conrad Salier said to the young Franconian Jan von Hamburg, son of Chancellor Fredricus. "A small Egyptian force is lurking outside of Aleppo, which could presumable bring trouble and block our movements to and from Edessa. Our job is to make sure that that army is no longer a threat to anyone."

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Jan nodded. This would be the young nobleman's first battle. He sat and listened to Conrad, eager to do whatever the King of Outremer told him. This was not so much because Jan had that type of personality, no. He just wanted to get knighted.

"We're going to fight this thing at night so half of our men don't collapse in the heat," Conrad continued. "Basically, this is going to be a simple, brutal assault. We're going to give the Egyptians a tough time with our crossbows and then charge straight in with a couple of regiments to finish them off. Look lively when fighting. I'm sure your father wants another knight in Outremer."

Jan wanted to be knighted, but Conrad's blunt way of explaining the strategy to him unnerved him a little bit. "So I just charge right in?" he asked. "Don't you think we should be a little bit more prudent after what happened to Markus?"

"If you think that the circumstances in Markus's death are the same here, please, think again," Conrad said. "We're fighting on an open field, not some three-level citadel. There are more of us, less of them, and our men are of much better quality. We have a massive advantage in height, and I'm not as reckless as that Lothar. Jan, this is the most prudent situation I can give you and still be able to argue that you should be knighted."

Jan nodded, slightly pale. The majority of the army they were facing were spears.

"We'll be fine," Conrad said reassuringly. "Come on, let's fight this thing before it gets too dark."

The two generals left for their escorts and Conrad deployed for the fight. The Imperial army had planted itself on top of some significant heights, while the small Egyptian force, commanded by its Sultan, was below.

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"Crossbows, fire!"

Three regiments of pavise crossbowmen and one battered unit of Turkopiles began unleashing their arrows on the enemy below. After two volleys and several hits, the Sultan moved his men closer to the heights, which also meant that the crossbowmen no longer had the angle to attack.

"Begin marching down the hill!" Conrad ordered. "Crusaders and Armored Sergeants first! Then the escorts! Crossbowmen, find a spot where you can fire! Everyone else, hold!"

The exodus down the heights began. From his vantage point, Conrad saw that the main battle would probably take place near the bottom, but still on the slope.

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The infantry clash did not last long. The Saracen Militia, outnumbered and outclassed, quickly fell to the superior numbers and quality of the Imperial spearmen. Conrad watched it all from halfway up the slope, judging when the time was right to charge.

Finally, when the Egyptian spears were about half down, he turned to Jan.

"All right, let's go."

The Egyptian Sultan, who had not entered the battle personally yet, heard the thunder of hoofbeats coming down the slope and looked up. Cursing silently in Arabic, he prepared his men to countercharge.

The two Imperial escorts crashed through the remaining Saracens, who slowed them down just long enough to be countercharged by the Sultan. With all of their momentum gone, they would simply have to hack their way through the defenders.

"If you want to earn it, earn it now!" Conrad yelled to Jan. The young Franconian nodded and set to the task.

After a few bloody minutes, the task was complete. The Saracens had disappeared completely and the Sultan had only extricated himself and a handful of other cavalrymen.

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Conrad carefully inspected his young partner's armor, checking for bloodstains and scratches. Satisfied, he gave Jan the good news.

"Was that fun?" he asked. Jan nodded. Battles were a lot easier after they were finished.

"Good," Conrad said. "Because this was a tune-up. Pretty soon the real fun begins."

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[Stig]

Thorn, 1252 AD

It was night in the city of Thorn, all seemed quite as he had seemed for the past years. Thorn had been under siege for a full 2 years now, but there was hardly anything to worry about; there was plenty of food and water, sides the Poles failed to secure the river entirely and resources could be brought into the city from time to time. People even managed to leave the city.
During the first year of the siege there was plenty of fighting. The garrison sallied out to destroy a stronghold or the Poles were practise shooting at the walls, but in the second year this stopped. It seemed like the Poles didn't dare to attack, and the Thorn garrison didn't care about fighting anymore, they knew they couldn't fight the Poles on the flat plains outside the city as the Poles had swift horsemen. But by the middle of 1252 news came of reinforcements led by Fritz von Kastilien had crossed the Vistula earlier that year and were making for Thorn.

That brought some action into the Poles again who started making another siege tower so that they could take the city before the reinforcements could arrive. Soon however it seemed like the reinforcements halted as they had to rest to make the final push towards Thorn, and this also could be seen in the activities of the Poles outside Thorn, who stopped many of their guard duties.

But this night was going to be different. Inside Thorn knights gathered around the main gate, but this all happened as quiet as possible. Tonight was the night that Fritz von Kastilien would come within striking distance and tonight was the night to sally out.
On the walls three men were looking at the Poles in the distance.
"I want to attack tonight," said the youngest of them. "Ansehelm, you take the spearmen on the right, the Teutons will attack the left, while father and me charge through the middle. In the meantime Gert von Runstede will lead the infantry out of the city to form a line in front of the gate. We should be quick and hit them before they know what's happening, the night isn't as dark as it could be so we won't be able to use it at our full advantage, but Fritz will attack them from behind. If things go as planned the battle may be over before we even know it. Let's go."
The three men came down from the wall and mounted their horses. The gate opened and the garrison stormed out.

https://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/the_Stig_/Forumite%20Battle%20Result/0003.jpg

The Poles, who saw the enemy coming, quickly assembled a defensive line to defend their siege equipment, but this line was doomed at the moment is was made. Within seconds they were hit by an almighty body of heavely armoured knights.

https://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/the_Stig_/Forumite%20Battle%20Result/0005.jpg

And while all this happened the Poles became aware that they were being attacked from behind as well.

https://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/the_Stig_/Forumite%20Battle%20Result/0004.jpg

Quickly the Polish lines were beginning to fall, the infantry routed within seconds. The honourable nobles held out for a little longer, but they too were routed from the battlefield.

https://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/the_Stig_/Forumite%20Battle%20Result/0009.jpg

The outcome:
https://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/the_Stig_/Forumite%20Battle%20Result/0010.jpg
https://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/the_Stig_/Forumite%20Battle%20Result/0011.jpg
https://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/the_Stig_/Forumite%20Battle%20Result/0012.jpg

[AussieGiant]

Budapest 1252

Might I suggest we we set up in a three pronged attack my Duke?

The young Duke Arnold looked up from the map of Budapest City to scowl at his Military Engineer Sigfreid.

Sigfreid you blithering idiot, THEIR REBELS!! What's even worse, their rebels in Austria, and you know I can't stand disloyalty!!

Looking back down at the map Arnold could see Sigismund von Mahren from the corner of his eye. Without looking up Arnold continued speaking almost in a whisper.

Their all going to die, they know it, we know it, and so does God...

Arnold was pleased to see Sigismund face show no sign of emotion at that statement. Sigismund was going to earn his spurs come hell or high water tonight and sieges we always a dangerous place for cavalry.

Placing both mailed fists on the city map Arnold again gazed back at his Captains and advisers.

Right you scum!! This isn't the real battle, this is just a warm up. The real battle is following us about half a years march from here. Three Hungarian armies are heading this way to recapture their Capital. What they don't realise is we will have it safely back under Austrian control by the time they turn up!!!

What that means is we are ending this charade tonight. We will go in under cover of darkness in a concentrated force.

No pissing about, no diversions, nothing but straight up slaughter.

First man into the square gets a night with my horse and my eternal gratitude for restoring Austrian lands to me.

Gazing steadily at his troops Arnold could sense their anticipation.

More importantly men, we MUST get this over an done with, so we can wheel and turn to face the oncoming Hungarian's with enough time to rearm and repair this city!!

The situation:

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/medieval22007-07-1918-48-35-09.jpg

Frontal Assault:

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/medieval22007-07-1918-54-41-75.jpg

The towers make it to the wall:

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/medieval22007-07-1918-56-10-79.jpg

The gate comes down:

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/medieval22007-07-1918-57-52-12.jpg

The right flank gets decimated:

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/medieval22007-07-1918-58-16-81.jpg

The battle for the gate:

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/medieval22007-07-1919-01-05-43.jpg

Sigismund forces his way through gaining his Knighthood:

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/medieval22007-07-1919-03-36-28.jpg

Sigismund presses home the attack:

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/medieval22007-07-1919-06-42-81.jpg

Victory!!!

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/medieval22007-07-1919-09-41-32.jpg

Crap I forgot to take screen shots of the stats until this point!!

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/medieval22007-07-1919-10-45-25.jpg

[Stig]

Near Thorn, 1254 AD

Ansehelm looked to his right and to his left. What he saw was what was called the Franconian Household Army. A well trained and strong army, made up of Knights, Sergeants and Mercenaries, one of the few strong and professional armies left in Europe at this time. And now it would be tested. On a hill not far away there was a strong Russian army, it had penetrated deep into the Reich and here, near the Vistula it came to a fight. The Russians seemed ready, they had everything in their favour; a hill, numbers and they were battleworn. But Ansehelm had one advantage, the FHA existed of veterans, of men who fought for their own survival on numerous occassions, of men who knew how to win against the odds.

Ansehelm rode to the nearest group of infantry.
"Are you ready for it Gert?"
"As ready as I'll ever be sir, and so are the men," Von Runstede answered.
"That's good. Gert, I want you to lead the attack of the infantry, you're an experienced man, hence why I gave you this job. I know you prefered to be Thorn's garrisons commander, but you're one of the best captains I know."
"Thank you sir."
"Now listen, till the archers come into shooting range we will march together, but at that moment I want you to take over control of the infantry and steadely march on the enemy. I will take the cavalry and charge their infantry lines. They are mostly militia and will quickly fall, I will pull my cavalry out and you can send in some groups to deal with the remaining Russians. Prepare to come under heavy missile fire as your slow marching ranks will be an ideal target for their Horse Archers, but try to lure them to charge you, I will send my cavalry around their flank and attack them from behind. Oh, and good luck."
"You too sir."


Ansehelm marches the army towards the enemy.
https://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/the_Stig_/Forumite%20Battle%20Result/0013.jpg

It's over, and the Russians are finished.
https://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/the_Stig_/Forumite%20Battle%20Result/0014.jpg

Artillery is seized.
https://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/the_Stig_/Forumite%20Battle%20Result/0015.jpg

Victory for the Reich!!!
https://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/the_Stig_/Forumite%20Battle%20Result/0016.jpg
https://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/the_Stig_/Forumite%20Battle%20Result/0017.jpg

[AussieGiant]

Budapest 1254

Having penned his last wishes should he die, Arnold looked around the palatial interior of his residence in Budapest. He knew, as Duke, no one would be living has he would, given the situation.

Outside he could here the crying of women and children already. The siege had just begun and already pestilence had started taken the lives of the weak.

What to do thought Arnold...

His spy has alerted him to the fact that none of the Hungarian commanders had the skill to command troops at night. He knew that a night raid would see him victorious against this Hungarian force, but what of the other two.

It would be a long and grinding year if chose to sit behind the walls of Budapest.

Gazing into the fire Arnold was lost in thought.

Across the room his adviser the Military Engineer Sigfried could see the his Lords eyes turn a shade of madness he has never seen before.

Standing, Arnold drew his father sword looking down it's blade, as he walked out side the feel of his Field Plate Armour gave his a sense of invincibility, his confidence grew and the rush of adrenaline that came with a decision filled his eyes with tears!!

“Sigismund!!! Prepare the men!! We're going to attack!! Sigfried get out here and tell me the range of these Hungarian siege weapons.”

At that moment, out of an ally came a young women screaming for her life. Behind her a solider in the Austrian heavy foot regiment could be seen close behind.

Arnold stepped forward sword in hand, in one efficient swing he decapitated the solider. Head and body tumbled to the ground, blood sprayed both Arnold and onlookers alike.

Silence...

...into that silence Arnold's sword could be heard sliding back into its scabbard.

“Sigismund whip the blood off your face and move!!!! Sigfried, get some men to clean this up and pay the girls father for his troubles."

Looking at body guardsmen through bloody eyes he whispers.

"Tell your fellow soldiers, that I will not tolerate indiscipline and if they can't comply I will hunt them down in their sleep!!"

Sigismund takes out some catapults

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/medieval22007-07-2018-25-27-37.jpg

The skirmishing continues

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/medieval22007-07-2018-26-02-21.jpg

Arnold presses forward

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/medieval22007-07-2018-27-48-95.jpg

Hungarian artillery is still functioning

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/medieval22007-07-2018-27-53-34.jpg

Hungarian last stand

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/medieval22007-07-2018-28-08-95.jpg

Victory

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/medieval22007-07-2018-29-00-70.jpg

Sigismund chasing down the scum

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/medieval22007-07-2018-29-10-43.jpg

Arnold joins the slaughter

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/medieval22007-07-2018-29-34-43.jpg

Clear Victory

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/medieval22007-07-2018-29-57-29.jpg

A Dread Knight joins the party

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/medieval22007-07-2018-30-50-06.jpg

And so does a Notorious Berserker

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/medieval22007-07-2018-30-59-85.jpg

[AussieGiant]

Budapest 1254 continued

The fury on Arnold face caused sheer terror in most. His captains and Sigismund seem to be the only one's able to walk and talk without being frozen in horror by his presence. By contrast Grom the Berserker and the Dread Knight Bane seemed oblivious to it all and casually spoke about the coming battle.

“That effeminate, wine swilling piece of crap Hans has said the last words he ever will to me!!!

By god I'm going to take his challenge one step further. I want BOTH Hungarian armies destroyed today!!”

The startled look on his captains faces was clear to see.

“But my lord that is madness!”; said one of the younger captains

Arnold turned on the newly appointed man, his eyes rimmed red from lack of sleep.

“WHAT DID YOU SAY!!”

The Berserker Grom laid his huge hand on the young Captains shoulder and removed him Arnold view with his huge frame. Arnold walk up to the Berserker's chest and tilted his head to speak with him as his eyes only reached his throat.

“Grom, stand aside.” said Arnold quietly.

Grom's answer was a simple shake of his massive head in disagreement.

By now everyone in the Command tent was watching the unfolding scene in silence.

“GROM, I SAID MOVE!!”

The giant berserker did move.

Bane moved up beside the young Duke. His hallow voice cutting through the tension.

“My Lord, let him be, you have preparation to attend to if you wish to attack two armies in one day.”

Nobody moved as Arnold considered the words spoken by the Dread Knight. Moments passed, the air in the tent became oppressive with the silence.

The Dread Knight placed his hand on the Duke shoulder, gently guiding him towards the map placed on the Command tents main table.

The tension visibly eased as Arnold began barking orders about the coming battle.

The Situation:
https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/medieval22007-07-2113-54-32-90.jpg
Set up:
https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/medieval22007-07-2113-55-50-34.jpg
Arnold and Sigismund on the right flank:
https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/medieval22007-07-2113-58-14-14.jpg
The Hungarians press the advantage:
https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/medieval22007-07-2113-59-13-89.jpg
The tide turns:
https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/medieval22007-07-2113-59-16-60.jpg
Reinforcement arrive:
https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/medieval22007-07-2114-01-27-75.jpg
Victory:
https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/medieval22007-07-2114-05-14-25.jpg
Stats:
https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/medieval22007-07-2114-05-20-15.jpg
What do you think the Dread Duke does?
https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/medieval22007-07-2114-05-34-23.jpg
Arnold fulfills his ambition to make his father proud:
https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/medieval22007-07-2114-05-51-37.jpg
That evening:
https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/medieval22007-07-2114-06-35-67.jpg
The situation:
https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/medieval22007-07-2114-07-07-15.jpg
The night brings no cover from the artillery:
https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/medieval22007-07-2114-10-09-79.jpg
The battle lines meet:
https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/medieval22007-07-2114-12-30-43.jpg
It's over before it begins:
https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/medieval22007-07-2114-13-16-79.jpg
Victory:
https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/medieval22007-07-2114-13-48-78.jpg
Confirmed:
https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/medieval22007-07-2114-16-05-73.jpg
Stats:
https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/medieval22007-07-2114-16-08-06.jpg
Money over Dread...not likely:
https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/medieval22007-07-2114-16-20-59.jpg

[Ituralde]

1254, in the forests of Northern Germany

It was still dark as Siegfried von Kastillien surveyed his men. He was feeling out of breath already, his arm aching and his armour dented in several places. Not to mention the grizzly sights he had trouble putting out of his head. He surpressed a sudden urge to vomit, not that there was much left in his stomach. It had only just begun though. The recent encounter with the Danish army just to the North of them had just been a warm-up for the real fight. Mainly Militia it had been an easy victory.



Looking ahead he knew, that the upcoming battle would not be as easy. This time they faced battle-hardened War Clerics supported by highly trained Infantry Militia. Once again Emperor Jobst had decided to deploy Siegfried on the right of the Imperial line, leading the cavalry to make the decisive flanking attack, just like the one that had broken the Militia in the previous battle.



The Danish, although surprised and disrupted by the Imperial night attacks, had nevertheless managed to hole up in a dense forest. Siegfried cursed, this would negate much of their cavalry's effectiveness. Still, they had no other choice but to advance, and so they did. The Imperial line advancing slowly through a hail of Danish crossbow bolts.

The infantry charged forward, the Armoured Sergeants forming a solid line, while the Dismounted Feudal Knights were supposed to hold the left flank in the deepest part of the forest. For Siegfried it was simple to take his men around the right flank of the enemy and once the lines had engaged he ordered his men to charge!



The impact of the Imperial cavalry was brutal, but the War Clerics were abundant in numbers and had lined up behind their Infantry line, ready to countercharge the Imperial attackers. Siegfried lashed out to his left and right, but soon the battle lines had dissovled and turned into a confusing slugfest for both sides. Slowly the Imperials seemed to be gaining the upper hand though. Several times, fleeing Danish troops passed Siegfried and his short attempts of following them brought him further and further from the main battle.

Slowly the clamour of battle died down and it seemed as though Emperor Jobst had led his men to another victory, but above several cries of jubilation, Siegfried could still hear the sound of battle, this time coming from the other side of the battle line. There wasn't supposed to be anyone there expect for the Imperial Pavises who had covered their initial advance and suddenly Siegfried realized that the hail of their bolts had stopped about halfway through the battle.

Cursing loudly he spurred his horse onwards and ordered his men to follow. Sure enough several War Clerics had used the cover of the woods to attack the unprotected Imperial missiles. As Siegfried charged he saw Emperor Jobst accompanied by some Teutonic Knights leave the woods to his right and soon the remaining War Clerics had been dispersed. The Imperial Missiles had been severely crippled though.



Now that the battle was over, Siegfried could no longer hold back the images of hacked limbs and strewn bodies. Raising his helmet he relieves the meagre contents of his stomach onto the field. Recovering just in time to see Emperor Jobst approach his bodyguard. Hopefully he hadn't noticed Siegfrieds temporary weakness.

"You fought well tonight, Siegfried! There's only a small contigent left, if we hurry we can catch them before sunrise and then hurry north to lift the siege of Hamburg! Once we're through there is no doubt that you will be knighted for your bravery!"

Apparently, he hadn't.

________________________________________________________


Early Morning:



The last of the Danish that had surrounded them were composed of a mixture of troops and had brought several pieces of artillery with them. Lacking a sufficient number of Missile troops, Emperor Jobst had seen no other option but to charge the enemy, who had decided to make their last stand upon a small hill overlooking the approaching Imperial Army.



Once again Siegfried found himself on the right flank, leading the cavalry, this time accompanied a little closer by Emperor Jobst, who would be following his charge. The Imperials advanced slowly onto the Danish position, and it didn't take long before fiery balls were hurtled from the catapults brought to the field by the Danish.

Shortly before the Imperial lines closed in, Siegfried noticed how one of the fireballs hit the Emperor's bodyguard square on, the screams of horse and riders was terrible to behold, but already he had spurred his horse forward, which was carrying him into battle.

Once again the Danish were engaged head on by the Imperial infantry while the Teutonic Knights along with Siegfried and Jobst bodyguard made short process with the remaining Danish forces.

It was not until the battle was over that Siegfried noticed something was wrong. During the fight more and more cries of: "For the Emperor! For Jobst!" had been heard than in the more recent battles. The soldiers seemed to have been driven by some inner fury and the assault and been brutal and short. The joy over the victory seemed muted.

"Siegfried, Siegfried! Come at once!" It was Dieter, the trusted follower of Emperor Jobst who was now approaching him. "Come quick, it's the Emperor, he's dying!" Numbed by the shock of these news Siegfried quickly follows Dieter back to the place where the catapult shot has disrupted the Emperor's bodyguard. It was a grizzly sight that greeted him and it was all Siegfried could do not to avert his gaze or vomit once more.



Charred bodies were scattered and the stench of burning flesh hung in the air. Two bodyguards lay on the ground, their whole body covered in blackened flesh, their faces distorted in agony, their horses had fared little better, one had a large wound on his neck, where another man had put the horse out of misery. Amidst the carnage lay a barely recognizable figure. If Dieter hadn't told him so he would have never recognized him as Jobst.

Still numbed Siegfried kneels down by his Emperor. His lips are cracked from the heat and his face has been cleaned of the black ash, revealing the blisters of his burns. Only the eyes seem to be untouched by the horror visited upon his body as Jobst focuses on Siegfried. "Fought well... you did!" his voice was thin and he had to lean closer to hear the man in front of him.

"My heir... you! Long... live... ... Kaiser!" with that the last glow left in his eyes vanishes. Only now Siegfried takes in the men surrounding him. The Knight who had been holding Jobst upright and in whose arms the Emperor had died. Dieter who was standing behind him, looking at him approvingly and the rest of the Emperors bodyguard standing around him. Slowly the men kneeled before him to acknowledge their new Emperor.

Still numbed, Siegfrieds gaze returns to the charred Emperor, unable to tear his gaze away he fells the warm streaks, as tears run down his face and for once his desire to vomit is succumbed by the feelings of loss and confusion overwhelming him.



OOC: Pictures follow, as always!

[Ituralde]

Placeholder for the defense of Hamburg.

[flyd]

Edessa, 1256

"They found out!"

"Who," the Chancellor paused, trying to put as much emphasis as possible on every syllable spoken, perhaps in an attempt to convey the annoyance he felt due to receiving such an undetailed report, "and... what?"

"The Mongols, about the other ford!"

That could have been expected. There was another possible place to cross the Euphrates, at least in the dry season. It was somewhere north of Edessa, at the foot of a mountain range. The terrain is very rough, and after only nominal scouting, we had thought that it was impossible to follow the northern bank of the Euphrates down to the plains of Aleppo. This seems to have proven less correct than initially hoped.

"No matter," the Chancellor responded, "Salier will be able to make it up there while the enemy is held up here. His army is sufficiently large now to take them on."

Oh, but this scout was not yet done. "They've gone to the north. A part of their army has already crossed the river. Edessa has been bypassed."

The Chancellor's expression darkened. He was obviously unhappy with this, even though it was actually good news. I had to speak up.

"Sir, this isn't a bad thing. Edessa has been saved. We can still set up a defense around Aleppo and the rivers in Syria. It will take them a long time to make it along that bank. We still control the southern bridge."

I don't think he heard me.

"How many of them have already crossed?" He asked.

"About one half, their armies can only cross one at a time. The third one has probably crossed at least in part by now. I would expect the fourth one to still be on this side."

"Excellent. They've had to abandon the formation they've held so far, and cross single-file. Mobilize the entire army. I want to be at that ford before dark."


North of Edessa, near the Euphrates, 1256

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y208/flydude18/deploy-k3.jpg

As we reached the end of the plateau, the scouts reported that the trailing Mongol army was just ahead, and that it had not yet descended to the river. We would have to fight uphill, as there was a small rise before the drop off. The next Mongol army was down by the river, but it had not yet crossed, and would be able to turn around rather quickly. The first two armies were probably not a factor. The Chancellor had a point, this was an improvement over attacking them in completely open terrain, where they would, without a doubt, be able to bring at least three of their armies to bear against you. As a counter-point, there were still two very large Mongol armies ahead. I was also somewhat concerned about the Chancellor's plan, which he relayed to us as we were marching. It basically consisted of charging straight for the Mongol center and destroying their heavy cavalry, artillery, and, most importantly, killing their general. He intended to repeat this maneuver for the second army. He did not seem particularly concerned about large numbers of horse archers that would, by this stage, be surrounding our army. I guess he didn't fear arrows much, but they have been known to maim and kill.

We deployed in a battle formation at the last moment. The sun had already set behind the tall peaks beyond the Euphrates, and the first Mongol army was just over the crest.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y208/flydude18/starthill-k3.jpg

The enemy must have been somewhat surprised to see a mighty army of the Reich as they came over the crest. They quickly turned around, artillery and all, and began to withdraw, without a doubt in an attempt to link up with their second army.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y208/flydude18/cowards-k3.jpg
Upon seeing their enemy, the Mongols turn around.

If there was any sense to the Chancellor's plan, it was that we would be taking on the core of each Mongol army separately. If they combined, it would be even more suicidal than before. This is why the order to charge up the hill was given. As we came up the hill, the enemy archers and artillery began to fire.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y208/flydude18/storm-k3.jpg
The Mongols open fire

I imagine that most who had never seen the Mongols in battle before, including me, were taken aback by the sight. I need not think of words to describe it, for the Chancellor spoke up at that very moment.

"Wow, it's beautiful. Reminds me of a snowstorm in Franconia. The arrows look just like snowflakes caught in a strong wind."

Of course, somebody from the back had to respond: "Did you have a volcano in Franconia too, or did the giant balls of fire accompany the snow from the clouds?"

Ah, nothing like humor to take your mind off the fact that your commander may be going ever so slightly insane.

We charged up the hill and attacked the Mongol center. We plowed through the infantry, we killed the lancers, we destroyed the artillery. But most of all, we collapsed around the Mongol general.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y208/flydude18/dienow-k3.jpg
The Mongol general is surrounded as parts of the second Mongol army closes in.

Berkei the Wrathful fell.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y208/flydude18/berkei_the_ex-mongol-k3.jpg

The rest of the Mongol center fled. However, we had quite a problem.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y208/flydude18/firstarmoreddiv-k3.jpg
The problem.

One of the knights that had been fighting a bit further up the hill rode up to us.

"Five," he said, "five squadrons of heavy lancers up there. We lost many men, I don't think we can make it up that hill to take on five, especially under all this... aaaaaaaarrrrgghghrhhhhh!!!"

"... arrow fire, I think he meant," I added.

Five was a bit much. There wasn't complete intelligence on the enemy army composition before we set out. But, as it turned out, there were no heavy lancers in the first group, and yes, five in the second. If the situation had been reversed, this might have even worked, as we could have made a well-organized, concentrated attack. But with the army scattered and depleted, many horse archers around, and a long way, uphill, to get to them, it did seem impossible. At this stage, I wondered just how grave a situation would have to be, before the Chancellor started to begin to consider withdrawing.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y208/flydude18/arrowfire-k3.jpg
Time to make a decision.

"Well, I suppose there is no point in wasting lives. It would be difficult to fight all those lancers uphill. Let us regroup at Edessa. We shall attack those horse archers behind us on our way out."

And so it was. We attacked some horse archers that had gotten behind us, but they fled quickly, probably due to the death of their general. Once the way was clear, the infantry was sent first, and what was left with the cavalry, the Chancellor's own bodyguard, and two veteran groups of knights, covered the rear, attacking any enemy horse who dared get too close. During this, they took heavy arrow fire.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y208/flydude18/withdraw0-k3.jpg
The cavalry covers the retreat.

In the end, the Chancellor was the last to leave the field of battle.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y208/flydude18/withdraw-k3.jpg
Fredericus exits.

Result:

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y208/flydude18/result-k3.jpg

[Northnovas]

Adana 1256

It was a cool night well past the midnight hour and a soft rainfall was the only remnant of a violent storm that had passed over the fortress hours earlier.
Count Zirn was reading through Reich dispatches regarding Kaiser Jobst's heroic death and the fall out from the Electors concerning the successor to the throne.

There was a rapid knock at the door and then it immediately swung open two men rushed in Ingo and Peter. Peter was the newest member of the Count's entourage. He was a veteran warrior who brought a wealth of experience and was assisting in the organizational matters of the Count's army.

Ingo spoke first." My lord, we are being besieged the Turks are no more then several kilometers from here and have siege equipment already!"

Zirn was surprised at the level of excitement in his aides voice. " How is that possible already? We withdrew from them in the field months ago. How could they be here already and with equipment? Peter what is the standing of the fortress do we hold or sally out?"

Peter was quick with his response but nervous to the Count's reaction. "No we are not ready for a seige. I did not expect Qalawun to be here this quickly and with so many men. We are outnumbered."

"We will sally forth then, now or tonight? replied Zirn.

"In daylight!" quipped Ingo. " I know you are more experience with the night then our enemy but if we sally out at daybreak they will have little chance to properly set up"

The Count did not hesitate, " We go now, muster the men and meet at the west gate!!

The troops were awaken.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1256deployment.jpg

The besieging army.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1256theattackers.jpg

The men were ready and at the gate as ordered. The trebuchets were ordered to stand down and two catupult units would be assigned the artillery duties. The crossbowman were assigned the walls as a reserve. The rest of the units sallied out.

"The right flank will be our objective!" shouted the Count to his captains. "I want to concentrate our force to the right." The only calvary other then the bodyguards of Zirn and Hummel were to stay to the left flank and cover for missle attacks.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1256outthegates.jpg

The Turks came out with their missle units of peasants and javelins. The mailed knights charged to clear them out. The infantry units moved forward attacking the right flank the catapults provided cover.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1256firstcontact.jpg

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1256standfast.jpg

The Counts crossbows were out of range and 2 regiments were brought off the wall and on to the field. The enemy was not pressing other then arrows and catapult fire, they did not advance.
The pressure continued on the right flank of the enemy. The Count took to his far right to support the troops. Sir Hummel moved his unit far left of the enemy. The pressure was getting intense and the enemy units were starting to falter. The Turkish General in attempt to rally his men charged out to the left flank to meet Hummel's unit.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1256rightflank.jpg

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1256hummelcontact.jpg

The fight was short has the enemy general was cut down.

The tide turned and the battle was over.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1256victory.jpg
https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1256statistics.jpg

Prisoner report

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1256prisonerlist.jpg

"We have the final number lord and your wishes?" said Ingo, though knew the answer and was somehow respecting his commander after each battle.
"Release them, let them fight another day if they wish. Let them go back and report their General was killed and that their enemy is strong on the battlefield but more importantly is honourable after the fight is over; has all men of God should be."
The prisoners released and the Count made his way to report to King Salier and preparing for the next attack.

[Stig]

Placeholder for Ansehelms latest battle ... if yer interested, the other write-ups are finished

[econ21]

The Battle of the Euphrates, 1256


“Siegfried who?” asked Elberhard dumbly.

“Von Kastilien” said the mercenary Captain.

“I didn’t know the Von Kastilien’s had a Siegfried.” muttered Elberhard, bemused.

“Well, he knows about you. He’s appointed you Prinz”. retorted the Captain.

“I’m liking him already.” said Elberhard.

There was a pause: “How’s Hans taking it?”

“Young Hummel has gone rogue over the issue. Your brother’s stance could best be described as quiet fury.”

“Ouch”. said Elberhard. He knew Hans was at his most dangerous when he was silent.

“He has the backing of the Duke of Swabia. It seems your being designated heir was an attempt to appease Swabia and undermine Hans’ opposition. It is a gambit that does not appear to be working.” the Captain informed Elberhard.

Elberhard smiled :“So I’m a @#$%^&!!!ing pawn in some political game? And here was me, thinking this Siegfried fellow was impressed by my rugged good looks and administrative brilliance.” Elberhard rubbed one of the many scars on his face and gazed with disinterest at the mass of papers littering his desk. “Why the @#$%^&!!! did Jobst choose this Siegfried? And are we sure this succession is genuine?”

“No one really knows why Siegfried was chosen. It may be because he was the noble least corrupted by Diet and factional politics. The young man does seem to be honest, he is supported by members of Jobst’s entourage and no one has questioned their integrity.”

“Certainly not me, that’s for sure.” said Elberhard. “Prinz @#$%^&!!ing Elberhard: I like the sound of that.”

His father, Henry, had refused to appoint Hans as his successor because of some superstitious belief in a family curse. Elberhard was not the kind of man to let such sentiment and irrationally bother him.



*****


“Did Salier buy it?” the mercenary Captain asked the Teuton conspiratorially.

“Lock, stock and barrel: simply told Elberhard to “take them down””.

“Was he high at the time?” queried the Captain.

The Teuton wrinkled his nose at the vulgarity. “Well, he might not have fully understood what Elberhard was proposing. Elberhard merely said he wanted to hunt down a left behind rearguard.”

“He did not mention that the rearguard was still marching in close contact with the Mongol leader’s main army?”

“He may not have emphasised that point. He did throw in a casual remark about bagging a Mongol leader as a sweetener for the deal. But I am not sure Salier appreciated what is involved.”

“What, that we will be attacking one and a half Mongol armies lead by a notorious conqueror with a reputation for brutally decisive victories?” the mercenary Captain paused. “@#$%^&!! - if Salier was not stoned, Elberhard sure as @#$%^&!! is.”

The Teuton cast the Captain a condescending look - clearly some of his Master’s vices were spilling over onto his retinue.



https://img502.imageshack.us/img502/5935/edessa1ld6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Elberhard bites off more than he can chew.

https://img339.imageshack.us/img339/9824/edessa2fa0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The mighty Mongol leader Khan Batu.

[econ21]

The battle of the Euphrates, Part II


Elberhard’s army caught the Mongol rearguard at night on the southside of the Euphrates, not far from Edessa. In the moonlight, Elberhard studied the terrain. The ground was largely flat and open, but with two hills on either side - both, unfortunately for Elberhard, controlled by the Mongols. The rearguard was deployed on the smaller, eastern hill. The larger army of the Mongol leader Khan Batu was entering the battlefield spread out along in a long line to the north. The larger western hill was overseen by only three regiments of the Khan’s horse archers.

“Our only chance is to turn this offensive battle into a defensive one.” Elberhard addressed his captains. “We take one of the hills - the western one is the largest and least well defended. Then we have a good position to use our pavise crossbowmen. We are well supplied with missiles but all our other arms are rather weak. We will try to duel the horse lords at range with our crossbows, support them with our armoured sergeants. We will keep the knights to the rear - only they have the morale and prowess to defeat the horse lords when it comes to melee. We cannot allow them to be worn down by missile fire or caught on the wrong foot by lancers.”

“You want to enter an archery contest with the Mongols?” the Mercenary Captain asked, incredulously.

Elberhard winced: “Look, Kachig, no one said this was going to be @#$%^&!!!ing easy.”

Kachig Iskyan, the Mercenary Captain, muttered something under his breath about Elberhard’s disingenuous approach to King Salier for authorisation for the attack, but Elberhard chose not to hear his remarks.

“Our pavise crossbowmen have powerful, long ranged bows.” Elberhard said exasperated. “They are protected by chain hauberks and hide behind @#$%^&!!!ing enormous shields. By contrast, the horse lords sit wearing furs on top of their mounts making @#$%^&!!!ing great targets and pluck away with silly little bows made of bone and horn. We can take them!”

The mercenary Captain rolled his eyes at his general’s ignorance, real or feigned.

“Captain, I know your Armenians do not have the same advantages as my pavise crossbows but they are valuable all the same. I want them to use fire arrows. They may put a dent in the ferocity of these devils. And anyway, this is going to be a long drawn out affair - we can afford to reduce our rate of fire.”

Elberhard turned his attention to his German captains:

“We will deploy in loose order: everyone, even the mounted knights. The horse lords will not close to melee unless we force the issue. Moreover, I want us to adopt a narrow formation. We will march three regiments abreast for the western hill. A more extended formation will risk the Mongols bringing the battle to us in the valley. I want two regiments of pavise crossbowmen assigned to guard the eastern flank.”

Elberhard smiled with self-satisfaction: “I am calling my battle order a loose order phalanx - it might just be a first in military history.”

Kachig spoke up one last time: “The horse lords do not just have archers, my Prinz. Khan Batu rides with five regiments of heavy lancers plus his own formidable escort of veterans. If they charge your “loose order phalanx”, they will rip through it.”

Elberhard fixed the shrewd Armenian with a sharp glance: “Well, we’ll just have to hope they don’t do that then, won’t we?”

https://img107.imageshack.us/img107/9748/edessa3fw6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Elberhard’s “loose order” phalanx heads for the western hill. The Khan’s flanking regiments of horse archers abandon the hill without a contest, as the Mongol leader’s army takes up position with the rearguard on the eastern hill.


*****

As Elberhard’s army approached the brow of the western hill, the Prinz belatedly noticed a large body of Mongols approaching his eastern flank at speed.

“Deploy archers and cavalry to protect the flank!” Elberhard ordered. “But keep the main body moving north - we must secure the hill”

The enemy approached with startling speed. While the flanking unit of Teutons was retiring from behind a screen of pavisiers, it suffered six casualties to the deadly fire of the Mongol horse archers. There then developed an indecisive exchange of fire between the horse archers and the pavisiers. Neither had much of an advantage, although on occasion the Mongols would form Cantabrian circles, almost impervious to missile fire. Elberhard countered by using his knights to charge the circles - not with any realistic hope of catching the fleet hooved horse archers, but merely to force them to adopt a formation that was easier for his crossbows to target.

This exchange continued for a while, but soon Elberhard could make out a larger body of Mongols approach, including infantry and war engines. Elberhard would later realise that this must have been the bulk of the Mongol rearguard, but why the Khan had sent this smaller body ahead and stayed behind with his much larger army, Elberhard would never understand. Nontheless, this was the opening Elberhard had been hoping for. For all his bravado, the Germans could get no decisive advantage out of a missile duel with the Mongols. Nor could they hope to catch the Mongol horse archers. However, Mongol infantry and war engines were something that Teutonic chivalry could handle.

https://img443.imageshack.us/img443/7239/edessa4hv8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Mongol rearguard approaches. In the foreground, a Mongol Cantrabrian circle is being disrupted by a score of Feudal knights.


Elberhard sat straight, tense in his saddle, barking out orders.

“Teutons, both regiments, charge the two flanks. My escort will take the center. For God and for the Reich, CHARGE!”


https://img107.imageshack.us/img107/1048/edessa5ec4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Mongol rearguard approaches too close to the German line.


https://img50.imageshack.us/img50/7807/edessa6hw8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Teutons make the Mongol foot pay for their mistake.


https://img50.imageshack.us/img50/1605/edessa7vg0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Following in the questionable military tradition of his father, Elberhard opens the battle by charging into the fray.


Although there could be little doubt as to the outcome of the uneven contest, the Mongol foot fought bravely against the mounted German knights. The two sides seemed locked in melee for several minutes and it was with surprise that Elberhard finally could see the way suddenly open. He looked around. Where had the Mongols gone? A few lone figures were scampering away down the hill, but most of the enemy lay beneath the German horses. They had died almost to a man. His gaze turned to the Mongol war machines. Having learned of the demise of the Kaiser to such beasts, Elberhard was determined that they would not be allowed to add their demoralising firepower to that of the massed Mongol archers. Deprived of infantry and cavalry support, Elberhard imagined that the machines would be easy meat for his knights. Incredulously, he saw the crew of one of a Mongol rocket charging, swords razed towards the Teutons. Elberhard shook his head in amazement.

https://img104.imageshack.us/img104/7757/edessa8ot1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

After bitter fighting, the Germans rout the foot of the rearguard army and take their war machines.


But this brief victory was far from decisive. A mass of Mongol horse archers still remained close by, now focusing their fire on the exposed German mounted knights rather than the well protected pavisiers.

“Pull back! Pull back, God damn it!” Elberhard screamed at his cavalry.

https://img505.imageshack.us/img505/1783/edessa9ft4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The victorious Teutons beat a hasty retreat under the withering fire of the Mongol horse archers.


The battle now returned to a long missile duel between pavisier and horse archer.

https://img107.imageshack.us/img107/1450/edessa10bg0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The mid portion of the battle: pavisier versus horse archer.


Again, the Mongols occasionally formed Cantabrian circles to try to disrupt the aim of the German crossbowmen. Again, Elberhard used cavalry charges to break up such formations. Soon the score of Feudal knights were all lost to such manoeuvres, so Elberhard increasingly relied on his own escort - better armoured and more skilled than any others of his army. They did their job, allowing the pavisiers to do terrible damage to the Mongol horse archers, but were left exhausted and depleted by their repeated charges.

https://img107.imageshack.us/img107/8173/edessa11te9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Mongols attempt to form a vast Cantabrian circle. Elberhard rides to disrupt it.


Slowly, almost imperceptibly, the pavisiers secured the upper hand in the missile exchanges.

https://img107.imageshack.us/img107/7430/edessa12gz5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

In the protracted exchange of fire, Elberhard later learnt that the Captain leading the Mongol rearguard army had fallen.


As the enemy horse archers slowly melted away, Elberhard could take some satisfaction in the progress of the battle. His men were now well positioned on the western hill. The enemy rearguard army had been crushed, its war machines silenced and the horse archers, the mainstay of the Mongol armies, bested. However, his scouts reported the foot and heavy cavalry of the Khan’s army waiting, patient and well rested, on the reverse of the eastern hill now facing Elberhard’s own position. Elberhard could not help feeling he had only done the easy part.

https://img107.imageshack.us/img107/1703/edessa13ty8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Khan Batu waits for Elberhard to advance

[econ21]

The Battle of the Euphrates, Part III


Having disposed of the Mongol rearguard and horse archers, the German pavise crossbowmen were now exhausted and down to around two thirds of their strength. Elberhard struggled to array his loose order formations on the western hill. While he could time the charge of an individual regiment well, his skill at ordering large scale manoeuvres of many regiments was very limited. Under his command, an army moved in stops and starts, with frequent disruption and breaks in formation or exposed facing. Under the moonlight, Khan Batu must have spotted some weakness in Germans clumsy attempts to consolidate their position on the hill. Elberhard barely had time to notice the enemy advance before the Mongols were right in front of his lines.

“Push forward the regiments of armoured sergeants to protect the pavisiers!” Elberhard barely had time to prepare.

https://img508.imageshack.us/img508/5978/edessa14io4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Germans are still in loose order as the Mongol Khan’s main force advances upon them


“My lord, the spearmen are still in loose formation!” cried Kachig Iskyan, Elberhard’s mercenary Captain.

Elberhard stood still, like a toad caught in the gaze of an approaching snake. In truth, there was little he could do. He had only three regiments of armoured spearmen against five regiments of heavy lancers. In loose order, they could cover his front - in close order, the enemy cavalry would exploit the holes in his lines, tear into his archers and rip apart the sergeants from the flanks. Besides, the enemy were too close. The spearmen were hunkered down, facing the enemy, braced for impact. To attempt to reform the line under the nose of the massed Mongol heavy cavalry would be suicide. The spearmen would buy him time - if they stalled the Mongols, the German knights, on foot and mounted, would be able to assist and perhaps turn the tide.

https://img98.imageshack.us/img98/6712/edessa15ky6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

What they lack in subtlety, the Mongol heavy cavalry make up in ferocity and numbers.

Elberhard did not watch the terrible impact, as five regiments of Mongol heavy cavalry smashed into his three regiments of sergeants in loose order. Instead, he screamed orders.

“Cavalry - ride! Go for the flanks or rear, if you can.

Foot knights - forward! The sergeants cannot hold for long.

All archers - aim for the Khan, bring him down!”

Jan Lowenthal, the Teuton who normally accompanied Elberhard, had joined the northern most regiment of order knights. Taking his cue from the Prinz, he led his men at speed, right behind the line of Mongol heavy cavalry, which was now locked in combat with the German foot. Lances down, the Teutons slammed into the rear of one regiment of Mongol heavy lancers.

https://img76.imageshack.us/img76/9697/edessa16jg0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Jan leads the Teutons in a charge into the enemy rear that is spectacularly successful, for a brief time.


But the Teutons nemesis was fast approaching. The Mongol Khan and his escort had remained in reserve, but Jan’s audacious charge was too much of a provocation. While Elberhard screamed at his archers to fire at the Khan’s escort, it remorsely manoeuvred to the rear of the Teutons and performed a devastating charge that exactly mirrored what the Teutons themselves had performed only minutes before. Jan fell unconscious in the melee, but few of the other Order knights were so lucky. Soon both regiments of Teutons had been eliminated in hard fighting against the Mongol heavy lancers.

https://img265.imageshack.us/img265/5815/edessa17mn3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Elberhard’s own counter-charge against the Mongol assault is a more conventional frontal attack.


Slowly, inexorably, the sheer weight and prowess of the Mongol heavy cavalry started to tell. German regiments of foot began to break - first, the town militia, then the sergeants, then the foot knights. What had hitherto been a promising German success was now turning in favour of the Mongols.

Elberhard looked around in desperation. Defeat now seemed inevitable - he simply lacked the numbers to defeat the Mongols. Only one chance remained - to kill the Khan. The Prinz fixed on the enemy leader, his escort sorely depleted from the concentrated fire of seven regiments of Gerrman missiles.

“With me! With me!” he called out to his last remaining mounted regiment - a unit of mailed knights - as he spurred his horse towards the enemy faction leader.

https://img98.imageshack.us/img98/3981/edessa18ic2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

His army dissolving around him, Elberhard has only one card left to play - decapitation of the enemy army.


After destroying Jan’s Teutons, the Khan had shifted to the opposite flank of the line - to where a regiment of dismounted Imperial knights still remained in strength, now locked in combat with the Mongol foot. As the heavy lancers were wilted down, more and more regiments of Mongol infantry and even Mongol foot archers entered melee. On the German side, most regiments of crossbowmen had been frittered away to below half strength - decimated either by Mongol lancers who had broken into the rear or shot down by the Mongol foot. The Khan fought ferociously, but gradually was left alone, hacking amidst the infantry.

“Take him down! Take him down!” Elberhard screamed, spurring his horse through the infantry battle, trying to reach the Khan.


https://img403.imageshack.us/img403/1740/edessa19wg1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Khan at bay.


The mailed knights reached the Khan first, but were no match for his skill and valour. As German casualties mounted, Elberhard shouted for the mailed knights to make way for the veterans of his escort:

“Fall back - get out of there! He’s mine!”

But the Prinz then watched with horror, as the Khan spurred his fine charger in pursuit of the retiring mailed knights, cutting them down with merciless skill.

https://img403.imageshack.us/img403/6567/edessa20yb9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Scarcely visible in the limited moonlight, the Khan lays about the retreating German mailed knights. He kills a dozen in a minute or two.


In frustration, Elberhard was forced to rescind his order for the mailed knights to withdraw: “Stand and fight - he is only one man!”

https://img443.imageshack.us/img443/9518/edessa21ko7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Khan dies in sight of Elberhard’s banner.


Although Elberhard expected the death of their khan, their faction leader, would cause a rout in the enemy ranks, he was to be sorely disappointed. The Mongol cavalry were now all dead or wounded. But seven regiments of Mongol foot remained steady. For the Germans, Elbehard could count only a score of mounted knights, a strong regiment of dismounted Imperial knights and two bands of unhorsed crusader knights. Desperately, the Prinz led his surviving cavalry in charging the flank of the Mongol infantry locked in combat with the dismounted Imperial knights. He hoped the shock of such an assault, in the wake of the Khan’s death, might unhinge the Mongol army.

https://img443.imageshack.us/img443/4903/edessa22dt8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Elberhard tries a last charge to break the enemy.


But it was not to be. The Mongol foot were too determined and the German cavalry too few. The final struggle took place around the deserted war engines of the now destroyed Mongol rearguard. There, the last viable German regiment - a group of dismounted Imperial knights - fought a losing battle against the Mongol infantry.

https://img517.imageshack.us/img517/9238/edessa23er1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The German cavalry is reduced to nothing and the dismounted Imperial knights begin to break.

Of Elberhard’s escort, only his mercenary captain, Kachig Iskyan remained. He grabbed the reigns of Elberhard’s horse.

“Sire, you must withdraw! You are the Prinz now. With Kaiser Jobst recently defeated and the succession in question, the Reich cannot afford to lose you. There is more at stake here than your honour.”

Elberhard looked at the Armenian with empty eyes. Although dauntless, he could see that staying would achieve no more than the Khan had achieved through his own ferocious bravery. Were Elberhard to fall, and lose the battle, any glory from slaying the Mongol faction leader would be gone. If the battle must be lost, there was no reason to compound the defeat by sacrificing his own life.

Elberhard looked at the half dozen mailed knights still remaining, fighting hopelessly against the massed Mongol infantry. Around 400 enemy foot remained.

“Cavalry! Fall back! Withdraw!” he shouted.

“What about the archers?” said Kachig, with concern.

“@#$%^&!!! them. They are paid to fight and kill. They stay and fight to the last man.”

Elberhard closed his eyes to the pleading stare of his captain. Tears welled up and the Prinz tried to steady his cracking voice:

“This battle was never about my lust for battle, my quest for honour or glory, Captain. It was about butchery. Outremer is our land. Thanks to Salier and the Chancellor, we have many castles and cities, pouring out regiment after regiment. The Mongols have none. We can afford to bleed. It is the only way. Salier knows it, the Chancellor knows it. I did not hoodwink them to take this battle - they know the stakes and how to win.”

Kachig nodded, but inwardly despaired - what had he led his poor Armenian lads into? This total war of the Prinz was not the way of the mercenary.

Reluctantly, the two riders turned their backs on the battle and began to canter away from the battle - all the while, the arrows of the Mongol foot archers clattering around them, striking down two of the remaining mailed knights. Elberhard cast a look behind him. The dismounted Imperial knights, his last remaining formation, were routing. Down to one third strength, they had abandoned the captured enemy war machines. All that remained, standing were a few pockets of pavise crossbowmen and Armenian archers, bravely obeying their orders to keep firing and fight to the death.

https://img443.imageshack.us/img443/5489/edessa25ro8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Everything lost, Elberhard begins to withdraw from the battle.


Once Elberhard had retired beyond archery range of the Mongols, he turned back to observe the dying embers of the battle. Incredibly, the dismounted Imperial knights had rallied. Elberhard watched, his heart bursting with hope and admiration as the stalwart warriors repulsed first one, then another charge by the Mongol infantry. It was happening - at last, it was happening. The Mongols were wavering. Their charges were piecemeal, their men wavering before they had even made contact. The death of the Khan, the terrible losses of the battle, exhaustion and the continual fire of arbalest bolts and flaming arrows were all taking their toll on the enemy.

Elberhard spurred back to the hill. “Concentrate fire on the enemy around the war machines!” he called to his remaining archers. “Support the knights!”

One group of pavise crossbowmen had exhausted their ammunition.

“Draw swords - join the knights!” Elberhard instructed them, and then he rode down in advance of their approach. Only a score foot knights remained, but these were well armoured men who had devoted their life to combat. Hope remained.


https://img387.imageshack.us/img387/3088/edessa26nq3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

As if to mark the rekindling of hope in the German ranks, one of the Mongol trebuchets erupted into flame.

When he reached the dismounted Imperial knights, Elberhard called out to them and the three mounted mailed knights who remained:

“@#$%^&!!! this @#$%^&!!!.” he roared. “This @#$%^&!!! ends now. Take them down, lads!”

The exhausted German knights did not cheer, but merely snarled in agreement and advanced on the wavering Mongol infantry.

https://img384.imageshack.us/img384/8680/edessa27dj6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The second Mongol trebuchet catches fire as the rallied Imperial knights rout the remaining Mongol infantry.


The enemy did not stand, but scattered

https://img107.imageshack.us/img107/623/edessa28jz8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Elberhard entered the battle with twenty regiments - by its end, he has the equivalent of barely one and a half.


After the battle, there were precious few enemy prisoners - as Elberhard dourly remarked, arrows take no prisoners. As almost all those taken were infantry, the Prinz had little compunction about offering them for ransom - it was not their infantry that had earned the horse lords their reputation as supreme warriors. Sadly, the new Mongol faction leader had similarly little compunction about declining the ransom - he could see no merit in being reminded of the men who had earned disgrace by failing to protect his predecessor.

https://img76.imageshack.us/img76/80/edessa29kx9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The butcher’s bill.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Outside Aleppo, 1260

The Horse Lords had swung south. After battling Fredricus von Hamburg and Prinz Elberhard with little to show for it, two large armies of theirs remained. They had two options: Push west and head for Antioch with a showdown with Conrad Salier at the crossing near the city, or swing south and threaten Aleppo along with Prinz Elberhard. Returning east was never a choice.

Eventually, they chose the option that allowed them to get revenge on the man who mauled an army and a half of theirs earlier on: Prinz Elberhard. However, there was just one problem: They never got to the Prinz. Conrad Salier had marched his force east and was about to engage the Army of the Khan with the Prinz’s men in support. The Khanzada, Orda, and his significant army were too far away to assist. Finally, the Reich was about to go into battle with a numerical advantage.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_127.jpg

Conrad Salier absentmindedly fiddled with the armor around his right leg. The leg had suffered a deep cut some years ago during an attempt on Conrad’s life, and had not been right ever since. Some days, the pain was almost nonexistent, only a minor twinge. Today, however, was not one of those days. He would most likely have to adjust the armor many times today, should he be fortunate enough not to be needed personally.

He looked up, and then blinked in surprise. The weather, previously being only cloudy, had turned to rain.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_128.jpg

“Rain in the desert?” He turned to the closest man in his escort. “What do you suppose this means?”

“I don’t know,” the man laughed. “You’re the religious nut around here.”

At initial glance, the rain appeared to be a good omen. The Horse Lords were, of course, outnumbered and they seemed to be caught unaware of this fact. They were in a valley in a position that was extremely vulnerable to flanking. If they didn’t adjust, Elberhard would come in from the west and smash them all.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_129.jpg

“They’ll adjust,” Conrad said, “but let’s not give them much time to. All units advance! Crossbows, you know what to do when you get in range! Don’t use fire arrows, they won’t be of any use in this rain!”

The men advanced, following the King of Outremer’s orders to the letter. The majority were disciplined, professional troops that knew exactly what they were doing. The ones that weren’t were smart enough to follow the lead of the professionals.

As predicted, the Khan had sorted his army out before Conrad could get his men into a melee. The crossbowmen got a few volleys in before the Mongol archers started firing back, but neither were to little effect. The Horse Lords had very rarely met rain along their long marches, and the Imperial crossbows, while standard throughout the Empire, didn’t fare much better.

“We pin them in place here, boys! Pin them, hold them, kill them, and Elberhard will sweep them from the field when he gets up! You-“ Conrad ducked to avoid an incoming arrow- “You know who to kill first!”

The previous night, while Conrad had gone over reports of past battles with the Horse Lords, he had come up with a strategy. The one thing that they all seemed to have in common was that the Imperial generals had not touched the heavy Mongol cavalry until the very end of the battle, providing for some messy finishes. If we take those Lancers out early, Conrad thought, then they won’t have any striking power later on. With that strategy in mind, Conrad informed his officers of the plan of action. The message worked its way down to the regular soldiers, as the Imperial advance ignored the missile cavalry and infantry.

The Heavy Lancers took the bait and charged, thus beginning the first part of the melee. German knights, both mounted and dismounted, rushed forward to do battle with their target.

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The fight quickly became vicious. The Heavy Lancers were used to coming in only at the end of the battle, when the enemy was tired out and numerically weak. Here, in the pouring desert rain, they were facing a fresh foe, and their strain was clearly showing.

Despite that, however, they were still making a terrific effort of driving off the Imperial forces. Conrad found himself ordering more and more regiments forward in an attempt to destroy the Lancers. Meanwhile, the Khan began to order his lighter cavalry into the fray, further burdening the Germans.

The field quickly began to become wet from the rain and the blood. Men slipped and were, as a result, trampled. Most of Conrad’s army was now committed to the current fight. The Lancers were finally diminished, most just dying in the battle. The Imperials had no rest, however, as there were always more men to take the place of the Heavy Lancers. Conrad began to search the field for the Khan’s bodyguard, aiming to kill him and demoralize the army. But the Khan was not stationary. He was moving from one side of the field to the other, charging the enemy and then quickly withdrawing, only to charge further along the line.

“Pin the Khan!” Conrad screamed. “If he charges you, keep him there! I will flank him and kill him!” Conrad started riding around desperately, marking his opposite’s position. With the Lancers out of the picture his men were killing more, but there were so many Horse Lords and the Khan wasn’t taking the bait…

“There they are, men! C’mon, let’s kick the @#$%^&!!!ers in the @#$%^&!!! and drink in the rain! CHARGE!!!”

Even in the din of battle, Conrad could still clearly make out Elberhard’s colorful orders. He breathed a sign of relief. Things were about to get a lot easier.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_131.jpg

Prinz Elberhard and his men arrive. The Horse Lords, having fought Conrad’s army to a standstill, are ill-equipped to deal with a second army.

Elberhard’s men quickly spread out, plugged gaps in the Imperial line, and began to engage the Horse Lords on two sides. Taking the initiative, Conrad ordered his escort to charge the Khan, who was about to be wrapped up in an engagement. He arrived slightly before the reinforcements did, and accordingly felt the full fury of the Khan’s personal escort.

Some of his men had fought in Italy, Jerusalem, and Antioch, but nothing prepared them for this. Conrad watched as his men went down, taking only a handful of Horse Lords with them. He parried a blow aimed for him, adjusted the armor on his leg, and then roared in fury, trying to even the odds.

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After what seemed like an eternity, the pressure on them was eased. Elberhard’s men had personally joined the duel between commanders. Having the numerical advantage, his men turned on the Khan’s and began killing them in earnest. Elberhard pulled Conrad aside.

“Right boss, good job here with this part of the battle. You made ‘em bleed, by @#$%^&!!!, and that’s the toughest part of the whole @#$%^&!!! I guess you haven’t been following recent developments?”

Conrad shook his head ‘no.’

“I figured that,” Elberhard said. “Trying to kill the Khan and all. Well anyway, we’ve bagged most of ‘em. There’s one decent side of resistance we still have to deal with, and that’s a @#$%^&!!!load of light cavalry on your left flank.”

“Do we have anybody on it right now?”

This time Elberhard shook his head. “I brought this Franconian fellow along, Dieter Bresch, to try to get him knighted but the old @#$%^&!!! is taking them all on himself! Can you believe the @#$%^&!!!s of that guy? I figure if he doesn’t get help soon he’s gonna get gutted. Mind ordering some of your boys to help him out? We’ll finish up over here.”

Conrad nodded and motioned to his men. Eager to get out of the mess with the Khan, they turned and rode to the left, yelling at unoccupied Imperials along the way. When they arrived at the point of engagement, some men groaned. Dieter Bresch had gotten himself into a tricky spot indeed.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_133.jpg

“Come on men, he needs our help NOW! Charge!!!”

Conrad’s men slammed into the Horse Lords’ flank but in their diminished state, accomplished little. The Mongol cavalry simply absorbed the blow and engulfed Conrad’s escort along with Dieter’s.

Both escorts fought desperately not to drown in the sea of Horse Lords. Killing came easier than it did with the Khan’s men, but there was the eternal problem of there always being more men to attack. Conrad looked up in the rain and silently began to pray, continuing to strike down his enemies, but weakening quickly.

“Teutons coming now, sir!”

Conrad looked around wildly. A group of Teutonic Knights and other Imperial cavalry were thundering to the melee. His prayers were answered. For the second time the pressure was eased off of his men.

Captain Rolf, leader of the Teutonic Knights, approached Conrad. “My King, it’s time you got out of this,” he said. “Do not further endanger yourself.” Conrad looked around at what remained of his escort. Seeing the condition they were in, he complied and extricated himself from the battle. Looking around, he saw that Dieter and his men had done the same.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_135.jpg

After taking a minute to catch his breath, Conrad looked to see how things were going on the right. He didn’t look long to hear a great cheer coming from that direction. He supposed that Elberhard had completed his mission.

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As the fight dragged on, he saw a force carrying Elberhard’s colors coming in his direction. Eventually the Prinz’s escort came to the edge of the fighting, but did not enter it. Instead, Elberhard held up a decapitated head on his sword.

“Hey, you @#$%^&!!!s! Here’s what’s become of your Khan!”

The rout was instantaneous. The Prinz rode up to the King, grinning.

“Well, that certainly helped,” Conrad said.

“Figured it might. C’mon boss, let’s go hunt down these routers.” He spurned his horse in the opposite direction, and Conrad did the same, officially finishing the battle that rainy day.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_136.jpg

That night, as Conrad was flexing his bad leg, a man handed him a piece of parchment containing the official casualty reports.

Not too shabby, he thought. One more army to go. One to go.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_137.jpg

[econ21]

The battle of Hamburg, 1260

The Kaiser’s tutor placed the three tankards of ale on the tavern table. The portly merchant grabbed his tankard eagerly and drank it greedily. The knight was more leisurely, savouring his drink like it was his last on earth.

“Well, thank you again, gentlemen, for agreeing to meet with me. As the Kaiser’s tutor, my place is not on the battlefield but I am most anxious to hear your reports of our liege’s great victory.

https://img409.imageshack.us/img409/9568/siegfried1hd5.png (https://imageshack.us)


The tutor raised his tankard and the knight met it with the assured movement of one who has seen many toasts to Kaiser and to victory. The merchant looked surprised for a moment and then hurriedly raised his own drink, spilling some in the process.

“So, gentlemen, let me begin by establishing precisely where in the line you were positioned when the battle began?”

“Kaiser’s escort, extreme right flank.” muttered the knight.

“The extreme right flank?” queried the tutor. “That is rather an unorthodox place to establish a command post, is it not? How could the Kaiser expect to control the army from that position?”

“The Imperial army is a professional outfit. Its general staff can maintain command and communication with ease.” growled the knight.

“Are you saying that Siegfried was not personally in command of the battle?” pressed the tutor.

“I am saying no such thing.” snapped the knight. “The victory is his and his alone.”

“So if the Kaiser was on the right flank, who commanded the reserve cavalry?” the tutor inquired.

The merchant jumped into the conversation eagerly: “That was us! I mean, the Hamburg militia cavalry. We were given the honour of being the last reserve of the Reich!”

The knight shook his head, muttering: ”Told to keep out of it and avoid hurting themselves, more like.”

The merchant heard the caustic aside and bridled: “Nonsense! We were the first in action!”

The tutor looked surprised and turned inquiringly to the knight.

“It is true.” admitted the knight. “The thing was, we were at a stand-off. The Danes had deployed in a solid formation, fronted by crossbows and backed by many siege engines. We could have attacked frontally, and with them lacking cavalry, the end would not be in doubt. But there would have been considerable losses.”
https://img409.imageshack.us/img409/779/siegfried2pc6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Danish opening deployment.


“Oh yes!” said the merchant, gravely. “No doubt the Kaiser was thinking of his last encounter with the Danes, when an enemy siege engine sent poor Kaiser Jobst to a fiery death.”

“So the Kaiser ordered the left to attempt a flanking manoeuvre.” interjected the knight.

“I see” said the tutor. “Like the opening in a chess game, the Kaiser had to make a move to break the stalemate. Not to win the game outright by one stroke, but to force the opponent to move and make a mistake.”

“Aye” said the knight, looking at the tutor with new found appreciation. “And make a mistake the Danes did. They responded by a frontal advance with their crossbowmen. But it was bizarre. They formed up and halted just out of range of their bows, while our pavisse crossbowmen - with their more powerful bows - could pick them off at ease.”

https://img409.imageshack.us/img409/2651/siegfried3os7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Inexplicably, the Danish crossbowmen halt still out of range with their own bows, but in range of the superior German arbalests.

“But how was the Danish advance a response to our flanking manoeuvre?” queried the tutor.

“Well, they did send one regiment of crossbowmen to try to shoot up the flanking column” answered the merchant excitedly. “And that is where we came in! We were ordered to run down that regiment!”

The merchant sat back, proudly: “I have never felt so alive as when I was in that charge today!”

https://img441.imageshack.us/img441/2497/siegfried4cm2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Every portly merchant will have his day.


“Or close to death, I’ll wager?” commented the tutor.

The merchant did not seriously dissent. “Well, to be honest, that fear came somewhat later. You see, by the time we had caught most of the crossbowmen, we were almost in the enemy main battle line. I thought we would pull out, return to our position as central reserve. But we were ordered to continue on - to charge the enemy siege engines!”

https://img441.imageshack.us/img441/8969/siegfried5xc6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Supported by two regiments of Teutons from the flanking force, the merchant cavalry cut into the enemy siege train. The engines are unable to fire a single shot in the battle, such is the speed and violence of their destruction.


“Pulling out would have been more dangerous.” observed the knight. “Few peasant crossbowmen would feel any compunction about shooting retreating cavalry in the back. Charging deeper in was the safest course of action.”

The merchant was staring into his ale, as if reliving some trauma. He nodded: “Yes, yes. I am sure you are right. But it was terrible. You could hear a hiss of air as you hacked into the Danish artillerymen. The enemy fought bravely, but it was butcher’s work.”

“So, how did the enemy react?” said the tutor. “Did their battle line turn and try to destroy our cavalry that was causing havoc in their rear?”

The knight shook his head: “The fools reacted by advancing upon us.”

“What?!” said the tutor. “They are flanked, under fire from our superior archery and our cavalry is raising havoc in their rear… and they march forward to attack us in the centre?!”

“Aye, they may have been lacking in a grasp of basic tactics, but you can’t fault them for bravery.” sighed the knight.

https://img441.imageshack.us/img441/8720/siegfried6nu0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The enemy army advances on the main German battle line.

“So, the outcome was never in doubt?” asked the tutor.

“No” said the knight. “There was a tense moment, on the right, when a regiment of dismounted Danish foot knights set about some of our sergeants. But we, the Kaiser’s escort, managed to get back to support the line just in time. Even their knights had had enough - the enemy routed as soon as we were among them.”

https://img441.imageshack.us/img441/8155/siegfried7bm5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

https://img441.imageshack.us/img441/8760/siegfried8be2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Siegfried’s escort take out the most dangerous enemy regiment.


“And what about the sword staff militia? How did they perform in the battle?” queried the tutor.

The merchant spoke up: “Ah yes, those fellows - most imposing in their plate armour and those formidable looking polearms! But they manoeuvred so slowly ...”

”Militia.” the knight muttered under his breath.

“There was a lull in my regiment’s action and I saw the whole thing. Teutons managed to catch them in the flank. When they broke, the battle was over…” the merchant looked pale. “Well, apart from the hacking and screaming and all.”

https://img521.imageshack.us/img521/5776/siegfried9rc6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

https://img441.imageshack.us/img441/2252/siegfried10bi8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The sword staff militia are braced, but facing the wrong way.

“And finally, what happened to the enemy prisoners?” asked the tutor.

“Ransomed.” said the knight. “The Kaiser was preoccupied with matters in the Diet. He let the general staff deal with the prisoners. They did not want to give the Kaiser an unwanted reputation for chivalry or dread, so they took the safe option of ransoming the prisoners.”

“Yes, yes!” jumped in the merchant. “We received 3425 florins in ransom - not bad for one day’s work, what?!”

“But you may well have to face those 700 men you let go again in battle.” suggested the tutor.

The knight shrugged, dismissively. “After today’s performance, that holds no fear. Let them come.”

The merchant looked less confident, but nodded in agreement and looked at the tutor. “Another ale, perhaps?”

https://img258.imageshack.us/img258/5527/siegfried0sq2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The butcher’s bill

[econ21]

A battle near Edessa, 1262


“I swear I’ve been here before.” muttered Elberhard. The terrain for his second battle against a Mongol Khan was remarkably like that for his first - a relatively flat valley, with gentle slopes east and west.

“What did you say, my Lord?” inquired the sharp eared Armenian mercenary Captain, Kachig Iskyan.

“I said, I’ve @#$%^&!!!ing been here before!” said Elberhard emphatically.

The Armenian nodded: “It is not far from the last battle you commanded. But this time, we have the advantage of numbers and not them.”

https://img262.imageshack.us/img262/9224/run1ip4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Khan’s army is outmatched, lacking heavy cavalry.


“Well, different day, same @#$%^&!!!. We will fight this battle exactly as the last. We will make for the higher terrain to our east. Army deployment will be the same. All regiments in loose order, no exceptions. Compact front. Crossbows, spears, foot knights and horse - in that order. Reserve two regiments of pavise crossbowmen to cover the flanks. Tell the crossbowmen they must not skirmish - any man falls back, they’ll wish they had a @#$%^&!!!ing Mongol arrow in their back after I’m through with them.”

The Armenian Captain saluted and went to pass on the Prinz’s orders. Even though Elberhard’s army no longer included any Armenian archers, he was glad to have Kachig in his retinue - the man’s professionalism and equanimity was welcome in an army full of hot-headed nobles and crusaders.

https://img65.imageshack.us/img65/3958/run2gg4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The German army deployment - a compact front, in loose order - aims to minimise exposure to Mongol archery.



*****

Kachig rode ahead, at the front of the army as it approached the eastern hill. Unlike the battle of the Euphrates, the Mongols were not prepared to surrender the heights without a fight. First, horse archers and then Mongol infantry and even the Khan moved quickly to deny the Germans possession of the high ground.

https://img262.imageshack.us/img262/3331/run3ki0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

https://img179.imageshack.us/img179/1668/run4rb5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Mongols beat the Germans to the heights, but arrive with only half their army.


“Crossbowmen, fire when in range! The rest of you, keep moving - we must take the heights!” ordered Kachig.

Elberhard scanned the brow of the hill. At least half the Mongol army had got their before him.

“Do we charge, Sire?” asked Jan Lowenthal, a young Teuton in Elberhard’s retinue.

It was tempting. The Mongol Khan was waiting, along with four regiments of infantry. A massed cavalry charge would be decisive. But it would also be extremely costly.

“Not yet.” said Elberhard. “Many of our knights are dismounted - they should make short work of the Mongol infantry. Get the men in position, including the cavalry. Form them up and switch to close order.”

Jan looked deflated, but moved swiftly to pass on the Kaiser’s orders.

https://img65.imageshack.us/img65/543/run5zc8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Germans prepare to evict the Mongols from the brow of the hill. In this battle, the Horse Lords seem strangely unnerved - their infantry on the hill do not stand and shoot, but manoeuvre to no effect.


Slowly, the heavily armoured food knights ordered themselves and advanced on the Mongols. However, the faster moving enemy were elusive and the German infantry could not catch them.

“@#$%^&!!! this!” cursed Elberhard. Armoured knights chasing Mongols in the desert was a fools’ game and, colourful language aside, Elberhard was no fool. He looked at Jan. “Order all the horse - we charge!”

https://img262.imageshack.us/img262/6243/run6ab1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Mongols await the massed charge of five regiments of German knights.

The fighting was confused and brutal. The Mongols fought bitterly - although on paper vastly outclassed by the sheer weight of the German cavalry, they inflicted a heavy toll on the enemy. By the end of the melee, half of the Imperial horse lay dead or wounded on the field.

https://img65.imageshack.us/img65/1503/run7aj1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

https://img65.imageshack.us/img65/4747/run8ou1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Elberhard’s tactics in the battle are not subtle, but get the job done.


From lower down the eastern heights, Kachig watched the central melee. His keen eyes could make out the powerful escort of Khan Orda extract itself. “Target the heavy cavalry - there, moving to the rear!” he shouted at the nearby crossbowmen. Then Kachig rode ahead to the armoured spearmen who had been screening the German eastern flank. “Forward! See that banner flying there? That is their Khan! I will pay the man who slays the Khan half my share of the loot!”

The spearmen puffed up the hill and engaged the Khan's escort, but they could make little impression on the armoured horses and heavy mail of the Mongol elite cavalry.

In the central melee, Elberhard paused and quickly saw the isolated contest between the spearmen and the Mongol bodyguard.

“With me! Ride, with me!” he called out to his escort and raced off to join the uneven struggle between the Horse Lords' best and his faltering sergeants.

However, Khan Orda had little wish to duel the Prinz and quickly disengaged his retinue from the melee. Elberhard could only curse helplessly as the Mongol leader adroitly withdrew from the battle.

https://img65.imageshack.us/img65/3967/run9of0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Khan escapes as Elberhard fires off expletives behind him.


Once Elberhard had recovered from the frustration of the Khan’s escape, he turned to review the rest of the battle and realised that what was left of the Mongol army was also withdrawing. While the German cavalry had taken the heights and utterly destroyed the Mongols holding them, a good third of the enemy army had never made it to the eastern hill and was instead to the west, withdrawing north.

Elberhard cursed again - the bulk of his cavalry could not catch the retiring Mongols. Only Jan’s Teutons had made it west across the battlefield in their impetuous pursuit and they were too few, and too tired, to stop the Mongol withdrawal.

https://img65.imageshack.us/img65/6521/run10ca8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Teutons bite at the heels of the withdrawing Mongols

Soon all that remained of the enemy army on the field were their four batteries of artillery - rocket launchers and trebuchets. They were soon hunted down by the frustrated German cavalry.


https://img179.imageshack.us/img179/4341/run11vj8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Mongol artillery is unable to withdraw and is cut down.


Elberhard threw down his helmet in frustration, looking at the dust cloud thrown up by the Mongol withdrawal. “Where are they heading?” he asked Kachig.

“They are turning, west - back towards Aleppo.”

“Right. Better tell the boss, he’s got company. The King's army at Aleppo is little more than a garrison, but perhaps he can bag the Khan.”

“What about us?” said Jan.

“We don’t have the supplies to march back to Aleppo now. We must resupply and await orders from the Chancellor. But send word to Count Fredericus in Edessa. The Chancellor has ordered him to hunt down another Mongol force. Tell him we are nearby and happy to assist. This business is not finished yet.”

Jan nodded and moved off. Kachig also left the Prinz's retinue, looking for the prisoners. After such a battle, the prisoners should be worth a fair few coin in ransom, he thought happily. He walked past one band - around a score of dishevelled, poorly dressed men roped together.

“Where are the rest of the prisoners?” Kachig demanded of the guards.

“This is it.” said the captain of the guard flatly. Kachig’s eyes widened - a battle of thousands and a mere twenty men taken? Kachig looked again at the shabby captives around him. Mainly artillerymen, he judged, but their eyes burdened with defiance. If only he could recruit men of this ferocity and skill, he could make a fortune! But such men were like wild animals - they could not be bought.

“What shall we do with them sir?”

Kachig waved his hand dismissively. “Get rid of them. Few of the Mongols can handle artillery. I don't want these fellows training more to fire their war machines at us. But don’t tell the Prinz. He has his reputation to think of.”

Grimly, the captain of the guard drew his sword.

https://img179.imageshack.us/img179/7192/run0yr0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The butcher’s bill.

[Northnovas]

Crusade for Jerusalem 1264

It was early morning and the sun was breaking over the hills. The heat was very noticeable at this time. The commanders were meeting for a final time before the assault. Count Zirn was in charge of the Crusading force yet he knew he had more experienced commanders yet younger men with him Matthias Steffen and Jan von Hamburg.

Zirn spoke broke the silence of the three has they reviewed the map.
"Gentleman, the force is very weak inside the city, some archers. There is another Egyptian Force not far from here and we also have Hans the Mighty with his force within close vicinity. I will not use Hans in the main assault. We do not have any siege equipment but the defences are so weak that rams should be able to do the job." Zirn looked at the other two for a response then continued. " I hate sieges!" The Count thinking back to his father in law Duke Leoplod's infamous words. He remembered Iconium and the motives to it's capture with the high casualties but this is Jerusalem and a very worthy and noble goal.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1264onlydamage.jpg

"There is damage to the wall bit not enough to breach. I will take the south wall I want you two to take the east. I will have the majority of the army but I want your breach to be quick in and for the centre square. The Egyptian reinforcements will be coming from the north but Hans is in the NE and may be able to cut them off. Any questions?"

Both men looked at each other and to the Count and shook their heads no. They had been coordinating this plan for the past few days and wanted to take advantage of the low defences before reinforcements arrived.

"Very well, lets get to Mass and continue with the work that is before us" said the Count as he let the way out of the tent.
********

The sun was up but it ws not quite noon and the heat was unbearable. The orders were given and the forces split.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1264battledeploy.jpg

East Force

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1264Eastforce.jpg

The attack commenced and the rams hit simutanously on the gates. The Egyptians concentrated some archers on the east wall.
The reinforcements arrived and were able to reach the north gate before the German reinforcements let by Hans.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1264Hans.jpg

A regiment of Marmaluke Archers came at the east froce but were quickly driven off and beaten down by the mail knights. The first commander falls,

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1264outsidewalls.jpg
https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1264Fahim.jpg

The gates are breached and it is a race to the centre. Matthias leads the calvary down the narrow streets and meets some of the reinforcements that have arrived in the city. The second commander falls,

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1264steffanspurs.jpg
https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1264Tamer.jpg

The Egyptian catapults set up in the center but are to late to be effective.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1264center2.jpg

The forces clash and are quickly beaten.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1264center1.jpg

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1264steffan.jpg

Just as it started it was over. The rest of the Egyptian Force north of the city was heavy siege equipment and not a part of the battle.

The results:

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1264success.jpg

Clear Victory!

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1264clearvictory.jpg

Matthais earns his spurs. In order of BG's, Matthias, Jan and Karl.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1264stats.jpg

When the celebrating was done the prisoner list was presented to the count.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1264prisonerreport.jpg

Zirn looked at the list and then said " Free them they can live and try to fight another day or return to their homes and tell tales of the great victory that has taken place today for God and the Reich!"

[OverKnight]

Two Battles South of Jerusalem, 1264

Chancellor Matthias Steffen stood on the southern wall of Jerusalem, his gaze followed the road that left the city and rose into the mountains and then on to Gaza. Three Egyptian Armies were out there, a force of Mamluk Cavalry, archers and lancers, on the road, and two armies of mostly siege equipment in the mountains. It would be unwise to leave them there, no use giving the city back to the Papal States just to have it fall again.

A fit of coughing took Matthias then, he had assumed when coming to Outremer that the dry desert air would ease his illness, but the dust and heat only made it worse. The problem with clearing those forces, was that combined they could pose a challenge and Matthias did not wish to be bombarded from a hill top while Mamluks harried his flanks. Besides, as Matthias had learned to his regret upon becoming Chancellor, recruiting and rearming troops was horribly expensive. With so many military commitments, the Reich would need to learn to use skill and guile to beat their enemies and not just overwhelm them with numbers. Though to be fair, sometimes numbers and skill were needed.

So, the Egyptians needed to be cleared from the area, his forces need to be conserved and Jerusalem left secure. Matthias, absentmindedly twisting the Seal of Solomon around his right ring finger, pondered this, thinking back to his studies. He remembered a detail from the biography of Duke Leopold. Beneath the flowery language of the tome it made clear how the Duke, a master night fighter, used darkness as cover to split his foes and gain local superiority. This was never more evident than at Damascus when the Duke had pulled off a victory against three Mongol Armies. Elsebeth had also told him how Duke von Kassel had preferred fighting at night in Outremer. Once the troops were used to it, it gave a tactical advantage over the enemy and avoided the daytime heat of the region.

Matthias, though a newcomer to command, had prepared for it all his life. The only battle he had lead, against the rebels south of Florence, had been at night, and between that and the examples of his predecessors, the young Chancellor was confident he could pull it off. The Mamluks, being the strongest force, would be isolated and destroyed first.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/aadeploy.jpg

The deployment of Matthias's men was kept simple to prevent confusion in the darkness. Jan and Karl commanded the cavalry on each flank and the bowmen were behind the infantry line.

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The Mamluks, as Matthias hoped, rode towards him, the archers to skirmish and the lancers to charge. The Imperial bowmen were able to lay down impressive volleys due to being on a slope. Mamluk charges on the left and right flanks disintegrated soon after they made contact as the Imperial cavalry counter charged their flanks.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/acrightrout.jpg

Matthias ordered a general charge and the infantry and cavalry swarmed in among the Mamluks. Even the horse archers were caught in the rush. Seeing the situation was in hand, the Chancellor allowed his retinue to join the fray.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/adrun.jpg

Despite the fact that all the Egyptians were all on horseback, only a few managed to escape.

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Matthias was satisfied with the result, but looked toward the hills with trepidation. There were two more armies up there to be dealt with.

-----

In order to draw the larger Egyptian army down from the higher hills, Matthias decided to attack the smaller force further down. Daytime battles had advantages as well.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/badeploy-1.jpg

Perhaps feeling confident after his initial victory, Matthias split his forces, sending all his cavalry to deal with the smaller army while he moved the infantry and bowmen to counter the larger one.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/bbinit.jpg

Despite an advance up hill, the cavalry made short work of the siege weapons and horsemen of the smaller Egyptian force.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/bcdeadart.jpg

Still, the relative inexperience of Matthias showed as his infantry line was not set when the Egyptian began shelling his army and their forces advanced.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/bdoutofposition.jpg

The meeting of the lines was not a textbook affair. The main collision hit the the Imperal calvary who had come up from finishing the smaller Saracen force. The infantry was out of position but Matthias, frustrated, charged them into the melee to relieve his knights.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/beswarmleader.jpg

The Egyptian Captain was brought down and the artillerymen scattered. Still, Matthias was angry with himself. He swore to never be so sloppy again.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/bfvic.jpg

Despite his anger, the Egyptians were now cleared from around Jerusalem, and the ransoming of the prisoners would help the coffers. Matthias may have a few things left learn, but he now had the best teacher, experience.

[econ21]

The Final Defeat of the Mongol Second Wave


“So how do you want us to play this, my Prinz?” Kachig Iskyan inquired.

Elberhard scratched his head. He was in the unusual position of facing a Horse Lord army that was almost entirely without horses. Aside from their Khan’s escort, the last remnant of Mongols consisted almost exclusively of infantry. However, the Prinz's army too was lacking in horse. Elberhard’s over-reliance on heavy cavalry in his last battle with Khan order had depleted this arm, as had some transfers to King Salier’s army. As a result, the Germans had only two half-strength regiments of mounted knights and the Prinz’s own escort. However, the Germans were well supplied with pavise crossbowmen and infantry.

https://img175.imageshack.us/img175/6030/khan1vi4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)



“Crossbows at front in loose order.” ordered Elberhard. "We’ll try to shoot it out with them. If we start to get the worst of it, we will send in the infantry.”

Kachig nodded. Elberhard turned to his Teuton captain:

“Jan, you will deploy on the left flank - the other knights on the right. But do not act impetuously. We must catch the Khan. My escort will form the reserve and will only engage when Khan Orda has committed his own escort.”

Jan saluted.

https://img175.imageshack.us/img175/8392/khan2xr6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The start of the battle



*****

Elberhard surveyed the battle. The Mongols had formed up on a gentle slope some way off.

“We will manoeuvre round to the left, so as to meet them on level ground.” the Prinz ordered.

However, while the Imperial army was still preparing its manoeuves, the Mongols marched down the slope and across a gentle valley towards the Germans.

“@#$%^&!!!, they don’t want to mess about. Quick! Halt! About turn! We will hold them here!”

https://img175.imageshack.us/img175/5286/khan3kg1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Mongols approach the German starting position.


When they were within range, the Mongol foot halted and began to open fire. Elberhard started to relax. Such a firefight would surely work to his advantage - he had higher ground, his crossbows were in loose order and well protected by large pavises. However, his heart began to beat faster when he saw that the Khan’s own bodyguard had not halted, but was continuing to march on the loose order German lines.

“Infantry - form close order! Spears to the front! Move it! I want all three regiments of spears to engage the Khan! The dismounted knights should head for the Mongol infantry.”

So much for the battle being decided with a shoot-out, mused Kachig.

https://img510.imageshack.us/img510/117/khan4fz3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The German infantry and the Khan’s escort clash.


As a melee erupted in the centre between German infantry and Mongol heavy cavalry, Elberhard noticed that the Mongol foot on his right flank were less well armoured and equipped than those supporting their Khan. Sensing that these foot archers would not stand, he ordered the cavalry on his right flank to chase them off.

https://img175.imageshack.us/img175/8659/khan5mv1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

On the German right, Feudal knights pursue the Mongol foot archers.


The orders for the right wing given, Elberhard turned his attention back to the left and centre.

“Jan: off with you lad!” he dismissed the Teuton captain, who eagerly rode to commit his cavalry. Then the Prinz addressed his escort:

“All right, you @#$%^&!!!ers! The Mongol Khan has decided not to flee this battle. Let’s not give the @#$%^&!!! a chance to change his mind, shall we?”

https://img175.imageshack.us/img175/4521/khan6ze3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

With the Khan locked in combat with German foot, Elberhard’s men enter the fray.


The Mongol Khan fought with exemplary prowess and guile. While Elberhard charged in from the left, the Khan’s escort disengaged and struck on the right.

https://img175.imageshack.us/img175/4199/khan7mx0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

A regiment of dismounted Imperial foot knights blundered into the Mongol heavy cavalry. While the regiment managed to thin the enemy ranks, it suffered terribly - ending the battle at below half strength.


Then the Khan’s men disengaged again and plunged through the centre of the melee - their heavily armoured horses able to drive through the mass of German sergeants and dismounted knights.

https://img175.imageshack.us/img175/9862/khan8lh5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Khan Orda and his men astonish the Germans with their lethal prowess in the face of overwhelming odds.


At one point, the Mongols had cleared the central melee and were approaching the mass of crossbowmen at the rear of the German battle line. Kachig whistled through his teeth - the audacity of the Khan was amazing. Only around half a dozen men remained in the Khan’s escort. In such small numbers, there was little they could expect to do against over five hundred crossbowmen. Seeing that the German crossbowmen stood firm and did not try to retreat, the Khan turned back and charged again into the mass of the German infantry.

“Bring him down! For @#$%^&!!!’s sake, bring him down!” screamed Elberhard, ordering his escort to ignore the Mongol infantry in the central melee and head straight for the Khan.

https://img484.imageshack.us/img484/7039/khan9av3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Elberhard seeks out the Khan.


But the Prinz got there too late. In the end, the mighty Khan was brought down by a lowly German sergeant.

https://img484.imageshack.us/img484/9053/khan10ta0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

A brave man making a good end.


With the death of their Khan, the Mongol infantry were doomed. The German horse hunted them down ruthlessly.

After the battle, when Elberhard heard his Captain’s reports, he was shocked to hear the casualty figures. The Khan had wrecked all three of his regiments of armoured sergeants, and killed half his dismounted Imperial knights.

“The @#$%^&!!!er!” he swore, adding almost respectfully. “The @#$%^&!!!ing @#$%^&!!!er!”

https://img526.imageshack.us/img526/8405/khan11fi3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The butcher’s bill

[TevashSzat]

Battle West of Paris 1268

Friederich Scherer was very happy. The French have not intruded within Swabian territory for a long time and the Swabian House Army has been reinforced with troops that came directly from the heart of the empire.

He and his army was camped near Paris attempting to ambush any French armies near Paris, but they were deceived as crafty French spies allowed one French army to get within shot of Paris and actually besieged the city.

Duke Scherer quickly moved his army to intercept the French. In his hastiness, he forgot to send spies to learn about the composition of the French army.

https://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z39/Xdeathfire/untitled-5.jpg

At the beginning of the battle, the Duke was concerned as most of the battlefield was in a forest and the Swabian House Army prided itself on its cavalry, which cannot maneuver well in forests. Thinking that the French had mostly infantry, the Duke ordered his crossbowmen to advance first. To his surprise, the French hid a significant force of missile troops within the forest and quickly decimated his mounted crossbowmen.

Seeing that the French had the superior missile force, the Duke ordered his army to quickly move forward. His rather large infantry line engaged the French and held the French infantry so the Duke and his cavalry can charge them in the back creating a quick route.

https://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z39/Xdeathfire/untitled2-2.jpg

After the Battle with most of the French captured, the Duke was not in a good mood after losing so many crossbowmen and decided to execute all French prisoners.

[Cecil XIX]

The First Battle in the Campaign for the Voivoideship of Transylvania.

https://img402.imageshack.us/img402/9709/setuprg8.jpg

The scouts of the Austrian Household Army gave Sigismund ample warning of the approaching Huns. Though facing the entirety of their forces in the area, in truth he was somewhat relieved to be fighting a defensive battle. Ever since he was confronted by a large Hungarian host and forced to flee his heart had been aching for some great victory to overcome the disappointment, though at the same time it was perhaps making him more nervous then he should have been. The enemy had the initiative, and taking it from them would be much easier than holding it himself.

The night before the battle, there was a meeting in his command tent between himself, his retinue, and the nineteen captains of the AHA. On the wall behind his seat stood the coat of arms of his homeland Mahren, magnificently displayed.

https://img175.imageshack.us/img175/792/325pxmoraviasvgky1.png

They were all organized around a large table in the center, where a map of the nearby terrain lay along with markers representing both the AHA and their Hungarian foes. Thanks to the intelligence provided by an imperial spy named Andreas Ermolt, they were well prepared to formulate a strategy.

“The good news,” Sigismund continued, “is that the enemy army immediate to us is of medium strength compared to the other two.” Sigismund motioned to the markers on the table. “A couple of catapults, a few dismounted knights and militia, and some scant mounted knights and Hungarian nobles. Our first objective will be to overwhelm this army with all possible speed and secure a good position against their comrades.” He paused, more for emphasis than any real concern.

“After that it will get tricky. The main force should have twice as many catapults, their infantry will be proportionally weaker than the first force but more numerous, and their cavalry has quality and numbers similar to our own. Besides that we will have to worry about one hundred and eighty dismounted knights directly behind us, who could do quite a bit of damage.”

“This is not to say that we are in trouble, of course. The main force may attempt rush to the defense of the advance guard and leave their catapults behind. That would allow our crossbowmen to pick them off as they approach, leaving them tired and decimated when they finally reach us. I am also confident that with our superior numbers and ample cavalry we could easily crush the first force before assistance arrives, no matter how fast.”

“If they are patient and advance so as to bring their artillery to bare, then things can a tad more dramatic. We will have no choice to head at them full force, much as we will with the advance guard. This will probably be a good deal more hectic, but with equal cavalry and superior infantry we will still carry the day. It would also allow us to sick the archers upon the two units of dismounted knights earlier, and even knights will be hard pressed to advance against fire coming from more than twice their number.”

“No matter what happens, we will be victorious tomorrow. The only question is how the remaining battles will leave us. No then, get some rest. Dismissed.” The captains filed out, leaving Sigismund’s retinue. “I trust there are no objections here?” Sigismund asked as they stood up.

“None, m’lord,” remarked Karl as he got up from sitting to Sigismund's left. “I especially like the part where the archers get to chew up some knights and spit them out. No offense to you, of course. As for old Frodric here, I doubt he has much interest in field battles. Isn’t that right?” He punctuated this statement by reaching past Sigismund and giving giving the man sitting there a strong pat on the back, waking him from a subtle slumber in his seat.

“…It’s Frederick, I told you before. You’re also wrong in saying I have no interest, as I am well qualified on how to face artillery in the field as well as using it in sieges.” He clumsily stood up as he continued. “And it’s true that you want them taken out as soon as possible, especially since Sir Sigismund is their most likely target. Now if you’ll excuse, I’m very tired.” With Sigismund’s leave, he departed the tent. Karl shrugged, and left as well.

That left Ludwig, who had been observing the meeting over Sigismund's shoulder. Finally meeting his gaze, Sigismund spoke. “You don’t have to worry, Father. I remember what he talked about, and I am still an agreement. Any difficulty it brings us will just make the triumph more rewarding.” Father Ludwig nodded slowly, and somberly exited the tent as well.

As he retired to his quarters, Sigismund couldn’t help but smile.

“Here’s hoping I can pick up some more characters in Hungary,” he said to no one in particular.

***

The follow day, it rained. And it rained. And it rained.
https://img300.imageshack.us/img300/2500/medieval220070808013001wo1.jpg

Before the Hungarians could decide what to do, the Austrian Household Army had already advanced on their position, forcing them to fight or abandon the battle. Fortunately, they choose to stand their ground. In his mind, Sigismund was quite glad to see the enemy’s catapults reduced by the foul weather, and thought it a sign from God.

Before the battle was joined, Sigismund addressed the army as was customary.

“This is a glorious moment in the history of the Empire. Here we dutiful Germans will write a new page of the Imperial chronicles, a page where we will live forever. Remembered and honored down through the years, celebrated in tavern song and bawdy tales. And that’s just if we die here!”

“And remember, good Germans, that we are not just fighting for our homes and families, good reasons though they may be. We are fighting for the idea of a new Roman Empire, universal and holy, where all men are equal just as they are in the eyes of the Lord! Germans, Italians, French, Czechs, Swiss, Poles and even Hungarians all have a place! The men before us stand in the way of a united Christian empire, and they must be defeated before they can be our brothers! And now, let’s to the foe! I feel hungry already, and war gives me an excessive appetite! Let’s to the battle, and then the feast!” At the last, the AHA erupted in large roar. Even his nearest guards could not hear Sigismund whisper “Father, mother. It won’t happen again.”

As the battle began, Sigismund deployed his infantry and cavalry as far forward as possible. The archers he placed on his right flank, to guard against approaching forces.
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Immediately he ordered his army ahead at full speed, so that they could take the hill and be ready for the reinforcements. In response, the Hungarians moved forward as well.
https://img300.imageshack.us/img300/8716/medieval220070808015842pi1.jpg

Between the sound and fog of the rain and the issuing of orders, Sigismund failed to notice that the Hungarian nobles had decided not to pepper the cavalry with arrows. Indeed, he was quite surprised when one of his guards blocked a sword aimed for Sigismund’s head, though he recovered quickly. The Teutons moved to flank the nobles, the mailed knights turned to face the town militia.
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The reduced visibility in turn made the eventually joining equally chaotic.
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https://img382.imageshack.us/img382/8496/medieval220070808020121qq8.jpg

Soon the Hungarian’s left disintegrated, and the Austrian cavalry was free to flank the main line, such as it was.
https://img300.imageshack.us/img300/5521/medieval220070808020232np4.jpg

Meanwhile, the cavalry on the right had gone too far without being given orders. In the fog they did not notice the bulk of the enemy army until they were right in front of them. To far to even see the rest of the battle, with a shrug the knights charged the enemy. They opted for a hit-and-run strategy.
https://img382.imageshack.us/img382/5509/medieval220070808020320mt3.jpg


But those responsible failed to remember the ample enemy cavalry. This included a unit of mailed knights with the advance guard that had not been engaged and had turned around to attack the german knights from behind.
https://img402.imageshack.us/img402/8033/medieval220070808020430fm4.jpg

Though the knights routed, most of them escaped and within short order they had rallied. Meanwhile, the Hungarians had yielded the hill. Unfortunately, between the crossbowmen and the fleeing knights much of the Hungarian forces were drawn away from the hill. The unoccupied infantry were drawn up in order to attack.
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While this was going on, the rain progressed beyond annoyance. Imperial soldiers gave a good account of themselves as always, but the difficulty in seeing what was going on lead many soldiers to pursue their beaten foes as if they were the only enemies on the field. This resulted in some awkward locations for skirmishes.
https://img300.imageshack.us/img300/2122/medieval220070808020650ab0.jpg

Similarly, the battle line was also quite chaotic. As Imperial and Hungarian forces clashed, the rallied feudal and gothic made a poor attempt to flank a unit of mailed knights.
https://img300.imageshack.us/img300/6182/medieval220070808020718uv1.jpg

Fortunately the Austrians get their first good news, when Captain Istok of the advance force fell to the Teutonic Knights. Istoks forces soon ceased to be a factor in the battle.
https://img300.imageshack.us/img300/681/medieval220070808020803ty2.jpg

Unfortunately, at this point the battle was complete chaos.
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Even the archers could not escape grim melee.
https://img402.imageshack.us/img402/4972/medieval220070808021011rz8.jpg

Fortunately, the Gothic Knights succeeded in defeating Captain Boldyszar of the main force.
https://img300.imageshack.us/img300/6221/medieval220070808021103ff8.jpg

Unfortunately the battle was still not over, as Hungarian catapults decided at last to have their say.
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Sigismund cursed silently. He ordered his tired guard to wheel from wherever the hell they were and attack the catapult with all due haste. As he approached, he noticed that the mailed knights had momentarily stopped.

“Come on, you lot! There are two division of catapults, and two of us!”

Together, they plowed through no less then five fleeing regiments of Hungarians before attacking the catapult crew.
https://img402.imageshack.us/img402/758/medieval220070808021204ut8.jpg

During the melee, Sigismund was only vaguely aware of the battle the raged around him.
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The artillerists soon died or fled, and Sigismund rode forward to see the battle progressing nicely.
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There was still a few moments of hard fighting, but eventually the Hungarians gave way and the Reich took the field.
https://img300.imageshack.us/img300/9423/medieval220070808021612di6.jpg

***

After a short time, the army had reassembled. As he reviewed the army whilst on horseback, it was obvious to Sigismund that they were badly depleted. The official report confirmed this.
https://img402.imageshack.us/img402/8114/medieval220070808021648hi6.jpg

Half the army gone. Though Sigismund was not seriously considering withdrawal, this was still a serious matter. As he pondered the difficulty that awaited him, a squire rode up him excitedly.

“Sir, sir! Our scouts have just discovered the prisoners that the Hungarians took! They're all alive, one hundred and eighteen men!”
https://img515.imageshack.us/img515/3742/medieval220070808021735bb3.jpg

Sigismund joyously laughed out loud. This was almost a fifth of the casualties.

“Very good! It seems our friends the Hungarians know when to show respect to a worthy foe! Let us return the favor and let our prisoners free as well!”

At that moment, there was silence in the entire Austrian Household Army. In their entire history, such an order had never been given. But they were good soldiers, they quickly recovered and went about their orders.

Back at camp, the good mood was somewhat tempered as the reality of the situation began to sink in. Sigismund was received in earful from Karl in private, but that was balanced by Ludwig’s silent approval of the mercy that was shown by both sides. Sigismund even conducted an after-action analysis with his captains, and they were able to draw up a few conclusions on what mistakes could have been avoided.

“So then,” Sigismund thought to himself as he read the final report. “Firstly, we agreed that the rain was most likely a great deal worse than anything the catapults could have done. Unit commanders were largely left to their own initiative, and forced to rely on simply skill at arms rather than good strategy. The two units of knights charging the main army, as well as the largely unguarded crossbowmen, were both tactical mistakes due to the large amount of enemy cavalry.” He paused. It was clear that having leaving the two units of dismounted knights to the crossbowmen was a much better idea. The enemy’s cavalry would have had to go completely around in order to intercept them their. He had also forgotten a cardinal rule of keeping casualties low: Ganging up on few enemy units with as much force as practical. The rest, was simply due to the confusion and poor perception caused by the storm. At least, that's what he told himself. A part of him knew that he still had a lot to learn about calm in battle.

Sigismund sighed, and stood up from his modest desk to give the camp one last look around before going to bed. While on his inspection, he happened to notice the man who had saved his life in the early moments of battle. He walked up to the man with a pace that was borderline undignified, and when the man stood up to attention Sigismund spoke.

“I’m glad that there are men who can watch my back when I am not. You… You said your name was Welf von Tyrol, correct?”

“Correct, mein Count.” the man replied rigidly. Like most general’s bodyguard, he was lesser noble who had seen countless battles.

“Welf, eh?” Sigismund chuckled. “It seems our fathers both had high hopes for us. Well then Welf, I could use an advisor who’s seen his fair share of battles. How about joining my personal retinue as a veteran warrior?”

At this, Welf relaxed somewhat. “Why lord, I would be honored.”

“Excellent! I’ll have my adjutants fill you in come the ‘morrow. Get a well disserved rest, Welf.” They parted ways, and Sigismund continued with his inspection. It was a heavy trust he placed in this man, but he had a hunch that this Welf would help he not end up like his brother or namesake.

[Tamur]

1268: The Battle of Loeb's Ridge

Meine Herren, this is an account of the victory had against the Polish army in the lands south of Thorn, at a place known as Loeb's Ridge. The trespassing kielbasa-eaters had encamped on a hill to the west of Fritz von Kastilien's position, and would not move regardless of what the forces of the Reich did to provoke them.

Osenblast, an aide of the camp, though often soft of mind, at last contrived a ploy which brought them out of their stupor. The army made ready while he and about thirty mounted crossbowmen rode through the trees to the enemy's camp, with two loaded bows each. When they had crept close enough, they made a great show of noise and trumpets, shooting both bows into the enemy camp and specifically at the commander's tent.

In moments battle commenced. The Polish commander Pawol, perhaps angry at having to leave a leisurely breakfast, charged headlong at Osenblast and his men.
http://cicero.modwest.com/images/tw/kotr/first/3.jpg
Meanwhile, the Reich's army had been drawn up and were awaiting Pawol's arrival with most unfriendly intentions, as was only right.
http://cicero.modwest.com/images/tw/kotr/first/3-real.jpg
Seeing his prey slide through our army to safety, Pawol thought he would make a brave show. He turned and sprinted across the face of our battle line, trailing many dead behind as our pavise bowmen shot his bodyguard to pieces.

Perhaps he was attempting to give his army time to mobilise, but why Pawol decided to attack half of our cavalry alone, with half his guard lying wounded or dead, is likely a mystery that will never be solved.
http://cicero.modwest.com/images/tw/kotr/first/4.jpg
Fritz von Kastilien received a report from the knights who surrounded him, and one of them stated that Pawol seemed to register surprise just before he ran for his life.
http://cicero.modwest.com/images/tw/kotr/first/5.jpg
While Pawol had been throwing away his honour on these vain heroics, the Polish army had formed up and their ballistas had been manned. Fritz von Kastilien did not feel it wise to let these have any shots at our forces, so he ordered the battle line to move forward at speed and take the Poles while they still imagined themselves safe.
http://cicero.modwest.com/images/tw/kotr/first/8.jpg
The order with which the Reich's armies had been marshaled seemed to loose the bowels of many of the enemy. Within the first minute of battle the entire southern flank of the enemy had turned to run.
http://cicero.modwest.com/images/tw/kotr/first/9.jpg
There were, however, those with more honour amongst the enemy. A large knot of them formed on the surviving northern flank, and the fought bravely and well. Most of the losses in the forces of the Reich came from these stiff resisters.
http://cicero.modwest.com/images/tw/kotr/first/12.jpg
The might of our knights' charge did not even break them.
http://cicero.modwest.com/images/tw/kotr/first/13.jpg
However, to the endless dismay of the Polish army, Fritz von Kastilien and his bodyguard drove their lances straight into the enemy!
http://cicero.modwest.com/images/tw/kotr/first/10.jpg
Fritz could not restrain himself, and waded in at the front of his guard, hopelessly outnumbered but sure of victory.
http://cicero.modwest.com/images/tw/kotr/first/11.jpg
At last, the enemy broke completely. Cavalry were sent to run down and capture the fools.
http://cicero.modwest.com/images/tw/kotr/first/14.jpg
In the end the Polish force was reduced by over three quarters: a quarter from the dead or wounded, another quarter from the hundreds of prisoners the cavalry of the Reich hunted down, and a final quarter from deserters, no doubt fleeing to other lands where the generalship is better.
http://cicero.modwest.com/images/tw/kotr/first/end.jpg

A Polish delegation came back as Fritz von Kastilien and Osenblast were reckoning up the honours the men should receive. They, most meekly, requested the release of the prisoners. Fritz von Kastilien agreed, but demanded payment in honour of the dead and as recompense for the farmer Loeb whose cattle had been slaughtered by these invaders. The Polish delegation duly gave way before his wrath, and paid over 3500 florins. These florins are even now on their way, under guard, to the Imperial coffers.

Long live the Kaiser, and long live the Reich!

[Cecil XIX]

https://img175.imageshack.us/img175/792/325pxmoraviasvgky1.png

The Second Battle

“So then, the usual.”

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https://img411.imageshack.us/img411/4720/medieval220070808190853tf5.jpg

With the Hungarian force finally within sight, Welf was getting eager for battle. The plan that Sigismund had decided on was mostly similar to what was supposed to have happened in the first battle: A quick movement to stifle the catapults as soon as possible. Now, the situation had changed further in their favor by the deterioration of their foes, whose army had lost a disproportionate number of knights. Indeed, Sigismund had decided that in the interests of fairness and conservation that the crossbowmen would sit this battle out, causing so small distress to Karl. But Sigismund was very reluctant about being known as a bully, and the archers would certainly see their fair share of blood in the battles to come.

***

When they arrived, they found their Hungarian foes stationed near the top of the hill.
https://img411.imageshack.us/img411/2119/medieval220070808192649hi8.jpg

“And where, pray tell, is the second army?” inquired Sigismund to Welf.

“Just over that hill, my lord.” Welf pointed to the right.

“Well then,” replied Sigismund. “I’ll be right back.”

Marching his guard with fair speed, they soon reached the top of the hill.
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Sigismund paused to observe the enemy reinforcements.
https://img253.imageshack.us/img253/5932/medieval220070808192010vy6.jpg

“Right then. Tell the main force to wheel to face the enemy and then hold position. We’ll deal with this lot first.”
https://img253.imageshack.us/img253/6013/medieval220070808192029bo2.jpg

“Let’s go, lads! The enemy has presented us with their flank, and I am not so rude as to refuse such a generous gift!” With that, Sigismund led his bodyguard straight into the enemy.
https://img253.imageshack.us/img253/1195/medieval220070808192045kt9.jpg

Though dear Captain Ugron took a sword swipe to the gut, he survived the enemy held fast. Sigismund quickly pulled back, and as the Huns pursued he ordered another charge.
https://img253.imageshack.us/img253/4229/medieval220070808192203ne6.jpg

This time, Ugron was not so lucky.
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“That’s enough! Back to the main event!” ordered Sigismund.
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Coincidentally, a messenger soon rode up to Sigismund.

“My lord, a small unit of Hungarian Cavalry is harassing the dismounted knights!”

“Tell them to start marching up the hill. I’ll catch up to them soon enough.”
https://img444.imageshack.us/img444/3293/medieval220070808192529ro8.jpg

It was a long march, lasting several minutes. But eventually, the Imperials closed in on the Hungarian.
https://img253.imageshack.us/img253/7017/medieval220070808192834tk3.jpg

Finally, after scant artillery fire, the two lines closed for battle. Sigismund quickly ordered the bulk of is cavalry to move around their right side, hoping to draw some attention away from the left so the smaller units of knights could slip in and attack the artillery.
https://img411.imageshack.us/img411/2757/medieval220070808192929rd5.jpg

Soon, the Austrian cavalry joined the fight.
https://img444.imageshack.us/img444/7026/medieval220070808192959nj9.jpg

After that, Sigismund and the Imperial Knights broke through to attack the Hungarian rear.
https://img444.imageshack.us/img444/6970/medieval220070808193009oz7.jpg

The response to this attack, combined with the superior quality of Imperial soldiers, resulted in a Hungarian army that was quickly disintegrating
https://img411.imageshack.us/img411/9315/medieval220070808193024rk5.jpg

Captain Menhar was so busy trying to rally his forces that he could not see what was in front of him until it was too late.
https://img444.imageshack.us/img444/3985/medieval220070808193029no6.jpg

After that, it was simply a matter of mopping up the enemy.
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https://img444.imageshack.us/img444/8160/medieval220070808193521ai6.jpg

As Sigismund reviewed the report and the state of his army before moving out, he pondered the state of the AHA.

“We still have enough to complete the campaign, though our margin for error is still pretty slim.” Sigismund thought. “I might need to ask the Chancellor for a few mercenaries when we reach Bran just to be on the safe side.”

Sigismund’s thoughts were interrupted by one of his adjutants.

“My lord, the smaller force is retreating back to Bran. The larger has moved southward, but instead of following the road to Sofia or Bucharest they have moved slightly to the left.”

Interesting news. There was already a force of Hungarians too far west for them to intercept. They would probably draw the wrath of Duke Arnold, who could then easily dispatch this retreating army if they chose to advance further west. But then, it would be patently cruel to let them face Duke Arnold in battle.

“Let the prisoners go, and assemble the cavalry. We move to intercept.”

***

The Third Battle

https://img376.imageshack.us/img376/1569/medieval220070808195724eo2.jpg

It as an ambitious plan, but simple. Take the cavalry, crush the enemy, meet up with the rest of army as they continued moving forward. But as they say, the devil is in the details.
https://img508.imageshack.us/img508/4161/medieval220070808200421hf5.jpg

Coordinating such a battle to it’s successful conclusion would be difficult. The knights would have to be moving constantly, in and out of battle, charging and recharging. The enemy considerably outnumbered them, so there was a real danger of getting surrounded. All the while Sigismund would have to evaluate targets, and keep an eye out for when the Captain was vulnerable. But then, with great reward does not come without great risk. He gave the signal, and the battle begun.
https://img508.imageshack.us/img508/6738/medieval220070808200541lf8.jpg

It was normal at first.
https://img166.imageshack.us/img166/3888/medieval220070808200612yl1.jpg

But it soon became more chaotic as units became more spread out on the battlefield. The small units of knights attacked the catapult crew, whilst Sigismund and several of his knights fought the Hungarian feudal knights.
https://img175.imageshack.us/img175/3696/medieval220070808200812wj7.jpg

The Hungarians were not used to facing mass hit-and-run tactics from an opposing army, and their largely infantry-based force was faltering in the face of this powerful stratagem conducted by heavily armored and highly mobile cavalry.
https://img508.imageshack.us/img508/9576/medieval220070808200940ic5.jpg

The fighting was fierce, as each man had to kill many times his number by necessity. Sigismund himself stopped counting when he past eight. But with the enemy thinning, He soon spotted the opportunity he needed to bring the battle to a close. He ordered his entire army up the hill, and straight at the captain.
https://img166.imageshack.us/img166/4467/medieval220070808201001ss4.jpg

When their forces clashed, Sigismund locked his eyes intently upon his counterpart.
https://img508.imageshack.us/img508/5393/medieval220070808201302rt5.jpg

But it was not to be, as the swarm of cavalry soon separated them.
https://img175.imageshack.us/img175/4496/medieval220070808201303jw9.jpg

Soon Captain Ugron was cut down, and Sigismund led the rest of his knights to cut down the remaining foe.
https://img175.imageshack.us/img175/3592/medieval220070808201319qu1.jpg

When the battle was done, he was exceedingly pleased with the result. For every one of his men that were slain, they had taken eight from the enemy. The Hungarians that retreated were now outnumbered by his own men. But contemplation could wait until they were back with the main force.
https://img175.imageshack.us/img175/5976/medieval220070808201529xd5.jpg
https://img175.imageshack.us/img175/313/medieval220070808201530tw9.jpg

He glanced at the prisoners, themselves more numerous than either of the two armies.

“Let them go. If we are to travel fast, we need both our wallets and our consciences to be unburdened."

[Tamur]

Placeholder for Fritz & Péter's defence of Thorn, 1270

http://cicero.modwest.com/images/tw/kotr/prebattle-1270.jpg

http://cicero.modwest.com/images/tw/kotr/results-1270.jpg

[TinCow]

Apologies for the poor quality of this report. I lost interest in writing it about 1/4 of the way through, so just quickly finished the rest as a bare bones narrative.

----

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/cagliari/cagliariattack.jpg

Burghard reached down and patted his horse’s neck. If the movement reassured the skittish animal, it certainly didn’t show. Riding next to him, Marcus smirked. “I told you not to take an unblooded mount. He won’t have the nerve for a real charge.”

“He’ll do fine,” Burghard spat back. “Besides, there’s not a single damned spearman among them.” Both men purposely avoided stating the obvious: spearmen weren’t needed when there were nearly a thousand knights available to take their place. Twisting in his saddle, the Imperial Knight turned to look at his own lines, far behind. “That bastard is sending us to our death, you know.”

The Lothar Steffen, the Count of Florence, had assembled the army on the crest of a large hill, overlooking the battlefield. A long, thin line of pavise crossbowmen stood in the fore, with armored spearmen backing them, several ranks deep. They were no match for the hordes of Milanese knights, and everyone knew it. The only heavy infantry in the entire army were four regiments of dismounted knights, half wielding swords and half wielding maces. They were placed some distance off on either flank and slightly forward of the crossbowmen. From there, they would threaten the Milanese flanks and work around their rear. Assuming, of course, that the spearmen held out against the main assault, something that they were not likely to do for very long.

Marcus spat on the ground; his saliva disappearing into the earth as the hooves of a hundred mailed horses churned the ground to muck. “You’re so damned depressing all the time. We’re going to die, I’ll lose an arm, They’ll cut my bloody balls off! I swear, if I have to listen to your whining for another cursed battle, I’ll cut off your lance myself!” Burghard eyed his companion for several seconds, then burst into a laugh.

Their reverie was broken by the crisp note of a warhorn. As one, the visors of a hundred bascinets dropped into place as the knights spurred their horses to a gallop. Visibility through the eyeslits was heavily restricted, but it was impossible for Burghard to miss his target. The four trebuchet were easily seven meters high, likely more, and were visible to every man on the battlefield. A second note sounded and half the riders peeled away to the left, while Burghard and Marcus’ group couched their lances and urged their mounts into a full charge.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/cagliari/artcharge.jpg

The lines of Milanese engineers who were escorting the first pair of trebuchet simply disintegrated under the impact of the attack. The momentum of the charge was so great that the front ranks of Imperial Knights easily broke through the other side and plunged into the second group of engineers. Burghard sweated and grunted as he swung his mace down time and time again. Several times he glanced up, expecting to see swarms of swordsmen bearing down on him. They never came. While the Germans slaughtered the Milanese siege train, the main line of infantry continued to march resolutely onwards… towards the real battle.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/cagliari/advance1.jpg

The same could not be said of Count Chimenti’s personal guard. The Milanese cavalry spurred into their Bavarian counterparts, forcing the Germans to break off their attack on the engineers. Several men fell under the fresh attack, but moments later the second group of Imperial Knights appeared, riding at full tilt into the rear of the now-engaged Milanese cavalry. A third of the Count’s men fell instantly; bodies and horses alike pierced through with lance points. Trapped on two sides, outnumbered, and assaulted with armor-crushing maces, the remaining men began to fall like flies. The Milanese Count, with half a dozen bodyguards, broke free from the melee and rode for the safety of his army.

Burghard kicked in his heels and followed. His horse may have been unblooded, but it was fresh, and it was fast. Three other Bavarians rode along with him. They gained on the nobleman quickly and the men were forced to halt their flight and fight, for fear of being taking from behind by an unseen blow. The Milanese retainers fell quickly; their chainmail provided little protection against the crushing blows from their assailants. Count Chimenti’s full plate armor absorbed the assault far better. He managed to down one of the Germans before he crumpled under the attack of the Burghard and his two companions.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/cagliari/countend.jpg

Panting and out of breath, Burghard raised his visor and looked back up the hill. He could see the second contingent of Bavarian cavalry cutting down the engineers escorting the remaining siege engines. Far ahead of them, the great line of Milanese infantry was closing quickly with the main army. Glints of sunlight showed that the crossbowmen were making them pay for ever step up the hill.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/cagliari/advance2.jpg

The crossbowmen were slow to reload, however, and after only a few shots they were forced to pull back behind the line of spearmen. Simultaneously, the Milanese knights charged the Bavarian spears, while the flanking Bavarian knights rushed to envelop both flanks.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/cagliari/rightflankcharge.jpg

The clash of steel on steel rang out across the field of battle. The Bavarian center, bereft of swordsmen, suffered considerable. The entire front rank of the line, and much of the second, fell within moments.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/cagliari/spearline.jpg

Yet this horrendous damage was likewise mirrored against the Milanese flanks. Taken from the side and rear, the swordsmen were no match for the macemen. The rightmost regiment of Milanese knights collapsed first, freeing their Bavarian counterparts to fall upon the unprotected rear of the main line.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/cagliari/leftflank.jpg

Simultaneously, Marcus, Burghard, and the rest of the surviving cavalry crashed into the rear of the Milanese center.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/cagliari/rearcharge.jpg

The effect was instantaneous. Suddenly surrounded on all sides, the Milanese infantry panicked.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/cagliari/rout.jpg

The slaughter that followed was terrible and exhilarating to behold. Never before had Burghard seen so many trained knights fall. Yet, all was not over. Seeing the plight of his men from afar, the Milanese Duke himself had ridden forth from the citadel of Cagliari to aid the survivors.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/cagliari/reinforcements.jpg

His gesture was noble, but foolish. The Bavarian army quickly reformed their lines and the crossbowmen began to pelt the new arrivals from behind the wall of spearmen. The Duke’s men formed a much shorter front than the previous engagement, and thus the bolts concentrated to a far deadlier effect. A third of the Milanese reinforcements fell before the steel rain.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/cagliari/cutdown.jpg

In desperation, the Duke’s cavalry charged into the foot knights on the left flank of the Bavarian line.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/cagliari/finalcharge.jpg

The impact did immense damage, but the spearmen fell upon the engaged cavalry from the rear. Another slaughter began. It was only through sheer luck that the Duke and a handful of his retainer managed to slip through the enveloping Germans.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/cagliari/flee.jpg

Two of Lothar Steffen’s own retinue attempted to cut off the fleeing Duke, but his steed was too agile and dodged out of the way behind a large boulder.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/cagliari/evade.jpg

The Duke escaped, but this minor victory was to be very short-lived.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/cagliari/results.jpg

With only seven surviving men available to hold the citadel, the Bavarians were able to slip a man inside the walls and open the doors from the inside.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/cagliari/lolstart.jpg

The result was predictable.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/cagliari/lolresults.jpg
https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/cagliari/cagliariexterm1.jpg
https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/cagliari/cagliariexterm2.jpg
https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/cagliari/milandead.jpg

[Tamur]

Placeholder for Fritz' battle against Polish cavalry, 1272

http://cicero.modwest.com/images/tw/kotr/prebattle-1272.jpg

http://cicero.modwest.com/images/tw/kotr/results-1272.jpg

[Cecil XIX]

The Siege

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It was 1274, and the campaign season was just about to start. Sigismund was in his tent with his retinue, thinking about how to proceed.

“I think the Chancellor knows me too well.” He remarked to no one in particular.

“Why’s that?” responded Karl, as usual.

“He’s ordered the AHA to seize Bran before the end of the season. I think he wants me to avoid creating situation I can’t handle.”

“Probably a good idea.” Welf stated simply.

“Regardless, I suppose I can’t blame him.” Sigsimund exhaled. “Bran is formidable in it’s fortifications. The Hungarians have even taken the time to install cannons in their towers.” At this, Frederick perked up.

“Really? And here I though that with a spy to open the gates, my coming here was a complete waste of time.”

“They also have a siege works and a cannon foundry.” said Sigsimund.

“Yes, I’m quite glad to have been a part of this.” finished Frederick.

“And were it not for those towers,” Sigismund continued, “I would be inclined to rout the enemies before us, trap them in Bran with a siege, hire a few mercenaries, and defeat them after the construction of a few rams, ladders, and towers. But this is simpler, and I’ll probably have to fight these Hungarians anyway.” Sigismund paused.

Or Arnold would. Perhaps that was the main reason he was hesitant to end the campaign so quickly. Perhaps that was why the Chancellor was ordering him to take Bran at once, so Arnold could resume command. Well, no matter.

“But it’s still not right.” Sigismund lamented. “After those three battles, it would be anticlimactic to destroy the King of Hungary with the entire army.”

“Here we go.” remarked Welf quietly.

“Yes, I’d like to end this with another even fight. I’ll take the best unit of Armored Sergeants we have, and together we’ll defeat the King. He’s not that impressive to begin with, if my bodyguard were more numerous the spearmen wouldn’t be necessary.”

“He fears battle, and his wife’s brazen and unchallenged adultery has made him a laughing stock. Hardly a regal figure.” remarked Welf.

“The report even says he’s a corrupt, severely austere hoarder of wealth. How does that work?” asked Karl.”

“Yes, I don’t expect him to be much of challenge.” stated Sigismund. “He’s healthy but that’s it.”

***

https://img259.imageshack.us/img259/1705/medieval220070812162057he5.jpg

At last, they had arrived. Bran was before them.
https://img89.imageshack.us/img89/8605/medieval220070812165413ls2.jpg

Pausing to reflect on the victory that awaited him, Sigismund watched as a hawk flew from within the city and landed on his outstretched hand. Unwrapping the message that was on it’s leg, he read.

“My lord, I’ve bought off a few guards and the gates will open upon your command. As I write this, the King of Hungary is within the first ring in the east of the castle. Despite my efforts I cannot conceal your presence much longer. Move swiftly.

Your man in Bran.”

Sigismund chuckled inwardly at the rhyme. He cast a glance at the castle, where his enemy must be. Then he addressed his men.

“All right lads, time to get what we came here for! Double time, till reach the center or the enemy!”

It did not take long for his own guard to enter through the first wall.
https://img187.imageshack.us/img187/6514/medieval220070812165619wm8.jpg

As the Armored Sergeants entered the castle, Sigismund was halfway to the second gate.
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Meanwhile, having been made aware of the invaders, the King of Hungary approached the same gate in order to get back to the center of the Citadel.
https://img180.imageshack.us/img180/94/medieval220070812165704ng8.jpg

“At last!” exclaimed Cecil. “All right, get ready! Slow down to a normal march and prepare to charge!” Sigismund was quite excited to fight King like this. His excited turned to outrage when the King’s men started going through the gate instead of attacking.
https://img297.imageshack.us/img297/1664/medieval220070812165727ek8.jpg

“How dare they show their backs to us! Double time, attack!”
https://img297.imageshack.us/img297/3848/medieval220070812165858px7.jpg

And so Count fought King. The battle progressed exactly as Sigismund expected. His were better men, but not good enough to overcome the King’s numbers. Sigismund paused from his reflection to attack a Hungarian knight.
https://img514.imageshack.us/img514/8108/medieval220070812170017du6.jpg

Finally, the spearmen arrived. Sigismund having lost fourteen of his men and King Markus having lost twenty-four, the former decided to pull his men back and let the spearmen finish the latter off.
https://img179.imageshack.us/img179/9199/medieval220070812170209bu7.jpg

As expected, it was an easy task. The Armored Sergeants assault soon cost the King control of that gates.
https://img179.imageshack.us/img179/8599/medieval220070812170235xz6.jpg

As the battle continued the King found himself more and more out of favor. His men could not stop the spearmen, who by now had forced their way through the gatehouse.
https://img340.imageshack.us/img340/4905/medieval220070812170305nh2.jpg

Unheard by all but the rearmost spearmen, a cry rang out amongst Sigismund’s bodyguards. Though the Reich had taken the gates, there were still Hungarian archers who had only Sigismund and his men to target. One arrow found it’s mark, and Sigismund died. The shock and grief was great amongst those who noticed, but most of the soldiers were too busy fighting to notice. And so, Sigismund’s soul ascended to Heaven. The King of Hungary’s departure would not be far behind.
https://img179.imageshack.us/img179/9733/medieval220070812170323xh4.jpg

[TinCow]

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/cagliari2/start.jpg

Her charred, sightless eyes stared into his soul. He tried to back away, but the roots rose up around him, tripping him and binding his legs. He tore at them desperately, but they would not release him. She drew closer, gliding over the ground without effort, her rotting intestines dragging on the ground like a demonic wedding train. She leaned over him and grinned. Then her mouth opened and blood poured out. It grew and grew, her jaw unhinged and the dark void within blocked out the moon and the stars. The fluid became a torrent, filling the world. He tried to breath, but there was no air.

“MY LORD!” A knight was shaking him by the shoulder. Lothar Steffen shook his head, as if waking from a deep sleep. He blinked hard and looked at the man. “They’re coming my Lord! Do we hold?!”

Lothar looked around him, but he could see little in the dense forest. A few flashes of black and gold showed where Bavarian soldiers were hidden in ambush. He could hear war horns sounding unfamiliar chords in the distance.

The knight was wide-eyed. “The Spanish will be on us at any moment! What are your orders?!”

The Spanish… yes. I remember now.

“Are the spearmen back yet? Have they killed Prince Agosto?”

The man shook his head frantically. “I don’t know, my Lord. There were sounds of battle, but we have heard nothing from the ambush party.”

They should be back by now! Nearly 250 spearmen to take on less than a fifth that number! By the Heavens, only the Devil himself could have stopped them.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/cagliari2/ambush1.jpg
https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/cagliari2/ambush2.jpg

I am cursed. Danae will take me as she took my brother. My God preserve me. I have damned us all.

“SIR?!” The knight shook him again. Lothar stared blankly ahead, as the gloom enveloped his mind once more. More horns sounded, followed by a roar of men and beast. The Spanish poured into the woods around him.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/cagliari2/melee6.jpg

Lothar felt a tug on his boots and looked down. Rotting hands had clawed free from the earth and taken hold of him. The earth itself was sinking underneath his horse. Rider and beast were held together as the pit began to fill with maggots and beetles. The horse’s eyes were wide in terror and it kicked hard, once, twice, three times. On the fourth, it lurched free and bolted away. Lothar’s hands were like solid steel on the reigns. He closed his eyes and prayed.

“Heavenly Father, protect me…”

There was a flash of light. Horsemen clashed at the edge of a great wood.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/cagliari2/melee5.jpg

“Your family is cursed, evil one.”

“…hallowed be thy name…”

Branches whipped into his helmet. Javelins were impaling armored men, while Holy Warriors rode with the light at their backs.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/cagliari2/melee4.jpg

“Nothing can save you now.”

“…lift on high the flaming sword…”

A sticky wetness dripped down his cheek. Dark cloaked men thrust spears into the faces of Christian knights.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/cagliari2/melee3.jpg

“I glory in my end…”

“…purge the minions of Death…”

His left arm was numb. Men with giant shields screamed as they were cut down in droves.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/cagliari2/melee2.jpg

“…for it is paradise in comparison…”

“…your holy servant…”

His horse reared. Pure chaos surrounded him. Men armed with every imaginable weapon, armored in plate and mail and leather. All screamed as one

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/cagliari2/melee1.jpg

“…to that which awaits…”

“…before Christ Almighty…”

A lance pierced a man of shining steel. The world roared around him.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/cagliari2/princedeath.jpg

“…every man who bears the Steffen name.”

“…in your name for all eternity.”

The forest was quieter. Men spoke softly in small groups, clustered around corpses wearing black and yellow in equal number. Rings were hacked off fingers. Coins spilled from the pockets of the dead.

“My Lord. Are you alright?”

Lothar stared blankly at the man before him.

“We lost track of you when they Spanish cavalry broke upon us. You’re bleeding, my lord. Your head and your arm.”

The Count of Florence looked down at the sword in his hand. It was heavily notched and stained with rivulets of blood. “The Lord spared me.”

“He spared us all. Thought for sure we were doomed. Now, let’s see about getting you tended to.” Lothar felt a pull at his right arm, and he followed. The ground writhed and moaned around him.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/cagliari2/results.jpg

[Tamur]

The Battle at Yelin Stones
West of Hamburg, 1274

http://cicero.modwest.com/images/tw/kotr/prebattle-1274.jpg
Fast by the stones they stood
Fell men of fealty proven
No rite they performed there that day
But stood taunting icy foes onward.
http://cicero.modwest.com/images/tw/kotr/fourth/1.jpg
Ragged battle line of limber men
Rushed right over the rimed ground
Shouting their warcries to heavens
Bathed in their nostrils' white breath.
http://cicero.modwest.com/images/tw/kotr/fourth/2.jpg
Endless line of archers armed
Each eager for everlasting glory
Broke heaving line with aim true
Leveled countless strong men running.
http://cicero.modwest.com/images/tw/kotr/fourth/3.jpg
Cries come together in battle
Clash of chilled steel calls onward
Strong men of Reich stand ready
As wicked wave breaks, falls to gravel.
http://cicero.modwest.com/images/tw/kotr/fourth/4.jpg
Hard contest of men and of steed
Heads hacked and hungrily hewn
Dead men fall under strong feet
The frost now melts in red streams.
http://cicero.modwest.com/images/tw/kotr/fourth/5.jpg
Woe to vanquished foe running
While warlust brings warhorses on
The day of their doom ends with din
Of hooves winging white earth upward.
http://cicero.modwest.com/images/tw/kotr/fourth/9.jpg

http://cicero.modwest.com/images/tw/kotr/results-1274.jpg

[GeneralHankerchief]

Outside Edessa, 1276

“And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.”

- Revelation 9:7

“Kill the locusts,” Conrad Salier said to himself as he put his Bible down.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_141.jpg

The prayer session was over. He walked around his tent, collecting the items he would take with him in battle today. There was his sword, originally his father’s but passed into his possession when Mandorf had died. It was still unmarked. There was a special pad for his bad leg, crafted by Outremer’s finest scientists after he had nearly died killing the Egyptian Sultan some years ago. There was his Crown of Thorns, taken from Damascus in order to provide extra protection on this day.

He walked around the tent once more. His rosary was complete, his breakfast (bratwurst) eaten, his Bible read.

He was ready.

The enemy today was, of course, the Horse Lords, back for a third round against the forces of Outremer. The word was that this batch was stronger, smarter. That this batch was aiming specifically for the Imperials, bypassing Mosul. It didn’t matter. They were still stupid by engaging the Imperials in the first place. They, like the first two waves before them, would learn that lesson the hard way today.

He walked over, fully-armored, mounted his horse, and headed to the battlefield. The rest of his escort fell in, and eventually the entire army did as well.

On the battlefield, a godforsaken heap of sand that was hot to the touch of foot, boot, and horseshoe, Conrad gradually realized that something was terribly wrong: There were no dust clouds in the distance in any direction. His reserve army, led by Count Jan von Hamburg, was nowhere to be seen.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_142.jpg

“Fine then,” he said, “We’ll wait for them to come to us. These savages over there have pressed forward all the way here,” he continued, his voice gradually rising, “Let them press further on! Let them press on and meet Imperial steel!” A cheer rose up among the men. “They will wear themselves out, just like with Elberhard! And then Jan will have shorter to walk and easily finish them off!” Another cheer. People were whistling, clanging on their shields, and generally making as much noise as possible.

But the Horse Lords refused to move. Their army stood, in a professional fashion, observing the Imperial noisemaking with something resembling stoicism. Evidently they had changed, at least this much.

The Imperial cheering gradually turned to silence at the sight of their enemy being so statuesque. Eventually the battlefield was completely quiet. There was no marching, no cheering, no fighting, not even the sound of the wind blowing, providing relief to the soldiers standing still in full armor as the sun rose higher and higher in the sky. All traces of movement had left the place.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_143.jpg

After about an hour of silence, Conrad finally broke it.

“Enough,” he said. “Runner. Ride back to Edessa and see what’s taking Jan so long and how far away he is. I’m not feeling too well, and I’d like to get this battle over in case my condition worsens. Go!” The man he was speaking to spurred his horse in the opposite direction, kicking up dust on the way. Conrad watched him go, wiped his brow, and spoke to the entire body of soldiers again.

“All right men, these cowards refuse to march out and face us. So we shall come to them and bring the might of the Lord with us! All units… FORRRRRRWARD… MARCH!”

Conrad watched as his men marched as one across the hot desert sand to their target. As the march wore on, he found himself having to squint more and more often. Not because he was walking directly into the sun (although this helped), it was because he was feeling slightly faint.

Lord, if you are to take me today then I only ask that you wait until the battle is over before doing so. Conrad tightly clenched the grip of his sword, and closed his eyes…

…

…he opened them and looked around. The skirmishing had begun. He widened his eyes in surprise. Evidently he had lost consciousness. This would not be good. After sizing up the situation, he gave his orders, praying that nobody had noticed his condition.

“All right, men! Infantry, you know what to do!”

Once again the men cheered and charged into the fray. There was a resounding crash as steel met steel and man met horse. The battle line was unexpectedly straight, almost as if two civilized peoples were fighting back in Europe.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_144.jpg

…back home…

Conrad found himself increasingly unable to control his thoughts as the battle progressed. He wheeled his poor horse around every two seconds, first observing the melee, then checking for signs of Jan, then marking the position of the Mongol horse archers, then going back to the melee, which had absolutely no change in it aside from the fact that more bodies on both sides had dropped, then back to Jan, still no sign of him…

Make it stop, he thought, getting dizzy, and closed his eyes…

…

… “My King! I said we’ve created a breach!”

“A breach?” Conrad said instinctively, for his eyes were still scanning the battle and what had progressed in his loss of consciousness. “If there’s a breach, then by all means, let’s exploit it! Forward!” he said after a second, still without thinking. If his head was clear and he knew about his condition then he clearly would have hung back and sent another cavalry regiment forward, while he stayed back and took on the less-life-threatening job of marking the horse archers.

However, this was not the case, and Conrad’s escort charged into the breach. Maybe we’ll win without Jan, he thought. He hoped.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_146.jpg

He soon realized in his deteriorating condition that he needed more men to exploit this breach. The Horse Lord general had thrown three whole regiment’s worth of infantry into the hole in order to force the Imperials back. With the absence of Jan, his force simply lacked the punch it had enjoyed in the battle where Elberhard had arrived on time.

“Spears, kill this mess! My men, fight your way through! We aim for their general!”

Instantly his escort angled east and began to slog through the mass that was the Mongol infantry. His men had no momentum but more weight. It would be slow work indeed…

…he took a blow on his leg, his bad leg. It dislodged his padding and his leg cried out in pain. Gripping his sword tightly from it, he closed his eyes…

…

…he found himself alone, surrounded by men. They were not of his command. Looking around, slashing wildly, he found the majority of his escort still to the east, trying to engage and catch the enemy general.

“And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.”

“Kill the locusts,” Conrad said, as the sword that had slain so many Turks, Saracens, and Horse Lords without getting a scratch began its dance once more.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_147.jpg

He was completely unaware of the greater battle around him; unaware of the fact that his men were putting up an extremely good fight, killing at around a 1:1 ratio. He was unaware of the horse archers advancing unchecked on his crossbowmen, unaware of the fact that his runner had met up with Jan and the young Count was now making his way as fast as he could to the battlefield, cursing himself for his slowness, unaware that the rest of his bodyguard was being annihilated by the enemy’s own escort and yet more reserve infantry. All he knew was that the poison that Abdullah had put on his bratwurst before breakfast was flaring up to its deadly potential in his body, and that he would kill as many people as he could before it took him completely.

He was gradually losing consciousness, this time for good, and desperately focused all of his remaining energy on attack with right, defend with left, and for a time it was working, he was smiting all of the infantry in reach with his wrath…

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_148.jpg

…finally, the poison took the use of his limbs away from him. Conrad, paralyzed, could only watch and chuckle silently as his final pose was him, raising his father’s sword, still gleaming and unblemished, high in the air, and then he fell, finally overwhelmed by the enemy’s numbers. He felt a box, containing a valuable item that he couldn’t quite remember, spill out from somewhere, and then he felt no more.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_149.jpg

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To the west, Jan von Hamburg, whipping his tired forces onto the battlefield, observed what was going on ahead of him. He had finally arrived, hoping that he wasn’t too late to help kill the enemy.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_145.jpg

“Faster!” he kept yelling. “Do you want to help out the King or not?” His men marched on, eager for some shared glory or a piece of the enemy, depending on how chivalrous or dreaded each man was.

However, as he drew closer and closer to the engagement, Jan quickly revised his thoughts. It seemed as if the Imperials were losing. Not just losing, but… running away. What had happened? Could he have been there to help turn the tide earlier?

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_150.jpg

He signaled an Imperial cavalryman, running past him in the opposite direction. “You there. What is the meaning of this?! There are still enemies to kill! I am here now, with a fresh army!”

The cavalryman took off his helmet and gave Jan a look that he would remember until his dying day.

“Salier has fallen,” he said simply, and galloped away.

Salier fallen? He didn’t know whether he said it to himself or out loud. He, like Conrad, grew temporarily unaware of the battle, lost in his own thoughts. He was, unfortunately, unaware of the his men’s reactions. It cannot be. He is King! He survived two other waves, he personally killed the Sultan that took Jerusalem, he’s been King forever! He can’t just die! But, as more people ran by, screaming the news, harming his army’s morale, he came to the grim realization that it was true.

Before he had any time to think (he had not expected to face an entire army, albeit a blooded one, alone), the remainder of the Horse Lords, triumphant, charged his position.

“Hold them here! Drive them back!” he screamed. “For the King, hold them here!” A dark mass thundered in around him, closing on three sides. “You!” He grabbed the last of the routers passing by. “Where is the body of the King?” The man pointed, somewhat reluctantly, and continued to flee.

“My men, forward! Forward through this mess! Follow me!”

One of Jan’s men game him a look, that, even through his helmet, suggested that his general had lost his marbles. “My Lord, what you are suggesting is suicide! The Reich has already lost one general today, please, don’t make it two!”

“I have to get the body,” Jan said, in a tone that reassured no one. “I owe that much to him. Forward!” Still, no one charged. Jan looked around wildly.

“Forward, or don’t bother coming back to Edessa!” Finally, his escort charged into the dark mass that was bearing down upon them all.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_151.jpg

Being mounted, Jan and his men looked down as they rode through the mass. The endless uniformity that was the desert sand that Conrad saw was gone. Instead, they saw death. Footprints, blood, corpses, and live soldiers that were their targets instead filled their fields of vision.

Quickly his men lost their momentum as the mass of the Mongol infantry swarmed them. Almost immediately his men started to drop as they began to fight.

“Don’t fight!” Jan screamed. “Ride! Keep pushing forward! Only kill those that are in front of you! Forward!!!” His voice was at a hysterical pitch by now, and still he kept pushing. Every second he got farther, his men got farther, and they became less. He now realized the folly of his move, the battle was out of his control, he would never reach the body…

But I’ll die trying, he thought, as he felled another enemy with his own sword.

He looked ahead, and gasped, for it was there, but he would never be able to pick it up, it was too heavy and he would never make it back alive…

He arrived at the corpse, reached down, picked up a box, and veered off, and that was it. Time to go back.

Now he had to go through that hellish ride through the enemy all over again, although this time it would be a little easier since his men would be going the same direction as the Horse Lords. It was still a nightmare, however, for he had to view the footprints, blood, corpses (including those of his own escort this time) and live soldiers all over again, his men were screaming, they were going down, he would never make it out alive…

Daylight. He had made it. After putting some distance between him and the horde, he looked back. Nobody else came out.

Shuddering, Jan held the box tightly as he took a look at the situation. All over the place was chaos. The Horse Lords, knowing no fear, were overrunning his men’s positions. Numbers be damned, they would head straight to Antioch and run over all in their way. His men had no chance.

They have momentum and morale, and we have neither, he thought. The day was over. He was kidding himself. He himself had barely survived, the only one in his entire escort to return from that silly suicide mission. He had inspired no bravery in his men, only demoralizing them further, making them think that their general was going off to certain death.

“Withdraw! Withdraw to Edessa!” he panted, repeating the order over and over again until all parties obeyed it. “Withdraw to Edessa! We fight later!”

Some regiments remained, desperately holding off the victorious Horse Lords while the rest of the army escaped the debacle. Jan was not one of them, mindlessly directing his horse west while his head swirled with thoughts.

I came too late, I could have saved him…

…First Fredricus and now the King…

…Outremer is defeated, we can’t face this and survive…

…back to Franconia, surely, as I am no longer protected…

…I came too late, I came too late…

…

He continued in this state, unaware of his surroundings, until his horse, nearly shot from exhaustion, had deposited him at his residence. Jan shook himself to consciousness, paused, and opened the box that he had taken from Salier’s corpse.

Inside it was what appeared to be a crown, made from wood. It looked like a crown of thorns.

Jan collapsed off his horse and landed spread-eagled on the ground, his face to the sky. He slept in that position, on the street, for the next eighteen hours, all of his dreams about locusts.

[OverKnight]

The Battle South of Edessa, 1276

Matthias was in a fell mood. Conrad Salier was dead, a carefully recruited and trained army fell with him, and he had been forced to commit his own army to the fight before he had planned to.

The one consolation was that Kitbuqa the Wrathful's depleted army was still isolated from the rest of the Mongol Horde. Like a wounded animal, it could be separated from the herd, chased down and killed.

Matthias had attacked from the north to cut off the Mongol General's line of retreat back to the Horde. Instead, Kitbuqa had fled south, fearing the numbers of the new army and not wishing to be caught against Edessa and a vengeful Jan von Hamburg.

It had taken a bit of doing to keep Jan back at Edessa, but he and the garrison were in no shape to strike again this year. This would be Matthias's fight, Jan's vengeance would have to come later. The Chancellor pursued the Mongols south into the desert until finally they turned to fight.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/adeploy.jpg

Matthias deployed the bowmen in loose formation in front of the infantry line. The Knights were concentrated on the left flank.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/binit.jpg

Kitbuqa turned to face him. The Mongol Horse Archers galloped forward to exchange missiles with the Pavise Crossbowmen.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/cskirmish.jpg

Soon every Mongol with a bow was firing on the Imperial bowmen. Matthias smiled grimly, they were taking losses, but the infantry was nearly untouched. Tiring of the long distance battle, Matthias ordered his footmen forward.

The Mongol infantry retreated, trying to stay at arm's length. Ignoring the Horse Archers on the flanks, the infantry line rushed forward, with the middle units attacking the Mongol Lancers and Kitbuqa's bodyguard.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/drush.jpg

Matthias gave a terse order to his bugler, and a single note pierced the din of battle. The unengaged infantry, which had passed the Mongol General, pivoted and charged into the melee, striking from the flanks and rear.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/ecaptured.jpg

Kitbuqa, after a fierce resistance, was rolled over by his horse when an Imperial spearman killed the animal. With his left leg crushed, he was easily captured.

Many of the Mongols units remained on the field fighting, but they were isolated and leaderless. Imperial foot and cavalry hemmed them in and they were destroyed. Only 27 of the 751 Mongol warriors were able to flee.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/fvic.jpg

After the battle, Matthias approached the prisoners. Kitbuqa the Wrathful must have been fearsome when whole, but the man before him on a pallet with a shattered leg was pitiful.

Matthias knelt and asked, "Where is the body of Conrad Salier?"

Kitbuqa looked up, his face a mix of pain and anger, "Your King died like a pig! You think you can stop us? We will kill you all!"

"We did stop you", Matthias replied, ice in his voice, "And if one of us falls two will take his place."

Matthias grasped the Mongol's shattered leg and tightened his grip. A gout of blood leapt up as Kitbuqa screamed.

"I ask again, where is the body of Conrad Salier?"

The Mongol moaned and whispered, "I took his head, it is in my saddle bags."

Matthias, with a flick of his hand, sent a guard to check. His gaze swung back to Kitbuqa as he cleaned the blood from his hands.

"Thank you. If it is any comfort, you have inconvenienced me. The destruction of your armies might be pushed back a year."

Matthias drew his dagger, placing it underneath the Mongol's chin. He stared into the man's eyes as Kitbuqa began swearing wildly.

"Of course, it will matter little to you."

Never breaking his gaze, Matthias thrust his dagger up into the Mongol's brain.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/gexecute.jpg

King Salier was avenged, the Reich's honor regained, but this was only the beginning.

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Matthias spoke over the dead body of his enemy, "I shall give thanks for the hardships we bear, for they serve to purify the soul."

[OverKnight]

The Second Battle South of Edessa, 1280

Isolate and destroy. That was the plan. Of course the same plan had been used outside Edessa, with horrific results. Still, the Mongols had left themselves open to attack, their three remaining armies were spread out. It was time to strike. So Matthias found himself under a beating sun, south of Edessa, close to where Kitbuqa had met his end. This Mongol Army, however, was led by Khan Kuo Kan himself and was not worn down.

Matthias had the main army, and King Jan had promised to meet him with the Edessa garrison. Matthias kept looking to his left, hoping to see his reinforcements on the horizon, but none were to be found.

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Matthias had a sinking feeling. The same thing had happened to King Salier. He scowled, throwing aside such a defeatist thought. One down, three to go, isolate and destroy.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/adeploy-1.jpg

Matthias seemed to catch the Mongols in column, but his own army would have to be moved to exploit this.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/binit-1.jpg

"To the crest of the dune, Schnell!", bellowed Matthias to his men. Without an advantage in height, the Imperial crossbowmen would be outclassed by the sheer weight of the Mongol's archers.

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Though Matthias worried about exhausting his men in the desert, the high ground needed to be taken. His men, panting in the heat, barely made it into position before the Mongols.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/erefuseflank.jpg

The Mongols chose to exchange arrows with the Imperials instead of rushing the line. Matthias was pleased that seizing the heights, along with the loose formation of the bowmen, made sure the Reich came out ahead in that trade.

Looking to his left after a few tense minutes, Matthias saw more Imperial banners.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/farrive.jpg

Jan's late arrival was fortuitious, or the King knew what he was doing, for the Mongols had commited to Matthias's army. Arrow bit, they redeployed to face the vengeful King of Outremer.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/gredeploy.jpg

Matthias was all set to lead his men down to join the fray, but the Khan must have anticipated this, for he sent his horse archers to screen his new flank.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/hscreen.jpg

Matthias swore quietly. He would take losses, some from his own arrows, if he marched his own infantry forward now. He decided to let the crossbowmen continue to do their work.

The Khan, free to manuever for the moment, advanced his main force on the garrison of Edessa.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/iadvanceonjan.jpg

Clever, thought Matthias, but not clever enough. The Mongol's screen had been decimated. Time to move.

"Infantry advance! Cavalry, take out the artillery!"

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Advancing his own retainers, Matthias noticed with alarm that Jan and several of his militia spearmen had engaged the Khan and his bodyguard ahead of the King's main line. Matthias knew from Prinz Elberhard that those men fought like demons. He would not have another death on his hands, not if he could help it.

Lowering his helm, Matthias ordered his retainers to charge.

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Matthias and his bodyguard joined the melee swirling around the Khan and King.

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Matthias's charge finished the job begun by Jan. The Khan's bodyguard was shattered.

As before, a lowly spearman struck the blow against the man himself.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/nkhankuokandead.jpg

The infantry arrived and swarmed among the remaining Mongols. Matthias found a bloody Jan and his few remaining retainers.

"Two down, two to go. Shall we finish this?"

The King and Chancellor rode back into the fray. The remaining Mongols fought on, but were eventually routed.

There were a few survivors, but they would not trouble the Reich again.

The Butcher's Bill

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/ovic.jpg

[Northnovas]

Damascus 1280

Karl awoke from his bed it was late afternoon. He was still recovering from his illness and was trying to get his mobility back. He was becoming a very proficient horseman here in the desert but it had been sometime since his illness and he was still digesting the news around him. He could not travel back to Rome for the last Diet session.

He began to eat and enjoy the strong hot drink of the region. He sipped his coffee and thought this is only real material wealth worth possessing out here. Servants and aides have been in and out of his room not recognizing any but a familiar face walked in Peter with a mild concern showing.

“Good to see you up sir, they say you are on the mend and looking well said Peter.
“And I see you are not? What’s on your mind?” as Karl spoke he walked to the window. “Is it the trade I do not see much activity in the market square.”
“Well yes…” Peter replied thinking of a way to bring up the news. “It’s the [Sacrens, a mad one at that sir, al Muazzam, an Egyptian General. He’s sort of interrupted things here.”
“Not a damn siege? How many men?” exclaimed Karl scanning the horizon looking for enemy units or siege equipment.
“Well sir, 91” replied Peter wishing to hide after giving his answer.
“91!” shouted Karl. “91 men are shutting down this city, maybe this Egyptian is not has mad as you say. We are the mad ones to let this happen. Call the units I want all the men mustered it’s been a while for all of us. We go out at nightfall and end this madness.”

Peter left quickly with the orders.
********
Evening at the witching hour

Karl assembles his men at the gate. It is mainly cavalry archers he had the only horse unit and there would be al Muazzam bodyguard unit. Hopeful his crossbowmen and the towers do the most of the work.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1280Karldeploy.jpg

“Move out! Stay within the walls for protecting and see what they do. Hopefully they will run. Ingo the Teutonic Knight and the other trusted advisor of Karl rode close to his commander knowing it has been some time since the general had ridden.

The units formed up as ordered and the Egyptians Archers moved in with the bodyguard unit staying back of missile range.

“Oh for the love of ….. they are going around dancing in a damn circle” shouted Karl to Ingo “ how I wish for another cavalry unit. We have to lure them closer”

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1280circle.jpg

“Bring up the bowmen” yelled Ingo to the captain. Karl desperately wanted to charge at them but al Muazzam was staying cautiously back from the fray.

“He’s coming!!! There coming in, archers watch and ready!” yelled Ingo.

Karl watched the Egyptian General come into his militia spearmen. That’s it.

“General’s Bodyguard, CHARGE!!!!” shouted Karl

The units clashed but the Egyptians had the upper hand they pulled out from the spear men and Karl’s unit chased. It was a trap! They were too far out for cover and the Germans started falling. Karl was drained in the short time on the horse. The armour was heavier then he remembered He could not longer keep his sword up to swing. He couldn’t speak.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1280karlcharge.jpg

“FALL BACK! FALL BACK!” yelled Ingo has he impaled men protecting his General.

The unit got behind the archers they were less then half strength. There was far more Egyptian horse to deal with.

Then al Mouazzam made his error. In his initial victory he pursued the German horsemen to the line and was hit by the lines of spearmen who then enveloped the unit. Now the defenders had the upper hand. The Egyptian General unit was decimated yet he escaped with the few remaining men.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1280spearwall.jpg

The Egyptian Archers quickly followed suit and the battle was over. However, the casualty count was too high for Karl’s liking. At least the city was freed.

At sunrise the clean up had begun and a captain approached the Count.
“Prisoner report sir, only two members of al Muazzam’s body guard unit. Your orders sir?”

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1280prisoners.jpg


“Bring them to me, now!”
“Yes, sir” stammered the surprised Captain. The Count never wished to see the prisoner’s. The two men were collected and brought before Karl.

“On your knees” Karl said calmly. The sun was behind Karl rising over the hill the men were frighten Karl was but a shadow they could here his voice that was very calm and soft. Karl reached deep with in his breast plate and pulled out a very neatly folded cloth.
Peter and Ingo recognized the cloth immediately as the Cloth of Veronica that Karl kept with him in his illness. It was unusual for him to carry the priceless artifact with him.

The Egyptians watched but could only see his shadow, they could see his arm movements and saw the Count’s arms reach around his waist belt and then both his arms reached in to the air. They could hear liquid being poured…..

“I baptize you in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost” with a swoop of his hand Karl swiped the cloth across their foreheads in the motion of the cross.
“Go you are free men in the name of the Lord. Go tell al Muazzam that you will no longer fight for him and that it is senseless to continue to fight with the Army of the Outremer. He should lay down his arms and return home. Go spread the Good News.”

The witnesses were speechless.

Final Cost.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1280victory.jpg
https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1280stats.jpg

[Ituralde]

Northern Germany, 1282:

http://screenshot.xfire.com/screenshot/large/648b31fb3eea1d929c804b5d7b111631133608b5.jpg

Siegfried was shivering, although he tried not to show it. The cold of the north felt unnatural after the years he had spent under the mild mediterranean climate. His Army was supposed to be near Rome, not out here in the North. But then there was not yet any Franconian Army in the viccinity so it fell to him to defend the northern boder of his former house against the Danes, whom he much to thank for.

The forces arrayed against him were few in numbers, but he was curious to find out the effectiveness of these handguns first-hand. He deployed in the usual fashion and decided to advance on the enemy quickly, lest those new fire weapons proved to be as devastating as the rumours he had heard.

http://screenshot.xfire.com/screenshot/large/730835d73d351dd9db7afffe4469218a17605173.jpg

The Danish advanced too and immediatelly received a volley of bolts from the Imperial Pavise Crossbows. Siegfried chuckled to himself as another volley hit the Handgunners. His foot soldiers were already closing in on the men, while his cavalry had made a large sweep around the enemy. The Handgunners hadn't fired a single shot yet and already their men were falling to Imperial bolts.

http://screenshot.xfire.com/screenshot/large/5b9579d133734adf101575058977c679df22e95c.jpg

Siegfried watched from afar as his infantry engaged the Handunners, who started fleeing towards a small wood behind them. The rest of the Danish troops, one unit of Spearbearers, tried to hold of the Imperial onslaught, but it was to no avail. They were quickly butchered, while the cavalry did the same to the Handgunners until they fled in earnest.

Some devastating new weapons, thos handguns must be. The enemy hadn't fired one single shot. So much for this deadly new invention called gunpowder.

http://screenshot.xfire.com/screenshot/large/6577af29650750aa45a707acb29c2395f9fc7b69.jpg

[FactionHeir]

West of Edessa, 1282 AD

Prelude
"Send this order to the chancellor's army. Speak to the regimental commanders and inform them that they will leave for my position immediately and be replaced by several of my own regiments."
Adalberth saluted when he left Hans' command tent and had embarked with 5 regiments of crossbows, 2 regiments of sergeants and 1 regiment of footknights, all of which were recently recruited and generally had been poorly equipped.
Now, on his march back south, he brought with him 6 regiments of veteran crossbows, and well equipped veteran sergeants and footknights. Hans would be pleased he thought, and it was quite a peculiar interpretation of the chancellor's orders indeed...

Meanwhile, Jan had gotten word from Hans that his attendance was welcomed to the west, but that he was only to bring 1 regiment of halberd militia. Jan had certainly been perplexed when he received said order, but considering it was likely approved by the chancellor, that was what he did.

Preparation
Hans rode across the camp, shouting inspiring words at his men, how the empire had defeated the last two waves of Mongols and how with god's blessing and the holy grail, they would emerge victorious without a doubt. Of course, he also told stories of his past victories, and how individual bravery would win the day.

He was more than happy that he had finally been granted an army mostly of his choosing to face the foes he came to Outremer for now over 40 years ago. He had embarked at the end of his own chancellorship, but was delayed by every chancellor along the way, including Matthias, who preferred to keep him out of the attack during the second wave. But now, now was the time he would finally face the foes that he had only commanded men against, yet not led them personally.

As he surveyed his troops, he realized how little cavalry he had been supplied with. This greatly dampened his mood, as Hans' tactics relied on heavy cavalry use to flank and overwhelm foes in battle. In fact, he was not too apt at commanding an entire force of footmen, but he could not let this influence his men. Today, he would need to double his bravery.

The battle
https://img361.imageshack.us/img361/2996/0039pq8.jpg

Hans and his forces had been pursuing the Mongols army to the nearby river at Edessa, where the Khan's force was camped. However, before he would be able to strike at it, he would have to eliminate the Khanza, who held a small dune nearby. Hans had chosen not to attack at night, unlike previous encounters, as scouting reports indicated the Khan's army was watering their horses still, and this was the most opportune time to strike - in broad daylight.

As expected, there were no signs of the Khan's army as Hans marched his men across one of the sandy hills, face to face with the Khanza and his army.
https://img361.imageshack.us/img361/5803/0041pq5.jpg

However, he certainly could not be far, as word must have reached the force by now and the men be on their way. Hans would only have several minutes to defeat the force in front of him before it would be supported. Possibly a few more, as the Khan had brought artillery, which was slow and difficult to carry on sandy terrain.

Thus, he commanded his crossbowmen to advance forward, down the slope in an attempt to lure the enemy into sending their men forward for the slaughter. hans was not surprised that the Mongols willingly did so, at the cost of a third of their army, that was left for dead on the field, until they decided to withdraw further up the hill, as word of nearing reinforcements reached the Khanza.
https://img361.imageshack.us/img361/9202/0042fe8.jpg

This left Hans with a difficult choice he had to make. Either he would have to continue his current tactic, allowing the enemy to get into a better position or become more mobile by losing only its infantry, or he would have to advance, taking higher casualties than he would have liked.
Hans decided for the latter, bold as he was, to finally have a go at the Mongols himself - and to his utter surprise, at the advance of his crossbows, not a lancer, but the mounted archers came crashing into their ranks.
https://img361.imageshack.us/img361/9278/0044mz5.jpg

Upon recovering from the shock, Hans consciously ordered all men forward to form a line behind the crossbows, who he commanded to hold the line regardless. He could not afford their retreat to break the ranks of the other regiments or even dishearten them.
It was only shortly after, that Hans realized he had made the right choice, as the Mongol heavy cavalry accelerated toward his position, blocked by the heavy pavise shields and countered by his many spears and swords. It was also then, that he heard Adalberth shouting how Jan's small force had been spotted nearby.
https://img361.imageshack.us/img361/4350/0045dq4.jpg

As soon as he noticed the Khanza leaving the safety of his archers to crash into the German center, Hans told Jens "Go Jens, there are the men you waited to slaughter for so long. Flank and charge into the Khanza's rear, break their force and kill as many as you wish!" Jens only slid down his visor, lifted his sword and gallopped away as ordered, cussing to his men to ride faster.
https://img361.imageshack.us/img361/5421/0046qn1.jpg

As Jens hacked and slaughted his way through countless horsemen, he finally spotted the Khanza and let out a loud roar as he charged towards him - only to see the Khanza stabbed by a footknight and falling off his horse. "#§"%§! He was mine you imbecil!" But no one heard him and so he let out his anger at the few remaining Mongol cavalry, that fled the field.

https://img361.imageshack.us/img361/3409/0047lp1.jpg
With the Khanza's death, the Mongol cavalry dissipated and rode for their lives, but the infantry merely retreated towards the Khan's position, knowing that their feet would not carry them far enough before they would be hung as traitors.

https://img361.imageshack.us/img361/3407/0048gk2.jpg

As Hans and Jens chased down the footarchers where they could see them under the burning desert sun, Hans shouted orders to his captains to have the infantry advance up the hill near the Khan's army in slow march. The captains looked at Hans as if he had gone mad, but Hans only repeated, that the infantry was to march slowly up the hill, at any cost, regardless of missile fire, and was not to pursue a single Mongol without his express orders. The captains reluctantly rode off and conveyed his orders, not without being received with headshakes.
https://img361.imageshack.us/img361/2160/0052bc0.jpg

While the infantry was taking some casualties as standing targets for the Mongols to shoot at, Jan, who had now joined Hans and Jens chased down the harassing archers, while keeping a close eye on the main Mongol center.
https://img361.imageshack.us/img361/8502/0053ux5.jpg

It was then, that they noticed the straggling trebuchets, and under Hans orders, advanced with him to remove that threat before it would claim too many Imperial soldiers.
https://img361.imageshack.us/img361/9612/0055ps9.jpg

Meanwhile, even the exhausted crossbows had reached the hill crest and were preparing to rain deadly bolts upon the Mongols, but the Mongol center was closing in rather dangerously, but not without surprise at the well formed Imperial infantry line, that had held out so long under constant arrow rain, without breaking.
https://img361.imageshack.us/img361/5592/0056wb7.jpg

The Khan was not one to be impressed though, and simply had his cavalry charge the line, believing that it would break upon contact.
https://img361.imageshack.us/img361/453/0057ii4.jpgHowever, he was not daft and simulatenously ordered another regiment of cavalry to hold the German generals , preventing them from joining the rest of their men.
https://img361.imageshack.us/img361/5955/0058qh3.jpg

Confident at his plan, the Khan then rode his own bodyguard headfirst into the German spearmen, aimed at breaking the line and their will at the same time.
https://img361.imageshack.us/img361/5433/0059jt3.jpg

Hans' newly promoted veteran captain Heinrich immediately seized that opportunity and sent footknights and sergeants around the Khan's right flank to cut him off and isolate him.
https://img361.imageshack.us/img361/8079/0060sh4.jpg

Hans, Jens and Jan meanwhile were engaged in a fierce battle with the lancers under the Khan's second in command. The lancers would give no quarter and struck hard at the elite German knights, felling countless and leaving all three generals exposed and busy. In the heat of battle, none of them thought of the valiant infantry line, that was fighting for its lives, hopelessly outnumbered.
https://img361.imageshack.us/img361/2219/0061tf1.jpg

It was Adalberth shout that woke Hans up from his battletrance.
"Hans! I can see some of our men leaving formation and retreating down the hill. What are your orders?"
Hans motioned for Jens and Jan to continue fighting, while riding back towards the infantry at neckbreaking speed, not once looking back.
The Mongol captain tried to pursue him, but was cut to size by a blow of Jens sword before he managed to catch up.
https://img361.imageshack.us/img361/5596/0062lz5.jpg

Hans knew that there was only one way to impress his men to fight on, and that was to be bolder than they were. Without a second thought, he ordered his decimated bodyguard, if one could still call it as such, to charge straight into the Khan's rear while shouting encouraging words at the infantry across from him.
https://img361.imageshack.us/img361/4411/0063cy5.jpg

His plan was successful and the line held, while the Khan retreated, cussing at Hans and ordering his archers to aim for him.
https://img361.imageshack.us/img361/8127/0064tx7.jpg

However, the Khan would not get too far, while his bodyguard retreated on his orders. He was caught in between several German footmen who had surrounded him.
https://img361.imageshack.us/img361/1240/0065rk9.jpg

Not even his returning bodyguard would preserve him from the same fate as his Khanza.
https://img361.imageshack.us/img361/5324/0066xa0.jpg

With the Khan's death, Hans knew the battle was over, as all Mongol leaders lay dead on the field. Now, the only reason to fight on was for glory, and that he did want, so he commanded all infantry to advance and hunt the Mongol archers at will.
https://img361.imageshack.us/img361/2295/0069fy5.jpg

Meanwhile, in a last ditch effort to save the day, a few horse archers charged into the now unprotected crossbows.
https://img361.imageshack.us/img361/1262/0070la3.jpg

But only to find themselves no match for even an exhausted Imperial crossbowman.
https://img361.imageshack.us/img361/9202/0071hq5.jpg

It was at this moment, that the unthinkable occured. Men and horse entangled, chasing down the Mongol archers with a lone archer standing his ground and aiming. And he aimed well, for in a blink of an eye, before a blade would sever his head, his arrow would pierce Jens' breastplate. "Of all the ways to go... *#%! it all." were the last words to escape his aching lungs, as he fell off his horse and was trampled to death by hundreds of Imperial boots.
https://img361.imageshack.us/img361/2517/0072nf1.jpg

Struck deep by that blow was not only Jens himself, but also Hans, who had not expected this turn of events, now, that the Mongols were almost in full flight. Jens had been entrusted to his command, and as a fellow Swabian, his death pained Hans dearly. He rose his battleweary arm and swore loudly, urging his men to advance ever faster toward the last few remaining Mongols, who, taken aback by the sudden fury being unleshed unpon them, quickly fled the field now that there was not Khan to hunt them down.
https://img361.imageshack.us/img361/6815/0074kj9.jpg

The night
After the battle, Hans unwrapped the grail he had received from his father after the first crusade and prayed. He prayed to the Lord to grant the righteous men of Christ who had fought this day in His name entrance to paradise for their deeds, and relief from the pain of their wounds for those who remained on His land. While his prayers seemed to have been heard, as if by miracle over 600 of the fallen returned to their posts, Jens was not among them. Guilt-stricken and battleweary, Hans could now only hope that the diet would be kinder than the Lord.
https://img361.imageshack.us/img361/8066/0076qv0.jpg
https://img361.imageshack.us/img361/4747/0077dg9.jpg
https://img361.imageshack.us/img361/9862/0080la5.jpg

[Stuperman]

OOC: these are battle reports dating back as for as the death of Jens Von Kassel. Each Battle I've fought will be in a different post as this thread is already doing bad things to my computer when all the pictures are loaded.


The Log book of Gerhard Steffen, on his last Tour of Duty: 1st Entry

Jens Von Kassel had been sent north by Chancellor to help settle the population In some of the northern Italian cities, he never made it. A russian Diplomat had requested a meeting, thinking it would be the standard, rather absurd, demand for money and a ceasfire Jens wasn't looking foreward to wasting his time trying to understand the diplomat through his thick accent. What awaited Jens was something completely different, an offer of florins, more than Jens could ever had imagined. He accepted, and made his way towards the Italian coast, hoping to hire a mercinary ship and spend his days on the beaches of Ibeza, or Belares.

Jens Von Kassel never got the chance, Duke Gerhard Steffen marched north from Rome, and Athalwolf Von Salza cut off his retreat.

http://img37.picoodle.com/img/img37/9/8/27/t_setupm_c10b8f7.jpg (http://www.picoodle.com/view.php?img=/9/8/27/f_setupm_c10b8f7.jpg&srv=img37)



On the field of Battle they lined up facing eac other, Jens knew that this would be his burial site.

http://img30.picoodle.com/img/img30/9/8/27/t_deploymentm_fbfa493.jpg (http://www.picoodle.com/view.php?img=/9/8/27/f_deploymentm_fbfa493.jpg&srv=img30)



"You've got no chance Von Kassel, you are disgracing Otto!!! Give up and face trial, you may avoid death," Duke Steffen yelled as his troops moved to surround Jens.

"We both know that it's by the sword here or by the gallows in Rome, Steffen. Come Get me!" Jens hollered back.

http://img26.picoodle.com/img/img26/9/8/27/t_flankingm_0ddfe0e.jpg (http://www.picoodle.com/view.php?img=/9/8/27/f_flankingm_0ddfe0e.jpg&srv=img26)



'Hhhmmugh' Gerhard Grunted, 'Have the spearmen charge, Athalwolf and I will charge him from behind.'
And with that the runner was off, moments later horns blared and the spearmen broke into a run.

http://img38.picoodle.com/img/img38/9/8/27/t_spearmencham_2b71ee8.jpg (http://www.picoodle.com/view.php?img=/9/8/27/f_spearmencham_2b71ee8.jpg&srv=img38)


The spearmen hit Jen's bodygaurd with a crash, moments later both Gerhard's and Athalwolf's bodygarud is upon him as well. Gerhard's bodygaurd soon gets bogged down in friendly spears forcing him to with draw. In the confusion Athalwolf finds Jens and with a mighty swing of his sword ends Jens' life.

http://img38.picoodle.com/img/img38/9/8/27/t_notgsgetstrm_3c28e74.jpg (http://www.picoodle.com/view.php?img=/9/8/27/f_notgsgetstrm_3c28e74.jpg&srv=img38)


http://img27.picoodle.com/img/img27/9/8/27/t_bbm_07bd3a1.jpg (http://www.picoodle.com/view.php?img=/9/8/27/f_bbm_07bd3a1.jpg&srv=img27)

[Stuperman]

The Log Book of Gerhard Steffen on his last Tour of Duty: 2nd Entry

"Where do they say they are from?" Gerhard Steffen asked Erik Von Stackelberg, his most expirenced and trusted Bodyguard.

"Switzerland, sir." Erik responded.

"Never heard of it, it doesn't matter though, where ever Leopold Erlach is from he's going home in a box. Are the Men from Innsbruck in position?"

"They are sir, everything is set"

"To battle we go then Erik" Gerhard exclaims with gusto, in the back ground orders are yelled, trumpets blair as the columns of men begin marching.

http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/th.721f77c5b9.jpg (http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/image.php?721f77c5b9.jpg)



It was an open afair, with Erlach deploying his troops to engare the re-enforcements from Innbruck first, leaving a token force to defend against the main Imperial assult.

http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/th.a5849cfd00.jpg (http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/image.php?a5849cfd00.jpg)


Imperial foot are ordered to charge the line while Gerhard Takes his men around the line in a flanking action. Seeing this Erlach charges Imperial spearmen ans is cut down quickly.

http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/th.26ddf76591.jpg (http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/image.php?26ddf76591.jpg)



With Gerhard Behind the lines and thier general dead, the enemy quickly route.

http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/th.a1f151a5ec.jpg (http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/image.php?a1f151a5ec.jpg)

Butcher's bill:
http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/th.0a92c2d094.jpg (http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/image.php?0a92c2d094.jpg)

[GeneralHankerchief]

Marseille, 1284

All Jens had wanted was to get knighted, Dietrich von Dassel thought. He never wanted to be in Outremer, never wanted any of this. All he wanted was to protect the Reich, and he got death instead.

Dietrich was still shaken by the earlier death of his friend Jens Hummel at the hands of the Horse Lords. Jens had appeared a drunken, loudmouthed looney, and he was to some extent, but the man was more than that. He was a thoughtful, simple man who only wanted to see Swabia and the Reich prosper. The two of them were part of the young generation, the duo that would see Swabia to power and France in the graveyard. Now... now, there was only Dietrich. And he was only a squire going into battle against the hated French.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_152.jpg

They were besieging Marseille, a Bavarian possession. But the Bavarians were in Italy, fighting their war against the Sicilians that an Austrian had started. Funny how things work, Dietrich thought. So, they had dispatched him, a Swabian, to help relieve the city.

Dietrich didn't care much that he was assisting Bavaria. A friendship with the Steffens could only help him out later in his career, and besides, he was still fighting the French. They had endangered Swabia since the time of Kaiser Heinrich. And they had to die.

They would die a lot easier if all Imperial forces present were under his direct command, however. The way the battle was set up, the French would have plenty of time to isolate and destroy Dietrich's small force - his own escort and an accompanying regiment of militia merchant cavalry - while the larger, reinforcing garrison got into position. Things were made even worse by the presence of artillery - and lots of it.

"This is the most artillery I've ever seen, or even read about," said Dietrich to some of his men while surveying the battlefield. Indeed, there certainly were many: ballistae, catapults, and trebuchets, all threatening to lay waste to anything and everything in its way from a distance. Luckily, there were none of the new-fangled cannons, but there were more than enough of the "old-style" artillery to make up for it.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_153.jpg

"Sir, what should we do?" asked one of Dietrich's retainers. "Should we meet up with the garrison and take command?"

"No," said Dietrich. "Since I am not a knight, they will not recognize me as commander. Such is the way with our arcane laws." He grumbled at the fact that he couldn't take proper command even though a city was in grave danger. "We can't let that artillery stay the way it is. It will destroy half of the garrison before they even get in crossbow range. We need to simply ride around and occupy the artillery while we wait for the garrison to come in and do its work."

One older man, who had seen numerous battles before, piped in. "Sir, isn't that a little risky? They do have forces besides, artillery, you know; crossbows, cavalry, that sort of thing. If they catch us then there'll be trouble."

Dietrich turned around in the sattle and faced the man. "An Imperial possession is in danger against one of our oldest enemies. If we don't go in then the artillery will destroy the garrison and Marseille will fall. Now, I may not be a knight but I know when to take a risk and when not to, and if you disagree then feel free to leave right now."

The soldier didn't move. It was a good thing that they all had helmets on or otherwise the tension would have escalated. This way, Dietrich didn't know what the man was thinking and just assumed that it would be embarassment. It would be easier for everyone that way.

"Now then, if no one has any other objections... forward!"

Dietrich's men and the merchant militia cavalry charged forward, zigzagging every once in a while to throw off the artillery. Soon, they faced a greater threat - enemy cavalry was coming out to meet them.

"Swing around! Swing around! We can't afford to get in a fight with the cavalry!"

The Imperials angled left, heading for the French flank. They'd managed to outmaneuver the enemy cavalry, but not by much. Captain Hugues had ordered his horsemen to give chase.

Finally, Dietrich had made it to close range and spotted a catapult crew that were angling their machines in the direction of the marching Imperial garrison. "Smash here!" he roared. "Make 'em break and keep going!"

The French catapult crew that had the misfortune of being on the flank abandoned their posts and turned to meet the cavalry about to smash into them. They braced themselves for the crushing blow. When it came, they died quickly but did not break. Cursing, Dietrich snarled. "Surround them!" he screamed. "Kill them quickly!"

His men trampled up mud in the rain, working to follow their commander's orders. They didn't do it fast enough, however, as the fray was joined. Another crew, this time working a ballista, abandoned their posts to help out. Finally, the swiftest of the French cavalry finally caught up. Now is was Dietrich's men that were surrounded.

"Punch a hole out!" he yelled. "Punch a hole out through the crews! Ride like hell, men!" There was a flurry of movement. Steel was flashing, blood splashing, and horses galloping as the Imperials tried to punch their way to the rear of the French line, desperate not to get swallowed up. Captain Hugues ordered another crew, this time trebuchets, to help out and stop them, it didn't look good, militia merchant cavalry were going down fast, the Imperials were drowning, and then...

Air. They had broken through.

"Forward!" Dietrich screamed. "Let's put ourselves together for a minute!" His escort went deeper into the French rear, desperate for some breathing room, but they were the only ones. The merchant militia cavalry, the ones who had taken the brunt of the encirclement, were headed the other way. They were going in the direction of the garrison.

"Great," he mumbled. "Just great..."

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_154.jpg

He counted up his own men. He had gone in with 31 retainers, counting himself. Most had gotten out alive, which seemed to be the first thing that had gone right in this battle. Considering their numbers and their armor, they could still make serious trouble for the artilley crews.

"Ride around to the other flank! Take out the trebuchets, they're the nastiest! Let's give those frogs something to remember!"

There was no cheering from the men; instead, a grim determination to get things done. They had proven themselves more able than the other regiment of cavalry and now they were about to pay for it.

They smashed into a crew manning two trebuchets that weren't quite prepared for the cavalry. Dietrich roared in triumph as he began striking them down in great numbers. However, this would be a short-lived triumph. He happened to catch a glance west and cursed. Once again, the French cavalry had caught up.

"About face," he said in a half-yell, half-sigh. "We'll never survive against that if we don't meet it head on. Ready... CHARGE!!!"

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_155.jpg

The twenty-something men of Dietrich's escort met the fifty four Mercenary Frankish Knights head on in a very noisy melee. Dietrich now could not be bothered with occupying the artillery. The garrison was closing in and now his men were fighting for their own survival.

At first, it looked like the Imperials had the upper hand. Two, no - three Frankish Knights went down in a hurry. However, the numbers quickly began to tell. Dietrich's escort was quickly swarmed - not surrounded, but it was close - and they began to lose men of their own. They were down to twenty-five, then twenty, then fifteen - Dietrich screaming to kill them faster, to remember what they learned in training - ten, then nine...

Then, it was over. The French broke off.

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"Sir, do we follow?" A beleagured knight, armor scratched and dented in numerous places, looked up at his commander.

"What, are you nuts? What happens if they turn back around and decide to engage us? No, count this as a blessing. We can still kill the artillery, so let's do that! Forward!"

The men returned to cutting down the artillery crews for a third time, although it was a bit harder and they had to play a little more defense than they were used to. Dietrich watched with bemusment as first the rest of the cavalry, then the crossbowmen, followed in the Mercenary Frankish Knights' path.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_157.jpg

Eventually, they all came to realize that cutting down the artillery for the sake of protecting the garrison was useless, since the garrison had arrived.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_158.jpg

Cutting down the artillery because it was fun... that was a different story. Together, he and the garrison's cavalry, including a rallied merchant militia cavalry, pursued and caught most of the routers that had stayed with their pieces until it was too late. The only men that escaped were the men who had fled beforehand; the French horses and crossbowmen.

"Bloody cowards," Dietrich said after the battle. "Typical of the French to save their own necks and leave their comrades to die." He pointed to the group of French prisoners, mostly artillerymen, all tied up nearby.

"Sir, what shall we do with them? I can prepare some paper and draft a ransom demand."

"No need," Dietrich said to the scribe. "Kill them now. If we let them go then they'll just do this thing again and next time there might not be anyone to stop them before they get to the walls. The only good Frenchman is a dead Frenchman."

He walked out of the room, leaving 241 French soldiers to their deaths. Today I saved Marseille and purged the world of some French, Dietrich thought. Not a bad day at all.

[econ21]

The Relief of Jerusalem, 1284


“You come back safe, you hear me?”

Elberhard nodded, almost reluctantly.

He begrudged having to take orders from his wife; having to second guess his own actions and having to restrain his martial instincts.

But despite these resentments, the Prinz did not protest. In truth, it was not just his wife. Although the Reich seemed to be at its most pre-eminent, Elberhard could sense an oppressive feeling in the air - almost as if the Empire was under siege.

Quite what accounted for this feeling, the Prinz did not know. Perhaps it was the recent death rate among the Reich’s finest generals. Perhaps it was the exodus of generals from Outremer or even the recent languor in the Diet. But right now, something deep inside Elberhard told him that Linyeve was right - his priority was to endure and ride out whatever fortune would throw at him.

“One more thing, my Prinz” Linyeve commanded. “I must introduce you to Sir Charles de Villiers. He is an English knight on crusade and an old friend of the family.”

Elberhard turned to inspect the foreigner who had now emerged to stand beside the Princess. Sir Charles was in full plate armour, but gave a low bow before the Prinz.

“I want him to join your retinue; to help keep you safe.”

Elberhard grimaced. “A man does not simply walk into my escort!”

Linyeve walked over to the Prinz and whispered in his ear: “Do this for me, please; for me.”

Elberhard gave Sir Charles another look. The man had a weather-beaten face, like those old crusaders who had arrived with the conquest in Jerusalem and carved a life out for themselves in the harsh deserts of Outremer. The English knight’s armour was burnished, but very well fastened. He was a big man and Elberhard had little doubt the warrior was a veteran of many battles.

The Prinz smiled at Sir Charles: “So, eight centuries after the Romans leave Britain, the Britons come back to serve Rome, eh? Well, you are a loyal @#$%^&!!!er, I will give you that.”

Elbehard paused and looked again at his wife. “Very well, I can always use good men and if my wife vouches for you, that is enough for me. She is usually adept at spotting good men - well aside from @#$%^&!!!ing things up and marrying me, of course.”

Elberhard smiled rakishly at Linyeve, saluted her and turned to ride off to battle.



*****


“So what’s the situation?” Elberhard asked his mercenary captain, Kachig Iskyan.

“The Egyptian army besieging Jerusalem is of medium size, comparable to our own. But it is high quality - comprised almost exclusively of shock troops - Tabardariyya. Captain Arrigus of the Jerusalem garrison has promised to march to our aide with a larger force, although I suspect it includes many militia.”



https://img510.imageshack.us/img510/5495/j21rd3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Although some may say the Imperials come to the battle with the odds three to one on their side, this assessment does not do justice to the superior quality of the Egyptian army.



“Good.” said Elberhard. “We will deploy on this high ground, between this outlying village and the farm.”

Kachig looked concerned: “Sire, if we try to hold them on our own, they will destroy us. We lack any knights but the men in your escort and Sir Jan’s Teutons.”

Elberhard looked irritated. “Just get your crossbowmen deployed. We will play this one by ear.”

The Imperial army deployed as the Prinz ordered. The Egyptian army approached from the east, eight regiments of Tabardariyya moving on remorselessly. Kachig’s two regiments of pavisse crossbowmen soon began cutting down the Mohammadans, but made little impression given the sheer numbers of the enemy infantry. Over head, the siege engines of the Egyptians fired flaming ammunition at the Imperial battleline. Elberhard whinced as the trebuchet rounds crashed around him. The enemy were slowly finding their range.



https://img441.imageshack.us/img441/2416/j22fu7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Egyptian siege engines help unnerve the Prinz.



“@#$%^&!!! this!” sad Elberhard abruptly. “Pull back! Jan - move the infantry back. Kachig - your crossbowmen will form the rearguard. We will pull back and join with the Papal forces before engaging.”

Jan, the Teuton looked bewildered at the Prinz: “Sire, the army of Jerusalem approaches from the north. If we pull back west now, we move further away from them. We will condemn them to fight the infidels alone!”

Elberhard growled at his Teuton Captain: “I said pull back, @#$%^&!!! it!”

Jan stubbornly persisted: “Sire, this is a matter of the Reich’s honour - of our standing in the Holy Father’s eyes!”

Elberhard glared fiercely at the Teuton and then barked: “Pull back!”

The Prinz knew that a frontal engagement between his four regiments of spearmen and eight regiments of the Egyptian shock troops would last only a few minutes and then he would have no army left. He had to fight smart or his army would be simply overrun.

As the Imperial main line began to withdraw, a fiery trebuchet shot smashed into on the regiments of armoured sergeants. Elberhard’s determination to pull back was reinforced when he inquired about the casualties from that single shot and was told that it killed seventeen of his men.

But Jan was also correct: the Prinz’s decision to pull back fatally exposed the Papal army. The Imperials had to march around the farms on their left, moving west, north and then east. The Egyptians did not pursue, but instead turned directly north and marched towards the Papal army fast approaching them. The Imperial army was consigned to be mere onlookers to a frontal engagement between these two foes.

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The Egyptians do not pursue the Imperial withdrawal, but instead march to confront the Army of Jerusalem


The Prinz noticed that, for some reason, the Egyptian siege engines did not follow the main enemy force towards the Army of Jerusalem.

“Jan!” barked Elberhard.

The Teutonic rode up, guardedly, perhaps expecting some rebuke for his earlier questioning of the Prinz’s orders.

“The Egyptians have left behind a detachment. Be a good lad and take your regiment and see to it.”

Jan face lightened and broke into a smile. Eagerly, the Teuton smiled and reared his horse, preparing to gallop in the direction of the unguarded Egyptian siege train.

https://img341.imageshack.us/img341/8836/j25sh6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

As battle rages in the distance between the Papacy and the Egyptians, Jan’s Teutons strike at the enemy Trebuchets. The flags of main Imperial force can be seen in the left background, too far away to intervene in the main combat.




*****

Elberhard strained to see what was happening in the melee between the Egyptian and Papal forces, but his eyes were not good enough.

“Kachig, tell me what you can see.”

The Armenian peered into the distance, trying to make out banners and livery through the dust.

“The standard of Captain Arrigus has fallen.” Kachig said quietly, crossing his chest.

https://img211.imageshack.us/img211/7968/j26oq8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Tabardariyya carve through the Papal knights.



Elberhard looked around in frustration, at the Imperial forces slowly trekking through the heat. “March on, faster you @#$%^&!!!s”

When the Prinz turned back to watch the battle between the Papal forces and the Egyptians, it was clear even to his eyes what was happening. The Egyptians were streaming forward; the Papal men fleeing across the line. Elberhard could scarcely believe it - he had come here to support an allied army of 1200 men, now, after a few minutes of combat, that army did not exist any more. Fast moving Mamluks were now rampaging across the battlefield, hunting down the routing Papal forces.

“@#$%^&!!! it!” he roared out to his escort, “With me, ride with me!”

The Egyptians saw the Imperial army approach from the West. The Prinz’s escort of veteran knights was at fore, charging down hill. A regiment of Tabardariyya turned and ran forward to meet the Germans, axes raised.

https://img341.imageshack.us/img341/4884/j27ne5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

As the battle crumbles around him, Elberhard forgets his wife’s injunction to prioritise his own safety and leads the German intervention on the charge.


The Imperial knights hacked into the Egyptian infantry, but the Tabardariyya were stubborn and did not yield. Sir Charles called out to the Prinz:

“The Mamluks, my Prinz! They are coming!”

Elberhard turned round and saw the Egyptian heavy cavalry charging towards his escort, which was still locked in combat with the Tabardariyya



https://img410.imageshack.us/img410/8422/j28hx8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

With their maces, Mamluks are a match for even the most heavily armoured knight.


The Prinz turned back to Sir Charles and in his eyes, it was almost as if Elberhard could hear his wife’s voice.

“@#$%^&!!! it!” Elberhard cursed and then called out to his men, hurriedly. “Disengage, pull back!”

Frantically, the Prinz’s escort extricated themselves from the melee with the Tabardariyya and headed back to the Imperial spearmen, still marching towards the battle. The Mamluks pursued, their lighter horses gaining on the ponderous German mounts. But when the Mamluks had come close enough to the Imperial infantry, Elberhard turned about and rode in among the enemy. Caught between German knights and German spears, the elite Egyptian horsemen were destroyed. As the general commanding the Egyptian force was among the Mamluks, this engagement began to swing the battle back towards the Catholics.


https://img209.imageshack.us/img209/7424/j29wz2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Elberhard’s men cut down the Egyptian general.


The battle then devolved into a game of cat and mouse, played between the Tabardariyya and the mounted German knights - Elberhard’s escort and Jan’s Teutons. The Germans would charge the Egyptian infantry, inflicting heavy losses on them. But then, as the knights’ impetus waned and the Egyptian’s two handed axes began to bite, the Germans would break off and withdraw.

These scenes are typical of the rest of the battle:


https://img208.imageshack.us/img208/2388/j210gv4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

After charging, the Imperial cavalry break off …


https://img208.imageshack.us/img208/5974/j211me6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

And charge again…



https://img208.imageshack.us/img208/51/j212ae0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

It is a highly risky tactic for the Prinz and several times, Sir Charles fears that Linyeve will be left a widow



In the end, the Imperial army prevailed and the leaderless Egyptians were routed. But half the German knights lay dead and of the allied army, only a single Papal regiment of crossbowmen remained.

Hundreds of Tabardariyya were captured. Although he feared the consequences of releasing such formidable fighters, Elberhard honoured their bravery by letting them go. He hoped that by such actions, the endless conflict that seemed to be Outremer’s future could at least be fought with decency and, who knows, perhaps even brought to a peaceful conclusion. But for the moment, the Prinz was grateful merely to have endured and to be able to return to Linyeve.


https://img209.imageshack.us/img209/5332/j213xf4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The butcher’s bill.

[OverKnight]

The Battle for the Adana Frontier, 1288

With the Mongols defeated, Chancellor Matthias turned his attention to the other threats to Outremer. The Prinz would guard the southern approaches and Jerusalem, but Matthias saw another threat to the north, the Turks. For too long, they had taken advantage of the Reich's focus on the Horse Lords to move unhindered through Imperial territory. In fact, their incursion between Adana and Antioch in 1278 had nearly collapsed the defenses of Outremer and delayed the efforts against the Mongols. Only a last minute shift of Count Hans's army had parried that thrust.

Matthias had moved northeast of Adana to deny any further use of Imperial territory to the Turks and keep them from reinforcing Caesarea. Imperial sovereignty and a sense of duty to aid the Byzantines demanded this. The Chancellor and his army found themselves facing Kasim of Kabul and a Turk army northeast of Adana in a valley that had long served as a transit route for them.

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The Army of Outremer was outnumbered, but not outclassed. Matthias and his men had honed their skills against the Scourge of God. These little cousins from the Steppe would be vanquished as well. Matthias attacked during the night. Taking note of the terrain, he decided to have his men seize the high ground on his right flank.

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A lieutenant objected to this, claiming that running the army up to the high ground would exhaust them. The Chancellor replied, "Either we take the hill, or they do. Which would you prefer, running up the hill and fighting down it, or walking and fighting up it?"

The man quickly relented and followed his orders. The night attack and speed of the Chancellor's advance seemed to confuse the Turks, and they made no move to take the hill themselves.

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The next half hour would go down in the military annals of the Reich as the "Adana Turk Shoot". The Pavise Crossbowmen emptied their quivers into the roiling mass of men in valley. A few furtive assaults by the Turks up the hill were repulsed by withering missile fire. By the time the crossbowmen had finished their work, half the enemy force lay dead. A Teuton in the Chancellor's retinue expressed some disgust at this mechanistic and repetitive slaughter of men, to which the Chancellor replied, paraphrasing an earlier Bavarian General, "Why stab a man, if he'll throw himself on your knife?"

With the bowmen out of ammunition, the Chancellor ordered his army down the hill to finish the Turks. The army went down both sides.

The left flank.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/dleftflankattacks.jpg

The right flank.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/erightflankattacks.jpg

Envelopment and destruction.

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Kasim of Kabul, having doomed his men with indecision, fled the field. He was one of the few Turks to make it out of the battle. Perhaps wishing that no one would hear of his incompetence, he refused a ransom offer. The survivors were put to the sword.

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Chancellor Matthias moved further east after the victory and built a watchtower near the border with the Turks. This was Imperial land, it had been claimed, consecrated in the blood of the fallen, and it would be defended.

[Cecil XIX]

“So, they tell me your name is Becker?”

“Yes sir.”

“Well Becker, if you’re to marry my Contzel I need to know what you plan to do as my son-in-law.”

Becker paused, going over the words in his head again.

“Quickly boy, I’m an old man. I don’t want to die before hearing your answer.”

With that jolt, he spoke.

“I want to leave a legacy, either a son to carry on my name, or a people who will remember me as a worthy ruler.”

“And how to do plan to do that?”

“When I receive a county, I plan to embrace the role of governor and administrator whole-heartedly. I will live amongst my people, and become one of them. Hopefully the lord will bless us with a son along the way.”

“You have no desire to go to war?”

“I will do what is required of me, but I have no interest in fighting wars for the sake of foreign lands.”

The man smiled at this.

“I see. Perhaps the Reich could use someone who isn’t all ambition and glory...”

***

It was with a heavy heart that Edmund Becker recalled that conversation, just east of Budapest.

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When they reached the Hungarians, he found that the battlefield would take place right next to a Monastery.

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“Would that I were Prague, overseeing the construction of such buildings.”

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The Hungarian force was small, but elite. In a straight fight Becker would have had considerable trouble, but with ample crossbowmen and cavalry the battle could be won easily.

“Crossbowmen!” Edmund shouted. “Fire at will!”

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The enemy were not fools, and moved with all possible speed to come to grips with the Austrians. But the crossbowmen did their work well cutting down scores of men. Soon the Hungarians had reached the line.

“Infantry, forward!”

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At Becker’s command the Austrian spearmen surged forward through their spread out comrades, and began battle with the Hungarian knights.

“Cavalry, from the left!”

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The Knights of the second Austrian Household army advanced quickly around the Imperial left. They made their presence known, and decisively.

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After having endured arrow, foot and horse the Hungarians finally began began to crack.

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Captain Georgius was able to escape the melee, though that did not save him.

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The battle was over quickly and decisively.
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https://img404.imageshack.us/img404/527/medieval220070907215007gx1.jpg

Eager to move onward, Edmund made a quick decision about the prisoners. “Talk to the Hungarians and see if they’re willing to pay for their countrymen’s safe return. Hopefully some of the money will find it’s way to Prague.”

***

After a few days of marching west, they reached the rebel army.

https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/8035/medieval220070907215343sd7.jpg

Although the rebels were more numerous than the Hungarians, they were inferior. Becker deployed his men on the top of a hill to once again force his enemy to come to terms.

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“Open fire!” shouted Becker.

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Edmund was content to watch the carnage, but it soon became apparent that the rebels were trying to flank him.

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“Tell everyone to wheel clockwise! Quickly!”

Soon the army moved with what speed it could muster to face the enemy.

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Fortunately it was successful, and many of the rebels fled immediately upon contact.

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Things were made easier when the Brigand Captain fell to an Imperial blade.

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Soon the rebels were running for the hills, and the battle was over.

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The Knights captured as many as they could, but a scant few were still able to escape justice.

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https://img515.imageshack.us/img515/8972/medieval220070907220421mx3.jpg

Edmund sighed contentedly once the battle was over.

[Ferret]

Placeholder for the battle on the road to Jedda

[Cecil XIX]

“My lord, what have I done to deserve this?”

https://img214.imageshack.us/img214/446/medieval220070911235213uv7.jpg

Fourteen catapults and over four hundred polish nobles stood in his way. Attack the catapults, and the Nobles will through javelins at you before attacking from behind. Attack the nobles, and be denied battle as the maneuver away from real combat while javelin and flaming rock reign down upon the army. And then there was the two regiments of spear militia.

Though Edmund had them outnumbered, the Crossbowmen would not be much help. They were useless in melee, and would not survive against either the nobles or the catapults on their own. These were his thoughts as he observed the enemy.

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“I see they’ve set up all their footmen in the center, with cavalry placed on each flank. Right then. Our best course is to move as quickly as possible to attack the catapults, and force the nobles to come to their aid. We’ll be at our best if they aren’t able to use their ranged weaponry. All units, forward double time!”

With a start the army lurched forward.

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Becker braced himself for fiery attacks, but surprisingly they didn’t come. To his surprise, all the siege engineers had abandoned their catapults and withdrew backwards and to their right, all the while the Polish Nobles had moved to their aid. Javelins were flying, causing large casualties. By the time the Germans had reached the catapults, a regiment of soldiers was already routing.

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As usual, Imperial steel gave a good account of itself. The soldiers in the melee killed scores of enemies, whilst the archers wrecked havoc on targets of opportunity. But Polish numerical superiority was becoming overwhelming. A few units of artillerists and Polish Nobles managed to slip behind the line and engage Becker and another of knights.

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Meanwhile, a fierce battle was being waged on the hill before Edmund with Wilhelm fighting valiantly at the forefront.

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During a lull in the fighting, Edmund consulted with one of his adjutants.

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“What’s our status?”

“We’re giving them hell sir, but they’re still getting the best of us. Half the men are gone, and the battle could go either way.”

Either way. Those archers were still useless, and the infantry didn’t have the numbers or the quality to survive being surrounded. Maybe if he had been more thoughtful in his deployment even odds would mean victory, but not here.

“Sound the retreat.”

“Sir?”

“You heard me. Tell everyone to retreat and make way back to Budapest. Where is von Heidelberg?”

The attendant paused to review more information.

“He’s already fled, sir. He’s moving north with the Poles at his heels and is unresponsive.”

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“Feh. Well, I suppose we don’t have to worry about him then. All right then, let’s get out of here! All units, fall back! Don’t get caught by those Poles.”

Becker’s guard moved quickly as well, not wanting Polish nobles to close the distance. As he looked around, he saw only a handful of units.

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With a glance to his left, he saw something that made his blood run cold.

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Poles descending on good Germans like a pack of wolves. For a moment, Edmund forgot about the streets of Prague.

“To the left, to the left! Our brothers are in need of assistance! Let’s show those barbarians that even in defeat the Empire never loses it’s character!”

Becker and his men moved quickly, and Poles in turn noticed the attention and broke off to meet them.
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The Poles were badly outnumbered, but they held firm and lasted longer than Edmund would have liked. But for a few moments, Becker used them the outlet for his frustration. Fortunately another opportunity presented itself.

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“Here he comes, lads! Let’s show him that The E-“

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“-Right, that’s enough. Let’s go!”

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As they came down the hill, Becker saw a unit of archers who were aimlessly firing shots over the hill.

“Didn’t you hear me? Get out of here!”

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As the got further and further away, Becker glanced behind him.

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“At least I’ve got something to be proud of,” Edmund thought as his men made their escaped.

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***

The next day, the Becker and the remnants of the 2nd AHA arrived at Budapest. Having set up a temporary headquarters in City Hall, he was at last able to review the numbers.

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“What a disaster. Still, this could work to my advantage if Wilhelm-“

He was interrupted by a knock on the door. A man hurried in, dropped a scroll on Edmund’s desk, and left hurriedly. Becker anxiously opened the scroll.

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Edmund slouched back in his chair and dropped the scroll.

“I’m finished. I’m going to command this damned army for years. Christ, I hope one of Zirn’s boys decides to come to Austria.”

[GeneralHankerchief]

Northern France, 1292

My God there are a lot of French.

Duke Scherer had brillantly maneuvered around about a million Frenchmen in order to take the citadel of Caen, a troop center whose products had threatened Swabia and the Reich since God knows when. Caen was Imperial now, but all it seemed to do was increase the enemy's numbers.

A small force was besieging the Citadel, trapping the Duke. A larger force had blocked any attempts at relieving forces and was currently marching on Dietrich von Dassel's army. There were three whole armies around another castle to the south, Angers. They had men down in the south, near Toulouse, and a good-sized army to the northeast, near Bruges. And of course there were smaller forces scattered throughout the damn country, all speaking that ridiculous language, eating frogs instead of proper red meat, and generally infuriating Dietrich just because they existed.

His army, the Second Swabian Household Army (I need a better name for that, Dietrich thought. My boys are worth more than some generic name.) were currently being headed off by one of the many French forces in an attempt to prevent them from reaching Caen and Duke Scherer.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_160.jpg

The Germans had more men at their disposal but the French, most "experts" had agreed, were of better quality. Their army consisted mostly of Chivalric Knights, Dismounted Noble Knights with their stupid long weapons, and of course, the Aventurier, the only elite armor-piercing crossbowmen/heavy infantry/shock troops/army cooks in the world.

Wonder if they also provide the carnal pleasure for the army, Dietrich thought with a harsh laugh. But now was not the time for jokes. He was finally in command of a proper army and not just two pathetic regiments of cavalry, out to save the greatest soldier that the Holy Roman Empire had ever produced. It would not be easy, either.

The ground was relatively flat, some of it open and some of it forested. Dietrich deployed far back from the trees, meaning to make every French soldier come out in the open. He saw rustling in the trees ahead, and then calm.

A lone arrow flew out of the forest, falling well short of the Imperial front line. Dietrich's men cheered. They would get a fair battle.

Some minutes later the entire French army came into view, emerging out of the forest, marching directly for the Imperials. Dietrich waited for them to get closer and then gave his first order.

"Crossbows, open fire!"

The volley went in, striking the French front line (Aventurier, Dietrich noted with pleasure) and causing a decent amount of casualties. The enemy army kept pushing forward, and the Imperial crossbowmen got in a second volley without any return fire.

There would not be a third, however. The Aventurier set up, loaded, and got off their first volley, their armor-piercing arrows nullifying the effects of the Imperial pavisses as well as some of the infantry's shields.

"Come on, men! The more we kill of them now the less of them we have to kill in the melee!"

But the Aventurier were slowly gaining the tide. First they spread out into loose formation to minimize casualties and continued firing, doing damage to both archers and infantry.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_161.jpg

Dietrich cursed, not particularly caring if anyone heard him. "All right, I guess we can't take much more of this. Men!" he cried, "The French are using the old women's strategy of throwing things at us, not fighting like proper Germans! Infantry! Show them how to fight! Charge!!!"

The Imperial army surged forward, running so as to take fewer casualties. It seemed to take the enemy by surprise.

"We're gonna catch 'em loose!" Dietrich screamed with glee. "They're gonna lose their backbone! HaHA!!!!" Indeed, it seemed that way. The Aventurier, still in loose formation, started breaking for the rear just as the Imperial infantry swarmed upon them, catching the stragglers and destroying them.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_162.jpg

"Momentum!" Dietrich shouted to his men up ahead. "Keep pushing and they'll all break! Battle is all about momentum!"

For a second, it seemed to be working. The slower Aventurier were being carved up and overwhelmed, but for every man that was caught the line slowed, allowing more to escape and regroup at the rear. They would tighten up and do their thing, albeit with less-than-full numbers.

Then, the bulk of the French force countercharged. The Imperial line did not get thrown back at the weight of it, which was extremely encouraging. The entire French army had failed to cause a break in the line.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_163.jpg

"Let's give our boys some help down there," Dietrich said to the cavalry. "Friedrich! Right flank! Roll 'em up! Otto! My boys! Take the center! MOVE!!!"

Two things happened which turned the tide of the battle. First, Friedrich's regiment of Imperial Knights slammed into the French right flank, which was completely unprotected due to the French cavalry's failed attempt to smash the Imperial center. Second, in the center, the French captain met his demise at the hand of the Imperial armored sergeants, buffed up by the arrival of Dietrich's escort. A minor rout began, causing Dietrich to grin widely.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_164.jpg

The fighting degenerated into pockets of resistance. The Aventurier rallied to hold off the Germans and bring back morale to their comrades. Dietrich quickly ordered his infantry to attack, also dispatching a regiment of Imperial Knights to aid them, while his escort and Friedrich's regiment chased down the routers.

"Sir?" An infantryman ran up to Dietrich, who was busy killing the last Chivalric Knight in a regiment.

"What is it?" Dietrich snapped angrily.

"Back at the line... we-we're losing. The Aventurier are hard to kill and one regiment of DNKs are tying up half of our infantry! They refuse to die!"

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_165.jpg

One regiment of Dismounted Noble Knights is surrounded on three sides by Germans but still refuse to break, tying up valuable infantry.

Dietrich now loudly cursed. "Friedrich! Kill the routers now!" he snarled. "I am going to go back and teach every single one of these *#%!ers a lesson myself! COME ON!!!"

His escort turned around, charged the DNKs, and killed them without mercy. The infantry, battered but finally free, rounded on the Aventurier, who were overwhelmed and finally broke for the rear.

"Nobody gets away!" Dietrich yelled. "Nobody flees!" He had his eyes on an Aventurier regiment some distance ahead, running, missed by the rest of the army.

"They must all die."

It was now a race; the elite Aventurier seeking escape to fight another day, and the vengeful Dietrich determined to hunt them down. Both were tired. Dietrich's men had been riding around and fighting for a while now and his horses were almost pooped. But they pushed on, carried seemingly on Dietrich's willpower alone. And then they caught up, and the Wrath began.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_166.jpg

After the battle was over, the casualty count was encouraging. The Second Swabian Household Army, his boys (he still needed to find a better name), had sustained 50% casualties. But only twenty Frenchmen had escaped, and they would never fight again, being too few and disorganized. Caen was still besieged but now it looked manageable.

"Sir?" Friedrich entered Dietrich's tent. "We're waiting for your order on what to do with the prisoners."

"How many did we take?"

"Over three hundred, sir."

Dietrich smiled. "Take me to them."

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_167.jpg

[OverKnight]

South of Caesarea, 1294

Matthias sat at his camp desk inside his command tent, poring over letters and reports by candlelight. He hadn't realized when he first became Chancellor that the job involved quite so much paperwork. He had imagined marching forth with the Armies of the Reich and crushing Barbarians, but armies needed food, new recruits, boots, weapons, and other endless supplies. Nobles and governors needed to be mollified and motivated. Electors swamped him with requests and demanded reports.

And all this required paper and a great deal of writing. More often than not, Matthias felt like a scribe in a Monastery more than the second most powerful man in the Reich. Even now, on campaign building forts on the frontier, the letters came and went, unceasing. One in particular had caught his eye. The letter was why he was waiting for a visitor past midnight.

A man entered the tent and Matthias looked up, unsurprised. The Chancellor rose to meet him.

"Ah, Strategos Alvanites, please, have a seat. Would you like some coffee?"

The Byzantine General looked around with a blank expression. He sat down opposite the Chancellor.

"No thank you, Domestikos Matthias, all I want, if I may be blunt, is an explanation. Why have you asked me here?"

Matthias sat down at his desk, tapping an opened letter on the wood.

"A fair question, Let us say I am consulting with an ally on the military situation versus our common enemy, the Turks. How goes your campaign against them?"

The Greek stiffened and spoke in a flat town, "As you well know, the drive on Caesarea has. . .encountered set backs. The garrison is quite powerful. The Turks launch spoiling attacks before we can gather enough forces to take their capital."

Matthias nodded, "Hmm, unfortunate, we encountered a similar situation with the French. Unless one keeps hammering away and breaks through to their Castle, they just keep coming. The trick is to force them into a decisive battle and crush their forces before moving on to the stronghold itself."

The Strategos seemed offended by the glib analysis, "It is not as simple as you make it out. We are at the end of our supply lines, to gather a force strong enough to force this battle. . ."

The Greek shrugged, "This is not our only front."

Matthias leaned back in his chair.

"There is a way, my army could assist you."

The General scoffed, "Each time we ask your diplomats for such assistance, they prattle on about the Charter of Outremer and a lack of Edicts. You Germans seem overly concerned with the letter of the law."

Matthias's eyes narrowed. He did not like dealing with this man as an equal.

"You seemed quite happy to take Iconium and Sofia off our hands when our Edicts called for it. And what did you Greeks do then, but sell Bulgaria back to the Hungarians. We Romans might be overly precise, but you Greeks are overly fond of Florins."

The Strategos stood upright, features flushed with indignation.

"You Germans think you run the whole damn world! Enjoy while it lasts, the wheel turns, Domestikos, and you will not always be on top."

Matthias gazed evenly at the man, "Perhaps, but do you want to gut the garrison of Caesarea or not? The Turks are a common enemy."

"How would you do this? I know your Charter prevents you from taking the Citadel yourself. Why would you put your neck out for us?"

Matthias smiled coldly, "Oh, I have no plans of taking the Citadel or violating the Charter. My scouts tell me there is a small Turkish army outside the walls. If your army and mine attack it, the Sultan will be honor bound to assist. Between us we have enough men to crush him. Then, once the deed is done, you could practically walk into the place and finally achieve your goal. I am sure the Basileus would look with grattitude on the man who finally gives him victory."

Doubt and ambition warred in Strategos, "You are still taking a risk, your Diet might frown on this. Why do you do this? You've been in office for 36 years, why help us now?"

Matthias leaned in and spoke quietly, "There are individuals within the Reich who wish to assist your Empire. They have contacted me and asked my help in this matter. I will not be Chancellor for much longer, and I must ensure that I have a comfortable 'retirement'. I have made enemies in office, and I find I will need more friends when I lose my position. Of course, this will also cripple the Turks as well, and focus their attention on saving their capital. With this strike I will aid you, myself and Outremer. A good days work."

The two men discussed their plans well into the night. After the Strategos left, Matthias took the letter he had been holding and held it to the candle on his desk until it caught fire. Dropping it onto a metal tray, the Chancellor watched the flames slowly consume the paper.

"Politics," muttered Matthias to himself as the flames died.


The Battle

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/asouthcaesareadeploy.jpg

The Imperial army deployed in front of the Byzantines. Matthias might have to work with Byzantines, but their military reputation was far from perfect. Better that he take lead.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/ainit.jpg

The Sultan was coming, but first Matthias shifted his forces to the right to face the smaller Turk army and give the Byzantines room to deploy.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/bshift.jpg

Not wanting to exchange missile fire with an inferior foe for long, Matthias ordered his footmen in.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/cinfadvance.jpg

The Imperial line held the enemy, while the Cavalry swept in from the flank to dispatch the deadly artillery.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/dchargeart.jpg

After that, the first Turkish army quickly crumbled, but Matthias had to call off his men and form them up as the garrison of Caesarea approached.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/e2ndarmyewdeploy.jpg

With the main Turkish force now in the field, the Byzantines attacked from the left of the Imperials. The main Turkish line still faced the Germans.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/fbyzassaultleft.jpg

The two lines exchange missile fire for a time, before the Sultan tired of this and led a cavalry charge. He sought to catch the bowmen out in front, but Matthias ordered his footmen to countercharge.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/gmeetcavcharge.jpg

The Sultans bodyguard, a massive force of 60 picked men, had turned the Imperial right flank, and threatened the crossbowmen there. Of course, that's why Matthias had a cavalry reserve.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/cavreservego.jpg

The Sultan lost half his men as 150 Knights slammed into his bodyguard. Fleeing the field, he abandoned his men to their fate.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/hsultanflees.jpg

With the Imperial horse unleashed on their infantry and the Turks' leader gone, their organization collapsed. Several units began to run. Matthias sent half his men to pursue the routers and other half to assist the Byzantines.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/iroutandassistbyz.jpg

The Turks were crushed, but the Sultan and a few men made it back to Caesarea.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/ysouthcaesareavic.jpg

Matthias didn't really care. The Turks had been bled, the northern border of Outremer would be quiet and he'd held up his end of the deal. Let the Greeks take the city, if they could muster up the courage to finish off a wounded foe.

All in all, it was a good days work.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Outside Caen, 1296

The command tent was much busier than usual that night, as three generals and their staffs were present discussing strategy among other things, instead of the usual one. It was a rather tight squeeze, but the general merriment of all patrons present made them all forget the rather cramped arrangements.

The three leaders eating, drinking, and debating were Dietrich von Dassel and Friedrich Scherer of the Reich, as well as their ally Prince Hanrrique of Portugal.

"And as a gift from your Mediterranean allies," said the Prince in a mild slur, "Several of our finest bottles of port! May you use them well!" There were several cheers followed by the loud gulping sounds of several people drinking at once.

"And from your, er... large, continental allies," said Duke Scherer in a merry tone of his own, "Many pounds of the Reich's finest beef! May they go well with the port, may they go well indeed!" More cheering accompanied this, several toasts were made, and the feasting began.

"You know," said Prince Hanrrique about halfway through, his mouth full of raw red meat, "You Imperials control half of the continent, are in the process of assimilating several cultures at once, and get lots of spices and other materials from the Greeks and Outremer, and this is the best food you can give me? BAH! Italy's been yours now for generations; where's some of that food, eh?"

"Well, my good Prince," said Dietrich, "We Germans are a warlike, savage people, in case our history since, oh, roughly one thousand years before Christ hasn't taught you." Much laughter, especially overloud guffaws, accompanied this. "We believe that there is no better pre-battle meal than red meat, taken forcibly from an animal that was conquered by our superior hunters. Kind of gets us in the mood."

"You make a good point," said Hanrrique with a grin. "Speaking of getting in the mood, shall we work out our exact battle plan now?"

"Yes, now would be a good time," Dietrich said. "Duke Scherer, you have an overview of deployment?"

"Yes," mumbled the Duke, speaking with his mouth full. He took a big swallow, washed it down with another sip of port, and continued. "As you know, the French force has temporarily broken the siege of Caen in order to deal with this combined threat - hence, me speaking with you at this moment. Sir Dietrich, you are the closest force to the enemy and will thus face primary engagement with them.

"Prince Hanrrique and his merry band of Portuguese doombringers" - more guffawing - "shall approach the battle from the east, hopefully slamming into the already-engaged French and breaking them. This plan is, in essence, the same strategy that Conrad Salier and Prinz Elberhard used against the Mongols in the second wave.

"Meanwhile, I will be leading the garrison of Caen to the battle from the northeast. I will primarily be supporting Sir Dietrich's army should the event arise where the French prove too much for his men." Dietrich snorted. "My force, the greatest numerically out of the four armies present on the field, shall also serve as a final sledgehammer should the combined efforts of Dietrich and the Prince fail to drive the French off the battlefield."

"An excellent summary, Duke Scherer," said Prince Hanrrique. "Dietrich, do you know what you are doing?"

"Yeah," Dietrich said with a grin on his face. "Kill all the French bastards, but save some for you so you can swoop in and win the day."

"Admirable sentiments," said the Prince. "Come! Let us eat and drink the body and blood of those already slain by better men!" The remainder of the night continued as such.

~~~~~~~~~~~

The Battle

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_168.jpg

"They have artillery," said Dietrich, groaning. "God, how I hate artillery. Three regiments of trebuchets, six of the cursed things, ninety crewmen, already an abomination because they're French, but twice so because they're crewmen; Friedrich, how I hate artillery."

"Yes, sir," said Friedrich absentmindedly. He had evidently heard variations of this rant many times before. "So how will you deal with them?"

"Don't give 'em much of a window to fire at, I guess," said Dietrich, rambling. "I wanted to stay in place for a while, give 'em a few crossbow volleys since we have the upper hand this time, but staying in place is suicide against these things..."

"Sir?"

"All units forward. Just move. This heavy weaponry stuff could be the end of us, Friedrich. I don't like it - imagine, scientists winning a war instead of soldiers - real men! I don't like it!"

The Imperial line lurched forward with Dietrich still ranting on about how artillery, especially the trebuchet, was an abomination, and probably was invented by the slimy French since they were too weak and cowardly to resort to proper fighting and needed a backup plan, and how the inventor of the trebuchet was the child of - oh, crap, six flaming rocks headed directly for us.

The realization of that snapped Dietrich back to the battle.

"Keep in line, boys! Don't break the line! Just keep moving forward and they won't be able to hurt you any more!"

The first salvo of the rocks came down. Most were off-target; such was the consequence of using fire. One, however, came down directly on a handful of crossbowmen, crushing and burning them up, leaving their immolating bodies for the rest of the army to see as they moved past.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_169.jpg

"You want that *#%! to happen to you?" Dietrich yelled at the men. "Charge, boys; if you're going to die then die properly! Forward!" The Imperial line began moving at a run. The French in front of them did not stop but also marched forward. The two lines were now quite close and the second salvo of the French artillery undershot their targets, burning up a significant portion of their own men.

The Imperials, led by Dietrich, whooped. "Come on, men! They are backed by men that can't even aim right! Forward and show them that there is no escape!!!" The two lines met, and the usual melee began.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_170.jpg

Dietrich rode, backing the center of the Imperial line, and he saw something very odd indeed. The French center was already beginning to break. This was probably a factor of several variables, including the fact that they were town militia (what idiot of a leader would put the weakest unit in the center? Were they hoping for a Cannae?) and had taken a fiery trebuchet delivery in the back, but Dietrich, knowing that his reputation against the French was growing, could only think that somehow, he was the cause of this rout.

The regiment of Armoured Sergeants that were fighting in the center were now idled. Dietrich ordered them to assist their fellows and flank the Dismounted Noble Knights, opening up a gaping hole in the center of both lines.

If they're scared of me then this should make things much easier, Dietrich thought. "Come on, men! We lead by example! Charge those trebuchets!!!" His escort screamed forward, covering the open space between the battle line and the French artillery. Looking around, he saw that he was not the only one making that journey.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_171.jpg

After hacking away at the trebuchets for a while, he paused and took a look at the greater battle. It was over fast. The French units seemed to be breaking in a chain reaction; not because others were breaking, but because the Germans that were fighting those that had broke were turning their attention to them now. It would soon be time clean-up duty.

To the east, Prince Hanrrique and his escort led the Portuguese charge on the French position, still a good bit off from the main fight. He crested the final forested hill and took a view of the situation, clear for the first time. He chuckled.

"That dirty dog," he said, "He didn't leave any for us! Come on, boys, we can't be left out of this fight! Charge!!!"

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_172.jpg

The Portuguese, along with Duke Scherer, tried their very best to get to the situation but it was over before they got there. The French were either dead or taken prisoner, and Dietrich trotted over, greeting them smartly.

"Prince Hannrique. Duke Scherer," he said, taking off his helmet and grinning, "You're late."

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_173.jpg

[econ21]

The battle for Jerusalem, 1302

Elberhard was glad to escape Europe and the thankless job of chairing the Diet for a while. A formidable Egyptian army had entered the province of Jerusalem and he had to lead his army to drive it off. However, the Prinz's army was still battered from its last encounter with the Egyptians, and so Elberhard ordered his Armenian captain, Kachig Iskyan, to recruit some mercenaries to make up the shortfall.

“There are some Khwarazmian cavalry units that would join us for a price.” offered the Armenian.

“Aren't the Khwarazmians Mohammedans?” queried the Prinz, cautiously. “The Diet is already giving me hell for cosying up to the Orthodox Byzantines. How do you think they will take it if I start drafting Mohammedans into my ranks?”

Kachig shrugged. “Are the Electors going to fight this battle for you? Is a sword Catholic or Mohammedan? No, the Electors are hundreds of miles from here, running around like headless chickens over this or that imagined plot against them. And you need these men. That Egyptian army means business.”

“You are right. @#$%^&!!! it - I don’t care which god those Khwarazmians worship, so long as they fight for me.”

“Very good, Sire, and now, I have something rather special for you today. Follow me and take a look…”


https://img205.imageshack.us/img205/4366/13021vl8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Elberhard: “@#$%^&!!!ing hell! I gotta get me one of those!”


Elberhard gazed up at the mighty armour clad beasts in front of him.

“Cannon? They’ve got @#$%^&!!!ing cannon on top of them? I don’t @#$%^&!!!ing believe it! Who the @#$%^&!!! came up that @#$%^&!!!ing idea?! Must have been some goddamn creative assembly.”

https://img205.imageshack.us/img205/3561/13022xr6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Mercenary elephant artillery - fantasy or reality? You decide.


The Prinz smiled to himself and shook his head admiringly.

Then he paused and said lewdly to Kachig: “Lift up that cloth over them, I want to have a look down below. This one’s a male, right?”

The Prinz peered under the elephant and then emerged, with a smirk on his face. “Hah! Better tell Duke Arnold - that soubriquet of his, old elephant balls, might be one thing that is deterring any of the ladies from saying yes to his propositioning!”



*****


The Prinz shuffled nervously.

“Three to two in our favour, you said?” he asked Kachig. The Armenian shrugged and mumbled something - not wishing to correct the Prinz and tell him the odds were actually reversed. Better to let him attack thinking he had the edge.

https://img524.imageshack.us/img524/4010/13023qg2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Egyptian army is a well balanced, elite force - composed of Sudanese gunners, Tabbardariyya shock infantry, ample regiments of Mamluks and Royal Mamluks, plus Mamluk horse archers.


“All right - can’t be that hard, then can it? But @#$%^&!!!, they do look rather formidable - all lined up like that.”

https://img205.imageshack.us/img205/774/13024et3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Egyptian deployment is sound - gunners to the front, backed by shock infantry and then heavy cavalry. Horse archers are on the flanks.


“All right” said Elberhard, repeating himself, as if psyching himself up for the challenge. “Those handguns of theirs will make probably make a mess of our armour, but we may have an advantage in range. Let’s start off the battle by seeing what those Duke Arnolds can do. Tell them to aim for the rearmost cavalry unit - it will probably be their captain.”

https://img524.imageshack.us/img524/367/13025lb0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

https://img182.imageshack.us/img182/3866/13026ak7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

By aiming at the rearmost cavalry unit, Elberhard hoped to decapitate the enemy army. His plan failed. But did have the advantage of causing a lot of collateral damage among the cavalry and infantry ranked up in front of the Egyptian general.


However, Elberhard had overlooked the fact that the Egyptians had their own long range artillery in the form of a pair of trebuchets. These monsters of wood and stone were wheeled out in front of the Egyptian army and began to launch fiery shots in the direction of the Prinz’s elephants.


https://img524.imageshack.us/img524/919/13027eb2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)


“@#$%^&!!! it! Take care of my Arnolds!” shouted the Prinz to Kachig. “Get them the @#$%^&!!! out of there! Send them to the hill on the right flank - at the double.”

Kachig bowed, slightly distressed at the clear evidence that the Prinz cared more for his lumbering beasts of war than for the brave men standing on the front line.

“All right” said the Prinz, taking stock. “So much for the blasting them from range. I forgot about their @#$%^&!!!ing trebuchets. We’ll have to try something else. Let’s send forward the pavise crossbowmen. We will still outrange them. Put the entire army in loose formation. I’ve seen what those trebuchets can do to close ranked troops.”

The German line advanced forward, moving into crossbow range of the Egyptians. However, the Mamluk archers swept in from the flanks and began to fire on the advancing Imperial army.

“Halt!” shouted Elberhard, calmly. Four regiments of pavise crossbowmen against three of Mamluk archers. The odds were still in his favour. One regiment of Mamluks began to enter a Cantabrian circle.

“Send in the Khwarazmians!” ordered Elberhard. He had no expectation the heavily armoured mercenaries could catch the horse archers, but they would at least prevent them using the Cantabrian circle to make themselves invulnerable to the German crossbowmen.

The Egyptians seemed to realise they were getting the worst of it and so sent forward two regiments of Sudanese gunners to assist the Mamluk archers. As the gunners got close enough to bring their weapons to bear, Elberhard knew he had to act.

“Send in the cavalry from both flanks. Let’s catch those fellows before they get too comfortable.”

https://img524.imageshack.us/img524/9046/13028zu6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The German cavalry disrupt the Egyptian firing line.

For a moment, it looked as if the battle was shifting decisively in favour of the Germans. The Sudanese gunners, and the Egyptian trebuchets, were run down in the charge of the Imperial cavalry. The elephant artillery, now sited on a ridge on the right flank, rained death down on the central mass of Egyptian heavy infantry and cavalry, which milled in confusion, reforming its line.



*****


However, like a swarm of angry bees, the Egyptian army started to group together and then surged forward towards the exposed German cavalry. Regiments of axebearing Tabbardariyya threw themselves at the cavalry locked in melee in the centre.

Hastily, Elberhard called for his cavalry to withdraw.

Then, like lightning, fast moving Mamluks and Royal Mamluks emerged on the flanks to pursue the retreating Teutons and Khwarazmians.

The Egyptian cavalry has the Imperial cavalry on the run …

https://img232.imageshack.us/img232/4000/13029xs2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

…both on the left…

https://img232.imageshack.us/img232/7476/130210kv4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

… and on the right.

Jan the Teuton’s regiment on the right of the Imperial line had smashed through a regiment of handunners and crossed the centre of the line. As a result, it was withdrawing down the left flank, pursued by enemy horse. This unfortunately left a retreating regiment of Khwarazmians as the sole cavalry available to defend the German right. The mercenaries were unable to hold against massed Royal Mamluks and Mamluk archers which vigourously pursued them.

“@#$%^&!!! it, I am going to lose me cavalry” swore Elberhard. “Kachig - bring back those elephants - get them to counter-charge on the right flank. Escort! Captain Jan’s Teutons are in trouble! Let’s help them out!” With that the Prinz launched his own escort towards the left flank.

https://img502.imageshack.us/img502/7594/130211rl8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The elephant artillery must anchor the weak German right flank.

The Prinz’s escort was unable to reach the Egyptian cavalry pursuing Jan’s Teutons on the left and instead got bogged down in the centre, in melee with three regiments of axe-wielding Tabbardariyya. As he saw his escort falling around him, Elberhard could hear Linyeve’s voice inside his head: Be careful… you must not die… you have many enemies who would rejoice in your death.

But as Elberhard looked around, he could see no possibility of retreat. He was alone, behind the three enemy infantry regiments - to try to pull back through the axe-chopping infantry would be certain death.


https://img232.imageshack.us/img232/1531/130212gd6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Elberhard finds himself cut off behind enemy lines.


There was only one thing for it - Elberhard called out to his escort, over the heads of the Egyptian infantry that were interposed between them.

“Brothers! Follow me! Forward! Ride through these scum!”

The well armoured German knights spurred their heavy horses through the enemy lines and, as if by a miracle, all three of the regiments of Tabardariyya broke beneath their advance.

https://img503.imageshack.us/img503/8543/130213jr4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Running forwards through enemy infantry can break them - must remember that!


With that “charge”, Elberhard had smashed the enemy centre. He quickly exploited it, crashing his escort into the rear of other committed enemy units and then overrunning into one of the remaining regiments of Sudanese gunners.

https://img338.imageshack.us/img338/6834/130220ho6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Germans have won on the left flank and in the centre, but in the rear, many Egyptian flags symbolise how they are overrunning the German right.


The battle was now clearly the Prinz’s, but there was a price to be paid on the beleaguered right. There, only the mercenary elephants were holding up the Egyptian attack and even they were falling to the lances of the dauntless Royal Mamluks.

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https://img209.imageshack.us/img209/8905/130218cq4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The Royal Mamluks celebrate wiping out the elephant artillery.


Kachig ordered his pavise crossbowmen to stand their ground and fight the enemy heavy cavalry in a desperately uneven battle. The Armenian captain brought the decimated regiment of Khwarazmians to assist the crossbowmen, but it was not enough and the mercenaries died bravely in the cause of their hired masters.

In the end, the situation on the right was only saved by the arrival of Elberhard and the bulk of his army from the centre and left.



****


After the battle, Elberhard wandered, distraught, over to the fallen elephants.

“My poor @#$%^&!!!ing Arnolds.” he wailed.

Kachig angrily approached the Prinz: “Forget those animals, Sire!” chastised the Armenian, gesturing to the depleted regiments of pavise crossbowmen and spearmen. “If you must grieve, grieve for the brave men who died to give you this victory.”

Shamefaced, Elberhard nodded in agreement. But when the angry Armenian had left, the Prinz, who by now had recovered his good spirits, took aside one of his pages.

“Look, I want you to take an axe and cut off a piece of one of those beasts to send to Duke Arnold as a souvenir. … No, no, no, not a foot, I don’t want you to cut off a foot, I want you to cut off, you know their …”


https://img209.imageshack.us/img209/191/130219kt2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The butcher’s bill.

[FactionHeir]

A small village somewhere at the foot of the eastern Alps, 1304 AD

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There had been reports of rebels who raided and pillaged the many small villages that littered the foot of the Alps, but to date, they had always eluded the Imperial forces that marched through, on their way east. It was time that someone put an end to this menace thought Hans, who was also eyeing the newest addition to Swabia: Ehrhart.

"Ehrhart, it is time you earned your spurs."

"Very well, I have been waiting to test my skills with the blade on a foe for many years now, and I am humbled by your attention my liege." was the reply.

Hans nodded. "Indeed, you will have ample opportunity. In fact, it will just be the two of us and a small company of men who will be defending this village here tonight."

"Just us two?! They may be rebels, but last reports indicate some 500 or so men with spears and horses. How are we to defeat them on our own? We have the Imperial army with us, why not use them?"

"You have much to learn Ehrhart. We nobles are priviledged to lead men, and to do so, means to not waste lives needlessly. Anyone can muster an army to defeat this force, but to do so with a sense of chivalry is different. Besides, the Imperial army would be spotted too easily. Us two can lay in waiting and strike when the time is ripe."

Ehrhart was too loyal a man to disobey such words or reason, although he believed in simply killing his foe rather than doing so honorably.

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-----

A villager ran up to Hans, shouting between gasps and waving his arms wildly. Before he could speak anything audible, Hans raised his hand to stop him, only nodding and saying calmly: "They are coming, I know. Get to safety and have all villagers stay in their homes."

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"Well then Ehrhart, let us show these rebels that to attack a German village is to attack the empire itself. To battle!"
Hans signalled his men to follow and charged the nearest regiment of rogue militia spearmen, while Ehrhart joined him only after the regiment was decimated and fleeing and Hans was already charging against the next.

Lances broke through the little armor most of the rebels wore and each charge by the two nobles left only a mass of dead or nearly dead raiders, with few horses to be seen in between. Ehrhart was dazzled by it all, less leading than following Hans' orders during the battle. His retinue on the other hand was busy protecting him from any blows he might take while staring at the scene, still wondering which devil rode his adopter to attack so boldly and relentlessly.
It was then, that he noticed how the veterans under Hans' command did not merely reform to charge, but at times charged through the rebel ranks without even galloping more than a single step.

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Finally exiting his trance-like state, Ehrhart got a grip of himself and led a charge into the rebel leader's retinue himself to prove his worth and gain knighthood.

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It was not after long, that the last regiment of rebels were scattering and running from the two men, who had fought so bitterly and with such determination and instilled fear with their very presence.
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After the battle, Hans rode his horse next to Ehrhart, laying a hand on his shoulder, he spoke: "While you were not too eager to fight them, you did prove your worth towards the end by throwing yourself into the fray with spearmen in pursuit. For that, and your service to these villagers and the empire, you are hereby Knight Ehrhart."

Before Ehrhart could respond, Hans had already rode off to the village square to address the villagers. Finally a knight was his only thought.
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[Cecil XIX]

Bucharest, 1304

Although he was about to go battle, Edmund Becker was very happy. A new general had appeared name Lorenz Zirn, and he was seeking his knighthood under Duke Arnold. Even better, he had just heard that Karl Zirn would be returning from Outremer. Yes, he was quite pleased.

“I tell you Karl, it is a good day to be alive. Soon Duke Arnold will have ample replacements for me, and I can resign from this army and finally govern over my beloved Prague. My beloved’s beloved Prague, for that matter.”

Karl did not answer. He had been staring at the walls of Bucharest with a depressed look on his face for quite some time. He soon snapped out of it and turned to Becker.

“Well my lord, here’s hoping that this siege goes better than the last one.” His carefree expression fell apart when he realized what he said, and he turned away.

Becker turned to regard the usually irreverent figure. It was only by the slimmest of margins that he had met Edmund in Bran, when the Count was making a tour of the ranges. Eager to start a retinue, Edmund immediately offered him a position.

“It’s all right. I can’t blame you for feeling so poorly after what happened, especially after what my wife went through. But this is different.” Becker continued as he absent-mindedly scratched one of his scars. “I’ve proven myself to be quite difficult to kill. I swear to God I am not going to die to today. There will be not chance of that happening what so ever.” He sighed to himself heavily. “I still have to see Prague. Now then, let’s go about making some better memories.”

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* * *

The battle started with a bit of a surprise: The walls were abandoned.

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“This is rather odd.” pondered Becker. “But it doesn’t change what me have to do. Get those gates open!” This was not a difficult job for two Grand Bombards, who opened the gates in an instant. “Get the troops in line to enter the city.” Becker ordered.

“Now then,” he thought, “Let us see how they react. If they’re just waiting at the center then that’s fine, but I won’t have my boys caught unawares in the streets somewhere.”

Becker’s patience was soon rewarded when the city garrison arrived on the walls and started firing on his soldiers. He turned around and smacked his advisor, which was more for effect what with the armor. “What the hell is this? Why’d you tell me we couldn’t deploy any further when we’re not even beyond bowshot?” Before he could get an answer, he realized that the artillery had already taken out three of the towers.

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“That’s good! Target the wall next!” It only took one salvo from the two cannons to send an entire section of the wall crumbling down. With a keen eye Becker spotted that there were on Hungarians in front of the gate. He quickly shouted orders. “Cavalry, ride to the city center! Infantry, advance upon the two breaches! Artillery, take out that last tower!”

As the men advanced, Edmund came to the embarrassing realization that those orders would have been better off given in the reverse order.

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Regardless, Imperial Knights soon began riding through the eastern gates of Bucharest to the surprise of the Hungarians.

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But the enemy were no fools, and the Hungarian militia engaged the Imperial cavalry while the Imperial foot engaged the Hungarian militia. The result was a rather confusing melee.

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This arrangement soon proved it’s effectiveness when the Hungarians fleeting to the city center found half of the Knights blocking their path. The Hungarian general Oremus Samuel had planned on coming to the aid of the militia, but a quick peek at the situation made the futility of such an act obvious.

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With the walls taken, Edmund began issuing new orders. “All right, let’s get going! Surround the center from all sides! Sergeants, what do you see?”

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A sergeant walked up to Edmund quickly. “My lord, the Hungarians have one full unit of milita, one quarter-strength unit of militia, and a Hungarian Noble.”

“I see. Well then, let us wait for the other regiments to get in position. We need to do this right.” At that point, Karl spoke up.

“Sir, what about the crossbowmen? They can be put to good use if the enemy’s just going to sit there.”

“Interesting. Very well, bring them up. Worst case scenario, we draw them out to us.”

The crossbowmen reached the center, and soon began shooting at Samuel. Samuel wanted to stop this.

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It was a noble effort, and he died in a suitably manly fashion with a sword in his arm and enemies on all sides.

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“Very good. With him dead we have nothing to fear. Just rush those last few militia.”

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It was an easy task for the sergeant and zweihanders.

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As Edmund marched into the city triumphant, the town hall caught his eye.

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“Did we do that?”

[econ21]

Caen, 1306

As Karl’s horse crested the brow of the hill, he could see before him Count Scherer’s army arrayed for battle. The legendary Swabian general had deployed his men, the combined militia of Paris and Rheims, to force a way through the French besieging Caen.


https://img232.imageshack.us/img232/203/13062ix3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The view from the French side of the battle.


Karl raced down the hill, skirting the French lines on the forward slope of the hill. The foe were not numerous, but impressed Karl with their professionalism. At the front, well-armoured aventuriers stood, ready to rain crossbow bolts down on any attackers. Behind them were foot knights and a single regiment of mounted knights.


https://img403.imageshack.us/img403/4543/13063ce5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The French aventuriers prepare to receive the enemy.


Thankfully, the French paid no heed to Karl - perhaps thinking him one of their own. The young German knight made it through to his own lines. There, he was shocked that no one intercepted him, a knight in full armour, heading straight for the German head quarters. All around him the militia seemed unconcerned or uncertain. Only when he approached Count Scherer’s own escort was he stopped and his identity demanded.

“I am Sir Karl Gorg, a knight from the Caen garrison.” Karl proclaimed.

Count Scherer had observed Karl’s rapid approach and came over to speak to him.

“Can we expect your garrison to join us?” the Count inquired.

Karl felt shame deep within him. The garrison, led by an overly methodical and cautious commander, Captain Hermann, still had not broken out of Caen.

“They may yet, my Lord, but garrison is hard pressed breaking through the French barricades.”

Scherer nodded. “Very well, we waste no time in assisting them. Sound the advance!”

Karl was alarmed - he had seen the professional French army awaiting them. The Count’s militia may outnumber the enemy considerably, but they would be no match for them in combat.

The Count looked at Karl with a smile: “You will ride with me, I hope?”

Karl bowed, honoured at the request to join the Count’s escort.

https://img102.imageshack.us/img102/5307/13061kx1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Count Friedrich Scherer battles to relieve Caen. This will be a battle of quantity against quality.


The French lines advanced - peasant crossbowmen leading the way in loose order. The Count ordered them to target the French knights, rather than try to duel the aventuriers. After them came the spear militia, backed by town militia and halberd militia. On each flank, a regiment of militia cavalry was sent to get behind the enemy lines.

Karl rode with Count Scherer behind the mass of the German militia. He could see the violence being worked by the aventuriers on the hill. Militia fell by the dozen and lay moaning or screaming in the grass. Karl looked at the progress of the militia cavalry on the two flanks. On the right, he was appalled to see one rider fall after another. Within a couple of minutes, the regiment had been reduced from sixty to less than a dozen.

“My God!” exclaimed Karl. Never before had he witnessed such effective archery.

https://img403.imageshack.us/img403/221/13064ej9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The aventuriers concentrate their fire to eliminate the threat to their left.


He turned to look at the German left. Amazingly, the militia cavalry regiment there had drawn up level with the French line without being molested. Then Karl’s eyes made out something in woods. A body of enemy horsemen had hidden concealed on the right of the French lines.


https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/3369/130617bv0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The mystery of why the aventuriers did not target the threat to their right is revealed.


For a moment, Karl thought the militia cavalry might charge the French mounted knights in the rear.

“Don’t do it, don’t do it.” Karl prayed quietly under his breath.

Already one of the two militia cavalry regiments had been destroyed. Karl had little doubt the same fate would await the remaining one if it entered combat unsupported against the pride of French chivalry.

“Send a regiment of spearmen to engage those mounted knights on the left.” ordered Count Scherer to his aides. Then, as if remembering he only commanded militia, not professional sergeants, the Count added: “Better make that two regiments of spearmen.”

But the Germans were not to have the initiative in this battle. As the Germans approached the aventuriers, French knights charged through the aventuriers and headed straight to the militia struggling up the hill.


https://img404.imageshack.us/img404/4171/13066gl5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The French charge the advancing Germans.


All along the lines there was a clash of arms. The French knights, both mounted and on foot, clearly outclassed their opponents and soon most of the militia regiments were at half strength or below. Only the reputation of their general kept the Germans in the fight.

Count Scherer turned to Karl grimly: “Well, young man, it looks like our presence at the front is required.”

Karl held up his lance in a salute as Count Scherer ordered his bodyguard into the fray.

The Duke made straight for the enemy general, whose mounted knights were threatening to overrun the German right.

The last ride of Count Scherer, hero of Swabia.
https://img404.imageshack.us/img404/8822/13067qb5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

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Karl fought ferociously, cutting his way to the enemy general and then bringing him down in single combat. The young knight was exultant - through valour of arms, he and Scherer’s escort had surely won the day!


https://img123.imageshack.us/img123/9467/130610dv3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Karl slays the French general.


However, when Karl turned, he saw in horror, dismounted French knights with poleaxes closing in on Scherer’s few remaining bodyguards. The Count himself was hemmed in among the trees, trapped between brave aventuriers and vengeful foot knights.

https://img123.imageshack.us/img123/2522/130612jc1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

https://img404.imageshack.us/img404/8837/130613fw5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
Cut off from the rest of his army, Count Scherer is slain.


As Karl saw the body of the Count fall, he screamed in anger. This was all Karl’s fault - he should have stopped the general attacking alone; he should have brought the Caen garrison up in time. News of the brave general’s death spread among the German militia like a shock wave and soon the entire vast German army was in rout.

Karl shouted to the crossbow militia: “Stand your ground! Fight like Friedrich!”

Then the young knight took his horse and raced up the hill, desperate to find if the Caen garrison had arrived on the field. When he reached the small, but professional garrison, he rode straight to its commander, Captain Hermann.

“Count Friedrich is fallen. The battle is almost lost. I beg of you, Captain, give me command of the regiment of mounted knights. I may yet be able to save the day!”

Captain Hermann was a general who would never earn the soubriquet speedy, but even he could not fail to be moved by the impassioned young knight pleading before him. He nodded: “God go with you! I will follow with the infantry as fast as I can.”

Karl led the Imperial knights in a frenzy, leading them to smash one regiment of aventuriers after another.

https://img404.imageshack.us/img404/9493/130614az6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)


By the time Karl’s men turned their attention to the enemy foot knights, the fighting spirit of the French was broken. Count Scherer’s mission to relieve Caen had succeeded, but at the cost of the Reich’s most distinguished general.

https://img123.imageshack.us/img123/1184/1301615uh1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The butcher’s bill.


Some weeks after the battle, Karl received a letter from Prinz Elberhard:


Sir Karl Gorg,

I am saddened to hear of the loss of Count Friedrich Scherer, a true hero of the Reich.

But as one hero dies, another is born. I have been told of your part in saving the battle and wish to offer you a battlefield promotion. You will be given land and estates and made an Elector in the Reich.

Please accept this great honour,

Yours,

Prinz Elbehard

Karl let the letter fall, unanswered to the floor.


https://img220.imageshack.us/img220/8932/130616rv8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

[Dutch_guy]

Placeholder for the siege, assault and sack of Constantinopel.

:balloon2:

[Cecil XIX]

“So it has come to this again. It seems the peasants and the nobles alike want to keep their city to themselves”

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Edmund Becker addressed his army.

“Men! We have Hungarian wolves at the wayside, just waiting to pick to pick off good Imperials who have the courage to go and fight. So let’s take this city quickly, and make sure to keep the walls intact! Now, to battle for the Reich and Saint Michael!”

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Though there was a heavy rain, it did little to obscure what needed to be done. There were five towers to take down, and cannons to do it.

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Once that was done it was a simple matter of advancing on the walls. The rebels had only one unit of archers to contest with and they futilely spent their arrows on the walls.

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In Edmund’s haste to make sure the ladders were properly placed, he was very much surprised to see the enemy Knight’s riding forth from the city gates and attacking his Zweihanders.

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“That it, they’ve given us an opening! Infantry, cavalry advance!” Soon Imperial soldiers were swarming into Bucharest without so much as splinter having fallen from the gate.

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On the walls, the rebel foot archers were firing their last salvo.

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Again, the Imperial cavalry surged forward. They would be ready when the rebels tried to flee back to the city center.

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That did not take long, as the men defending the walls were all peasants and levies. A few units broke almost upon contact.

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But the battle was far from over, with many enemies standing between the Reich and control of the city.

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Becker quickly hatched a plan to send the infantry through the main road,

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While having the cavalry flank them by moving along a side road.

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This led to the cavalry almost being flanked, but Becker was prepared for that too.

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Still, the fighting inevitably degenerated into chaos.

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Becker ordered the cavalry to extract themselves from the fighting and approach the city center from another direction while the infantry pushed through.

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After that, the rest of the siege was textbook. The infantry and the cavalry moved in from multiple directions, surrounding the then outnumbered defenders and wearing them down from all side. Unfortunately most of the remaining soldiers were knights, and they took a heavy toll before falling.

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[GeneralHankerchief]

The Diary of Dietrich von Dassel

Durazzo, 1314

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No really, I thought, rolling up the scroll and burning it. What a waste of paper. If raising an illegal army, housing the greatest threat to the Papacy (Alexander Luther), and marching that army on Durazzo, de facto capital of the Papacy in the name of Luther's teachings with the intent of killing the Pope wasn't grounds for excommunication, everyone might as well just coast into Heaven right now. I laughed. Wouldn't that be something?

As far as marches went, it was a rather fun one. The men were clearly motivated, and we may have heard Hans's screams of frustration at the fact that he couldn't catch me from here. Plus, after that assassination attempt on Luther, we actually gained men who wanted to join the cause, which was a welcome rarity in army marches. Granted, the fellows didn't have much experience... or armor... or weaponry. However, they did have zeal, and there are some occasions where zeal counts for the most.

If only the most zealous were always the most well-equipped to fight...

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Anyways, we finally arrived at Durazzo. It was a beautiful day, clear skies, all that. We were also somewhat surrounded and definitely outnumbered. But the nasty part of it would come later. Now came the catapults.

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We brought six of the shiny, lovely, wooden things with us from Ragusa to Durazzo. I remembered back in the Diet when Jan von Hamburg was flapping on about them and how there was no possible way they could be used to keep the peace in Ragusa, which at the time was my main excuse for housing that large army. I simply ignored him on that point. Ignoring him is fun. I must make a note to ignore him more often. Perhaps me completely ignoring him will actually ruffle his feathers a bit. That would be fun to see.

Before the catapults began their salvos against Durazzo's poor walls I had a couple of things to do. First of all, I had to address Luther. He was our religious ace in the hole, after all. I was confident in my generalling skills that day, but still, I was outnumbered by quite a bit. I told him to use all of his religious mojo to pray that second, massive army away, or at least delay them a bit. He seemed taken aback at my request but considering how I had sheltered him for the past few years and the fact that I was dressed in my full, intimidating, battle regalia he complied.

The second thing was to make the usual inspiring speech to the troops. I had this sort of thing in my mind for a while now. One's head generally gets overloaded with inspiring speeches when one gets stuck with garrison duty for a number of years. As a result, it came out a little over-the-top. Of course, I had people with zeal on my side, so maybe it was perfect.

"Men!" I said, in a nice, manly, let's-get-down-to-business tone, "Before us lies our goal! Durazzo, home of the puppet! Durazzo, home of the old crone! Durazzo, home of that Byzantine!!!" They cheered at that last bit. I grinned behind my helmet. I love it when something in a speech goes right. "We come here today," I continued, "A persecuted people, chased by our own kind, chased by people determined to run the Reich into ruin just to complete their own misguided agendas!" More cheering. I felt like a Kaiser. Oh wait, scratch that. I felt like a Duke. Actually, some Dukes are really having some problems nowadays. Scratch that too. I felt like... a popular leader. Let's leave it at that.

"They have tried to take everything away from me! Gentlemen, look at me! I am without a County. I am without a House! Men, they were even trying to rob me of my freedom before we made our march! But *#%! it, I have an army. And an army is all you ever need in life!!! We are the Army of Light, for that is what we bring to the world! Light, knowledge, and the truth! Nobody can take that away from us!!!" Cue army going beserk. Cue me nervously scanning the horizon searching for that huge Papal army scheduled to grind us into oblivion. Cue me not seeing anything and silently praising God and Luther (not necessarily in that order) for siding with me today.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_177.jpg

"Anyway, enough talking!" I concluded, because I really wanted to take the city before that other army decided to show up. "Catapults, show 'em what you've got!!!"

And they did. The lovely, shiny, wooden things did their work and launched those rocks at the enemy's walls, which vibrated so much from the impact that they sent the poor men on them flying. Of course, Pope Abbate or whoever was actually commanding the men saw the danger in this at once and gave the order to promptly abandon the walls. I remember turning to my aide, Friedrich, and remarking that I take back everything I ever said about artillery. He just shook his head.

I kept them firing long after it was necessary, grinning. Say all you will about the Reich's current state. The people of Durazzo, especially those who live on the north side of the city, will still say that we're pretty damn powerful. It felt good. Plus, it gave me some time to think about how to assault the city, where a large Papal army was waiting for us.

Mainly, I thought about those Religious Fanatics that had joined us halfway through and where they would fit. My first inclination was to use them as shock troops; they certainly had that required zeal. But then I realized they didn't fit the other definition of shock troops: effective. Forlorn Hope were good shock troops. They were effective. These Lutherans were like Forlorn Hope, only they suck. But then I realized that - hey! - the walls were abandoned and I wouldn't need any shock troops, period. Eventually I decided to put the Lutherans in reserve and use them as a buffer where extra manpower was needed.

"Sir?" Friedrich tugged my arm, snapping me back to life. "The northern walls are pretty much gone. Should we go in?"

I stared at the walls. The assessment was quite accurate.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_178.jpg

But then I saw that the gates, while now completely redundant, still stood. I couldn't have that, now, could I?

"Not yet," I said. "Tell the catapults to bring the gate down."

"Sir? You do realize that-"

"Just do it," I snapped. "Catapults! Bring down that gate!"

They did so. I grinned. We were ready to go in.

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Our men marched in, slowly, relaxed. There was need to speed up. After all, the walls - or what was left of them - were abandoned. There was no army behind us pushing us to move in. We had all the time in the world. I liked that. It's rare in war when you can be so organized in the middle of a battle. I ordered my units in and they went exactly where I placed them. Amazing.

A lone regiment of Papal Guard was standing at the entranceway to one of the main streets, daring us to pass. I laughed. Did they expect to be like the Spartans at Thermopylae? Did they expect to hold back the crush of my men? I ordered most of my infantry in to break them. The people in the numerous regiments of Dismounted Feudal Knights, Armoured Sergeants, and Zweihanders inevitably slipped through the cracks and sent the Papal Guard fleeing. The Papists would have to find another way to beat me.

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The main vanguard of infantry continued to move up the main street, occasionally encountering resistance. I dispatched a smaller group consisting of the Lutherans and two regiments of Armoured Sergeants to take a side street in support. Once enough area was secure, the archers and cavalry moved in. Order was progressing nicely, with the vanguard almost reaching the end of the main street. They were facing a minor resistance in Italian Spear Militia, who were being roundly defeated. Then I saw some movement that was rather surprising.

Cavalry - it had to be the Pope, since that was the only horse unit in the place - was moving, ready to back up the Italians and slam into my Zweihanders. But then I saw the Pope (poor lad, he was German, after all) move past the main action... right onto the side street where the Lutherans were ready to intercept him.

I laughed out loud. Pope Abbate was alone, without infantry support, against nearly two hundred and fifty pissed off Lutherans who had been taught for the past years that the man deserved to die. Zeal would certainly account for a lot in this skirmish.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_181.jpg

It was almost comically quick. The poor guy was right at the front of his unit when they ran into the Lutherans. His men put up a valiant fight but they simply couldn't reverse the fact that their leader was an old fat guy who had no military experience whatsoever. He fell rather quickly and a humongous cheer went up among the Lutherans, buoying the main group (who had intercepted potential infantry support).

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_182.jpg

Anyway, the fight continued until it was a brutal showdown in the town center between us and the majority of the Papal infantry. I received a report from the catapults saying that the enemy army was finally in sight and that it was beginning to savage them with long-range weapons of its own. I ignored it. Killing the guys in the town center mattered now. After reading Kaiser Heinrich's reports on defeating the Papacy and taking Mediterranean settlements in general it seemed like this was the hardest part. I spent most of my time alternating between watching the battle and breaking into houses to steal food.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_183.jpg

The fight dragged on, blah blah blah. We lost some, they lost some. I received another report from the catapults. Time to get serious. I broke into one final house with a delicious scent of cake emanating from it, ate a slice, re-mounted my horse, and gave the final orders to the cavalry:

"Charge, boys!!!"

The Papal infantry was already at the breaking point, pressed to the limit by our men. That final cavalry charge, 150 horses screaming in, was simply too much. They died easily. Clockwork.

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https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_185.jpg

"Men!" I screamed to my army after it was all over. "You have been vindicated! Re-unification lies in ruins! The puppet is deposed! You have exercised the Reich's authority and I salute you for that! The final Papal army approaches. Enjoy your spoils, make them remember this day forever as the day where they were too slow to prevent this from happening!"

And then, I exercised my final atrocity against the city of Durazzo.

"Kill them all."

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_186.jpg

[OverKnight]

The Battle of the Iron Bridge, 1316

The bridge over the Orontes north of Antioch was called Pons Ferreus by the First Crusaders, the Iron Bridge. An imposing name, even if the bridge was just stone. The locals called the river it crossed the Farfar, and so the bridge had been Latinized into its current name. Still, despite the inaccuracy, Matthias was pleased with it. It was a good place to make a stand, at the Iron Bridge. The Crusaders would need Iron to make it, an iron will and strong weapons to turn the tide of the Greek advance. As pleased as Matthias was to return to the field, he was outnumbered and outclassed in cavalry.

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The Greeks were anxious to secure their line of supply to Antioch. They were willing to spend quite a few Florins on mercenary cavalry to ensure this and the destruction of one of the three remaining Imperial armies in the East. They needed the bridge, which is why Matthias had asked to come here. Adana might be gone, Outremer almost overrun, but he now held something they wanted. That gave him, tactically at least, the upper hand.

Matthias turned to his troops and spoke.

"Crusaders! Germans! The Chosen of God! We make our stand here! We have been pushed back by the Greeks. We sought to abandon our Covenant with the Lord, and we have been punished for it. We have almost lost the Holy Land, our sacred trust. But now, now, we fight back! No more retreat. No more gifts. No more diplomacy. We draw the line here! Now is the time for Blood! Now is the time to reforge our Faith and our Honor in the Crucible of Battle. Glory to God and death to the Greeks!"

A cheer went up among the men, hope rekindling in the hearts of men who had almost lost it. Matthias prayed it would be enough. Faith was a powerful weapon, but only if channeled properly. He looked north, he would have his answer soon.

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Matthias had placed his spearmen in front. The knights and zweihanders were behind them, ready to charge in once the lines met. The crossbowmen were on the flanks, their firing lines angled to form a kill zone in the middle of the bridge.

The Byzantines led with bowmen and infantry, as they charged across the bridge, Matthias ordered his spearmen forward to cap the exit of the bridge with a V formed by the two units. They arrived just in time to meet the Greeks.

The spears held, barely, and Matthias ordered his heavy infantry to join the maelstrom at the head of the bridge.

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It was a vicious melee, but the Imperial foot had the advantage of positioning. The Byzantine foot stuck on the bridge and unable to make it to the the front line were mercilessly cut down by the crossbowmen.

The infantry soon fled. The Kwarzimen, held in reserve to pursue the expected routers, were thrown into the battle. Rather than give them room to fight and bring the weight of their horses to bear, Matthias ordered his infantry onto the bridge to block them. The crossbowmen would do most of the killing this time.

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It was touch and go, but the horsemen broke as well. Matthias giddily ordered a general pursuit, laughing as he killed the fleeing Byzantines.

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The Teutonic Knights were ahead of the rest of the Imperial forces when the Greek cavalry rallied. They charged into the Teutons.

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Matthias, swearing at his own stupidity, ordered the foot into the fight as he counter-charged with his own retainers. He was taking losses he could ill afford. Fortunately, the Greeks' resurgence was temporary and they once again broke.

The Butcher's Bill

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The prisoners were ransomed for nearly four thousand Florins. Matthias was tempted to send them to Hell, but he did need reinforcements and money was tight.

After the battle, Matthias was content. The Greeks had been bled, the line had been held and he had found a good place to make a stand. This time, he would not be taken by treachery, he would not be dislodged. He would hold the Iron Bridge.

[GeneralHankerchief]

The Diary of Dietrich von Dassel
South of Bologna, 1318

We had arrived at Bologna a week prior, but I had declined to attack up until now. This delay was most certainly not my doing; if I had it my way we would have kept right on marching and bit the enemy right in the rear. Of course, if I had it my way back in 1300 I would have been Chancellor, the Kaiser would have been forced to Diet opinion, and we might not have been in such a terrible position in the first place.

Upon seeing the Byzantine army for the first time, my men - my hard-core veterans! - went and got major cold feet. Leading the dissent were the Balkan Archers I had picked up at the start of my march and, more surprisingly, Alexander Luther's very own Religious Fanatics, the same people that had killed Pope Abbate in a frenzy. Now that the odds were slightly against us, they had done a 180 in their opinions; now Luther didn't matter, the Cause didn't matter, defending the Reich didn't matter. They simply would not attack because I was apparently throwing all of their lives away for nothing.

Not even the most passionate speeches by Luther nor the nastiest threats by me could move them from their position. After the third day of the impasse I finally decided to just let them desert before the defeatest sentiment spread to the rest of the men. Of course we were facing bad odds, that was the idea! The Reich needed this kind of victory, and we were the ones that would deliver it to them!

The next few days were spent by me scouring the countryside in search of some less-cowardly men, for with the desertion of the Fanatics and Balkan Archers we were definitely screwed. Eventually I found some Mercenary Spearmen and Pavise Crossbowmen, men not quite devoted to the Cause so much as money. They saw the odds but instead of deserting they simply raised their prices. I was forced to comply.

Finally, after the seventh day, we were ready to move in. And so we did, with me still asking myself whether I was a *#%!ing idiot or not for making this crazy move. Obviously, I kept that sentiment to myself. I didn't want any more men deserting or doubting me.

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The way things were set up, the Bologna garrison would come in from the east and smash the Byzantine force. The one thing we had going in our favor was that about half the ridiculously large army consisted of peasant archers, men who surely knew my and the Army of Light's reputation. If we charged in and flanked them... maybe they would break. Maybe. The small men that were part of the Varangian Guard or the Kataphractoi would be harder to disperse, however.

Our men advanced slowly and deliberately for the time being. I wanted to conserve their energy, for once they got in range of the enemy's archers they would need to run if there was to be a significant impact to my charge. As such, the garrison of Bologna got to the fighting first and began to overrun the enemy Horse Archers placed on the extreme flank.

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The Byzantines, including the archers, held their positions as the Bolognans slowly overwhelmed the missile cavalry. Good. If they had turned and unleashed their arrows onto the flanking force... well... let's just say that there wouldn't have been a flanking force for long.

Our men stopped.

"Crossbows, take aim!" I shouted. I could hear similar commands being made in Greek on the other side of the battlefield.

Since I had given the order first, our bolts hit their targets faster. There was a moment of brief celebration as we saw some of their hundreds of archers go down, but it was short-lived. The hail of arrow fire was coming our way. Everyone braced themselves for the worst.

I sat up in my saddle, facing the storm. I remembered tales of Thermopylae, where the Persian archers had blotted out the sun, the Persian archers that were part of a numerically superior but inferior in quality force. The Byzantines here, the descendants of the same Greeks that had fought at that mountain pass so long ago didn't block the sun, but they came close.

Arrows came down everywhere, sometimes six or seven to a shield. Dozens of men dropped, but our missiles took the brunt of the casualties. I breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that it wasn't worse.

"Infantry, charge!" I roared, and they instantly ran, hoping to get to the enemy line as quickly as possible. "Crossbows, stay here! Keep firing!"

It was an amazing sight. The Byzantines got one volley off into the infantry before my men closed. And then, just over three hundred men charging scattered off three times that number of men, leaving the infantry to take the brunt of the charge.

All of those numbers and none of them want to fight Imperial infantry face-to-face, I thought. Amazing.

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My glee was short-lived. Our flanking force was closing in, yes. But so was theirs. Hundreds of Byzantine archers worked their way around the battle line, in our infantry's rear, on both my sides, between me and the infantry, and there was only my escort and crossbowmen to hold them off.

I charged into the closest regiment of archers, killing a good amount of them instantly and sending them running. Hopefully it would last and they wouldn't regain their nerve and come back. I spotted another nearby regiment. Lather, rinse, repeat. But this time it was tougher. The enemy held on longer, we had to kill more of them to make our point, and I lost a couple of horsemen.

After disengaging, I took a look at the greater battle situation:

- Our infantry was in good order, defeating the inferior Byzantine infantry.

- Many many many many many archers still lurked.

- The Bologna garrison was about to become a major thorn in the enemy's side (literally)

- I was about to receive more pressure. After turning around, I saw both some Kataphractoi and the Varangian Guard slowly making their way towards me.

"Oh dear God," I muttered. I guess this was the downside to having a reputation. Desperately turning to my infantry, I started screaming.

"Withdraw! Withdraw! You've killed enough infantry! Time to go after the meat!" My men looked around in confusion, and then saw what I was facing. Bless them, they ran. The Army of Light stuck up for each other.

There was a minute of me evading enemy archer fire, cavalry charges, and infantry engagements. Then, two things happened: The Bolognans, in the midst of their flanking push, struck down the enemy captain. Secondly, our Armoured Sergeants engaged the Varangian Guard. Of course they were getting slowly mauled but the important thing was that the enemy was pinned.

"Ride around the rear, then charge!!!"

My escort did so, breaking the famed Varangian Guard and freeing up the beleagured Armoured Sergeants. Unlike with the archers eariler on in the battle, my men spent extra time chasing down and killing every single person in this regiment.

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The process was repeated later on with my infantry and the Kataphractoi. They pinned, I charged. The enemy ran, I pursued. The meat was gone.

The rest of the demoralized enemy quickly routed when realizing that their captain was dead and that the elite units were no more. Our flanking action had gone spectacularly, and the rest of the battle was simply my exhausted men hunting down and destroying routers.

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At the day's close, we looked at the official casualty count: It had been a crushing defeat for the enemy. Around 85% of the enemy was not able to escape the field that day. Our losses were relatively few, and the Army of Light was ready for continued action. Plus, and most importantly, we were now more confident, all of us. There would be less desertion after they learned that they could do this.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_192.jpg

The final thing I had to deal with was the six hundred sixty nine enemy prisoners. That was quite a lot, and ransoming them would give us a lot of money to use for further operation.

"M'Lord," said Friedrich, my aide, "What should we do with them? We could use the money."

"Kill them," I said without a moment's hesitation. "If the Byzantines want a war, we'll give it to them. This sends a message. This sends her a message, wherever she is."

"Yes, sir," said Friedrich, bowing.

"We may not win this thing," I said to myself, "But we'll make it a fight. We'll make it a fight."

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_193.jpg

[econ21]

The storming of Antioch, 1318

Elberhard sat with his head in his hands. His time as Chancellor was coming to a close and the enormity of the ruin the Reich had experienced under his stewardship was overpowering.

“Chin up.” said Linyeve, breezily. “It can’t be that bad.”

Elberhard looked up, exasperated. “Can’t be that bad? Think of what I have “achieved” during my term of office. I’ve given away a large chunk of the Reich. Seen my Kaiser assassinated. Watched my men sack the capital of our most faithful ally. Stood by as zealots killed poor Pope Abbate. Had my partner run off with the entire Treasury. Can there ever have been a worse King of Rome?”

Linyeve smiled, as if enjoying her husband’s discomfort: “Oh, I am sure there has.”

“Who?”

“Err… Nero, perhaps?” Linyeve teased.

“@#$%^&!!! off!” said Elberhard, emphatically. “It’s not my fault.” He whined. “The @#$%^&!!ing Bavarians killed the Kaiser. The @#$%^&!!ing Franconians started the war with Byzantium. The @#$%^&!!ing Austrians killed the Pope. And the @#$%^&!!ing Swabians are killing themselves! Only the @#$%^&!!ing crusaders in Outremer have been true.”

“Yes, and you @#$%^&!!ed the crusaders over, didn’t you?” said Linyeve, evilly.

Elberhard sunk his head back into his hands.

“Look” said Linyeve, seriously. “Forget about internal politics. You won’t have to worry about that for a while. There are far greater threats externally.”

“Whaddya mean?”

“I heard from my contacts at the English court. The Poles have been putting out feelers to all the Catholic powers. They are trying to organise a crusade against us. And not just any old crusade – not just each nation sending one to take one of our cities. But a crusade to crush the Reich completely. To take advantage of its weakness. Already our enemies are mustering fresh armies and preparing to cross our borders in concert.”

“Who is part of this alliance?”

“Everyone. Or almost everyone. The Poles have even brought the Orthodox Russians on board. The Hungarians have led the way with their destruction of the First Household Army of Austria. The breaking of the siege of Thessalonica has encouraged the Venetians to go on the attack. The Papacy is enraged by the extermination of Durazzo and the killing of the Pope. The surprise victory at Ajaccio is spurring the Sicilians to raise a massive army to do it right next time. The French can barely contain their delight at Swabia falling into civil war and rebellion. While the Danes have seen the arrival of Peter von Kastilien on their borders as the signal for a renewed drive on Hamburg.”

“And they are all going to work together?”

“Yes. While the Byzantines hold our attention in Italy and Outremer, the rest of Europe will fall on our flanks and rear.”

“@#$%^&!!ing hell!” sighed Elberhard. “What do I do?”

“Oh, that’s easy. There is only one thing for you to do." Linyeve said grimly: "You fight.”



*****


https://img179.imageshack.us/img179/5606/antioch22ia0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Wary of what ten regiments of heavy cavalry could do in open battle, Elberhard attacks them at night, while most are still in barracks.

After a night march, the Kaiser’s army had arrived at Antioch. Elberhard watched with interest the deployment of the two batteries of cannon. He had been impressed by the stories of this new weapon and was keen to see it in action.

“Target the gates” he ordered.

One volley and the gates were down.

“@#$%^&!!ing hell!” said Elberhard appreciatively.

He turned to Jan the Teuton. Jan winced, remembering the fury with which the Kaiser had greeted him on return from Rome.

“Captain – you are in command. Bring up the army through the gates.”

Jan looked puzzled, as Elberhard spurred his escort off through the gates.

“Where does he think he is going?” he muttered as the Kaiser and his men entered the city alone.


https://img337.imageshack.us/img337/3706/antioch23gr2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The gate breached, the Byzantine cavalry mount up and head for the walls.

https://img401.imageshack.us/img401/6914/antioch24qn6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Elberhard races to infiltrate the city before they Byzantines reach the gate.

As the army began to approach the city, Jan saw crossbows start to poke out of the adjoining towers and fire on his troops. Through the smashed gates, he could see Byzantine cavalry arriving to block the entrance.

“Sergeants!” Jan called out. “Through the gates! For God, for Kaiser and for the Reich!”

The armoured spearmen poured through the gates into the enemy cavalry. Although the Muslim mercenary cavalry holding Antioch for Byzantium was well armoured, its main advantages were neutralised by its caught stationary and in a confined space.

“Archers! Indirect fire – shoot over the walls!” ordered Jan.

https://img503.imageshack.us/img503/7907/antioch25pw9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

As the Byzantines cavalry focus on the armoured spearmen coming through the gates, they are demoralised by arching fire from German crossbowmen over the walls.

https://img266.imageshack.us/img266/4249/antioch26nl7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Elberhard’s escort, already within the city walls, hits the Byzantine cavalry in the rear, routing three regiments on impact.


The fighting was bitter but brief. Soon the enemy were in flight and through the gates Jan saw the Kaiser’s escort pursue them.

As Jan entered the city, he was greeted by an exuberant Elberhard.

“Great scrap, eh?” said the Kaiser. “Right – bring the spearmen through the streets. But halt them just a little ahead of the walls. I want you to create a killing zone for the enemy cavalry. Place the crossbowmen on the walls, so they can provide support. I am going to move to the east side of the city, so I can hit them in the flank as they fixate on you.”

Jan saluted. Sounds like a plan, he thought.

https://img213.imageshack.us/img213/9347/antioch27kh9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)


The Byzantine general leads his men into the path of waiting German schiltrons. His death undermines the Romans morale.


https://img443.imageshack.us/img443/6001/antioch29sg4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Germans create a killing zone on the road to the gate. Behind the schiltrons, crossbowmen fire bolts into any approaching cavalry. Due to an oversight, only one regiment makes it onto the walls but kills 145 men – about ten times as much as the regiments left to fire indirectly from the ground.



Even Jan was surprised by how successful the Kaiser’s tactics were. The Byzantine cavalry could make no impression on the German schiltrons. After the death of their general, the enemy seemed crippled by low morale. Typically they would advance – take heavy losses from the crossbows on the walls – and then flee after only the weakest pretence of engaging the German schiltron.

https://img510.imageshack.us/img510/9733/antioch210is0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Elephants with musketeers and mounted crossbowmen add to the carnage.

https://img251.imageshack.us/img251/4901/antioch211nd7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The main street to the city centre is left littered with the corpses of Byzantine cavalry.

After his men had expended about half their ammunition, Jan heard a loud “hurrah!” coming from the east side of the city. Evidently the Kaiser was making his move.

“Charge!” roared Jan.

https://img251.imageshack.us/img251/3586/antioch212ms1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

When the enemy have been sufficiently depleted, Elberhard delivers the coup de grace.


After the battle, Elberhard returned to Linyeve, his face flushed with pride.

“Well, it’s a start, I suppose.” she said.



https://img408.imageshack.us/img408/5450/antioch21od9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The butcher’s bill


https://img264.imageshack.us/img264/2932/antioch213hw1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Mindful of King Jan’s guidance, Elberhard occupies the city.


https://img48.imageshack.us/img48/8926/antioch214qx2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

And gains some much needed florins and authority from his actions.


https://img512.imageshack.us/img512/2868/antioch215qi1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

With the German Kaiser occupying a Byzantine city, any hope of a rapprochement between the western and eastern “Romans” is destroyed.

[Northnovas]

Sofia Region – Road to Budapest 1318

The marched had started and the recruitment was slow. The Count had managed to organize a regiment of spearmen from the stragglers of Bucharest and what he had they were all veterans. The recruits were with the crossbow men. There were more recruits then regulars. Peter his logistics man was able to scrape equipment for them and a limited number of arrows. They were all good hunters with the bow. The Count felt fortunate to finish his Army off with some Reiters he had met recently met and some Knights.

This was the Karl’s first battle against a European Faction. The scouts told them they were slightly outnumbered and it was mainly spearmen. Not what Karl wanted to hear; their level of experience was unknown. There was no avoiding he must fight.

The Count surveyed the ground it was a frosty morning and the light snow on the ground gave some disadvantage fro anyhow climbing. He rode up to the Crossbowmen.
“Archers, for many this is your first battle. All that I ask of you men is to concentrate on your tasks at hand. You were picked because of your marksmen ability. Keep your focus on your target and ignore everything around you. Listen to your Captain’s orders and good hunting. A roaring cheer went up from the men; these boys were ready thought the Karl to himself.
Karl then rode up to the Captain of the Spearmen. The Captain looked up to the Count and nodded to acknowledge I know what needs to be done.
“Protect them archers; I can’t have them leave the battlefield.” Karl said very quietly to the Captain.
“I will watch them as if there my own, my lord” said the captain as he turned to the Regiment and barked some orders.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1318e-archers.jpg

There were 3 Regiments of Spearmen and 1 Regiment of Feudal Knights. That was the unit that concerned the Count. All missile units concentrated on the Knights. They began to fall.
https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1318f-feudalknights.jpg

The cavalry charged!

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1318g-charge.jpg

They fled before coming to the Austrian line.

Spearmen were left and the Reiters and Crossbowmen concentrated on the formation coming directly to the Austrian line. The Hungarians were wavering. The Count’s tactic was working the Spearmen were being hit in the rear by the cavalry before they could set.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1318h-final.jpg

The morning was over soon enough.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1318b-victory.jpg

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1318c-stats.jpg

A victory no matter how small was all that was needed to build on for the recruitment drive to Budapest thought Zirn.

“My lord, we have prisoners. What are your wishes?” asked the Captain of the Spearmen.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1318i-prisoners.jpg

“Release them!” Karl ordered and rode off. The Captain had a bit of a quizzical look but followed through with the order not showing his utter contempt for the enemy and really knew little about the man he was following; Karl Zirn the Hounourable.

[econ21]

Budapest, 1320


https://img80.imageshack.us/img80/9391/budapest0gl4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

With an untested commander and brittle militia, the storming of Budapest was never going to be easy.


“When the cannons fire, you run - right, Klaus?”

Young Klaus looked petulant: “What - run carrying this ruddy great pavise? Who do you think I am? Hercules?”

The older man, Conrad, started to wag his finger: “Look, idiot, we are about all the Count has got to rely on in this battle. Look around you - his army is a bunch of half trained militia. The Magyars will cut through them like a hot knife through butter! We have to get into the city and onto the walls. The militia will hold off the Magyars and we’ll do the killing. Right?”

“I am sorry, did you say something about butter? God, I’m starving.” Klaus looked distracted, and very hungry.

Conrad’s face turned red: “Idiot! Look, just run when … damn it, that’s the cannon! God be praised the gates are down in one volley! Now … RUN!”



*****


Klaus and Conrad puffed their way to the northern gateway to Budapest. Ahead of them, they had seen Count Lorenz be the first to ride into the city. It was said he had received a personal letter from the Kaiser himself, explaining the tactics used to take Antioch and was seeking to apply them here.

https://img140.imageshack.us/img140/8500/budapest2mc1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Karl Lorenz breaks into Budapest, catching a regiment of Magyar crossbowmen unawares and then making for the eastern gate.


The two German crossbowmen then clambered up the steps to the walls, pushing and shoving with the throng of other Germans racing to get into the city before the garrison belatedly plugged the breach. The gate tower had not been guarded. Count Lorenz had ordered two regiments of militia to make feints for the western and eastern gates, hoping to draw off some of Budapest’s ample garrison. The stratagem had had only limited success - two insignificant Magyar regiments had been roused at the eastern gate. But perhaps the confusion caused by the multiple threats explained the failure of the garrison to guard the key northern gate in strength. The Magyars were clearly trying to correct their mistake - for Klaus could hear the sound of fighting out in the streets. Clearly the German infantry spearhead, a regiment of Zweihanders, was meeting opposition.

When Klaus reached the top of the city walls, he turned to look at the combat below him. The Germans had managed to secure a perimeter around the gates, preventing the Magyars infiltrating their own archers onto the walls. In the streets, Klaus could see Magyar cavalry taking aim at the German infantry.

https://img165.imageshack.us/img165/9965/budapest3yl0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

With their fast horses and accurate archery, the Magyar cavalry are a priority target for the Germans. Fortunately, the defending general is braver than he is wise and his regiment is among the first to challenge the German spearhead.


Conrad could not believe the chaos and confusion in the German ranks. Crossbow militia, halberd militia, zweihanders and spear militia were intermingled and packed among the narrow city streets.

“Look!” shouted Klaus in alarm. In the distance, Conrad could make out the gleaming armour of chivalric knights coming to assist the Magyar cavalry. If the Germans did not get organised, this could get nasty, thought Conrad.

“Form ranks! Form ranks!” shouted the halberd militia captains.

“Form schiltron!” screamed the spear militia captains.

Slowly order began to emerge.


https://img165.imageshack.us/img165/879/budapest4qs9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The halberd militia brace against the Magyar cavalry - they form a solid defence…

https://img140.imageshack.us/img140/3879/budapest5yz2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

…allowing the German crossbowmen on the walls to strike down the enemy horsemen from afar.

As the Magyar horsemen were being worn down, Klaus heard the sound of horns and trumpets coming from the east.

“It’s the eastern gate - Count Lorenz has opened it from the inside!” said Conrad exultantly.

https://img80.imageshack.us/img80/5266/budapest6bt2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

After cutting down a second regiment of crossbowmen, Count Lorenz’s escort allow the eastern “feint” detachment to break into the city.


Meanwhile, the two professional infantry regiments - the zweihanders and the armoured sergeants - had been extracted early on from the melee in front of the north gate and sent east down a side road.

“Where are they going?!” asked Klaus.

“Like us, they are too good to waste on in the carnal house down there. They are going to get behind the enemy.” announced Conrad. “If we can trap the Magyars in the streets, they will lose heart. Let the rebels get back to the city centre and they will fight like demons.”

https://img165.imageshack.us/img165/8118/budapest7zq1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Halberds to the front - zweihanders to the rear, the Magyars are trapped in the main street from the north gate to the city centre.

With their general dead, the Magyars trapped in the northern streets were slowly cut down and eliminated. The Zweihanders and armoured sergeants began to approach the city centre. There, a remaining Magyar cavalry regiment entered a Cantabrian circle, targeting the German shock troops.

The pavise crossbowmen were helpless to intervene - they were out of range.

“All right you maggots, off the walls! Get down to the city square or do you want to just stand around, watching the others get the glory?” screamed one of the crossbowmen’s officers.

“Glory?!” muttered Conrad, “What an ass!”

The crossbowmen dutifully filed down the stairs and off the walls, but before Klaus left, he saw Count Lorenz’s escort come charging in from the east, riding hard for the Magyar cavalry. While the Cantabrian circle protected the Magyars from return fire, it hopelessly disrupted their ability to evade melee.

https://img80.imageshack.us/img80/7131/budapest8xc7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Count Lorenz’s arrival in the city centre marks the final phase of the battle.



As the crossbowmen came within range of the city centre, they heard the boom of the German cannons. Every available man in the German army was now pouring into the central forum, overwhelming the last defenders.

https://img515.imageshack.us/img515/3438/budapest9fv0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The cannon’s use in the final phase of the battle was largely symbolic - the combat was soon so disordered, it would have been impossible to continue firing without killing more Germans than Magyars.

https://img89.imageshack.us/img89/1781/budapest10bk1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Despite nearly half of his escort having fallen, Count Lorenz is in at the kill. The other spearhead unit - the zweihanders - have lost nearly two thirds of their number.


In the sacking of the city that follows, 4688 innocents lose their lives - and 15904 florins are looted. For this victory, Count Lorenz will earn the reputation of being a promising commander and identify both a promising veteran warrior and a shield bearer among his retinue

https://img132.imageshack.us/img132/9763/budapest1bi8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The butcher’s bill.

https://img80.imageshack.us/img80/9172/budapest11np1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

[econ21]

Aleppo Province, 1320


“Captain Jan, I want you to sit this one out.”

“My Kaiser, why? Is this some punishment for what happened in Rome – I have explained…”

“No, listen – I have put out a call an open call to all honourable men left in Outremer. I have proclaimed the need of Christendom and stated that the good people here stand in dire peril. I hope to rally ex-Crusaders to our cause. As a Captain of the Teutonic Order, I want you to take charge of the recruits and whip them into shape.”

“But Kaiser – the recruits will be experienced fighters, I am sure I can get them organised in time to join you in your attack on Strategos Nikolaos.”

“Maybe, but Nikolaos has only a small force – he will surely withdraw rather than give battle to a large army. No – you stay; I’ll challenge him with the men I have now. We can re-unite afterwards if all goes according to plan.”

“As you command, Kaiser.”

https://img140.imageshack.us/img140/9018/aleppo0hl4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Elberhard takes his men from Antioch to clear away a force of Byzantines west of besieged Aleppo.




*****


“All right, Kachig – what do we know about Nikolaos’s men?”

“A ragtag force. But it includes several war machines. I would not recommend trying to shoot it out.”

“Too @#$%ing right.” swore Elberhard, “I don’t want them frying me Arnolds.”

“Kaiser – if I may interject – a key strength of the Byzantines is their infantry.” said Sir Charles de Villiers, the veteran English warrior that Linyeve had introduced to Elberhard’s retinue. “They have something of the quality of the old Roman legionnaires. While our knights can match them, they will carve through our sergeants.”

“And we have only one regiment of knights.” sighed Elberhard, beginning to regret leaving Captain Jan and his re-enlisted crusaders behind. “So we hit them with cavalry.”

“That will not be easy” interrupted Kachig. “Nikolaos’s own escort are the formidable kataphractoi and he has some lancers too.”

“All right.” Elberhard had heard enough. “This is the plan. Kachig, you deploy the infantry on this raised ground on the right in a defensive position. Loose order, to minimise losses to their war machines. Close up when the enemy get near. Put me Arnolds on the right flank, but keep ‘em safe. I’ll mass our cavalry on the left.”

https://img147.imageshack.us/img147/2952/aleppo2by4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Rather than adopt his usual symmetrical defensive formation, Elberhard decides to fight the battle more aggressively with a cavalry hammer on the left and an infantry anvil on the right.


“We’ll work our way round the enemy’s rear and take out Nikolaos, their cavalry and then their war machines. Kachig – the infantry will just have to hold until we can assist.”

“Of course, Sire, but try not to tarry.” said Kachig.

@#$% it, thought Elberhard, I’m taking orders from a @#$%ing Armenian mercenary now.


https://img90.imageshack.us/img90/2491/aleppo3gc9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Nikolaos falls into Elberhard’s trap – advancing on the German infantry and letting the German cavalry get around his rear.




*****


The battle was fought at night and the darkness masked the flanking movement of the German cavalry. Elberhard aimed his large escort at the most powerful Byzantine unit – Nikolaos’s veteran kataphractoi bodyguard.

https://img147.imageshack.us/img147/2701/aleppo4ro9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Elberhard starts the battle with an attempt to decapitate the enemy army…

https://img98.imageshack.us/img98/433/aleppo5fv0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

… after hard fighting, he succeeds.

Gradually, Elberhard’s flanking force overwhelmed the outnumbered Byzantine cavalry and then overran their war machines.

https://img153.imageshack.us/img153/9505/aleppo6su2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The addition of a unit of spearmen to cavalry of the flanking force assists the Reich in minimising losses.


The German anvil – their foot troops - was sorely pressed by the superior Byzantine infantry. However, the cavalry hammer arrived just in time to prevent excessive losses.

https://img144.imageshack.us/img144/1200/aleppo7he8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Leaderless, the Byzantine infantry will soon rout when the Kwarizmians charge their rear.

https://img142.imageshack.us/img142/3339/aleppo8na9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The battle ends when the Kaiser’s escort charge the last body of Byzantine foot troops.



*****


After the battle, Linyeve advised Elberhard to try to ransom the prisoners.

“You need the money.” She said simply.

“Should I not follow King Jan’s example and release them?” said Elberhard.

“One King who is known as the merciful is quite enough.” said Linyeve emphatically and then she looked at Elberhard suggestively. “You are my champion and I want you to stay that way.”

Unfortunately for the Greek captives, however, the Byzantines were in no mood to fund their cash-starved enemies.

https://img248.imageshack.us/img248/3673/aleppo1iw7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The butcher’s bill.

[OverKnight]

The Sally out of Antioch

Matthias gave a prayer of thanks as he reviewed his troops. After he had grudgingly agreed to garrison Antioch and abandon the Iron Bridge, he feared the Greeks would pour south in great numbers around the city. They indeed came south, but they had dispersed themselves to the bridge, Antioch itself and Aleppo. Rather than conquer Outremer one settlement and army at a time, the Byzantines sought to overwhelm them all at once. They seemed to have limitless men, but their arrogance was their weakness. A weakness Matthias was intent on exploiting.

His reverie was broken when he came to the four cannons ready to be deployed from the north gate. Matthias was intrigued, he had never led gunpowder artillery into battle, but the construction of the Royal Arsenal at Adana had given him some familiarity with the new weapons.

He approached a battery and spoke to the sergeant in charge of one of the cannons.

"Your gun is ready? I intend for you and your fellows to play a key role tonight."

The gunner nodded, "Aye lord, Feuer Faust here is ready to go, you get us outside the walls and we'll send some Greeks to hell."

"Fire Fist? You name the weapons?"

The artilleryman smiled, "Yes lord, the other cannon in this battery is called Spitfire. Named after the Kaiserin Linyeve herself."

Matthias chuckled and shook his head, "I hope that doesn't get back to her Majesty. Good hunting Sergeant."

Mounting his horse, Matthias looked about him. The troops were ready and it was the witching hour, time to give the Greeks a nightmare.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/antiochandiron/aantiochdeploy.jpg

The Pavise Crossbowmen were deployed on the walls facing the besiegers.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/antiochandiron/bantinit.jpg

The cannons and the spearmen of the garrison deployed from the north gate in the shelter of the walls that thrust out around them in a U. As the men took position, Greek horse and foot archers came forward to disrupt the move.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/antiochandiron/cantcannon.jpg

The bowmen on the walls kept them engaged as the cannons began firing on the main Greek force.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/antiochandiron/dfire.jpg

Demetrios Diogenes, the Greek Strategos, in an effort to raise the morale of his men, told them the Germans couldn't hit the side of a Cathedral with their new cannon. He died in the third volley.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/antiochandiron/edemetriosdead.jpg

Disoriented by the loss of their leader and the aggressive use of an unusual weapon, the Greeks prevaricated, content to continue skirmishing with their missile troops. They withstood fire until the cannons ran out of powder and shot.

Matthias ordered his men forward, with the spearmen followed by the fanatics and swordsmen.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/antiochandiron/flinesmeet.jpg

The Greeks' will to fight melted on contact between the two lines. The rout was on.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/antiochandiron/gantrun.jpg

The cannons had served Matthias well. He sent Feuer Faust and Spitfire on to the Kaiser with his compliments. The ransom on the prisoners was refused and they were put to the sword.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/antiochandiron/hantiochvic.jpg


The Second Battle of the Iron Bridge

Matthias surveyed the Iron Bridge with his good eye. Privately he had expressed doubt to the Kaiser and King Jan that he could take the bridge without heavy losses. Still, he now had cannons. A battery had gone east to the Kaiser, but he had kept one for his own army, with them a bridge assault might be possible.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/antiochandiron/iirondeploy.jpg

Matthias deployed the cannon near the bridge, but outside the range of the Greeks' older artillery. Pavise Crossbowmen were in loose formation to the left and right of the battery and the rest of the troops were hidden in a palm grove further back. If the Byzantines were goaded into crossing, they would be in for a surprise.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/antiochandiron/jironinit.jpg

With a roar, the two cannons began firing across the Orontes. Matthias ordered them to concentrate on the Greeks' defensive line at the mouth of the bridge. After a few hits, the troops redeployed into a loose formation as they retreated back from the river.

Matthias looked on, a grim fire in his eye. Their hold on the bridge was disrupted, now to take on their siege machines. If left intact, they could thwart any Imperial assault with a well placed shot.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/antiochandiron/kironcounterfire.jpg

Half the machines were wrecked and their crews scattered, but the cannons were now out of shot. Matthias ordered the crossbowmen to the banks of the river to further soften up the Greek line.

Sensing that the moment of decision was coming, Matthias spurred his horse out in front of his infantry.

"Men! Germans! The way is clear! Look at those cowards on the far shore, they are no match for the Chosen of God! We will go across the bridge and smite the infidels where they stand."

Despite the speech, there was some muttering among the footmen. Matthias looked about, Gunpowder and God might not be enough to inspire them.

Lowering himself off his horse and sending it away with his squire, Matthias drew Iron Faith, the sword of Saint Maximillian.

"I will lead the way! Follow me and we will take the bridge! Nothing can stop us, for we walk in the Light!"

Turning, Matthias brought the sword down, pointing to the north.

"For Saint Maximillian and the Reich! Forward!"

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/antiochandiron/lironadvance.jpg

Screaming in a frenzied state, the footmen, with Matthias in the lead, charged across the bridge. The Byzantines marched forward to reestablish their line, but they were met with withering missile fire from the far bank.

Running as fast as his armor would allow across the bridge, Matthias heard the shudder of the remaining greek trebuchet in motion, he could feel heat all around him as the night went red.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/antiochandiron/madvance.jpg

But the shot missed. Matthias charged into the Greeks' line, his men a step behind. Iron Faith struck true, as three Greeks died in a moment. He was lost in the battle, a blind rage consumed him. Only when the Byzantines began to break did he emerge from the fury to order the cavalry to pursue.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/antiochandiron/nironbreak.jpg

It was over, the Iron Bridge belonged to him again. The prisoners were killed after a ransom offer was refused. Matthias knelt, covered in gore, and offered a prayer of thanksgiving. The Lord had granted him and his army victory, first at Antioch and now here. Come what may, he would hold against the Greeks, he would hold. And one day, if the Lord saw fit, he would pry Adana from their hands and he would have his vengeance against one Greek in particular.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/antiochandiron/oironvic.jpg

[Northnovas]

Winter 1322 Budapest Region

The three commanders had talked all through the night. The last message from the Duke was to cooperate and defend the eastern border. They sat and eat breakfast.

After some silence Karolinger spoke “So it is agreed we are going on the offensive and we will attack by night.” The other two men nodded in agreement.

“Yes Friedrich it will be by night, it is something I have learned in the east fighting the Turks. They will not be able to support each other at night and the odds will be more even in battle.”

Young Zirn interjected “Besides I have not completed the fortifications of the city after we recaptured the city. We are not ready for an assault on the city.” Everyone nodded in agreement.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/BudapestRegion.jpg

“The sun is up time for some sleep we have a busy night ahead please make sure the best regiments are ready to go for the march this evening. I will retire to sleep. Karl then raised his mug of the soothing hot black liquid in the air. “Victory!”

“Victory!” as both men raised their mugs and prepared to retire for the day.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1322orderbattle.jpg

It was a cold night with a light snow on the ground the moon was breaking out of the clouds. Lorenzo Zirn took command of the main body on a key hilltop. Karl Zirn and Friedrich Karolinger went off to the far right flank.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1322-1hilltop.jpg

The Hungarians marched towards close order formation.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1322-2hungar.jpg

Karl turned to Friedrich “They have no gunpowder. Those are old catapults they will have some effect but we will cut them down before they get started.” Friedrich nodded in agreement and their units swung far right to come behind the enemy.

The Austrians maintained the hill advantage and let the Hungarians march up the icy slope. Fireballs began to rain onto the top of the hill. The Austrians did not budge. Lorenzo Zirn barking orders at the men and having the missile regiments concentrate on the approaching front line of the enemy.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1322-3hill.jpg

A break in the battle the enemy general goes down and causes uncertainty in the enemy ranks.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1322-4enemyleader.jpg

The Hungarians could not get a footing on the hill and began to waver. The catapults were stilled by Zirn and Karolinger’s rear attack.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1322-8catapults.jpg

The carnage

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1322-7carnage.jpg

The battle was won and Karl Zirn ordered the men to press on to round up the routing enemy units. Karolinger took glee in the chance to finish off the enemy.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1322-9thehunt.jpg

The battle was won and there was still no sign of sunrise. The commanders met to discuss the battle and the wounded were being tended too. The casaulties were hign.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1322-10victory.jpg

Peter the veteran warrior of Karl Zrin’s entourage approached the men to give the prisoner report.

“My lord the prisoners have been rounded up and accounted for. It is reported that there could be a significant ransom. Same procedure, sire!”

“Execute them all, don’t give them a chance to fight again!” shouted Lorenz. Karl nodded to Peter and he left the generals.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1322-11prisoners.jpg
The prisoner’s were released. Peter knew it was a formality to ask his Count but no matter how desperate the florin was needed he knew the Count would not trade in human souls. They were paid to fight and so they did there job was done for the day.

The three men celebrated their victory however it was short lived because there was another large enemy force in the region that had to be dealt with for the defence of Budapest.

**************

Budapest Night 2

The Count lied on his cot has the physician tended to some minor wounds. They were minor to the joint pain the Count was feeling with age. The physician was summoned to help the Count to prepare for the ride in battles and the chronic pain afterwards. He administered his special ointments and wraps.

Peter came into the tent. “Count Zirn, we just received a scouting report. The second Hungarian Army was closer then we thought and they are actively looking for us by following the retreating First Army thinking maybe we are pursuing. We may have the upper hand.”

“Another night attack?” groaned Zirn has he got up from the cot. “Do we have the manpower and are the men capable of another assault so soon?”

“Yes, my lord!” replied Peter his voice building with excitement. “Ingo has been walking and talking amongst the men and they are willing to go anywhere especially with three valiant nobles leading them. There is also word that the Second Army was a support unit for the First and they mainly have missile regiments. A planned attack by night will make those missiles ineffective.”

Zirn thought for a moment. “Very well that is why you are an advisor. We only have a few hours. Prepare the men to mobilize and have Lord Karolinger and Zirn meet me here in 30 minutes.
Doc! Bind my joints it will be a long night.”

The three generals sat on their horses huddled together there was a cold north wind blowing. The battle conditions were not has optimal has they were last night.

“It colder then a witch’s tit, their bodies will be frozen corpse before they hit the ground” sneered Lorenz Zirn. the other two looked at the young Zirn with amusement. Though nothing was amusing about the searing pain Karl was feeling in his knees. The extra binding offered no warmth to this wind.

The Bavarian was also feeling the cold it had been awhile since he felt a night like this back home in the Alps. Gathering his thoughts he finally spoke though feeling every breath he exhaled was robbing his own body of warmth.
“Karl, you will lead the attack tonight and we will be the support behind you?” Karolinger thought the plan bold possible too risky but they were running out of resources and the Hungarian missiles had to be stopped if they were to maintain the initiative.

“Yes my friend, we will be the main attack. The Reiters will cause a diversion to the right and the Knights will stay to their left. We will swing around and hit full force.” Karl’s voiced trailed off thinking to himself “shock troops”. He then saw the signal it was time to move out.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/Battledeploy.jpg

The diversion tactic was working more then the Austrians anticipated. The Hungarians were scrambling around their lines trying to set up the artillery units up.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1322c-reiters.jpg

The Hungarians outnumbered the Austrians in missile units but the Austrians moved in for the shoot out.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1322b-confusion.jpg

The enemy units began to falter and the generals moved in for the main charge.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1322d-charge.jpg

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The Hungarian noble goes down and the enemy units began to falter. The horsemen continued the attack the Austrian crossbowmen moved in closer. Confusion was everywhere in the Hungarian lines. Another victory was at hand.

There was much celebration in the Austrian camp. Casualties were few and the campfires were roaring bringing heat to the frosty night.

The commanders were in the tent wrapped in animal skins protecting them from the bitter cold. The heat radiated from the fire countering the cold wind blowing against the tent. The grog never tasted so good. A battle with relatively few casualties, men they could not afford to loose.

Young Zirn finally spoke up “ I hear there are a number of prisoners tonight. I could easily get rid of them for you my sword is still sharp from tonight and I have not cleaned it yet. It will not be a problem and will give the men something to do in this damn cold.”

The Older Zirn only smiled and shook his head thinking of his first meeting with the young noble who does not see the whole picture yet because of his youth. “Thank you for your offer.”

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1322g-prisoners.jpg
But they will be released. They will consider themselves fortunate more fortunate then the ones who died or are dying on the frozen field. Our generosity will pay off in the end, maybe not with the enemy but with our maker.
Have them released.”

[econ21]

The ford outside Antioch, 1322

A letter from Kaiser Elbehard to Count Dieter von Kassel:

Count Von Kassel,

You asked me to provide an account of the battle at the ford across Antioch. Young man, I am ashamed to say, I had precious little to do with it.

The plan was for your uncle, King Jan, to pin the Byzantine army so that they deployed on the west side of the ford. I would then strike their rear from the east, unimpeded by the river.


https://img87.imageshack.us/img87/2749/trap0vp4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

https://img100.imageshack.us/img100/2892/trap1ja8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

King Jan pins a large Byzantine army on the west side of the ford to Antioch, while Kaiser Elbhard approaches from behind it.


Well, things got off to a decent start, although only my veterans had arrived by the start of the battle - the recently recruited crusaders were delayed. As I arrived on the battlefield, Vardariotai approached at speed and began a duel with my crossbowmen. The arrival of my Arnolds seemed to discomfort them however and they withdrew.

At around the same time, your uncle ordered his crossbowmen to fire over the ford, to keep the Byzantine’s attention and stop them turning en masse on my advance guard. I had desired the Army of Jerusalem to pin the Byzantines in place but otherwise play a largely passive role in this fight, as it was rather cut up after having fought two earlier battles this year. However, King Jan’s skirmish fire seemed to sting the Byzantines into action and they charged over the ford, led by their legendary Varangian Guard.

https://img87.imageshack.us/img87/6899/trap2ek7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Varangian Guard lead the Byzantine assault across the ford. King Jan’s foot knights rush to counter-attack them.


Well, I say legendary Varangian Guard, but in my opinion, they are a bunch of @#$%^&!!! pussies. As the Byzantines emerged from the eastern side of the ford, King Jan’s foot knights met them at the charge.

https://img87.imageshack.us/img87/958/trap3zf0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Army of Jerusalem manages to contain the Byzantine army as it tries to cross the ford


I can tell you, young man, there is nothing quite so vexing as watching helpless in battle as the enemy falls on your men. My army was marching on the rear of the Byzantine army, but the enemy had turned all its attention to King Jan and seemed sure to overwhelm the depleted Army of Jerusalem. Yet I had not reckoned on the magnificent fighting capacity of our men. A wave of purple emerged from the ford, but it crashed helplessly on the rock of the Army of Jerusalem.

https://img144.imageshack.us/img144/7330/trap4lb1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Byzantine spearhead units on the east side of the ford start to wonder if they have made a mistake crossing.


King Jan’s men held - nay, they did better than hold, they started to push the Byzantines back towards the ford. My army was now within range and the Byzantine army found itself trapped in the confining corridor of the ford.

https://img100.imageshack.us/img100/1979/trap5bl8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

A panoramic view of the Byzantine army’s predicament.


I watched the fighting on the eastern bank of the ford and could make out the banners of your uncle’s escort as he threw himself into the struggle.

https://img144.imageshack.us/img144/254/trap6jh0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Sensing the Byzantine’s vulnerability, King Jan personally wades into the attack.


King Jan’s charge marked the decisive stage of the battle - the Army of Jerusalem pushed the Byzantines back into the water and slew their general.

https://img144.imageshack.us/img144/5672/trap7rs8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Caught between a rock and hard place, the Byantine army starts to fall apart.

https://img100.imageshack.us/img100/3816/trap8tn6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

As King Jan’s army push the Byzantines back into the ford, their general falls.


The rest was just a mopping up operation. My own escort alone captured 400 prisoners. As I had promised King Jan, we released the unfortunates. However, I fear they have been re-equipped around Damascus. If I come across them again, they may not be so fortunate.

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Out of respect for the Army of the Jerusalem’s achievements, the Kaiser salutes as King Jan rides past.

https://img100.imageshack.us/img100/2791/trap11sv5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)


For a very modest cost, we had destroyed a full Byzantine field army.

https://img85.imageshack.us/img85/5103/trapza6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The butcher’s bill

This frees me up to march to Damascus. En route, I had a night battle with a small body of Byzantines. I rather suspect they were beneficiaries of one of your uncle’s earlier acts of mercy. He is a fine man, your uncle, but sometimes he does not make things easy for us.

https://img139.imageshack.us/img139/4145/trap12on5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

https://img139.imageshack.us/img139/1600/trap13pg6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)


I hope you stay safe in Acre, young man. As I march south, I aim to be in a position to support you, should the Papacy again turn its attentions to your citadel.


Kaiser Elberhard

[OverKnight]

The Raid into the Levantine Frontier, 1224


"We are no longer men, Adalric, we are wolves," Matthias said to the newest member of his bodyguard as they rode north from the Orontes.

"We cannot face our enemy in open battle, at least not yet, we must first nip at his flanks. Separate the weakest members from the larger herd and bring them down. We must strike at night, defend bottle necks and use the terrain to our advantage."

Adalric nodded, but looked uncertain, "It's not exactly honorable, is it my Lord?"

Matthias sighed, his face becoming grim, "Honor? We don't have the luxury. Honor and chivalry have their place, but first we must survive. What do wolves know of nobility? What do noble men know of survival? Once the Greeks have been bled and finally crushed, then honor and chivalry can help us rebuild Outremer. But for now, in this time of trials that God has sent us, it is the hour of the wolf."

The rest of the ride took place in silence.


The First Battle

The raiders came upon an army led by Captain Rossos and fell upon them in the night.

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Matthias seized the high ground. The cannon and archers were deployed to take full advantage of this.

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Captain Rossos, taking fire from the cannons and crossbowmen, advanced his archers to reply. Matthias, seeing that they had come too far forward, charged in.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/b1mattchargesarchers.jpg

The move stripped the Greeks of many archers. Their foot pursued futiley as he withdrew down the hill. They were now out of position and the Imperial infantry charged in after several volleys from the crossbowmen.

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The lines met, and the Imperial cavalry rushed in to assist.

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The Greeks broke, with the infantry joining the archers in flight.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/firstbattlevic.jpg


The Second Battle

Again Matthias caught a Byzantine army on the road at night. He thought the Greeks must be reinforcements for the armies to the south, due to the marked majority of archers. No field army would have such an imbalance.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/secondbattledeploy.jpg

The Army of Antioch was deployed in loose formation on a hill overlooking a small valley between the two forces. The cannons and crossbowmen were deployed forward, with the infantry behind them and the cavalry on the flanks. The cannon began firing on the Byzantine catapults.

A lone unit of Byzantine archers advanced tentatively against the Imperial line.

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It was mauled by Imperial bowmen. Other Greek archers came up in support.

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Matthias, wary of being overwhelmed by the weight of their fire, ordered the Teutons on his right flank to charge.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/g2teutoncharge.jpg

The knights crushed a unit of Greeks and then withdrew only to wheel about and charge in again, trampling a second unit. Riding back to the Imperial line, a few Teutons were lost, but the Greek archers, those that did not rout, retreated back to their line to reorganize.

While this was happening, cannon fire had wrecked the Greek catapults and bloodied their infantry.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/h2cannondamage.jpg

The Byzantines rallied, and Captain Slavos led his archers forward again. Matthias, sensing a moment of decision, charged in with all his cavalry.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/i2finalcharge.jpg

As the Imperial horse bore down on him, Captain Slavos was killed in a hail of bolts.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/j2captaindeath.jpg

With the horsemen among the archers and their Captain dead, the Greek infantry decided to withdraw. An organized retreat soon turned into a rout.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/k2retreatandpursuit.jpg

The second army was crushed as well.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/secondbattlevic.jpg

Adalric approached Matthias after the battle.

"What are we to do with the prisoners? Try to ransom them?"

Matthias, surveying his captives, shook his head, "No, the Greeks have refused our previous offers. If they will not pay, then we must teach them fear. The prisoners will be executed and their rotting bodies left on this road. Any Byzantine army that marches past, on their way to Aleppo or the Iron Bridge, will see the bleached bones of their comrades, and know what awaits them if they continue to fight us. The terror will grow in their hearts, giving us a needed edge in future battles."

Adalric paled, while he had no love for the Greeks, this stark decision shocked him, "Ah. . .As you say, my Lord."

Matthias took note of the man's hesitation, "It is a terrible thing I do, I know this. But tell me Adalric, what do wolves know of mercy?"

[AussieGiant]

Deleted uploads by accident. Sorry.

[FactionHeir]

This is a happy placeholder.

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[econ21]

This story is jointly written by Mini Econ and econ21.

The Second Battle of Acre, 1324

“Sire, the Kaiser’s Army is arriving to relieve us!” shouted a lookout.

“Excellent,” said Dieter, “Angus will be most pleased.”

“Angus?” muttered Herman, a veteran warrior. “Who is this Angus?”

Gunther the shieldbearer groaned: “Angus is the Count’s new warhorse. I think the Count wants to put him through his paces on a battlefield.”

https://img145.imageshack.us/img145/6274/mike341ua6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Papal army besieging Acre consists only of infantry but includes six regiments of pavise crossbows and four of Papal guard.

At the council of war, Dieter proposed an intricate plan. The relief force would march up from the right and get behind the Papal lines before striking. The aim would be to first decapitate the opposing army by killing their general. The crossbowmen from Acre garrison would position themselves on the left flank and so be able to shoot unimpeded into the backs of the Papist soldiers. The aim was ultimately to drive the enemy force towards the walls of Acre, where they would be fired upon by the defenders and easily captured.

However, the plan did not survive contact with the enemy. The Acre garrison started to deploy before the relief force had drawn up and in response, the Papal besiegers started to advance forward - six regiments of pavise crossbowmen at the front.

https://img266.imageshack.us/img266/5179/sally1aa6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

[b]As Dieter’s men deploy outside the castle, the Papal crossbowmen move forward to attack.

Dieter planned to hold position and wait for the relief force. As he was talking with the captain of his crossbowmen, a bolt fired from long range struck the man down.

“Hermann - we cannot stand here and take this punishment! Lead the Teutons on the right; I will take my escort on the left. When we draw level with the line of Papal crossbowmen, we will turn on them and drive them between us!”

“Are you sure this is a wise move, putting yourself in danger?” said Siegfried the tutor.

“I cannot stand here and watch my men die. We ride!” declared Dieter. “And Angus needs the exercise!”

https://img266.imageshack.us/img266/4087/sally2rc7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Dieter’s escort charges the Papist crossbowmen from the left…

https://img221.imageshack.us/img221/6416/sally3rf9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

While the Teutons strike from the right.

The German cavalry took heavy casualties from the massed fire of six regiments of Papal crossbowmen. It was something of a relief when they reached the Papal line and the enemy were force to drop their bows in order to defend themselves with swords. The Germans enjoyed a brief interlude of carnage, before the second Papal line of spearmen surged forward to drive them back. Captain Hermann, assigned to lead the Teutons, was toppled from his horse by the Papal Guard and left for dead on the dry Acre soil.

https://img221.imageshack.us/img221/4407/sally4mr7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The inevitably Papal counterattack drives off the cavalry of the Acre garrison.

Most of the Papal archers were now running or dead, so the Acre defenders were now able to skirmish on advantageous terms. This continued until the relief force drew up. Dieter ordered the fresh cavalry strike at the right flank of the enemy line.

https://img221.imageshack.us/img221/1779/sally5yo0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Distracted by a regiment of German mounted crossbowmen in the rear of their line, a regiment of Italian spear militia expose their backs to a Crusader knight charge.

https://img266.imageshack.us/img266/8921/sally6dt3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Italian spear militia turn about, but then are charged in the rear by the mounted crossbowmen

https://img266.imageshack.us/img266/7601/sally7er5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

An attempt by a regiment of Italian militia to trap the Crusader knights fails thanks to the intervention of Kwazariman mercenaries.


Dieter watched the havoc being wrought by the cavalry of the relief force and, as the Papal line began to turn to face this new threat, Dieter resolved to renew the old threat.

“Sire, there are only eight of your retainers left! We cannot go charge again!” protested Gunther, the shieldbearer.

Dieter said nothing, but closed the visor on his helmet and spurred Angus forward.

https://img221.imageshack.us/img221/9340/sally8mv9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Dieter charges the disrupted Papal line…

https://img221.imageshack.us/img221/5424/sally10mb5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

…but has to be extricated by the arriving infantry of the relief force.

After his charge, Dieter surveyed the battle. It was going well, but his heavy cavalry was becoming severely depleted. The enemy morale was holding up well. Dieter thought for a moment and remembered Hermann’s initial plan.

“The mounted crossbowmen have been targeting the enemy general, but his men protect him well. Order the crusader knights to bring him down!”

https://img221.imageshack.us/img221/4403/sally11wx6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

A frontal charge by the crusader knights on the depleted bodyguard fails to kill the enemy general…

https://img524.imageshack.us/img524/4455/sally12hu2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Dieter’s own escort help break most of the Papal guard…

https://img228.imageshack.us/img228/3005/papal13qh3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

…but the brave enemy general is only brought down by a crossbow bolt, surrounded by the crusader knights he has slain.


After the battle, only Gunther remained unharmed out of Dieter's escort. But the Count was relieved to hear that his veteran warrior, Hermann, had been found, suffering only from concussion. He was even more relieved to hear that the small slash on Angus was not infected.

Nearly 400 Papal soldiers had been captured and Dieter addressed them solemnly. As at the first battle of Acre, he prayed with them and offered them the chance to redeem themselves by allying with the true crusaders against the Byzantine butchers of Bologna and Rome.

The Count of Acre was rewarded for his victory by being knighted by Kaiser Elberhard.

https://img145.imageshack.us/img145/9577/mike340bq1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The butcher’s bill

[AussieGiant]

Ragusa 1326

"He's £"$%£$ing what!!!??"

The messenger from Lord Zirn blanched sheet white, much to the amusement of Arnold's retinue.

The news was not good. The separatist Becker had ordered his merchants to confiscate as much wealth as possible to support his cause, what had happened as a result was a number of merchant wares and crops from Vienna had been taken.

While Duke Arnold ripped the message into tiny fragments, Grom turned to the assembled captain's and Arnold's Polish Swordbearer Szcepanski.

"Right you filthy whoreson's get your men ready!! The Venetian's could not have come at a better time, we are going to war this afternoon and there's going to be more merchant bloody on the ground than you've ever seen in your short insignificant lives!!

Szcepanski get the Duke's sword ready...and make it sharp, really $%£"$ing sharp."

-----------------------------------------------------------

Behind Arnold stood the massive walls of the Ragusa fortress, in front was the entire 2nd Austrian House Army in close order.

The Duke sat astride his Jet black Stallion encased from neck to foot in his Black Obsidian Armour. The massive twenty one hand beast was a gift from Lord Zirn and had been shipped all the way from Spain. It was clearly agitated, it's nostrils faired as it stamped the ground while biting large chunks of wood out of the catapult frame near it.

The Dread Duke was brought out of his revere by the horses actions.

Turn in his saddle:

“For $E%^£$ sake Grom I thought you said you fed this thing...it's eat $%ing wood man...what on earth has Zirn given me...”

Turning his attention back to the beast he yanked it's head away from the catapult frame. The horse was not pleased, turning it's head, it attempted to bite it's master. An open hand slap of considerable force from Arnold's black gauntlet hand seemed to convince it that any further action would be painful.

In response the stallion began pacing across the front ranks of it's own accord. Giving up on controlling the beast for the moment Arnold stood in his stirrups and addressed the troops.

-----------------------------------------------------------

“Men,

You are not all going to die today, in fact only twenty percent of you, right here today, will be killed in a major battle.”

A murmur of shock ran through the thousand strong 2nd Austria Army

“My point is death must not be feared!!”

Arnold's voice smashed across the plain in which every available regiment was assembled for the coming assualt.

“Death, in time, comes to all of us!

Every man is scared in his first action. If he says he's not, he's a $£%ing liar. Some men are cowards, yes, but they fight just the same, or get the seven shades of shiet smashed out of them!!

The real hero is the man who fights even though he's scared. Some get over their fright in a minute, under fire; others take an hour; for some it takes days; but a real man will never let the fear of death overpower his honour, his sense of duty, to his country and to his family.

All through your Army careers, you've been bitching about what you call "chicken-sheit drills." That, like everything else in the Army, has a definite purpose. That purpose is instant obedience to orders and to create and maintain constant alertness! This must be bred into every soldier. A man must be alert all the time if he expects to stay alive. If not, some Venetian or Hungarian son-of-a-bitch will sneak up behind him with a sock full of sheit!

An Army is a team, lives, sleeps, fights, and eats as a team. This individual hero stuff is a lot of horse shit! The £%$£ers who say that kind of stuff don't know any more about real fighting under fire than they know about %$^£ing whores!

Every single man in this Army plays a vital role. Every man has his job to do and must do it. What if every archer decided that he didn't like the whine of a canon shell overhead, turned yellow and jumped headlong into a ditch? Where in Hell would we be now? Where would our Reich, our loved ones, our homes, even this world, be?

No, thank $%!$ing God, German's don't think like that. Every man does his job, serves the whole. Every last man has a job to do, even the men who boils the water to keep us from getting the sheits!

Remember men, the Venetian's know I'm here!! I want them to look up and howl, "Ach, it's the goddamn 2nd Austria Army and that Dread Duke “son-of-a-bitch” Arnold ...again!"

We want to get this thing over and get the hell out of here, and get at those purple-pissin' Byzantines!!! The shortest road home is through Constantinople!

We'll win this war, but we'll win it only by showing the enemy we have more guts than they have or ever will have!

There's one great thing you men can say when it's all over and you're home once more. You can thank God that twenty years from now, when you're sitting around the fireside with your grandson on your knee and he asks you what you did in the war, you won't have to shift him to the other knee, cough, and say, "I shoveled shit in Prague".

Instead you can proudly shout; "I fought like Lion with that murderous bastard Arnold!!"

The roar of the men washed over Arnold and his retinue like a wave.

The Duke raised his hand, silencing the army.

“A NEW POWER IS RISING AND IT'S VICTORY IS AT HAND MEN.

ON THIS DAY THE LAND WILL BE STAINED WITH THE BLOOD OF VENETIAN'S."

The roaring began again.

"MARCH INTO HELL AND LEAVE NONE ALIVE."

The Duke drew his sword and raised it above his head.

"TO WAR MEN...TO WAR!!!!”

The roaring increased sending shivers down the spine of each one of Arnold retinue arrayed behind him.

Set back from the others Arnold's priest whispered to no one.

“May god save our souls.”

-----------------------------------------------------------

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNNqc4pdbNA

The first army.

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/Ragusa/medieval22007-10-3020-35-00-50.jpg

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The second arrives:

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https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/Ragusa/medieval22007-10-3021-22-38-84.jpg

It's over:

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The money is not worth it:

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[Northnovas]

1326 Budapest Region

Karl Zirn’s camp was a buzz with men and animals moving about. Another battle was at hand and there was a feeling of optimism in the air.

Ingo the Teutonic Knight came into Zirn’s tent where Karl and Peter were reviewing a map. “He has arrived safely to camp from Budapest my lord and is getting refreshed and fitted.”

“Good, you stay with him tonight Ingo!” Karl knew that statement was not necessary but he felt better saying it the apprehension he was feeling was putting a knot in his stomach. “Peter, highlight the plan with Ingo and then Ingo I want you with him the rest of the night.” Ingo nodded in agreement sensing how edgy Karl was getting as the battle was nearing.

Peter stretched out over the map on the table, “ It will be another night battle. The Hungarians will not expect such a quick attack from our last engagement. We will not go for the army nearest to the city but attack the Hungarian General Tibot of Arad who is on the south flank. His defeat may cause the other two armies led by Captains to reconsider their offensive against the city. We only have two regiments of missiles and the cannon. We strike first and must knock out the catapults and push back their archers. The catapults are no match for a cannon but he has many and they can still do damage. A close melee will make them ineffective.” After Peter had finished he looked over at Zirn for approval knowing it was the General’s plan.

“Okay leave me please and get yourselves ready and call the physician in for me!” With that Karl sat heavily on the bench.
************
The young man entered the tent assigned to him and the batsman was polishing the armor set out in the centre of the tent. The armor was ornate and shiny and on the chest was the symbol of the Austrian House engraved into the metal. His hands went over the detail of the design he had only seen something close to this copy. The truly ornate armor of his Uncle Arnold. This replica was his gift from him. The perspiration from his hands was streaking the metal as he touched it. This was all too surreal. The moment he had been waiting for was here. He could not remember the ride from Budapest or anything from the past 24 hours when he received word that he would go into battle with his father.
The batsman sensing the nervousness of young Johann wiped the marks from the armor and excused himself advising he would return shortly to suit him up.
The young Zirn could feel the nausea in his stomach and threw up in a pail that was by the cot. Again his stomach heaved there was nothing; he had eaten in the last 24 hours. The thought of battle was making him ill and thinking what will I do when I get out there? The only real experience is the stories from his uncle his father did not speak much of the battles he had fought. Another dry heave, I won’t make the night he thought.
Since he was there on his knees the only thing he thought to do was pray and so the young man prayed like he had never done before asking protecting from ever Saint, Angel and the Holy Trinity.
*************
The night was not that cold for a late winter. The precipitation was light and the ground was still frozen. It was time to put the plan into action.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1326a-battledeploy.jpg

The Army had formed outside a small settlement and it was the perfect location for a base. The units were deployed and the open volley from the battery began. There were early successes with catapults getting direct hits. Ingo stuck close to Johann who stuck close to his father. There were no words that the elder Zirn could give his son before battle that was not already instructed to him in his upbringing. These were difficult times.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1326b-startingforce.jpg

The first object was met. Only one volley came from a lone catapult. They had been silenced.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1326c-objective.jpg

The Austrians had one the initiative and the Zirn committed both Body Guard Units to a flanking action and struck at the enemy Commander. He was captured though his death was announced through the enemy lines and units began to falter.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1326d-BDGD.jpg

The battle had been one. A weight had been lifted off both of the Zirn men. Ingo led the younger Zirn on to clean up the stragglers and get his spurs sharpened with the victory.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1326e-johann.jpg

The battle was won. The older Zirn announced that Johann had proved himself that night and he would be fit to command in the Kaiser’s and Duke’s Army. The cheers went up amongst the men and the celebration continued till morning. Karl was proud but did not celebrate yet. For he knew there was much to be done but it was a proud moment.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1326g-stats.jpg

The Commander Tibor was released without ransom along with his men.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1326h-prisoners.jpg

[OverKnight]

The Battle of the Elephant, 1326


"I hope the blood of my army has bought us some respite."

The words of the Kaiser cut into Matthias. The man was planning to leave Outremer and yet he had sacrificed many men to relieve Aleppo and weaken the Greeks. And what was Matthias planning to do? Hold a bridge, and wait for an attack that might not come. Yes, it was the wisest course of action, but Matthias doubted St. Maximillian would have agreed. Chancellor von Kassel had once argued against an attack on the Jihad armies near Adana, but Maximillian had insisted on an attack, and he had been right. To hold Outremer he would need to inspire the remaining men, to do that he needed a victory.

Yes, a victory against Nikeforos Argyrus, his former tormentor. Rage filled him, darker motivations than inspiration worked within Matthias. For too long, he had held back vengeance in the name of caution and duty. A nemesis was within reach and a beleaguered Kingdom needed hope, now was the time to strike.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/nikeforos/adeploy.jpg

Matthias deployed his men on a rise north of the Orontes. Archers and the cannon were out front, with the infantry behind. The cavalry was massed on the left in column. Nikeforos would likely advance on him, knowing that he had the edge. Matthias counted on it. He had ordered the gunners to focus on the Elephants.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/nikeforos/binit.jpg

The Elephants advanced along with the Greeks. Trebuchet rounds began raining down near his men. Suddenly, with sharp cracks, the guns mounted on the beasts fired. His men began to fall. The crossbowmen returned fire, but with little effect.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/nikeforos/cbyzshell.jpg

With alarm, Matthias noticed some of the gunners had fallen. If he lost his cannon, the battle was over. Hearing some muttering among his men, Matthias bellowed at them to hold while he prayed to God for aid.

An explosive shell landed among the Elephants, killing some of them, and Matthias's prayer was answered.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/nikeforos/dberserk.jpg

The remaining gun Elephants ran amok, turned and crashed into their own lines.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/nikeforos/eberserk2.jpg

The men of Outremer, discouraged not a moment ago, cheered as the enraged beasts cut a swath through the Greeks. Nikeforos barely escaped being trampled and the trebuchets were silenced for the moment as their crews ran for cover.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/nikeforos/fberserk3nik.jpg

Matthias gave his thanks to the Lord. Nikeforos began to move his men back. Matthias wished to pursue, but the mad beasts blocked his path.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/nikeforos/gredeplpy.jpg

The Greeks had withdrawn to hill in their dissarray. Despite their losses, they still outnumbered the Army of Antioch and still had another unit of Elephants. A direct assault would be dangerous. Matthias decided to move to another hilltop where he could shell the Byzantines.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/nikeforos/hbombardfromhill.jpg

The Greeks manned their Trebuchets again, which had been left in the valley, and began to fire on Matthias. He dispatched the Kwarzimen mercenaries to deal with them.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/nikeforos/ikillartonflank.jpg

Nikeforos sent forward his last unit of Elephants, Arquebusiers rode on their backs.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/nikeforos/jelephantadvance.jpg

The animals were met with a hail of arrow and cannon fire. These Elephants began to run amok as well.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/nikeforos/kbeserk4.jpg

Matthias ordered his bowmen and cannon to hold their fire. The Elephants would be left to stampede, he had another target in mind for the guns.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/nikeforos/lnikeforosisshot.jpg

Shots barreled through Nikeforos's bodyguard. The Strategos himself was mortally wounded and pinned underneath his horse. The remainder fled.

While a subordinate desperately tried to keep the Greeks organized, the amok Elephants hit their line again.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/nikeforos/mberserk5.jpg

After the bloody passage of the beasts, Greek archers went forward to skirmish. They were met by the Kwarzimen, returning from the valley.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/nikeforos/nchargebowmen.jpg

The Greeks archers all but gone, Matthias advanced his own bowmen to fire on their infantry. Goaded into action, they charged, but were met by their counterparts. Imperial horsemen, including Matthias, swung in from the flanks.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/nikeforos/otrapshut.jpg

The rout was on. A few Greeks managed to escape, but they had been crushed.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/nikeforos/pvic.jpg

Searching among the dead, he came upon Nikeforos the Mean. He was caught beneath his horse, trying to claw his way out.

Standing over him, Matthias spoke, "It seems the wheel has turned once again Nikeforos."

The Strategos looked up, pain writ across his features, and stopped his efforts to escape.

"You German bastard! I had you, if it wasn't for those damn cannons, you'd be dead."

"Perhaps, though you did use Elephants with cannon yourself. My crossbowmen are finishing them as we speak. Obstinate creatures, even when mad, they have not left the field, unlike your men."

Nikeforos grimaced, "Damn you! We'll get you, you can't be lucky every time. The Empire will crush you!"

Matthias coldly stared down at the man, "Not today Nikeforos. . .as for tomorrow, do not concern yourself. I am glad I found you, I wanted to thank you."

Surprise showed on Nikeforos's face, "What?"

"My world was falling apart when you took me. The Reich I had built up was being torn asunder. I was about to disobey my Kaiser, perhaps even rebel to hold Adana. I had nothing. But you saved me from that. You gave me a new purpose, a new focus. Since I escaped, it has kept me. . .sane."

Matthias drew Iron Faith.

"You gave me the gift of vengeance and the clarity to use it. For that, your death will be clean."

Nikeforos eyes bored into Matthias's good one, "Christ! I should have taken your tongue instead of your. . ."

A stroke of the sword took his head.

Cleaning his blade on the dead man's cloak, Matthias sheathed it, turned and walked away.

There was much left to do.

-----------

A week later the Army of Antioch fell upon another Greek army.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/nikeforos/qdeploy.jpg

Mostly infantry, they charged to meet the Army, but they were arrow bit and flanked by the cavalry.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/nikeforos/rlinesmeet.jpg

They were defeated as well.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/nikeforos/svic.jpg

[econ21]

The Destruction of the Byzantine Guard Army, Antioch 1326


“@#$%^&!!! hell!” cursed Elberhard. The decision of Matthias Steffen to stay in Outremer had been a total surprise. How could the Kaiser not have seen it coming, after the affair at Adana? But Elberhard had been so sure Matthias would support his move to return to the homelands and try to restore order to the Reich. With a single depleted army, it seemed inconceivable that Matthias could defend Outremer alone.

Elberhard had been in two minds about trying to relieve Aleppo. His dauntless and chivalrous character urged him on. But Linyeve was surely right: to relieve it would cost more lives than would be saved; and he would need a full army to survive amid the backstabbers home in Europe.

Matthias’s obstinacy changed everything. Clearing out the three Byzantine armies between the ford and Aleppo would considerably reduce the odds against Matthias. To let the Aleppo garrison to be massacred was bad enough; to abandon Matthias to the same fate was too much for the Kaiser to contemplate. Enduring Linyeve’s cold fury, Elberhard prepared his army march on Aleppo.



*****


Strategos Tobromerus Comnenus commanded the Byzantine Guard Army. An elite formation of Varangian Guard, veteran Kataphracts, Byzantine Guard Archers and Vardarioti. The Army had appeared as if out of nowhere to block the Kaiser’s advance on Damascus. Elberhard had hoped to sucker it into attacking across the ford, but it Comnenus had been too wily – merely using his army to block any advance on Aleppo.

https://img132.imageshack.us/img132/2426/guard0zj8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Elberhard attacks the Byzantine Guard Army

With King Jan’s departure, it was possible that both the iron bridge and the ford defences could be bypassed by an army marching south of the river. This raised the nightmare scenario that Matthias had raised in the Crusader Council of the ford being attacked simultaneously from the west and east. Having already performed exactly such a manoeuvre on the Byzantines to devastating effect, Elberhard was anxious not to leave Comnenus free to return the favour.

Consequently, Elberhard marched the Kaiser’s army across the ford, to confront the Byzantine Guard Army in open battle.


https://img259.imageshack.us/img259/8571/guard2lw5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

At first glance, the battlefield appeared to favour neither side.

https://img522.imageshack.us/img522/8084/guard3hj8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
However, the Byzantine Guard Army soon secured the large eastern hill.



As Comnenus’s army quickly seized a large hill dominating the battlefield, Elberhard decided to march his army round the hill and approach it from the rear. The hill sloped more gently to the rear and moreover, cutting the Byzantine lines of communication might unnerve their men – making them easier to rout. Consequently, the Kaiser’s army trekked across the hot battlefield, until it reached the line where the Byzantines had first deployed. Then the army pivoted and began to climb the hill from the rear – leading with crossbowmen in loose formation.

https://img159.imageshack.us/img159/186/guard1ez6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Having reached the rear of the Byzantine lines – forcing the defenders to pivot on the hill – the Germans open the battle by sniping at Comnenus with their cannon.


The Germans were climbing the hill from the north east. Elberhard led from the left flank, riding with his elephants to drive the vardarioti up the hill and cut the Byzantines line of retreat towards Aleppo. As the German crossbowmen duelled with the Byzantine Guard archers, he did not see a regiment of Byzantine lancers march on his right flank.

https://img406.imageshack.us/img406/6185/guard4qn4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

As Elberhard focuses on turning the Byzantine right, he does not notice them attempt to do the same to his right flank until it is almost too late.


Veteran warrior Sir Charles de Villiers had been given command of the German right and rushed spearmen to counter the lancers. However, Strategos Comnenus sensed a vulnerability and rushed to reinforce the Byzantine attack.

https://img129.imageshack.us/img129/7032/guard5qy8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Comnenus rides to join the attack on the German right flank.


Far away on the German left, approaching the summit of the hill, Elberhard could see the flag of the enemy general marching towards his right flank. Elberhard knew that killing the enemy general was crucial to undermining the otherwise excellent morale of the Byzantine Guard Army and so charged his escort down the hill, hoping to engage Comnenus.

https://img339.imageshack.us/img339/2815/guard6pi2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Elberhard races towards his right flank, scattering the Vardariotai blocking his path.

https://img530.imageshack.us/img530/5462/guard7st7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

But the Kaiser has a long way to travel.


With the Kaiser’s departure, his troop of elephants remained behind to anchor the German left flank. They had performed brilliantly at driving back the Turkopoles and Vardariotai on the Byzantine right flank. But now they came under attack from the foot archers on the summit of the hill who used fire arrows in an attempt to panic the beasts. To the dismay of the Germans, the tactic worked and the elephants began to run amok.

https://img205.imageshack.us/img205/623/guard8io3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

In his eagerness to come to grips with Comnenus, Elberhard takes his eye off his beloved “Arnolds” and pays the price.



https://img257.imageshack.us/img257/9484/guard9yo9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Kaiser’s escort finally reaches that of Comnenus.

http://img111.imageshack.us/img111/3350/guard10mz3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

”I’m gonna git you, sucker!”

https://img477.imageshack.us/img477/6922/guard11ab7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Mobbed by German spearmen and then flanked by the Kaiser’s escort, Strategos Comnenus and his bodyguard were brought down. However, Elberhard’s euphoria was diminished when he learnt the fate of his elephants.

https://img259.imageshack.us/img259/6631/guard12kg2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

”Yes, yes! Go that way!”

https://img127.imageshack.us/img127/4589/guard13rj1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

”NOOOOO!”


The battle now entered its decisive phase. The German crossbowmen and cannon had been getting the better of the exchange of fire with the Byzantine archers on the hill – in part, because Elberhard had recklessly committed his own escort to harassing the enemy skirmishers. However, whoever was left in command of the Byzantine Guard Army soon seemed to tire of the uneven contest and as a great mass, the lines of Varangian Guard and Kataphractoi began to surge off the summit of the hill and advance down towards the German battleline.

https://img444.imageshack.us/img444/5959/guard14uz7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Byzantine army begins to move forward – it will not stop until it hits the Germans waiting down below.

The Germans struggled to hold back the sheer weight of the massed regiments of Varangian Guard and Kataphractoi pressing down on them. The spearmen who formed the bulk of the first line were no match for the elite Byzantine troops. Elberhard’s only advantage was on his left, where his escort and a regiment of Teutons were free to strike at the rear and flank of the now committed enemy army.

https://img256.imageshack.us/img256/6791/guard15aq5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

German foot knights and the Teutons start to turn the Byzantine right – the death of their general has fatally undermined the enemy’s morale.

On the right, however, the situation was more desperate. Kataphractoi and Vardariotai threatened to turn the German flank. The regiment of Kwazarimans was thrown into to try to stop them, but the mercenaries were outclassed and all but wiped out. Only some valiant armoured sergeants, bolstered by the Great Cross, were left holding the right flank.



https://img207.imageshack.us/img207/1057/guard16ro4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Byzantines almost turn the German right flank, but lose heart in the face of determined resistance.


As the Kaiser’s escort rampaged among the archers at the Byzantine rear and the Teutons led the turning of the enemy right, the morale of the Guard Army collapsed. The Byzantine archery fire from the summit of the hill and the brief but bitter assault of their heavy troops had exacted a large toll on the Kaiser’s army. A third of its strength had been lost, although Elberhard himself grieved most for the death of his beloved Arnolds. Perhaps more significant, the battle left the Kaiser will almost no heavy cavalry except the men of his own escort.


https://img228.imageshack.us/img228/1618/guard17ah6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The butcher’s bill.

[econ21]

The Relief of Aleppo, 1326


The battered army of the Kaiser pressed on towards Aleppo. They had been informed that the two Byzantine armies besieging the citadel would be working close together and that it would not be possible to attack them at night. Consequently, Elberhard struck the smaller one at day. To his surprise, the larger besieging force did not come to the aid of the smaller army.


https://img164.imageshack.us/img164/5632/relief0op0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

This modest force was probably the result of an earlier act of mercy by King Jan.

The battle was not marked by any tactical subtlety and cost Elberhard a further 150 men.


https://img223.imageshack.us/img223/8068/relief1ye6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Deprived of much heavy cavalry and forced to attack uphill, the battle would be a messy, bloody affair.

https://img110.imageshack.us/img110/835/relief2bl5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The butcher’s bill



*****

The Kaiser’s army was near exhaustion by the time it reached Aleppo. There a full, well-balanced Byzantine army was preparing to storm the citadel.

https://img442.imageshack.us/img442/3933/aleppo1ei0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The third and final battle on the road to Aleppo

Elberhard sent word to the garrison to prepare to sally, hoping to fix the attention of their besiegers on the citadel rather than the army coming to relieve it.


https://img255.imageshack.us/img255/6574/aleppo2tn7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Kaiser’s army advances on the right flank of the besieging Byzantines


As usual, the Kaiser led with his crossbowmen in loose order and used his cannon to snipe at the main concentration of enemy heavy troops. The Byzantines sent their Vardariotai and then their foot archers to duel with the Germans.

https://img236.imageshack.us/img236/7553/aleppo3ew6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Vardariotai are the first to respond to the approach of the relief army.

Elberhard used his surviving heavy cavalry – his own escort – to run down the enemy foot archers.

https://img256.imageshack.us/img256/385/aleppo4ky1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

https://img230.imageshack.us/img230/5227/aleppo5qx7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Byzantines repeatedly fail to protect their foot archers from the German cavalry


Amid the slaughter, it seemed to Elberhard as if the sky became red and everything he saw on the battlefield became tinged with an unearthly pink hue. [OOC: My computer started to overheat and the colour went whacky – the screenshots were unaffected.] It was as if the Kaiser had entered a ethereal dimension, where the dust, the noise and the grime of battle disappeared making the lethal combat appear unreal and dreamlike. In truth, it was less a battle and more a slaughter. Exhausted and dehydrated, Elberhard’s trance like state insulated him from the reality of the carnage.

The battle turned decisively in the Germans’ favour when the enemy general – a Vardariotai captain – was shot down during the missile duel.

https://img231.imageshack.us/img231/5504/aleppo6sa6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The brave Vardariotai skirmish until the last man – the general – is brought down.


As before, with the Guard Army, the loss of their general fatally weakened the fighting spirit of the Byzantines. Even when their heavy regiments attacked the German line, they quickly lost heart and were repulsed.

https://img520.imageshack.us/img520/6392/aleppo7li1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

This charge of the Latinkon into the German archers could have been deadly, but the heart went out of the Byzantines at the last moment.

https://img267.imageshack.us/img267/2415/aleppo8sx7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Similarly, when an error leads to the Aleppo garrison exiting the Citadel, the Kataphractoi are unable to press their attack.

https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/5528/aleppo9id0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

This lack of fighting spirit and leadership leaves the Germans free to reign havoc on the enemy lines.


Yet the sheer number of Byzantines on the field denied the Germans a quick victory. Elberhard was reluctant to commit his already mauled army to another massive melee. Instead, he continued cutting at the enemy with his archers and cavalry, reducing it as if slicing a salami – Byzantine regiment by Byzantine regiment.


https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/1111/aleppo10yo3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Determined to protect the bulk of his army, Elberhard relies on his own escort - less than a score of knights - to repeatedly smash the Byzantine infantry regiments…

https://img267.imageshack.us/img267/8713/aleppo11iz8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

… at not inconsiderable personal risk


Once the killing finally stopped, Elberhard entered Aleppo, to be feted by its beleaguered defenders.


https://img207.imageshack.us/img207/9059/aleppo12fo1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The butcher’s bill


Afterwards, he sat down and added up his losses. He had set out with a grand army of 1472 to rescue 134 men, trapped in Aleppo. Over the course of three battles, he had lost 694 men – almost half of his army. Moreover, these casualties included almost all his heavy cavalry and his regiment of elephants. The enemy had lost 3417 men – almost five times what the Reich had suffered.

“Will it be enough to save Matthias and Outremer?” Elberhard asked his retinue.

Sir Charles de Villiers shrugged: “We have at least given him a fighting chance, Sire. I will contact my people and arrange for English crusader knights to take over the defence of Aleppo.”

Elberhard nodded and fell back into a chair exhausted, his mind wandering south towards Jersualem where the young Count von Kassel was marching to challenge the Pontiff.

[econ21]

This is a joint story written by Mini Econ and econ21.

Jerusalem, 1326


Something inside me died that year. It was a heroic victory. The day the Reich’s youngest general made the greatest contribution to its salvation. But it cost me a part of my soul.

I walked into the room. I should have known something terrible was about to go down. But I was young and I did not know the old could be so cruel. They were both sitting there like two aged eastern holy men - my tutor, Siegfried, and the Kaiser’s mentor, Niklas Gruber.

“Sit down, young man.” Niklas had said, unable to hide a slight tell of condescension in his speech.

They gave me some tea. The @#$%^&!!!s - they know I hate tea. And then Niklas laid it on me. For the good of the Reich. We must be brought back into the bosom of the church. The religious war would heal if the Pope embraced us again. Riots would stop. Everything would be cool. Except for me. I would have to wield the knife. I would be the one who could not sleep at night.

Siegfried said nothing, just watched me with a saintly expression, like a fat cat watching a mouse in a trap.

I said I would do it. But not for them. Not for the Reich. I would do it because it was war. Because no one marches an army to my door and tries to kill me twice, then expects to be able to do it a third time. Because I had a duty to Acre. I might be leaving. With my uncle’s disappearance, I might be the Kaiser’s new crutch. I might have to carry him back home. Help protect him from the usurpers and the powerful Dukes. But I would not leave my people to be besieged and sacked by a Papal army. I would not.

I said I would do it. But I did not know what I would have to do. If I had known that, maybe I would never have left that room.



*****


I won’t say much about the battle. I don’t need to paint you a picture. It should have been a perfect day. They say it was a heroic victory. And in truth, everything went better than we could have hoped. My army fought with skill and was rewarded by a good helping of luck. We utterly destroyed the Papal army with little loss. Our victory was so complete, we marched into Jerusalem unopposed. There were no enemy soldiers left. They all were dead or imprisoned on the battlefield outside.

Everything went perfectly. Except that he wasn’t dead. They told me he was dead. The Teutons swore they had cut him down at the height of the battle. But then the camp followers found him. The Pope was alive. Bruised and battered, but very much alive. And even the camp followers dared not kill him. I mean, who would dare do that?

I could not do it. To execute a helpless prisoner was against everything I believed in. Everything I still believe in. And this was not just any prisoner - this was the Holy Father. I did not sleep that night. I lay, wrestling my blankets, wrestling my conscience.

But the logic was inescapable. If I allowed the Pope to leave, he would muster his remaining armies in Outremer and come back at me a third time. Perhaps even the other Catholic factions would send men to Jerusalem to aid him. It was in my power to bring peace to at least to this southern part of Outremer. To allow us once again to resume our mission to protect the Church. And there it was - to protect the Church, I had first to kill it.



*****


“Bring him to me.” I said in the morning.

He stood before me, in his ornate armour - serene, defiant.

“Father, I humbly make the same request to you as I did to your soldiers who I captured when you twice tried to storm Acre. Abandon this pointless conflict. Stop these attacks on me. Let us be friends. Let the Church and the Reich be together again…”

“The Reich is excommunicated.” interrupted the Pontiff firmly. “She is harlot, a whore who services heretics, assassins, backstabbers, pirates and butchers. The Church cannot commune with such a degenerate and diseased thing.”

“Father, I ask you again - join with us. There are men in the Reich of piety and chivalry. You met my uncle; you helped my uncle find passage to Europe. He is not alone - there are others, Karl Zirn, the Kaiser himself.”

“Your list is rather short.” snorted the Pontiff. “I have told you my decision. Now release me, as you released those of my men who refused to join you outside Acre.”

I looked at Pope Lanbertus with pity. He was young for a Pope - 36 - although no doubt he thought I just a callow youth. He had no idea of the black thoughts lurking in my mind. While they threatened to overpower me, they were invisible to him.

“Father, I am so sorry we could not come to an understanding.” I said flatly. We stood up. I kissed his hand. He left. I gave the order. Something inside of me died that year.



*****


The story in pictures

https://img502.imageshack.us/img502/779/pope00nb3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Dieter von Kassel begins aggressive negotiations with Jerusalem



https://img485.imageshack.us/img485/8015/pope3od4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The enemy deploy far away.


https://img485.imageshack.us/img485/3835/pope4pv0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The Pope arrives on the battlefield

https://img485.imageshack.us/img485/8206/pope5jz3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The Papal army deploys for battle.


https://img260.imageshack.us/img260/2821/pope6qs0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Broken lances lead the Papal attack on the German left...

https://img260.imageshack.us/img260/1663/pope7hz8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

...and right.



https://img260.imageshack.us/img260/6938/pope9eu2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Dieter's left flank avoids giving battle to the Pope, but peppers his escort with missile fire.


https://img502.imageshack.us/img502/2154/pope10pg0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

https://img260.imageshack.us/img260/2563/pope11bw6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Italian militia reach the German line in advance of the slow moving Swiss Guard and are defeated piecemeal.

https://img260.imageshack.us/img260/8322/pope12dj4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Pope enters the fray, still underfire from the mounted crossbows and Turcopoles.

https://img166.imageshack.us/img166/7450/pope13rd8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

But he is charged from the left by spearmen...

https://img502.imageshack.us/img502/6076/pope14jo7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

... and from the right by Teutons.]

https://img221.imageshack.us/img221/6007/pope15pe1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

It is too much.

https://img502.imageshack.us/img502/2220/pope16iv2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Pope lies unhorsed, presumed dead.



https://img259.imageshack.us/img259/2114/pope17kc6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

https://img259.imageshack.us/img259/9223/pope18iy1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The enemy cavalry destroyed, the German horse are free to play havoc with the rear of the enemy lines


https://img259.imageshack.us/img259/4737/pope19za0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Although the seven regiments of Swiss Guard are formiddable on paper, shorn of their leader and their supports, their slow moving phalanxes are easy prey for the German crossbowmen, infantry and cavalry.



https://img210.imageshack.us/img210/8233/pope1ah8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The butcher's bill

https://img210.imageshack.us/img210/8113/pope2qx4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

An agonising decision.



https://img502.imageshack.us/img502/9647/pope20pp6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The road to Jerusalem is now clear for Dieter.

https://img229.imageshack.us/img229/1435/pope21ch2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)


https://img502.imageshack.us/img502/1028/pope23im5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

https://img250.imageshack.us/img250/8994/pope22vx0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The election of Pope Renaldus reconciles the Reich to the Papacy.

[Cecil XIX]

“And so, here I am again.”

https://img48.imageshack.us/img48/216/90909231jp1.jpg

Edmund Becker had arrived in Breslau to find the Polish army sitting on a hill.

https://img217.imageshack.us/img217/9782/55068298re4.jpg

He quickly went to the front of the army for a pre-battle address.

“Men! Today we march as Bohemians for the first time! Today is the day we demonstrate that the County of Bohemia can stand and fight on it’s own two feet! Our opponents are the Poles, who have their eyes set on Breslau and beyond! Are we going to let them go any further, when they are already a stone’s throw away from attacking our wives and children?”

A rousing ‘No!’ echoed through the army.

“That’s right! We may be Bohemians, but we are also part of the Reich. If our neighbors should fall, that puts us in danger! That is why we will crush this army and return home, safe in the knowledge that the enemy is years away!”

A cheer rang went out.

“What’s more, I see the enemy is encamped upon a hill in front of us, with the intent to stand their ground and fight. This is a mistake on their part, for it is impossible for the Reich to be defeated in a man-to-man engagement! The proud Bohemian militia will sweep them aside! I say militia, but I imagine that there are more than a few Poles who think they are facing an army of Armored Sergeants, so well equipped are you!”

https://img217.imageshack.us/img217/962/47907290qx9.jpg

“Now my brothers, look to your left!” Becker gestured to the reinforcements.

https://img228.imageshack.us/img228/9360/32583009fy3.jpg

“Captain Godwine and the men of Breslau are just as eager to drive these Poles out! So then, forward! Mark your target where it counts!”

With a start, the Army of Bohemia began to march. Becker’s speech had caused the Breslau garrison to become quite a bit ahead of them, just as he had planned.

https://img228.imageshack.us/img228/2248/48955156sp9.jpg

Becker felt a twinge of guilt at letting the Franconians take the brunt of the artillery fire, and quickly rationalized it away. Breslau was still better off for his presence, it was better for the outcome of the battle if the garrison took the brunt of it, and he had a duty to his own men first anyway. He felt a little better as time went on, for the garrison not only forced the artillerists to abandon their machines but managed to engage the Pole’s front line before falling back and regrouping.

https://img228.imageshack.us/img228/3263/38122232jv5.jpg

Captain Godwine and his men were still in fighting shape by the time the Bohemians had arrived, and because of their actions Becker’s men were able to get quite close before being subjected to a hail of arrows and bolts.

https://img228.imageshack.us/img228/4530/32021000ax2.jpg

Though he couldn’t see it, Becker was informed that Godwine was showing remarkable ability, having gotten around behind and engaging one of their depleted units. The Poles were too busy concentrating on the Bohemian line before them to justify stopping Godwine from slaughtering a small unit of handgunners.

https://img228.imageshack.us/img228/361/78862573de4.jpg

Finally, the Bohemians made contact with the Poles. Becker was quick to exploit his numerical superiority and was able to flank the poles while keeping a few regiments of militia in reserve. For the moment he held his non-militia forces back as well, hoping to conserve that which could not be replenished.

https://img228.imageshack.us/img228/1443/75549456hy9.jpg

Meanwhile, Captain Godwine has using his forces to keep the Poles on Becker’s left occupied.

https://img228.imageshack.us/img228/900/10az2.jpg

Becker had planned to keep his cavalry in reserve, ready to strike the moment the Polish Captain was visible. But Ziemowit was also proving himself astute, and was staying close to his own forces.

https://img228.imageshack.us/img228/687/11mr6.jpg

Alas, the Bohemian line started to falter, and Becker was forced to send in his reserves while he rallied his men that were trying to flee.

https://img228.imageshack.us/img228/1821/12sm9.jpg

Fortunately the Militia were able to prove themselves, and the Polish Captain’s death signaled the end of the battle.

https://img228.imageshack.us/img228/9210/13uc0.jpg

***

“Not bad, if I do say so myself.”

https://img514.imageshack.us/img514/9563/results1hl8.jpg
https://img514.imageshack.us/img514/2872/results2ag0.jpg

Having reviewed the condition of his army, Becker was pleased. As their first real test, it was good to know they could decisively prevail against an equal force. He moved on the list of prisoners. They counted three hundred and ten men, worth an estimated two thousand, nine hundred and forty-two florins.

Becker sighed. It was a most unpleasant decision. And he still remembered Ludwig’s words in Bran from so many years ago. But this was different. The Poles were invaders, and the times were extremely dangerous. Besides… He was not Sigismund. He decided the prisoners would be ransomed.

The Poles, however, had other ideas. The news hit Becker harder than he expected. Something about it just seemed fundamentally… wrong. He felt responsible. He quickly composed himself, and spoke.

“Karl, contact Breslau. Tell them I wish to fund the repairs of their church.”

[Ignoramus]

*placeholder*

[econ21]

The road to Antioch, 1328

Elberhard stared at the letters from Duke Arnold and Count Jan von Hamburg in disbelief. He rubbed his head, as if hoping to wake himself from a bad dream.

Linyeve sat Sphinx like, watching the Kaiser. It was almost as if she enjoyed seeing him squirm. Elberhard rose heavily, glad to leave the correspondence on his desk and turn to battle.

He looked at Kachig, the mercenary Captain, who was waiting to report.

"Captain Modestos and his regiment of Byzantine infantry has been located on the road to Adana. Beyond that lies Captain Theotokios and his siege train. They will be easy prey for your army, Sire."

Elberhard nodded, he still felt uneasy at the idea of leaving Outremer. Whether his desire to give battle was really to make life easier for Matthias and the men left behind, or simply a manifestation of his own reluctance to leave, he was not sure.

"Shall I get the army on the road?" inquired Jan the Teuton.

"Nah, Modestos will do a runner if he spies a thousand Germans marching on him. My escort will deal with him. Let the army have a good breakfast, then follow me on the road to Adana. We'll reunite before attacking the siege train."


https://img67.imageshack.us/img67/6307/13281rt9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Elberhard rides out with just his escort, to avoid giving the Byzantines a chance to retreat.


Jan saluted and exited, as Elberhard's pages began to fasten on his full plate armour.



*****


When Elberhard found Captain Modestos and his lone regiment of Byzantine infantry camped out on a hill, he circled around them - like a mongoose circling a snake. Maneouvring his escort onto the hill, he launched a charge against the unfortunate enemy. Poor Captain Modestos was skewered on impact and the enemy morale was shattered.


https://img67.imageshack.us/img67/8494/13282wu2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

With the general's sudden death, the fight is over almost before it has begun.


The swift victory gave Elberhard an idea. He spoke to Sir Paul Mulner, his shieldbearer: "Did you see that - how that poor @#$%^&!!!ing idiot Modestos stood in the path of our charge?"

Paul grunted: "Ja, lucky for us. Not lucky for Modestos."

Elberhard smiled, but spoke intently: "Yeah, sure. But next time ... maybe next time, we should make sure luck has less to do with it?"


https://img90.imageshack.us/img90/2748/13283hz6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Kaiser had not deliberately angled his charge so as to catch the enemy general but the chance event gives him the idea to try to repeat it in future battles.


The shieldbearer sighed inwardly - the Kaiser's predilection for using his own escort as the spearhead of his attacks mortified the knight. Sometimes it seemed as if the careworn Kaiser had a deathwish. Elberhard sensed Paul's unease and thumped him on the shoulder:

"Cheer up, you @#$%^&!!!er - the sooner we kill their generals, the quicker we will have them on the run. Now, let's find that siege train."


https://img67.imageshack.us/img67/5716/13284ky3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The butcher's bill (he was robbed).

[econ21]

The Road to Adana, 1328


"They are pulling back!" shouted Captain Jan in frustration.

https://img67.imageshack.us/img67/1586/13280qt7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Alone, the Byzantine siege train will be easy prey for the Germans. But it is a priority target as, in conjunction with a full field army, it could cause significant problems for Matthias at the iron bridge or in Antioch.

Elberhard looked impassive. "Let them - with those siege engines, we will catch them soon enough."

In truth, the Kaiser was rather relieved the Byzantine siege train was fleeing the mountain pass that stood on the Antioch-Adana border and heading for the more open valley to the west.

When the Kaiser's army finally caught up with the enemy, it had deployed on a fairly gentle slope covering the road to Adana. Elberhard ordered a night attack, in the hope that darkness would reduce the accuracy of the enemy's many missiles.

https://img88.imageshack.us/img88/6038/13285et8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

A frontal attack would be costly.


The Kaiser gathered his retinue.

"I will take my escort and circle left around the rear of the enemy, hoping to take out their general.

Jan - take the rest of the cavalry and two regiments of foot knights and circle right.

Kachig - bring the cannon and the crossbows to follow me up the road, then when you get abreast of them, prepare to engage.

Sir Charles - follow Kaching with the rest of the foot knights.

When the enemy general is dead, we will fall upon the enemy from both sides. Any questions?"

There was silence and Elberhard broke into a smile.

"Awed by my @#$%^&!!!ing @#$%^&!!!tastic plan, I see. Right - let's get to it!"

Kachig turned away, looking despondent. Many of his brother Armenians were guarding the Byzantine siege train and in truth, for all Elberhard's bragging, it was clear that however it was fought, the coming unequal contest would be less a battle and more a slaughter.



*****


The battle opened with the two Imperial cannons beginning a long range barrage of the enemy lines.


https://img264.imageshack.us/img264/8016/13286et7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Never bring a catapult to a cannon fight.

https://img264.imageshack.us/img264/3869/13287kh9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)


Elberhard's escort circled the rear of the enemy line, hoping to isolate and pick off the enemy general in his regiment of Byzantine Guard archers.


https://img264.imageshack.us/img264/9635/13288qb5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Elberhard circles, like a wolf trying to separate a weaker animal from a herd.


At one point, Elberhard had his men all lined up to charge the flank of the Guard archers but then a keen eyed knight spotted that Captain Theotokias was at the opposite end of the enemy line. Elberhard hastily called off the charge and continued to circle his prey. When at last, his knights were facing the enemy general, the battle proper began.

https://img88.imageshack.us/img88/2808/13289ax8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Elberhard tries to repeat the trick he discovered fighting Captain Modestos, but this time, the charge will fail to kill the enemy general.


Much to Elberhard's surprise, the Byzantine Guard archers held up to the charge of his cavalry much better than had the Byzantine infantry in the earlier fight this year.


https://img265.imageshack.us/img265/9861/123810qu6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The archers even resist a rear charge by the Kwazarimans from the right wing of the German attack.

https://img265.imageshack.us/img265/9458/132810la3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Only when the foot knights from the right wing join in the contest, do the Byzantine Guard archers finally buckle.

By the time the Byzantine general fled, his army had been completely surrounded. Pavise crossbowmen and cannon kept up a barrage of fire, as German foot knights closed in from both flanks. Some Byzantine artillery crews abandoned their war machines and gamely charged the German centre. But they soon lost heart when confronted with the mass of spears they encountered. In short order, the enemy siege train was completely destroyed - at a very modest cost to the Reich.

https://img265.imageshack.us/img265/4223/123811rj5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The butcher's bill.


After the battle, Elberhard looked longingly up the road to Adana. The citadel was within his reach. With his cannon he could storm and take it this year. But it would be quite impossible for Matthias to hold and trying to do so would like expose Antioch and Acre to capture. With one last glance west, Elberhard turned his horse back towards Antioch. He looked at his escort and said with resignation:

"Right, that's that. We're going home now."

[AussieGiant]

Near Ragusa 1328

“My Lord the reinforcements have arrived from Ragusa and the Venetian's are approaching, what are your orders?”

The Duke was reading another stack of reports from Lord Zirn to the north. He didn't look up at his new retinue companion, the renowned bowman from Greece.

Kostas had joined Duke Arnold's retinue once he had move south to Ragusa for the defense of the Duchies southern border. Even having only knowing the Duke for a short time there was clearly something wrong.

Waiting for an answer that did not come, he finally left Arnold's command tent. Making an immediate beeline for the Captain's tent Kostas saw the towering figure of Grom talking to some of the Regimental officers outside.

Grabbing him by the arm he pulled the Barbarian away and dragged him inside.

The interior was ordered and dim. The Venetian's we attacking at dusk for some reason and the lanterns were not lit yet. As Kostas and Grom entered the the tent there was a heated argument in progress.

“I tell you Szcepanski I've known the Duke for over two decades and I've never seen him like this!!” Sigfreid the Military Engineer slammed his palm down on the table for emphasis.

“You're an old twat who worries too much!” replied the Polish Sword Bearer, standing, he took two paces towards the older man with a belligerent look in his eye's. The tension in the room was clearly aggravating even normal conversations between the command group.

Grom's massive hand pushed Szcepanski into his seat with a thud.

“There will be no arguing in this room!! You hear?” Grom's question was rhetorical as he gazed around the room at Arnold's companions. The Priest sat in the corner with a concerned look on his face, while Guido the new Overseer from Venice made eye contact briefly before looking away.

Turning to Kostas, the big barbarian gave him a questioning stare.

“He gave no orders Grom, nothing. He just sat there reading Lord Zirn and Lorenz's reports.

He has no energy, no passion...everything he once was seems gone.”

There was silence in the room as the group absorbed the information.

Finally the priest stood. “Yesterday he received a letter from the Kaiser, that I know. I couldn't see what it said but he was visibly concerned once he had finished reading it and asked me to leave soon after.”

Silence again filled the command tent.

“Fine!” Grom stood with renewed purpose. “If the Duke is unable to pull himself out from what ever despair he has, then WE, will fight this battle for him!

Gather the regiments, we will brief them in two hours.”

The others left leaving the Priest and Grom to prepare the room for the coming meeting.

“Have you heard from Bane?” Grom look up from the map of the mountain pass they were defending.

“No I haven't Grom. I pray he makes the journey safely.”

Gazing back to his work the big man also wondered if the Dread Knight would return in time to rouse the Duke from whatever stupor he was in. If he didn't, the south would fall leaving the Reich's belly exposed to further attack.

The battle without the Duke:

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/Ragusa/medieval22007-11-1112-15-08-03.jpg

Grom lines up the regiments:

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/Ragusa/medieval22007-11-1112-15-42-68.jpg

Without the Duke the fighting is grim work:

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/Ragusa/medieval22007-11-1112-28-23-26.jpg

The regiment's severely depleted with more to come:

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/Ragusa/medieval22007-11-1112-34-41-60.jpg

The Duke finally arrives to end the artillery:

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/Ragusa/medieval22007-11-1112-35-39-60.jpg

Even without Arnold the Companion's surprisingly pull out a major victory:

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/Ragusa/medieval22007-11-1112-38-32-45.jpg

The details:

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/Ragusa/medieval22007-11-1112-38-41-53.jpg

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/Ragusa/medieval22007-11-1112-38-43-15.jpg

So much money, but so many quality troops must never return:

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/Ragusa/medieval22007-11-1112-39-03-68.jpg

Will the Dread Duke, pull himself out of his depression?

Will Bane, his right hand and most trusted servent survive the long and dangerous trek to Prague and the dastardly Becker?

Will Grom be able to marshal Arnold's companions and save southern Austria?

All these questions and much more will be revealed in the next exciting episode OF.....

dun dun dun!!!

The Chronical's of the misunderstood and lonely "Dread Duke Arnold the Inspiring One".

[Stuperman]

My Lords, I bring you most terrible news, The god forsaken Byzantines have raised an army straight from hell!!! My forces were cut down en masse, I have lost much of my army! Worst of all, I fear that the Milanese Garrison has been destroyed, Milan is all but Lost!

http://img37.picoodle.com/img/img37/5/11/16/t_submitm_e5eb924.jpg (http://www.picoodle.com/view.php?img=/5/11/16/f_submitm_e5eb924.jpg&srv=img37)
(OOC: odds: 3:5)

I retreated back to my county of Genoa, destroying the rebel presence there, before re-garrisoning the city. These Byzantines fought with a fury I've never seen before, how god can allow such beasts to roam the world is unimaginable. I swear, I will not rest till I have killed every last one!

http://img03.picoodle.com/img/img03/5/11/17/t_Submitm_0531442.jpg (http://www.picoodle.com/view.php?img=/5/11/17/f_Submitm_0531442.jpg&srv=img03)

[Ramses II CP]

The Sack of Stettin.

Anger pulsed in Fritz's mind. While he and his men had been putting down another rebellion in his own county the citizens of his own city had surrendered Stettin virtually without a fight! To the Danes! The idea of citizens of the Reich giving way before those crude barbarians, granting them control of Fritz's own domain, was outrageous. They should have fought to the last man! He'd sent word that he was coming, that they only need hold out a little longer, and despite this they could not even hold the walls a year.

I have been too easy on them, Fritz thought. I have shown them only peace and prosperity, yes, even though they raised arms against me I have pulled my blow in response and let it land too lightly. They think it worth the risk to bow down to a conqueror and hope he can shelter them from my wrath.

They are wrong.

The Reich needs discipline, discipline I myself have too often lacked. If Franconia is to survive it will be by grinding away the soft, weak, useless outer core to find if there is any good wood left. Today I will show my people that I bring not peace, but the sword.

Leaving his tent, Fritz rapidly strode to the command tent to meet with his mercenary captains. They are laughing over some jest when he comes in, but they recognize his expression at once. Time to get down to business.

'All right lads, the Danes are all stirred up at me and my own people have bent knee to them. So be it. They'll find no rest there while I'm out here with a bombard. I know this city better than a fly knows ****.'

'Robert! You take your longbowmen, the ribault teams, and the crossbowmen and set stakes by the road to the east gate. They'll be expecting us there, and I'm hoping they'll try a sally against your lot and be eaten alive before they even reach the stakes.'

'Ambrose you and the infantry will stand ready at the north gate, where the bombard will be cracking the walls for us. Me and the cavalry will be there too. They'll likely defend the south gate, where the woods run closer to the walls, in the expectation that we're trying to sneak in. No sneaking today men!'

'Once they've heard the first shots striking the north wall there will be a scramble to reinforce the gates, maybe even an attempt to get more archers on the walls there. Make every bloody shot from those bombards count, Berchtold, because I mean to have men in the city and the gates open before they can bring any heavy infantry down.'

'After that it'll be a grand melee, but we'll have the advantage in my knowledge of the streets. Many of us have fought these Danes before, their idea of strategy is 'send in the axemen.' After the spearmen and infantry have pinned the Danish heavy infantry response in place our cavalry will cut them off from the square and break them up.'

'Who has questions?'

It was Berchtold, that gentle seeming old man, who asked the question for them all, 'After the battle m'Lord...'

'After the battle we will sack this Danish city and teach it's people the error of their ways. Leave them nothing of value, but do try not to damage the church. They're going to need it.'

Grim smiles broke out around the table, and the men slapped each other on the back before departing to make their companies ready.

http://lh4.google.com/RosDalton/R0M7-tx2FaI/AAAAAAAAGuY/GEcpxHbYnH4/s800/077.jpg

http://lh4.google.com/RosDalton/R0M7_tx2FbI/AAAAAAAAGug/tZYfjUJLr1M/s800/078.jpg

At the launch of the siege Fritz knew the Danes were surprised by his rapid assault against an entrenched force with half again his numbers, but they'd failed to take into account his anger, his skill at arms, and the confidence his veteran mercenary army had in him. Their soldiers were numerous, but they'd seen no fighting spirit in the people of Stettin and perhaps thought Friz's victory at Stockholm a fluke. In any case, the north and east walls were unmanned. The bombard rapidly knocked a hole near the north gate, and then began knocking down the towers over it while German mercenary Knights and Fritz's own bodyguard raced inside.

http://lh4.google.com/RosDalton/R0M8Atx2FcI/AAAAAAAAGuo/_w3xlutu1RA/s800/0042.jpg

The Danish response was predictable, except in that they set their mighty Chivalric Knight cavalry right at the tip of the spearhead. The battle at the gates would likely turn on their performance and the hardiness of their dismounted counterparts.

http://lh5.google.com/RosDalton/R0M8B9x2FdI/AAAAAAAAGuw/rFHRignpDVc/s800/0043.jpg

Fritz's first attempted flanking counterattack met with a determined company of handgunners who had to be cut down before the attack could proceed. Fritz ordered another company of mercenary knights to get the east gate open and marched his own men to cut off the handgunners.

http://lh5.google.com/RosDalton/R0M8C9x2FeI/AAAAAAAAGu4/NOJhqEP4ipU/s800/0044.jpg

The pocket at the north gate had formed almost perfectly. Two companies of spearmen held the main line while mounted knight flanked the Danish Chivalric Knights, and free company men at arms chewed up the Danish right, where they had thrown crossbowmen and Norse archers against Fritz's best infantry. Now all the men at the gate could do is hold and hope Fritz could reach them.

http://lh6.google.com/RosDalton/R0M8ENx2FfI/AAAAAAAAGvA/FL1a7tS2qDE/s800/0045.jpg

Near the east gate the small company of knights catches a full company of Norse archers and butchers them almost to a man. Fritz's crossbowmen, archers, and ribaults begin to enter the city and take up positions around the east gate. Before Fritz can relieve the men at the north gate he must carve a path through a company of mounted crossbowmen. They do not rout quickly, but they do rout, and then the moment of truth is at hand. When the Danish dismounted Chivalric Knights spot Fritz's banner in their rear and realize that the crossbowmen and archers on the right are crumbling, they lose heart and attempt to flee. None of them escape, nor do any of the men from the first Danish attempt to repel Fritz.

http://lh6.google.com/RosDalton/R0M8FNx2FgI/AAAAAAAAGvI/jckZV6bLpN0/s800/0048.jpg

The Danish commander is not one to let a bad plan go unfulfilled, however, and his slow moving Obudshaer now march north to try to halt the German advance, backed by mounted Huscarls. Once again Fritz has his cavalry in position to cut the enemy off from the square. The Obudshaer are reluctant to surrender, but two whole companies of them kill fewer mercenaries than the Huscarls, who surrendered more quickly.

http://lh3.google.com/RosDalton/R0M8Gdx2FhI/AAAAAAAAGvQ/4m7o36xjNUA/s800/0052.jpg

Swordstaff militia have been trying the east gate, and have been sent back to the square cut to ribbons. Some of them are sent north, and meet the same fate as the Obudshaer. The distraction at the east gate has, however, allowed a nearly whole company of Norse Axemen to reach the walls, and they launch a furious, hopeless melee against Fritz's pavise crossbowmen there. Not one of them will make it back to the square, though they do kill some crossbowmen.

http://lh3.google.com/RosDalton/R0M8Hdx2FiI/AAAAAAAAGvY/p1IFhyhzcrE/s800/0056.jpg

Fritz catches more axemen attempting to cut a path out of the city through his spearmen. Few of them survive to return to the square either.

http://lh5.google.com/RosDalton/R0M8I9x2FjI/AAAAAAAAGvg/8-CQgoXw9jQ/s800/0057.jpg

At this point the enemy commander attempts to regain control of his rapidly worsening position. He gathers all his remaining companies in the square and appears to be struggling to sort out an accurate report of what forces Fritz has in the city. Fritz takes this opportunity to reorder his own army and bring the bombard and the ribaults within range of the square. Spearmen block the north and east streets of Stettin while behind them archers and artillery set lines, and cavalry prepare ambushes against any Danish advance.

http://lh4.google.com/RosDalton/R0M8Ktx2FkI/AAAAAAAAGvo/nTiWkoL3y0g/s800/0058.jpg

At last the Danish captain has had enough. He looks around for the nearest enemy, two companies of men at arms, and orders a full scale assault against their position. Only his own guardsmen obey. Riding through the square Fritz catches the enemy captain's Chivalric Knights in the rear. Their leader is rapidly drug from his horse and dismembered in the street, after which his knights surrender their swords.

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The rest of the battle is target practice. Near the end desperate Danes launch one final attack, which is smashed. Seven axemen survive the attempt and are surrounded and finished near the square. Stettin once again belongs to Fritz the Scarred.

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The cost was steep, but far harder on the Danes. After the battle Fritz releases his men to sack the former seat of his power, the heart of his county. As people flood the square to beg and plead for mercy Fritz addresses them.

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'People of Stettin I have been your lord for many years. In that time I have asked little enough of you. Pay your taxes. Obey the law. Support the righteous causes of God and the Reich.'

'That light handedness, it would seem, was in error. You have abused my trust with rebellions, religious unrest, and in the final indignity by laying down arms and surrendering MY city to the foul Danes.'

'It ends today. My light hand left with my light heart, and on this day it is with a heavy heart that I tell you; If all you understand is force, then all I will show you is the sword. From this day no man shall go armed in Stettin except that he is under my command, or the command of my appointed captain. No man shall make or transport arms or armor of any sort, except by my command. The penalty for rebellion of any sort shall be death by fire.'

'I urge you to take shelter in the light of God! Your transgressions have been terrible, but God may forgive them!'

Leaving the square Fritz pulls Athelstan, the priest in his retinue, aside, 'Instruct the local priests that they are to lay it on thick for a few weeks. The Lutheran message is more important now than ever, and these people need a target for their anger more than they need a source of hope. The blame for this whole mess is that fool quest for unification. The Danes came here because of it, the rebellions arose because of it, and my own disciplining of the city came out of it. If any of the locals are... reluctant refer them to me personally before we leave.'

After this bloody day Fritz would be known as a merciless mauler, a reputation he could not deny.

(My remaining knights were combined into one small company from three, my four ribaults became two, my three spearmen became two, and my three crossbowmen became two.)

[FactionHeir]

Placeholder for "The Pacification of Bern, 1332" with pictures.

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[Northnovas]

Zagreb 1332 Nightfall

Another battle lay ahead and it was a night attack. This was the elders Zirn’s preference from his days in the Outremer and now he was showing the younger Zirn how it was to be executed. Age was creeping up on Karl and he was going to hang back and let Johann take command. It was enough effort to remain on the horse.

There was no moon on this night and the men were not permitted any fires to keep their night vision. The two Zirn’s stood side by on their mounts. The troops were quietly crouched in the woods along the main highway. This was a different battle this wasn’t some strange exotic land, or the perimeter of the Reich like Budapest. This was home and there was no retreat. We are on Zirn soil now.

“This is your battle son, we have gone over the plan and I want you up on the line. The men won’t see you but they have to hear you understand?” It was a rhetoric question and Karl knew Johann was prepared and while he was talking he kept looking over at the far right flank and could see the lighter wicks of the cannon crew glowing. “Johann you better get over by the artillery crew and prepare them for the attack. They are making themselves a target in these conditions.” Without a word Johann saluted and was off with his Bodyguards.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1332zagreb2.jpg

The enemy was getting closer they could not be seen yet but Karl could here the movement of the army coming closer. Just then a scout rode up quickly to the Count.

“My lord, the Hungarians are not more then a quarter mile on the main road in formation” spoke the scout waiting for further orders.

Peter spoke up “Very well go to the Captain of the artillery and commence rounds onto the main road.” The scout sped off. The enemy was getting closer and no movement from the artillery crews.

“What the %#$@= is going?!” on shouted Karl to Peter his logistics man. Karl language was beginning to get a lot stronger since return to Europe. “Those #@$!# bastards better start firing those guns!

Just then a roar came from across the field. The enemy was charging

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1332Zagreb3.jpg

WHOOOOOOOOOSH! Another two loud roars could be heard. Catapults! Karl was familiar to that sound they will be silenced shortly he thought to himself if those damn guns get firing.

The artillery crews were loaded but the fuse would not ignite. Johann had arrived on the scene. “Captain, You have been given the order fire those damn cannons!”

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1332Zagreb4.jpg

KABOOOOOOOOOOOOOM! A direct hit the Hungarian catapult took out the Austrian cannon crew. Johann horse reared and bucked but he remained in the saddle.

The Hungarians hit the right flank hard. The Austrian Commanders had not seen such emotion from the Hungarians.

Johann jumped in to the fray to steady the line. The men were inspired to see the young Zirn in the heat of the battle.

Karl had remained in the rear but was suddenly surrounded by a regiment of knights. He could not draw his sword. Both Peter the veteran warrior and Ingo the Teutonic Knight flanked the elder Zirn and fought of the enemy. Karl yelled and cursed at the enemy but he felt so helpless.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1332Zagreb5.jpg

Johann seeing his father’s unit wearing down charged and helped to balance the situation. Slowly the Hungarians began to turn and run they just didn’t seem to interested to continue the fight.

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The battle was won and the enemy prisoners were rounded up. They were released with no weapons in their possession and escorted out of the region.

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*********************************************

Vienna 1332

There was some anxiety in the city. Fresh high trained troops had arrived in the city under the command of Lorenz Zirn but the cost of obtaining those troops had caused some stir especially amongst the mercantile class. They had unwilling paid for these troops at cost to their infrastructure.

Now there was a large Rebel force in the countryside nearby causing havoc and concerned amongst the gentry.

Lorenz Zirn had inspected all the troops in the city. They had been mobilized and were prepared to rid the countryside of the garbage that was out there.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1332aVienna.jpg

Zirn’s army had rested on top of the crest blocking the main road to Vienna. The Rebels had assembled below. His bodyguards were his only cavalry and he had two missile regiments. The Rebels had more horse and archers. Zirn surveyed the field.

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“Captain, I want my missile out front and firing at the centre of their formation. Lets see what they do we have the advantage of elevation and they will have to move closer to get at out men.” ordered Zirn to his Captain with a wry smile.

“Bowmen commence firing!” yelled the Captain. A volley of arrows rained down on the road below.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1332aVienna3.jpg

After several volleys the enemy sustained casualties but stood there ground. Zirn was getting impatient and moved the army forward but maintaining the elevation to his advantage. Some units were send to the out flanks and see if the enemy would spread out.

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The enemie’s right flank was hit with a regiment of knights and the fanatics held their ground. The spearmen regiments approached the left flank to test the Rebel cavalry.

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Zirn was getting more impatient and swung his body guard unit the Rebel rear and attacked the wavering archer units.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1332aVienna7.jpg

The centre of the Rebel army was beginning to bend as another knight regiment hit the centre and the bowmen used their last rounds on the fanatics in the centre.

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The Rebels were wavering and begin to turn. Zirn gleeful chased down the routing units.

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Victory! The butcher’s bill for a days work

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All prisoners were hung and quartered by Zirn’s orders and the area was pacified.

The young Austrian had done a fine job on this day.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1332aVienna93.jpg

[OverKnight]

The Battle of Doclea

An account of the battle given by Otto Grunberg, artilleryman.

The Duke drove us mercilessly, he wanted to reach the mountain passes between Ragusa and Durazzo before the Venetians so that they would be forced to attack us uphill. There were times on the march where he cursed our catapults for slowing down the column. It is always such with horsemen and nobles, they mock artillery until they need it.

The Lord did not smile upon us, for we found the Venetians had already seized the high ground when we came to the pass. Even worse, they outnumbered us and they had cannon. Duke Arnold was most wroth, and his string of profanities most impressive. I focused on readying my catapult, it would be neeeded.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/aragdeploy.jpg

My Duke chose the best ground he could, a small rise at the base of the mountain. There was a small dip between the two, and I guess he hoped that this would negate, to a small extent, the Venetian's advantage in height.

The Venetians advanced on us.

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Their crossbowmen came first, followed by cavalry and infantry. Their cannon stopped halfway down the mountain and opened fire. As an artillery man myself, there's nothing worse than taking fire and being unable to return it. Their aim was bad, but men began to fall. I could hear the Duke screaming at us to hold, that the Venetians would come to us and that he would ride down any man who dared to flee.

His threats were nothing new, we'd been into battle with Duke Arnold many times, and I concentrated on loading my catapult as their archers came into range. It was good to have something to fire at, and we, and our own crossbowmen deployed in front of the infantry, killed many of them. The Duke ordered us to hold fire as he sent in his lone contingent of knights to finish what we started.

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The archers fled, though they rallied later. The Venetian commander lost his patience and tried to return the favor. He sent his cavalry in to charge our bowmen, but the Duke, anticipating this, counter charged with our infantry.

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Their horsmen were repulsed as the artillery and bowmen kept up our fire. The Venetian captain then led his infantry forward.

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This met with the same success.

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Their captain dead, their two assaults failed and mindful of my Master's reputation, most of the Venetians broke. All units except my catapults pursued. The Venetian cannons kept firing, brave men there, but the Duke put paid to that.

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Having descended a mountain to kill us, the Venetians labored back up it to escape. Not many did.

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While everyone else pursued the Venetians, I had the luxury to survey the damage we had done.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/icarnage.jpg

My catapults may have slowed down the column, but I doubt the Duke will curse us now. High ground or no, we had slaughtered them. A heroic victory some called it, but I doubt it to be the last one. No matter how many merchants we send to hell, they just keep coming.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/zragvic.jpg

Of course, my Duke made sure that this particular force would never return until Judgement Day.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/yragexecute.jpg

[gibsonsg91921]

Sally at the Siege of Frankfurt, 1334

"Men of the Army of Hamburg! I have fought with you but a few times and a few glorious victories, but this may be my last. If I die, you shall not flee. I am but one man, and no more important to Franconia and the Holy Roman Empire than any other. Fight to the last man - Frankfurt shall not fall! We are Germans! We are superior! Do not falter! Even if I have an arm or a leg cut off, I shall not cease! I will not die until the Danes consume me! I shall drench the field with the blood of our enemies! We shall be victorious!"

"Sally forth, men! Cavalry, with me! Leave the city and go straight off to the side, at the ready! Infantry, engage their line! Archers! Fire upon their formation! Stand fast against the cannonade!"

http://123pichosting.com/images/505frank1j.JPGThe odds of the battle were not in the Duke's favor.

The Danish infantry became occupied with the Imperial force. Two regiments of Norse Archers have exposed themselves to attack.

"Cavalry! With me! Charge the archers and press on into the Danish ranks!"

http://123pichosting.com/images/8060frank2j.JPGHowever, Peter's mastery in cavalry and his personal skill at jousting soon turned the tide.

"Jonas! Lars! Ulrich! My men! With me and Schwarz, my faithful steed! We shall go around back and crush the line!"

http://123pichosting.com/images/7306frank3j.JPGPeter drives against the rear of the faltering Danes.

"They are fleeing! Let no man escape!"

http://123pichosting.com/images/898frank4j.JPGThe battle is all but won at this point.

"Circle around to the front and rejoin our ranks against their War Clerics!"

http://123pichosting.com/images/1451frank6j.JPGIt is a glorious victory, and the number of Danish prisoners are beyond count!

"We have victory, men! We live to fight another day, and we shall slay our enemies another day, as long as we draw breath!"

"Execute the prisoners! Let their rotting skulls be a warning to those who dare encroach upon Franconian or Imperial land!"

http://123pichosting.com/images/3362frank7j.JPGHowever, there aren't too many for Peter to deal with.

[Ramses II CP]

Hamburg, 1334

Fritz strode into the house he'd coopted as his temporary headquarters. The key mercenary captains were all already present.

'First let's lay it on the table. Stettin is ruined. The city will not support us even if we tax the people into starvation. Not only that, but it stands at a crux between three enemies. Why sit on a valueless scrap of ground surrounded by worthless, broken peasants when just a few weeks march to the west there is a huge city full of good Germans chafing under Danish control?'

'So we're going, and I've squeezed a ceasefire out of the Russians in exchange for this wide place in the road. Here's the trick though, Stettin was ruined by my own foolishness and greed, and so we wound up without a reliable base. Hamburg is going to be different. We'll be occupying it peacefully, no sacking, no pillaging, and most especially no raping.'

The captains exchanged uneasy looks. Finally the longbowmen's leader, Robert, spoke up:

'Why m'Lord? The city is ruled by the Danes, and her citizens submitted to it readily. Do they not deserve punishment?'

'Don't push me Robert. I've no need to hear my words repeated to me.' Fritz glared at each man in turn before carrying on, 'The Danes do deserve punishment, and they will get it, but the Germans of the city must see us as heroes riding in to their rescue. That way when we ask them for money to pay for their defense they'll hand it over willingly. After we've captured the city and secured the walls, then we'll roust every lazy Dane who hadn't the sense to flee out of his hole, confiscate everything he owns and try him as a spy. That way when he goes to the gallows his fellow peasants will cheer!'

Berchtold spoke this time, carefully, 'Bit less money in it that way, eh Lord Fritz?'

'Perhaps less this year, but more in the years to come. The thing I've discovered about money is you need a little to get a lot. Besides, the city's not going anywhere. If I find it needs to be sacked next year it'll be all the easier with the trust of the citizenry already a given.'

Nods all around the table now, as the mercenaries grasped Fritz's plan.

'Good then, call in the scouts; we're leaving no one behind. I've already cut my deal with the Russians, I just need to let the people know.'

Leaving the men to their duties, Fritz strode out into the square. A detail from his personal guard had gathered the remaining influential citizens of Stettin to hear Fritz speak.

'I'm leaving. Don't all cheer at once. Mistakes have been made here, some of them mine and many of them yours, but the brute truth is that Stettin is no longer worth defending. I am not leaving you without a garrison but the men are not Germans. For the time being the Russians will administer Stettin; with this concession I have bought a ceasefire for the Reich. I have their assurances the citizens will be treated well. I am not interested in your questions or opinions of the matter. You may go now to make the people ready for their new rulers.'

The road to Hamburg was wide and well kept, and the mercenaries kept a good pace, even the new recruits from distant Albania knew of Fritz's reputation. At the walls of Hamburg Fritz decided that the same general strategy that had worked at Stettin would work here, though the immensity of the walls would mean attacking the gates directly instead.

The opening of the assault went precisely as before, the veteran infantry, ribaults, longbowmen, crossbowmen, and a company of cavalry all set lines behind some stakes near the west gate. Fritz, the rest of the cavalry, the spearmen, and the bombard took up their positions by the north gate. The enemy was either taken completely by surprise or had chosen not to try to hold the walls. When the paired bombards opened up the gates crashed down, and immediately Fritz and his cavalry raced into the city.

Two companies of veteran Norse archers and four companies of veteran Swordstaff militia marched down from the square, but the militia were unwilling to break their spearwall and marched more slowly than the archers. The result being, spearmen held the first company of archers while Fritz drove into their flank and broke them. The second company escaped with fewer casualties, but also fled to the square.

Seeing those deadly swordstaves marching down the street Fritz knew his spearmen were in for trouble, so he attempted to force them to withdraw and allow him to set up his ranged companies by charging the square. Meanwhile his Albanian cavalry let the men at the west gate into the city, and they took up positions on the walls. Fritz captured the square, but only for a moment as the Danish general rushed back to contest it, and withdrew all but a single company of his swordstaves.

Arriving back at the north gate Fritz found three companies of spearmen in perfect position to surround the single, stubbornly advancing company of swordstaff militia. At his order all three companies charged, and the swordstaves were completely cut off and enveloped.

It didn't matter though. They were hard veterans defending what they saw as their homelands. They had vastly superior armor and longer reach weapons. They began slowly carving a path right through the spearmen in front of them, while holding off the companies to their rear and right. It was extremely impressive to watch, but it was deadly for his men. Fritz watched as nintey swordstaff men killed a hundred of his spearmen and took only fifteen casualties doing it. It was intolerable to sit back and do nothing while his men died, so Fritz ordered his guardsmen into the fray. With Fritz at their head they moved through the ranks of the spearmen attacking the rear of the swordstaff formation and launched themselves into battle.

And still the militia fought on! Fritz killed two immediately, but then the men noticed who had come among them and blows began to rain down on him. His armor held, but he was forced to back up. Several of his personal guard were felled diving in to save him, but at last the tight formation of the swordstaves was split and broken open. Spearmen poured into the gap, and the militia collapsed and attempted to flee.

Blood and fire, thought Fritz, no more of that! Thank God they can't run and hold formation or I might be forced to withdraw!

The remaining enemy Norse archers had been killed trying to reclaim the west gate, so now Fritz could array his artillery against the square at his ease. The bombard presented a danger to the surrounding buildings, so it had to be positioned perfectly to allow the balls to skip down an open street all the way to the walls. When it was done all the men opened fire at once, and the Danish general realized the situation he was in. He charged, leading the three slow swordstaff companies to try to catch the crew of the bombard, but they retreated to safety behind some spearmen.

Fritz rushed forward to try to trap the Danish general away from the square, but it was not necessary. A spearmen felled him almost immediately, and the remainder of his guard routed and attempted to flee to the square. All were shot down from behind by furious volleys from the crossbowmen.

The militia were durable, but all that remained now was target practice. Fritz shook his head at the waste, 'What I could do with those veterans in that armor! Instead I must butcher them, though.'

http://lh4.google.com/RosDalton/R0yqOdx2F2I/AAAAAAAAGzY/bm-ckLqxSSY/s800/0043.jpg

http://lh5.google.com/RosDalton/R0yqPtx2F3I/AAAAAAAAGzg/52GOE6A8TMY/s800/0044.jpg

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After the battle Fritz spoke briefly in Hamburg's square to the gathering citizens.

'Citizens of the Reich! I have come to free you from your Danish oppressors! Be assured that we come in peace and wish only to aid you in returning to the bosom of your people. Go back to your homes and go about your business as normal. Oh, one other thing, I am ordering the construction of a orphanage for boys who lost their fathers in the war. It will be named the Alexander Luther School for Young Boys. Good day citizens, be of good cheer, your long suffering under the tyrrany of the Danes is at an end!'

http://lh6.google.com/RosDalton/R0yqS9x2F6I/AAAAAAAAGz8/ef0KOoFFJU8/s800/0047.jpg

After Hamburg was secured, Fritz took his men north to bring the other nearby Danish noble to battle. The fight was of little account, the Danes had no taste for it and fled in fear before any contact between the infantry lines.

http://lh6.google.com/RosDalton/R0yqT9x2F7I/AAAAAAAAG0E/PUO2JHyDRqI/s800/0048.jpg

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http://lh3.google.com/RosDalton/R0yqYNx2F_I/AAAAAAAAG0k/h08A2OQYdOM/s800/0052.jpg

OOC: I forgot to combine down my merc companies after the battle. Probably not worth taking the save back to do that, but I need to try to combine 'em down so I can pay less.

:egypt:

[OverKnight]

The Battle Southwest of Aleppo

The new King of Outremer faced his first decision. He could attack the siege army to his north, engage the Greek cavalry army attempting to flank him through English territory to the southeast, or hold at the Iron Bridge. In his estimation, his army was no match against the one to the north. They had him outclassed in all areas except cavalry. If he held at the Iron Bridge, he was likely to be the victim of a pincer move. That left attacking the army near Aleppo.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/aleppo.jpg

Matthias declined the offer of English assistance against the Greeks. Their army would be crushed, and he preferred to keep them out of the war with the Byzantines. They simply were not strong enough yet, and if they went to war Aleppo would soon be Greek again. Better a secure neutrality then add another front with a co-belligerent who needed to be propped up.

The Army of Outremer deployed on a hill with the Greeks in the valley below.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/aaleppoinit.jpg

Despite the wishes of Matthias, the Greeks did not attack. He was forced to move closer but decided to keep the advantage of height. He would not face cavalry on level ground.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/baleppomove.jpg

The King's cannon were now in range of the main column, they began to fire. The Greeks, in response sent a probe up the hills. It met a grisly fate.

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A stalemate ensued. The Greeks would not come up the hill, and Matthias would not march down it. In order to entice the Greeks into a charge he moved some of his infantry and crossbowmen closer to them.

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This brought the Imperial bowmen in range of the Greeks, but still they did not charge. Artillery and archers reaped a grim harvest of horsemen.

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Unfortunately, despite inflicting massive casualties at little loss to his own men, Matthias's army ran out of ammunition. To descend into the valley to bring the fight to the Greeks would result in horrific losses. He reluctantly decided to withdraw. (OOC: The timer ran out)

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It was an inauspicious beginning to his reign. King Matthias had bled the Greeks and kept his army intact to fight again, but he was now out of position south of Antioch. Only the future would tell whether this defeat was a true blunder or a necessary holding action.

[FactionHeir]

Placeholder for Pacification of Staufen

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[Zim]

The Battle of Bruges

Battle Statistics Screen
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The assault of Bruges began in the summer of 1334. In a matter of hours the Imperial trebuchets had put a hole in the South wall of the city, and smashed its gate. Oddly, though, their English allies did not yet join the attack, despite the breaches made. General Jan von der Pfalz sent a messenger to find out why.

“What do you mean they’re waiting to use up their siege weapons’ ammunition? Bruges walls are 12 feet thick at the base, and all the English have are ballistas! Why don’t they just use their siege towers and rams?” Jan roared at the messenger upon his return.

“I d-don’t know, sir. The English are led by a captain Harry, and he insists that their army regulations stipulate that all siege weapon ammo must be used before committing to an assault” The messenger replied.

“Have they had any luck at all going at the walls?”

Well, sir, they did manage to destroy a statue of a local folk hero, but that’s about it.”

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“Grrrr, well, send the trebuchets around to them to help them breach the walls.”

“Yes, sir!”
Jan sighed as the messenger rode back to the English line on the West side of the city. The English leader might be lacking a bit in flexibility, and Jan suspected also in intelligence, but he needed them. Jan’s militia and pike men were no match for the French mounted and dismounted and mounted knights, but the English heavy infantry was. The plan was for the English to attack first, then when the French finally brought their men back from the South wall to reinforce the West, Jan’s men would charge in, running them down.

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Later that afternoon the English finally ran out of Ballista bolts, and the English line charged the beaches in their side of the wall (made by Imperial trebuchets rather than the English army's oversized crossbows, of course). Their single unit of mouted knights reached the breach first, and bravely fought to nearly the last man to keep it from being plugged by the French. Sadly, Captain Harry died in the process.

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The English dismounted knights slowly pushed the French line towards the town center, despite taking heavy casualties. As the French finally pulled men off the wall facing Jan’s army, The Imperial troops charged, easily taking the empty wall.

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Jan then moved half of his army to the town square, where the fighting was becoming especially brutal. His pike men and some armoured sergeants were the first to reach the square, and the former showed great skill in fending off a charge from the French knights. The latter fought well in their own right, bringing down the French leader, an inexperienced but brave man named Captain Thomas.

The English and Imperial troops outnumbered and outclassed their French foes, but the latter showed great determination. While the English line’s morale faltered, the French refused to flee further. They’d make their final stand in the center.

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Things began to look desperate for the allies, and reinforcing arquebusiers were cut down by French knights. The English line faltered, and a deadly assault by a remaining unit of dismounted noble knights scattered those English soldiers that had reached the center of the square. Jan committed all of his reserves to shore up the English line, while he sneaked around the streets of the town, and entered the square from an unguarded side, taking out a unit of militia and the mounted Lancers that had threatened his Arquebusiers.

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Seeing the effect the dismounted Noble knights were having, Jan charged his cavalry into their flank again and again. Eventually they were reduced to just a few men. Jan lined up his bodyguard for one final charge, but a mistake occurred in timing it and he and a few of his guards found themselves far in front of the others. As the rest of his guard struggled to catch up, a stray arrow hit Jan’s horse, knocking him to the ground. One of the French knights struck at his head with a pole-arm, shattering his helmet and killing him. The man was quickly cut down, but it was too late. With his dying breath Jan instructed the leader of his guard that the town was to be peacefully occupied as it was not French and had no part in his death. He was also told to guard the city with his army, holding it for its rightful count, Ludwig von Bohmen.

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As per his wishes, the town was not sacked by the Imperial army, although they almost came to blows over the issue with the English, who were not so charitably inclined. Sadly, however, it appeared that the French must have sacked it when they had first taken it, as many of its buildings were in shambles, and much of the town’s wealth already carried off. Jan had succeeded in keeping his promise to Ludwig von Bohmen of taking Bruges, but at the terrible cost of his own life.

[Ramses II CP]

The Cleansing of Hamburg County, 1336.

Thinking over his role in the troubles of the Reich and especially of Franconia in the past few years always caused a dull, mixed up ache of pride, frustration, fury, and regret to begin building inside Fritz. As always he could find no outlet for these feelings, not even now when he was surrounded by the citizens of Hamburg who feted him and thought him a mighty hero. It was a little better now that he had been able to send most of the mercenaries on their way, much enriched and with reputations enhanced, but ultimately the expectations of the people of Hamburg provided every bit as much pressure as the demands of the mercenaries had, just in a different place. Add to that the troubling feud with Dieter, his future Duke, and the incessant interference of the cursed von Hamburg wench and Fritz was in dire need of a target for his anger.

Fortunately the Danes had provided one in the form of an ill led army camped in the hinterlands between Hamburg and Frankfurt. Before any advance into Danish territory, before even Frankfurt could be fully declared clear and safe, that army must be crushed. If a significant part of it were to slip away it could make a mockery of any victory by conducting a backwoods campaign and severely damaging the harvest in the Hamburg area for potentially years to come.

This will be an excellent test of my new soldiers, thought Fritz as he strode towards his campaign headquarters, though I've no reason to doubt any of them except the merchants. If they can defeat this Danish host, which is certainly superior in infantry to my own, then I can trust them to follow me into the enemy's homelands. If we cannot defeat them, we will at least maul them badly enough that Hamburg will remain safe.

Inside the HQ Fritz was met in the hallway by his two remaining mercenary captains, Robert and Berchtold. As always it was Robert who launched the offensive.

'M'lord we cannot trust these local levies! Are you really going to take four companies of criminals to battle as your sole component of heavy infantry?'

'Don't forget the money grubbers,' muttered Berchtold, fingering the the heavy gold rings he'd been wearing since the sack of Stockholm, 'they'll be more trouble than they're worth.'

Refusing to break stride Fritz answered them angrily, betraying none of his own doubts, 'These men are Germans! They have lived long years under barbarian leadership, and they will be eager to repay the Danes for what they did when they first captured the city. I will not have their quality questioned again, particularly not to their face!'

'...but, merchant cavalry?' stuttered Berchtold.

Now Fritz turned to glare, first at Robert and then Berchtold in turn. 'They too shall serve their purpose in battle. Remember, you two, once we've done for this lot in our backfield we may have an opportunity to push on into the Danish homelands themselves. Think what riches may be found in Arhus, eh?'

As the gleam of greed began to shine again in his captain's eyes Fritz turned and continued to the hall to speak to the rest of the men. Entering he found them all sitting on the edges of their chairs, flagons of wine standing untouched on the tabletop. Before any could think to speak, Fritz began his speech.

'God's teeth men! You look like a pack of virgin striplings deciding who gets first crack at Danish whore! It's only a battle. Remember, these Danes are on German soil. They've just had their supply lines cut, they've got no contact with their command structure, and they've clearly had no orders since they encamped. They need to be worried about us, not the other way around. Let's go give them the welcome we couldn't provide when they first came knocking at the Hamburg gates!'

A brief cheer rose from the table, but Fritz's unsmiling, scarred visage broke it up fast, 'Get to your men now, we march within the hour.'

Following the west road Fritz was careful to keep a slow pace, and to let the soldiers see the peasants of the rich German countryside cheering them on. Those quick Albanian cavalrymen had been sent ahead of the army to roust the peasants for exactly this effort. Acting as scouts they'd already found the enemy camp, which was unfortunately in the middle of a heavily wooded stretch of road. As the careful march forward continued and the morale of the fresh men seemed assured Fritz rode ahead to meet with his lancebearer, Bergin, who was with the scout team.

'Aye, and well met Lord von Kastilien. The Danes have a large contingent of swordstaves, a company of Norse swordsmen, several durable companies of heavy cavalry, a trebuchet, some crossbowmen, and a company of handgunners. Their army outclasses ours slightly, but we have more crossbowmen, the bombard to bring them running, and the ribault to give them a doubt. Now the bad news, the terrain around their camp is unsuitable for cavalry and the only partially clear hill nearby has trees covering the crest and the whole downslope side towards them. If we set the crossbows up in there I can't guess what their effectiveness will be, and ordering the cavalry on the flanks will be a questionable affair.'

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Fritz didn't hesitate, 'We'll be setting up low on the near side of the slope. The Albanians are to hide in the woods to the east, forward of the clearing, until they hear the whole bloody Danish army pass them, then they'll clear away the reserves and put some doubt in their infantry. Carry the word to them. I'll see you after the battle!'

Riding back to the main group Fritz considered the area he'd glimpsed and the best way to lay out his men. There was no question of taking the crest of the hill, the fresh men wouldn't like fighting where they couldn't see the enemy coming and a single flanking force might set the lot of them to flight, but losses would be higher on the low slope. The thought came to him again, as it had so long ago, that what can't be changed must be borne.

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The enemy scouts found his army, but not before they'd taken up positions where Fritz wanted them. The main line was fronted with the highly reliable mercenary crossbowmen in tight ranks backed by the spearmen militia. Two companies of Forlorn Hope anchored either side of the line, nearest the road the ribault and bombard stood behind the longbowmen's stakes. Fritz was on the right with the militia crossbowmen, instructing them on exactly how to properly enfilade an advancing line of enemy infantry without risking firing into friendly ranks.

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The Merchant cavalry had managed to sneak into the woods west of the road and were creeping forward to spot the enemy advance. Contact was imminent, but the merchants had been instructed to find the enemy then fade back and let them pass.

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Unfortunately the merchant militia overplayed their hand and attempted to win some glory by charging home against an apparently isolated company of crossbowmen. The crossbowmen spotted them before the cavalry could clear the trees to begin a charge, and retreated to the dismounted Chivalric knights behind them. The militia charged anyway...

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...to predictable results.

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Hearing the sounds of combat Fritz knew something had gone wrong, so he rode forward along to road to check what was going on. Spotting the wildly fleeing merchant cavalry he galloped into their path and, riding alongside the frontrunner, reached out to unseat the man from his horse. As the panicky fool tumbled into the dirt Fritz drew his sword and stood his ground while the rest of the company ran towards him. They stopped rather than try to ride by him, and wordlessly Fritz pointed his sword back into the west woods. As the company reformed a pair of immense burning stones hurtled overhead, and Fritz commanded them, 'Silence that trebuchet or die trying. If I catch you lot trying to skip out again before that artillery is gone I'll skin your families and hang them from the walls. GO!'

As the rest of his guardsmen arrived Fritz spotted the Danish advance guard which had pursued the fleeing militia cavalry, a short group of Huscarls. Spurring his mount forward he led a charge directly into their flank before they could turn. Their formation shattered and not one of them escaped to carry word back to their army.

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As Fritz rode along the rear of his formation back to the right side the main bodies of infantry sighted each other. Fritz ordered a minor change to his line, advancing it slightly mostly to shake the raw recruits out of their shocked stillness. Soon the bolts, balls, and arrows would start to fly and there was no time for being stunned or fearful now.

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Several more trebuchet shots had come towards the German line, but all had come down short or long. Before the bolt and arrow duel opened the merchant militia reached the unguarded trebuchet crew and prevented them from finding the range. Fritz guessed what had happened and thought, So, they aren't completely useless after all!

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Then the time for thought came to an end. The Danish heavy cavalry, experienced War Clerics and Chivalric Knights, charged forward before his crossbowmen could withdraw behind the spear line. Break, break, BREAK! Fritz mentally commanded as the ribault raked them and crossbow bolts cut their numbers in half, but their charge struck home before they fled. Half of his crossbowmen died in moments, then the spears turned the enemy charge, broke their momentum, and sent them fleeing.

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Now the faster Danish heavy infantry came forward, but with the swordstaves still struggling through the woods in tight formation far behind the excellent Danish troops were vastly outnumbered and outclassed. As soon as they engaged the spearmen Fritz sent the Forlorn Hope from the flanks, and rode down the line clearing away stragglers himself. By the time he'd reached the left side of his line and started back the whole front rank of the enemy army was in flight.

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Fritz made a special effort to run down every dismounted Chivalric knight on the field, not wanting them to rally and return in better time with the swordstaves. After they fell he called his men back to reform the line.

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Meanwhile Fritz's Albanian cavalry, still hiding in the woods, was discovered by the fleeing mounted Chivalric Knights just as they rallied. Bergin was caught unaware and the Albanians took significant losses before their second company managed to get behind the knights and cause them to rout again, this time to their destruction. At last the Albanians rode forward to aid in the main engagement.

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At the main engagement all of Fritz's men had answered his call to reform the line and prepare for the swordstaves except one mad company of Forlorn Hope from the left flank. Desperate to secure glory they chased the fleeing Danish heavy infantry right into seven companies of Swordstaff militia and one of Obudshaer. Then it was their turn to flee.

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Fritz gave the mass of advancing infantry just enough time at the crest of the hill to fully realize their situation. Cavalry was harrying the Obudshaer from behind (Though, unknown to Fritz, his merchant cavalry militia were once again in full flight), bolts, arrows, cannon balls, and ribault fire was ripping through them at the front, and Fritz was preparing to personally lead a charge of two fresh companies of Forlorn Hope against their left. The men were no fresh faced recruits like Fritz's. They knew that flight meant death or capture, so they lowered their swordstaves and began to advance, detailing companies on their left and right to try to hold the flanks. It was an impressive act of coordination and discipline. Briefly Fritz recalled the horrific losses his spearmen had taken at Hamburg. Then he ordered the attack.

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To the rear of the swordstaves the wiley Danish commander, with a company of deadly mounted crossbowmen, was finally engaged and then captured by the Albanian cavalrymen. He'd run a good battle and kept himself alive to supply orders, and when surrounded he wisely surrendered his sword and roundly cursed his captors when they killed his horse.

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When Fritz and the Forlorn Hope hit their left flank the advance of the swordstaves slowed and ground to a halt. Spearmen ran forward to engage them while they stood confused. As the minutes ticked by and their losses mounted those valiant men surely began to wonder what had become of their clever commander. At last, though, when the Obudshaer who were holding their rear broke under Fritz's repeated slashing flank attacks, their whole right flank collapsed and fled. The pursuit was on!

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The two veteran companies of swordstaves on the right held a bit longer against the Forlorn Hope's assault, but when spearmen engaged their flanks they too collapsed, bringing an end to Danish resistance on this field. Few of the Danes would escape, few enough that there could be no possibility of further organized resistance.

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All prisoners were executed, grim work that was given to the remaining Forlorn Hope and such of the mercenaries as had a taste for stripping corpses for trinkets.

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Upon his return to Hamburg Fritz was greeted again as a hero. He held a victory parade through the streets to show the weary Hamburg militia, no longer mere recruits but veterans to a man now, the true rewards of defeating a foreign invader. A good day, surely only the first of many still to come!

[Ramses II CP]

West of Madgeburg, 1338

The Rescue

The Danish armies, if you're curious:

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Fritz was angry. As usual. Word had reached him that the Danes were reinforcing Arhus in anticipation of his inevitable attack. Fritz strongly desired to march north from Hamburg and bring them to battle immediately, while the string of defeats they had suffered since Stettin were still fresh in their minds. While their veteran leaders were still mostly men who had already fled Fritz's armies.

Instead, though, he must march south and rescue his future Duke, Dieter Bresch. The man sat, with Tancred von Tyrolia at his side, behind the highest walls in what remained of Franconia with the largest army in the Duchy composed almost entirely of professional soldiers and had the gall to call for help. His brother Prinz Peter, in a valuable but delicate political position, had sought the burden of this battle, but the Danes had brought south powerful cannons with experienced crews. Prinz Peter was simply too important to the Reich, to Franconia, and to every cause Fritz held dear to allow him to run that risk, and, of course, what man could send his little brother into such a maelstrom without first diving in himself?

No man, thought Fritz, and yet I am still almost beside myself in fury! Why does providence so conspire against me? My proclamation has thus far gone almost ignored except by those few visionaries who can see it's value and now my Danish offensive is postponed to rescue the man who has insulted me and sworn revenge.

Smashing the door aside in disgust, Fritz strode into his HQ at Hamburg and glared at the man waiting for him, his mercenary captain, Robert, who immediately backed up and closed his mouth.

'Don't start. I know well what I said to you when we came to Hamburg, and that day will still come! Today is not that day. Today you must get the new mercenary spearmen and crossbowmen ready to march south. We've a hard job ahead of us as the rock of Franconia, Madgeburg, stands under siege by two immense Danish armies and her Count, my future Duke, does not wish to fight them alone... and tell Berchtold the enemy is reportedly bringing a sort of cannon I don't think we've seen before. If he could salvage them somehow they might be useful when we do finally march against Arhus. Now go!'

Moving deeper in the headquarters building Fritz sent aids scurrying to gather supplies, workmen, and wagons to be loaded. In the central chamber the captains of the Hamburg militia were waiting for him. Most of them were laughing and drinking, trading the same tired stories of their bravery in the Hamburg forests that they'd been passing around for months. Only the leader of the Forlorn Hope companies was grim faced and quiet. When Fritz came to the head of the table the men settled down.

'I hope you're ready to be heroes again, men. Madgeburg has been under siege for years and Dieter Bresch has finally come begging aid. Prinz Peter will be sending us some reinforcements, but most of the army will be drawn from right here in Hamburg,' Fritz's face darkened at the thought, and his captains sensed his mood and remained silent.

'Word has it the Danes are camped in two large groups across the bridge west of Madgeburg. The eastern group are veterans and elite soldiers with a battery of cannons more powerful than bombards. The group manning the actual siegeworks and holding the bridge are less experienced men, fodder for the first assault some might say, but still they will, by themselves, outnumber us. If we are forced to attack across the bridge I could not be confident of victory, not even if Dieter found the courage to sally forth to our aid,' Dim shock was setting in on the faces around the table. This was their leader's pep talk?

'That's the bad news. The good news is I believe these men will be weary of sitting around under the walls of Madgeburg and ill disciplined. If we can reach the bridgehead in good order and put some bombard shot in them before their own cannons can be mustered to answer, I am confident they will come to us rather than hunker down to dig more trenches. When they pack onto the bridge our ribault and crossbowmen will open up and scour them. Franconia hangs in the balance. If Madgeburg falls, Hamburg will be open to assault on two fronts.'

'Don't let that happen. Hamburg cannot fall again. Your homes may not be behind those walls at Madgeburg, but their fate is every bit as much at stake in this coming battle. Now, go and make your companies ready for travel. This is the last Danish army on Franconian soil. If we win, the line is redrawn north of Hamburg, and I swear we will hold it!'

Three days later Fritz's army arrived in the woods west of the bridge. From what his scouts could tell the Danes were completely unaware of their approach. These Danes had gotten sloppy, there were evidently no scouts across the river for them. Sitting on a concealed hillside near the west end of the bridge Fritz considered the terrain and drew up his plan for battle.

'Berchtold put your bombard near the bridgehead on our left, where you can fire down most of the length without endangering our own men. The ribault will be right at the western mouth of the bridge. If they can charge into a barrage from that they're sterner men than they look.'

'Robert the spearmen are to be arrayed in depth behind the ribault, ready to provide immediate support against a cavalry charge. The Danes are light on cavalry, God be praised, but what they do have is powerful. They cannot be allowed to leak through. Pick two of the militia crossbowmen and send them down to the river bank in a loose order formation. They'll have good shots into the enemy's flank if they reach our end of the bridge, and the formation should reduce losses. Put the experienced Pavise crossbowmen with your men on the right, behind your stakes just in case some cavalry do leak through. The rest of the crossbowmen should form tight ranks on the left. I expect them to fire in volleys to conserve ammo and maximize confusion during the Danish attack.'

'The militia spearmen will back your longbows on the right. Forlorn Hope companies will stand station at either side of the bridge in case the spearmen falter or are pushed back. Our light cavalry will screen to either side, and I will sit on that hill to the rear and watch for Danes attempting to ford the river or the advance of the second army. We don't have good information on the companies in the second army except that they've a veteran core and excellent cannons. Keep your heads down.'

'Now move! I want that riverbank occupied before they can crawl out of the siege holes, and shot in them as soon as they assemble into companies!'

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(Note the 'Cannot retreat' icon on Dieter's face. If I lose, Dieter and Tancred die with their whole garrison. Holy Unexpected! Why didn't anyone warn me?)

By the time Fritz's men had assembled to his tight specifications the Danes had rallied on the east side of the bridge, and were starting to call taunts across. Fritz gave them no time to settle in, ordering the bombards fired despite a slow company of militia crossbowmen deploying right in front of them. Two of the crossbowmen were badly wounded by the near miss.

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Four volleys from the bombard saw some losses on the Danish side, and their men began sorting out for a sally across the bridge. Their commander still didn't look too worried. Perhaps Fritz's narrow front and the spearmen masking the ribault crew caused the captain to underestimate the number and strength of troops he was facing. It was a mistake he would not live to regret, as the first volley from the ribault cost him his life.

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The rest of his men continued with their attempted assault, but their ranks were disorganized and they were forced to pause their advance several times under murderous fire. At last a few scattered dismounted Feudal Knights mustered the will to charge between ribault volleys, and Fritz's mercenary spearmen moved forward to engage them and protect the ribaults.

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The Danish attack rapidly turned into a horrific rout. Fritz told Robert to conserve his men's arrows, but let the slower crossbowmen fire at will.

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The Dane's haughty Chivalric Knights now attempted a charge, but the bridge was clogged with confused infantry and corpses, and their charge broke ranks before it could really begin. The battle was going well. Fritz took a moment from his hilltop to survey the second Danish army. They had deployed in the woods, so it was impossible to see their forces in any detail, but it was clear that they were waiting for the confused morass of the first army to succeed or rout before committing themselves.

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To the north Fritz could see that Dieter had sallied from Madgeburg, but he was avoiding engagement as well. Perhaps that was for the best, with no artillery he would be chewed up by the second army, and if he struck the first army he'd be caught between them and their allies. Or perhaps he was simply a coward. The man had fought well before but now declined battle and Fritz hadn't been able to sort that out yet.

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On the east side of the bridge the Danes were assembling for another attempt. Fritz ordered his men to hold their fire and cleared the spearmen back from the ribault. This time the Danish mounted crossbowmen led the attack, and bore the full brunt of a combined bombard and ribault volley. Then the crossbowmen unloaded on the Danish infantry and the first Danish army broke to a man. Warily watching the second army's banners Fritz ordered Peter's Mounted Sergeants to give chase and harry the first force from the field.

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Because of the limited pursuit many of the routing besiegers escaped, but Fritz knew the real test would come now. Did the veteran Danes intend to cross now that the bridge was clear, or would they wait to let Fritz cross and then bring him under fire from their cannon brigade?

As it turned out Peter's light cavalry exceeded their orders and attacked an exposed cannon team which had been turning their weapons to bear on the sergeants. While they chewed through the resolute but unsupported cannon team the second Danish army began to move forward with the two remaining cannons.

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It seemed they would try the bridge rather than let Fritz's cavalry harry them. Again Fritz wondered if the narrow front he presented caused the enemy to underestimate the strength of his remaining army. His crossbowmen were all weary from constant firing, but otherwise his forces were essentially intact. Still the Danes came forward, led by dismounted Huscarls under familiar banners...

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Gott im Himmel! thought Fritz, those are the banners of Prince Godfred! After we slew him at Stockholm I saw those banners at the head of the men of his house, who chased us back to our ships. Those Huscarls will not break, and if they know I am here then I now know why they will cross the bridge. I must come forward to rally the men when they make their assault. All will depend on destroying those companies.

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Before he could ride forward Fritz heard an ungodly series of booms sound echo across the field. The Danish cannon were many times louder than his bombard or even the rippling roar of his ribault. Crossbowmen and spearmen died with that sound in their ears as two of the four shots fell into Fritz's tightly ranked soldiers.

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The Danish advance began immediately after those first shots went over their heads. Their captain rode in behind the first company of foot Huscarls, who did not hesitate as the ribault opened up on them.

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Fire arrows and bolts lanced in as soon as the ribault volley ended. The Huscarls ran headlong into the withering fire with no hesitation, preparing to charge.

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Bolts fell like rain out of a clear sky. The first rank of Huscarls had been hard hit, clearing a path for the ribault to fire into Captain Karl's War Clerics. Karl, leading his men at the front, was the first to die. Still the Huscarls came on, at a run.

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Now an answering volley of arrows poured across the river and into Fritz's left flank, thinning the ranks of the Forlorn Hope on that side significantly. Fritz knew this was the moment of truth, and he rode forward while shouting orders for his reserve spearmen to reinforce the bridgehead. With a crash the wall of enraged Danish steel met the braced and prepared mercenary spearmen, whose line immediately buckled. More cannon fire added to the noise by landing amidst the crossbowmen at the riverbank, but missed the spearmen. Fritz screamed for the diminished Forlorn Hope to either side of the river to charge!

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Across the river there was a break. The swordstaff militia, eager to reach the battle, abandoned their cannon crews and left the rearmost one exposed. Immediately Peter's veteran sergeants charged them, preventing them from firing any further shots. Only two cannons remained operational, and they were trapped in the middle of the Danish militia's advance.

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At the western end of the bridge arrows still fell like rain into the dismounted Huscarls, and still they slew the mercenary spearmen like berserkers out of legend. Prince Godfred's Honor Guard was determined to redeem themselves and despite the odds they were certain of victory. Now they were joined by the rest of the Danish heavy infantry, whose will to fight was more questionable.

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Already Fritz's spearmen were at half strength or less, and slowly a gap was widening between the edge of the bridge and the spearwall. Fritz spurred his horse over to the longbowmen and shouted at Robert, 'Those Huscarls! They're the Honor Guard of Prince Godfred, whom we butchered at Stockholm. Stop wasting arrows on the back ranks and target those men at all costs. If you impale a few of our spearmen it's no matter, they're dead anyway!'

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An enemy cannon shot landed again on the south riverbank, amongst the crossbow milita there, and the exhausted men routed. Fortunately the second shot flew directly over Fritz's head, into the woods on the hilltop he'd once observed from. Fritz blew his horn to rally the crossbowmen before they could cause a doubt in his hard pressed infantry.

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Fritz's companies of Forlorn Hope had been all but destroyed. His mercenary spearmen were all shaken and barely holding their ground, but many of the Danish banners lay fallen in the mud and blood as well. Fritz was forced to commit his final infantry reserve, the militia spearmen from Hamburg, on the right. On the left there was no reserve, so the mercenary Pavise crossbowmen, low on ammo, were ordered into the melee as a stopgap measure. If this didn't work Fritz would risk losing control of the battle to lead his personal guard against the Huscarls.

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An errant bombard shot kills a pair of Peter's sergeants across the river, but the other bombard's accurate shot starts a rout among the lesser Danish infantry. Finally the pressure relents and the spearmen stop retreating. The gaps at the sides of the line close as the non-veteran Danes flee, and Prince Godfred's Honor Guard, reduced to a few dozen men, are surrounded and gradually hacked down. Fritz had already seen Berchtold go down under a Danish axe, and now he ordered the bombard and ribault crews to fall back from the battle entirely.

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The remnants of Prince Godfred's Honor Guard Huscarls, who had been the first into battle, were now the last at the front with the will to see it through. They fought to the death, abandoned by their allies, and took a host of Germans and mercenaries with them. The last Huscarl laughed as he fought, killing three of the Hamburg militiamen despite pair of bolts stuck in his chest. Robert personally drew back an arrow and obliterated the berserker's face.

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Across the river the sergeants were at last able to silence the final Danish cannons. The crew fought valiantly, killing several of the cavalrymen, but fell to a man in the end. Now the Danish swordstaff militia, in their tight, orderly ranks, advanced slowly across the bridge. Fritz's infantry had all but ceased to exist. Of two whole companies of Forlorn Hope Fritz had four men left fit for battle. Of three companies of mercenary spearmen there were, at best, eighty who could still serve, and those were the men that had been butchered despite tripling the Swordstaves at Hamburg. A similar number of the Hamburg militia remained, fresher and still eager. Berchtold's cannon crew had refused to withdraw and still held their cannons ready. Half the crossbow companies were out of bolts, but Robert's men had saved a few arrows. Would it suffice?

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On the far side of the river Fritz could see that Dieter's advance guard had come onto the field, but Fritz was determined to leave them no work. He ordered his cannons to open with a volley which scythed through the densely packed Danes. Then Robert ordered a series of massed volleys against the advancing militia, who were wading through pools of blood and shoving corpses into the river just to make room to walk. Before they could come to grips with Fritz's depleted spearmen a second bombard shot cut through them, and their front rank turned to flee.

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It was the end. Every Dane was now dead or in flight. Fritz sent the Albanians after the fleeing Danish army, and then spurred his own guard forward. Tancred had joined Dieter on the field and after killing a few routers Fritz rode over to speak to them. Saluting Dieter, Fritz said simply, 'My duty is done.'

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Holding up his hand he forstalled Dieter's attempt to speak, 'I am a soldier. After these past few years all I know is fighting. I do not wish to fight you, but if you will not put me in front of an enemy I know not where I will find one, only that one will be found. The truth of me, the heart of me, is in battle, and when I am not in battle I find there is often little good in me.'

'Use me, my Duke. Send me north to be a plague on your enemies.'

Pausing a moment to look back towards the bridge, Fritz returned his gaze to Dieter and went on, 'If you would make sure what work I am good for, ride down the the bridge and see. Now, I've some fool prisoners to see off. For the Reich!'

Turning rapidly Fritz rode back to his victorious army and had his personal guard begin the work of slaughtering the Danes who had surrendered on the bridge.

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(Forgive the ugly screenshots, I had to turn my settings down when the bolt barrages began.)

[Cecil XIX]

Prague, 1338
From the Diary of Edmund Becker

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The time is now. I have reviewed my battle with the Poles at Breslau, and it has given me much strength. That army was stronger than the one before me, and my own forces are far larger than they were then. Indeed, I had thought to tell Arnold to refrain from sending reinforcements, but I could think of no better reason than my own pride.

...Well, there is one more reason. Still, Lorenz is far more capable and I won’t make the same mistake again. Alas, Wilhelm…

***

Edmund Becker rose from his study. He was already in full armor, and wanted to record his thoughts before the battle. It was a habit he had been trying to form, for the comparison between what he thought now and what he will think afterward could prove insightful.

As he walked to the staircase to leave, he saw his wife waiting for him. They didn’t say anything, but he stopped when he reached the top of the staircase.

“Contzel… I haven’t forgotten the promise I made you in Bran. I promise I will return to you. But I will have to use my guard in close combat before I do.”

She moved closer, and they embraced. She was starting to cry, nervous as she was.

“…Be careful.” That was all she could say.

Without another word, he kissed her on the forehead and made his way to the city center. His horse waiting for him, he quickly mounted it and took a moment to observe his city.

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He spurred his ride and rode to join the rest of the army, which by now had been assembled.

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Taking his position next to his bodyguards, he noticed that his son Fritz was racing up towards him, his temporary guardian Karl trying to catch up.

“Fritz, I told you you could watch the battle only if you stayed in the towers above the Gate! Get back!”

“I’m sorry m’lord,” started Karl. “The little scamp wanted to see you in your armor before you started.”

“Well, now he has. Are you satisfied Fritz?” the boy nodded enthusiastically, awestruck by the force that was arrayed before him. “Good, now get going. And Fritz, what is it that young knights do?”

The boy straightened up, and recited the saying his father had taught him since he could barely speak.

“Young knights learn to love God and honor women. They are chivalrous and learn the art so that their honor will increase in war. They wrestle well, skillfully wielding spear, sword, and dagger in a manful way.”

“That’s a good lad. Now go.”

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***

“All right, men! The infantry shall advance set themselves up outside the walls. The crossbowmen will remain on the walls and give them support. The cavalry will stay inside until the moment of decision, whereupon they shall rush out and join the fray.” The orders given, the Army of Bohemia streamed forth through Prague’s eastern gate.

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Before them was the Polish host. A long, thin line of archers followed by a thicker, shorter line of infantry and another of cavalry.

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As the Bohemians advanced, the Poles sent their right wing of missile cavalry to harass them. This was a mistake, and ballista towers drove them off.

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But they were back after the Bohemians had gotten enough distance from the walls. “Forward my guards, drive them off!” Becker had intended for the missile cavalry to retreat and continue skirmishing, but the Polish Nobles were proud warriors and decided on a more decisive engagement. Though he was caught off guard, Becker reacted quickly. “Get the three closest infantry regiments over here! Guards, disengage and ride around them!”

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The Polish cavalry were no match for the Bohemian spearmen. Fortunately Becker was able to get far enough on their left to cut off the Polish Nobles from their line of retreat, crippling the unit.

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Though it disorganized his formation, Edmund was pleased at having weakened the Polish right. “Tell the crossbowmen they are to scale down the walls and keep the rest of the Poles’ right missile cavalry away from the line.”

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“Spearmen, stay with me. We will wrap around the Polish flank when the lines meet.”

At that moment, a rider came up to Edmund, someone who wasn't one of his men.

“My lord, I came from the army of Count Lorenz Zirn. He has arrived southeast of the city, and awaits your command. My count has also instructed me to inform you that the Polish detachment approaches from the far southwest.”

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Becker thought for a moment.

“Very well. Tell your Lord to wait, as I have too many units on the field to actively issue orders to him or his men. Once I have space available, he can aid me in harassing the enemy’s flanks.”

The order given, the Bohemians were closing in on the Polish line.

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The lines met, and the spearmen Becker had sent to flank were thankfully able to engage the Polish knights before the latter could gain any momentum. Soon, Becker noticed a gap.

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“Charge, men! Into the backs of the Polish spears!” It was an order readily obeyed.

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With all the forces engaged, Becker had little to do but to shout encouragement from a safe distance, which he did with great gusto.

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The assault was too much for the Polish spearmen to bear, and they were soon in retreat.

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The task complete, Edmund withdrew and paused to observe the battlefield.

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While he pondered where his men could be best used, he received a report that the spearmen had routed a unit of Polish knights, while at the same time the Poles had thrown every wing of cavalry they had into the Bohemian’s right.

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Becker quickly moved to bolster his army’s right flank, but in the mean time the Poles had sent another unit of cavalry to stop Edmund’s spearmen from wrapping around the Poles’ line.

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Edmund quickly called in the cavalry reserves, and soon the Polish handgunners who had been fighting off to side were routed.

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Soon the Bohemian right was a grim melee, every man fighting desperately to hold on until the Polish right buckled. In this environment attempting to personally wrap around the Poles would have left Becker exposed, and he decided that it was better to remain where he was so his presence could bolster the hearts of his men than chase away archers. This turned out to be a wise decision, as a unit of militia broke ranks and began to flee.

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He shouted at them, “Do not even think of running to your homes. Opening the door will do nothing but let the Poles to your families!” Deeply shamed, the militia quickly reformed.

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Soon the the Polish cavalry fled before the Bohemian left. But by then the Knights had reformed, and they prevented the spearmen from wrapping around the Polish lines completely.

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At that point the Poles decided to change tactics, and began a steady stream of arrows towards Becker that turned into a deluge. With bodyguard after bodyguard falling around him, Edmund had no choice but to retreat back around the opposite side of the line, hoping to help wrap around the Poles.

Unfortunately, without his presence the Bohemian spearmen could not withstand the pressure from the Polish mounted and dismounted knights. With the rest of the Bohemians still pinned down and unable to outmaneuver the Poles, the entire Bohemian right and center started to rout.

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The consequence of this development was not lost on Becker.

“Ri-ridiculous. How could we be losing? I was sure my army was superior to there’s. Did I make a mistake? Did I overestimate the strength of my men, of my city? Or… or am I the problem?! Damnation, I have no choice! I must ride towards Lorenz Zirn’s army and direct them towards finishing this foe!”

It was bad enough that, by now, Polish missile fire had killed all but three of Edmund’s bodyguards. But to make things worse, the Poles were able to execute a perfect envelopment. Edmund found himself trapped with infantry in front of him and cavalry behind him. They were not knights, but Edmund’s attempts to force himself through saw the death of his three remaining bodyguards.

The shock of seeing his army destroyed, his guards slain, and himself alone and surrounded on the battlefield was starting to get to Becker.

“Gott in hemel!” Becker started shouting. “Am I really going to die like this?!” Having finally started to question his own survival, Edmund was shocked when the memory of the promise he made to his wife all those years ago blasted into his conscious full-force. Edmund turned towards Prague, his city. And he ran.

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“By god, I made I promise to my crying wife upon the tomb of Sigismund von Mahren! My army may fall, my city may be razed and the entire Reich may burn, but it is impossible for me to let Contzel weep like that again! It is impossible for me to die here!”

By the grace of God, Edmund forced his way through the Polish army. The gates of Prague never looked as precious as they did at that moment.

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Within moments he was back at the Councilor’s Chambers.

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Immediately Contzel came running out.

“You fool!” She screamed. “How could you even consider just running through all those soldiers like that!”

“Are the children inside?” he quickly asked.

“Yes.”

“Take them and get yourself to Olmutz. The fighting is about to get more dangerous than I anticipated.”

“Don’t you dare throw your life away here!” She shouted. Before she could continue, Edmund interrupted her.

“Woman, get moving! The strength of our promise was enough to see me through all the battles I have faced thus far, it will get me through this as well! You’ll have an easier time returning from Olmutz than Vienna, now GO!”

The shout seemed to calm her down, and she rushed back inside. Becker turned, and dispatched a rider to ascertain the remnants of his army. He reported that Becker had eight dismounted Imperial Knights and twenty-two spear militiamen within the city gates, with an additional two militia crossbowmen outside, begging to be let into the city before the Poles slaughtered them.

While Becker thought furiously about what role he could possible still play in the battle, a certain someone had grown impatient at the lack of orders, and had decided to scout ahead to personally survey the field.

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[Cecil XIX]

Count Lorenz soon reached the crest of the hill, and he paused to survey the scene before him.

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Muttering a curse to himself, he called the rest of his army forward in a double line.

Meanwhile, Edmund Becker was busying himself with saving the remnants of his army. There were still a few who remained alive outside the walls, but if any of the enemy were to get through it would prove disastrous. Fortunately the bulk of the Polish army was reorganizing in preparation to receive Count Lorenz, leaving only a heavily depleted unit of Lithuanian cavalry to finish the job. Becker quickly raced to closest ballista tower, where he personally directed their fire at the enemy.

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By then, the bulk of Zirn’s forces were nearing the city. Unfortunately, it looked like the Polish reinforcements were ahead. However, they left themselves completely exposed by remaining in a column. With the Pole’s main force still some distance away, Count Lorenz ordered his men to run forward and rout the enemy with all speed.

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As Count Lorenz’s men rushed to engage, the ballista tower was soon able to rout the Polish missile cavalry. Becker quickly rushed out of the tower.

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“Open the gate, let the rest of the men inside! Quickly, quickly!”

Becker then received a message informing him of Lorenz’s actions.

“That’s good, tell him to stay near the walls. Get the rest of the army over there so we can give them support fire!” The order, given, he rushed to the southeast corner of the city.

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As the rest of Edmund Becker’s army followed his orders, Lorenz Zirn’s army quickly routed the Polish reinforcements.

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The lesser army was dealt with easily enough, and the larger army was bearing down upon him albeit in a disorderly manner. Perhaps they were still reeling from the battle with the Bohemians or perhaps they underestimated the strength of Austria.

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Regardless, as Count Lorenz instructed his army to face the attackers he took notice what the Polish Captain was doing.

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Lorenz quickly spurred his own knights to action, and quickly charges the Polish Captain’s men before they could call up support.

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The captain did not live long to regret his mistake.

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This had a major effect on the tired Poles, and a few regiments began to run immediately.

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Edmund had seen this happen from the rather spectacular viewpoint provided him by Prague’s walls. With the battle swinging back in the Reich’s favor, he quickly got back on his horse and rode out for a more personal examination. The sight that greeted him was very welcome.

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Edmund rode quickly to greet Lorenz Zirn, stopping only to relieve his stress for a few moments.

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Soon he was able to wave down Count Lorenz, who rushed to meet him.

“Count Edmund! Good to see you’re still alive!”

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“It will take more than this to kill me. How goes it, Count Lorenz?”

The two rode back to Lorenz’s guards, discussing their various parts in the battle. As Lorenz took up position at the head, his head darted to look over Becker’s right shoulder, Lorenz pointed behind Becker and shouted “Behind you!”

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Edmund quickly turned around to see fifty heads headed right toward. For a second his life flashed before his eyes, but then instinct took over.

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After a few seconds it became clear that the Knights were not interested in taking Becker’s life, but merely fleeing the field. It was merely a poor choice on their part that they chose to flee directly into Lorenz’s bodyguards.

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Once that was taken care of, Lorenz turned back to where Edmund was.

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“Lord, I am not at home upon the battlefield.” Thought Edmund. “Perhaps if I get a faster horse I can catch Contzel and the children before they reach Mahren.”

https://img106.imageshack.us/img106/4752/medieval220071210114751cf5.jpg

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https://img106.imageshack.us/img106/722/medieval220071210114925yl8.jpg

***

From the Diary of Edmund Becker:

What I reviewed was not actually the battle report itself, but rather an account of Polish forces in Silesia shortly before my battle. The army I noted was probably heading east to Magdeburg. Still, the battle should have gone better. Alas, I fear I have not the patience for these things.

Regardless, I have accomplished what I set out to do. I have already spent the money necessary to construct a City Hall, and by releasing the prisoners my stature as a noble and just Elector has risen, drawing immigrants and refugees to Prague.

[econ21]

The battle of Ragusa Zagreb, 1338


https://img258.imageshack.us/img258/6417/zagreb1ee9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Kaiser confronts a strong Hungarian army


Gustav Peters, intrepid explorer from Antioch, gazed through his lenses at the Hungarian army deploying in front of him. Although the Germans had deployed on higher ground, the enemy had taken up position around a small fort. The motte of the fort provided some elevation for nearby infantry.

https://img235.imageshack.us/img235/8141/zagreb2qw9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The initial Hungarian deployment - they will pivot around the fort, so as to line up parallel with the Germans.


“@#$%^&!!! it!” swore Elberhard. “They just want us to come and get them. This is not going to be easy.”

The left flank of the Hungarian line was secured by the fort. The right flank was protected by several regiments of Hungarian nobles - horse archers with formidable close combat ability.

Kachig Istvan, Armenian mercenary captain, cautioned the Kaiser: “Most of those men are good soldiers, Sire - Hungary’s finest. We should not rush in.”

“What are we? The Reich’s @#$%^&!!!?” retorted Elberhard, bitterly. But he knew the Armenian was right. The cataclysm had seen many of the Reich’s veterans killed in brutal wars - external and internal. The victories of the invaders had seen their armies rise in experience and morale.

“All right - Peters, I want you to sight our cannon. Go for the rear most cavalry unit - the Magyars. That’s their general. With any luck, we can take them out. They seem to have left their bombards behind for now. So fire all ammunition, then Kachig will send in the crossbowmen.” Elberhard looked at the early morning sun. “We’re in no hurry.”


*****

“Bull’s eye!” Elberhard roared with the appreciation as Gustav Peters reported the result of the second volley of the cannon. “Now let’s see how “Hungary’s finest” fight without their general!”


https://img505.imageshack.us/img505/2852/zagreb3dv3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The unfortunate Hungarian captain meets an early demise.


The cannon discharged all its flaming ammunition into the centre of the Hungarian lines. The enemy just stood there, stoically, soaking up the punishment. After the battle, Peters estimated his two cannon had killed 100 of the enemy.

“All right - your boys have done all they can, Peters. Send them back to the baggage train. And send word to Sir Karl Zirn. Tell him, he is missing all the fun.” ordered Elberhard.

The next stage of the battle then began, with the German pavise crossbowmen advancing in loose formation to skirmish with the Hungarian line. For some inexplicable reason, the Hungarians began to shift to their right - weakening the forces deployed around the fort on the left. Elberhard saw his chance.

“Mr Peters, care to join us in a cavalry charge?” Elberhard asked the explorer. Flustered, Gustav hastily mounted his horse. His heart was pounding as the Kaiser’s escort began its slow advance on the enemy line.


https://img258.imageshack.us/img258/4688/zagreb4xi4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

As the Hungarians shift to the right, Elberhard tries to unhinge the enemy line from its anchor to the fort.


They trotted past the skirmishing crossbowmen and even started to mount the motte of the fort. A panicked Gustav held up his lens - he could see the whites of the enemies’ eyes. Why don’t we charge now? wondered Gustav. He never received an answer. For whatever reason - whether it was forgetfulness, miscalculation or the difficulty of climbing the snow covered slopes - the Kaiser’s escort simply walked up to the enemy lines and began fighting. It was an ineffective, wasteful melee.

Gustav looked to his left and saw the mass of the Hungarian army turning about and marching back towards him, returning to secure their left flank against the fort.

“@#$%^&!!! it!” Gustav heard Elberhard roar. “Pull back! Pull back! @#$%^&!!! it, let’s do it again - properly this time!”

The German cavalry withdrew back down the motte. Turned and then approached again, this time running at full speed from the start.

https://img258.imageshack.us/img258/3995/zagreb5bx2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The steepness of the slope blunts the German cavalry charge.


However, although the German cavalry hit the enemy line at the charge, the snow and slope sapped the impetus out of their charge and the result was no better than the first attempt. All that saved the Germans was that the Hungarian infantry lacked the long spears that would have been most effective against the Kaiser’s knights. Both sides were trapped in an inconclusive melee.

“@#$%^&!!! it!” came the familiar cry from amidst the sound of battle. “Ride through them! Ride through them! With me! Follow me!”

Gustav saw Elberhard lead his horse forward through the enemy infantry, seeking to break through to the rear of the enemy line. Gustav spurred his horse after the Kaiser, but saw several knights fall to the blows of the infantry they tried to bypass.

Soon the Kaiser’s retinue was free of the enemy frontline. In front of them, they saw the crews of two Hungarian bombards hastening to man their war machine.

“Charge!” shouted the Kaiser and the chase was on.

Once they had ridden down the unfortunate artillerymen and some skirmishing Hungarian pavise crossbow militia, Elberhard turned his escort around and began to race back up the motte, but this time from the opposite side - straight into the rear of the enemy’s lines. As they crested the slope, Gustav could see almost the entire Hungarian army had surged forward to engage the German main line.

6https://img505.imageshack.us/img505/3936/zagreb6wk8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

When Elberhard returns from the rear of the enemy line, the Hungarians are pressing forward in a chaotic assault.


The ensuing battle was bloody, scattered and disorganised. The morale of the Hungarians had been fatally undermined by the early loss of their general and coming off worse in the initial exchange of missile fire. Gradually, the dismounted Imperial knights broke the Hungarian infantry.

However, the Hungarian cavalry were less easily disposed of and a tense moment came when the Hungarian chivalric knights made their presence felt - threatening to turn the German left. Gustav could make out a mass of shining silver rumbling forward to meet the threat - the Reich’s sole regiment of Gothic knights, kitted out in the finest armour known to man, were intervening.

https://img505.imageshack.us/img505/192/zagreb7jt0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

When the Hungarian knights threaten to turn the German left, the Gothic knights counter-charge.


By hard sacrifices from the mounted German knights, the enemy cavalry were halted and then overwhelmed as the German infantry joined the fight. However, small bands of Hungarian knights still roamed the battle field - exacting a heavy toll on disorganised German regiments. The Kaiser’s escort - now joined by that of Sir Karl Zirn - played a key role in countering these brave enemies.

https://img258.imageshack.us/img258/5980/zagreb8yj9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Kaiser, about to slay one of the brave Hungarian knights trying to cover the rout of their army.


After the battle, Elberhard rode into Zagreb with Sir Karl Zirn and his eldest son. Sheltering from the snow and ice, the two veteran crusaders reminisced about their younger days in the dust and snow of Outremer. Elberhard was happy to see Johann Zirn was following in his father’s footsteps as a warrior of chivalry and piety. Gustav Peters reported to Sir Karl Zirn on his scouting of the road to Ragusa, then the Kaiser bade his farewells and began to return northwest, to the begin preparations for the Diet and a campaign to recapture Rome.


https://img235.imageshack.us/img235/4630/zagreb0kj6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The butcher’s bill.

[econ21]

This is a cooperative story between econ21 and Mini-Econ.

The reconquest of Sicily - prelude

A ship in the Mediterranean, off Tarentino, 1336


“I need a Citadel.”

Gustav Peters looked up, surprised to see the Kaiser had entered the explorer’s cabin.

“Sire?”

Elberhard sat down heavily on the explorer’s bunk.

“Do you know the lowest point of my entire @#$%^&!!!ing existence?”

Gustav swallowed. The assassination of Kaiser Siegfried? The sacking of Constantinople and the start of the cataclysm? The murder of Pope Abate? The extermination of Rome? The death of the Kaiser’s brother Hans? There were so many low points to choose from…

“It was just after the Diet fell and I was stranded in Outremer. I had to live off the kindness of the King of Outremer. From the entire wealth of the Reich, I, as its Kaiser, was entitled to receive precisely nothing.”

Elberhard shook his head at the humiliation.

“Never again!” He gave Gustav a piercing look: “The Kaiser will never again be dependent on the kindness of others.”

“So a Citadel…?” ventured Gustav.

“A Citadel under Imperial control will guarantee that my army, and that of my Prinz and my Chancellor, will not be dependent on the whims of my Dukes. The cataclysm has seen the Reich fracture into Houses - the Dukes were already increasing in power, recent experience will only strengthen their desire for autonomy. I cannot resist them. So I must provide a countervailing source of Imperial power. And power depends on the ability to train good troops.”

“So you need a Citadel.”

“Yes, but where? Each Duchy has their own - Innsbruck, Staufen, Magdeburg and Ragusa. There is no way any Duke would surrender them. They even have some claim to the Citadels on the periphery of the Reich - Thorn, Bran, Ajaccio and even Caen.”

“I see, Sire, quite a dilemma.”

“Yes, I know it’s a @#$%^&!!!ing dilemma! But you are supposed to be an intrepid explorer, @#$%^&!!! it, find me a Citadel!”

Gustav unravelled a large map of Europe on his desk. Both the Kaiser and he surveyed it.

Gustav pointed a finger at Palermo:

“Sicily is almost the centre of the Western world. It would be an excellent strategic location.”

Elberhard roared with appreciation: “Perfect! Taking Palermo back from the Byzantines would pull the feet from under their occupation of Italy. Without Palermo, they would have no Citadel in Europe and no way to resupply their armies in Italy except by sea!”

The Kaiser slammed Gustav on the back with a hearty expression of appreciation, then left the cabin as abruptly as he had entered it.



*****


“Are you sure we can ask this of the boy?” Niklas Gruber’s voice was full of concern. “He has already done so much.”

“Nonsense, he’s twenty-one - no longer a boy. He’s proved himself at Acre, Jerusalem and Damascus. He’s perfect for this.” insisted Elberhard.

“But we would effectively be marooning him on the island without hope of outside aide. And with the Sicilians sailing around, eyeing their old homelands…” pressed Niklas.

“He will have an entire Citadel at his command! And I am sure the next Chancellor will see the importance of keeping him well supplied.” countered Elberhard, in reality sounding not altogether sure.

“But … he is not quite … right. You know that. He … err … seems to hear voices…” said Niklas hesitantly.

Elberhard resolutely shook his head: “So what, he’s a little strange - we all know that, but who cares? He can fight - he can lead. That’s all I need, a sword arm.”

His old tutor looked down: “But, Sire, he may be a fragile vessel. Remember his father…”

“Don’t speak of his father to me! We talk of the boy - he is not stained by the sins of the father!” shouted Elberhard angrily.

“Yes, yes, I know. But he has been under such stress - what we made him do at Jerusalem, it would have tested even the strongest of men. And he is … as you say, strange.”

“Enough, Niklas! Don’t you @#$%^&!!!ing get it? THERE IS NO ONE ELSE! Who can I trust? Hans - dead. King Jan - dead. I have no other allies. I am alone, without influence or authority. Dieter von Kassel is all I have.”

Niklas raised his eyes - the Kaiser was placing his hopes in the hands of a young man who heard voices.

[econ21]

*****

The Reconquest of Sicily contd - the siege of Palermo

Palermo, 1338


https://img444.imageshack.us/img444/1432/palermo1qp0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Dieter von Kassel tries to seize Palermo without waiting to construct siege engines.


Gunther, the shield bearer, looked at the impressive citadel in front of him, three concentric rings of walls. He had been at Dieter’s side when they had stormed the huge city of Damascus, but this - this was an entirely different proposition. Gunther looked around at large Imperial army that was gathered. His eyes were drawn to a battery of grand bombards and a couple of regiments of dismounted foot knights. Out of the host of over 1400 men, these were about all that was suitable for a siege assault. They had plentiful crossbowmen and heavy cavalry, but could they be of use in a siege?

https://img170.imageshack.us/img170/3709/palermo2wj5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The sprawling Imperial army stands before the Citadel of Palermo


He turned to view his Lord, Dieter von Kassel. The young man had a distracted faraway look.

“How do we tackle this, my Lord?” Gunther nervously inquired:

Dieter seemed to wake from some inner reverie and spoke hurriedly, almost tripping over his words:

“We will repeat the tactics we used at Damascus. The bombards will blow the gates. We will charge in to establish a perimeter. We will move crossbows onto the walls and guard them with a wall of infantry on the ground. Hopefully we can turn this into an inverse siege - so they end up falling to fire from our walls!”

Gunther was unconvinced: “That might work where a settlement has only one set of walls, my Lord. But here - they have three. They can just retire to an inner wall.”

“Well, then - we’ll just rinse and repeat - do it to the inner walls.” replied Dieter, matter of factly.

“I have a bad feeling about this.” muttered Gunther under his breath.



*****



The first wall of the Citadel was taken with ease. Deploying out of archery range, the Imperial grand bombards were able to fire with impunity. Consequently, the Byzantines perhaps wisely did not even try to defend the outer walls. Instead they mustered within the second ring of walls - on some open ground in front of the gates to the inner Keep.

https://img145.imageshack.us/img145/9910/palermo3ou3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Sicilians wait for the Germans within the second ring of the Citadel.


Dieter did not want to provoke the Byzantines into taking up position along the middle walls, so he ordered the slow moving bombards to lead the way. He turned to Hermann, his veteran warrior.

“When the second gates are down, we must rush in. The distance is too short for infantry to penetrate far enough to establish a serviceable perimeter. You take a regiment of cavalry and try to buy time for our infantry to seize the towers. Once we have our crossbowmen on the middle walls, the enemy will be ours.”

Hermann grunted: “Which cavalry regiment do you want me to lead?”

Dieter looked distractedly: “Oh, an expendable one - how about the Kwazarimans? They should start earning their pay.”

Hermann looked impassive: “We will do it.”

The first volley of the bombards took down the middle gates and Hermann led the Kwazarimans through them, riding hard. The archers of the garrison rushed down, belatedly seeking to take position on the middle walls and fire down on the Imperial army surging towards them. But the Kwazarimans were able to intercept them before they could reach the towers. The narrow lanes of the Citadel prevented the cavalry from mounting a charge but they performed their mission effectively nonetheless.


https://img78.imageshack.us/img78/7488/palermo4tn8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

With the gates to the middle ring breached, the Kwazarimans race ahead to block the Byzantines from reaching the walls.


Hermann hacked and slashed viciously at the Trebizond archers he had caught, but he was mortified to see the bulk of the garrison was turning back.

“Oi! Where you going?” Hermann taunted the retreating Byzantine infantry.

The enemy were giving up on contesting the middle set of walls. Instead, they were retreating to the third walls. The big man bellowed in frustration - the plan to repeat the tactics used at Damascus had failed. With the sole exception of the regiment of archers Hermann’s cavalry had snared, the entire Byzantine garrison was slipping away.

Within a minute, the garrison was hunkered down in the courtyard of the inner keep. Their archers were on the walls, ready to launch fire arrows at any Germans who came within range. Heavily armoured dismounted Latinkon stood either side of the central southern gate, ready to butcher any who breached them. Any attempt at clever tactics had failed - the only way to the inner courtyard was over the bodies of nearly 800 Byzantine soldiers.

[econ21]

The Reconquest of Sicily contd - the storming of the Keep


Time was running out for Dieter. Night was falling, if he did not seize the Citadel’s Keep soon, he would have to call off the attack. There was a risk that Byzantine forces in outlying areas of Sicily would arrive and threaten his baggage train. Darkness might also allow agents within supposedly secured parts of the Citadel the opportunity to agitate the locals, provoking them to rise up and attack the enemy within their midst. Impatiently, Dieter chided the grand bombard crew to haul their pieces in front of the central southern gate to the inner courtyard.

“There is a second gate to the inner courtyard.” reported Gunther, breathlessly. “It is over on west side. It does not seem to be guarded.”

“Not guarded for now.” said Dieter dismissively. “There are nine regiments of the garrison crammed into a courtyard little bigger than an tourney grounds. How long do you think that gate will be unguarded if we approach it?”

Gunther looked downcast and Dieter took pity on him: “But you are right. After the bombards have blown the central gate, I will send it to the western gate. Better to enter from two points than one.”

When the grand bombards finally reached a position where they could fire on the central inner gate, they quickly brought it down.

“Hermann, take the artillery to the west gate - quickly! We don’t have much time!” Dieter urged.

Dieter looked impatiently as the sweating artillerymen resumed the painful process of pushing their pieces along the lanes of the Citadel.

“Look, Sire!” Gunther shouted out excitedly.

Dieter turned and was amazed to see a mounted troop of Latinkon emerge from the now destroyed central inner gate.

“Crossbowmen - onto the walls! Double time!” Dieter ordered. If the enemy really was so stupid as to sally, his battleplan could still work!

https://img170.imageshack.us/img170/4439/palermo5df9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

For reasons only known to himself, the garrison commander mounts up and marches in front of the downed inner gate.


However, the Byzantine cavalry did not sally - it simply stood stationary, blocking the fallen gate. Only one regiment of German archers on the wall could get in range, so Dieter summoned a second to come off the walls and join it in on the ground in firing on the hapless enemy cavalry. The Latinkon bravely endured the fire, their armour succumbing to the powerful bolts of the German arbalests.

https://img143.imageshack.us/img143/4954/palermo6rs2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The garrison commander falls, but with the Byzantines crowded around the central courtyard of the Citadel, his death has little impact - they will fight to the last man.


When less than half the enemy cavalry remained, Dieter started to lose patience. There was not enough time - they had to act now. He ordered a regiment of armoured spearmen to finish off the mounted Latinkon. However, he knew his sergeants would not be able to force their way through gateway - guarded as it was, by two regiments of dismounted Latinkon. Consequently, after the enemy cavalry had been dispatched, he pulled back his spearmen and sent in his one full strength regiment of dismounted feudal knights. Even these men stood no chance of cutting through the superior numbers of Byzantine troops that opposed them. Dieter’s only hope lay in a flanking attack via the western inner gate.


https://img143.imageshack.us/img143/9316/palermo7st2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The German knights make a futile attempt to storm the central gateway to the inner courtyard.




*****


In frustration at the slow pace of progress, Hermann dismounted his horse and joined the artillerymen in putting his shoulder against one of the grand bombards, pushing it through the middle ring of the Citadel, towards the western inner gate.

Unfortunately, the gate was at the top of a winding path, with no clear view from below. The only way the bombards would get a clear shot at the gate was to march up the path and fire at virtually point blank range. What was worse, the three regiments of Byzantine archers on the walls had belatedly started to recognise the threat posed by the artillery and were raining fire arrows down on the crew.

“Faster! Faster, you scum!” cursed Hermann in frustration. He knew the slaughter at the central inner gate would not be resolved in the Germans’ favour. The only way to enter the Citadel before nightfall was through the western gate.

https://img512.imageshack.us/img512/2619/palermo8xm3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

As the clock counts down, the bombards reach the western inner gate.


After what seemed like an age, the grand bombards had climbed the twisting path to the western gate. Slowly, methodically, they prepared to fire. One unfortunate crewman was pierced by a fire arrow just after he had loaded a ball into the muzzle of a bombard. However, it was enough - the gate was breached in a single volley and in that instance the character of the battle changed completely.

What had previously been a methodical almost bloodless process of reduction and cautious advance now became a chaotic and bloody scramble for the inner courtyard. All German melee regiments were ordered to charge through the gates. In return, the panicked Byzantines on the walls scrambled down into the courtyard, determined to defend it with every available man.

https://img262.imageshack.us/img262/6078/palermo9pk0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Spearheaded by cavalry, the Germans break through the western gate to the inner courtyard. The garrison rushes to meet them there.


The fighting in the inner courtyard was brutal. The narrow confines of the yard, the press of numbers and the determination of the garrison to fight to the last all negated the key advantages of the German cavalry. It was a brutal slaughter, with equal numbers falling on both sides.

https://img262.imageshack.us/img262/3941/palermo10wb9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The crush in the inner courtyard


However, the threat to the courtyard unlocked the struggle at the central inner gates and Byzantine opposition there was reduced, until only a single regiment of dismounted Latinkon remained. Slowly, it was overpowered - allowing the Germans to press into the inner courtyard from two sides. The Byzantines were surrounded, but night was falling and it was still far from clear the Germans could achieve a decisive result before dark. There were too many enemies and depleted German regiments lacked sufficient weight of numbers to overwhelm them quickly enough.

https://img143.imageshack.us/img143/6417/palermo11dc1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The climax of the battle.


Dieter looked around in desperation. The only spare men left were his crossbowmen and bombard crew. Reluctantly, he ordered them to draw swords and press forwards to the inner courtyard. There was no room for tactical subtlety or even appropriate use of arms - all that mattered was weight of numbers.

Slowly but inevitably, the Byzantines were cut down. The battle ended with the victorious Germans at less than half strength, standing on a heap of corpses - both Byzantine and those of their fallen comrades.

https://img155.imageshack.us/img155/1866/palermo0lh9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The butcher’s bill.




*****


After the battle, an angry Italian emerged from the Keep and rushed towards the many wounded who lay mutilated and moaning in the inner courtyard.

“You God damn butchers! Look at what you have done!” he cried, as he crouched to tend one of the injured.

“Water!” he called out to the exhausted German soldiers standing around. “I need hot water and soap! And bring me cloth - clean cloth. Now! God damn it!”

The soldiers looked impassively at the strange angry figure giving them orders. Dieter edged his horse forward towards the newcomer, intrigued.

The Italian saw the young general approaching, dressed in the finest armour.

“You, you dumb son of a … Now what did you have to do this for? What the hell did you think you were doing?” The Italian cast his arm around, as if displaying the dead and wounded lying in the coutyard. “Is that how a great general fights a battle? Is that your grand strategy? Your masterful tactics? You God damn butcher!”

Hermann angrily drew his sword and rushed towards the impudent Italian.

“Stay!” ordered Dieter, imperiously. “What is your name, friend?”

The Italian stood up, wiping the blood along his trousers. “My name is Doctor Antoni Castelletti, physician to the Citadel of Palermo. And I am not your God damn friend, you moron!”

Hermann moved to strike the doctor, but Dieter snarled at his veteran warrior: “Stand down!”

Dieter turned back to the doctor. “You are a brave man and your dedication to your calling does you great credit.”

“Hermann!” Dieter turned back to his red faced aide: “Get the doctor the hot water and bandages he needs. Organise the men to provide him every assistance. Gunther! Makes sure the Citadel is securely occupied. None of the locals are to be harmed - we are going to stay here for some while. Doctor Castelletti - could you use my help?”

The contempt on the Italian’s face was temporarily mingled with surprise, then he turned back to treat the wounded: “Sure, newbie - knock yourself out.”

[OverKnight]

The Battle of Al Qubayyat, the Prelude

The Greeks had taken the bait.
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/acre/aacredeploy.jpg

Matthias smiled grimly as the Greeks approached the hill his army was perched on. They couldn't press on to Acre until they dealt with his army. Matthias aimed to make them bleed. God was good, the Greek Cavalry army was leading the attack. They were swifter than the other army, of which he saw no sign, and Matthias had hoped they would come first.

Matthias trotted his horse back to the main line, Andreas von Salzgitter at his side. Rising up on his stirrups, he addressed the men.

"The Greeks have sent their best against us. They seek to destroy us, for they know what I know, until the Army of Outremer is gone, the Reich continues in the Levant. They may take our cities, they may kill our citizens and drive us south, but as long as this army lives, they have secured nothing!

"We are the chosen few. We are the defenders of Outremer. We are the last line in the sand against the sodomites. We are the Soldiers of God! Today we will make the Greeks bleed! They will come up this hill, but they shall not come down it. Their 'Emperor' will learn that for every mile, every foot, every inch his men push into Outremer, he will pay a terrible price in men. And when the Greeks can pay no more, when they are broken and exhausted, that is when we will push back.

"Today marks the beginning of the end for them in Outremer. We may lose this field, but the price they pay for it will be unbearably high. This army will continue to bleed them after today, we will plant barb after barb in their flesh, until the Purple Beast collapses.

"Death to the Greeks and Glory to God! Take up your positions and fight for Saint Maximillian and Outremer!"

The men were deployed with spearmen blocking critical approaches and supported by other infantry. The crossbowmen were behind them, further up on the hill. The cavalry was held in reserve to deal with breaks in the line.

The left flank:
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/acre/bacreleftflank.jpg

The right flank:
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/acre/cacrerightflank.jpg

The Greek view of Imperial positions:
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/acre/dacrebyzview.jpg

As the Greeks approached, Matthias saw no sign of their second army.
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/acre/eacredelayed.jpg

The massive Greek cavalry force beared down on the Crusader army.
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/acre/facreincoming.jpg

[OverKnight]

The Battle of Al Qubayyat, the Lines Meet

The Greek Captain, Xenos, sent a unit of Kwarzimen to test the middle of the Imperial line. Missile fire forced them back even before they made contact.
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/acre/gacrefirstprobe.jpg

Xenos sent another probe, to the left flank, a force of Byzantine Cavalry. They exchanged missile fire with a unit of Pavise Crossbowmen, but took the worst of it.
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/acre/hacrepropeleftflank.jpg

Tiring of nipping at the Crusaders, he sent a large force of cav up the middle.
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/acre/iacremainpush.jpg

This was meant to distract the Imperials from a large push on their right flank.
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/acre/jacreassaultonright.jpg

Both assaults were stymied, but it allowed a unit of Kataphractoi to find a gap in the line and charge the Imperial bowmen.
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/acre/kacrekataphractoifindgap.jpg

Matthias, desperate to keep his line intact and his bowmen alive to keep firing, ordered his own bodyguard and Kwarzimen into the fray.
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/acre/lacrekatphractoidestroyed.jpg

The Greek heavy cavalry were surrounded and killed to the last man. The bowmen withdrew up the hill to resume their fire. However the chaos had allowed another attack on the right flank. The Greeks were dangerously close to breaking through. Again, Matthias threw his own retainers into the enemy horsemen.
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/acre/macrecounterattackright.jpg

Sensing a shift in momentum, Matthias ordered a general advance down the hill. Andreas and the Teutons were summoned from the relatively undisturbed left flank.
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/acre/nacrehrecharge.jpg

The Greeks fell back in dissarray, their best efforts crushed. A few units were still in the fight, but the thundering arrival of Andreas and the Teutons broke the last of them. The first Greek army had been defeated.
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/acre/oacreearlyvic.jpg

Matthias ordered his men to pursue. Captain Xenos was rode down. Most of the infantry and bowmen were captured. A few horsemen escaped, but their cohesion was gone, their morale shattered.
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/acre/pacrepursuit.jpg

Galloping wildly after some archers, Matthias spotted banners to the northwest, the elite second army had arrived on the battlefield.

[OverKnight]

The Battle of Al Qubayyat, the Reckoning

Matthias swore. His men were tired, his bowmen and cannon were running low on ammunition. Even at full strength, he had doubts if his army could defeat the one advancing on him. Even if God granted him a victory, his army would be destroyed in the process.

Speaking briefly with his infantry commander, he ordered the footmen to regroup on the hill.
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/acre/qacreinfregroup.jpg

Waving over Andreas, Matthias dismounted. The young Crusader did as well and approached him. Glancing over the Squire's shoulder at the approaching army, Matthias spoke, "Your charge broke the Greeks, you have fought well. There is iron in you. Best do this while I can. Kneel."

Andreas knelt on the bloody ground while Matthias brought up Iron Faith.

"Andreas von Salzgitter, for bravery in battle and devotion to God's work in the Holy Land, I dub you a Knight of Outremer and the Reich. Rise Sir Andreas."

Clapping the stunned Knight on the shoulders, Matthias growled, "Now get on your damn horse, we've got more Greeks to kill."

While the infantry formed up on the hill and the cannons began firing, the Imperial cavalry waited patiently for the Greek army to pass by.
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/acre/racrecavwaits.jpg

When the Greek infantry reached the base of the hill, the cavalry charged into their artillery. Another barb into the flesh.
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/acre/sacrecavkillsart.jpg

At the same time, Matthias's subordinate on the hill issued orders for the infantry to fall back with the crossbowmen covering the retreat.
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/acre/tacrefallbackcbcover.jpg

As the Imperial cavalry galloped off from their bloody deed, a rain of missiles fell on the Greek vanguard.
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/acre/uacrebarrage.jpg

The Greeks may hold the field, but they paid a very high price.
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/acre/vacreafter.jpg

Surprisingly the surviving Greek Captain retreated. Perhaps he did not wish to continue south without cavalry support as Captain Xenos's army had ceased to exist. Matthias was only too glad to take the victory and the field back.
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/acre/wacrevicwaited.jpg
[OOC: I thought retreating would result in a defeat, but even after my forces were gone and the timer ran out the battle wouldn't end until I exited, which is when I got the victory]

Giving thanks to God that his army was alive to fight another day, Matthias ordered the prisoners executed. Yet another barb in the flesh of the beast. The tide was turning.
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/acre/xacreexecute.jpg

[AussieGiant]

Ragusa 1338:


https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/Ragusa%202/medieval22007-12-1411-48-52-95.jpg

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz thwack!!! A bodkin headed arrow slammed into the Venetian shield some 150 yards distant. A smattering of applause greeted the Duke impressive shot. At that range only his large six foot four frame could draw a longbow so far and have the arrow drive so deeply into the metal reinforced shield.

Sprinting across the courtyard came Arnold's Polish Sword Bearer Szcepanski.

"My lord the bankers are here!! And there are A LOT of them!!"

Now that the Duke had spent many years in Ragusa a sizable entourage was now part of the Ragusa's nobility. Given the Duke was governing the entire Duchy from the Citadel there was an assortment of diplomats, merchants, lawyers and other dignitries permanently living with the Duke and his military units. At this small crowd of 50 or so people the Duke feigned a look of total surprise and fear.

"Well shiet on a shovel Szcepanski!! Get my fathers sword and lets go take a look."

On the battlements sometime later the Duke was far more serious than in the courtyard with the sycophants of his court.

“Sigfried how many are there?”

The Duke's Military Engineer glanced at the notes he had complied over the past few hours.

“Approximately 1700 in the first position and another 1000 in the second position directly behind us...including a cannon. The first position began their attack about 1 hour ago”

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/Ragusa%202/medieval22007-12-1411-58-49-35.jpg

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/Ragusa%202/medieval22007-12-1412-03-58-06.jpg

“£”$%”

“My thoughts exactly sir. That cannon will be the most dangerous point of this whole defence. Still, we have been reliably informed that the first position will attack in it's entirety followed by the second position. That will allow us to concentrate on one section of the wall at a time. At the moment we are defending the front you are now facing and will wait until this position has exhausted itself before repositioning for the second front.”

Immediately after Sigfried had finished speaking the ground shook as an entire section of the outer wall in the 2nd position crumbled to the ground.

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/Ragusa%202/medieval22007-12-1412-04-04-46.jpg

Raising an eyebrow at his engineer, Arnold could only shake his head in wonder at some of the most incorrect advise he had received in the last 10 years.

“Grom take three regiments and man the second ring on the far side. Direct fire on them as you see fit.

Bane, sound the horn...we will retire to the 2nd ring here also. All units are to fall back, crossbowman on the 2nd ring walls and infantry by the gate. MOVE!!”

Grom quickly moved the three regiments to the far side. The Venetian second position units had made a forced march to gain entry into the outer ring in record time.

“That bloody engineer got it completely wrong this time!! Christ I'm glad the Duke is so calm about this defence, these god damn bankers are here in huge numbers!!

Right you bastards call fire down on them and thin these ranks out.

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/Ragusa%202/medieval22007-12-1412-12-24-65.jpg

With the outer wall abandoned the Venetian's were simply faced with more murderous fire from the second wall.

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/Ragusa%202/medieval22007-12-1412-25-41-82.jpg

Sometime later the canon was lumbered into the outer ring so it could take shots at the second wall. It lasted approximately 10 minutes under the withering fire of every crossbowman in the citadel.

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/Ragusa%202/medieval22007-12-1412-29-32-54.jpg

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/Ragusa%202/medieval22007-12-1412-29-35-09.jpg

Mean while, back at Arnold's position the Venetian's had maneuvered the rams into the killing ground between the first and second walls...there they met a grim and clear fate.

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/Ragusa%202/medieval22007-12-1412-33-31-29.jpg

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/Ragusa%202/medieval22007-12-1412-33-40-50.jpg

Yawning Arnold was clearly bored of the proceeding taking place around him.

Speaking to no one in particular.

“These idiots need to stick to banking and money laundering. They clearly have no skill in siege attacks.

Make my bodyguard ready, where going out for some sport!!”

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/Ragusa%202/medieval22007-12-1412-34-37-98.jpg

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/Ragusa%202/medieval22007-12-1412-37-06-76.jpg

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/Ragusa%202/medieval22007-12-1412-37-37-96.jpg

The result was predictable.

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/Ragusa%202/medieval22007-12-1412-46-44-56.jpg

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/Ragusa%202/medieval22007-12-1412-47-28-93.jpg

[econ21]

The Border between Venice and Zagreb, 1340

https://img260.imageshack.us/img260/7476/12400kp4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Byzantine army includes a disproportionate amount of mercenary crossbowmen.


“He’s slowing down, getting old.”

“Rubbish.”

“I tell you, we’re moving too slow.” Kachig insisted.

Jan the Teuton looked at the mercenary captain with a mix of scepticism and defiance. But he had a nagging feeling that the Armenian was right. The Kaiser had outlined a grand plan to the Bavarians - to smash two armies and meet up with Karolinger to take down a third. However, the slow progress over the border to Venice from Zagreb put all that in doubt. Today, they had caught one of the Byzantine armies out in the open, but tomorrow the initiative would fall to the enemy - barring some dramatic move by Count Karolinger.

Elberhard rode over to his Captains and they fell quiet. It was eleven o’clock in the morning - too late, fretted Kachig to himself.

https://img255.imageshack.us/img255/464/12402ce7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Byzantines are caught on the lower ground, but make quickly for a small rise to the east.


“They are moving east.” Elberhard commented. “Time to give chase, gentlemen.”

The Kaiser spurred his horse down the slope, towards the Byzantines manoeuvring below. Jan the Teuton and the rest of the Kaiser’s retinue hastened after him, but they were too far and the enemy too densely packed. As they came within charge range, they saw the enemy crossbowmen start to wind up their crossbows. Elberhard silently signalled his escort to pull back to safety.

The Imperial army shadowed the Byzantines, moving to the east, but keeping the higher ground to maintain a height advantage. As the Imperial pavise crossbowmen began to find their range, the Byzantines sent out regiments of their own crossbowmen to skirmish with them. This time, the Kaiser’s men were close enough to catch one regiment before it could make it back to safety.

https://img255.imageshack.us/img255/236/12403iv3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
The Byzantine crossbowmen skirmish too far forward of their line.


The Byzantine main line appeared cruelly indifferent to the fate of the mercenaries skirmishing in front of them. None of their own infantry or cavalry regiments came forward. Consequently, Elberhard’s men pursued their victims past the eastern flank of the enemy line. Only when the Germans drew level with the Byzantine front line, did retribution come. Maina, the Kaiser’s shieldbearer spotted the danger first:

“Sir!” he called out in warning. “Enemy cavalry charging in from the east!”

Elberhard turned, identifying the threat as Vardariotai - steppe cavalry who fought mainly with bows, but man for man, could rival a knight in close combat.

“Good!” Elberhard shouted to Maina. “Let them come!” The Mamluks had given Elberhard a healthy respect for horse archers - far better for the heavily armoured Germans to parry swords with them than endure their usual tactics.

https://img260.imageshack.us/img260/7397/12404wi7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Vardariotai charge the Kaiser’s retinue - the formidable steppe cavalry will fight until the last man.


With the Kaiser locked in fighting at the front of the battle, command fell to his veteran warrior - Sir Charles de Villiers. As the Byzantines again attempted to skirmish, Sir Charles ordered the mounted Imperial knights to ride them down.

https://img401.imageshack.us/img401/6033/12405mv9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Most of the mercenary crossbowmen fall to the German pavise crossbowmen in loose order on the slopes above them - or to pursuing Imperial knights.


Again, the Byzantines stood by as the Germans slaughtered their mercenary skirmishers. With the main missile screen of the enemy stripped away, Sir Charles committed his dismounted Imperial knights to a frontal assault.

https://img401.imageshack.us/img401/4650/12406vq8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The decisive point of the battle - the German heavy infantry charges in.


By the time the two main battle lines collided, Elberhard and his escort had finally killed the last of the Vardariotai that had hitherto stalled their flank attack. Once free, the Kaiser calmly led his men to line up facing the reverse of the enemy line, facing the enemy General Volkanos of Ierissos.

https://img401.imageshack.us/img401/9923/12407iq6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Elberhard’s charge into the rear of the enemy line fails to snare General Volkanos, but does help shatter the enemy morale.


Sir Charles deployed his crossbows and cavalry to drive off the Byzantine cavalry protecting the west flank of the enemy line. Soon the Byzantines were being enveloped on all sides.

https://img249.imageshack.us/img249/9703/12408lv4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Elberhard watched triumphantly, as the surrounded mass of enemies began to waver and rout.

The battle was a clear German victory, but General Volkanos and around 400 of his men managed to withdraw from the field.

“He’s slowing down.” repeated Kachig at the day’s end.


https://img87.imageshack.us/img87/1573/12401pf0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The butcher’s bill.

[TinCow]

Milan – 1340 AD

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/milan/battlestart.jpg

“What do you mean they’re blocking the gate?!”

The scout swallowed and shifted about nervously. “It seems, milord, that we have both chosen the same means of entry into the city. The Byzantines are between us and the east gate.”

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/milan/badstart.jpg

The Duke drew his sword and touched it to the scout’s throat. A trickle of blood began running down his neck from simple contact with the deadly sharp blade. “We are a vastly inferior force, our best hope of defeating the Byzantines was to get inside the city before them and hold the streets with the square at our backs. How do you suggest we get inside the city now, when they are between us and the nearest gate? If I take the time to march all the way around to the north or south gates, the Byznatines will take the walls and reach the square before us anyway, and the entire army will be exhausted in the process. Your blunderings have endangered this entire city.”

Lothar turned to one of his retinue. “Put this man in the front ranks of the Forlorn Hope. If he survives the day, perhaps I will not hang him.”

****

Robert Haller and Joseph Breinlin looked at the gate with trepidation.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/milan/bobjoe.jpg

“There’s a whole bloody mob of them out there, Joe.”

“I know, Bob.”

“Why are we standing here?”

“We’re the garrison of Milan. It’s our job.”

“But there’s a great bloody army out there!”

“I know, Bob.”

“Ah, hell.”

“I know, Bob.”

The two men passed a few moments in silence.

“Hey, Joe.”

“Yes, Bob?”

“Where’d you get that armor?”

****

“Form up! Form up!”

The men were rushing back into position, they had to get into a coherent line before the melee began, or they were doomed.

“Move your arses, you damned women!” shouted Duke Lothar. The day was not going well at all, which was better than he had expected.

The group of merchant volunteers who had ridden with the army had proven their worth. As soon as they had entered the field, the Duke had ordered them to stop the ram. They rode past the entire Byzantine column, losing a quarter of their number to archers along the way, but they managed to reach the peasants pushing the ram in the nick of time.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/milan/mercikazee.jpg

Without support, the merchants who survived the charge routed quickly, but they had nowhere to go. Man and horseflesh began piling up quickly in front of the East Gate. There was no way for the ram to be pushed over the still writhing mass of corpses. It wasn’t what Duke Lothar had hoped for, but at least the gate would hold for a while longer.

The Duke himself had ridden behind the merchants, to ensure that the job got done, but he had been intercepted by twice his number of Byzantine Lancers. His hardened bodyguards cut through the men quickly, but by the time they were free once again, the contest at the gate was long over. Instead, he turned his men and charged into the nearby Byzantine general’s bodyguards.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/milan/genvgen.jpg

If the general could be killed quickly, then perhaps a rear assault in the Byzantine lines would throw the entire attack into chaos before the gates fell. Swords rang on armor and the veteran Bavarian knights began cutting through their opponents at a rate of three or four to one, but it was not fast enough. Hordes of spearmen were closing in from both sides, and Duke Lothar had to pull out before his small contingent was completely overwhelmed.

The Byzantines responded to the cavalry skirmish by turning the entire rear half of their column to attack the Bavarian army. Before Lothar could return to his lines, a group of heavily armored kataphractoi slammed into the dismounted knights on the right flank, inflicting horrendous casualties.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/milan/katankcharge.jpg

Nearby spearmen swarmed to engulf the Byzantine horse, and they were quickly slaughtered, but the combat left the infantry line out of place and disorganized. When the Duke had arrived back at the army, he had immediately ordered the out of position infantry to pull back and reorganize for the rush of the Byzantine rearguard.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/milan/reform.jpg

The Bavarian infantry reformed just in time. As the heavily armored Byzantines closed on the front ranks, Duke Lothar and over a hundred Forlorn Hope charged into their right flank, while the dismounted knights did the same from the left.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/milan/meleestart.jpg

The thin Bavarian lines ruptured in several places, and the Byzantines began to pour through. Soon, the battle was nothing more than a chaotic melee of men engaged in individual combat.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/milan/meleemid.jpg

Lothar rode through the midst of the carnage, slashing as he went, determined to find and kill his counterpart.

****

“Joe?”

“Yes, Bob?”

“I think we’re in trouble.”

“I know, Bob.”

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/milan/bobjoedie.jpg

****

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/milan/byzgendead.jpg

Foteinos Dekanos was eventually surrounded and killed by the dismounted knights on the right flank. His death had a massive impact on the rearguard Byzantine force. Soon, most of them were breaking and running, even those engaged with the Pavise Crossbowmen.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/milan/byzrout.jpg

Yet, despite their destruction, the Byzantine rearguard had done their job. The Eastern Gate had fallen and Bavarian army remained outside the city, too far away to reach the square first.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/milan/gatefallen.jpg

In desperation, Duke Lothar ordered an all-out charge into the rear of the Byzantine column that was disappearing inside the city. His men inflicted heavy casualties, but they were depleted and exhausted their opponents were not. It did not take long for some of the spearmen to begin panicking, at which point most of the surviving infantry broke.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/milan/hrerout.jpg

Instead of retreating back up towards the safety of the line of Pavise Crossbowmen on the hill, the men all attempted to reach the safety of the walls. It was a suicidal move, and they were cut down or captured to the last man.

The only surviving infantrymen were a regiment of Forlorn hope and half a dozen spearmen. Duke Lothar ordered them back to the safety of the Pavise Crossbowmen. They arrived just in time to deal with some remnants of the rearguard who had reformed.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/milan/meleeend.jpg

As Duke Lothar surveyed the survivors from his army, he knew that the situation was hopeless. He remained in control of the field, and his Pavise Crossbowmen were largely intact and could see off anyone who approached their lines, but the Byzantines had no intention of contesting the field. They were inside the walls and held the Eastern Gate. The Bavarians would not have been able to enter that way even if they had wanted to. The Duke of Bavaria sat and looked at Milan, and he knew it was lost.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/milan/futile.jpg

Soon the screams of the women and children would begin, as yet another Bavarian city was put to the sword. Duke Lothar turned and left the field. There was nothing more he could do.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/milan/end.jpg
https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/milan/result.jpg

****

Bob looked about himself in confusion. He wasn’t sure how he had managed to escape the Byzantines at the gatehouse, get a horse, and find better armor and a sword, but that could wait for later. At least he was alive. He scratched the horse’s neck.

“I think I’ll call you Joe.” The horse whinnied nervously and pawed the cobblestones.

“What is it, Joe?”

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/milan/city1.jpg
https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/milan/city2.jpg

“Ah, hell.”

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/milan/city3.jpg

[OverKnight]

Prelude

The Basileus was not pleased. His Court and Strategoi were before him, and he made no effort to hide his displeasure.

"So, the German 'Emperor' still lives, landing in Italy, and our drive up the peninsula has been blunted, Palermo has been lost to some beardless youth and Duke Lothar Steffen is rallying Bavaria for a counter-offensive."

The Basileus's words were dripping with venom.

"Even worse, the brigand and murderer Matthias Steffen, the so-called Viceroy of Outremer, has evaded our efforts to destroy him and his army, and we have failed to reclaim the last barbarian Citadel in the Levant. I ordered our best troops into a pursuit after Antioch was finally taken, Captain Modestos was even given my Varangian Guard to use in the matter, and all I hear from my Generals are excuses. What should have been a simple mopping up operation has descended into a bloody, futile mess."

No one in the Court had the courage to speak. The shuffling of feet and a dry cough or two were all that met the Basileus's wrath.

Standing, the Emperor waved his secretary to his side.

"This farce ends now! A bounty of 10,000 florins is placed on the head of the pretender Elberhard. The Strategos who defeats him will be granted the Exarchate of Ravenna. A bounty of 5,000 florins is placed on those troublesome Steffens. The death or capture of any other high noble of the Reich is worth 2,500.

"Strategos Foteinos Dekanos is instructed to take the nearly undefended city of Milan and destroy Duke Lothar if he interferes. If he fails in this, he will be blinded, his nostrils slit and he will be exiled from the Empire. The same fate will await Captain Draganos if he does not crush Elberhard and that Bavarian Count Karolinger. Captain Modestos will engage Matthias Steffen with the elite force I gave him and kill that pox-ridden Cyclops, or he will perish, either by my hand, or if he has any honor left, by his own.

"The time for excuses is over. The Germans are nearly defeated, we must deliver the killing blow swiftly and decisively. Failure will not be tolerated."


The Battle of Qurnat as Sawdā’

In the 7th Century, Christian refugees, fleeing the advancing Muslim horde, had taken refuge in the Lebanon Mountains. Now Matthias Steffen had retreated south further into the same mountain range. The similarity struck the Viceroy as a good sign. His army needed a refuge, a place of strength to rally at and to strike from at God's enemies. Here he had the best of both worlds, he could block any Greek drive on Acre, while still having the mountains at his back in case they attacked him .

And Matthias hoped they would attack. Repeat the same mistake they had made at Al Qubayyat, but this time he would finish that elite Greek infantry force. He had pinned back their ears back a bit when he had slaughtered their Bombard men in the last battle, but still he had to withdraw. He hungered to finish the job.

The Greeks, showing a new urgency, obliged Matthias and moved to the offensive.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/atripdeploy.jpg

Matthias shook his head, the Devil himself must be behind the Greeks, for only that could explain why they would choose to attack up a mountain. They faced quite a climb before they met the waiting Imperials. The crossbowmen were deployed on a spur of rock that dominated the terrain. The infantry was in a double line, protecting the path to that spur. The cavalry was deployed off of their left flank in a line at almost a right angle to the rest of the force. The cannons were an afterthought, the artillerymen had told him the incline was too steep for effective fire.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/btripinit.jpg

The Greeks struggled up the hill. They had come under arrow fire as soon as they started. The incline played havoc with their formation, and Captain Modestos was forced to leave his trebuchets behind.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/ctripclimb.jpg

Matthias was content to let them struggle on and shower them with bolts. Let the Varangians, Latinkon and dismounted Lancers march up a steep rise in their armor. Modestos advanced his faster moving Guard Archers in front of the infantry.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/dtriparcherahead.jpg

Matthias, who had placed his cavalry in anticipation of this, ordered them and his own bodyguard forward.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/echargearch.jpg

The horsemen crashed into the archers. They bent, but they, being the elite, did not break. Matthias ordered his horsemen to withdraw before they became entangled in the archers and the advancing infantry. The Greeks formed up, leaving a trail of dead behind them, and made a valiant charge at the Imperial line.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/finfadvance.jpg

The lines met. But as soon as they did, the Imperial cavalry swooped back in as the unengaged infantry charged in as well. The Greek archers were run off with Captain Modestos killed as he tried to rally them, and their elite infantry, arrow bit and exhausted, were surrounded.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/gsurround.jpg

The end came quickly for them.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/hdestruction.jpg

The pursuit of the archers and the orphaned crews of the trebuchets took a bit longer.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/ipursuit.jpg

But in the end, they were all taken. . .

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/xtripvic.jpg

. . .and destroyed.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/zexecute.jpg

After the battle, Matthias found the Imperial Proclamation on Captain Modestos's body that had spurred his rash attack. Turning to one of his bodyguard, Adalric, he spoke wryly.

"5,000 florins? Seems a bit cheap. I understand that the Kaiser would be worth more, but Lothar is worth the same as me? I'm insulted."

Matthias stood and surveyed the corpse strewn mountainside. His expression grew grimmer.

"They're getting desperate. God has blessed us today. We must prove ourselves worthy of his favor. I want a message sent to Andreas."

The Viceroy tore the blood stained proclamation into pieces and scattered them into the wind.

"Tell him that we're heading north, and he's to join. The Reconquest begins."

[TinCow]

Milan - 1342 AD

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/milan2/milan2start.jpg
https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/milan2/line.jpg
https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/milan2/charge2.jpg
https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/milan2/charge3.jpg
https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/milan2/meleeline.jpg
https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/milan2/charge4.jpg
https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/milan2/charge5.jpg
https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/milan2/milan2results.jpg

I have broken the encircling Byzantine armies with a night attack and destroyed several hundred heavy infantry in the process. I attempted to ransom back the survivors, but apparently the Eastern Emperor does not value men who surrender, and he has refused even though it would only have cost a measly 360 florins. In any case, my scouts report that even though I have broken the encirclement, I cannot leave the vicinity of Milan this year.

Therefore, I have decided on a bold plan: I have besieged the city. The men inside vastly outnumber me, but they are not exceptionally highly trained, they have no competent leadership, and I have destroyed nearly all of their heavy infantry in the last two battles. I have fewer than fifty infantrymen myself, and thus cannot take the city in an assault, but perhaps I can coerce them into a sally that would be more to my advantage. In any case, by besieging the city I will prevent them from recruiting further defenders. Hopefully Kaiser Elberhard and Friedrich Karolinger will arrive to aid me before the situation moves from dire to hopeless.

http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/kotr1342-1.zip

[Ramses II CP]

Hamburg, 1342

Fritz's head was pounding as the war horse beneath him thundered along the road. He had been unable to bring the Poles at Madgeburg to battle after weeks of maneuver because their captain had cleverly used his light cavalry to screen the movements of his slower infantry. At last, in a towering rage, Fritz withdrew into the forests to the west of the citadel, infuriated and humiliated. His Prinz, Duke, and most of all brother had been counting on him at Madgeburg, as had Dieter, his future Duke, and Tancred! And not only had he failed to inflict a single casualty on the enemy, he had been forced to withdraw or face the incessant slashing attacks of the Poles.

And all this in the year that he lost the Chancellorship election by an immense margin to that overdressed and undersensed Autrian, Duke Arnold! As ever the fates conspired to break Fritz, to drag him down to the level of his lessors, and only heroic efforts preserved his noble demeanor.

Now, however, he was back in the field. At last! Though there was an unfortunate swirling snow overhead and slippery ground underneath. And here was an enemy he knew would stand and face him head on, the Danes. Strangely, though, Fritz's mood was not much lifted. Peter had been distant since Fritz's failure, understandably so, and now he was being forced to trust Fritz with command of the Prinz's own vaunted Teutonic Knights.

Pushing away the burning pain in his head Fritz swore to himself that there would be no failure today, not if it cost the life of every man in his army.

As well it might. The men facing him were veterans of the Danes' recent campaigns, the honor guards of various nobles, and the most seasoned War Clerics in their entire realm. This was a top notch army comprised exclusively of the best of the best Danish companies. They lacked only one thing, surrendered only one advantage to Fritz; no experienced general commanded them.

http://lh4.google.com/RosDalton/R3Avj4z04yI/AAAAAAAAHQA/eb28seFOAy8/s800/0051.jpg

Motioning his captains to ride closer to him Fritz slowed his horse and went over the plan of battle again, 'Robert, you're to command the infantry and crossbowmen from behind your stake line. We've precious few infantrymen, I expect you'll keep them in good order and ready to hold the line! Every man's weapon may be needed at the front today, so be sure none of those crossbowmen have let their swords rust in their scabbards, eh?'

'Hans, your Teutons are on loan, but today they bear a heavy burden. If we're to win this day we'll need to do it by disorganizing the enemy and destroying his ability to act as an army. Our army is no match for theirs man for man, so we won't give them the pleasure of meeting us that way. Make certain your men hold on to their lances as long as possible, even if they splinter. Many good charges will be needed to break up their formation and keep it scattered, and I'm relying on you men to make it happen.'

'Good hunting and God Bless lads! It's not a good day to be a Dane, I promise you that!'

http://lh5.google.com/RosDalton/R3AvlIz04zI/AAAAAAAAHQI/0QMqYlQpfC0/s800/0052.jpg

At the downslope edge of a small wood Fritz's Albanian scouts returned to report sighting the enemy. Nothing for it, thought Fritz, we'll have to fight from downhill and in the open again. Quickly Fritz instructed Robert on how he wanted the infantry positioned, and then he led the cavalry forward at a fast walk.

http://lh6.google.com/RosDalton/R3AvmYz040I/AAAAAAAAHQQ/yRa4MNtDgU0/s800/0053.jpg

'No hesitation Hans. When you see them, lower lances and strike!'

http://lh3.google.com/RosDalton/R3Avnoz041I/AAAAAAAAHQY/Ow3xds06Jpc/s800/0054.jpg<a

'Then fall back and form up again. Give them no time to organize an effective defense.'

http://lh5.google.com/RosDalton/R3AvpIz042I/AAAAAAAAHQg/LX2EuVqG25o/s800/0055.jpg

Riding hard around the right flank Fritz watched the first charge strike home. One company of Teutons on the center right was slightly behind the other three and got caught in the Danish lines. They withdrew in good order and formed for the second charge, but again got caught, this time by the War Clerics. With over half their company dead and their sergeant's head crushed by a war mace the rest of the men gave up the fight and routed.

http://lh5.google.com/RosDalton/R3AvqIz043I/AAAAAAAAHQs/yIklkIEX4Xs/s800/0056.jpg

%^$& thought Fritz, have to hope Robert can rally them. They've bloodied the Danes, but I'll need them back for more hard work before this day is done.

Half the Danish Norse Archers were broken and bleeding on the turf, and many axemen and swordsmen beside, but the rest of the infantry and the deadly War Clerics had broken into a run. Fritz and Hans, on either side of the formation, had flanked too deep and were being left behind with the swordstaves that formed the Danish rearguard. Unwilling to charge their long poles, Fritz ordered his men to pursue the Danes even as they entered a forest. Brutal Teutonic charges continued to strike home on all sides of the Danes, but more and more of the knights were lost with every charge, especially in the wood.

http://lh4.google.com/RosDalton/R3Avr4z044I/AAAAAAAAHQ0/pmzr2c8nDs4/s800/0057.jpg

The lead company of War Clerics, in pursuit of the fleeing Teutons, met Robert's line at a full charge, but much diminished by bolts and arrows. The spearmen held, the Teutons rallied, and very soon the War Clerics were no more.

http://lh5.google.com/RosDalton/R3AvtIz045I/AAAAAAAAHQ8/JMJFSpMYH7w/s800/0058.jpg

The rallied Teutons were instantly thrown back into the heart of the battle, determined to redeem themselves by halting the very center of the Danish infantry line in full range of our massed crossbows. The tactic was effective, but very costly.

http://lh3.google.com/RosDalton/R3Avuoz046I/AAAAAAAAHRE/8VpGpVsAW1I/s800/0060.jpg

Fritz had yet to catch up to the Danish infantry, though he'd seen Hans butcher some axemen ahead of him, and now two companies of War Clerics were trailing Fritz through the forest. Except for a few fool Norse Archers who were out of position, Fritz's guardsmen had been ineffective in this battle.

http://lh6.google.com/RosDalton/R3AvwYz047I/AAAAAAAAHRM/H1yjfaV1jDw/s800/0062.jpg

As Fritz broke into the open, still pursued by a hundred and twenty elite War Clerics, he was just in time to see the first Danes reach Robert's stake line. They charged through it and were surrounded, though faced with only crossbowmen behind the stakes.

http://lh4.google.com/RosDalton/R3Avx4z048I/AAAAAAAAHRU/enGytdk0Y5k/s800/0064.jpg

As the depleted Danish infantry hit Robert's lines the Germans bent, but held. Danish infantry was scattered all across the front of the field, little of it in a cohesive unit, and the remaining Teutons were still smashing into them at every chance. There was now a choice for Fritz, he could continue leading the War Clercis around the field by the nose, losing men every time they got slowed by a bad patch of snow or caught in trees or infantry, or he could attempt to ride over the largest remaining Norse Axmen formation. Fritz knew this could be a decisive moment in the battle, so he struck, heedless of his own safety. Moments after he crashed into the axemen, also moments before they could flank his mercenary spearmen, the immense tide of War Clerics bore down behind him in a red wave.

http://lh6.google.com/RosDalton/R3AvzYz049I/AAAAAAAAHRc/dny7KZqqWew/s800/0066.jpg

Seconds passed as Fritz spurred his horse onward, deeper into the Danish formation. These axemen were the largest infantry formation the Danes had left intact, and they were brutes. Behind him the War Clerics attempted to bash their way through Fritz's guardsmen to reach him, but were stalled by valiant sacrifice after sacrifice. It was a race now, to see if they could reach him before he reached the end of the axemen's formation. A race which, by a heartbeat, Fritz won. The Danish infantry, seeing their sole chance at an effective flank broken, routed and fled for the hills.

http://lh4.google.com/RosDalton/R3Av04z04-I/AAAAAAAAHRk/BA3r6fp00KU/s800/0067.jpg

What little cavalry Fritz had left turned to pursue the fleeing infantry as Fritz called his own infantry to rally to him and save his men from the War Clerics. The infantry answered the call and gradually eight of Fritz's bodyguard withdrew themselves from the fighting to stand proudly at their commander's side. The infantry pinned the most heavily battered War Cleric company in place and began dragging them down, not a one would escape, but the clever Danish captain withdrew his fifty mounted men and lined them up for a charge into the scraps of infantry Fritz had remaining. Fritz could not allow this to happen, so he rode out with his guardsmen and called a personal challenge to Captain Jens. The man could not refuse, and was the greater fool for it. Watching him launch his charge Fritz rode rapidly across the face of it, avoiding the clerics and breaking their momentum. As they turned to pursue surely they could hear Fritz's mad laughter echo across the field.

http://lh4.google.com/RosDalton/R3Av14z04_I/AAAAAAAAHRs/LXPH5k_rKD8/s800/0068.jpg

While his infantry finished butchering their fellows Fritz led Captain Jens on a merry jaunt back and forth across the field in front of his crossbowmen. His men had incredible discipline, but at last the failure of their leadership told as at that critical moment in the battle when the bare dregs of Fritz's infantry stood clinging by inches to their ground the last mass of the Danish cavalry ran about foolishly and was shot down. When Captain Jens at last found his deserved death his men routed and attempted to flee, only to be scooped up by the Albanians.

http://lh4.google.com/RosDalton/R3Av24z05AI/AAAAAAAAHR0/ELqRrh0PO7Y/s800/0070.jpg

All that was left now were the swordstaves of the Danish rearguard. Drilled to hold formation in the face of cavalry at all costs, these men advanced painfully slowly under withering fire from the massed crossbowmen. Fritz ordered his infantry to retreat, they would no longer be necessary.

http://lh5.google.com/RosDalton/R3Av4Iz05BI/AAAAAAAAHR8/EKabmZCuVO4/s800/0072.jpg

As the four companies of highly veteran swordstaves advanced the crossbowmen simply gave way before them, turning to fire volleys at every opportunity. Every step they took cost them more lives, but still they advanced.

http://lh6.google.com/RosDalton/R3Av5Yz05CI/AAAAAAAAHSE/qspE4XEq_6k/s800/0077.jpg

Only after all but the last twenty of the hundreds of swordstaff militia had been killed did those paltry few break and try to flee. They were all captured. As always when he saw those men wasted on the field as a rearguard Fritz shook his head and wondered what he could do with an army of such 'militia.'

http://lh3.google.com/RosDalton/R3Av6oz05DI/AAAAAAAAHSM/NCm33onEQrE/s800/0080.jpg

They would call it a heroic victory, but to Fritz it was simply a temporary redemption. Calling Robert to his side, Fritz said, 'Have the walking wounded bound up and leave them here to care for the more desperately injured. The rest of us will prepare to ride on, to relieve the siege of Hamburg.'

http://lh3.google.com/RosDalton/R3Av7oz05EI/AAAAAAAAHSU/2VGJgGTgPfE/s800/0082.jpg

http://lh4.google.com/RosDalton/R3Av84z05FI/AAAAAAAAHSc/BtjMqKFq70E/s800/0083.jpg

http://lh5.google.com/RosDalton/R3Av-Iz05GI/AAAAAAAAHSk/z3Mkoq7lE0E/s800/0084.jpg

Leaving Robert standing there in shock, Fritz walked his horse back to the site of the first strike where a surprising number of the valiant Teutons were struggling to reclaim lost horses, Fritz mused to himself, 'It's not a good day to be a Dane. Indeed, I mean to see that few days from here until eternity are.'

http://lh5.google.com/RosDalton/R3AwAIz05HI/AAAAAAAAHSs/qwXFYbfKBD0/s800/0085.jpg

http://lh4.google.com/RosDalton/R3AwB4z05II/AAAAAAAAHS0/EQXvMgw2zgs/s800/0086.jpg

Relations with France fell to abysmal on the victory, and Fritz got Field Tyrant and Legendary Commander.

http://lh6.google.com/RosDalton/R3AwDYz05JI/AAAAAAAAHS8/Z9ZXKu-ZO7s/s800/0087.jpg

http://lh4.google.com/RosDalton/R3AwE4z05KI/AAAAAAAAHTE/M4VFtFCni1k/s800/0088.jpg

http://lh3.google.com/RosDalton/R3AwGoz05LI/AAAAAAAAHTM/7dWwwFt8sfA/s800/0089.jpg

This is what the remaining army looks like (Peter has the artillery and a few other odds and ends):

http://lh3.google.com/RosDalton/R3AwIoz05MI/AAAAAAAAHTU/XtXA-RrdkMY/s800/0090.jpg

[econ21]

The Death of a Doppleganger, 1242


https://img518.imageshack.us/img518/3559/12421oz9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)


“This enemy general, Manouel of Zavarinikeia, I’ve met him before.” ventured Gustav Peters, the renowned explorer.

“No @#$%^&!!!ing way!” said Elberhard incredulously “What’s he like?”

“He’s very young - only 23.” Gustav paused and then rattled off a list of the Byzantine general’s traits: “Dauntless, a bastion of chivalry, respects the enemy, religious, a great speaker, a promising strategist, a confident attacker…”

https://img518.imageshack.us/img518/3600/12422ff2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

A fine young man


Elberhard shook his head.

“He’s you.” interrupted Linyeve.

“What?”

“I’m telling you - from that description, he’s you. Well, a younger you, without the effing and blinding you picked up from your youth at sea. And without the scars and the venom you’ve acquired from age. But, other than that, he’s you.”

Elberhard stroked his chin - it was hard to deny. “Well, he does sound all right, I suppose. Maybe he is the one we have to thank for releasing most of Count Karolinger’s army when it was defeated a few seasons back? Send out an order - if he is cornered, I want him captured - not killed.”

“Does that mean, Sire, that you do not wish the cannon to start the battle by targeting him?” inquired Kachig, the mercenary captain.

“Don’t be @#$%^&!!!ing stupid!” admonished Elberhard. “Of course you try to shoot him. This is war, not some @#$%^&!!!ing love in.”



*****


https://img254.imageshack.us/img254/4364/12423kb1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Byzantine army deploys hidden in the woods.


“They have taken up position in the woods.” reported Kachig.

“Woods? I @#$%^&!!!ing hate fighting in woods.” moaned Elberhard.

“What is the battle plan, Sire?” inquired Sir Charles de Villiers, the veteran warrior.

Elberhard scratched his head: “@#$%^&!!! it, there is no battle plan. We march right at ‘em. Crossbowmen in loose formation at the front, cavalry on the flanks but the infantry just march straight ahead.”

Sir Charles and Kachig exchanged a glance. After the slothful advance into North Italy ealier, was this crude approach to the battle another sign of the Kaiser losing his touch?

Elberhard caught the glance, but did not challenge his aides. “You two can command the foot. Captain Jan, take the Gothic knights and one regiment of Imperials - do what you can on the left. I’ll lead the cavalry on the right. We’ll try to use the cavalry to sweep away their missile screen - give our infantry room to do their stuff.”

And so the battle developed. On the flanks, the German cavalry had some success against the Byzantine archer screen.

https://img254.imageshack.us/img254/6199/12424px8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

On the left, Captain Jan’s cavalry wreck the reinforcing detachment from the bridge to Bologna.


However, this concentration on the flanks left the centre exposed and the Byzantine cavalry erupted from the middle of the enemy lines and threatened to strike the Imperial infantry.

https://img518.imageshack.us/img518/8497/12425hh4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Kachig orders the pavise crossbowmen to hold their ground as the Byzantine cavalry attack in the centre. The few Latinkon leading the attack are not a great threat, but behind them rides Strategos Manouel of Zavarinikeia with his escort of veteran Kataphractoi.


Elberhard saw the threat and hastily ordered his escort to intercept that of his opposite number - the young Byzantine general, Manouel of Zavarinikeia.

https://img165.imageshack.us/img165/6343/12426jz7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Elberhard’s escort hastened to stop the Byzantine general’s attack on the Imperial centre.


There then followed bitter and bloody combat between the two general’s retinues. During the course of the combat, the twenty-five Kataphractoi and their dauntless general struck down nineteen of Elberhard’s veteran knights. But gradually, the superior numbers and experience of the Kaiser’s retinue began to tell. As the numbers on both sides were thinned, Elberhard could make out his opposite number.

https://img265.imageshack.us/img265/1276/12427jr5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

”Stand back!” Elberhard ordered Maina, his shield bearer and the rest of his retinue. “Do not kill the brave young Strategos!”

Refusing to allow his men to kill the enemy general, Elberhard personally moved to parry the young man. He lifted up his visor and implored Manouel to submit.

”It’s over son,” shouted Elberhard. “Your retinue are all dead - surrender!”

But Manouel was a brave man and although he always respected those enemy soldiers who surrendered to him, for him to surrender to the enemy was unthinkable.

“I am sorry, your Excellency” Manouel replied, “but honour demands that one of us not leave the field alive.”

Elberhard shook his head, sadly, and then raised his sword in a defensive posture.

https://img265.imageshack.us/img265/7776/12428db6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Manouel will not yield….

https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/7690/12429bn2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

So Elberhard thrusts,…

https://img267.imageshack.us/img267/5687/124210ai7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

…slashes,…
https://img265.imageshack.us/img265/5815/124211nq8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

… cuts,…

https://img265.imageshack.us/img265/6256/124212ra8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

… and a brave young man falls, never to rise again.


After the battle, Elberhard listened to the report of the casualties with disinterest.

“Are you all right, Sire?” inquired Captain Jan, anxiously.

“@#$%^&!!! it!” Elberhard clapped the Teuton on the shoulder and said resignedly: “I need a drink. I think I just killed myself.”

https://img265.imageshack.us/img265/2811/124213ey8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The butcher’s bill

[econ21]

Venice, 1242


“If we strike at night, we can quickly overwhelm the bridge before the garrison of Venice can intervene.” urged Kachig.

https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/8448/venice0bu7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)



Elberhard scratched his head. “Yeah, right. But where does that leave us? The garrison of Venice is over 1400 men strong. Quite frankly, I don’t fancy taking them on in a siege assault. I @#$%^&!!!ing hate siege assaults.”

In the past, the Kaiser had had some success storming cities in Outremer but they were lightly defended. What weighed on Elberhard’s mind was the report of the bloody slaughter than Dieter von Kassel had endured to take Palermo from a force only half as large as that garrisoning Venice.

“There’s no hurry.” said Elberhard. “Let’s advance on the bridge slowly - give the Byzantine picquets time to rouse the garrison. I aim to storm the bridge before reinforcements arrive and then wreck the garrison when it deploys in the field after we are across.”

The room fell silent as the men considered what was involved in storming the bridge. Then after a while, Elberhard blurted out. “@#$%^&!!! it! I @#$%^&!!!ing hate bridge battles.”



*****


General Volkanos, survivor of a previous battle with the Kaiser, deployed wisely at the bridge. His two surviving regiments of mercenary crossbowmen stood at the exit of the bridge - ready to shoot down Germans attempting a crossing, backed by the few infantry and cavalry that had escaped the earlier battle.

Elberhard looked at the sound enemy deployment with dismay and then pronounced. “There’s nothing for it, lads. We have to get across. Send one regiment of Imperial knights on foot to leg it there. My escort will back them up.”

Kachig and Sir Charles de Villiers exchanged a sceptical glance.

“What?” demanded Elberhard: “You two got any better ideas?”

The two men looked down. “I @#$%^&!!!ing thought not! Now, let’s haul ass!”

https://img295.imageshack.us/img295/8905/venice1lm8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Less a battle plan and more an act of desperation…


As Elberhard raced across the bridge, he saw the Byzantines start to cross from their end.

“All @#$%^&!!!ing right!” roared Elberhard to his escort. “They are coming to us. Let’s get this thing on!”

The fighting was brutal. Crossbowmen from both sides could fire into the melee on the bridge, but they risked hitting friend as much as foe. Worried about shooting down their own Kaiser, the pavise crossbowmen halted fire of their own volition.

“Keep firing, God damn it! Keep firing!” swore Kachig.

Neither side appeared to get an advantage in the fighting, with the troops being packed too thick for the superior fighting qualities of the Germans to tell

https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/9760/venice3rg5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Elberhard found himself pressed against a mass of Byzantine infantry.


The enemy fought much more doggedly and endured far longer than Elberhard expected and his eyes kept looking up to track the large garrison from Venice which was fast approaching the bridge. As the reinforcements came within range of the bridge, Elberhard realised that his plan to take the bridge by a coup de main hand failed. He now had to storm a bridge in the face of the opposition of nearly two thousand Byzantine soldiers.

“Sire, we should pull back now!” urged Maina, his shieldbearer.

Elberhard doggedly resisted the call to retreat. Strategos Volkanos had now led his escort into the fighting on the bridge and Elberhard was determined to stay to try to bring him down. This time, his attempt to slay the enemy general failed and the Kaiser was eventually forced to disengage - accompanied only by Maina and one other survivor of his retinue.

As they fled the bridge, the Kaiser hoped he could turn the tables by a feigned retreat. However, the Byzantines were too disciplined. With the Germans retreating across the bridge, the Byzantines retired to their side out of crossbow range. And they could not be lured back across the bridge - even when the Kaiser callously sent his regiment of spear militia to charge unsupported across the bridge. The Greeks wisely held position.

The battle began to turn into a stalemate, with a few pavise crossbowmen setting up on the bridge and entering into a long range duel with the Trebizond archers and mercenary crossbowmen of the enemy army.

As the Imperial army began to run low on ammunition, Elberhard knew he had to act or face an ignominious defeat.

“Send the infantry across.”

“Which regiments?” inquired Sir Charles de Villiers.

“All of them. It’s all or nothing. We fight our way across that bridge or we lose this battle. Do it!”

Sir Charles bowed his head: “Perhaps you should give a speech to the men - to urge them on.”

Elberhard looked at the Englishman with disdain for a moment, and then nodded with a resigned smile.

When the dismounted Imperial knights were formed, Elberhard spoke to them with a flat, solemn voice.

“Imperial Knights of Germany! You came to me of your own accord. I did not ask you to come. You came to me to fulfil an oath - to rescue the Reich from the cataclysm that has befallen it. And that oath does you honour.

You came to me and I have brought you to this bridge. This bridge is the gateway to Venice. Venice - a great city mercilessly exterminated by the Greeks. Just as they have mercilessly exterminated Milan, Antioch, Bologna and Rome.

You have just seen me try to take that bridge. And fail. I have failed to take the bridge by speed and surprise. I have failed to take it by guile and ruthlessness. There remains only blood and honour.

You came to me when I did not ask. But now I have something to ask of you. I ask you take that bridge - to take back Venice.

Avenge the women and children who died screaming at the hands of the men that stand over that bridge! Strike the enemy down with a righteous fury!

For justice, for vengeance, for God and the Reich - attack!”

In a great undisciplined mass, the dismounted Imperial knights charged across the bridge. They were met at the exit by the Byzantine garrison of Venice, similarly crowded together.

https://img120.imageshack.us/img120/3507/venice4ju7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Elberhard commits all his infantry to try to take the bridge.

https://img507.imageshack.us/img507/1277/venice5qz3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The scrummage at its height.


For a while, Elberhard feared that he may just have sent his infantry to its doom. Against superior numbers, the battle at the exit to the bridge resembled a grotesque sausage making machine, with men pushed through hacking blades at the exit to the bridge and left lying ruined on the ground.

But the dismounted Imperial knights gave at least as well as they received and the battle resolved into a morale contest. Choked with fury and with Elberhard on the bridge urging them forward, the German will proved the stronger. As the Byzantines began to waver, the Kaiser signalled for the cavalry to be brought onto the bridge. The mounted knights were thus able to erupt out of the bridge exit as the Byzantine infantry started to rout.

https://img507.imageshack.us/img507/7959/venice6ex9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The German mounted knights lead the breakout from the bridge, but still have the Byzantine horse to contend with…

https://img120.imageshack.us/img120/871/venice7zr1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

…but, supported by infantry, the Germans bring down even the fearsome kataphractoi.

https://img101.imageshack.us/img101/7110/venice8va8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Having prudently kept out of the main melee for the bridge exit, Elberhard recklessly throws himself into the breakout. With only his shieldbearer, Maina, to accompany him, he routes a score of Byzantine Lancers.




*****


After the battle, the Kaiser occupied Venice and tried to ransom his prisoners, but the ransom was cruelly rejected.

As he lay with Linyeve that evening, Elberhard reflected on his reconquest:

“You would not believe it. Venice is an empty shell. It has nothing - almost no buildings. The walls are in disrepair, the market does not meet … even the @#$%^&!!!ing brothel is damaged.”

Linyeve’s ears perked up: “Oh, don’t worry about that last one. I have given orders that the brothel is to be torn down.”

“What?!!!”

“What yourself?! Do you think I would trust you in a city with a brothel. Besides which, I think Duke Arnold needs the money. And I heard he has some Russian floozy to occupy him with anyway.”

Elberhard sulked for a while. Then he piped up: “Do you know, some of the men are calling me Elberhard the Mighty? Like they used to call my dear brother Hans. They are saying I am a legendary commander!”

Linyeve cast him a withering glance: “I see - you are now almost as legendary a commander as Duke Arnold and Fritz von Kastilien then?”

Elberhard sulked again.

https://img101.imageshack.us/img101/1043/venice10tq8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The butcher’s bill.

[Northnovas]

Zagreb Region 1342

The armies had divided and Johann was on his way to Vienna with some knight and archers. It wasn’t much but the whole army could not reach the city in time to meet the Hungarian army at the gates. Johann thought of how much his father loved his guns and knew they would slow the army down. He was ordered north much to his disappointment and his father would take on the the Hungarian force threaten Zagreb. Johann was feeling unappreciated in his current role.

Karl had located the enemy camp and was preparing for a night attack. It was a tactic from the Outremer that he had adapted to so well since returning to Europe. The Hungarians were well situated along the tree line. He had only guessed at their numbers and tried to leave an equal amount before sending the rest to north to Vienna.

Nightfall came and the troops were ordered into position.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1342r1.jpg

The Hungarians remained where they were last spotted and concealed amongst the trees.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1342r2.jpg

The hour had come and Karl ordered the guns to open fire on the centre formation.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1342r3.jpg

The roar of the guns went on for 45 minutes and Karl could feel the adrenalin beginning to flow. He loved those guns. It had been awhile but the old bones did not mind sitting on the horse and he could fell the vitality arising in his body. Just then a messenger arrived.
“My lord, the enemy Captain is down from our cannon fire”
“Excellent, Peter have the guns direct the fire towards the flanks, move them one at a time to keep fire upon them” Karl ordered. Peter was off with out a word. Karl was surprised that the Hungarians had remained in the position and were not wavering at the loss of their commander.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1342r4.jpg

Then the shout came the enemy was surging forward.

The Feudal Knight Captain was new and this was his first command. He was responsible for the left flank and he knew that the enemy had missile cavalry on both of its flanks and he was outnumbered 2 to 1. The guns roared and exploded on the enemy but he could not identify the Magyar Calvary.

FIM, FIM, FIM, FIM. Incoming fire shouted one of the men. The Knights began falling off their horses some screaming others made no sound. FIM, FIM, FIM, more arrows coming in. The Captain froze he could not process what was happening. “Where is the enemy?” He could see the enemy foot soldiers hitting the centre line. The Knights remained the numbers dwindling. FIM, FIM, FIM
“CCHHArge!” the Captain tried to yell as the arrow smashed through his open visor and he fell to the ground. The remaining Knights surged forward into the darkness. FIM, FIM, FIM

Karl was assessing the surge forward and then he saw the enemy veering toward his right flank and the exposed gun crew. It had been awhile but the words came out and off he went “CHARGE!” his bodyguards following behind. Karl crashed into the Hungarian Dismounted Knights and Magyar Horsemen.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1342r5.jpg

The Austrian line held and the spearmen lunched forward the enemy began to flee. Karl momentarily stopped and assessed the field where are my Knights? Not knowing their fate Karl charged forward and pursued the fleeing enemy. He seemed to have gained his youth and felt exuberant at full gallop. He could not stop himself he would not have gone this far but he was enjoying himself chasing the stragglers down till they had all fled deep into the forest.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1342r6.jpg
https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1342r7.jpghttps://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1342r8.jpg

The battle was over and a victory achieved.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/clearvictory-1.jpg
https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/stats-1.jpg

The prisoners were rounded up the exhaustion had returned. He felt older then he had ever felt. There was fine ransom to be paid for the prisoners but that was not in his character no matter how badly the florins were needed. They were set free.

The old man had gained another accolade from his men.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1342r9.jpg

It was time to head north and to Vienna.

[Ramses II CP]

Near the walls of Hamburg, 1342.

'M'lord the moment we've been waiting for has arrived. I thought you would want to watch.' The weary Albanian shuffled his feet and gazed at the ground while speaking to Fritz von Kastilien. As well he might, Fritz had been ruthless in driving his men to reach the siege works, and then upon their arrival had set a close guard and given the men a watchful rest period. Now the scout was forced by Fritz's own order to interrupt his general's council with the captains of the army.

For once, however, Fritz appeared pleased, if briefly, and dismissed his captains with only a few final words. 'The same formation will be fine Robert, the flag men assure me that the garrison will sally when called and meet us in the field, but even if they don't the crossbowmen will have to hold the line. Make sure those Honor Guard banners are visible tied to the stake tips! Hans, you know what to do, make every charge count.'

'Now, take me to your vantage point, and be quick!' An imperious gesture sent the scout racing for his horse, Fritz right on his heels. The men rode out in haste and soon came to a small rock outcropping which provided a narrow look at the distant siegeworks north-east of Hamburg. Unbeknownst to the besiegers, who were watching an arranged distraction on the walls at Hamburg, a hundred and fifty badly treated Danes were crawling through the deepening snow to try to reach their position. Some of them were impossibly far behind the lead group, and more than a few had ceased moving entirely, but the front runners would soon be impossible for the siege army's scouts to miss.

Scarce moments after Fritz's arrival a stirring was visible in the Danish camp as a small group of Huscarls mounted up in response to some signal and rode into the snow field. As they reached the site of the first crawling ruin of a man several of the Danes drew up early, and after the shock passed half of them bent double in their saddles and puked violently into the snow. Fritz rubbed his hands together briskly, whether in response to the sickness of the Danes or simply to keep them warm the Albanian could not know, but whatever the cause the cavalryman shivered and thought back on what his general had ordered done with the prisoners when word came of the refusal to pay ransom.

At that time Fritz had seemingly taken the news calmly, standing and departing his tent in the camp near Hamburg with his arm almost jovially thrown around the messenger boy. Striding outside Fritz pulled the man along to the field where the battered Danish prisoners were kept. At a single gesture from their commander the German infantrymen and crossbowmen leapt to their feet and began pulling the Danes apart into groups. These valiant men, mighty veterans of the Danish wars, gave no resistance, perhaps thinking they had been ransomed, until it was too late. When they had been scattered into small groups and held hopelessly surrounded, Fritz's soldiers began the bloodletting. First they cut off the prisoner's fingers, all of them, with short chopping motions of their daggers. Next, as they lay writhing in pain, the Danes were hamstrung in both legs, and finally a cloth was tied around their mouths and a line formed to load them roughly into wagons.

Then Fritz had turned to the boy and spoke, 'You will carry no word back to your man Inge at Hamburg. He'll hear soon enough. You will instead ride north for Arhus as hard as you can. You will never return to German lands. Tell your King and every man you pass on the road that I am coming. Tell him I will ride through **** itself to find him.'

'And tell him if he ever wants to see his soldiers again, he'll have to start paying or stop sending them against me.'

And that was how over a hundred crippled Danes came to be crawling through the snow towards Hamburg. It was well that these remnants of men were the hardy veterans of the Danish Honor Guards, else none of them might have survived to be seen. As it was there were not many still crawling, and the Huscarls could only bring themselves to carry back the most lively looking in the group of frontrunners. Gruesome cries could be heard to echo up the field towards the rocky outcrop when the Huscarls slung that lucky survivor over a horse's back and rode away back to their camp.

A small, grim smile crept momentarily over Fritz's face before he stood, clapped the Albanian on the back, and walked quickly back to his horse. 'Keep a watch and bring word when they form up. We'll be ready. Well done!'

Riding back to the lines Fritz's headache had departed fully for the first time in weeks. This was a battle in which he'd have the advantage no matter the numbers, no matter the experience of the men. Either the Danes would fight with berserker fury and break sharply, like a firm, dry stick, or they'd fight with fear and flee at the first taste of the lance. No matter which was the case every one of them would be dragged down and destroyed.

http://lh4.google.com/RosDalton/R3HEBoz05OI/AAAAAAAAHUU/LGwjbF-R1rQ/s800/0047.jpg

There was little infantry remaining in Fritz's army, but it would surely be enough to hold until the arrival of the reinforcements from Hamburg. Those men should be sallying to join him already, and would approach from the rear after departing the north gate of the city.

http://lh3.google.com/RosDalton/R3HEDYz05PI/AAAAAAAAHUc/0zxgSbj6ljA/s800/0049.jpg

Han's orders were different this time. His intent was to terrorize the Danes rather than scatter them, to make them fear the unpredictable coming of the Teutons, and so he circled his men around to the rear of the Danish formation before striking home as the Albanians chased away a small contingent of mounted crossbowmen.

http://lh6.google.com/RosDalton/R3HEFIz05QI/AAAAAAAAHUk/tSB6w3sikyc/s800/0050.jpg

Inge drove his men on, demanding that they disregard the harassing attacks of the Teutons. Every brutal strike left dozens of corpses piled in the snow.

http://lh5.google.com/RosDalton/R3HEG4z05RI/AAAAAAAAHUs/xdqW2Psybfw/s800/0051.jpg

Inevitably the Danes started to peer over their shoulders while marching, leading to chaos in the lines and a slow, disorderly advance.

http://lh4.google.com/RosDalton/R3HEIoz05SI/AAAAAAAAHU4/xZilAM2SKys/s800/0053.jpg

Seeing this, Fritz sent in the Merchant cavalry militia from Hamburg with the captain of the garrison at their head directly against the spearhead of the Danish army. They crashed through a company of crossbowmen who were desperately on watch against a Teuton attack against a their 'rear.'

http://lh6.google.com/RosDalton/R3HEKIz05TI/AAAAAAAAHVA/XjGD04vWN9o/s800/0054.jpg

Inge now struggled to organize his cavalry to defend the infantry. Seeing this, Hans switched sides and struck the Danes' left rear flank hard.

http://lh3.google.com/RosDalton/R3HELYz05UI/AAAAAAAAHVI/vsLTiWo1Z-E/s800/0055.jpg

He paid for it when, while pulling back, his Teutons were hit by a charge from the Danish mounted Huscarls. Those men had no heart for this fight, however, and routed almost immediately.

http://lh4.google.com/RosDalton/R3HEMoz05VI/AAAAAAAAHVQ/jIsFlUwwqQo/s800/0056.jpg

Alas, while Hans was dealing with the enemy Huscarls one of his companies of Teutons bogged down during a charge and was hit with a volley from the Danish handgunners. Their horses reared in terror and began carrying them from the field, the riders unwilling to flee but unable to halt the flight. (Okay, WTH! There were only 4 handgunners remaining. This was an odd rout, and these men didn't recover their morale either, they were all captured or fled.)

http://lh6.google.com/RosDalton/R3HEOIz05WI/AAAAAAAAHVY/t26BgUJ0w38/s800/0057.jpg

Seeing his enemy in disarray Inge led his guardsmen on the attack! Fritz, watching from a nearby wood, saw the Danish general commit himself to battle and rode forth to aid Hans and the Teutons.

http://lh5.google.com/RosDalton/R3HEP4z05XI/AAAAAAAAHVg/KOc7zz7Gsog/s800/0059.jpg

While struggling to find Inge in the crush, Fritz caught sight of the enemy's Chivalric Knights charging to join the battle. %&$^, thought Fritz, just when I was getting my blood up! Quickly he turned his guardsmen and pulled the Danish knights into a tail chase to prevent them reinforcing their commander.

http://lh6.google.com/RosDalton/R3HERIz05YI/AAAAAAAAHVo/5rS2LJ4EVCk/s800/0060.jpg

Riding back towards his infantry, Fritz caught sight of the first clash of the lines. The Hamburg militia had arrived in plenty of time, and set their lines well supported by a fresh company of merchant cavalry. If nothing was done, the experienced Danish infantry (3x bronze mostly) would eventually overwhelm them. Shouting as he rode by, with Chivalric Knights still in pursuit, Fritz made it clear that he intended the fresh merchant cavalry to line up and charge cleanly into the rear of the Danish companies one by one until they routed.

http://lh4.google.com/RosDalton/R3HESoz05ZI/AAAAAAAAHVw/9cHl7z2kxCk/s800/0061.jpg

Meanwhile Inge Henriksson had exhibited unexpected good sense and withdrawn from the fighting with the Teutons, alive but with a gutted bodyguard unit. Spotting a man in full plate Inge had no doubt taken him for the German general, but in fact it was only the captain of the Hamburg garrison.

http://lh6.google.com/RosDalton/R3HEUIz05aI/AAAAAAAAHV4/wqEldRxWzdA/s800/0062.jpg

The Danes courageously charged the fifty merchant cavalrymen with their seven guardsmen, seeking to behead the German army, pursued by the dozens of remaining Teutonic Knights. Only Inge himself would survive to assail and ultimately kill Captain Hugo.

http://lh3.google.com/RosDalton/R3HEVYz05bI/AAAAAAAAHWA/rH3MCxJkVp4/s800/0063.jpg

At the line, however, the courage of the Danes had failed. With their general nowhere in sight, with their archers and crossbowmen slaughtered behind them, and with the unceasing charges of the fresh merchant cavalry militia against their rear the powerful Danish soldiers broke and attempted to flee the field. Perhaps their will was broken by the rumor which had swept through their camp of the fate of the Honor Guard army holding the bridge to their west, or perhaps they were simply outmatched. Very few would survive.

http://lh6.google.com/RosDalton/R3HEXIz05cI/AAAAAAAAHWI/yOexAt9rodU/s800/0064.jpg

Inge Henriksson was not among the survivors, as the Teutons caught him and cut him down just as his valiant efforts routed the reduced company of merchant cavalry militia who were shocked by the death of their captain.

http://lh3.google.com/RosDalton/R3HEYYz05dI/AAAAAAAAHWQ/yYgWOXkPvU4/s800/0065.jpg

Fritz reached the safety of his lines moments after the general rout began, and his Chivalric Knight pursuers became caught up in it. Forced to choose between riding down their own to continue the pursuit or fleeing as well, they turned tail and ran.

http://lh5.google.com/RosDalton/R3HEZ4z05eI/AAAAAAAAHWY/77KxPHuVh74/s800/0066.jpg

In the end a slow, battered company of Obudshaer were all that still held their courage, marching bravely forward until a crushing Teutonic Knight charge caught them out of formation while passing a tree and butchered them to a man.

http://lh6.google.com/RosDalton/R3HEbIz05fI/AAAAAAAAHWg/Pv25dQOcOP4/s800/0068.jpg

Back at the infantry line Fritz shook his head while watching the pursuit. Once again his men had done little in the battle, which had been won by the power of his wit rather than the might of his swordarm. Ah well, thought Fritz, now what in the name of God am I going to do with all these prisoners?

http://lh3.google.com/RosDalton/R3HEcYz05gI/AAAAAAAAHWo/H22Sp8KdUY0/s800/0069.jpg

http://lh4.google.com/RosDalton/R3HEdoz05hI/AAAAAAAAHWw/hkg_6ed9VTc/s800/0070.jpg

http://lh5.google.com/RosDalton/R3HEe4z05iI/AAAAAAAAHW4/bps-QxpTzlk/s800/0071.jpg

Ransom would've been quite nice, but it is refused:

http://lh3.google.com/RosDalton/R3HEgYz05jI/AAAAAAAAHXA/seoSaX7VQXs/s800/0073.jpg

http://lh5.google.com/RosDalton/R3HEh4z05kI/AAAAAAAAHXI/t2HOpbCF4TY/s800/0074.jpg

Fritz gets a reputation:

http://lh6.google.com/RosDalton/R3HEjIz05lI/AAAAAAAAHXQ/NKQeFgqwRBA/s800/0075.jpg

[Zim]

Andreas raced to Antioch as soon as he got the message from Viceroy Matthias. Apparently the Greeks had moved their major armies away from Antioch, to the east. Whether it was cowardice in the face of the Viceroy's victory, or if they had not yet received news of the battle and assumed their man had won, making them needed more against the Turks, Andreas did not know. Whatever the reason, they had left the city in the hands of a single unit of Vardaratoi, although an elite one.

Since the news of a large army marching north might bring the Greeks back before he could reach Antioch, Andreas decided to take only a small force, including his bodyguard, a slightly depleted unit of spearmen, and the cannons needed to takeou he city walls. It was a risky move but a needed one, and Andreas was driven to it partly by guilt over not contributing to Outremer's defense to the extent he ad wanted. He was able to reach Antioch before any Greek scouts spotted his force, and assaulted it immediately.

https://img185.imageshack.us/img185/9844/image001bp5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

https://img185.imageshack.us/img185/1479/image002qj2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The cannon crews, experienced from their battles alongside Matthias, took down several sections of the wall in minutes.

https://img179.imageshack.us/img179/5430/image008wi6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Oddly, the Byzantine cavalry did not have the tower walls manned to shoot at Andreas' men, and did not come to block entry into the city. Perhaps the Greek captain felt that with only one unit of men and several breeches in the wall, trying to plug one would only result in his being surrounded, or worse yet in cannon bombardments of hs position. Encouraged, Andreas ordered his spearmen to aim for the leftmost breech and his own bodyguard into the rightmost one.

https://img172.imageshack.us/img172/3005/image009rk1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

His men's entry into the city seemed to jolt the Greeks from their stupor, and they came forward to shoot at the German spearmen. Andreas ordered he spearmen to hold their position. The Vardaratoi had stopped next to an open street on one side, and he hoped to take his guard around and strike them from two spots.

https://img172.imageshack.us/img172/8773/image015wj2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)
https://img151.imageshack.us/img151/8705/image011bc2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Although his spearmen took some losses from the expert horsearchers, Andreas' plan worked. Andreas' guard slammed into the flank of the Greeks, splitting their forces in two. This was the signal for the spearmen to charge, and half the Greek forces were taken out in detail, including the enemy captain.

https://img185.imageshack.us/img185/8230/image018ut2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

https://img178.imageshack.us/img178/3572/image020oq1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Their captain defeated, the Greeks were allowd to surrender, and Andreas occupied the town peacefully. Andreas was treated to throngs of rejoicing citizens. It would seem that the Greek extermination of the great city some years earlier had increased support for the Reich. The local merchants event donated over 1,000 florins from their coffers to help repair the damaged buildings in the town. It would take time to repair the city, and rebuild the old church, but in regaining its capital Outremer had finally begun to go on the offensive.

https://img151.imageshack.us/img151/9522/image022do9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

https://img178.imageshack.us/img178/2541/image025dh3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

[deguerra]

Bruges, 1342

Heinrich strode into the chamber, tentatively feeling a bloody scar on his left cheek.

“Really, Ludwig, next time you can make lewd suggestions to arrogant French princesses yourself. In the unlikely event that that…Guillemette snob…ever finds a husband, may God have mercy on his soul. And anyway, I am paid to fight, not as a diplomat!”

Ludwig smiled up at his friend from the desk at which he had been sitting. Heinrich noticed that the desk was empty. Ludwig had an annoying tendency to forego planning for thought and prayer at pivotal moments.

“We are needed at the walls, Heinrich. Baldwin looks like he is about to attack from the South.”


https://img177.imageshack.us/img177/3355/0035wo0.gif (https://imageshack.us)
https://img177.imageshack.us/img177/3425/0013ba2.gif (https://imageshack.us)


At the walls

“What in the Lords name is he doing, Heinrich? He’s sending those catapults out undefended? Does he expect me to sit here waiting for him to pointlessly smash my walls down while I do nothing? Saddle up!”


https://img177.imageshack.us/img177/3729/0015mg8.gif (https://imageshack.us)


Having slaughtered the catapult crew, Ludwig calls out to his men

“That’s enough, there’s not enough of them to man these catapults now! Back to the walls! And where in Gods name are those Frenchies heading now?!?”


https://img177.imageshack.us/img177/9387/0016kh8.gif (https://imageshack.us)


“I think, Ludwig, that they might have finally discovered our walls are already breached in the East, from the fine work Jan von der Pfalz and those English did several years ago”

“And so they’re going to give me a beautiful column I can just charge into? Men, to the Trebuchet crew! And then kill those Scots guards!”


https://img177.imageshack.us/img177/9718/0017be6.gif (https://imageshack.us)


Meanwhile, Thomas Bogaard, the civilian mayor of Bruges, and commander of the City Watch has the Town Guard lining the Square, ready for anything, which is just as well, because the first French Lancers are about to reach them.


https://img177.imageshack.us/img177/2391/0019ds5.gif (https://imageshack.us)


The ensuing melee goes decidedly badly for France. The first Lancers to hit the Flemish pikes break and run almost immediately, under crossbow and gunfire. Baldwin Robert, the French General, rallies his men and sends another cavalry charge into the Flemish pike. This too, however, proves indecisive, as the Flemish are able to beat back his cavalry with minimal losses. Fearing this battle unwinnable, Baldwin attempts to quietly slip out of the town square and head for home. Just at this point, Ludwig and his bodyguard have reached the square from the other direction (behind the Flemish pike), after having routed the trebuchet crew and the Scots guards.

“Ludwig! He is running! That arrogant, foolish, stupid coward is running! Let’s get him!”

And so, having finally arrived for the battle, Ludwig’s men charge back out the South gate, to head off Baldwin, who is fleeing in that direction.


https://img177.imageshack.us/img177/4632/0022qc4.gif (https://imageshack.us)


In the meantime, the now leaderless French army is in a spot of bother. The Lancers and Dismounted Knights are refusing to charge, in front of them are formidable Pikemen, and their rear is rapidly being cut off by a small force of Crossbowmen and Hand Gunners, as well as Ludwig’s bodyguard, which is coming around from the outside. Taking charge of the situation, Thomas Bogaard orders the Pikemen and Spearman to advance slowly on the French lining the street.


https://img177.imageshack.us/img177/1207/0023gt1.gif (https://imageshack.us)


As unit by unit of Knights is attacked, the entire army makes one last desperate attempt to break out of the city. However, they are met by a devastating volley of gunfire from the street behind them, which immediately sends the entire army on a massive rout. They are cut down to the man.


https://img177.imageshack.us/img177/272/0024qi7.gif (https://imageshack.us)
https://img177.imageshack.us/img177/3420/0027gt3.gif (https://imageshack.us)


Heinrich strode into the chamber, tentatively feeling a bloody scar on his right cheek, also.

“Surely, you must be kidding Ludwig! You are not going to ransom those cowards!”

“We could have used the money, Heinrich, to rebuild our walls. But no, our offer of ransom has been rejected. I left the butchering to the Flemish. It is a foul, sinful deed, even if they are French. But it doesn’t seem to bother those whose lands they invaded.”


https://img177.imageshack.us/img177/5429/0029kq0.gif (https://imageshack.us)
https://img177.imageshack.us/img177/161/0030ue1.gif (https://imageshack.us)

[flyd]

Imperial Forecast Office, Nuremberg, December 24, 1342

Severe weather warning for central and northern Germany, in effect from noon today until December 29th. Expect heavy snowfall, extremely low temperatures, and low visibility. Move all livestock and peasants indoors for the duration of the warning. Do not go outside unless necessary, and if in the field, seek shelter immediately.

Magdeburg, 1342

After two days of bad weather, the Polish army, no longer able to withstand it in their camp, and not being able to march back to Poland, are forced to seek shelter in Magdeburg, by force.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y208/flydude18/deployk4.jpg

During its lengthy siege of the fortress, the enemy had constructed two siege towers, at least four battering rams, and numerous ladders. However, they had no advanced artillery. The Poles took the easiest approach to the fortress, from the east. Here, the outer wall was easily accessible. To at least eliminate the threat of the siege towers, the Imperial commander, Dieter Bresch, Count of Madgeburg, elected to abandon the outer wall, and set up a defense on the second wall. Most of the fighting was to occur at the inner eastern gate.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y208/flydude18/battlefield2k4.jpg
The Inner Eastern Gate

The outer eastern gate was locked and abandoned.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y208/flydude18/firstbreachk4.jpg
The Outer gate was breached with a battering ram.

After the initial breach, the enemy sent in a highly experienced unit of foot knights with ladders, as well as another battering ram.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y208/flydude18/ladderscomek4.jpg
Poles within the walls of Madgeburg! A sight no Franconian ever wanted to see!

However, the Germans had an excellent defensive position. In order to approach the inner gate after having entered through the outer gate, one has to follow the inner wall for some distance. Imperial crossbowmen lined that wall, and inflicted heavy casualties. The enemy would lose a full one-fifth of their army before making first contact. The battering ram teams had issues too.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y208/flydude18/ramfirek4.jpg
As the first set of ladders reaches the wall, the first ram is destroyed.

Some Polish foot knights successfully scaled the wall, but were defeated. The enemy sent a second ram, which reached the gate, causing a breach. The rest of the Polish army entered the outer ring. The spearmen scaled the ladders left there by the previous attack, while the hussars attacked through the gate, both supported by the elite foot knights.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y208/flydude18/battleneargatek4.jpg
The battle.

Three enemy units had scaled the wall, where they were engaged on both sides with German foot knights. The hussars, meanwhile, attempted to charge through the gate which was guarded by German sergeants. The sergeants took heavy casualties when the enemy cavalry was joined by foot knights, but both were held off with the help of our own cavalry. After a lengthy period of hand-to-hand combat on the wall, the enemy broke when a fresh unit of knights was brought in from the reserve.

As the enemy soldiers from the wall retreated, Lukas Godwinson arrived from Nuremberg, entering through western gate. They would pay for taking so many German lives that day.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y208/flydude18/lukasarrivesk4.jpg

After these two attacks were defeated, the enemy still had a significant amount of cavalry outside the walls, but little infantry remaining. Dieter Bresch gave the order to withdraw behind the third and final set of walls.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y208/flydude18/retreatk4.jpg
German flags still fly over Magdeburg.

The Poles did not attempt to breach the third set of walls. Their army withdrew and was not seen again. Offer of ransom for the prisoners was not accepted.

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y208/flydude18/resultk4.jpg

[OverKnight]

The Third Battle of the Iron Bridge, 1342

The pair of Vardariotai scouts watched the enemy army deployed on the southern side of the bridge. Black and gold Crusader Cross banners flew over the force, meaning it was the Army of Outremer, almost all of it, except for the few units assigned to garrison Antioch. It looked like the Cyclops himself was in command. The lead scout shook his head, Strategos Valsamon would certainly not attack the entire army, not with its fell reputation over the past few years. Others had tried and failed, and the Strategos was no impulsive Captain looking to burnish his reputation or save his skin.

Just as the scouts were about to turn back to report, a series of horn blasts were heard from the other side of the Orontes. Several Crusader infantry units decamped, and as the scouts looked on with interest, marched south on the road back to Antioch.

The lead scout paused to think, over half of the brigand's infantry was now gone, this changed the situation. He ordered his companion to report back to Valsamon.

On the the other side of the river, Matthias Steffen and Adalric watched the second scout depart. Matthias smiled and laughed darkly, "They have taken the bait, again. The Greeks think they're clever this time, waiting for us to divide the army. The sin of pride can be blinding."

Off to his left, Adalric glanced at his liege, Matthias's black eyepatch stood in stark contrast to the rest of his face.

"My Lord, there is the danger that we have weakened our forces too much. It is not just our enemies who may suffer from. . .arrogance."

Matthias turned and leveled his one good eye at Adalric, a grim expression on his face. He held it for a moment and then grunted ruefully, "True enough, Sir, but if I am prideful, at least I am doing it from behind an excellent defensive position. God favors a strong defense."

The Viceroy turned and took in the panorama of the river valley.

"It is good to be back here Adalric. To be back north. This is a good place to make a stand."

A day later, Valsamon moved to attack.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/airondeploy.jpg

Matthias deployed his men a distance back from the bridge as the Greeks had elite archers who could reach the far bank. The infantry were in front, ready to charge in and cap the mouth of the bridge. The cannon were off to the right. The cavalry were deployed behind them. The crossbowmen were on the flanks, angled inward to face the midpoint of the bridge.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/bironinit.jpg

The Byzantines led with their archers, mounted and foot. Their infantry was behind them, followed by the heavy cavalry and Vasamon and his retinue. Matthias ordered the cannon to begin firing into their center of mass.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/cironimpact.jpg

The rounds exploded among the Greeks. With the Crusaders out of arrow range, the Greek archers and infantry surged forward across the bridge rather than sustain more cannon fire. The Strategos and the melee horsemen hung back.

Matthias, seeing this purple wave crossing the bridge, ordered his own infantry into position. The cannons were ordered to fire at the Greek cavalry.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/dironrush.jpg

The lines met, the Imperial spearmen set just in time to receive the charge of the Vardariotai. As the Greek foot arrived, a mixture of archers, spears and swordmen, Matthias ordered the unhorsed knights and Great Cross guards into the fray.

It was a vicious melee. The Crusader Sergeants and others were being pushed back. Matthias wondered if Adlaric had been right, but then the first Greek units began to break. The horsemen were ordered to pursue.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/eironfirstbreakchaos.jpg

This was good news, but as the second wave of Greek foot hit the lines, the routers rallied briefly enough to kill a few crossbowmen. This chaos and the pursuit of the routers disrupted missile and cannon fire. Matthias cursed as he ran down a spearman.

Valsamon, seeing this chaos, decided to cross with the Greek horsemen.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/fironvarsandcavcommit.jpg

Fortunately the Imperial cavalry had managed to clear the Greek routers from the line of fire of the crossbowmen. The Imperial front was restored in time to meet the third wave. Matthias ordered his own bodyguard to charge in to meet the Strategos.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/gironvarsaloncaptured.jpg

With Valsamon captured, the rest of the Greeks broke. The rout was on.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/hironpursuit.jpg

A few survivors were able to make it off the field, but the army was destroyed.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/xironvic.jpg

The Basileus did not reward defeat, the Strategos and his men were left to die.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/zironransomrejected.jpg

[Ramses II CP]

Failure at Hamburg, 1344.

Morale was high inside the city, despite the siege. The Hero of Hamburg, Fritz von Kastilien, was inside the city and Prinz Peter himself with a powerful force of Teutonic Knights was just outside, ready to relieve the siege. Every few days Fritz would announce a spot of entertainment for the masses as a Danish prisoner from the last siege army was strung up and hung from the walls to show the Danes outside their eventual fate. Spies reported that this was the last substantial Danish army on the mainland, and that Arhus was lightly held. Communicating with Prinz Peter via flags Fritz prepared to make his sally. Surely God would favor his offensive today just as in every other battle in the war of the north!

http://lh6.google.com/RosDalton/R3PJ_oz05nI/AAAAAAAAHX4/EYyf3Tcv-jA/s800/0054.jpg

The enemy was experienced and well equipped (3x silver with weapon and armor upgrades) but the walls of Hamburg were very high indeed.The reinforcements would have a long walk to reach the city, so Fritz prepared to keep the Danes busy while his crossbowmen outside the walls advanced.

http://lh6.google.com/RosDalton/R3PKBoz05oI/AAAAAAAAHYA/8Z8rzUbpDOo/s800/0055.jpg

Spearmen and the merchant cavalry were sent out to encourage the enemy to advance into range of the towers and crossbowmen on the walls. The cavalry moved into position to flank the Danish army. Not wanting to seem passive the enemy sent forward their Norse Archers to duel with the crossbowmen on the walls.

http://lh4.google.com/RosDalton/R3PKDIz05pI/AAAAAAAAHYM/V_64XSAPGW0/s800/0056.jpg

On the Dane's right flank, where the smaller company of merchant cavalry had taken position, War Clerics rushed out to drive them off. The merchants failed to spot this move in time and were struck a glancing blow by a heavy charge. Though few of them were killed, they routed instantly (The first of my many mistakes from not pausing while checking on the progress of the reinforcements) and made for the gates at top speed, pursued by sixty angry War Clerics. Fritz ordered the men who had sallied out of the walls to withdraw back in and close the gates with the merchants outside. Alas one clumsy militia spearman managed to first trip over his own spear, and then drop his shield attempting to get back inside and the gates could not be closed in time.

http://lh3.google.com/RosDalton/R3PKE4z05qI/AAAAAAAAHYU/1ersGz6hePw/s800/0057.jpg

The gateway was lost! If the Danish captain realized how much initiative he had gained the entire city might fall! Flagmen on the walls ordered the eastern group of merchant cavalry to try to make up for the failure of their fellows and distract the Danes. Hurling insults at Captain Berger's own War Clerics those men managed to draw him off into the forests to the east, in the direction from which the defenseless crossbowmen were marching for the city but also preventing him from issuing the critically necessary order to attack.

http://lh6.google.com/RosDalton/R3PKGoz05rI/AAAAAAAAHYc/a5kUAxxk2To/s800/0058.jpg

At the gate Fritz immediately sent his entire infantry force, two partial companies of spearmen militia and one of Forlorn Hope, to the battle as well as his own bodyguards. The clumsy fool who had allowed the gates to be taken was the first to die, as the War Clerics ran him down from behind when he bent to pull up his socks. Confusion reigned amongst the War Clerics in the gate house as they were surrounded and unsupported in their unexpectedly successful attack.

http://lh5.google.com/RosDalton/R3PKIYz05sI/AAAAAAAAHYk/DFhK8YdzuXM/s800/0059.jpg

Long moments passed during which for every War Cleric that fell three of the Hamburg militia were killed, but at last Fritz reached the front personally. There were few War Clerics remaining, but they still held the gatehouse. Roaring a challenge Fritz burst into their midst and slew two of them instantly.

http://lh4.google.com/RosDalton/R3PKKIz05tI/AAAAAAAAHYs/03GcRiR5Xp4/s800/0061.jpg

The rest at last gave up the battle and fled. All would be shot down from behind before they could return to the Danish lines.

http://lh6.google.com/RosDalton/R3PKLoz05uI/AAAAAAAAHY0/Xdw62DYYyvY/s800/0062.jpg

In the woods Captain Berger had at last given up on chasing the merchants and made his way back to his lines. The militia cavalry exulted that they had escaped a deadly battle and actually been useful in the siege, unlike their brothers. (I hate Merchant Cavalry Militia.)

http://lh4.google.com/RosDalton/R3PKNIz05vI/AAAAAAAAHY8/Q32p3OPOl-U/s800/0066.jpg

Upon his return to the army Captain Berger learned what an opportunity he had missed and was infuriated. Inside the city Fritz's reinforcements had finally arrived, though the day was half over. Fritz ordered them onto the walls and went back to overseeing the tower fire without a thought. Alas, two companies of those weary men, having already marched miles on this day, somehow misunderstood Fritz's orders and marched out of the gate instead. Just in time to take a charge from the War Clerics Berger sent to probe any potential weakness at the gate (Round two of my mistakes, or three. No idea how they got their orders so wrong.) and many were lost, especially among the militia crossbowmen.

http://lh6.google.com/RosDalton/R3PKOoz05wI/AAAAAAAAHZE/issZMNq7dFI/s800/0067.jpg

By this time in the battle the number of crossbowmen on the walls was overwhelming, and the Danish Norse Archers had been all but obliterated. The merchant cavalry were called in from the woods to clear them away. One group of them, having shot out their arrows, made their way almost intact back to the enemy lines but the other three were destroyed. The merchants overpursue and take losses in the mass of Danish infantry.

http://lh4.google.com/RosDalton/R3PKQIz05xI/AAAAAAAAHZM/FKgIDVvhrGs/s800/0068.jpg

By this point in the battle the bombard is at last in place, and the ribault is moving slowly into position as well. The enemy has no ranged units to answer this fire, and from their left flank Peter's Teutons are arriving in force. Captain Berger has inflicted far more losses, and held his infantry intact far longer than Fritz had expected, and now he makes the decision to put his two remaining War Cleric companies into battle. First he sends one to probe the gate again and attempt to silence the bombard, then he personally rides out to attack the Teutonic Knights, calling infantry behind him to support his move.

http://lh6.google.com/RosDalton/R3PKRoz05yI/AAAAAAAAHZU/7c16hnvLTIw/s800/0069.jpg

A bombard shot blasts through the War Clerics attacking the gate just as they are carving a path through the militia spearmen there. Those men scattered themselves out desperately to attack the bombard, and killed two of the crew, but they now broke and fled having taken surprisingly few losses. Many of the men would be shot down on the way out, and none would return to the city. Three quarters of the daylight available for fighting has passed, and the Danish infantry, the mass of their army, is almost completely whole.

http://lh4.google.com/RosDalton/R3PKTIz05zI/AAAAAAAAHZc/LooZRMqC2jc/s800/0070.jpg

Near a withered old tree the Teutons surround Captain Berger's men, who stand and fight despite being slightly outnumbered. Eventually they are overwhelmed and start to fall in large numbers. Their infantry support is still far distant, and unlikely to arrive. They've killed half the Teutons, but only ten of them remain. Captain Berger sounds the retreat, but not in flight or fear, in orderly fashion.

http://lh6.google.com/RosDalton/R3PKUoz050I/AAAAAAAAHZk/Qx0G6GqxuUE/s800/0072.jpg

The Teutons cannot pursue as they must reorder their own lines and smash the infantry in the area, so Captain Berger escapes to furiously launch his men at the bombard which has been firing into his infantry.

http://lh4.google.com/RosDalton/R3PKWIz051I/AAAAAAAAHZs/Bz4efxixrIk/s800/0074.jpg

All but three War Clerics die before reaching the walls, and spearmen are ready to attack those three. Many militiamen die to the valiant Captain Berger, but in the end they drag him down.

http://lh4.google.com/RosDalton/R3PKXIz052I/AAAAAAAAHZ0/I5N-FRUDs_I/s800/0075.jpg

At last Fritz himself rides out of the walls to salute the corpse of Captain Berger. 'You fought better than any of the Danish nobles I've encoutered. I am suitably impressed, but now I go to butcher your army. Go with God.' Most of the remaining crossbowmen are brought down from the walls to harry the enemy. Every time they attempt to attack the massed crossbowmen charges strike home on their flanks from the Teutons and Fritz's bodyguard. Both sides are ground down by the fighting, but the Huscarls that make up half the Danish infantry are finally annihilated.

http://lh6.google.com/RosDalton/R3PKYoz053I/AAAAAAAAHZ8/qrHAUwdKyVw/s800/0076.jpg

At this point the field is a mess. There is no longer any question of losing this battle, only of whether or not his men have the strength and time to complete it. Volleys of bolts smash into the slow moving swordstaves. Fritz's infantry and cavalry combined to overwhelm two companies of them, but losses are staggering and Fritz's infantry formations are no longer combat capable. It's all down to the crossbowmen. One company of militia crossbowmen and mercenary crossbowmen, out of bolts, attempt to overwhelm some swordstaff men with the help of a few remaining Teutons and Mounted Sergeants, but they are repulsed and slaughtered. One mercenary flees the battle, four militia crossbowmen survive, and few of the cavalry.

http://lh4.google.com/RosDalton/R3PKaIz054I/AAAAAAAAHaE/8NP03duW35g/s800/0077.jpg

Assessing his remaining forces Fritz realizes the time has come to withdraw behind the walls. There is very little daylight left for shooting down the rest of the enemy militia, and their heavy armor withstands many of the bolts fired at them. It would be unwise to utterly exhaust his men firing blindly in the dark when the army outside no longer has a real chance of capturing the city. Reluctantly, angrily, but also wearily Fritz orders his men to pull back and leave the huge, vulnerable formations of swordstaves sitting outside.

http://lh6.google.com/RosDalton/R3PKboz055I/AAAAAAAAHaM/o18qoj-DHYw/s800/0078.jpg

The battle was brutally unpleasant and ultimately disappointing. Mere minutes away from victory Fritz had been forced to concede a draw, with the enemy still in possession of the field. Fortunately Prinz Peter was still out there, an untapped resource, and if he could rally the crossbowmen outside the walls he should be able to clear away the remaining Danes.

http://lh3.google.com/RosDalton/R3PKc4z056I/AAAAAAAAHaU/bbrRqU2EoNc/s800/0079.jpg

http://lh4.google.com/RosDalton/R3PKeIz057I/AAAAAAAAHac/BaWGdJsCqrY/s800/0080.jpg

Ascending the walls the next day Fritz notes a Danish messenger has brought word that the Danes are ransoming some few men who surrendered to them during the battle. The final humiliation, thinks Fritz, but I will need the men if the Danes can somehow draw up more forces. 'Pay the man his paltry sum. My day will come again, and soon. And after that... Arhus.'

http://lh6.google.com/RosDalton/R3PKfoz058I/AAAAAAAAHak/ypRPUxLzrGs/s800/0081.jpg

:egypt:

[OverKnight]

The Assault on Adana, Part I


Prelude

Matthias Steffen knelt in the ruined Catholic Church in Antioch. He had ordered it's enlargement in 1336 right before the Greek Siege of the city and its eventual fall. Whatever improvements had been made, the Greeks had smashed. Windows were shattered, pews used for firewood and stones stolen for a new Greek church, which in its own turn had been demolished upon Andreas's retaking of the city. A cloudy sky could be seen through the many holes in the roof.

The state of the building saddened Matthias, for it was here Aldaric had presented him with Iron Faith, the sword of Saint Maximillian and King Salier, which the young man had removed from Adana shortly before its transfer to the Greeks. It was here that Matthias had received his mission from God, to restore Outremer to glory.

Matthias shook his head as he knelt in the dust. That mission had seen many delays, the loss of Antioch, the retreat south and the holding actions he had fought on the road to Acre. Matthias noticed a fresco on the wall behind the remains of the Altar. It showed a map of Outremer in its prime, superimposed on a Crusader Cross. Matthias grunted, true Antioch had been regained, but others of the former counties lay in darkness or in the hands of allies.

The question facing the Crusaders after the reconquest of this city, was what to do now? Risk an attack on Adana? Hold at the Iron Bridge? Raid any Greek army that showed up? Build a fleet to strike at Cyprus?

Matthias was unsure, pressure had to be kept on the Greeks, but his army had to be kept intact. He prayed for guidance.

After a few minutes of silence, the wind picked up, rushing through the holes in the battered church. Suddenly there was a break in the clouds, and a beam of light broke through. As Matthias watch transfixed, it struck the map of Outremer, illuminating Adana brightly before winking out of existence as the clouds rolled in again.

Matthias stood somewhat shakily. Another sign. There would be no more falling back, no more tricks, Adana must be retaken.

Striding out of the Church, Matthias began calling for his men.


The Assault

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/adana/adanadeploy.jpg

The Army of Outremer came at night to Adana. It had been reinforced from Antioch, Andreas would have enough men to keep the city quiet, and there were no Greek armies within marching distance.

The cannons took pride of place, it would be up to them to make any breaches. The rest of the army deployed around them.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/adana/badanainit.jpg

The Greeks were off the walls, no doubt Strategos Pelekanos was fearful of the cannons. It was wise of him.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/adana/cadanafirstgate.jpg

As the Imperial foot advanced, the Greeks moved to block the gate. Screaming the name of Saint Maximillian the Crusaders charged the Greeks to retake his burial site.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/adana/dadanaassault.jpg

A fierce battle developed at the gate, but the Greeks decided to retreat once cannon fire began raking the gate towers. Their aim was to make a stand at the second ring. Imperial horsemen pursued as the cannon were brought up to just inside the first gate.

The cavalry mauled the retreating Greeks, but switched to charge a unit of Guard Archers that was firing on them. They eventually broke as well and began falling back to the second gate. As the cavalry ran them down, a unit of dismounted Latinkon charged through the second gate to attack. A confused melee ensued.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/adana/eadanasecondgate.jpg

Concerned, Matthias considered withdrawing his horsemen, but enemy troops now lined the walls of the second ring, missile fire would be deadly on retreating cavalry. The Latinkon were keeping the gate open, best to call the infantry up and try to force it.

The cannons began firing on the defenses of the second ring in support of this push.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/adana/fadanacoveringfire.jpg

The addition of the Imperial foot broke the Latinkon and they fell back through the open gate. The Crusaders ran after them in full pursuit.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/adana/gadanabreakend1.jpg

The second ring had been breached.

[OverKnight]

The Assault on Adana, Part II


The Breakthrough

The Crusader cavalry pursued the broken Greek units toward the main keep, but were stopped by a charging unit of Vardariotai.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/adana/hadanavardstart2.jpg

At the same time, two units of Greek foot came off the walls of the second ring to take the Crusader infantry in the rear.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/adana/iadanaoffthewall.jpg

After a bloody brawl, all three units were broken. The infantry was killed to the last man, though a few of the horse archers were able to escape.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/adana/jadanavardbreak.jpg

Many of the Greeks had been killed outside the main Keep, but Pelekanos was within the last redoubt with a strong force of cavalry and a few remnants of footmen and archers.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/adana/kadanakeep.jpg

Matthias called a halt to the advance. Now was the time for patience. The Keep would have to be reduced and the last defenders weakened before the final assault. The cannons were brought forward. Towers crumbled. . .

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/adana/ladanaboom.jpg

. . .as did walls.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/adana/madanabreach.jpg

The crossbowmen were redeployed to fire arcing shots over the last walls and down into the defenders. The remaining Vardariotai charged out through the new breach to try to stop this.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/adana/nvardchargend2.jpg

Matthias and his bodyguard charged in and they were killed. The time had come to finish the job.

[OverKnight]

The Assault on Adana, Part III


The Reconquest

With the last defenders contained in the Keep, it was time to start thinning their numbers. Some of the more chivalrous knights took exception toward slowly killing the Greeks with arcing missile fire, but the footmen, and Matthias, didn't mind at all. The bowmen fired until they were out of bolts.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/adana/oadanadeathrainstart3.jpg

The cannons, with the flat trajectory of their shot, were tasked with opening another way into the Keep.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/adana/padana3rdgateboom.jpg

With Matthias focused on the cannons, another Greek charge into the crossbowmen went unnoticed, killing several of them, but the Crusader counter-charge finished off half the remaining garrison.

As the Crusader foot closed in for the final attack, Pelekanos made one last desperate charge with his men.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/adana/qadanapelekanoscharge.jpg

He was unhorsed and killed. The Crusaders swarmed into the Keep.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/adana/radanafinalcharge.jpg

The final fight was vicious, but the Greeks by this point were very outnumbered.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/adana/sadanaswarm.jpg

Adana, the first settlement in the East taken by the First Crusade, was again part of Outremer.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/adana/tadanavic.jpg

The Citadel was occupied, there would be no butchery or theft in such an important place. 1628 florins were gained.

Epilogue

Making his way through the carnage of the concluded battle, Matthias entered the ruined Chapel of Adana. It was much in the same state of disrepair as the one in Antioch. The Greeks had not been kind, but even they had refrained from desecrating the tombs of Maximillain Mandorf, Conrad Salier and Otto von Kassel. Perhaps it was out of respect for the Saint's defeat of a Jihad called for Constantinople those many years ago, but no one was left alive to tell Matthias, it was a mystery. Trailing his hand along the coffins of the great men who had come before him, Matthias felt in awe.

Grasping the hilt of Iron Faith, Matthias spoke to the dead, "I hope you don't mind if I keep the sword for a bit longer? I'll be here soon enough myself."

And then the Viceroy of Outremer knelt and prayed, giving thanks for the guidance that had brought him here, to Adana, and to victory.

[Northnovas]

From the pages of Biographer to Karl Zirn the Honourable

Vienna 1344

The last few years have been hard on the old man. The Duke was incapacitated because of an unknown sickness. Karl was now the Steward of the Austrian House and here he was out in some old field engaging the enemy again and trying to get two young nobles prepared to lead men into battle. It was a changing of the guard. He knew it was time for him to move aside and let the younger generation lead.

Karl looked at the two men while sitting in his tent reviewing the battle map. Both were eager to prove their worth. Especially Dieter von Essen his son in law and who had combat experience under the old man. However, not with the amount of responsibility that was before him today. The other young man von Hapsburg was eager but indifferent to the situation. He had come from an aristocratic family and was well educated but had no experience in combat.

The Hungarians were harassing the peasants in the region they had made a threat to Vienna earlier but backed off. They have remained in the region with no objective and their presence was a threat to Vienna and Zagreb. The plan was to remove them out of the region so they were no longer a concern.

Karl looked at the two men then with a mug of hot drink he raised it in the air. “Victory with honour” he then drank from the mug savoring the aromas and flavour. He then continued on. “We will attack tomorrow morning. I wanted you men to see what combat is like in the dark and how to use it to your advantage. However, it does limit our artillery in spotting targets. I wanted to see what you are made of and make the enemy pay for the land we had to conceit years earlier. I want to send a message that we mean business and will get back what has been lost.” These were words that were not expected to come from the old man. There was a lot of conviction and they were both expecting a softer tone from Karl the Honourable.

They spoke not a word and were dismissed to prepare for the fight that lay ahead.

The morning sun was already up before the troops converged on the battlefield. The enemy was deep in the woods and to bring them out Zirn backed himself into a depression in front of a cliff face. He wanted to use the little open space for his missile troops and artillery. The young nobles were in reserve for the final punch to the enemy ranks.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/13441start.jpg

The Hungarians came out of the woods quickly and formation. Their speed surprised the artillery crews who could not target individual regiments.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/13442start.jpg

Karl was amazed at the speed of the enemy and the discipline they demonstrated. They approached the higher ground and at full speed burst into the Austrian lines. All fronts were hit and the Hungarians reached through some gaps quickly.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/13443.jpg

Karl Zirn was engaged in combat before he realized what had happened. He bravely fought the Hungarian Knights off. He tried to signal his nobles but they were already engaged with the enemy spearmen. Both young nobles were gaining their worth.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/13444.jpg

Hapsburg was quickly overwhelmed by the spearmen and viciously fought his way from being encircled. In no time he was down to himself and one man. He finally broke from the enemy and headed to the open field
Dieter von Essen found himself in a similar situation but his experience in combat prevented serious losses. Both nobles met in the field being pursued by the enemy spearmen. They joined together in the open field and combining their skills helped defeat the enemy spearmen.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/13445.jpg

The fight of the Hungarians was unprecedented in Zirn’s view. He never saw such speed and tenacity and at one point thought he was heading for defeat. The 2nd AHA held out for the old man. The young nobles were knighted in front of the men and given a great cheer.

Karl was tired and sore from the combat but his losses were not has great compared to the young nobles.
The prisoners were rounded up before Karl and the young nobles.

Karl looked at the Hungarians and then turned to the young nobles. I know how much you wanted to kill these men and you had every right to do so but now, is not he time for such action. These men fought like you but were not victors. You are the victors and there you shall show the mercy on the defeated. Save your vengeance for the next time you meet.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1344prisoners.jpg

Karl the Honourable then walked away leaving the young nobles to contemplate his message. The prisoners were released without ransom or death has been always the way with the old man.

The deployment and results:

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1344battledeploy.jpg
https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1344clearvictory.jpg
https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Karl%20Battles/1344stats.jpg

[Ramses II CP]

Hamburg and Arhus, 1344.

Fritz had gotten word that Peter was launching his attack to lift the siege. Though he was certain Peter would need no help, he sallied just to see the death of the army that had so nearly destroyed his and Peter's own armies. From being clearly at a disadvantage in the initial sally, to being massively at an advantage in this battle was gratifying, and slightly offset the shame Fritz felt at failing to drive the Danes entirely from the walls of Hamburg.

http://lh3.google.com/RosDalton/R3RXgoz05-I/AAAAAAAAHbk/hN5y72XPIjU/s800/0001.jpg

Peter had ridden out alone to challenge the enemy, to draw them away from Hamburg. Fritz's men would enter from Peter's left rear, and the crossbowmen would enter from Peter's right rear.

http://lh5.google.com/RosDalton/R3RXiIz05_I/AAAAAAAAHbs/rgww8y1852s/s800/0003.jpg

Prinz Peter didn't need to be told which enemy company needed attention first. He charged home against the dismounted Huscarls immediately, smashing their formation and leaving them all lying in the grass without taking a single loss among his bodyguards.

http://lh4.google.com/RosDalton/R3RXj4z06AI/AAAAAAAAHb4/KoBO2B5Q5XA/s800/0004.jpg

Peter then withdrew to draw the War Clerics away from their swordstaff allies, which let Hans and the remaining Teutons circle in behind them. They were rapidly annihilated to light casualties among Peter's guardsmen. The Danish captain was the last to fall.

http://lh6.google.com/RosDalton/R3RXlYz06BI/AAAAAAAAHcA/zDoy9Tv9xgQ/s800/0006.jpg

http://lh5.google.com/RosDalton/R3RXnIz06CI/AAAAAAAAHcI/Ga7cujOprLc/s800/0007.jpg

All that was left was to let the crossbowmen work. Not one swordstaff man out of over two hundred would strike a single blow in the battle, nor would any escape.

http://lh6.google.com/RosDalton/R3RXoYz06DI/AAAAAAAAHcQ/BgHyrx4hMeM/s800/0011.jpg

When only three of those valiant militiamen remained their formation finally broke and routed.

http://lh3.google.com/RosDalton/R3RXpoz06EI/AAAAAAAAHcY/zhz6hk_GmMk/s800/0012.jpg

http://lh4.google.com/RosDalton/R3RXq4z06FI/AAAAAAAAHcg/aGNuoHJhLho/s800/0013.jpg

http://lh5.google.com/RosDalton/R3RXsIz06GI/AAAAAAAAHco/32ANijXKzRg/s800/0016.jpg

Ransom would be refused. After the battle Fritz effusively thanked Peter and briefly discussed their plans. As noted in the Prince's edict no Franconian city currently stood under siege, and Fritz's much reduced army could hardly be truly necessary for defense, therefore Fritz begged permission to ride on to Arhus and, if the gates could be breached, assault the lightly held city. It was granted. That matter settled, Fritz then knelt solemnly to apologize for his failure at Madgeburg, and when he stood again the two brothers shared a weary smile.

'A grand day, eh my Prinz?'

'So it is, brother.'

'At last Franconia stands not only free of alien armies, but truly prepared to take vengeance for all the blood spilled in her defense. A glorious day! I will see you soon, brother. God be with you, and God save the Reich!'

So saying, Fritz rode rapidly away north with the remnants of his army.

That night, in camp outside of Arhus, the men were sharing jokes about what the peasants along the road had done upon seeing German flags at the head of a northbound army. Robert, concerned over the paltry size of the force Fritz had gathered to head north, shook his head and said, 'M'lord how will we keep discipline once the city is taken?'

'Have no fear on that point! These are Danes. I've carved a blood soaked path through almost a dozen of the best armies they can field. No Dane would dare to raise his hand against me. If you thought the stories they told at Stettin were bad, wait until you hear what they say about me in the north!'

'But, the city is huge Lord Fritz! The population is immense! Surely they will not let their Prince fight us alone. If tens of thousands of them swarmed into the streets we would be overrun.'

'Trust me Robert. Those men fear me more than they fear death. Rightly so. I'd see that city burned to the ground and the very earth on which it sits salted before I let it raise an army against the Reich again. Once Arhus is ours the citizens will be so surprised to have survived my coming that it won't even occur to the boldest to try taking up arms. And, of course, we'll plunder it and put a few thousand to the sword just to drive the point home. Be of good cheer Robert! You're about to participate it the sack of a major European capital city. There are few mercenaries in all the world with that on their resume.'

So saying, Fritz von Kastilien adjourned to his tent and slept more deeply than he had in all the days since he was a child.

In the morning Fritz reviewed an Imperial report on the Danish Prince, Ulfhedin. Word had it that Germany's repeated victories and Fritz's threats had caused the man to go bald though he was only a few years out of his teens, and some whispered that he was deranged. He had attempted to order a moat dug all around the city after the defeat of the Honor Guard army at the bridge west of Hamburg, but the effort had stalled when, upon discovering that he had more workers than shovels, the Prince ordered men to dig a ten foot deep trench with their bare hands.

http://lh5.google.com/RosDalton/R3RXtIz06HI/AAAAAAAAHcw/Eg8fxV0u-TM/s800/0019.jpg

http://lh3.google.com/RosDalton/R3RXuoz06II/AAAAAAAAHc4/UkbI_GLbSZA/s800/0020.jpg

Coming up over a rise and finally into full view of the city Fritz nudged Bergin riding next to him. 'Look man, they've built a huge Cathedral. Truly this city will be a stunning addition to the Reich!'

http://lh3.google.com/RosDalton/R3RXvoz06JI/AAAAAAAAHdA/JhyEOt1HFMc/s800/0021.jpg

Bringing along the ribault allowed Fritz to assault the gates immediately.

http://lh4.google.com/RosDalton/R3RXw4z06KI/AAAAAAAAHdI/XaaEN8OJON0/s800/0023.jpg

Unfortunately Fritz had no spearmen to bring along, having been force to leave the remnant of the Hamburg militia there at Hamburg. This meant that his crossbowmen would have to bear the brunt in the fighting. Fritz left them with strict orders to retreat the the first sign of a Danish sally from the square, and rode down the streets to capture the east gate and let in his Albanians. The smaller company of mercenary crossbowmen went forward to bait the enemy Prince, and withdrew in fairly good order when he sallied.

http://lh3.google.com/RosDalton/R3RXyoz06LI/AAAAAAAAHdQ/kmPOv5d_SU8/s800/0024.jpg

Robert and the larger company of crossbowmen were in position on the walls, and they fired brutal volleys into the Prince's guard, as did the ribault team. Over half of his men died before he realized Fritz was about to capture the square behind him, and he fled back to defend it.

http://lh3.google.com/RosDalton/R3RX0oz06MI/AAAAAAAAHdY/AtAcSZlU-9c/s800/0028.jpg

Fritz withdrew rather than give battle against three times his number, and the tactic was repeated. Unfortunately this time the crossbowmen failed to withdraw in time, and Robert was forced to lead his men down off the walls to attempt a rescue. Ultimately the effort failed and the mercenary crossbowmen were all killed, but nearly all of the Danes died in the attack as well.

http://lh6.google.com/RosDalton/R3RX2Yz06NI/AAAAAAAAHdg/eQttnOwRMNI/s800/0031.jpg

Riding back to the square Prince Ulfhedin was shocked to discover Fritz von Kastilien waiting for him there. The two men briefly exchanged words.

'You were warned. Over and over I sent men to tell you and your King I was coming.'

'But, but... we sent armies, thousands of men, hardy veterans of the cold wastes! You and your Reich were doomed! Every hand turned against you!'

'It was not enough.'

'No, I know. I told them we needed a moat!'

'**** itself would not have withstood my assault. Lay down your sword, we'll see if your King will pay for your head.'

'NO! I will not be hung from the walls of my own city!' Ulfhedin reared his horse and began to order a charge... but at a gesture from Fritz hundreds of bolts and arrows flew into the backs of the Prince's guard. Many more speared downward after they fell, pinning them to the earth.

http://lh6.google.com/RosDalton/R3RX3Yz06OI/AAAAAAAAHdo/1RRw85i6taE/s800/0032.jpg

'Collect his corpse and drape it over the north gate, as a warning to any who would try to creep away and carry word to the Danish King.' So saying, Fritz rode to the center of the square and gave a brief speech.

http://lh4.google.com/RosDalton/R3RX44z06PI/AAAAAAAAHdw/T0t8iv0BsSQ/s800/0034.jpg

'Citizens of Arhus (The ones that speak German anyway) your taxes, your sweat, and your tears have paid for much bloodshed and destruction in my homelands. Today I return the favor! Be of good cheer, however, as this is no raid as the one I conducted at Stockholm, this is an annexation! Those of you who survive will become citizens of the Reich, and your taxes and tears will now fund our wars. On this day many of you will die, but tomorrow the compliant living can shelter in the gentle hands of the Hero of Hamburg, Fritz von Kastilien!'

'Any who take up arms against me, however, will be flayed in the square for a period of one hour before being allowed to die by fire. That is all. My men will now collect our due. Do not resist if you value your life.'

http://lh6.google.com/RosDalton/R3RX6Yz06QI/AAAAAAAAHd4/AyewuxsUslY/s800/0035.jpg

http://lh3.google.com/RosDalton/R3RX7oz06RI/AAAAAAAAHeA/9_HsnNLtdIY/s800/0036.jpg

http://lh5.google.com/RosDalton/R3RX9Iz06SI/AAAAAAAAHeI/H5WXsvslyMU/s800/0037.jpg

Screams were already echoing through the streets as Fritz spurred his horse back towards the south gate, the one his ribault had shot through. Doesn't look like it will be a difficult repair, and the city is completely intact otherwise, thought Fritz, quite pleased with himself, and I daresay I've shown considerable restraint in not exterminating this rathole. A long road to here, and this is not the end, but I'll wager it is the beginning of the end of the power of the Danes to threaten the Reich. A fine day's work. Prinz Peter will be pleased. Elberhard can have that wreck of a city in the swamp that is Venice, I'll take Arhus over it any day of the week!

:egypt:

[TinCow]

Milan - 1344 AD

(Apologies, I don't have time to write this up. The screenshots should tell the tale well enough, though.)

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/milan3/KOTR001.jpg
https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/milan3/KOTR002.jpg
https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/milan3/KOTR003.jpg
https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/milan3/KOTR004.jpg
https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/milan3/KOTR005.jpg
https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/milan3/KOTR006.jpg
https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/milan3/KOTR007.jpg
https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/milan3/KOTR008.jpg
https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/milan3/KOTR009.jpg
https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/milan3/KOTR010.jpg
https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/milan3/KOTR011.jpg

[econ21]

Bologna, 1344

“All right, we’re going in.” Elberhard declared.

Maina looked up at the Kaiser in surprise. He had already ordered siege engines to be constructed. Why attack now before they were ready?

“Are you sure, Sire?” probed Sir Charles de Villiers, veteran warrior and effective second in command of the Kaiser’s army. In front of the Kaiser’s army stood a huge city garrisoned by a full strength Byzantine army.

https://img256.imageshack.us/img256/2474/12440iy5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)


Elberhard sighed. Duke Lothar had written to him, proposing him that the Bavarian Household Armies be combined and moved from Milan to secure Genoa. The main thrust down central Italy was to be made by Imperial forces alone …if Elberhard thought he could handle Bologna alone. The letter had stung the Kaiser. It made taking Bologna a matter of personal honour. Besides, he had ample men. If Fritz Kastilien could conquer the Danes with two men and a dog, the Kaiser should be able to take one @#$%^&!!!ing city with an army of every Imperial knight in the Reich!

Elberhard look at Sir Charles exasperatedly: “Look - it’s going to be no easier taking that @#$%^&!!! of a city if we wait. It will be the next Diet session by the time we starve them out. If spend time building siege engines, we will lose the element of surprise. The garrison will be deployed in its entirety manning the walls. If we use our cannon to blow the doors, we can be in there before they know what’s happening. We’ve done this before - in Antioch. We set our archers on the walls and then hold the streets below. We turn the siege around against them.

Plus there is a second Byzantine army heading north from Rome. I don’t want us standing here with our pants around our ankles, caught between the two @#$%^&!!!ing armies - do I?”

Sir Charles bowed his head in deference. The Kaiser and his retinue moved off to address the troops. Maina noted with interest that for once the Kaiser did not launch off into his usual obscenity strewn invective, but ended with a plea to put one’s faith in God and do one's duty. The men responded with equally solemn conviction - the discovery of the shattered wreck that was Venice had added to the army’s grim determination to expel the Byzantines from Italy once and for all. This would be the last major battle. Already Dieter von Kassel was disembarking outside a lightly held Naples. After Bologna, there was a mere half sized Byzantine army guarding Florence and Rome.

Maina watched the gunners move the cannon into position. Two columns of infantry were already moving either side of the guns, heading silently towards the still sleepy city. The Nubian shieldbearer saw the flash from the cannon muzzle. Only then did he realise how dark and overcast the day had become. He crossed himself. A second volley from the cannon and the castle gates were down. The officers called out and the infantry columns broke into a run. The race for the city was on.


https://img256.imageshack.us/img256/5392/12441zo1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)


“Maina!” shouted Elberhard “Stop day dreaming! We are going in first! Come on!”

Maina nodded quickly to the Kaiser. The man had a habit of throwing himself into the battle right from the outset, effectively leaving command to Sir Charles. It was not a good habit.



*****


The Imperial infantry managed to get a sufficient distance into the city to establish an effective cordon around the tower gates. No Byzantine infantry would be able to fire from the towers down on the attackers. Indeed, the Germans rushed their archers onto the walls to provide support to the Imperial infantry holding the streets leading to the gates.

Curiously, the first Byzantines to intercept the Germans were archers. Evidently, they assumed that they - not the Germans - would win the race for the walls. The archers were from Trebizond and of higher calibre than most missile troops, but nonetheless, the more heavily armed Imperial infantry had the advantage in the street fighting that erupted around the gates.

https://img256.imageshack.us/img256/2443/12442lg6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

First contact.


https://img256.imageshack.us/img256/9167/12443vj2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The dismounted Imperial knights clearly outmatch the Trebizond archers.


“Right lads, let’s speed this up - follow me, we’ll hit them in the arse!” Elberhard summoned his retinue to follow him up a side street - parallel to the main thoroughfare where five regiments of Trebizond archers were vainly trying to force a way to the gates. The side street would allow the Kaiser’s retinue to get behind the Trebizond archers, although it would bring the German cavalry perilously close to the main Byzantine force in the city square.

https://img178.imageshack.us/img178/5498/12444tm9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Kaiser leads his escort behind the first wave of Byzantines attempting to retake the gate.


As they rode past the city centre, Maina looked with concern at the many regiments of Latinkon - mounted and dismounted - and other Byzantines arrayed there. It seemed inevitable that, as the Kaiser’s escort struck the rear of the Trebizond archers, it in turn would be struck in the rear by other Byzantines coming from the city square.

Sure enough, although the Kaiser’s intervention helped break the Trebizond archers massing in front of the gates, first a regiment of Byzantine infantry and then one of spearmen attacked the Kaiser’s escort in the rear. Soon, the Kaiser’s retinue was down to half strength.

https://img165.imageshack.us/img165/724/124410ty1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The biter bit.


“Pull out! Pull out!” even Elberhard realised the futility of his few mounted knights staying where they were between the gates and a thousand Byzantine soldiers. Maina noticed a pained expression on the Kaiser’s face.

“Are you hurt, Sire?”

Elberhard forced a smile: “Just another scar to add to the collection!”



*****


Then the hard fighting began. The Byzantines committed their dismounted Latinkon to the assault on the gates. These mercenary Frankish knights were a match for even the Reich’s Imperial knights. In fact, Maina suspected, they probably were more than a match for them. Only by feeding more infantry regiments into the battle was the Kaiser able to stop the Latinkon breaking through.

https://img169.imageshack.us/img169/5439/12446vj8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Latinkon, having destroyed a regiment of Imperial knights and mercenary spearmen, now attack the second line of German defenders.


As casualties steadily mounted on both sides, the Byzantines finally funnelled all their men from the city centre into the main street leading to the gate.

“Aha!” exclaimed Elberhard “Now we have them! Get every spare man down the side streets - including the cavalry - and then behind them. We will trap them in the main street and break them!”

Maina spurred his horse to follow the Kaiser. They were heading down the same side street they had used to get behind the Trebizonds. As they rode, Maina noticed the mounted Latinkon who had been heading for the assault on the gate, halt and turn back. Clearly, the Byzantines had awoken to the trap the Kaiser was closing on them. It was a close race, but the German cavalry managed to get behind the Byzantine cavalry before the latter could escape to the town square.

It was now a bloody cavalry melee - around one hundred Byzantine cavalry against a roughly similar number of Germans. For a while, Maina wondered if the mounted Latinkon would break out of the main street but then he saw the plumed figure of the Byzantine captain fall to the mace of a mounted Imperial knight. Victory was only moments away!

https://img214.imageshack.us/img214/2008/12447ue4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Byzantine captain lies dead - the end will not be long now.


But the death of their Captain did not immediately break the morale of the mounted Latinkon. Instead, they fought with the fury of cornered men and, massed together, continued to push their way through towards the city centre. Maina noticed too late that the Kaiser was standing directly in the path of a wedge of Latinkon. He watched in horror as the Kaiser’s horse reared and then fell, toppling his master to the ground.

https://img214.imageshack.us/img214/5638/12448dd5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Oh, @#$%^&!!!


The Nubian jumped off his own mount and drew his two handed axe. With a fearsome grace, he slashed at the unprotected legs of the Byzantine horses in his path, causing terrible carnage as he made for his fallen leader. Any Latinkon foolish enough to stand within reach of the giant Nubian was instantly felled. When Maina reached Elberhard, he threw away his axe and knelt beside him. The sounds of battle seemed to fade away. German knights started to see with shock what had happened and were hastily carving space around their fallen leader and his shieldbearer.

Elberhard looked up into the Nubian’s brown eyes and smiled.

“To think - my last words to the Diet were about Dieter von Essen’s arse!” he laughed, but then wrenched with the pain of doing so.

“Maina, I am done for. Tell Linyeve, I die loving her as much as the first time I saw set eyes on her. Tell my children, I am sorry I will no longer be there for them but I died a good death.”

The Kaiser was fading and it seemed to Maina as if the very skies were darkening further.

“But there is one more thing, Maina. The grail - my brother Hans died with it and passed it on to me. But my father was right - my family is cursed. I want you to take it. Where you come from - Nubia - are there Christians?”

“The Arabs made us Mohammadens at the point of a sword. But I have heard that there is one mighty nation further south - the Abyssinians - who worship Christ.”

“A mighty nation of your people that worships Christ … I like the sound of that. Go, Maina, find this nation. Take the grail. We Germans do not deserve it. We brought this cataclysm upon ourselves and worse, we devoured ourselves during it. Take the grail to the Abyssinians. May its light uplift their faith for a thousand years. Go now, before the others think on it. Go - get the @#$%^&!!! out of here, go!”

Elberhard pushed Maina away. The dying Kaiser’s curses in his ears, Maina turned and walked off, a ragged shape clasped tightly under his arm. As word of the Kaiser’s fall spread around the battlefield, no one gave a second thought to the tall Nubian slipping away.

https://img185.imageshack.us/img185/3368/12449jg3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The butcher’s bill

[Cecil XIX]

Taking the save to clear Bohemia.

[Stuperman]

http://img36.picoodle.com/img/img36/5/12/30/t_Upload1m_e42235c.jpg (http://www.picoodle.com/view.php?img=/5/12/30/f_Upload1m_e42235c.jpg&srv=img36)

http://img33.picoodle.com/img/img33/5/12/30/t_Upload2m_4cf3b3e.jpg (http://www.picoodle.com/view.php?img=/5/12/30/f_Upload2m_4cf3b3e.jpg&srv=img33)

[econ21]

Frankfurt, 1348


“He is leaving before your honeymoon?” Linyeve prodded her sullen daughter.

Eue looked up, with dull eyes and nodded, saying under her breathe: “Thank God.”

Linyeve looked at her daughter sharply, was about to say something and then thought better of it. Warily, she circled round in the conversation: “And he is leading the militia off to fight a Polish army?”

“A small Polish army. And he does not just have the militia. He has persuaded the Kaiser to let him lead some of the remnants of what was once the Prinz’s army. He will lead them and two of the more experienced militia regiments - the rest will be in support. He will have over 750 men, all told”


https://img183.imageshack.us/img183/4849/nuremburg0zl0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Linyeve smiled quietly. “Well, well - Sir Charles said he showed promise. And the Chancellor has authorised this expedition?”

Eue nodded disinterestedly while her mother seemed to grow ever more fascinated.

“Not many sixteen year olds could charm the Kaiser out of his army or get the iron Duke to give them command of seven hundred and fifty men!”

“I am sure charm had nothing to do with it. Charm is not something my dear husband is over-endowed with. And anyway, the Reich is so desperate, they’d appoint anyone. They’ve just made mad pox-ridden Dieter von Kassel their Prinz, remember?!”

“Now, now, dear - we have talked about this. You have made your bed and you have to lie in it. Do not talk your husband down. He has done well getting the horse out of the stable door. Let’s hope he knows how to ride it”

Eue looked up at her mother and scowled. “If he fell and broke his neck, I would not be…”

“Eue!” reprimanded her mother and the girl fell back into her morose silence.



*****


Welf von Luxemburg looked around at the small force he had gathered together. He had been exultant when the Kaiser had agreed to the loan of his men. But the Kaiser’s force that had survived a close victory with the Poles east of Magdeburg was heavily depleted. From the survivors, Welf created one near full strength regiment of pavise crossbowmen and one of armoured sergeants. He also gathered a band of less than one score unhorsed Imperial knights. He had ample militia - two regiments with some combat experience and a further three in support. But he had little faith in the ability of militia to handle the formidable Poles. The few professional infantry, and his own retinue, would have to be the spearhead in the day’s battle.

“What do we know of the composition of their forces?” inquired Welf, as his men began to deploy for battle.

“One regiment of Polish Guard and one of Strzelcy - backed by two regiments of spears and two of archers.”

Welf nodded. It could have been worse. He had organised the entire expedition without knowing the composition of the enemy force. It was a reckless move, but a necessary one. To rise within the Reich, he needed to fight and the Poles had obliged by marching on his very wedding party. Spending his honeymoon besieged in Nuremburg would have been an irrecoverable shame.

He looked around at the position. He had been lucky - his men had secured a hill and the poorly led Poles were left deployed below them. Welf looked at the Strzelcy stationed below and, gesturing to them, asked his captain of archers:

“Can you hit them?”

The Captain smiled: “Consider it done.”

https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/5475/nuremburg3lc3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Strzelcy are the hardest enemy for the Imperials to catch, so they are prioritised as targets for the German arbalests.

The advantage of height and the heavier design of their crossbows allowed the Germans to fire down on the Polish cavalry without exposing themselves to counterfire. The Poles were slow to react, but eventually appeared stung into action - sending their own missile infantry and the Strzelcy up the hill, and into range.

https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/9604/nuremburg4iv3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Stung by mounting losses, the Poles advance. Welf starts to counter them.


Welf spurred his escort down the hill, aiming to catch the skirmishing Polish infantry. The generals’ retinue caught a regiment of Polish crossbow militia and wrecked it, but the Lithuanian archers managed to escape to safety behind the supporting line of spears.

https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/1372/nuremburg5gz8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)


The German crossbowmen continued to shoot down the Strzelcy until they were so demoralised, they could be put to flight by a regiment of militia.

https://img514.imageshack.us/img514/7166/nuremburg6am9.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Heavily depleted by Imperial crossbow fire, the Strzelcy flee when charged.


Having disposed of the Strzelcy, the German crossbowmen began to target the formidable Polish Guard - some of the finest cavalry in Europe. Once again, the Polish foot archers moved up the hill to return fire and once again, Welf charged his escort in pursuit after them.

https://img244.imageshack.us/img244/7025/nuremburg7mb0.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Welf's escort hacks through the Lithuanian archers.


This time, however, the Polish Guard did not stand idly by but charged Welf’s cavalry - while the accompanying Polish spear regiments also climbed the hill in support.

https://img514.imageshack.us/img514/5886/nuremburg8qf8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Polish Guard charge Welf's escort.


In haste, Welf extricated his escort from their combat with the Lithuanian archers and quickly raced back to the protection of the German spear men. The pursuing Polish Guard were caught in the front by the serried ranks of the armoured spearmen and in the flank by the militia regiment that was returning from driving off the Strzelcy.

For a moment, Welf considered committing his escort to support the action against the Polish Guard. However, the Guard’s advance lacked momentum and its riders were spread out - it could be contained. He turned instead to the two regiments of Polish spearmen - now battling the Nuremburg militia. The Poles were of superior quality and were lapping round the militia lines. But in so doing, they were exposing their rear to Welf’s reforming cavalry. Never one to miss an opportunity, Welf seized this one.

https://img514.imageshack.us/img514/2523/nuremburg9tb5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Welf’s escort charges the engaged Polish spearmen

The targeted regiment of Polish spearmen routed at the momentum the German cavalry charge impacted.

https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/1159/nuremburg10jk8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)


The other regiment of Polish spearmen was disposed of in much the same way. As Welf turned to give his attention to the Polish Guard, he saw with satisfaction that they too were running - snared by the spearmen and stripped of all support, even these fine knights had had enough.

After the battle, Welf totalled up the losses. His force had got off rather lightly - the Polish force had been all but destroyed, although 216 survivors had been taken prisoner.


https://img143.imageshack.us/img143/2716/nuremburg1lo3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The butcher’s bill

https://img183.imageshack.us/img183/9281/nuremburg2hy4.jpg (https://imageshack.us)


“What shall we do with the prisoners, Sire?” a Captain inquired.

Welf looked at the captives - they were mainly the low grade infantry who had surrendered to his escort. Ransoming would provide little return and if released, they posed little threat. Most of all, Welf judged that if he - as a mere sixteen year old, devoid of much station in life - was to earn the respect of the Imperial nobility, he must act according to their principles of chivalry.

“Let them go - and let them tell their friends of what awaits any armies that dare to threaten the Reich!”

[TinCow]

Northwest of Florence, 1348 AD

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/runaway/KOTR002.jpg

“Damned Byzantines breed like rabbits…”
https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/runaway/KOTR017.jpg
https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/runaway/KOTR005.jpg

“…good thing they get their brains from the same place.”

Lothar Steffen turned to survey his small and battered army. Ever since the desperate defense of the walls of Milan, the army had been composed more of crossbowmen than infantry. They stood now in a formation designed to turn that weakness to an advantage.

The army stood on a high mountain slope, with the regiments of Pavise Crossbowmen arrayed in two double lines. The lower reaches were too steep for any man to cross in the heat of battle.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/runaway/KOTR015.jpg

The only access to the veteran crossbowmen was via two steep pathways on either side of them. To their left, the slope was narrow and wound away from the attacking Byzantine force. It was safe and easily defended. To their right was a much larger slope, but all of Lothar’s infantry was concentrated at that point. In the narrow confines of the slope, the vastly superior Byzantine numbers could not be brought to bear.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/runaway/KOTR016.jpg

The Duke of Bavaria turned to look at Count Karolinger.

“Shall we give them a chance to face true Bavarians in honorable combat before we humiliate them?”

The Count of Innsbruck grinned and lowered his visor.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/runaway/KOTR007.jpg
https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/runaway/KOTR008.jpg

After a few minutes of combat, the Bavarian cavalry withdrew back to the mountaintop. The charge had inflicted many casualties, but it was only a small fraction of the total Byzantine force. Of greater significance was the chaos and disorder it caused amongst the Greek lines. It took the infantry several minutes to reform their lines. In the meantime, the archers continued to advance on the Bavarian positions.

The crossbowmen were heavily outnumbered, but their powerful weapons, superior height, and protective shields gave them a significant advantage in the duel that was to follow.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/runaway/KOTR018.jpg

After several minutes of combat, nearly the entire Byzantine ranged contingent lay dead on the field.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/runaway/KOTR019.jpg

Less than a dozen Bavarians had fallen for the effort.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/runaway/KOTR020.jpg

Count Karolinger turned to look at Lothar Steffen. “The crossbowmen are running low on bolts. What now, my Duke?”

“Now?” The Duke of Bavaria laughed. “Now we run away!”

“M’lord?”

“Their infantry lines are done reforming and will be advancing on us shortly. Despite this excellent ground, we will not be able to hold it forever. Before long, our lines will be breached and we will be defeated. The army will be shattered for good and we will be helpless to stop their advance.”

Lothar gave some orders and the army began filing off of the hill via the narrow back passage.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/runaway/KOTR021.jpg

“If we withdraw now, we have destroyed one quarter of their force at almost no cost to ourselves. A few more battles like this and they will be dead and we will be victorious.”

The Duke of Bavaria looked at the Byzantine force that was too far away and too slow to prevent the Bavarians from withdrawing. “The Greeks will undoubtedly say that they defeated us here today.” He snorted and turned away. “As I said, they have the intelligence of rodents.”

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/runaway/KOTR022.jpg

[Zim]

Place holder for Antioch sally and assault of 1348.

[AussieGiant]

Outside Ragusa 1350

The Chancellor relieving the the siege of Ragusa.

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showpost.php?p=1802810&postcount=264

[OverKnight]

Prologue

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showpost.php?p=1803348&postcount=265

The Defense of Adana, 1350

Chancellor,

The Greeks, after being bloodied twice, finally decided to attack.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/adanadefense/aaddefdeploy.jpg

I had a skeleton crew on the first ring. My archers and infantry were deployed on the second. My goal was not just to throw off the siege, but to destroy the Greeks.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/adanadefense/baddefinit.jpg

Of course I did not give up the first ring without a fight.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/adanadefense/caddefsally.jpg

The Greeks, despite the delay at the main gate, attacked on a wide front. Another reason I planned to hold them at the second ring, to make them concentrate their men so they could be more easily destroyed.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/adanadefense/daddefassault.jpg

I also wished the Greeks to waste their siege equipment on the first ring so their move on the second would be weakened.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/adanadefense/eaddefburn.jpg

Using their ladders, however, they made it over the wall.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/adanadefense/faddefladders.jpg

This was part of the plan, I wanted them to gain entrance to the first ring. They hadn't brought in their cavalry yet, only when they had possesion of the first gate would this happen. I decided to withdraw my skeleton crew to the second gate to allow them entry. A recent loss left me distracted, and I foolishly decided to charge some Byzantine Infantry that had come off the wall. The charged failed and I lost many of my bodyguard.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/adanadefense/gaddeffailedchargewithdraw.jpg

Still, the plan worked. I was able to shake off their pursuit and the survivors of the skeleton crew succesfully withdrew to the second gate. I ordered my archers to fire on the Greek infantry that had made it over the wall. They were milling about in the gap between the second and first rings waiting for the cavalry and what was left of the siege equipment. Many of them fell.

The Greek cavalry arrived along with most of the remaining infantry, which had a set of ladders and a ram. My Crossbowmen were positioned to rain fire down on them as they made their way from the first gate to the second.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/adanadefense/haddefperilousadvance2gate.jpg

The Greeks attacked to the right of the gate with dismounted Latinkon on ladders.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/adanadefense/iaddefoverthetop.jpg

They were good men, but I already had my own on the walls. Their last ram went up in flames as well.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/adanadefense/jaddefrepulsedandburned.jpg

The Greek Captain showed tenacity, if not intelligence, by refusing to retreat. A few more attacks up the ladder were crushed while my archers inflicted losses on their horsemen.

Their Captain finally broke, but still many of them stayed in front of the gate waiting for the last set of ladders to be brought in. They died for their stubborness.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/adanadefense/kaddefcavshoot.jpg

I sent the infantry and cavalry out to dispatch the remaining schwein. They met one last unit of dismounted Latinkon.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/adanadefense/laddefladdersurprise.jpg

They clung to the assault to the last. Their force crushed, they still hoped to bring ladders to the walls. A cavalry charge to their rear put paid to that.

All that was left was to capture the few who had the sense to run.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/adanadefense/maddefrout.jpg

I attempted to ransom the survivors, but I guess the Greeks have so many soldiers, they don't care about 500 florins worth of captives. With that, their army is gone. Though I hear rumors of another approaching from Iconium.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/adanadefense/naddefheroicvic.jpg

A curse on the Greeks and the Plague. I will hold Adana until my last breath, whether God wills it or not. If I am damned for it, I will drag down as many Byzantines as I can to Hell with me.

Matthias

[Northnovas]

Vienna 1352

Johann Zirn arrived at the base camp outside of Vienna. The camp was in relative clean condition from what he had heard from his Knights about other camps. This army was clean but the men in the city were infected and it was unknown their condition with the siege conditions it could only make the living conditions beyond anything but hell.

Johann rode up to the command tent where von Hapsburg and von Essen were meeting. Johann did not express his uncle’s displeasure for the current command situation so he got right to the point. He had not fought with these men before and this was his first battle without his father standing by. He would only take one with him into battle the other must remain behind for a worse case scenario. His sister would not be pleased but he had chosen von Essen to follow him into battle feeling the security of a family member.

******

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Johann/a2deployment.jpg

It was a beautiful summer day and the Austrians set up later in the morning picking a hill for the artillery. The garrison would be coming from Vienna but would not be in the initial battle.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Johann/b2map.jpg

Each general took a flank and the men were to hold the hill till the reinforcements arrived. Johann wanted the artillery to do its work.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Johann/b1setup.jpg

The enemy moved on the hill with great speed. The enemy commander did not want to try and fight to separate armies. The Austrians were quickly engaging the enemy.

“Fire those guns into the centre!” yelled Johann “Shot only no explosives!” A decision he feels he regretted later. The guns fired but the enemy was closing the gap.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Johann/c2artillery.jpg

On the left flank von Essen was coming under fire from the enemy missiles cavalry and arrows were flying everywhere. To relieve the pressure von Essen charged his men at the enemy unit following them into the woods.

The garrison reinforcements arrived and the enemy Captain charged at the newly arrived units.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Johann/d1enemyleader.jpg

They did not appear to be has sickly has reported and it was a costly mistake made by the enemy.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Johann/d2enemy.jpg

The tide was turning for Johann but there was chaos everywhere. He lost track of units and the line was scattered from the Hungarian attack. He rode around attacking routing units and saw von Essen’s Unit that looked to be in good shape. His artillery crew was in poor shape has they ended up in a melee with the Croatian Axemen.

The afternoon was ending and the Siege of Vienna had been lifted.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Johann/e1stats.jpg
https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Johann/e2stats.jpg

Captain Jacob approached him with the prisoner report. Johann was so impressed with his Captain a “veteran warrior” was promoted within Johann’s entourage. He will need more organization for the next battle.

“My lord, we have offered a ransom to the Hungarians.”

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Johann/f1ransom.jpg

Johann looked at his officer with a puzzled look. “Captain, I will follow my father’s rules of combat and release the prisoners unconditionally.”

There was a hesitation from the Captain. “Ah sire, Dieter von Essen is missing he was last seen charging into the woods. He may have become a prisoner.”

Johann was mortified he sat down and felt ill. “Very well make the ransom and exchange.” Johann felt sick to his stomach, praying that he would find Dieter.

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/northnovas/Johann/f2essen.jpg
Dieter von Essen was found in the wooded area by his men. He had several arrows into his chest and his bloodied sword still in his hand.

[Cecil XIX]

Prague, 1350

“These Poles are too rash.”

https://img136.imageshack.us/img136/2382/medieval220080112131033go2.jpg

Edmund Becker was making preparations to receive the Polish assault. He observed the Poles as they were arrayed before him. They had a tower, a ram and a set of ladders at the forefront, with another ram in reserve.

“Three points of entry are not enough to take this city.” He remarked to Karl. “Not with Prague’s towers.” He turned to Welf, his veteran warrior.

“Place the Pavise crossbowmen and the knights to the left of the gatehouse, the milita crossbowmen and a regiment of armored sergeants to the right. I’m sure the Poles will send their best to try and take the walls, make sure the crossbowmen concentrate their fire on the knights attempting to climb the ladders.”

Edmund purposely descended from the walls, and arrayed the remaining infantry before the gatehouse. The army deployed, he addressed them.

“The Poles have an army comprised primarily of horsemen and various archers. With it they intend to charge through these gates and defeat an army of spearmen. Let this battle be a reminder to them that Bohemians fight not just for our lives and the Reich, good and just reasons they may be. We fight so our families and our property will be protected from the ungodly attacks of those who would take what is not theirs by force!”

A cheer arose from the army. Edmund turned to walls and shouted “Open fire!”

And so, the walls of Prague began the battle.

https://img168.imageshack.us/img168/9554/medieval220080112141742mh9.jpg

Results were immediate.

https://img168.imageshack.us/img168/6767/medieval220080112141751nd5.jpg

“Move the Knights to defend against the ladder; have the Sergeants get down here and defend the gatehouse.” His orders given, a rider came up to Becker.

“My Lord, Count Lorenz Zirn is once again riding to your aid. He is ready to lead the Bohemian militia and your levy which you used last season.”

https://img146.imageshack.us/img146/1396/medieval220080112141900vh7.jpg

“Excellent. Confirm the plan with Count Zirn upon your return. The infantry will move to reinforce the gatehouse, while the artillery and Count Zirn himself shall move to flank the enemy. Have Count Zirn trap the enemy inside the city while the artillery attacks those other enemies who remain outside.

The instructions given, Edmund returned his attention to the battle only to find that the Ballista towers and destroyed the first ram. He smiled to himself.

https://img186.imageshack.us/img186/2655/medieval220080112142001nt9.jpg

By now, the Polish knights were beginning their assault on the walls.

https://img90.imageshack.us/img90/7171/medieval220080112142107pj9.jpg

“Have the crossbowmen target the infantry pushing that ram!”

Unfortunately neither the crossbows nor the towers could stop the final ram from reaching the gates. However, at that time Chwalimir decided to concentrate all his infantry on the ladders, leaving only his cavalry and the spearmen pushing the ram to take the gatehouse.

https://img184.imageshack.us/img184/1205/medieval220080112143058oq0.jpg

“Target the General! And send those Sergeants back up the walls! Have them attack the Poles from the opposite direction of the knights. Send the crossbow militia into the fray as well. We must hold the infantry on the walls while we crush the cavalry on the ground!”

Finally, the Gates of Prague flew upon, revealing the Bohemian host ready to receive their guests.

https://img153.imageshack.us/img153/7028/medieval220080112143256kt6.jpg

The Poles stormed through the gates, quickly creating a pocket large enough to allow some of their missile cavalry to begin taking shots at Becker and his guard.

https://img153.imageshack.us/img153/7295/medieval220080112144449gu9.jpg

Not wanting to entangle himself in such a mess Becker observed the battle, using the weight that he carried to keep the hearts of his men steadfast.

But he soon began to worry. He watched as his men struggled greatly in the fight. It was expected that the town militia would fold quickly, that’s why he placed that at the front of the line to blunt the Poles impetus. But they were being destroyed far quicker than he would have liked. He had known of this army’s elite quality, which was why he had forced them into this situation. To think that this Polish cavalry, which had not even managed to get a proper charge, could outfight his spearmen like this…

Some good news came in the form of Lorenz Zirn, who had attacked the missile cavalry from outside the walls.

https://img167.imageshack.us/img167/6574/medieval220080112145954rk0.jpg

Becker was glad that the shooting had stopped; he was worried his bodyguard would be reduced to below twenty. Then he noticed with shock and alarm that his bodyguard now numbered less than nine. Realizing that he was apparently in extreme danger, he was forced to order his men to fall back until they were out of range of the enemy bows.

https://img165.imageshack.us/img165/3848/medieval220080112150052nc6.jpg

Meanwhile the battle for control of the gate continued. It was a brutal contest; the Bohemian spears gave them a powerful advantage, but the Poles were battle-hardened veterans and the Polish general Chwalimir of Chelm was inspiring them further. Every cavalry unit had lost more than three-quarters of their men, but they refused to break. Chwalimir’s bodyguard had been reduced to about a dozen men before they even entered the city, but although a few of his guards had entered the fray and died he himself remained tantalizingly out of reach.

https://img91.imageshack.us/img91/5276/medieval220080112151146hw4.jpg

Unfortunately Polish fortitude won out, and to Edmund horror most of his force began to rout, and were soon cut down. Now with only four bodyguards, he raced to meet with Lorenz’s reinforcements, who were thankfully just marching around the city’s southeast corner. With the Polish cavalry in hot pursuit of him, he quickly ordered the deal with the cavalry while he got out of arrowshot. As he rounded a corner, he ran into four Polish retainers.

https://img265.imageshack.us/img265/7784/medieval220080112151146vx2.jpg

Taking advantage of the situation, Becker and his men fought with the Polish retainers, kill the four of them but losing three in the process. Spotting a much larger wing of Polish Knights coming up the road, Edmund quickly retreated back to the main force.

https://img265.imageshack.us/img265/602/medieval220080112151214df0.jpg

Upon his return, and as he ordered the spearmen to deal with his pursuers, he noted with mixed feelings that Chwalimir was in full retreat.

https://img265.imageshack.us/img265/3865/medieval220080112151309vy9.jpg

With all immediate threats taken care of, he sent a scout to the center of the city. From that Edmund learned that a few men had rallied with a unit of reinforcements, driving off the rest of the cavalry and the spearmen who had manned the ram.

Edmund ordered the army to return to the gate. The Polish infantry had was still scaling the walls, and while a regiment attempted to climb down they were quickly cut down by the large number of soldiers waiting for them.

After that the Poles were content to get the rest of their men up on the walls. It was strange; they weren’t even firing their bows and crossbows. It seemed that with the flight of their leader, the Poles were simply stalling for time until they could slip away under the cover of Darkness.

Edmund decided that it would be best for his army if he did not force the issue. Instead he had the crossbowmen fire onto the parapets while the artillery blasted the Poles who were still on the ground.

While he waited for the sun to set, Edmund surveyed the carnage.

https://img209.imageshack.us/img209/396/medieval220080112153323mv1.jpg

It was with a shocking sense of dread that he realized he hadn’t seen Lorenz Zirn yet. He quickly rode out to just outside the gatehouse, where his fears were confirmed. Lorenz Zirn lay dead on the ground, along with his entire bodyguard. They had fought tooth and nail, none of them given an inch until they end. In his shock, Becker dismounted his horse, got on his knees, and lifted Zirn’s body in his arms. He began walking back into the city.

“You saved me again, Lorenz. That’s twice I would have died without your reinforcements.”

Once he was a fair distance into the city, away from the rest of corpses, he set Lorenz’s body down. By then night had fallen, and another rider had already ridden up to report to Becker.

“My Lord, the Poles are retreating. It… It seems the Polish General ordered all the prisoners his army took to be executed before he fled.”

“Damn them.”

“Sir.”

“Damn them! That’s three times they’ve shattered an army under my command! Two times they’ve killed the general under my command! By god, even victory feels like defeat when facing them!”

Edmund turned to face the direction the Poles had fled. To Breslau.

“Chwalimir of Chelm! I shall have my revenge!”

***

Later that night, Edmund was reviewing the results of the battle.

https://img147.imageshack.us/img147/1021/medieval220080112154043kb7.jpg
https://img147.imageshack.us/img147/8341/medieval220080112154046vh7.jpg

There was a knock on the door.

“Come in.” He replied, turning to face the door. It was Klem, the man who had been overseeing the city when he was away on campaigning and who had joined his retinue when he returned during the Cataclysm.

“What is it Klem?”

“My lord, I have good news. I have been able to find a Physician who is willing to serve in your retinue.”

“A physician? This is excellent news. Tell me, what is his name? Where is he from?”

“His name is Lars, and his is from Arhus. It’s taken me quite a while to find some, as all the academic buildings in the Reich are gone, destroyed in the Cataclysm or sold by the Chancellor I cannot say. Fortunately the newly acquired Denmark seems to escaped whatever attention was the cause.”

“You’ve gotten a Dane to help us.”

“Yes Lord.”

“Impressive. I can see why Duke Leopold chose your grandfather to oversee Bohemia in his stead.”

[GeneralHankerchief]

Milan, 1352

"He's what?!"

"Sick."

"He can't be sick! He has a battle to fight!"

"I suppose that's why we have you as a second general, innit?"

"Yeah, but... why... not the Plague?"

"No, we don't think so. Just a minor bug. He should be over it in a day or two."

"So why can't we just wait a day or two to attack?"

"Because the campaign season is almost over. Another day or two the bad weather will start and we'll have to play defense."

"So why can't Kaiser Peter lead the attack? He isn't sick too?"

"No, he's not sick. But that would ruin the situation. Herrmann, we need BHA Otto to lead the attack with the Legion der Krone in support. That's just the way it's going to work."

"...

...

"*#%!" said Herrmann Steffen, squire, aged 18, and that finished up the conversation with Count Fredericus Erlach's aide. He turned, departed to his tent, and began to make plans for this ridiculous attack that he was somehow in command of, over the true head of the BHA Otto and the Holy Roman Emperor himself.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_202.jpg

If numbers were the only factor, there wouldn't have been any problem, because the Imperial forces greatly outnumbered their French foes threatening Milan. However, the problem laid in troop quality. HA Otto and the Legion der Krone, while capable fighting forces, were battered and not of the best possible makeup. Meanwhile, the French had sent one of their elite armies to invade northern Italy, perhaps hoping to extend their war against the Reich to two fronts. It was Herrmann's job to make sure that the Italian Front would be a quickly forgotton affair.

His army prepared, he donned his armor and rode out to command. Feeling something lightly tap against the protective metal, he looked up at the sky.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_203.jpg

"Rain," he said. "Bad weather will start in a couple of days, my foot."

~~~~~~~~~~

Count Erlach, dressed mildly, rode up to meet him.

"You ready?"

"Why? You wanna relieve me?"

"No, just providing moral support until the fighting starts. Then I'm back in my tent. The doctors are already mad that I'm going out in the rain to meet you. You know what you're going to do?"

"Yeah," said Herrmann. "March up, wait for Peter to come, and then kill 'em all."

"They've got cannon," said Erlach. "Waiting could be costly."

"What are you, the devil's advocate?" Erlach just smilied. "Besides, it's raining, which will affect the gunpowder, and there's a crosswind, which will make accuracy tough. We also hold the advantage in archers, which means that us waiting will probably hurt them more than us. I hope they're stupid and won't force the issue. Me and the Kaiser will just-"

"The Kaiser and I."

"Thank you," said Herrmann, voice oozing sarcasm. "You know, that's just what I was thinking about on the eve of commanding a huge battle when I'm not even a knight. Don't forget to use proper grammar when giving orders. I'm so glad you decided to leave your tent to give me moral support, you know?"

"Calm down," said Erlach, chuckling. "Go on with what you were going to say."

"The Kaiser and I will just sit there firing arrows until the rain stops. Elite fighters can't dodge arrows, right?"

"Sounds smart. What happens if and when they do force the issue?"

"Either prepare to receive or prepare to flank. The Kaiser's not stupid. He'll do the same if they go for me."

"Ah, so you're going in together?"

"Well, yeah. I mean, your aide gave me all that *#%! about me leading the attack, but when you're actually on the battlefield, that doesn't really matter too much, you know? I don't want HA Otto to get chewed up just for the sake of technicalities. I'll wait for the Kaiser, then we go in together and save Milan."

"Good plan," said Erlach, musing. After about a minute he spoke up again. "And if they charge you right at the start?"

"Then the boys had better hold long enough."

"Well, good luck."

"Yeah, thanks. Get well." Count Erlach rode off, leaving Herrmann to command.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

All right, I wanna get knighted, I wanna get knighted, then I can lead armies for real - no, I need to stay in command, don't go nuts, this plan requires coordination, if I charge in recklessly then everything gets shot and we take stupid losses - no, that doesn't matter, we'll go in and the Kaiser will go in, and I don't care how e-lite those French troops are, they won't be able to take the pressure coming on them from two sides - no, it's not about that, go in piecemeal and they'll take us down one by one, and besides, the Plague's everywhere, it's not like we can just replenish our troop supply - no, it won't make a difference, and it's time to get knighted-

"Herrmann?"

"GAH!" Herrmann looked around, startled. It was one of Erlach's escort, looking at him oddly. "What?! I was thinking!"

"I know, sir, but Kaiser Peter's men are advancing."

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_204.jpg

Herrmann looked around. "So they are. Very well. Advance to crossbow range!"

With a lurch, the line moved forward, slowly, deliberately, in coordination with the line on their flank. A distant thudding sound emanated from the enemy cannons, and a second later a couple of spearmen laid dead on the ground, but most of the enemy ammunition missed their targets wildly.

"Test arrow."

A crossbowman in the front line stepped up, loaded an arrow, and fired into the rain. It fell several yards short.

"Continue advance."

March. Thud. Plop. Plopplopplop. Scream.

"Test arrow."

This time it found its mark. A French Aventurier fell face-down into the mud.

"All missiles FIRE!!!"

This time several hundred arrows were unleashed, many hitting their targets, some killing them outright. A second later, to the west, Kaiser Peter gave the same order, and the French army was trapped in a deadly enfilade.

The Imperial forces got several volleys in while the French forces shifted formation. It appeared evident that they were going for the Kaiser's army first, the more dangerous, better-led force that would damage morale more if their leader fell. They began to charge uphill, with Peter calmly waiting to receive. Herrmann, right as he was giving orders to prepare to flank, stood up in his sattle, transfixed as one regiment of Imperial cavalry countercharged the French mass, hitting some Lancers on their right flank. The roar of one man could be heard even on the other side of the battlefield.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_205.jpg

"That would be Cervole, the crazy nut," Herrmann said in awe. "Man, he must really hate the French."

There was a pause as he watched the duel go on, and then realized that he was still commanding.

"Oh, oh yeah... CHARGE!!!"

Some units went straight into the fray; Herrmann held some in reserve, filling them in as necessary when it appeared that a French regiment was doing better than it was supposed to. It was altogether an efficient process, Herrmann staying out of the fight, ordering his men in what would become a swift and decisive destruction of an elite French army.

Once the outcome had become clear, he finally personally intervened, providing the final hammer blow that shattered remaining French resistance and sent them running six different ways, to be mopped up equally as efficiently by the Imperial cavalry.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_206.jpg

In the end, little trace of the French army remained. Both Imperial Armies remained intact and still in fighting shape. Herrmann noted that his personal retinue suffered zero causalties, which probably meant that knighthood would be put off yet again. He didn't mind. The important thing was that the French were expelled from Italy.

Efficiently.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_207.jpg

[TinCow]

Bologna, 1354 AD

Sorry, no time for a full report. It was mainly a lot of cavalry charges, as the screenshots make clear.

https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/bologna/KOTR001.jpg
https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/bologna/KOTR004.jpg
https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/bologna/KOTR005.jpg
https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/bologna/KOTR006.jpg
https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/bologna/KOTR007.jpg
https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/bologna/KOTR008.jpg
https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/bologna/KOTR010.jpg
https://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/TinCow/KOTR/bologna/KOTR011.jpg

[AussieGiant]

Daruzzo 1354

From the Diary of Arnold, Duke of Austria and Chancellor.

Another season of under achieving!! Franconia is like quick sand, Austria is little better with the exception of Johann, plus my army commanders seem to like getting each other killed. Bavaria is hit and miss while Swabia is nearly paralyzed for a variety of reasons. And reason's don't come into consideration for the enemy. Outremer seems the only place where things can be done with any degree of certainty.

This was simple.

Intercept the relief force,

knock down the gates with the catapults,

kill everything in sight,

sack the place,

then leave. It all went according to plan.

The start:

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/1354%20Daruzzo/medieval22008-01-2017-50-41-06.jpg

Team One:

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/1354%20Daruzzo/medieval22008-01-2017-53-05-76.jpg

Team Two:

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/1354%20Daruzzo/medieval22008-01-2017-53-18-45.jpg

The trap:

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/1354%20Daruzzo/medieval22008-01-2017-54-45-23.jpg

The captain dies:

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/1354%20Daruzzo/medieval22008-01-2017-56-17-45.jpg

Race for the gates:

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/1354%20Daruzzo/medieval22008-01-2017-57-03-87.jpg

The catapults do their job:

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/1354%20Daruzzo/medieval22008-01-2017-57-43-42.jpg

The second trap:

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/1354%20Daruzzo/medieval22008-01-2018-02-59-73-1.jpg

Game over:

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/1354%20Daruzzo/medieval22008-01-2018-06-35-10.jpg

Stats:

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/1354%20Daruzzo/medieval22008-01-2018-06-39-70.jpg

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/1354%20Daruzzo/medieval22008-01-2018-06-41-07.jpg

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/1354%20Daruzzo/medieval22008-01-2018-06-53-89.jpg

Sacked:

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/1354%20Daruzzo/medieval22008-01-2018-07-10-60.jpg

Nothing has changed:

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/1354%20Daruzzo/medieval22008-01-2018-07-20-82.jpg

[GeneralHankerchief]

OOC note: None of these screenshots, save the postbattle casualty reports, were taken during the actual battle. At the time, I was too focused on winning and surveying everything to take good pictures. The screenshots you see here are my best efforts of recreating the exact circumstances of the battle based on my knowledge of what went on.

I have divided the battle into three separate engagements that occurred at three different times, much like the real life Battle of Antietam (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Antietam). This was done so partially because that’s what actually happened, partially for drama purposes. What you see here is the first part; the prelude and the central battle.

Milan, 1354
Part I

There were four armies:

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_211.jpg

Kaiser P&#233;ter von Kastilien’s Legion der Krone, his personal Imperial Army, containing the largest consistent of Knights in the entire Reich. Bruised and battered from numerous engagements but with little chance of reinforcement, not if the army wanted to stay “clean” and plague-free; its veterans some of the finest fighting men in the world, always game for a fight. Commanded in actuality by Herrmann Steffen, the young Bavarian who had received so many accolades for coordinating a large-scale attack against the French...

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_212.jpg

The Otto von Kassel Memorial Army, commonly abbreviated as BHA Otto, commanded by Fredericus Erlach. Aside from the Kaiser’s army, one of the only “clean” forces remaining in the entire Reich, its preservence being so desperate to the Bavarian cause, because, for it, there were no reinforcements...

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_213.jpg

The Gerhard Steffen Memorial Army, also known as BHA Gerhard, commanded by its namesake’s son and Bavaria’s Duke, Lothar Steffen. He and its Tribune, Friedrich Karolinger, had been running around together since the Cataclysm, desperately fighting here and there, picking its fights, bleeding the Byzantines. A Plague army, it would be able to receive reinforcements from diseased Innsbruck, if enemy soldiers and the Black Death didn’t completely annihilate it first...

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_214.jpg

The Byzantine Army of Northern Italy, named so after becoming the only de facto Greek army in the area. It had seen its compatriots gradually beaten back in the Bavarian reconquest, but knew that its fate would not be the same, not when it was composed of the finest troops in the entire Empire, ready to avenge its numerous defeats in Italy and the Outremer after the Reich had gotten itself back together. Anxious, but not nervous at facing three large armies, it was “clean,” fresh, and powerful, ready to break the Imperial hold on Italy forever...

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_215.jpg

These four forces converged on the great city of Milan one fall day in 1354, ready to destroy each other and claim the lands between the Po and the Alps for themselves.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_208.jpg

The Central Battle

Herrmann Steffen, commander of the Legion der Krone while Kaiser P&#233;ter was resting, once again found himself coordinating and leading a massive engagement against an elite army near Italy. At eighteen years old, he had already experienced two major horrors of life in war and disease and had rapidly matured from the na&#239;ve figure that had entered the Diet only a few years ago. Although he was slightly more confident now that he had some experience leading an attack of this magnitude, he still knew that he bore the immense responsibility of seeing this one through. The lives of thousands of good Imperial soldiers laid in his hands, including his father, two other Bavarian nobles, and Kaiser P&#233;ter himself.

Herrmann surveyed the land around him. It was a moderately wooded, rolling area that offered neither enough cover or open ground to use either to his advantage. The only heights of any consequence were to the southeast, where Duke Lothar’s army would first have to climb and then charge down to engage the Byzantines. Herrmann’s army was north of the Greeks and would be facing them initially. Count Erlach’s force would come in from the west.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_216.jpg

Kaiser P&#233;ter, at Herrmann’s insistence, would be present at the battle to inspire his own troops and, more importantly, drive the fear of God into the Greeks. However, maintaining his right to the benefits of reserve duty to the end, the Kaiser refused to take part in any strategic or tactical discussion, trusting the young Bavarian to make the right moves. However, his aides had no such inhibitions, and for two days right up until the actual fighting began they had been fettering around Herrmann, offering unsolicited advice and suggestions.

Finally, with the two initial armies deployed, Herrmann called them in for a final discussion of tactics.

“All right men,” he began. “I’ve just received word that all of our reinforcements will arrive in a timely matter. This makes things that much easier for us, since we’re going to need all the help we can get today.

“My plan is to pretty much do what I did against France last campaign season,” he continued. “We, the initial army, will sit tight. We’ll draw them into a missile duel if necessary, but we will not engage them until Lothar and Erlach are up.”

Lothar, one of them noted silently, and not “Father.” The boy is growing.

“As much as I respect this army’s fighting prowess, getting into a general engagement without backup would be suicide. We also have to keep in mind that two large French armies are approaching Milan from the west and will probably have to be dealt with in 1356.”

Jonas, the Kaiser’s veteran warrior, spoke up. “How long will it take for the Bavarians to get here?”

“I estimate around forty-five minutes for Erlach, and about five minutes after that for Lothar. Maybe less if he hoofs it. We’re going to have to stand around and take whatever punishment they give us for forty-five minutes. After that it won’t get any easier, but at least we’ll be able to fight back. Forty-five minutes.”

“Easier said than done,” someone said.

“Damn right it is,” Herrmann shot back. “But it’s got to be done for us to have a chance. They come, we hold. Any more questions?”

Silence.

“Good, then get back to the Kaiser and tell him what’s going on. Once the Bavarians are in position, we move.”

They all got back to their positions and watched as the Greek army moved slowly in their direction. The Byzantines would pose more of a problem to Herrmann and his men than the French did. They were more numerous, more agile, and more adaptable to enemy tactics. They had a thousand different ways of coming at you, each method more lethal than the previous. They had excellent infantry and enough cavalry to shatter the hardiest of battle lines.

And they had archers. It was the archers the enemy commander had decided to unleash upon the Legion der Krone first, hundreds of foot archers, horse archers, and crossbowmen, each advancing upon the Germans, each firing with the air of one who knew his craft inside and out. There were enough men where was there was no break for the men in yellow in black; no blessed moment where the men knew that they were safe, at least for another couple of seconds.

“Crossbows, return fire!” Herrmann screamed. “Everyone else, for God’s sake, keep those shields up!”

“And when they shot their missiles, the sun was hidden by the multitude of their arrows...”

“Shut it!” Herrmann yelled. “Entirely different situation! Entirely different!”

But for forty-five horrible minutes for the Legion der Krone, one could not tell. All they knew was that they were getting shot to death by an army that outnumbered and outclassed them. They couldn’t move in to fight, for that would mean certain death. They couldn’t retreat, because, well, they were Kaiser P&#233;ter’s men and Kaiser P&#233;ter’s men did not retreat. So they stood, covering behind their shields, taking terrible punishment while their crossbowmen did their best in a failing effort to make things as difficult for the enemy.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_217.jpg

Of course, and annoyingly for Herrmann, the few people that seemed immune to the bombardment were Kaiser P&#233;ter’s aides, who were still flickering back and forth between their Emperor and the temporary commander, still offering unsolicited advice.

“Sir? Sir Herrmann? Do you think that, under the circumstances-”

“What?!” Herrmann snapped. “Is the Kaiser dead?”

“Uh, no sir...”

“Is he injured?”

“No, sir...”

“Then why are you still here? Stay with your Kaiser. I have things well in hand!”

“Very well, sir.” The man rode off, and immediately another one took his place.

“Sir, we’re taking heavy bombardment!” he said. “Too much more of this and we’ll risk losing our offensive power!”

“Thank you, I’m aware of that! I’ve ordered our crossbows to concentrate fire on their missile troops; it’s in their hands!” The second aide nodded, rode off, and a third took his place.

“Sir Steffen, we can’t take much more! We need to move somewhere!”

“Well, how do you suggest we move? Retreat?”

“No, not retreat!” the man sputtered. “Withdraw a bit. You know... out of range! Give the men some time to breathe!”

“NO!” Herrmann finally exploded. “NO, we are not withdrawing! We are not moving! If we withdraw, we lose time to fire back and the Byzantines with their horse archers do not, so we lose even more men and don’t make them pay anything for it! And if we do withdraw it means they will pursue us, which means it will take even more time for Lothar to get here and engage them, which means they get to focus on us longer! No, we are not moving! We are going to stand here and take whatever comes at us because that is the only thing we can do!!!”

After that there were no more aides, for which Herrmann was immensely grateful.

Finally, forty-seven minutes after the bombardment began, Duke Lothar Steffen’s army ascended the heights to the southeast, ready to hit the rear of the Greek army. To the west, several trumpets blew, announcing that Count Fredericus Erlach was in position and ready to strike.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_219.jpg

The Byzantine army split. Herrmann wasn’t really watching the entire thing and made little note of how many regiments went where. Mercifully, the barrage lightened up a bit as many of the archers were diverted. This relief did not last long, however, as a good portion of the Byzantine cavalry, backed up by two regiments of Dismounted Latinkon, charged right for the depleted Legion der Krone.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_218.jpg

“Prepare to receive cavalry!” Herrmann bellowed. “Prepare to flank! Hold your ground! They don’t have any reserves!”

The thunder hit.

Several men went flying; one landing and impaling himself on an unsuspecting Imperial cavalryman’s lance. There was a great lurch in the Imperial line, and for a moment Herrmann thought that the Byzantines were going to break through everywhere, that he had asked for too much of his army, that they were all going to be run over...

The charge stopped dead.

Herrmann blinked for two seconds, analyzing the situation. Then he sprang into action, ordering the line to be extended, ordering the Byzantine forces to be flanked. With the initial momentum no longer a factor, the fight soon devolved into a bloody melee, the Imperial infantry quickly gaining the advantage due to their superior numbers and the fact that they were fighting stationary cavalry, but then things evened up as the Dismounted Latinkon arrived...

“We can’t take much more of this,” Herrmann said. Nodding at the nearest of Kaiser P&#233;ter’s personal retinue, he gave his orders. “Blow the horn. The Kaiser’s personal horn and charge right into this mess. That should send ‘em running.” The cavalryman nodded and complied, and Herrmann watched as the great mass of horses and men to his right threw its weight into the fray. There was a pause, and then...

“They’re breaking!”

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_220.jpg

In a few seconds, it was over on the entire line. Some men were routing, some men were withdrawing, but all of them were breaking off the engagement with the Legion der Krone. Herrmann didn’t bother going after the routers, knowing that his remaining missile troops would pick many of them off. The central battle, for all intensive purposes, was over, with a costly Imperial victory.

Instead, he rode around, surveying the battlefield for the spot for where his army’s intervention would be most decisive.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Part II
The Western Battle

Count Fredericus Erlach, Hero of Ajaccio, Overseer of Genoa, Commander of the Otto von Kassel Memorial Army, marshaled his troops in from the west as fast as he could. Having seen the makeup of the enemy army from reports, he knew that a lone Imperial Army would not be able to stand up to the constant shower of arrows and deadly weight of cavalry for long. Any time he sensed his army slowing down, he shouted for them to speed up and gave them some encouragement as well. It would be a tough day for his boys. They needed all the help they could get.

Count Erlach, a professional soldier, was beyond musing that his army shouldn’t have even been in the fight. It was holding land west of the city of Milan, watching the twin French armies approach, and guarding against any potential move they might make. They were supposed to stay out of this fight. They were supposed to have earned some rest.

That all changed two days ago, when word came that Herrmann Steffen had decided to pull the BHA Otto into the upcoming battle as well. Erlach remembered receiving the order, accompanied by an attachment of the makeup of Byzantine forces. He studied it for one minute, and then quickly moved into action. They had marched, not caring about preservation, not caring about the lack of reinforcements. They had passed by the meat grinder of the city to the north and continued marching all the way up until the four armies met.

BHA Otto finally stopped and waited. It was extremely disconcerting to watch and do nothing as the Legion der Krone was torn apart by the endless volleys of arrows, but Herrmann Steffen had ordered a coordinated attack, and Lothar Steffen was still not up. Looking through his field glasses and viewing the young commander yelling, Count Erlach surmised that one of the Kaiser’s aides was being told as much.

After a couple of minutes, Erlach shifted his gaze to the southeast. The heights were finally occupied by Lothar, Friedrich Karolinger, and the rest of the plagued BHA Gerhard. Turning his eyes back to the Legion der Krone, he saw Herrmann’s gaze fixed on that spot as well.

“We’re ready,” Fredericus said to his men. “Sound trumpets. Prepare to attack.”

BU-AAAAA BU-AAAAAAAAAAA

The army got a few paces when they noticed the Byzantine army break off into three separate parts. Erlach saw a detachment head up a hill; a fierce cavalry charge aimed at the center; but he wasn’t concerned with that. Much to his dismay, it appeared that the bulk of the Byzantine force was headed west. He would receive the brunt of the attack.

“That’s good, men, it means they’re scared of us the most!” he yelled, but he knew that he wasn’t fooling anybody, he wasn’t even fooling himself. Instead, all he did was brace himself for the upcoming impact and catch a glimpse of what was happening in the center; the fearsome charge had been stopped, thank God...

Too late, Erlach realized what was happening. The great mass was concentrating itself on his left flank.

“Uh oh...”

WHAM.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_221.jpg

“Right flank, swing around! Counter-flank! Reserves, move up! Refuse this line! Come on men, no time to lose!”

The orders given were rational and proper, but would they be enough? In a little bit the Byzantines would have to fight on two sides, but there were just too many of them, and they were too good... His left flank was rapidly disintegrating, the only thing saving it were the heroics of one unit of reserves, somehow arriving long before other infantry in the area. It soon became a battle of position vs. weight, and weight was still winning out...

Taking a deep breath, Count Erlach ordered his own escort to join the fray in a desperate attempt to throw a powerful counter-punch.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_222.jpg

A lot of Byzantines died, but the mass (for that was what it was, not being anywhere near close to a line) didn’t move. Soon Count Erlach found his experienced men, the battle-hardened survivors of Ajaccio, getting sucked in farther and farther.

“Get out!” he screamed. “Get out and prepare to charge again!”

The men turned their horses and rode for freedom, and found it a lot easier to ride back out the other way, for there were only a few men blocking their path rather than the iron wall of purple. Things got complicated, however, as after they cleared the Byzantines they ran smack into the Imperial wall of spearmen that was finally getting up.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_223.jpg

I don’t know whether to hug them or kill them, Erlach thought, for while the spearmen would certainly help in the battle they were blocking his escape, and the Byzantines behind him were closing in.

“Clear a path, dammit!” he yelled. “I’m not the enemy! They are! Close up on them!” It took some time for the spearmen to get out of the way, and a few more in Erlach’s escort perished fighting the Greeks to the rear off. Finally, however, things were righted. The Count was free, the spearmen were in, and the battle was now at an impasse rather than it being a losing effort.

Another side effect of the spearmen coming up was that Count Erlach was unable to charge his men back in, at least from the front. It was difficult enough to get them out of the way when they were coming at you from the front. Making them part from the rear, while they were locked into combat, was impossible.

Fredericus could only wait, not even able to give orders. Every single melee unit was locked into combat, and his archers were already firing as fast as they could. The western battle had descended into a brutal fight to the death, and the Imperial commander could only watch.

The fight dragged on, with Byzantine numbers and experience finally being able to tell. Fredericus Erlach’s BHA Otto, one of the few “clean” armies left in the field, was slowly being wrecked. Of course, the Greeks were paying a terrible price too, but they were part of the all-powerful entity known as Enemy. Enemy always had more troops. Enemy could absorb losses. Enemy had two fresh armies marching to Milan from the west. This kind of stand-up fight benefited Enemy, for while there were precious few reinforcements for the Germans, Enemy could always spawn more...

...a horn blew. Erlach looked in the direction. Intervention. Two regiments, two strong regiments of blessedly heavy Imperial cavalry, backed up by a good contingent of infantry, were charging straight into the Greek rear.

The escorts of P&#233;ter von Kastilien and Herrmann Steffen, fresh from their victory in the central battle, had committed themselves to the point where the most Byzantines were concentrated. Herrmann would deal with the consequences of choosing Erlach over his father Lothar later. For now, he had picked the spot where his intervention would be decisive. And when the initial blow came, several Greeks unfortunately agreed with his decision.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_224.jpg

Dozens of Byzantines went down. The two escorts successfully extricated themselves from the battle before their infantry joined them and charged in again, killing yet more Greeks. Count Erlach’s infantry, buoyed by these reinforcements, fought harder, abandoning their grim resolve in favor of a “let’s kill ‘em all!” approach.

Herrmann’s infantry arrived, further unbalancing the odds. Count Erlach found an opening in his infantry and charged in for good measure. Squeezed in from three sides by infantry and faced with three regiments of heavy cavalry wreaking havoc in their center, the once-mighty Byzantine mass broke and headed for the rear, running for their lives out of the one spot where they had not been encircled.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_225.jpg

Fredericus, spotting Herrmann, sidled over.

“A good day, Sir Steffen!”

Herrmann did not respond. Clearly, even the glory of having initiated the final charge that broke a good portion of the enemy army did not match up with the earlier horrors he had seen in the central battle. He looked around for a minute, analyzing the situation, and finally spoke to the Count.

“Count Erlach, I’m putting you in charge of my infantry. I want you to mop up; hunt and kill any routers you may find. Once you’re done that join us at the southeastern battle if it’s still going on.”

“You got it, Herrmann,” Erlach said, not sure if he should have said sir or not. While Herrmann did have overall field command of the battle, he was not yet a Count and thus considered lower in the feudal hierarchy. “Thanks for the help, by the way.”

But Herrmann was already gone, taking his and Kaiser P&#233;ter’s escort to the southeast, where Lothar Steffen and Friedrich Karolinger’s plagued army were fighting to keep the heights against the still-game Byzantines engaging them.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/KotR/kotr_226.jpg

[GeneralHankerchief]

Part III
The Southeastern Battle

The men of the Gerhard Steffen Memorial Army were the backbone of Bavaria. Others serving in BHA Otto may have denied it, and their commanders, Lothar Steffen and Friedrich Karolinger might have said that they were just doing their jobs, the fighting men knew it was true. Ever since the Cataclysm they had been the sole force in Italy fighting off the waves of Byzantine invaders. They had gasped at the ferocity of the assaults and mercilessness of the Greeks and gritted their teeth as they were slowly pushed farther and farther north. They finally rejoiced when they received some form of reinforcement in the form of Dietrich von Dassel’s battered Army of Light, and experienced as much agony when the brand new army from Innsbruck went to Swabia in a doomed cause. Various armies and commanders had entered and left the Italian Theater, but they were the constant. They and Lothar Steffen, and later Friedrich Karolinger, after he joined them from his Austrian adventures. They had plunged into a city, knowing full well that it was suffering from the Plague and that most likely they would get infected, but still did not hesitate, for there were Bavarians under foreign control in there, and rescuing them was far more important than their own welfare.

Late in 1354, the combined effects of attrition and the Black Death were catching up to the men of BHA Gerhard. Earlier in the year they had blasted a Byzantine army near the Po to, once again, help unite Imperial Italy. They could have stopped there for the campaign season, stopped there and rested, and nobody would have said anything because they had already fought a battle and their unit was one of the most blooded in the entire Reich. But they pressed on, propelled by their hailed commander and his tribune, because there was a much larger fight brewing near Milan and, once again, they would be required to keep Bavarians safe.

On the day of battle, the Gerhard Steffen Memorial Army entered the field understrength, tired, and sick, but still ready to - as they always did - fight their hardest against the enemy, no matter the odds.

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Count Friedrich Karolinger, riding along with a contingent of Teutonic Knights, looked back at his Duke. For all the critics of Lothar Steffen – those who had said he was selfish, those who said he was manipulative, those who said he had murdered Kaiser Siegfried – the Count saw only a man who was devoted to his House and his people. Time and time again, the Duke put himself and everyone around him in harm’s way, unnecessarily, to ensure the safety of others. Count Karolinger didn’t mind being included in the “everyone around him” category. Not at all. He trusted his Duke absolutely and shared his thoughts regarding the greater good. Would he die if it meant his cause would be greater served?

Absolutely.

Before the battle, the two men spoke. Briefly, for at this point in their lives not many words needed to be exchanged.

“You know, if they focus on us, we won’t be able to hold for long,” Karolinger had said.

“I know,” Lother replied. Simply.

“We can’t just pull back either, like that one time on the hillside when the Greeks considered it a ‘victory.’ The other two armies are depending on us.”

“We’re depending on them, too,” said Lothar. “It’s the three of us in it together. Herrmann knows it. He’ll see this thing through.”

“You trust your son that much?”

“Until he came of age, you were to be my heir should I have died unexpectedly. Now, as you know, I gave that title to Herrmann, but not until he proved himself against the French. You know me, Friedrich. I’m not one to give away things to people who have not earned them. After I die, Bavaria will be in good hands with Herrmann at the helm and you and Count Erlach as the senior commanders.”

“Hopefully that won’t be for a long time,” Friedrich said.

“Yes, hopefully.”

Karolinger looked back at his Duke, wondering what the man was thinking. If Lothar caught his gaze, however, he did not acknowledge it, instead ordering his men up the southeastern heights.

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The heights were not that steep, but it was still a harrowing climb for the exhausted men. Timing was key in this move. Lothar was almost certain that BHA Gerhard would be arriving on the field last. If BHA Otto and the Legion der Krone were to have a chance at anything other than a bloody draw he would need to be present quickly.

The two generals looked down from their vantage point. The Byzantine army was recklessly hounding the Kaiser and Herrmann’s army. It looked like it had already taken a pounding, and the hand-to-hand combat had yet to take place. Somewhere in the woods to the west lurked Fredericus Erlach’s force. A second later, trumpets sounded from that direction.

Everyone was ready.

From the heights, everyone had the perfect view of what was going on. They watched the Greeks split into three directions; some heading for the Legion der Krone, most heading for BHA Otto. At first, it appeared that only a minor detachment was heading for them; however, Lothar cursed when he saw what it was: horse archers.

“Jesus,” he said. “Crossbows, do something about this, will you?”

The Imperial crossbows set their sights on the Byzantine horse archers, which had now gone into their Cantabarian Circle formation, giving the Germans a lesser version of what Herrmann and his men had experienced some time ago.

This annoying exchange went on for some time until Lothar shifted his gaze away from the missile duel to the bottom of the heights. This time he saw a more determined force marching up the hill, ready to engage his tired men.

“Oh God, the horse archers were a diversion! Crossbows, concentrate fire on the infantry! Bring them down! Bring them down!!!”
The crossbows obeyed, but the crafty Greek plot worked too well. The swiftest of their cavalry ran down the unprotected Imperial foot archers, much Lothar’s chagrin.

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“Here come the rest of them,” Karolinger said. “What are we going to do?”

“Unspoiled infantry charging right at us,” Lothar mumbled. “Unspoiled, fresh, full strength, well-trained, battle tested. We have no missile support, Erlach is in trouble in the west and it looks like Herrmann is helping him out instead of us.”

“They are coming up a hill,” Karolinger suggested.

“Two more French armies are coming at us from the west. These freaking Greeks are tying up three of our forces and seriously testing us.” Lothar was still in his detached state. “Damn it, will this never end? We’re all at risk of infection, I have no idea how two of my noblemen are doing or even if they’re still alive. If we win today, I can’t even shake my son’s hand and tell him ‘good job’ because I’m afraid of spreading the Plague to him. My boys have done everything I’ve asked them to and this is how they’re rewarded, with a determined Greek attack that they most likely won’t be able to stop?” The Duke’s voice gradually went back to its normal tone, and then stepped above that. “Is it asking too much to get some *#%!ing rest??!?!”

“Sir?”

“CHARGE, DAMMIT!!! We may not survive this day but at least we’ll show these bastards our rage!”

With the encouragement from their Duke, the men of the Gerhard Steffen Memorial Army, the backbone of Bavaria, screamed yells of fury and charged down the hill. Ignoring the sickness tearing through their bodies, ignoring their general feelings of fatigue and exhaustion, they harnessed their fury and frustration at being denied the chance to simply relax and get better, to be with their families, to see their children grow up. They harnessed all of that emotion, all of that anger, charged down, and let the Byzantines know exactly how they were feeling.

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The charge was a glorious thing, and all of its participants were to be commended for their bravery. For a while, the rage and numbers and momentum of the Germans seemed to be defying the odds and pushing the Greeks back down the hill. For a while.

Time passed. The Byzantines dug in. The fighting continued. And ever so slowly, the Imperial forces lost their advantage. The superior, clean, rested Byzantine troops kept fighting, kept pushing. The glorious charge down the hill turned into a battle of attrition. And, much against Duke Lothar’s hopes, the exact opposite situation happened with the southeastern battle than with Fredericus Erlach’s duel in the west. The mood on the Imperial battle line turned from a “let’s kill ‘em all!” rush of adrenaline into a grim resolve, to simply kill, find someone else to kill, and keep fighting until you finally drop cloud of gloom.

The Duke’s various blasts of the horn, charges on the flank, and shouts of encouragement did little. The backbone was beyond such petty things. This was the situation they had been given, they knew what was at stake, and they would do their best to see it through, even if that meant every last one of them would die doing so.

Lothar Steffen was not particularly a religious man, but he found himself praying for something to change. His men did not deserve this. Not at all. And then he saw it: a full regiment of Dismounted Latinkon charging up the hill, on the opposite flank.

Is this how you treat these men? IS THIS HOW YOU TREAT THEM?! Punish me, not them! All they have done is their duty! “Karolinger!” he yelled. “Do something about the flank!!!”

Friedrich Karolinger nodded, and without hesitation, sent his escort into the mass of steel awaiting it.

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A quick and deadly charge, leaving the enemy infantry temporarily shocked, and in that moment an equally quick retreat, positioning to do the very same again. So it went for the men of Friedrich Karolinger’s escort and the Dismounted Latinkon, much like the final minutes of that cursed Battle of Bern with Hans’s glorious last stand, his cavalry wrecking the almost-victorious rebel infantry, transforming the day from a tragic defeat into a draw or even a victory.

Karolinger charged again and again, pushing the flanking Byzantine infantry down the hill, down to the point of the now-concluded central battle, where trees and corpses littered the ground, hampering the mobility of the Germans. The Latinkon were finally able to surround their pursuers, and the brutal melee began once more, for this time there was no escape...

Lothar watched it all from the heights, agonizing over what he had ordered. He wanted nothing more than to charge down and help his Count, his friend out, but there was still a desperate battle going on at the hill slope; more a grudge match now, both sides having bled each other out and now ready to personally slaughter each other. Lothar, as always, did his best to help out, to ensure that his poor veterans got out with some semblance of organization, but it was a failing effort...

BU-AAAA BU-AAAAAAAAAAAA

From the northwest, two regiments of cavalry were making their way to the hill as fast as they could. Even from this distance, Lothar could tell that the horses were pooped; their riders’ armor scratched, dented, and bloodstained. They were still driving as hard as they could. The Byzantines were broken, the central and western battles won. The threat on Milan was over, for the time being. They were still driving as hard as they could, for they knew what was still at stake. They were riding to save what remained of what was once a wonderful army.

The escorts of Péter von Kastilien and Herrmann Steffen struck into the Byzantine rear again and again, an agitated Lothar weighing the army’s need against Karolinger’s. Finally, when the enemy line had thinned to his satisfaction, he caught his son’s eye.

“Herrmann-” he gasped, “Karolinger – down the hill – center – surrounded-”

Without a word, Herrmann Steffen turned his escort back down the hill, driving even harder – if that was even possible – to where the battle had began, where the Byzantines were determined to get something more out of this day. They had already wrecked three armies – by the looks of it, BHA Gerhard had taken the worst, and that was saying something considering the conditions of the Legion der Krone and BHA Otto – and were now looking to take away the life of a good nobleman in Friedrich Karolinger.

A handful of Dismounted Latinkon were gathered around an even smaller handful of Karolinger’s escort. The flashes of the sword were slower than usual, more deliberate, each side being too tired to do anything more. At first, the match seemed to be even, a one to one ratio of Imperial deaths for Greek deaths. But the Byzantines had the numbers to begin with, and soon one to one turned to three to two, to two to one, until finally the last Imperial horseman, Count Friedrich Karolinger of Innsbruck, fell to the ground.

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“NOOOOOO!!!” Seconds away, Herrmann screamed in fury. The Greeks has shattered his armies, ruined many lives, and now this, now Karolinger. He charged into the Byzantine infantry with such a ferocity that, even fresh off their victory, they started running.

“No quarter,” he muttered. Continuing to scream and yell, he charged around singlehandedly, personally cutting down each and every one of the remaining Dismounted Latinkon that killed Karolinger while the remainder of his escort simply watched in awe.

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When it was finally over and the rage had passed, Herrmann sat motionless for several moments and then collapsed off his horse. He slowly rose, clearly physically and emotionally drained from the day’s work.

“The body,” he croaked.

Herrmann and three members of his retinue together worked to pick up the corpse of Friedrich Karolinger. Together, on foot, they carried it back up the hill to the southeast and silently laid it down at the crest, in front of Lothar Steffen, who had just finished off the remnants of the Greek forces that had engaged him.

The Byzantine army threatening Milan had been destroyed, but at a terrible cost. Almost two thousand Imperials had fallen that day, 500 more than the Greeks had lost. BHA Gerhard was finished as a fighting force, offensive or defensive. They were little more than garrison material now, and their morale was shot after losing Karolinger so late in the day. The other two armies, the Legion der Krone and BHA Otto, did not fare much better.

The Battle of Four Armies was officially over. But, that night, as Herrmann Steffen sat by himself, nursing a small fire, there were more battles to come. The two strong French armies still lurked to the west, not caring at all about the slaughter that had just occurred. To them, it was just a military opportunity, an opportunity that was sure to be exploited.

There will be more fighting, Herrmann thought to himself. There always is.

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End

[econ21]

The Relief of Bern, 1356, Part I

Staufen, 1356

“I feared the Swabian Household Army would be destroyed and prayed for the Kaiser and the Bavarians to deliver us. Instead, the armies of the Kaiser and the Bavarians have been all but destroyed, while the SHA has been spared.” Welf mused to his wife.

“Be careful what you wish for.” Eue commented dryly.

“Now, Swabia must deliver itself.” said Welf. “At least the Chancellor seems to have recognised our situation.” Although still infected by the plague, Staufen was now training significant forces – augmented by the arrival of regiments of proud Teutons riding from Frankfurt. If Imperial support continued, it would not be long before there was a second full strength field army in Swabia.

“Has the Chancellor approved your request to lead the SHA to relieve Bern?” asked Eue.

Welf nodded: “There was no one else.”

Eue laughed bitterly: “Tell me about it.” Her forced marriage to the upstart von Luxemburg still rankled.

Welf looked at his wife with a darkened expression, but then turned away. “I must leave immediately. The SHA is a poxed formation, but I will do my best to avoid infection.”

“You will avoid it. Or you will never see me again.” said Eue coldly, not looking up.

Welf nodded and silently left the room.



*****



Outside Bern

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Welf will command the Swabian Household Army, although he does not camp with it for fear of infection. Captain Otto commands the Bern militia.



“Is he clean?” demanded Welf.

“He bears no signs of infection, my Lord.” answered his chief retainer. “Apparently the city is now free of the plague.”

“Then send him in.”

A large man in worn armour entered the command tent. “Captain Otto of the Bern garrison, reporting, my Lord.”

Welf scrutinised the veteran – for a mere militia Captain, he had an impressively martial air. That the man had slipped out of the besieged city was an added testament to his bravery and skill.

“I understand, Captain, that you were a veteran of the battle of Bern – you fought with Duke Hans?”

“I had the honour, Sire.”

“Why did you fight for Hans – and not for Dietrich or Hummel?”

“I fought for duty and loyalty, Sire.” said the Captain defiantly.

“Indeed. Honour, duty, loyalty … good words, Captain.” said Welf approvingly. “But tell me, I thought Han’s army was wiped out almost to a man?”

“We took a beating, yes, Sire. But, I was lucky – my wounds still permitted me to serve in the militia.”

“A natural survivor, then. Good, the Reich needs that quality now, more than any.” said Welf and then he turned to business. “Captain, I intend to lead the Swabian Household Army to attack the French besieging you. Can you bring the militia to support us?”

“Yes, Sir!” barked the Captain without hesitation.

Welf paused and then said with slowly, with deliberation. “I intend to hold the heights overlooking the city. My army has many archers, but lacks the heavy infantry required to match the French in close quarter fighting.” The French army besieging Bern had eight regiments of knights, all of which preferred to fight dismounted. The SHA had only three.

The Captain paused for a moment and then said, cautiously: “But if you are on the heights, my Lord, and the French are between us, what are my militia to do?”

“Attack.” Welf could feel his own heart sinking at the cruelty of this command.

“Attack, Sire?” the Captain blurted out in dismay “Militia against knights, outnumbered three to one - we would be massacred!”

Welf fixed the veteran in a merciless stare: “Our only hope of victory is if the French become overconfident and attempt to drive the SHA off the heights. Your militia will buy my men time to deploy, they will tire the enemy, they will disrupt their formation … and they will induce the necessary overconfidence.”

For a moment, the veteran Captain scrutinised the calculating young man sat in front of him. What creatures was the Reich spawning in these hellish times?! Then he raised his eyes and looked straight ahead.

“My militia will attack as ordered, my Lord – for God, the Reich and the Kaiser.” The Captain declared defiantly.

“Very well, Captain.” replied Welf coolly. “But do not have them fight too hard, now. Do your duty and then get the hell out of there. The French have no cavalry so most of your boys should make it. Do not march out with any man too old or infirm to run.”

The Captain nodded with scarcely concealed disgust. Not only was his mission a hopeless one – it was even to be denied of honour.

“Captain…” said Welf, almost gently. “I have an opening on my retinue for a brave man who can do his duty. Survive this and I will reward you.”

“Duty and honour are their own reward.” replied the Captain brusquely, before marching out of the tent.

“Too damned good for the militia.” whistled Welf under his breath.



*****


From the heights above Bern, Welf watched the militia emerge from the woods in a battleline and advance towards the French. It was an impressive sight – they deployed in good order, like regular troops.

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The Bern garrison gamely advances on their French besiegers.


But heading towards them was the large French army, resplendent in glinting armour and with many banners signalling the high valour of its knights. The French moved eagerly, as if scenting the weakness of their prey. But not so eager as to forget basic tactics. Four regiments of French crossbowmen were deployed in the advance guard and unleashed devastating barrages at the lightly armoured militia. The line of the militia seemed visibly to pause and rear up, like a stag wounded by a hunter’s bow. But then, lacking any missiles of their own, the men of the Bern garrison could only respond by rushing faster towards the pole-axes and voulges of the armoured mass opposing them.

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The French crossbowmen shoot down the militia while in the distance, the Swabian Household Army can be seen deploying on the heights dominating the battlefield.

Welf glanced guiltily around at the many crossbowmen of the SHA, deployed far from the militia, up on the heights - out of range of the French below them. What would the men think of him, holding them back – refusing any aid to the outnumbered and outmatched militia below?

Then Welf saw the clash of arms, as dismounted French noble knights broke through the lines of the crossbowmen in front of them and tore into the hapless militia. The French knight’s pole axes seemed to scythe down the Germans, already thinned out by the crossbow fire.

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The French noble knights tear into the German militia.


Within seconds, the militia regiments started to break – the men at the rear having no desire to share the fate of the unfortunates at the front. The rout was contagious and soon, all eleven of the militia regiments were fleeing the field.

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The Bern garrison gives way under the weight of the French onslaught.


“Good work, Captain.” whispered Welf, under his breath. He watched patiently, as the heavily armoured French – bereft of any horse – tried vainly to catch the militia streaming back towards the safety of the city.

Always a man with a head for figures, Welf estimated that the Reich had now lost nearly a quarter of its men. French losses, he surmised, were negligible – after the battle, interrogation revealed the militia had accounted for only a wretched 13 of the enemy.

Welf looked around at the SHA deployed on the heights. “Now, it is all up to us.”

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Having routed eleven German regiments off the field at virtually no cost, the French now advance on Welf and the Swabian Household Army.

[econ21]

The Relief of Bern, 1356, Part II


Welf’s hopes that the sacrifice of the militia would disrupt the French army proved unfounded. He had gambled that, in their haste and disarray, the victorious French might send regiments against him piecemeal. But after chasing the militia off the field, the French turned around and quickly formed a solid battle line to face the SHA.

However, the more important aspect of the plan – that the French could be lured into attacking up the heights – did come to fruition. Inexorably, the French moved towards the SHA. Recognising their superiority in numbers and quality, and buoyed by their recent success against the militia, the French gamely came on.

And so the trap was sprung. The heights gave the Germans a terrific advantage in range – augmenting the already superior reach of their metal arbalests over the inferior French crossbows. Thus the killing started long before the French foot knights came close to the German battleline.

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Thanks to the height advantage, the lethal fire of German arbalesters starts long before the French can even properly make out their foes.


By the time the enemy were within charge range, Welf estimated that his arbalests had accounted for full a quarter of the French infantry. The battle honours were now even again.

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As the French approach the German line, they have taken heavy losses.


Then, foolishly, the French halted and attempted to return fire with their crossbows. Outnumbered, outranged and firing uphill, the French crossbowmen could make little impression on the Germans, whose crossbowmen sheltered behind large pavises and deployed in loose formation on the heights. Welf saw only a couple of men fall to the enemy fire, while the stationary French lines were cut down mercilessly in reply.

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The German pavise crossbowmen cannot believe their good fortune as the French army halts its advance at close range.

After a while, the French seemed to despair of the unequal exchange and roused themselves into continuing their advance. But by then, they had been terribly weakened – over two fifths of their men were dead, most belonging to the frontline regiments of foot knights.

“Finally, it begins.” whispered Welf in anticipation.



*****


The German line was anchored on the left by an impassable cliff. From there, the three regiments of German foot knights formed a strong line of defence. However, the right flank was open and guarded by lesser troops – armoured sergeants and spear militia. Spotting this, the Germans started to veer to their left – aiming for the weaker, open French right flank.

By turning left, the French exposed themselves further to the merciless fire coming from the German arbalesters near the cliff. Welf waited for the moment and then sent orders for his foot knights to counter-attack – charging the exposed French right.

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The French advance veers to the left, exposing its flank to the German foot knights.


However, it took time for the counter-charge to come and meanwhile, the surviving French knights were cutting their way through the German spearmen and militia. Welf knew from earlier in the day that such a contest was unlikely to be prolonged. Hastily he summoned his cavalry, which he had deployed hidden in the woods on his right flank, to ride in and smash the engaged French foot knights in the rear. The presence of four regiments of French voulgiers, moving slowly up from reserve, meant that this manevoure was potentially disastrous but there was little choice. The beleaguered German infantry would not hold without aid and so the German cavalry would have to rely on its speed and &#233;lan to avoid being trapped by the voulgiers.

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Having laid concealed in the woods, the German cavalry break out and strike against the rear of the French spearhead.


Welf’s own escort also joined the charge, aiming at the rear of the centre of the French front line. Welf saw his regiment of Imperial knights riding to his left, charigng the French foot knights furthest out along the line. There was a clash of arms and then a cry of dismay arose among the French. It was later revealed that the French general had died during the initial of the charge.

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The German cavalry is fortunate in claiming the French general among its first victims.


A double envelopment was now achieved: German cavalry striking from the right; dismounted feudal knights pressing in from the left. Those French knights who had survived the lethal arbalester volleys were now surrounded. With their general dead, order began to collapse in the French line. A rout spread out from the unfortunate victims of the German cavalry and soon infected the whole French front line, which started to fall back in disarray. The regiments of voulgiers in the rear remained in tact and braced themselves for impact, but the sight of their comrades fleeing down the heights was demoralising. All the while the German arbalesters were keeping up their volleys, now targeting the voulgiers as the last enemy regiments left standing. As the pursuing Germans made contact with the voulgier regiments, these final French formations also dissolved and the battle was over.



*****


After the pursuit was finished, Welf was relieved to hear that Captain Otto had survived the rout of the militia and so sought him out.

The Captain looked up warily as the young general entered his office in the city garrison quarters in Bern.

Welf looked down on the veteran warrior:

“I am glad to see you survived, Captain.” Welf said diffidently.

“As you said, my Lord, I am a survivor.” replied the Captain guardedly

“About my earlier offer … I would have you serve among my retinue. I am young and need experienced fighters.”

“My Lord, I am a lowly Captain of militia. I have seen two armies of my comrades destroyed here in this place. You don’t want me among your knights, jinxing your future battles.”

“Captain, I am the plain son of a lowly trader. Yet I have married a princess and have the ear of the Chancellor. My friend, we live in new times. The Reich is in turmoil – there are opportunities everywhere for men brave enough to seize them. It does not matter if you are a Duke or a militia Captain, what matters is that you fight and that you survive. Everything else is secondary.”

Welf paused and then cajoled the Captain: “Come now – do you wish to spend the rest of your days haunting this cursed city? I ride back to Staufen and from there, to God knows where. But I can pay you well and I can promise you, wherever we go, it will be for the duty, honour and loyalty. That is what you stand for, is it not, Captain? If so, how can you deny me?”

Heavily, reluctantly, the Captain rose to swear allegiance to his new Lord.


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The Butcher’s Bill

[AussieGiant]

Outside Daruzzo 1356

"Lord Chancellor?" The Papal messenger glanced up nervously at breaking the mans concentration. He had been kneeling for sometime since handing the Papal Bull to one of the most terrifying men he had ever encountered. At his inquiry the Chancellor glanced down at him from the raised seat inside one of the most impressive tents the messenger had ever seen.

"Get up! Tell your master that we will do everything in our power to comply with his wishes."

The Chancellors priest was visibly pleased at this statement. He had become increasingly concerned about his master in the past few years. When he pressed the Chancellor recently one night about the where abouts of his other retinue members, Arnold had said they were on a mission to the far east.

"Go now." The Chancellor waved his hand at the messenger as he stood. At that the Papal messenger stood and took his leave as quickly as possible.

Arnold turned and motioned to one of the black clad administrators, leaning over he began giving him instructions as he approached.

Slowly the Chancellors priest began to experience a feeling of unease at what he was witnessing. He strained to hear what was being said by the Duke.

".....idiots......hold back....elected him........track...dungeon...kill him...delayed." Arnold suddenly glanced at his Priest from clear across the room as if he knew where and what his religious adviser was thinking.

The Dread Duke held him in his glare for some moments. Few men could face the Chancellor like this and the priest began reciting a holy verse in order to allow him to hold his masters gaze. Finally Arnold looked away.

With a wave of his hand he dismissed the administrator and tossed the Papal Bull into the fire.

The senior regimental captain was in attendance and he stiffened as the Chancellor rose and came to stand before him.

"Get the troops ready, we attack tomorrow morning." There was a pause as the order sank in.

"But, the Pope my lord, didn't you just tell his messenger we would obey his request?" Realising how fatal his mistake was a split second after closing his mouth, the Captain made no attempt to move as the Chancellor's Obsidian encased hand came down on his shoulder slowly but deliberately. The crushing weight of strength and the groan of fatiguing metal could be heard throughout the chamber.

In a low voice Arnold held the captains eyes; "I know what I said Captain, now if you want to remain in your current position you'll obey my order, the messenger will not be an issue. Now do as I've asked please....understood?" A nod of the Captains head was enough for the pressure to be released. It felt as if a two tonne weight had been taken from his shoulder.

Departing the chamber as fast as protocol would allow the Captain's voice could be heard outside barking instructions.

******************

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/1356/1356%20Daruzzo/medieval22008-01-2522-08-50-23.jpg

"It's a straight up battle. We'll form up in offensive posture with the Pavise Crossbows in front follow by the dismounted knights and the two catapult batteries to the rear. We will exhaust our missiles, then charge. Clear?!!"

The Chancellors brief orders were understood and there was not a question as to the roles and orders needed. The army had been fighting for years and each Captain was familiar with the Chancellors methods and that of his fellow officers.

"Forward!!" The Chancellors voice could be heard crashing out over the army. Even the Venetian horse's pricked their ears at the sound some half mile distant.

"Halt, commence firing!!" In one swift motion the army halted, the crossbowmen and catapult crews went to work on the enemy formation.

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/1356/1356%20Daruzzo/medieval22008-01-2522-14-13-32.jpg

After some time the Venetian's tired of the one sided missile dual and charged. The Chancellor was caught by surprise and only just managed to send forward the knights and spearmen before the crossbowmen where engulfed by the Venetian cavalry.

As the fighting line began to solidify there was a moment of concern from the captains as the Venetian force began to exert some pressure on the Chancellors battle line.

However as had been the case for some time, one tremendous charge from the Chancellors bodyguard and the entire left flank of the Venetian's crumbled under it's attack.

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/1356/1356%20Daruzzo/medieval22008-01-2522-20-46-09.jpg

What was looking like a even contest immediately turned into a route of large proportions.

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/1356/1356%20Daruzzo/medieval22008-01-2522-21-11-84.jpg

The final toll made that clear.

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x79/aussiegiant/1356/1356%20Daruzzo/medieval22008-01-2522-23-12-14.jpg

[TinCow]

Milan, 1356 AD

Placeholder

[Ramses II CP]

Arhusian Ambush, 1356.

From his position on the beach Fritz could see the tiny sloop approach. The man sitting in the back of the boat should be bearing a message from a German operative deep in the heart of Danish territory. The weather had been poor of late, and plague had ravaged Fritz's camp, costing him many soldiers, but as the time of battle approached again a certain pressure was lifted from Fritz's shoulders. At last he would be back to doing what he was good at, killing his enemies!

Gesturing to the Albanian who had mastered the most German, Fritz said, 'Bring the messenger to my tent quickly. I am anxious to begin.' and strode away for the command tent. The camp, it had to be said, was in poor shape. The sentries maintained their vigilance, a couple of hangings had set that lot straight, but thick mud clung to Fritz's boots as he walked, and could be seen spread over most of the tents and other gear around. Someone had come to the conclusion that the mud could protect you from the plague, and now the men were putting the cold sludge everywhere, some of them even on their faces. It was a disgusting practice, but it kept morale up, and it had given Fritz an idea.

Mere moments after he reached his tent the Albanian rushed up with the messenger in tow. Silently he drug the man into the tent, bowed briefly to Fritz, and departed in haste.

'What news?'

'Ahh, well, mi'lord, it's, uhm, it's just that...' The peasant was staring at the ground and clutching at his hat in his hands.

'Would it be faster for me to cut your throat and send another man? Speak!' Fritz roared.

'They're coming. Their Prince has two full armies with him. The spy, Herman, he believes they will send a probing attack under a captain before risking another member of the royal family to your, ahh...' here the boatman trailed off again.

'You mean they've no wish to have to promote another jumped up farm boy into the royal family just to keep their line going? This shows more wisdom than I am accustomed to from the fools. No matter, that is not what concerns me. When will they cross?'

'Very soon my lord. The captain of the less experienced army is preparing to strike his camp, and...' The messenger's speech trailed off as he realized that Fritz von Kastilien, the Merciless, the Attacker, the butcher of Stockholm and Stettin, was smiling genuinely at him.

'Excellent! Go now, get some food. I advise against sleeping in the camp unless you like mud covered blankets, but the camp kitchens to the west are relatively clean,' with this Fritz turned and began examining the maps, muttering to himself, 'It's their capital, they'll be in a hurry, incautious, not expecting me to take the field. Ha! We'll see what old Prince Stenkil does when he extends his arm and draws back a nub.'

The mud covered men of the northern Franconian army, mostly militia troops from Hamburg and Arhus, tore down their camp that night under cover of darkness, leaving behind the most tattered and useless of the tents in a semi-circle facing the water line so that distant spies carrying word to the Danes might suspect the army had not departed. All the next day Fritz had his men resting, training lightly, and weeding out those too ill to travel or fight, so that by nightfall they were ready for a force march. The men then spent the night hopping islands out to the easternmost point claimed by the Reich, where the Danes were expected to make their first crossing.

Clearly the enemy had hoped for a more covert approach to attacking Arhus, which is why they hadn't travelled by ship, but the loyal German spy Herman von Franconia had trailed both armies as they moved, finding ways to get word to Fritz of every time they shifted camps in the deep forests of the north.

Now Fritz, who had firmly resisted the idea that covering everything in mud would make the slightest difference in the spread of the plague, gave his men reason to really spread the stuff on.

'We're going to ambush those fools. Not on the beach, where they'll still have ships to escape on, but deep in the woods. We'll have to set up a minimal camp just to manage the sick and such, but I don't want a single one of those tents visible from the tree line. Soak them in the bloody mud if you must. Sentries will cover their faces with the stuff at all times. I intend to have complete surprise, any man who fouls it for me will be harshly punished, is this understood? You've got the rest of the night to get it done, and by morning we're going to be as still and quiet as the trees.'

The next night, the camp established to his satisfaction, Fritz spoke with Robert and his militia captains from Hamburg and Arhus,'Robert as usual I'm going to leave you in command of the archers and infantry while I roam and make trouble for the enemy. I know many of them are sick, but if they can't stand up and hold a spear for an hour I want them sent to the tents. The army we're facing is badly led, but vastly superior to ours, as usual. If a spearman is going to get sick in the middle of the battle he may get us all killed.'

'What about the prisoners Lord Fritz? Word is that Duke Dieter commanded all men taken fairly in battle be freely released.' That was Robert, ever eager to discover a fresh source to line his pockets.

For a moment a sneer swept across Fritz's face, before it calmed again,'Duke Dieter understands the value of breaking an enemy's will to fight as well as his armies in the field. How many times do you think a man must be captured before he starts to expect it during battle, even look forward to it? Safer to be my prisoner than my enemy in the field, after all. How much more quickly will they give up if they know we're just going to set them free? It's tactically inconvenient, but perhaps strategically sound. In any case, the Duke is not here, and I have communicated to him that I will require funding to hold the northern front, so any prisoners will be offered for ransom. Clear?'

Robert's grin was answer enough, but now the captain of the Hamburg militia, Johann, spoke up,'Forgive me Lord Fritz, but why do we not simply abandon Arhus and fall back to Hamburg?'

Fritz's gaze moved swiftly from contemplating Robert's glee at the thought of wealth, to fury at the foolishness of this captain,'And why not fall back to Madgeburg then? Or Frankfurt? Nuremburg? If the line is not here, where is it?'

'No, we will attack them here and show them the error of their ways. Then, God willing, we will take the battle to their homelands and show them all! Arhus is a German city full of citizens of the Reich, and they will have my protection to the last drop of my life's blood. No retreat. We attack.' The captain of the Arhus militia, a former Danish soldier named Sighvat nodded, obviously pleased with Fritz's words, unaware that Johann's question had been put to his lips by Fritz himself.

'Any further questions? Then go and make your men ready. Sighvat, stay a moment. I had one more job, a dangerous one, but one that I am certain your company has the courage for. Someone must draw the Danes into position south of the forest, so that we can have the exact range for the cannon and take full advantage of our cover. Will you do it?'

'Gladly my Lord! It will be an honor!'

'Excellent. I will be reinforcing my lighter companies of spearmen from your own, as I do not expect you to see battle yourself. As soon as we spot the boats I'll send your men rushing up from the west end of the island, like you intend to defend the beach. They will make haste, incautiously, and we will have them. Inform the rest of your men they're to follow Robert's orders in the battle.'

Days later Fritz's sentries reported seeing Danes loading supplies aboard boats in the afternoon, and he made his men ready for a night battle. When the first Danish boats departed the shore, Captain Sighvat's men rushed to the highest point on the island, clearly visible by their torches, understrength and stricken with plague. The Danish ships accelerated, and were soon decamping their army onto the island. They had brought a powerful army, including two mighty companies of mounted Chivalric Knights and one of Huscarls.

http://lh3.google.com/RosDalton/R5zwvO3OdaI/AAAAAAAAIcM/xztQHxF4htE/s800/0001.jpg

http://lh5.google.com/RosDalton/R5zwtu3OdZI/AAAAAAAAIcE/ls5uI2czkCU/s800/0000.jpg

Fritz's men carefully arranged themselves into their formations under cover, with his cavalry positioned to exploit the expected confusion at the rear of the enemy formation and his spearmen, crossbows, archers, and artillery in a woody high spot to form an anvil against which the cavalry could dash the life out of the Danes.

http://lh3.google.com/RosDalton/R5zwwO3OdbI/AAAAAAAAIcU/fOxolhjV3jo/s800/0002.jpg

As planned the battle started with a barrage from the bombards and the withdrawal of Sighvat's reduced company of spearmen. The shocked Danish captain struggled to issue effective orders.

http://lh4.google.com/RosDalton/R5zwxe3OdcI/AAAAAAAAIcc/6ESRvGLiQMU/s800/0003.jpg

As the first cannonballs landed among their front ranks, Fritz's guardsmen struck the very center of their column, smashing half a company of Danish Axemen. (Missed my charge, but still killed 40 of them)

http://lh4.google.com/RosDalton/R5zwye3OddI/AAAAAAAAIck/O83i64_kuwQ/s800/0004.jpg

The rear of the Danish column was in utter disarray. They had heard their captain's horn right after the crashing of the bombard echoed through the misty wood, and now as they rushed to rally to him a mass of cavalry beset them from every side. Dismounted Huscarls and Chivalric Knights died quickly, quietly under the assault.

http://lh3.google.com/RosDalton/R5zwzO3OdeI/AAAAAAAAIcs/eV73CdCdfJ8/s800/0005.jpg

Having done his part in drawing the attention of the Danish heavy cavalry, Fritz now withdrew in the direction of the mass of his army. All of the enemy's heavy cavalry pursued him, leaving his own cavalry free reign to operate against their infantry behind them.

http://lh4.google.com/RosDalton/R5zw0e3OdfI/AAAAAAAAIc0/VG-HfFdKZFw/s800/0006.jpg

As the Danes struggled to order their lines in the mist the rear of their column collapsed. Both companies of Huscarls broke and attempted to flee, running in different directions. Few would escape. The proud Chivalric knights marched on, but continued to take substantial losses. As Fritz came in view of his infantry pocket he witnessed the annihilation of the enemy's mounted crossbowmen under a massive barrage from the bombard, ribault, and crossbowmen.

http://lh3.google.com/RosDalton/R5zw1O3OdgI/AAAAAAAAIdA/RPNuazojffE/s800/0008.jpg

Racing across the face of his infantrymen Fritz drew the enemy cavalry directly under the firing lanes of his ranged companies. Huscarls and mounted knights took heavy losses, but south of his crossbowmen Robert had planted stakes that were difficult to see in the mist. Fritz was forced to ride wide around them, losing some of his guardsmen when they fell behind due to the akwardness of the motion. (Almost ran Fritz directly into the stake line. Not a good way to die.)

http://lh6.google.com/RosDalton/R5zw1-3OdhI/AAAAAAAAIdI/X74glWJSHC4/s800/0009.jpg

The remains of three companies of valiant Danish heavy cavalry fought a desperate battle south of Fritz's infantry line. Fritz's guardsmen likely would have won this engagement alone with the support of the crossbowmen, but he wanted to preserve as many of them as possible for the arrival of the Danish heavy infantry, so he called upon two companies of militia spearmen to leave the line and aid him. The melee was vicious and uncompromising.

http://lh6.google.com/RosDalton/R5zw2-3OdiI/AAAAAAAAIdQ/5opNS0Z6DRU/s800/0011.jpg

At last the Huscarls fled, though a third of them remained ahorse and later rallied. Of the Chivalric Knights there were fewer than ten remaining between both companies, and they were no longer combat effective. Unfortunately Fritz's just hired mercenary German knights had been neglectfully pursuing a broken company of Norse Archers when they were charged by enemy axemen. Operating far from Fritz's lines they lost their courage and attempted to flee the field.

http://lh3.google.com/RosDalton/R5zw4O3OdjI/AAAAAAAAIdY/T_d748BcduY/s800/0013.jpg

Danish infantry was now rapidly approaching Fritz's spear line, so he ordered the bombard to fire into the remaining whole company of Chivalric Knights, hoping to diminish their morale. While he was issuing orders to Robert the Danish Huscarls abruptly swept in out of the mist, determined to redeem themselves and kill Fritz himself. A brutal fight developed, but despite the initial shock Fritz's guardsmen were hardy veterans and refused to abandon him. In the end the few remaining Danes fled again. (Man, sometimes the AI really does surprise me. This was a near thing, ten of Fritz's guards died in the Danish charge.)

http://lh3.google.com/RosDalton/R5zw5O3OdkI/AAAAAAAAIdg/sGBNjla-0qU/s800/0016.jpg

Now the dismounted Chivalric Knights reached the militia spearmen line. They struck the reduced company of veterans from Hamburg, who crouched low behind their shields and held desperately.

http://lh3.google.com/RosDalton/R5zw6O3OdlI/AAAAAAAAIdo/qBFLecV5mts/s800/0017.jpg

Free of the Huscarls, Fritz now selected the lightest armored target before him and charged home, destroying an entire company of Viking Raiders with a single charge as they rout on contact and never recover. The strategic picture is a bit of a mess, but Fritz's remaining merchant cavalry are moving to smash the Danish right flank, and after scattering the Raiders Fritz finds time to rally the Mercenary Knights as well.

http://lh6.google.com/RosDalton/R5zy2-3OdsI/AAAAAAAAIe4/AnEnHvM7Mq0/s800/0018.jpg

With precision Fritz brings his unopposed militiamen from his right flank down against the Danish left, where the dismounted chivalric knights are still carving a path, and then lines his cavalry up next to the mercenaries to charge home against the rear of the Danish line. They are shattered all across the front, every company of them breaks and struggles to flee. Only the two slow walking companies of Obudshaer continue to advance. Though it wouldn't hurt to let the crossbowmen deal with them, Fritz decides to end the battle quickly and get his plagued companies some much needed rest in case the second Danish army crosses soon. The Obudshaer are surrounded and smashed. (The two were at the front of the column, but they're the last to arrive at the fight.)

http://lh3.google.com/RosDalton/R5zw7O3OdmI/AAAAAAAAIdw/m-X-Fs1UOzg/s800/0020.jpg

On this dark, misty evening there will be no pursuit. 'Let them go. Let's count the prisoners and send word to Prince Stenkil of our demands.'

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http://lh3.google.com/RosDalton/R5zw9O3OdoI/AAAAAAAAIeA/BrVuB9k9KbU/s800/0022.jpg

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Prince Stenkil sent no message with the florins to ransom his soldiers, just a sack full of money. With a shrug Fritz thought, Good enough for me. Now stay on your side of the river or we'll see if your King will pay for your hide.

http://lh4.google.com/RosDalton/R5zw_e3OdqI/AAAAAAAAIeQ/KdLvrVJfz7c/s800/0024.jpg

http://lh3.google.com/RosDalton/R5zxBO3OdrI/AAAAAAAAIeY/NQE0qJ5v2zI/s800/0025.jpg

:egypt:

[econ21]

The Battle of Staufen, 1358


“The French are advancing on Staufen.” reported the Teuton.

“How many?” demanded Welf.

“Over fifteen hundred - a strong army, well provided in all arms. They have many knights - mounted and on foot - together with good quality missiles - aventuriers and Scots Guards”

Welf nodded. French armies seemed only to come in one type these days - strong. For a moment, the young general wondered about hunkering down in Staufen or on the bridge before it. But then he dismissed the idea. Swabia had been on the defensive too long. Duke Arnold had provided him with as many men as he could hope to muster. True, he was short of good spearmen but that was a constraint Swabia would have to endure for many years to come. The cataclysm had drained Swabia of a sizable sergeant class willing to fight for their lords. Those semi-professionals who remained were assigned specialist roles - horsemen or crossbowmen - with lowly militia fulfilling the more basic duty of providing mass to an army.

Welf turned to Captain Otto, the veteran warrior he had recruited in the aftermath of the relief of Bern.

“Do you think our militia can stand up to the French in the field?”

Captain Otto, former leader of the Bern militia, bristled: “The militia will do their duty. Do not ask too much of them and they will serve you well.”

Welf nodded. His four regiments of crossbowmen were to spearhead his attack. Their pavises may give them an advantage even over the aventuriers and Scots Guard. And he had ample Teutons from Frankfurt and dismounted feudal knights to call upon to support them. The only tricky part might come if the militia had to be called upon to receive a French cavalry charge. Best have the crossbowmen target the French horse first, decided Welf.

We can do this, Welf thought, looking up to Captain Otto as if for confirmation. Then he spoke out loud:

"The odds are against us." He said confidentially to Captain Otto. "By our own efforts alone, we cannot win this. However, we can pray that the French by their stupidity will lose it."


https://img251.imageshack.us/img251/1691/staufen0kw2.png (https://imageshack.us)

Attacking a superior French force fills Welf with trepidation.




*****


“Scheisse.” swore Captain Otto. “You would have us attack uphill in a blizzard?”

Welf smiled: “Surely you do not think I am asking too much of the militia?”

Captain Otto gave the eighteen your old general a withering look, but the weather hid his disdain.

The German army was deployed hidden in a central wood. The French were on the slopes above them and quickly established a line of battle below some cliffs overlooking the battle. The French deployment was asymmetric - all their cavalry on the western flank, with archers screening foot on the eastern flank. As Welf planned, the German crossbowmen, backed by militia, advanced on the French cavalry. But the French quickly moved their horsemen over to the east - avoiding exposing themselves to the arbalests fire.

“Now we have them!” cried Welf exultantly. While the French cavalry’s withdrawal had protected them from German fire in the short term, it had left the entire French eastern flank open. “March for the heights!” shouted Welf. “Everyone - now! Out of the woods. Get up that hill.”

Slowly, the Germans lumbered up the slope towards the unoccupied cliff heights that dominated the battlefield. They had to endure the harsh weather conditions and exhausting trek, but at least escaped the attentions of the French missile troops deployed to the west. In reaction to the German advance, the French pivoted their line to run north to south, instead of east to west.

https://img515.imageshack.us/img515/1775/staufen2kp5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The Germans turn the French flank, bloodlessly seizing the heights above them.


The French response to the flanking action was pitifully inadequate - a regiment of Scots Guard and one of dismounted chivalric knights approached to threatened the German advance. However, the Germans deployed their crossbowmen and cut down the two approaching regiments.

https://img528.imageshack.us/img528/539/staufen3ee2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The French make a half-hearted attempt to prevent the German envelopment


After that initial action, the German crossbowmen settled down and systematically began to fire on the French lying below them. Inexplicably, the enemy failed to return fire - their Scots Guards and aventuriers slowly being decimated. As the French missile regiments fell below half strength, Welf ordered that new targets be found. with German fire raking the enemy line, it appeared that the only obstacle to a German victory would be a shortage of crossbow bolts.

https://img515.imageshack.us/img515/6435/staufen4jw2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The killing begins.


While the crossbows continued their barrage on the enemy, Welf spotted a weakness appear in the French line. The depleted enemy missile regiments had been left to defend the central portion of the French battleline unsupported. Conscious that his supply of ammunition was not infinite, Welf led his escort in a charge against the French center - hoping to add pressure on his beleaguered opponent.

https://img515.imageshack.us/img515/6034/staufen5lq3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Welf attacks the weakened French missile regiments.


Captain Otto watched with concern as his young general rode off into the blizzard to strike at the heart of the enemy line. He roused a regiment of dismounted feudal knights:

“Are we going to let our young master fight this battle on his own? Let’s move it!”

The knights followed Otto westwards, towards the mass of French infantry that had formed up under the cliffs. Although the knights were the superior fighters, the solid formation of the voulgiers provided a tough nut for them to crack and the Germans made little progress. However, out of the snow, Otto could see black clad horsemen making for the rear of the French voulgiers - Welf was returning from his pursuit of the French missile regiments to reek more havoc.

https://img530.imageshack.us/img530/7347/staufen6yo3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Welf leads a charge on the rear of the Voulgiers


The Voulgiers routed before Welf’s escort had slain a single one of them. Soon the mass of French infantry below the cliffs was dissolving. Captain Otto pressed on with his single regiment of dismounted foot knights. Welf was reluctant to order a general attack while half the French line - and all the French horse - remained in tact. He wanted to give the pavise crossbowmen time to finish their work and to conserve the bulk of his army, much of it exhausted from the climb to the cliff heights. However, Otto’s men and Welf’s escort remained engaged to apply pressure against the tip of the enemy battle line.

With half their army collapsing, the French finally responded to the German pressure. The French horse started to surge north, aiming for the cliff heights that the Germans had previously seized without a contest.

https://img528.imageshack.us/img528/9979/staufen7vx3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The French belatedly respond to the Germans’ seizure of the high ground.


Once again the French failed to press their advance seriously. A regiment of French horse found a gap in the German line, but then became unsupported and cut-off, easy prey for the Germans. Similarly, a lone regiment of French dismounted noble knights reached the cliff heights but then was swiftly disposed of. The Germans first concentrated their crossbow fire on the unfortunate regiment, then blocked it with a regiment of German dismounted feudal knights before finally smashing it with charge into the rear by a regiment of Teutons.

https://img141.imageshack.us/img141/3624/staufen8ra2.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The French attempt to retake the cliff heights ends ignominiously.


Now Welf saw his opportunity to drive away the French survivors still clustered below the cliffs. He ordered a general advance. Captain Otto’s foot knights, now supported by other units, were to press in from the west while the victorious Teutons and other regiments from the cliff heights were ordered to march down from the east, striking the French in the rear. The enemy, long harassed by German crossbow fire from the cliffs, were now caught in a pincer movement.

https://img228.imageshack.us/img228/1531/staufen9jp3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Coming in from both flanks, the Germans drive the French from the killing zone under the cliffs.


But the battle was not over yet - the French cavalry still remained in good order on the field and rode to intercept the Teutons rampaging around the helpless French infantry.

“Pull back! Pull back!” Welf shouted. Thanks to careful discipline, these orders were received and the Teutons ignominiously withdrew from the combat, several being slain by the pursuing French lancers.

Captain Otto rode over to consult with his general:

“The Teutons won’t be happy with that order.” he said wryly to Welf.

The young general shrugged: “I am not concerned with that. I will not have my cavalry wasted in combat with the French horse. That’s a job for our spearmen. Do you think the militia will be up for it?”

Otto smiled - the militia was exhausted by its climb to the cliff heights and beyond, but now it was advancing downhill and attacking lancers demoralised by the terrible destruction that had already been wrought on the French army.

https://img141.imageshack.us/img141/3732/staufen10lj5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The massed German militia advance down the slopes to engage the French lancers.


The two men waited, trying to make out through the snowfall the contest to the east between French lancers and German militia. Then they heard a Germanic roar and suddenly all remaining French opposition seemed to collapse. The militia had claimed the life of the enemy general.

https://img228.imageshack.us/img228/4419/staufen11fv5.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The fall of the French captain signals the end of the battle.


After the battle, Welf walked among his victorious army grinning from ear to ear. He whispered to Captain Otto:

“What did the Romans say to their victorious Caesars? Remember you are mortal. My God, I swear I never truly understood it fully until today!”

Captain Otto smiled knowingly at the young general and shook his head as if in warning. Welf waved him off:

“I know, I know - I am mortal.”

https://img86.imageshack.us/img86/115/staufen1ej6.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

The butcher’s bill

[_Tristan_]

In Dijon’s countryside, 1360


Hughes was sitting on his horse watching the French deploy in the plain below. They had already refused to fight once this day, prefering to look for more favourable ground. Now the sun iss setting but enough light remains to engage them.

This plays in Hughes’ hands. Guillaume, the old Templar knight, came in riding hard ans stopped his horse next to Hughes.

“Hughes, the Germans under Günther are in place on the other side of the plain. They are marching towards our position.”

“Then all is well” answered Hughes, taking one last look at the French before turning to his men, the last remaining of the Templars sent on that fateful mission so long ago now…

“My friends, this is another chance for us to repay the French for the destruction of our Order. Fight bravely !!”

Hughes had set up his retinue of knights on a hill overlooking a wide plain. The plagued force under Captain Günther was approaching from the opposite side of the plain.

The French force deployed in the plain and started to turn towards Hughes and his men.

A lookout must have warned the French captain because at the base of the hill he started to order his footmen to turn around and head for Günther’s line. Only the captain and his Gendarmes remained at the base of the hill, hoping to prevent Hughes from reaching the main force.

“En avant”, ordered Hughes, spurring is horse forward. The Templars moved as one, starting down the hill.

Meanwhile in the plain, the French footmen were marching to meet the main German force.

As Hughes started his descent, he noticed that the French captain was leaving his position to join his men. Seeing an opportunity, Hughes issued a single order.

“Chargez !!”

The slow canter of the horses turned to a powerful downhill charge.

Watching the main force approaching, the French captain had no time to see Hughes and his men riding on his left flank. The lowered lances of the Templars caught the Gendarmes totally unaware and ripped half of them from their horses, to be trampled by the horses.

In the meantime, Captain Günther had ordered his own cavalry forward. The mounted crossbowmen concentrated their fire on the spearmen. The Imperial Knights and Sergeants marched to the advancing enemy crossbowmen before charging.

The crossbowmen separated, one group going to the left, the other to the right, each pursued by German cavalry while the spearmen continued onwards to the main German line, knowing that it was a lost fight but intent on taking as many lives as possible.

The French captain was left with only three of his men and running hard to catch up with his spearmen hoping to help them take as many French lives as possible.

They advanced in a deluge of crossbow bolts, men dropping like flies. Two of the Gendarmes reached the line and charged the German crossbowmen only to be met by a perfectly-timed counter-charge of the spearmen. The French captain tried to run only to be caught by the Imperial Knights who had followed him.

Further up the field, Hughes was fighting the last of the French crossbowmen, ordering the sergeants to round up the few surviving men in the hope of ransoming them.

He then turned towards the main German line and with reluctance born of knowledge of the plague ravaging the German force spurred his horse onwards to catch the few surviving French speramen in the back while they were trying to catch up with the Imperial Knights.

Seeing this, Captain Günther ordered his men to cease fire.

To the French, the sudden stop in the rain of bolts could mean only one thing : doom…

Hughes and his retainers slammed into the back of the spearmen before they could turn around, breaking their morale.

Only one Frenchman was left alive… He was given a note asking the commander of the garrison besieging Dijon to pay ransom for the prisoners.


Hughes was watching the flames from the bonfires, sparks flying up and becoming so many new stars before disappearing… The French had refused to pay to free their prisoners and this left Hughes with few options : use some of his men to play watchdogs or kill the French…

Those had been in contact with the plagued Germans… They had to be cleansed… Only fire would prevent the plague from spreading… And it seemed a just payment for the burning at the stake of so many of his former comrades-in-arms…

The screams had all died... Now the wind caught up the smoke and carried it towards Dijon, carrying with it an odor of defeat to the French commander…

“Onwards to Dijon !!” ordered Hughes, breaking from his reverie… So many good men lost..

[_Tristan_]

Placeholder for the Capture of Paris, 1362

EDIT : This post can be deleted...

[OverKnight]

The Sally against the Turks at Adana, 1362

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Matthias stood on the outer ramparts of Adana surveying the newly arrived Turk army.

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After a long absence, the old enemy had returned, and in force. Almost 175 years ago Saint Maximillian had taken this Citadel in the name of God and the Reich, and it had been over a century since the Turks had made an effort to reclaim it. Yet here they were. If serving in the Holy Land had taught Matthias anything, it was that time rarely erased dreams of lost glory. The very land was saturated with history, calling out to the ambitious and pious. Even if more often than not the siren call of lost empires led to further destruction.

A lone horseman, heading to the Citadel under a flag of truce, broke Matthias's reverie.

Adalric, to his right, asked, "Shall I have him shot, Viceroy?"

"Nein, plenty of time for that, let's us hear what the infidels have to say."

The herald approached the gates and bellowed to the defenders, "My Sultan has sent Captain Kuchuk to reclaim this Citadel, so wrongly stolen from our people. Yet in his magnamity he simply wishes to see Adana returned, without bloodshed. You are free to leave, to carry on your war against the Greeks. In this my Sultan will assist you, but you must give us back what is ours."

The Turk waited for a reply on his horse. The truce banner flapping in the breeze.

Matthias scowled, and yelled down to the herald, "This Citadel is part of the Kingdom of Outremer. It has been sanctified with the blood of Germans. It houses the bones of our patron saint. It was given away by a traitor, and reclaimed with honor and steel."

Matthias spread his hands, his voice growing even louder, "Look to your right, there lie the bleached bones of the Greeks who layed claim to this place! Look to your left, that mound is the grave of Crown Prince Tutush and his men, the last Turkish garrison of Adana! God has given us this place to us, and only He may take it away."

The Crusaders cheered.

The Herald screamed in response, "This land is part of the Sultanate, leave now!"

Matthias drew Iron Faith and leveled the tip at the Turkish army.

"This IS OUTREMER! Go north, fight the Greeks, leave. . .or you will be destroyed!"

The garrison roared, rapping swords against shields, the butts of spears against stone and they screamed their defiance.

The Turkish herald spat on the ground and galloped off.

Adalric turned to Matthias, "Shall we prepare for their assault?"

Matthias continued to stare at the Turk army as he replied, "No, we will attack. I will not suffer their presence at our walls."

Two units each of crossbowmen and spearmen deployed in front of the gates, supported by the rest of the archers on the north wall. The lone unit of Turkish horse archers, a surprise, attempted to disrupt the move, but were run off by massed missile fire. Once the perimeter was established the cannons were set up.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/cgatesaladana.jpg

They soon made their presence felt.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/dboomsaladana.jpg

The trebuchets were the primary target, unless they were disabled, the Turks would have the advantage in artillery once in range. Soon enough, that problem was resolved.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/ewreckedsaladana.jpg

With the cannons out of shot, Matthias ordered the garrison to deploy. Archers in front, infantry behind, and what horsemen that remained to the left.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/froutsiphaisaladana.jpg

Again the Siphais tried to disrupt the movement, but were routed.

Captain Kuchuk, faced with bowmen to his front, ordered much of his heavy cavalry forward.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/gcavadvancesaladana.jpg

Matthias responded by sending his infantry on the right forward. The cavalry was met with spears.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/hcounterspearsaladana.jpg

Massed crossbow fire was brought against the remaining cavalry and the Ottoman infantry that came up to support them. There were Imperial losses amongst the foot and precious horsemen, but the Turk charge and skirmish line were disintegrating.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/ivolleyandchargesaladana.jpg

The Turk footmen desperately marched forward to save their comrades, but as Imperial spearmen pursued the remnants of the Turk cavalry on the left, Matthias charged his bodyguard into the last organized Ottoman archers in the center. The crossbowmen arced shots over him and his men and they fell among the advancing Turk infantry.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/jkillarchersaladana.jpg

In a last bid to save the battle, Captain Kuchuk tried to charge the rear of the spearmen pursuing the rest of his now broken cavalry. Fortunately, the spearmen were able to pivot and brace for the charge at the last moment, to the surprise of the Kuchuk.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/kkillcaptsaladana.jpg

His horse was pierced by at least three spears, and in turn the falling beast crushed Captain Kuchuk. The last of the Turk cavalry was routed. The now leaderless infantry was relatively intact, and even able to pick off a few Imperial horsemen chasing routers, but they came under concentrated fire from five units of crossbowmen.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/lcollapsesaladana.jpg

Wilting under a rain of steel, they soon ran for their lives. Almost all of them were run down.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/mrunsaladana.jpg

The few Turks who managed to flee threw down their weapons and swore to never serve the Sultan again, or return to Outremer.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb88/douglaslain/nvicsaladana.jpg

Matthias found the Turkish herald among the prisoners, this time he seemed less defiant. He was dispatched to the Sultan with the head of Captain Kuchuk and a ransom offer of almost five thousand florins for the survivors. The Sultan kept the head, but refused the offer.

It was uncertain if he didn't have the money, was washing his hands of the failed invasion or nursing his dreams of lost glory and planning his vengeance.

Time would tell.

[FactionHeir]

Dijon, 1362


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