Alternate history: the Anarchy of King Stephen.

Right, since Vykke's Alternate History has gone cold for these past months,~:mecry: I have decided to write a new alternate history about Stephen, King of England and Duke of Normandy. His reign was in realtiy blighted by civil war (commonly known as the Anarchy) as he fought against his rival claimants, the Empress Matilda, Countess of Anjou and her son, Henry Plantagenet (the future Henry II). However, maybe with a few good decisions by our venerable members, things might have turned out differently.
The rules are exactly the same as Vykke's: first three posters decide, first one casts the deciding vote and gets to make suggestions.
Have fun!
Alternate History
The Anarchy of King Stephen


You are Stephen of Blois, King of England, Duke of Normandy and Count of Mortain. The year is 1138, the third year of your reign. It has not been a peaceful one. It has been eighteen years since that black, cold November day when William the Aetheling, sole legitimate son of King Henry and heir to the throne of England and the duchy of Normandy, drowned with many others (including your own sister, Matilda) when his ship, the Blanc Nef, floundered of the coast of Normandy. It was a fate you yourself only narrowly escaped by having a fortunate bout of diarrhoea, preventing you from taking the doomed ship. The disaster left Matilda, widow of the Emperor Henry V of the Holy Roman Empire as heir to the throne. In order to secure Matilda’s accession, King Henry had exacted oaths from all barons and clergymen of the realm that they would recognise her as the rightful sovereign upon his death. You were one of these barons. However, the oath was made on condition that Matilda would not be married without the permission of the barons beforehand. Yet in they year of Our Lord 1128, in order to seal an alliance with Normandy’s age old enemy, Anjou, against the King of France, Matilda was married with Count Geoffrey of Anjou, without the permission of the barons. This match also would have meant that the unpopular Geoffrey would have been crowned King of England along with his wife. In effect, Anjou would have won, having its Count sitting on the throne of England, without even raising a sword.
In December 1135, King Henry died. Matilda, still in Anjou, did not make for England. Anarchy soon took hold throughout the land. None acclaimed Matilda. It was then that you seized the initiative. As the favourite nephew of the late King, you had been given extensive lands in England, the county of Mortain and the hand in marriage of the rich heiress, Maud of Boulogne. And so, in during Advent of the year 1135, you took a ship bound for England from the port of Wissant. Despite being denied entry to Dover and Canterbury, you made way for London where the citizens hailed you as their King. Having secured London, you made way for Winchester, site of the national treasury and held by your brother Henry of Blois, Bishop of Winchester. With London and Winchester under your command, only one last hurdle remained before you could safely call yourself Rex Anglorum et Dux Normannnorum. You needed to be crowned and anointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury. It was to prove the highest hurdle of all. William Corbeil, Archbishop of Canterbury, was an experienced ecclesiast and well remembered the oath he had sworn to King Henry three times and was reluctant to recognise you as King. However, help was at hand in the form of Hugh Bigod, an important nobleman of East Anglia and two other knights. They swore an oath that said that they had been present at Henry’s deathbed when he had disinherited his daughter and son-in-law for having angered and insulted him and that you were to be acclaimed as the next king.
The Archbishop accepted Bigod’s oath and on 22nd December 1135, you were crowned King of England and Duke of Normandy. The Norman barons soon followed suit and soon every nearly every major baron throughout the realm, including Robert of Gloucester, half brother of Matilda and Henry’s favourite bastard son, swore fealty to you. Even his Holiness Pope Innocent II formally recognised you as king. For that period, the future had seemed rosy.

The two years since your coronation in December 1135 and spring 1138 have not been easy. There have been rebellions in the West Country, raids on the Welsh border, incursions by the Scots and last year Geoffrey of Anjou invaded Normandy, seizing several castles which he claims had been promised as part of his wife’s dowry. You had gone to Normandy to repel him, but a fight between Flemish mercenaries and Norman barons and the latter’s departure from your army had destroyed all likelihood of battle and a three year truce was signed for which you paid three thousand marks.
You have several supporters and advisors to help you in the governing of your kingdom. These include your brother Henry, Bishop of Winchester and Abbot of Glastonbury, the Beaumont twins: Earl Robert of Leicester and Count Waleran of Meulan, Gilbert of Clare and William of Ypres, commander of your Flemish mercenaries and your chief military lieutenant.
You are residing at the Tower of London, the white stone fortress built by your grandfather William the Bastard. Sitting by the warm glow of the blazing fire in the hearth of the Great Hall, your advisors approach you with several pressing issues.
“My liege,” says Gilbert of Clare. “The Welsh continue to harass our border, attack our castles and burn our land. We must respond with force and teach these savages a lesson so hard that they will never forget. I myself would be able to raise some men from my own estates to fight against them.”
Your brother disagrees. “Noble king, Baldwin de Redvers has rebelled and seized Exeter Castle and now commits most heinous acts of banditry against the citizens of the town and the surrounding lands. And may I remind you that Exeter is also the fourth city of the kingdom, and is a valuable source of income for the royal coffers. A show of force against de Redvers would be most valuable, and would serve as an example to others.”
Waleran, Count of Meulan speaks. “My lord would do well to remember that the situation in Normandy still remains unresolved, and Geoffrey of Anjou still holds several key castles along the border. If we were to decisively defeat him in battle, he and Matilda would no longer consist a threat.”
William of Ypres offers his opinion. “King David of Scotland regularly invades England. He has seized Carlisle and Newcastle, while his forces continue to pillage the land, committing unspeakable atrocities. He also claims Matilda of Anjou to be the rightful sovereign.”

It is now time for you to decide the action to be taken:

1.Follow Gilbert of Clare’s advice and pacify the Welsh border. It would secure the allegiance of barons who have been far from the centre of power and could act as a balance against Robert of Gloucester, who is proving increasingly cold and hostile.
2. Listen to your brother Henry and quash the rebellious Baldwin. You need to show your steel early on in your reign and Exeter is one of the richest ports on the English Channel.
3. Leave for Normandy and resume war with Anjou, even though the three-year truce is still in its first year. However, most of your barons have both lands in Normandy and England, and you may lose their support should they become threatened.
4. Raise an army and march against the Scots. It would rid Matilda of a political ally and you would garner support from the northern lords.
You must decide.

Nr. 2 is my choice, simply because it seems like the easiest task at the moment. Secure more income and later strike at someone else. I'd wait a good while before going to Normandy.

Do #2 it is the most safe and it will solidify your power and we all know no one can quell the welsh:charge:

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Crush Baldwin. Disregard the entire feudal customs and tradition and make a good example out of him breaking apart his body into four pulled off by four horses. :rtwno:
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Could this thread be stickied pelase? I'd like to see it stay on top. And big hurray for King Henry for starting a new interactive history ~:) Always nice to have one running here ~:cheers:

2 we cant let the rebelion grow

I am debating between 2 and 3. If one lost the barons' support, they might rebel or support rebels. However, dealing with Baldwin would show the people your character, make a good name, et cetera.

I say 2 then, one can hardly sail away when there is trouble at home...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mouzafphaerre

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Crush Baldwin. Disregard the entire feudal customs and tradition and make a good example out of him breaking apart his body into four pulled off by four horses. :rtwno:
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You nasty Turk you ~D

But I must agree with you. Crush the rebels!

Definitely number 2. Deal with one threat at a time - this campaign is the likeliest one to be quick, easy, and deliver the best returns for the minimum investment. We can use the money from Exeter to wage further wars if necessary.

Attack on Exeter

“I have decided!” you announce as you rise from your chair. “Wales, Scotland and Normandy may wait until later, but I shall, nay I cannot tolerate any nobleman who rises up against me and questions my royal prerogative. I shall march on Exeter!”
You observe the faces of those around you. Your brother wears a small smile of triumph, while Gilbert and Waleran look ashen, as their lands will continue to be harassed. Only William of Ypres is expressionless: unlike your other advisors, he has no local attachment at all. Perhaps his was the right choice after all. Yet you could not change your mind now; you have made your intentions clear, and to alter them would show yourself to be weak and of feeble will. Still, de Redvers has to be dealt with sooner rather than later.
On the morrow, you give orders for the preparations for you foray into the West Country. You send word to various lords to assemble their knights and men-at-arms at Sherborne Castle, stronghold of Bishop Roger of Salisbury, chief treasurer of your late uncle’s administration. However, you have told your barons to act in the utmost secrecy, and you are ostensibly going for a hunting trip. Surprise will be one of your chief advantages.
You say farewell to your wife and leave London with a bodyguard of twenty knights and some hundred Flemish mercenaries. You are accompanied by Henry and William of Ypres. Both Waleran of Meulan and Gilbert of Clare have left for their own, endangered lands, while Robert of Leicester still remains in the Midlands on business.
As you go from castle to castle in England, through the green rolling hills of Southern England the local populace gather acclaim you. Your kind nature and your reputation for bravery in battle has earned you the steady support of your subjects, even though to all intents and purposes your are little more than a foreign prince ruling over your English subjects. However, your wife is the descendant of Edmund Ironside, one of the last Saxon kings of England and your son Eustace will be the first King to be of the bloodline of the Cercidings since Edward the Confessor almost one hundred years ago.
After a week of travelling you arrive before the white Caen stone walls of Sherborne Castle. A large host of men, supposedly various servants and attendants of your vassals, are camped in and around the walls of the castle. After partaking in a day’s deer hunting, you assemble your barons in the great hall of the castle and hold a council. Your lords inform you that you have two hundred and fifty cavalry, mostly mounted spearmen and men-at-arms, but with a core of seventy-five knights, one hundred and fifty foot soldiers of varying degrees of experience and equipment and some sixty archers and crossbowmen. To this you add your own Flemish mercenaries and bodyguard to make a good mixed force of about six hundred men. Scouts inform you that Baldwin only has half the number of soldiers, although he remains behind the strong stonewalls of Exeter Castle.
After a feast of roasted venison from the day’s hunt, you rise from your chair at the head of the table to speak.
“My lords, I wish to thank you for fulfilling your duty to me as your suzerain by bringing your men here to act under my command and to my lord Bishop of Salisbury for allowing me the usage of his stronghold, even though circumstances do not permit him from attending our council. I would like to remind you of the position we are presently in: Baldwin de Redvers, a most traitorous and malicious man, has seized the royal castle of Exeter and has pillaged the surrounding countryside, terrorising the subjects of this realm and exacting a most heavy tax on them. I will no longer tolerate his blatant rebellion and I shall march on Exeter and teach this treacherous dog that no man defies me!”
To this the barons begin thundering their fists down on the table in applause. After a few moments you raise your hand to silence them. The hall quietens down.
“I would now be most welcome to any tactics or strategies you may have to trap this viper,” you say.
A man rises from his seat. His clothes are drab and well worn and his face bears the scars of many battles.
“Sire, de Redvers garrison is currently unprepared and has grown lax. If we make a swift strike against Exeter with some cavalry we may be able to bottle up the garrison before they even have the opportunity to gather food into the castle. It would only be a matter of weeks before the castle falls. If we despatch two hundred cavalry in the late afternoon, they would arrive before dawn when the rebels are still abed. They will be trapped!” He slams his fist against his palm to emphasise his point.
The hall erupts in applause again. Silence falls after a few minutes. However, an aged, grey haired man whose wrinkles have been padded out by layers of fat begins to speak.
“My lord,” he starts as he fingers his jerkin of blue Flanders wool. “My lord de Rougehavre, » he gestures towards the previous man, “is much to hasty and rash
in his plan to quash this rebellion. The walls of Exeter are strong and a lone watchman could easily alert the garrison of the arrival of horsemen. With the gates bolted shut, the cavalry would be repulsed with severe losses. We cannot afford to lose some of our finest soldiers. Instead we should slowly advance on Exeter, until it is finally surrounded and the rebels trapped. Then and only then will your majesty’s victory be complete.”
The rest of the barons, battle-thirsty as ever, growl their criticisms of the plan. William of Ypres, commander of your Flemings, stands. You sense the barons’ hostility to this upstart bastard from Flanders, envious of the fact that you increasingly rely on his word and advice.
“Lord King, though their lordships both have valid point to their strategies, I fear their plans will let the siege wear on too long. Even if we surprise them, there are still several weeks worth of supplies within the walls of the castle itself. I propose that we meet him on the open field.”
There are murmurings of surprise through the hall.
“How in the name of God do we bring him out into the open?” inquires a voice at the end of the hall.
“We offer him gold,” says Ypres.
There are shouts of surprise and anger.
“Gold?” shouts Lord de Rougehavre. “We would be generous to offer him his life, never mind gold. Besides, every lordling throughout the country would rise up, seeing that they are to be rewarded with gold!”
“May I be allowed to finish?” asks William acidly.
The barons quieten down.
“I do not suggest de Redvers be given gold. I suggest we entice him out of strong walls into the field. The gold should be used as a bait to lure him out and cut him down. I suggest we sent emissaries to him and offer him peace with a large amount of gold. He leaves the safety of Exeter with a large body of men, with only a few dozen men remaining in the castle. We pretend to have only a few soldiers at the meeting point and when Baldwin and his men turn up, we spring the trap. Our men swarm down from the hills and overwhelm the rebels. Meanwhile, our two hundred cavalrymen will sweep down on Exeter as it left unmanned. Seeing, their leader dead or captured, they castle will soon surrender. Then you will have a true victory that will show the Countess of Anjou’s supporters that you are a king who brooks no dissent.”
The barons are silent this time as they all look as you and wait for your decision. You turn to your brother.
“Do you have any proposals, dear brother?”
“My liege, I am a mere humble churchman who has no opinions on the art of warfare.”
It is your choice to make.

You must decide a plan to capture Exeter:
1. Send 200 horsemen to sweep down on Exeter whilst de Redvers remains unawares.
2. Slowly approach Exeter. It is safe and cautious but the siege will probably take quite a while.
3. Lure Baldwin and his men out of Exeter with an offer of gold. Ambush him whilst 200 cavalry enter the city to capture it. It is a very daring plan which would pay great rewards should it succeed.

#3 iT WOULD BE SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO COOL

1. risky cant let the calvery be cut off
2. slow we need to deal with this asap
3. risk losing the trust of the nobles

I personly say a combanation of 1-3 a feinged calvery retreat to draw them in to the feild and posibly an ambush.

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Sir Destroyer's choice would be the ideal. Even if the fake retreat fails to lure him out, it can be sold so that d'Ypre's plan can be executed as an alternative.

3 with faked retreat I say.
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Lol cool Can i join in 2?
id say 1 if i was feeling lucky,

But i would go for 3,
he sounds like a greedy person And should well be enticed by money.

Nice story developing - in a period of English history that tends to be overlooked - for most of us we skip from Hastings and arrows in the eye to whipping the French in the 100 years war.

It has to be 3 doesn't it. If he comes, he is stuffed. If he doesn't then we move towards beseiging Exeter. I assume we have the advantage in horse so we can keep tabs on the upstart and the locals will not think too much of him due to the banditry so they will help on the intellegence front as well.~:cheers:

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:book2:

I'm on an advantageous level in this one; read the "From The Norman Conquest To The Death Of John 1066 1216" volume of a well written, albeit pro-English, post Victorian History of England. It's (legally) available for free at...

GAH!!! :gah2: They changed the website and it's no more available. ~:pissed:

Here is the record anyway.

Idiots! I downloaded most of them already. ~;p
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I say 3 with the feigned retreat as well

Sorry, only the first poster can make suggestions :p. Besides, I don't think Baldwin would pursue the cavalry and would mistrust any proposals by the King.

Fight at Miller’s Ford

You inform the barons that you shall undertake William of Ypres’ plan to play a game of deception with the rebellious Baldwin and that you will ambush him. The barons whisper murmurs of dissent as once again their King takes the advice of a foreign mercenary over the council of his own vassals.
You rise from your chair.
“That is my decision,” you tell them firmly.
They fall quiet. No one will dispute the word of his sovereign. You sit back down again
“So be it,” you say. “On the morrow I shall despatch envoys to de Redvers offering him clemency and gold and that he should meet me outside Exeter where we shall discuss terms. I will go personally, and be accompanied by only my bodyguard.
Shouts of disapproval break out.
“Your majesty,” implores a nobleman. “You cannot put yourself in such danger. The consequences of your imprisonment by a rebel would be disastrous! It would ruin the kingdom and plunge it into war! The realm would descend into anarchy!”
“All the more reason why Baldwin will come personally with most of his men. He will simply be unable to resist the idea of me being his captive. Besides, since the plan is so hazardous, all the more reason for it to be well planned and executed. My lord Ypres, you may elaborate on your plan.”
William of Ypres stands and begins speaking.
“My lords, one of the chief advantages we have no is that de Redvers is currently unaware that we plan an attack against him. However, in order to maintain this secrecy and not arouse fear from Baldwin, our forces should be split up. My Lord de Rougehavre should command the cavalry, as he originally suggested.”
De Rougehavre bows his head in acceptance.
“My lord, your horsemen will leave for Bampton tomorrow evening. You will travel mostly at night, resting during the day and avoiding the major roads and towns if possible. My Lord de Roussy, how long will take two hundred cavalry to get to Bampton?”
“About two days,” replies a man at the opposite end of the table, “travelling at night and keeping away from the main roads. But no more than three, of that I am certain.”
“Three days, very well. I will command the main force of infantry. However, I will travel by ship up the coast. I will land up the river Exe at high tide during darkness. My scouts inform me that there is a small stream to the east of Exeter that runs into the Exe. The Honiton road fords it by a mill. Your majesty, I suggest you travel west to Honiton on that road and you should propose to meet de Redvers at this ford. Beside the road is a wooded hill. It is there that the infantry under my command shall hide and await the arrival of de Redvers, who will undoubtedly bring many of his men to secure your majesty’s capture. However I am informed that most of his soldiers are brigands and generally low lives, who are more suited to a knife in the back than facing real soldiers in the open. So if all goes well, your majesty will be in no danger what so ever, de Redvers will defeated and Exeter shall be freed.”
This time, however, the hall remained silent.
“Very well, it is decided,” you say. “Emissaries shall be sent tomorrow to de Redvers offering terms. I shall offer him his freedom, the castle of Bampton and one thousand pieces of gold.”
There are gasps at this last piece of information.
“A thousand pieces of gold!” cries the fat lord who favoured the cautious approach. “How will your majesty find such a sum at such short notice?”
“Your lordship need not worry yourself about being taxed any further,” you reassure him. “We shall only take a saddle bag full of gold as a sample. The rest of the bags will be filled with anything that we have on hand: brass, silver, copper, tin, iron… anything which makes a satisfying clink.
“On the day after tomorrow, Lord Ypres and his men will leave for their ships at Chesil Beach, and will sail to Sidmouth, where they shall remain anchored off shore where the ships will remain until the envoy return with a hopeful acceptance of terms. I shall press for a swift meeting, saying that I must return to London forthwith, offering him more gold if he meets me sooner rather than later. I shall go to Honiton, where I will remain until the emissaries return. Meanwhile, Lord de Rougehavre will ride to Bampton, where he too will wait for my order to attack. Is everything clear, my lords?”
The barons slowly nod their heads in agreement.
“If that is the case, I think the business of this council is concluded for tonight.”
You rise from your seat and withdraw to your bedchamber.


It is a cold and misty April morning as you wait sitting on a felled tree trunk beside the stream at Miller’s Ford. So far the plan has been going successfully: the envoys which had despatched had returned with a promise from Baldwin that he would meet you at the ford, on condition that you come personally with a force of only twenty men and with the promised treasure. The “treasure” you have assembled in a wagon. However, only one red leather saddlebag is filled with the precious gold coins, the rest is a mixture of anything you could find. However, if all goes well, de Redvers will not be in a position to examine the other bags.
Ypres’ men are, as planned, lying in wait at the wooded ridge beside the road. Although it took a few days to find enough ships to carry four hundred men with supplies and the winds were at first unfavourable, this was no matter in the end as the emissary was kept for three days before being allowed to return with the acceptance to your apparently generous proposals.
Of Rougehavre’s cavalry, however, you have received no word apart from that they left Bampton last night. You hope that he will not attack prematurely when de Redvers is still in Exeter, or too late when the survivors from Baldwin’s ambushed forced will have been able to find refuge in the city and bar the gates.
Rougehavre’s horsemen are mostly light cavalry and only comprise a score of knights, since the remainder you have kept in reserve in a wood about a mile west of the ford, to cut off de Redvers retreat.
The morning wears on steadily and there is still no sign of de Redvers. Perhaps he has grown suspicious? Perhaps he has received word of a force of five score cavalry north of Exeter and he has marched out to attack? Or has he heard reports of a moonlit landing of armed men on the river?
All these suppositions and hypotheses run through your head until you hear the hooves of horses in the distance. After a moment of fear that it is Rougehavre attacking Exeter too early, you see a score of horsemen cresting a hill and riding towards you, followed by many more. Soon over a hundred mounted soldiers appear before you, all armed to the teeth with spears, swords, axes, maces, daggers and even small wooden crossbows. As you suspected, you see that Baldwin had no intention of honouring the agreement.
You hear shouts behind you. You turn and look across the stream. Horsemen also appear there, cutting your retreat.
Then things go wrong. De Redvers’s band of some two hundred foot soldiers appears and begins to climb the hill where your own infantry are hiding. This was not part of the plan.
You quietly order you men to dismount from their horses and close together to form a wall with their kite shields. Then you walk forward a few paces towards the main force of enemy horsemen.
“Is Baldwin de Redvers among you?” you ask them.
A mailed horseman spurs his steed forward and removes his helmet.
“I am Lord Baldwin de Redvers,” he says in an arrogant voice.
“It seems that either people have been telling you lies about the martial prowess of me and my bodyguard, or that your greatly care for my safety. If not, why so many men?”
The rebel foot soldiers still climb the hill.
“If you majesty,” Baldwin says the last two words with a sneer. “If your majesty comes with us now and puts down his weapons, no blood need be spilled this day. What is your answer?”
“No, I don’t think I shall,” you say simply and turn around to join your bodyguard.
The enemy soldiers reach the top of the hill and enter the tree line. After a few moments, you hear shouts of surprise and anger. The noise of steel on steel soon follows.
“Betrayed!” cries de Redvers and launches his horse down the slope towards your men. His own cavalry soon follow him.
You run back to you knights, draw your sword, lock your shield against theirs and form a tight circle as the horsemen to your rear splash across the stream and slam into your shields.
It is a close, tight and bloody fight as crouch behind your shield, deflecting the blows of sword and axe and waiting for an opportunity to thrust your sword into the exposed breasts and thighs of the enemies.
Your men fight bravely, but the sheer number of rebels threatens to crush the small bodyguard. You glance up the hill for a moment but see no sign of your infantry appearing from their own fight among the trees.
All around you men fall, mostly enemies, but an increasing number of your own men. If Ypres’ men do not come quickly, you will be engulfed and possibly killed. Something must be done soon.
Then you hear the sound of a horn. On the place that Baldwin’s men occupied stands the knights you had kept behind to cut off de Redvers retreat.
Packed tightly together, shield edge to shield edge, knee to knee and with their lances couched under their armpits and pointed downwards, they make an organised, concerted charge.
Though outnumbered by Baldwin’s men, they smash into the unprepared rear ranks of the enemy horsemen, cutting down all in their way in an attempt to free their king.
Another horn sounds and your footsoldiers appear from the trees and charge down the hill.
It is only a few moments before the rebels turn and flee the field, leaving all their wounded behind who are soon mercilessly butchered by your own men. Your knights turn and pursue the defeated rebels. However, the latter’s horses are fresher and lighter and easily out run your heavy and tired mounts.
You stagger out from your group of exhausted bodyguards with your sword covered in blood. William of Ypres and your brother appear, his clergyman’s clothes unstained by any blood. Ypres dismounts.
“My lord, are you all right?” he asks you.
“Yes, I am. By God, for a moment I thought I would die.”
“I am deeply sorry, my liege. The enemy soldiers fought hard and bravely against our infantry.”
“Never mind. We must ride for Exeter forthwith.”

The sight of Exeter stopped you in your tracks. Inside the red sandstone walls, smoke billowed up into the air in several places, especially around the castle. You cursed. Couldn’t Rougehavre control his men? He was supposed to free the citizens from the tyranny of de Redvers and his bandits, not burn their homes and loot the city. You spur you horse on to the city.
You enter the city by its main gate, the heavy doors surprisingly swung open. As you progress through the streets, you see no sign of Rougehavre’s cavalry, only the corpses of de Redvers men hacked to pieces. However, you see more and more citizens, many of them armed. When they see you and your royal device painted on your dented shield, they begin to cheer.
As you approach the castle, you suddenly realise what has happened: the citizens of Exeter, seeing their occupiers, beaten and retreating, rose up against them and attacked them in the streets as the rebels desperately tried to reach the safety of the castle. The fires were probably started by accident, as often happened during riots.
You arrive in front of the red castle walls and observe the situation before you. Two ladders lean against the wall, up which climb a mixed force of citizens and knights who were sent to pursue Baldwin. Of Rougehavre and his men there was no sign.
You turn towards the Flemish mercenaries following up behind you.
“Well, what are you waiting for?” you call out to them. “We have a castle to take!”
You dismount from your horse, draw your still bloodied sword and order some of the townsfolk watching the assault to gather some ladders and rest them against the wall. This done, you give a great cry and lead the mercenaries up the rungs.
When you reach the top, you thrust your sword into a rebel’s bowels and jump onto the battlements, followed by several Flemings. After a few minutes fighting, you clear your part of the battlements and attack the remaining rebels. Seeing this new onslaught of well armoured men, the rebels soon crumble and flee for their last refuge: the keep.
You climb down from the walls and order your men to pull of the crossbar and open the gates. A horde of foot soldiers and townspeople swarm through the gates and launch themselves against the keep. Many of the citizens carry axes, and hack open the bolted door. Then follows the awful carnage of taking a keep by storm: tight, bloody fights in corridors and up stairways. In one bedchamber you find several women and children and order some mercenaries to guard them from vengeful citizens. Finally, you reach the rooftop, and ask for your banner to be brought up. You pick up Baldwin’s flag, with you throw of the keep and replace it with your own. Your men and the townsfolk give a great cheer. The rebellion is suppressed and Exeter is once again yours.

Baldwin is found hiding under a table in the great hall and delivered before you bound in chains. You are asked to pass judgement on the defeated rebel.
“Noble king,” says one of the townsfolk. “This man has usurped your majesty’s power and committed acts of murder and robbery against your majesty’s subjects. We ask that justice be done; we ask that this man be executed. His death would serve as an example to others that your majesty is not someone to be defied. ”
Henry leans towards you and speaks softly in your ear. “Dear brother, perhaps you should follow Christ’s teachings and show a little mercy to this rebel. A cell in some remote castle would remove him from any trouble and your soul would remain unblemished before the Almighty. Imprisonment would be a suitable punishment for de Redvers.”
A woman bursts out of the keep and runs towards the place where you are seated. Her feet are bare and her hair is unbound. She flings herself at your feet.
“Most gracious sovereign,” she pleads. “Please, I beg for you mercy on my husband’s soul. He is defeated now; he no longer poses any danger. I ask only that your majesty may spare his life and have pity on my children and me. I beg that he be sent into exile.”
At this the wretched woman bursts into tears and is dragged away by your soldiers.
Then there is the question of the forty remaining rebels who have been fortunate enough not be killed immediately. The townsfolk once again favour their execution, but William of Ypres asks for their forgiveness.
“My lord, they no longer pose a threat and to kill them would be cruel and tyrannical. Your majesty does not want to lose the love of your subjects in such a fashion.”
It begins to thunder and the dark clouds discharge their heavy load of rain.
“I shall give my verdict tomorrow,” you say.

That evening, a banquet is given in your honour at the Guild Hall, where the richest and most prominent burghers toast your health.
However, there are certain issues to be resolved.
A richly dressed merchant approaches you.
“My liege, there is a certain concern over the disposal of the funds which you have taken back from de Redvers. Much of it is from the taxes that he most maliciously extracted from many of the burghers here, including myself. If your majesty would return these moneys to us, I and many other merchants would be most grateful.”
“But are there not many of my subjects around here who are now homeless, with their land pillaged and their purses stolen?” you ask. “Does Christ not ask that we feed and clothe the poor and the helpless?”
“Yes, but…”
“I shall think on it,” you reply curtly.
The merchant slinks away like a whipped dog.
Your brother walks towards you and whispers in your ear.
“Stephen, as you perhaps now, the royal treasury has dwindled much since your accession to the throne. The gold seized would do much to replenish it and pay the mercenaries you have hired for this expedition.”
You repeat that you will consider the proposals and pour some more wine.
It is then that someone bursts into the hall. He is clad in mail and his drenched cloak clings to his body.
“My lord de Rougehavre,” you say with a hint of astonishment. “We were awaiting you this morning. Fortunately the good people of Exeter were able to complete your task, and very effectively I might add. May I enquire where you were?”
It is a few seconds before he speaks.
“We got lost,” he says angrily.
“Lost?”
“We followed the wrong star when we left Bampton. By morning we ended up many miles to the west of Exeter.”
You bite your lip to prevent yourself from smiling.
“It seems you may need to be taught a few things about stars from sailors, my lord. Anyway, there is good wine and some fine beef here, if you are hungry.”
“However, my liege, there is further news. My brother-in-law, Lord Gilbert fitz Gilbert of Clare, wishes to inform you that his forces have met defeat against the Welsh and that the situation is becoming grave. I also heard that the Scots press further into your majesty’s realm, while I have just learned from a ship’s captain fresh in from Normandy that Geoffrey of Anjou has broken his truce and reached as far as Touques. All regions request your majesty’s attention immediately.”
Once again, there are many decisions to be made.

A: the fate of Baldwin de Redvers.
1. Execute him.
2. Imprison him.
3. Exile him

B: the fate of the rebel prisoners.
1. Execution.
2. Pardon.

C: the disposal of the captured funds.
1. Give it back to the burghers. They would be vary grateful and might be willing to lend you money in the future.
2. Give it to the worst victims of the rebellion. It would gain you the support of the common citizenry of Exeter.
3. Add it to the Royal Treasury, which is in bad need of funds and the mercenaries need paying

D: your next move.
1. Against the Welsh. It would bring badly needed support for Gilbert of Clare.
2. Against the Scots. A victory against them would pacify this front for many years.
3. Sail for Normandy. Defeating Geoffrey of Anjou would negate Matilda’s chance of raising support in England.
Note: for D you can choose to go personally to one region, and sending somebody else to another region to act as your deputy. You can also send reinforcements instead of going in person.

Execute Baldwin... This will make the citizens happy.

Pardon the rebels... This will show that you are a kind ruler, yet firm (see A).

Return the money to the burghers... Money are always valuable, and rich merchants always rub off on the citizens. Strong economy will help you get taxes later (see D).

Personally see to it that the Welsh are crushed. Send Ypres to stop Geoffrey, or at least oppose him long enough for you to come and end it. You need to stop what appears to be a strong Welsh incursion. The Welsh border is richer than the Scottish border and is much closer than Normandy, besides the castles up north are much stronger, they will last longer and the local nobles are stronger than those near the Welsh border. If you defeat the Welsh you might very well gain some money as well as new, cheap and quite good troops (Welsh longbowmen).
Sending Ypres to Normandy will do a lot to ease the nobles (if he is not around he will not be able to influence you) while his keen intellect will go a long way to oppose Geoffrey, win/win scenario. Later you can deal with Geoffrey.

A.1
B.2
c.1
d. same as kraxis
When excuting baldwin make a point that it isn't just his rebellion that he is being killed for but the mistreatment of the commen people. With this it will show that you care about the common people in place of the gold.

As usual Kraxis is on the money. The only thing I might add would be that I would send De Rougehavre with Ypres - his getting lost sounds a bit too convienent so removing him from the centre of the action would deminish his influence.

Finally - congratulations on the narrative - I read the last episode not knowing what would happen - truely exciting and it caught the feeling of the time excellently.~:cheers:

.
Although only the first poster can make decisions, I can't keep my mouth shut, so here you go:

A ― 1. Execute him the Tudor way as I wrote in the first reply, although it doesn't fit in the feudal Norman etiquette. :rtwno: That would make a good example. (+2 dread. ~D)

B​ ― 1. Hang them. The commoners should also know the price of teaming with the wrong side. :rtwno:

C ― 2 & 1. A small amount to cover the most urgent expenses for the most affected and the rest to the bourgeois. Buy the support of both the commons and the gentry. The improved economy and taxes will repay it in the future. :rtwyes:

D ― Rush to Wales and send d'Ypres on to Normandie.

I'm unsure of what to do with de Rougehavre. Keeping him at hand might be better, at the cost of letting his influence at home be, than sending him away, which bears the risk of him switch sides and join the Angevines.
.

Dont attack the welsh u swines :( Were just a lowly rabble of bandits,
Leave us alone
I dont like this story now. :)

Although Great naration has to be admitted,
as stated above

A: the fate of Baldwin de Redvers.
1. Execute him.

Rebel ring leaders should Always be delt with In this manner.


B: the fate of the rebel prisoners.
2. Pardon.
showin compasion towards these men who were following orders may earn us their loyalty

C: the disposal of the captured funds.
3. Add it to the Royal Treasury, which is in bad need of funds and the mercenaries need paying

If the mercenarys dont get payed then our forces will shurley become depleted.

D: your next move.
2.Send Ypres and Rougehavre..."can i do that?" Against the Scots. A victory against them would pacify this front for many years.

So no need to attack poor old wales (my biast towards wales is probably clouding my judgment)

3. set Sail for Normandy your self. Defeating Geoffrey of Anjou would negate Matilda’s chance of raising support in England.

I feel we need to Crush this threat before it becomes a real problem.
Also by going there in person our presence In normandy, will Surley cause rebelious talk to dwindle.

Nahhh... Burn Wales!~;)

Concerning De Rougehavre I agree that he is either incompetent or against us. But sending him away might only make it worse. Given the resentment towards Ypres might given him the chance he wants. Kill Ypres and gain popularity of the nobles, settle with Geoffrey and now support Matilda. Great...

Remember the saying "keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer". This is a case where it fits.

If he is just incompetent he might destroy what chances Ypres has of handling the situation. If he is close to you he can serve as a nice bodyguard or a reserve. His strength in melee should not be ignored, and we need to play towards our strengths and in this case it would be that.

A1, B1, C2, D1

.
My liege,

Should your highness fail to provide us with the continuation of the story, we humble servants shall become determined to look to our own needs in our wicked way.

:knight:
.

No, no I'm still writing, don't worry. Just looking for a Welsh castle...
And I have been quite busy today.

Not wales !.... Our castles Suck, Youd be hard pushed to call them a Tower compared to the english castles, GAH,
I hate history Even when i could have had a say in it the welsh get it :(

you touch Wales I break you Henry You Anglo-Saxon Honkey:knight: ~;p

Nothing wrong with bashing Wales - it's what we did for most of the Middle Ages - sort of a training camp to get to match fitness for stuffing the French over and over again. So come on Stephen, lure those men of the valleys into an ambush with some particuarly attractive sheep, then we can get on with the real job of beating the French.

Some might say I have been influenced by all those defeats on the rugby pitch in the 1970's and 80's us englishmen had to endure, but I say not!!~:cheers:

Well historically the Welsh were very hard to catch in open battle, so I'll see what happens whe the writing spirit takes over...

Ok, the story continues:
Note: some people may find the following scenes disturbing
(Yes, I know you'll want to read it even more now!)~D
Departure for Wales

You awake next morning in the mayor of Exeter’s white stone mansion to find the storm has ceased and left behind a beautiful sunny spring morning. After being dressed by your servants, you go downstairs and eat a light breakfast of fresh fruit.
“My Lord King, it is time for mass,” one of your servants reminds you.
You ride to Exeter’s great sandstone cathedral, where your brother, Ypres, the barons, the burghers and many townspeople are all gathered for a Te Deum, in thanksgiving for the deliverance of Exeter from the hands of rebels and the victory of the King’s soldiers. Your brother even ascends to the pulpit and gives a sermon on how the Lord has put every man in his place and that to rise against one’s King is to commit a sin against the Almighty Himself. A great “Amen” sounds throughout the cathedral.
After mass, you proceed through the great oak doors and form a great assembly outside on the green. You sit on your throne on top of a makeshift dais, and pronounce your verdict on the fate of de Redvers and his men, who are kneeling down, there hands tied behind their backs. You glimpse de Redvers’ wife in the forefront of the crowd.
You rise from your chair and begin to speak
“Lords, ladies, citizens of Exeter! After much thought and deliberation, I have decided my verdict on these men here assembled.”
The crowd holds their breath.
“Baldwin de Redvers,” you say. “Through the power invested in me by God, I hereby find you guilty of murder, robbery, rape and treason against your lawful sovereign. As befits such evil crimes, you will be executed by hanging, drawing and quartering. All your lands, fiefs, holdings and castles are hereby the property of the Crown.”
Baldwin’s wife screams and falls to her knees, crying. The traitor only keeps an expression of arrogant contempt, as though any judgement made by you will have no effect on him.
“May the Lord have mercy on you soul,” you murmur under your breath.
As de Redvers wife is led away, cheers break out from the crowd. Justice has been done, they shout.
You then pardon the rebels, on condition that they swear an oath of absolute loyalty towards and agree to fight for you in your next campaign. You say that if you find their service satisfying, you will allow them be free. They all swear the oath.
After the assembly, another feast is given in your honour at the Guild Hall. After the endless courses of meat, fish, vegetables and many other foods, you rise from your seat and call for silence.
“My lord barons and burghers, grave news of repeated raids on the Welsh border compel me to travel there and raise an army to crush this impudent scoundrels. I will depart tomorrow morning for the Marcher Lands.
“I wish to thank the barons for answering my call and furnishing soldiers for my command for this campaign. However, I shall no longer be needing your support for the present time, and you may all return to your homes to watch the corn ripen. For the coming campaign, I will enlist the support of your neighbours to the North, who have not yet met their obligations towards as their suzerain. However, I may need your services again in the near future, either at home or abroad. Like the Devil, traitors and enemies are omnipresent. Once again, I thank all of you for your brave service.”
Afterwards, you summon the Abbot of a nearby monastery for a quiet talk.
“Father,” you say. “I shall grant your house a small sum so that you have the money to feed, clothe and house the worst victims of this rebellion. Will you and you monastery be willing to take on this necessary burden?”
“Noble King, it would be an honour,” the Abbot says.
He bows and walks away.
You inform the merchant who approached you yesterday that the funds captured will be returned to the much-wronged burghers of Exeter.
“May the Lord bless your majesty for all eternity,” he replies with a broad smile.
You then ask a servant if he has seen Lord de Rougehavre.
“My lord de Rougehavre is outside in the yard, your majesty” he informs you.
You go outside to the yard where you find de Rougehavre, his cloak fastened and his riding boots on, waiting for his groom to bring him his horse.
“Leaving so soon, my lord?” you enquire in a light-heated tone.
“Err, yes, err immediately. Business to be attended to at home,” he laughs falsely.
“But my lord, you haven’t even seen any battle,” you say.
“Yes, but I brought my men for your service and you have dismissed all the barons,” he says nervously.
“But, my lord, all the other barons fought. You, on the other hand, got err, lost, as you said yesterday.”
De Rougehavre looks uneasy. His face is pale, and he fidgets endlessly with this cloak.
“My Lord de Rougehavre,” you lean forward and lower your voice. “There is talk among the other lords and knights that you panicked at the last moment and got lost deliberately.”
Rougehavre’s expression changes to outrage.
“I know these are most horrible lies,” you say, “but nonetheless, it would be foolish to ignore them, at the risk of making other people believe these falsities.”
“Yes, but-.”
“My Lord de Rougehavre, what say you to accompanying me with your men on my forthcoming campaign against the Welsh? It would give you a chance to prove these malicious slanders are false and there is much booty and land to be won. And you horsemen would be most invaluable against this band of bandits. I give you my word that I shall release in time for the harvest. So, what say you?”
He gulps. “My liege, it would be an honour.”
You smile. “Excellent. Do you wish my servants to help you unpack?”
De Rougehavre mutters a grudging thanks and you turn away, pleased with yourself that you handled that situation ably. You are not entirely sure of his loyalty and besides; you need his eighty or so cavalry in the coming campaign.
A servant approaches you and informs you that it is time for the execution of de Redvers.

A great crowd is yet again assembled to watch the execution of their former lord. This time, however, the event will take place before the castle, which now formally belongs to you, as does much of the Isle of Wight and the vital castle at Carisbrooke.
A rickety wooden scaffold has been erected on the green, and you have taken your seat on top of the battlements that had been the scene of carnage only the day before. As you sit down in your seat, the crowd beneath gives a great cheer. However, this soon turns to booing as the castle gates are opened and Baldwin is led out, dragged through the mud by a pair of horses, feet first. Stones and a whole manner of filth are pelted at the rebel, along with curses and insults.
Baldwin reaches the scaffold, his feet are unbound and he is led up the stairs to the platform. When he reaches the top, a noose is tied round his neck and he is lifted into the air, hanging. His body jerks and twitches in the air. He is dancing the hangman’s jig. Just as his body begins to calm, he is cut down at the rope is loosened. De Redvers gulps for air.
He is then placed on a large wooden table and his limbs are tied to four posts and each end. The executioner cuts open Baldwin’s jerking, takes a huge knife, and carves his chest open. You cringe as de Redvers’ deafening cries sound. But you must force yourself to watch. Not to do so would be to invite scorn that the King himself is not happy with his own justice.
The executioner takes a smaller knife and cuts away the traitor’s intestines, which he removes and places on a burning fire. Baldwin’s screams have turned to piteous whimpers of pain. You can see the life draining out of him as his genitals are cleaved off and finally, his feebly beating heart is removed. His agony is at an end. However, the executioner’s task is not yet completed and with an axe he severs the still limbs and ultimately, the head.
As the masked executioner wraps up his macabre equipment, many of the crowd push forward to dip rags and handkerchiefs in the pools of the traitor’s blood to take as keepsakes. The limbs and the head are wrapped up individually in cloth and are left to you for you to distribute them throughout the land as a grim reminder of the fate of those who rebel against their monarch. You decide to leave an arm here in Exeter, where he committed his foul deeds and send the other arm to London, a leg to Dover and a leg to York. The head you order to be impaled on a lance and it will serve as a gruesome banner when you ride through Robert of Gloucester’s lands, and finally into Wales.

You leave early next morning, escorted only by your small retinue of servants, the survivors of your bodyguard, your brother Henry and Lord de Rougehavre with his men. The pardoned rebels who have sworn their oath of personal allegiance you will follow you later, accompanied by fifty men from Exeter who have enlisted in your service. They will meet you in Monmouth, which will be your main base for the duration of the campaign and the assembly point for the barons and their vassals of the region.
You had bid farewell to William of Ypres the day before and given him orders to sail for Normandy with all the Flemish mercenaries who had fought in the crushing of de Redvers’ rebellion. He is to act as your representative in France until you are ready to deal with the Angevins personally, and you have given him money for the hiring of more mercenaries should he need them and orders to the Norman barons that they must obey his orders, or face the full might of your fury. After the fate of Baldwin, you are fairly certain that they will comply.
Your journey through Somerset is brisk as you party is entirely mounted and you arrive in Taunton by noon on the next day. You then ride across the marshes of Somerset, until reaching the great port city of Bristol, stronghold of Robert of Gloucester. Your reception here is colder, more hostile, reflecting their lord’s attitude towards you. They stare in silence at the rotting head of Baldwin de Redvers and cross themselves.
From Bristol you take ship down the Avon and climb up the Severn Estuary until you reach the mouth of the river Wye and ride the final twenty miles to Monmouth. You reach the town about a week after setting off from Exeter.
The small border town is full of camp followers, soldiers, knights and barons from the counties of Worcester, Hereford, Gloucester and also the Welsh Marshes. Also present are the many civilians who have fled the ravaged borders to seek refuge in the city.
Ever since conquest of England by your grandfather William the Bastard and the subsequent advance into Southern Wales, this area has been a hotspot of skirmishes and raids. King William tried to deal with the problem by entrusting local power to lords such as Robert of Montgomery, giving them a great deal of independence to deal with the wild Welsh, and these lords thus rely little on your word or command. Furthermore, two of your predecessors, King William II and King Henry, both had little personal success on the Marches, leaving behind an unsatisfactory situation.


A council of war is held in the Great Hall of Monmouth Castle. Robert Beaumont, Earl of Leicester is present, as is Gilbert of Clare. Robert of Gloucester is absent, apparently sick with the flux. One of the Marcher barons gives a report on the state of affairs: the Welsh harass the border, burning castles and villages, stealing cattle and sheep, slaughtering civilians and ravaging the land. Their raids reach deeper into your realm, growing bolder and larger in size. Efforts to retaliate against the Welsh have proved useless. They come, they burn, and they leave. He also informs you of your troop numbers: five hundred spearmen, one hundred and fifty men-at-arms, one hundred and twenty archers and a hundred knights. You ask for the barons for their opinions and the course of action to be taken.
Robert of Leicester speaks. “My liege, these savages have no knowledge of the art of siege warfare. If we build more forts and castles along the frontier we will build an impenetrable wall. Properly garrisoned, any hint of incursion will be detected and properly repulsed.”
“I disagree,” says Gilbert of Clare. “The Welsh are cunning and wily. They can quite easily slip through any barrier. These castles and forts will be useless. Instead I propose that we emulate the Welsh. We should split up our forces into small, mobile bands that can catch these slippery eels. Our men are better armed, better trained and better disciplined than these bandits. The Welsh will quail before our real soldiers.”
The lord who summed up the current situation, Lord Roger Fitzwilliam, rises and speaks. “My lord, the Welsh are currently moving from their winter lands into their summer ones. The crops are still in the fields, and their food is growing short. Furthermore, if we capture the Welsh stronghold at Dinas Bran, the local Welsh chieftains will be forced to bow down and swear fealty to you. If we advance up the Wye valley, we can burn the lands and crops of the Welsh, starving them and it will ultimately force them to surrender. The fortress of Dinas Bran will also serve as an excellent strongpoint to subdue these rebellious savages.”
A baron from Gloucester gives his opinion. “Your majesty, the cost of a major campaign in Wales and even the construction of castles and forts will be very costly to the royal coffers. Perhaps if we give the Welsh some gold they will make peace, for a while at least, leaving your majesty to deal with more pressing matters elsewhere.”
The fate of the Welsh Marches resides in your hands.

A The strategy for the Welsh campaign:
1.Build a string of fortifications to seal off the Marches from Welsh incursions.
2.Split your army into small, mobile troops to respond to the guerrilla tactics of the Welsh.
3. Advance into the heart of Wales, burning the land and capturing the castle of Dinas Bran, in an effort to bring the Welsh to terms
4. Pay the Welsh money for peace, so that you may attend for more urgent matters, such as in Scotland or Normandy.

.
4 ― :charge:

GAH! Wrong option, I meant 3: Attack, burn, pillage, loot, hang, cut!... :charge:
.

I was inclined to go with 2, but given that we do not know how strong these incursions have been, but do know that they have been getting stronger (thus can't be very small), I think it would be risky... It seems 3 is the only viable option since both 1 and 4 cost more money than we have currently, and it is rightly accessed that castles and forts will have little impact, also they take some time to build.

With 3 we might force the Welsh to defend themselves, a fight we are bound to win due to superior training and equipment. Also, this way we can gain some needed funds from looting (and foraging will help keep costs down). Lastly when/if the Welsh give in they might be suitably inclined to grant you some light infantry and good archers.
The only problem this has is that they might just evade us and make up for their losses by raiding, or they might attempt an ambush, which could be dangerous if they have suitable numbers.

I think 3 - to bring the Welsh to battle. We must be aware of the chance of ambush, so keep the army close and well prepared. I would be tempted to level Dinas Bran and then withdraw back to England. With no crops they must attack us or increase their raiding - making it easier to catch them. If that doesn't work, perhaps an attractive herd of sheep could be used as a lure~:cheers:

3, most certainly 3

Oh well, the Welsh members have lost there chance to prevent the ravaging of their country.~D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by King Henry V

Oh well, the Welsh members have lost there chance to prevent the ravaging of their country.~D

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Obviously a new flock in town~:joker:

Hmmm... this seems like a case of a battle where the Welsh didn't turn up to defend their homes. "Huh, was that today?"~;p

Quote:

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Originally Posted by King Henry V

Oh well, the Welsh members have lost there chance to prevent the ravaging of their country.~D

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you will pay:duel:

The choice is decided, what value do my words carry?

A Medieval world requires a Medieval ways of war: 3, with the majority I go.

With love or fear, you have to choose how your reputation is made. And fear is always safer. How do you inspire fear? Simple... :devil:

Nice story, King Henry. ~:)

We must show the Welsh our strenght, paying them off would only convince them that we are cowards and they would soon attack again. It is time to be as ruthless as they are, kill the savages, show them no mercy!
...God wills it!(just had to...)


...option no.3

The great hall is silent. All the barons wait upon your decision. You rise from your seat. You address the council.
“My lords, the time has come for action to be taken against the Welsh. Their incessant raiding has brought great destruction and death upon the realm and I will no longer allow such acts to continue. To this aim I shall take command of an army, and march on the Welsh stronghold of Dinas Bran. I will wreak the Almighty’s vengeance on these savages and teach them a lesson that they will never forget. For centuries to come, they will remember never to enter the kingdom of England.”
Cheers erupt. A campaign into the heart of enemy territory will gain much in the way of booty and the thirst for retribution of the Marcher lords will be slaked.
On the morrow, the usual preparation for a campaign is made. Bread is baked, blades are sharpened, arrows are made and even more men are called up. All told, you have an army of about fourteen hundred men to lead into Wales, including de Redvers former soldiers and a troop of soldiers formed and equipped by the citizens of Exeter. Though it is not a great army, it should be enough for a brief foray into Wales.
However, there are still certain issues be resolved.
Firstly, there is the question of supply. The Marcher Lords favour that the army lives off the land and takes any food that it will find. The harvest is still in the fields and you may find enough food there to sustain your forces. This will reduce the cost of the expedition and make supplies easier.
However, Robert Beaumont, Earl of Leicester, prefers the army to be supplied from your cities such as Monmouth, Hereford and Shrewsbury, as well the many forts and castles which line the border. Enough food should be guaranteed, but the Treasury will have to spend more money for the supplies.
Secondly, the route that your army will take is still undecided. There are two possible roads for an army to march to Dinas Bran:
Advance up the Wye valley. This river that flows through Monmouth and Hereford, has its source high in the Welsh mountains. However, most of its course is a fairly gentle ascent up its broad valley. However, it is quite a long journey, giving the Welsh more time to prepare.
March up the Usk valley. This river also has its source in the Black mountains, but the valley is much narrower and its slope steeper. However, it a much shorter march from the last outposts of your kingdom to Dinas Bran and could catch the Welsh off their guard.

The former for supply -- forage from the damned Welsh.
The latter for route -- take the damned Welsh off guard.

If you except to live off of the land, the Welsh could just use scorched earth tactics on you and starve you. Bring supplies.

Do the slow ascent. Someone named Manuel once marched through a narrow pass to save time. Something called Myriokephalon happened.

Supplies 1 we need to move fast and supplies trains would slow us down, leaving us open to hit and run attacks from the welsh. Plus the supplies would probly be lost in a couple raids.

Rout 1 The other is too risky if we are caught in an ambush

.
The Welsh can't really do much scorched earth since they need the harvest themselves more than us. So, we should use the local supplies, which will have the side effect of being able to starve the enemy on their soil. Take what we need and destroy the rest.

Take the longer route. We will be vulnerable to enemy ambuscade in their land already.
.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by King Malcolm

The former for supply -- forage from the damned Welsh.
The latter for route -- take the damned Welsh off guard.

---

.
Don't believe him, he's a Welsh spy! :rtwno:

~D
.

GAH!

You could have waited for me,
Ive been busy

:(

You should have
1.Build a string of fortifications to seal off the Marches from Welsh incursions.

Now your burning and pilaging.

GAH!!!

"wheres my pot of Woad and my Short bow"


Trying to stay Neutrall now.

Personally I would Not Risk supplys.
The troops may get Restless not knowing If they will eat properly Once in to wales,
There should Always be A supply of food available. If there is food in the feilds Then by all means Eat that as well,

But Not seting up a supply rout becous Your Think you can get food when you arive. Is not worth the risk.

And id go the longer way round,

Its likley that a welsh scout May spot us traveling up The steeper slopes In the valley and I dont Relish the idea of being Down hill to a lot of welsh gurillas Who have Short bows,
And also be unable to flank them

yes but it is a bigger blow to moral if the supply trains are destroyed. Which i dont doubt the french could do while we have to drag supplies up passes crossing rivers and what not. plus we have added mobility without them. So it all balances out.
Edit: I hate leaving supplys behind but we cant afford them now

What a wise council

Now for my opinion:
The supply question is a hard one. Leaving without food and such into relative unknown territory is always risky. On the other hand, as some said, the supply train will slow the expidition down to much. A third option is to go ahead and let the supplies catch up with the main force when they prepare for the battle. Allthough a valid compromise ( not in the least for the treasury) it would, in my opinion, take to many men to guard and escort it.

On the question about which rout to take, I'm in favor of the long safe rout. We will venture in relative unknown lands. The Welch, who knows the area well and uses guerilla like warfare, will be eager to ambush the English.

Supplies - live off the land - should be plenty of sheep around, the welsh will not kill those, they are like family. Also relatively this is not a long distance to go - this is Welsh Wales, not the sahara we are crossing.

Route - has to be the long safe way - we want them to know we are coming, because we want them to come and fight.:san_laugh:

To march up the Wye would take about another one to two days march, as there is also a plateau to cross between Dinas Bran and the river.

Taking no supplies only works when you catch the Welsh by surprise, else they will destroy the crops and take away their flocks. Similarly taking the fast route but being lumbered down with supplies won't work either.

Since Wales is ideal for guerrilla tactics, I would want to spend as little times as possible there. The question is: can we take Dinas Bran in a short span of time? If a siege is likely, I would go well supplied and by the long route. If it is not: take the short route and minimal supplies.

Great idea, King Henry V!

Dinas Bran is situated high on a hill. It is made of stone, though the last reports said there were not in a good state of repair. However, this might not be the case if the Welsh have time to refortify it again.

I just want to let you all know that my Welsh history is quite poor, so please excuse me if I make any mistakes.:san_embarassed: The same goes for my knowledge of 12th century banners and coat of arms, so I will probably make mistakes about the devices of King Stephen and the barons. However, if anyone knows anything about either points, please don't hesitate to post.

Dont worry
Il forgive you if you make mistakes :)


But remember That the welsh Defeted the english and vanquished them to the sea and lived happily ever after :D "honest Guv.. "
(worth a try)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Just A Girl

But remember That the welsh Defeted the english and vanquished them to the sea and lived happily ever after :D "honest Guv.. "
(worth a try)

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I thought the only time that happened was at Twickenham and the Arms Park in the 1970's. Also I only remember the defeats, not the happy ever after!!:san_rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by King Henry V

Dinas Bran is situated high on a hill. It is made of stone, though the last reports said there were not in a good state of repair. However, this might not be the case if the Welsh have time to refortify it again.

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Thank you.

Well, since the decision to attack has already been made, I opt for a quick advance without supplies through the fast route. Time is not on our side here, so lets not waste it.

Not that my vote make a difference, anyway ~D .

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Originally Posted by Ludens

Thank you.

Well, since the decision to attack has already been made, I opt for a quick advance without supplies through the fast route. Time is not on our side here, so lets not waste it.

Not that my vote make a difference, anyway ~D .

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Lol none of mine have yet either,
But its fun to voice your oppinion,

I've missed the chance to comment on the last few developments here, so I'll do so quickly now:

1. I would actually do a combination of the two supply options: bring some supplies, but also take what you can from the Welsh. I doubt they'll use scorched earth tactic, but even so it would be unwise to rely on foraging for all our supplies.

2. I would take the Wye valley, the longer but safer route. Two or three days difference is not too significant, and the risk of an ambush in the narrower valley is far too great.

I am waiting impatiently for the next chapter of this tale. Common don't leave us hanging right in the middle of the story

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Originally Posted by Mr White

I am waiting impatiently for the next chapter of this tale. Common don't leave us hanging right in the middle of the story

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.
+1 :yes:
.

Now, now. Where is King Henry? He should not leave the Welsh waiting. :san_undecided:


...


+1 :san_grin:

I'm on a much deserved holiday in Vienna, still recovering from my exam period! This thread is very much alive, just have been struck with a cold for the past few days and I did not really feel like writing. Also I had forgotten my password for the net cafe account, so I had to sort that out! The final piecfe of the chapter is being written, but by hand as I am not going to spend valuable internet time thinking about ideas, so I will have to type the last bit on to the computer´, which should happen in the next two days or so.

A cold? A thing I know at the moment... *roark*

Good to see you back if only for this comment.

see Henry you dont mess with the welsh https://img520.imageshack.us/img520/...lagf7hy.th.gif

No woad painted, sheep loving spirit is going to keep me down, so here's the continuation. Sorry for the delay.:embarassedg:
You depart with your army at dawn the next day, taking the road to Hereford. You have sent messengers ahead to order supplies to be prepared, which will be assembled at Hereford that is to be your main base for this sally. Your brother gawps at the money this will cost the Treasury, but reluctantly agrees.
You arrive in Hereford after two days march, and you are pleased to see the many bags of corn, dried meat and fish, hard cheese and twice-baked bread. There are scores of heavy carts to carry all the food, and heavy shire horses to pull them. A score of creditors harass Henry for payment, which he grumblingly gives. The gold you have captured from Baldwin de Redvers is fast diminishing.
On the morning of your departure, you attend mass in the cathedral, followed by a blessing of the army by the Bishop of Hereford. Your army leaves the city at noon, making sure that many of the camp followers are left behind. You bid farewell to your brother. He is to stay behind at Hereford to oversee the despatching of supplies, as his counsel will not be of much use for this military affair. You will miss him, as he has been one of your staunchest supporters, especially in the beginning of your reign. You send the severed head of de Redvers to Gloucester with your complements to Earl Robert.
As you near the border, the land becomes more and more desolated. Scores of villages and forts lie burned, the fields blackened and the livestock slaughtered, the rotting carcasses attracting swarms of flies to feast on the putrid flesh. More and more refugees flee from the borders. They all tell the same accounts of death, rape and robbery.
You spend the evening at one of the isolated border forts that dot the region. You can see from the charred section of the wooden walls that the castle has not been saved from attack. The castellan is a tanned old soldier, a veteran of the wars in Normandy against the King of France, the Angevins and William Clito, son of the late Duke Robert of Normandy, claimant to the throne of England. He offers you some advice for fighting against the Welsh along with a thin vegetable stew.
“Sire, be wary of those Welsh out there. They will be on their own ground; they will know the lie of the land and will use that advantage to the utmost. They may be savages, but they can be hardy fighters. Do not underestimate them, nor their bow. We have few archers who can match them in speed and accuracy.”
After another two days you finally cross the border into Wales and begin the slow ascent up the valley. You cross the Wye, swollen by heavy rain and the melting mountain snow, at an old timber bridge that has miraculously survived the retaliations made by the Marcher Lords. Indeed, during your first day’s march into Welsh territory, the desolated land seems little different from that on the English side of the bloody frontier. And it hardly ever stops raining. You sometimes wish you were back in Blois or Normandy.
As you advance deeper and deeper into Wales, you decide to array your army into a more cautious formation. The infantry and the archers form the centre, protecting the precious supply wagons from attack. Forming the vanguard is a mixed body of knights and light cavalry, lead by a pair of experienced English guides who have a knowledge of the territory. De Rougehavre’s horsemen flank the column, protecting the ever-vulnerable sides from ambush. Your rear is protected by the mounted mercenary spearmen. You also have a German engineer and several carpenters to build siege engines for the predicted assault on Dinas Bran.
There is little human presence, not even any Welsh scouts or bowmen to pester the army. However, the more you advance, the more you get a feeling of being observed.
You have now entered the Welsh lands that have so far remained untouched by border warfare. You decide to make up a force of 40 light horsemen, 20 knights. This force will advance ahead of the main column, fanning out to capture any more food and ravage the land ahead. They return after an afternoon’s pillaging laden with food and plunder.
You awake next morning at dawn and climb a nearby hill to get a vantage point for the day’s march. Palls of black smoke rise up into the sky over the horizon. Th Welsh are burning their own land, in an attempt to deprive you of food. Soon all that your forages find is the scorched black earth left behind by the retreating Welsh. The closest you come to any fighting is when a tiny band of archers decide to shoot their arrows at you. They thud harmlessly into the ground, injuring no one.
After another five days march, you turn west from the Wye and begin the ascent up to the high plateau that lies between the Wye and the Usk.
You have now eaten through more than half of your supplies, and you will have to send some of cavalry to return with more once you have laid siege to Dinas Bran.
Tens days after having left Hereford, you ford the Usk. Set against the blood red sky is the imposing fortress of Dinas Bran. Situated high on a steep hill, it can only be approached from one side, by a narrow path that winds its way up the crag.
You decide to ride further on with your bodyguard to inspect the castle more closely. The rest of the army is ordered to conceal itself in a wood next to the river.
There is no apparent life in the castle. Indeed, it is still very much in the ruinous state the last reports about is had said. The stonework is crumbling and several sections of the wall are nothing but piles of rubble. Even the wooden gates are rotting. Still no man appears on the battlements to inspect what this band of armoured horsemen does before the castle. You ride back down the hill to the forest. Your decision is made.
“My lords!” you shout. “Assemble your cavalry. We attack forthwith!”
There are shouts of surprise at this decision.
“Calm yourselves. Either there is no one in the castle or they are all asleep. An old woman could push open those gates. We must seize this chance!”
The attack is to be made only by your mounted soldiers, so as to act with speed and surprise. Five men armed with axes will ride ahead and open the gates in time for your horsemen to stream through and take the castle.
At first, everything goes according to plan. The axe men break open the rotten doors and you lead your men charging through the gates, yelling the screams of battle as you thunder into the yard. You expect to see at least a few Welshmen lounging in the yard, yet there is not a soul in sight.
You order some soldiers to dismount and scour the rest of Dinas Bran for any sign of life. After a while they return.
“The place is empty, my liege. From what we can see, no one has been in here for several days,” they reply.
The rest of the army moves into the fastness as darkness begins to fall. You and the barons occupy the sole habitable building, a large stone tower. A servant scrapes the thick carpet of bat droppings that covers the tower’s floor and lays down a bed of fresh straw from the carts. You eat a supper of roast chicken before going to lie down on your bed, your mind still puzzled by the day’s events.

“My Lord, my Lord!”
You awake from your sleep and gaze blearily at a servant standing before you.
“Yes?” you mumble.
“My Lord, the Welsh! They are upon us!” the servant shouts.
“What?” you exclaim and jump from your bed, all tiredness forgotten. You wrap your cloak round your shoulders and run outside. You scramble up the walls and reach the battlements. It is then that you see exactly what the servant had been so nervous about. A multitude of Welsh spearmen and archers crest the eastern hills of the valley and march towards the castle, while more assemble at the crag’s foot.
“When did you first notice them?” you ask Gilbert of Clare, who is guarding the walls with his men-at-arms.
“A lookout first noticed them at first light,” he replies. “At first we thought it was only a small war band, but when their numbers got larger I thought it was best to warn you, Lord King.”
“How many have arrived so far?”
“Last time I counted it was nearing fifteen hundred, and they’ll be more to come.”
“Dear God,” you say.
“May He heed your prayers, for I think we shall be needing every bit of help we can get,” Leofric remarks and strides away.
Shouts of surprise sound from the gate where your bowmen are stationed. You look over the walls to see a small band of Welsh spearmen are jeering at you, taunting you to come out and face them. A volley of arrows is loosed from the gatehouse and cut several of the warriors. They decide it would be best to withdraw
You climb down from the ramparts and assemble a meeting of all the barons. It is held in the ancient keep and you are all seated on barrels of wine and sacks of corn.
“My lords,” you begin to speak, “As you know, the Welsh savages are massed underneath our walls as we speak, now numbering over two thousand. Action must be taken forthwith. I will be most grateful for any advice you have to give.”
Robert of Leicester stands and speaks.
“Sire, the situation now is precarious. If your majesty were to remain here much longer, your royal personage may be in danger. Lord King, I suggest you depart immediately. You could raise an army; smash these savages and relieve the castle, taking with you most important advisors naturally.”
“No!” you shout. “No! I will not heed such cowardly counsel! I will not abandon these soldiers because some impudent noblemen fears for his skin!”
Leicester sits back down again, his head bent in shame.
At this moment, a man-at-arms bursts into the room.
“My lords!” he cries. “A relief force of knights has appeared. We are saved!”
There is a general hubbub in the keep as you all file out into the yard. You climb the ramparts to see for yourself what is happening. There is indeed a force of about three hundred knights and men-at-arms marching towards the valley. Their banner is too distant, though, and you cannot quite see who leads the soldiers.
“It is my Lord of Gloucester’s men!” shouts a young squire on the battlements.
“What?” you exclaim and peer more closely to see the coat of arms on the banner.
The last news of Robert of Gloucester was that he struck by the flux in Oxford, preventing him from joining you at Monmouth.
Finally, the force’s pendant is close enough for you to see the heraldic device. It is indeed the three golden hawks on the blue field of Robert of Gloucester. You watch closely as the knights near the Welsh. Then, your heart stops. A group of horsemen at the head of the column ride forward towards some Welshmen mounted on their large horses. They clasp each other’s hands and some embrace. It is clear to you what has happened.
“That treacherous rogue!” you cry and storm away.
Robert of Gloucester, it seems has betrayed you and joined forces with the Welsh.
Your suspicions are confirmed later when a horseman rides up to the walls to parlay. It is none other than the Earl himself. As it begins to raing yet again, he stops and addresses the soldiers massed along the ramparts.
“My lords, you see before you a man of clear conscience. I have pondered endlessly on what actions should be taken; yet in the end I decided to act upon my sense of justice. I, Robert Fitzroy, Earl of Gloucester can no longer owe my allegiance to a man who has perjured himself, a man who has stolen the crown from its rightful holder. I can no longer swear fealty to that usurper, Stephen of Blois. My allegiance lies with the Empress Matilda, Countess of Anjou and rightful sovereign of this land. In doing so I have lost no honour: one cannot be oath sworn to a perjurer, a man who has broken his own oaths of loyalty to their lawful suzerain, and to God.
“This usurper has not only followed the counsel of his perfidious foreign mercenaries and favourites, his vile henchmen have made many an attempt on my life.
“To this end, I have allied myself with our Welsh neighbours who have also suffered most grievously because of this tyrant’s cruel lust for blood.
“However, my quarrel is not with any of you, solely with the usurper himself. Anyone who wishes to join me can be free to do so and I will welcome them with open arms. However, those who will remain loyal to Stephen of Blois will be marked as my enemy. I shall wait until nightfall for your answers,” Robert says and rides away.
“Shall my crossbowmen try to shoot a bolt through his neck, my Lord?” a baron asks.
“No, that is not needed,” you reply. “He has come to parlay and I will honour his right to come and leave unharmed.”
You reconvene the council again to decide on what to do.
“If any man wishes to join my Lord Gloucester’s forces,” you say, “then they may leave forthwith. However, I would like to warn you that any alliance with the Welsh comes with a price. And who knows how much land and gold they have demanded this time. It is truly a large army: some soldiers have said that they have seen the banners of Powys, Dyfet and even far away Gwynned. What do you think they asked for in return for their spear? Mayhap the whole of the Welsh Marches?”
“That is impossible,” says one of the Marcher Lords, refusing to believe that his land is in danger. “Robert of Gloucester himself has lands in the Marches.”
“Robert Fitzroy is the richest baron in England,” you say disdainfully. “What does he care about a few trivial acres, when if his conspiracy succeeds, he will be the Countess of Anjou’s chief lieutenant and be the most powerful lord in the realm?”
“Are we doomed then?” Guilbert of Clare enquires.
“No, not yet. We still have fourteen hundred good, experienced soldiers. And I’ll warrant that any one of our soldiers is worth two, if not three of those barbarians, if we play our hand well.
“However, if you decide to join Robert of Gloucester, let it be known that you not only weaken your King, you strengthen the Welsh savages, who have been our constant enemy these four score years. Think on that before you decide.”
A baron rises. “Sire, it is with a heavy heart that I must join the Earl of Gloucester. He is the father of my wife and I cannot bring myself to fight against my own father-in-law.”
“My lord, you forget that Robert fitz Roy is my cousin,” you retort. “Nevermind, you are free to leave. I will have no man here who does not fight for me willingly.”
The baron bows and leaves.
In total, three barons and seven knights with their retinues decide to join Robert of Gloucester, nearly all connected either by blood or by marriage to him, or who find their lands almost completely surrounded by the Earl’s fiefdoms. They take with them one hundred and sixty soldiers, leaving you in command of an army twelve hundred men strong.
After the last of the turncoat barons leaves Dinas Bran, you order the presence of the chief captains of the army.
Before asking for their counsel, you sum up the situation.
You have enough food to last for another four days, perhaps eight if your susbsist on half-rations. With the Welsh blocking all approaches, the hope of being resupplied from England is an impossible thought. Indeed, the supply carts which were expected to arrive within the next couple of days have most probably benn cut down with their escort.
You, are the least, ten days march through hostile territory from the nearest friendly outpost, marching down the Usk valley since the Wye has been ravaged and will yield no more food. The Welsh will be unlikely to burn the crops along the Usk as it will be the last important fertile valley they have left untouched in Powys, and they will not risk a famine.
You have an army of twelve hundred men who you will have to pit against a horde of two and a half thousand warriors, many of hwom wield the feared Welsh war bow. The Welsh are also supported by three hundred heavily armoured soldiers under the command of Robert of Gloucester.
The castle is in a very poor state of repair. In several places the wall is only a pile of rubble two men high and the gate is only blocked by a pair of heavy wagons.
There is no well in the castle and the supply you have brought with you will run out in four days.
The situation is dire.
“My liege,” says Gilbert of Clare, “perhaps if we attempt to parlay with the Welsh we will be able to negiotiate some terms. If we offer enough gold, we may cause dissent among their ranks which will leave Robert of Gloucester isolated.”
“Lord King, the time for chattering and bribing has long passed,” Lord Roger fitz William interceeds. “It is now time to wip these Welshmen. I say we attack tonight, while they are abed. The only way they can defend against a concerted attack is by forming a shield wall. Deny them this chance and they will break and run for their lives.”
Robert Beaumont objects. “Your majesty, the risks of undertaking a night attack are too great. The assault could easily turn into a chaotic brawl in the dark. Our few precious forces could become lost and be cut down piecemeal. Insteas, I suggest that we abandon Dinas Bran, sleight it before we leave if that is at all possible, and march back to England. May I remind your majesty that Robert fitz Roy’s defiance is a far more pressing matter than some petty raiding, much of which was against the traitor’s own lands.”

1. Negotiate with the Welsh to see what you may obtain from them.
2. Launch a nocturnal attack against your foe’s camp.
3. Render the castle indefensible and retreat to England.

If you have any other strategies to suggest, please go ahead.

The Welsh have all the advantages, so negotiating with them will cost more than we can afford. A nocturnal battle seems a good way to win, but they are probably expecting you to do that. Beating a tactical retreat seems the best option, but they will harry you all along the way and it will cost you much prestige. I therefor suggest trickery.

Try to stage a breakthrough attempt, leaving part of the army at the castle. If you manage to break through, turn and attack the Welsh rear while the castle troops also advance. If the breakthrough fails, feint a rout, lure the Welsh to the castle, and then attack.

This strategy is dependent on the Welsh commanders not having much control over their troops, so more information on the Welsh army, its formation, tactics and commanders would be appreciated. If my intuition is wrong and the Welsh do have disciplined force, I'd go with a carefully planned nocturnal advance, preceded by several probing attack to throw the Welsh off guard.

1) We can't afford to bribe the Welsh.

2) the only viable option but very risky if the Welsh don't run right away.

3) this is politically impossible, you risk losing the precious support that you have now.

So I agree with Ludens to use some form of trickery but I don't agree with his plan. If we send only a part of our army we make it the Welsh to easy to isolate a part of our men. I would suggest some kind of diversion with some fast cavalry so we can hit the Welsh in the rear or at least while they are disorganised. I just hope the battle ends fast so we don't get in a slugmach with Gloucesters' men while the Welsh can surround us and target us with their bows unharmed.

2
Send Calvary around the flanks in an attempted to cut off the archers while your own archers hold your front. Then take your infantry and hit the other flank hard or keep them in reserve depending on how the battle goes.

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Originally Posted by Mr White

So I agree with Ludens to use some form of trickery but I don't agree with his plan. If we send only a part of our army we make it the Welsh to easy to isolate a part of our men. I would suggest some kind of diversion with some fast cavalry so we can hit the Welsh in the rear or at least while they are disorganised. I just hope the battle ends fast so we don't get in a slugmach with Gloucesters' men while the Welsh can surround us and target us with their bows unharmed.

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Good point. But I am bit unsure what you are suggesting as an alternative. Whatever we do, we have to create major chaos in the Welsh army and then hit them hard.

compltly agree, i favor a Chansolorville or Canne type battle plan to defeat them.

We have no choice but to fight. Negotiations or full-scale retreat would cost you dearly. The Welsh might be tough fighters and dangerous bowmen but this we can fight with our cavalry...if the traitorous knights don't pin us down. So it is of primary importance that an initiative has to be gained and capitalized on to a full effect.

The only choice is a night attack, even if they expect us to do exactly that. I guess cavalry diversionary tactics can work.

Can we have more information on the discipline and nature of the Welsh army that surrounds the castle?

What do you great advisors (hehe) think of the idea of making it look like you attempt to ride with the cavalry to break through the siege while leaving most of your forces behind (sending out bodyguards, dressing up some loyal barons)? That could work as an excellent diversionary tactic IF the Welsh/Gloucester falls for it since they will try to capture the "king."

Lets not send in all our Calvary. Lets keep some back to strike there opposite flank hard.

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Originally Posted by AntiochusIII

What do you great advisors (hehe) think of the idea of making it look like you attempt to ride with the cavalry to break through the siege while leaving most of your forces behind (sending out bodyguards, dressing up some loyal barons)? That could work as an excellent diversionary tactic IF the Welsh/Gloucester falls for it since they will try to capture the "king."

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I was thinking exactly that when I suggested a cavalry diversion.

I couldn't find the battle of Chansolorville so I can't comment on using that tactic but we can't use the canne tactic (if you mean the battle between Hanibal and the Romans at Cannae). Their force is to big to surround in battle, we would strech to thin and again run the risk of being separated in small groups.

As I said before, my Welsh history is not very good so what I will say now is nothing more than speculation and invention for the purposes of the story.
There are three Welsh principalities which have allied themselves with eachother and Robert of Gloucester. The price for such an alliance is so far unknown. Gwynedd is the strongest of the three, and often intervenes in the politics of Powys, on whose territory Dinas Bran stands. Mabel, daughter of Robert of Gloucester, is married to Ranulf, Earl of Chester, who is the mediator between his Welsh neighbours and Robert of Gloucester. Therefore, Gwynedd is the chief supporter of Robert and vice versa. The Prince of Powys is old, and has no children. The chief contenders for thr throne are his eldest nephew and a cousin of his. The cousin is seen as the most probable heir to the throne, as he is supported by Gwynedd and the most powerful lord in Powys (sorry, I still have to come up with the names for all these people!). However, the nephew is the most candidate of the majority of the people and lords of Powys itself. Dyfet is the most westerly principality, and is an ally of Gwynedd and has been an enemy of Powys for many years until a reluctant pact of friendship was brokered recently between the two princedoms by Gwynedd who acted as the mediator. There is still much antagonism and ill will between Powys and Dyfet.
The main part of the Welsh army are the levies of the three princedoms, i.e simple peasants who have been called upon to fight for their lord. They are armed with nothing more than a shield, a spear and a helmet, though some wear leather armour. Locked in a shield wall, they can offer quite some heavy resistance, but once it breaks they can be easily hunted down and butchered. They comprise half of the army. A third of it are mainly the raiders, lightly armed with sword, spears and most importantly, bows. They are effective light infantry, can give a fearsome charge, but are not relied upon to stand lengthy combat. The rest of the army is basically its backbone, the well armoured and discplined elite of Wales. Some will have mail, but many will be armoured in leather. They will fight in shield walls, but can last mcuh longer than the ordinary levies. Horsemen are few among the Welsh.
Hope this helps!

start chaos and disorganistion in the midst of the Welsh and we stand a chance otherwise the troublesome reign of King Stephen ends here

Thanks, King Henry.

AntiochusIII's plan sounds good, though I do not know if the rest of the army can get there in time to rescue Stephen. Is it going to be a nightly attempt or do you want people to see you are "fleeing"?