Battle reports thread - King of the Romans PBM

[econ21]

The Final Defeat of the Mongol Second Wave


“So how do you want us to play this, my Prinz?” Kachig Iskyan inquired.

Elberhard scratched his head. He was in the unusual position of facing a Horse Lord army that was almost entirely without horses. Aside from their Khan’s escort, the last remnant of Mongols consisted almost exclusively of infantry. However, the Prinz's army too was lacking in horse. Elberhard’s over-reliance on heavy cavalry in his last battle with Khan order had depleted this arm, as had some transfers to King Salier’s army. As a result, the Germans had only two half-strength regiments of mounted knights and the Prinz’s own escort. However, the Germans were well supplied with pavise crossbowmen and infantry.

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“Crossbows at front in loose order.” ordered Elberhard. "We’ll try to shoot it out with them. If we start to get the worst of it, we will send in the infantry.”

Kachig nodded. Elberhard turned to his Teuton captain:

“Jan, you will deploy on the left flank - the other knights on the right. But do not act impetuously. We must catch the Khan. My escort will form the reserve and will only engage when Khan Orda has committed his own escort.”

Jan saluted.

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The start of the battle

*****

Elberhard surveyed the battle. The Mongols had formed up on a gentle slope some way off.

“We will manoeuvre round to the left, so as to meet them on level ground.” the Prinz ordered.

However, while the Imperial army was still preparing its manoeuves, the Mongols marched down the slope and across a gentle valley towards the Germans.

“@#$%^&!!!, they don’t want to mess about. Quick! Halt! About turn! We will hold them here!”

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The Mongols approach the German starting position.

When they were within range, the Mongol foot halted and began to open fire. Elberhard started to relax. Such a firefight would surely work to his advantage - he had higher ground, his crossbows were in loose order and well protected by large pavises. However, his heart began to beat faster when he saw that the Khan’s own bodyguard had not halted, but was continuing to march on the loose order German lines.

“Infantry - form close order! Spears to the front! Move it! I want all three regiments of spears to engage the Khan! The dismounted knights should head for the Mongol infantry.”

So much for the battle being decided with a shoot-out, mused Kachig.

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The German infantry and the Khan’s escort clash.

As a melee erupted in the centre between German infantry and Mongol heavy cavalry, Elberhard noticed that the Mongol foot on his right flank were less well armoured and equipped than those supporting their Khan. Sensing that these foot archers would not stand, he ordered the cavalry on his right flank to chase them off.

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On the German right, Feudal knights pursue the Mongol foot archers.

The orders for the right wing given, Elberhard turned his attention back to the left and centre.

“Jan: off with you lad!” he dismissed the Teuton captain, who eagerly rode to commit his cavalry. Then the Prinz addressed his escort:

“All right, you @#$%^&!!!ers! The Mongol Khan has decided not to flee this battle. Let’s not give the @#$%^&!!! a chance to change his mind, shall we?”

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With the Khan locked in combat with German foot, Elberhard’s men enter the fray.

The Mongol Khan fought with exemplary prowess and guile. While Elberhard charged in from the left, the Khan’s escort disengaged and struck on the right.

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A regiment of dismounted Imperial foot knights blundered into the Mongol heavy cavalry. While the regiment managed to thin the enemy ranks, it suffered terribly - ending the battle at below half strength.

Then the Khan’s men disengaged again and plunged through the centre of the melee - their heavily armoured horses able to drive through the mass of German sergeants and dismounted knights.

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Khan Orda and his men astonish the Germans with their lethal prowess in the face of overwhelming odds.

At one point, the Mongols had cleared the central melee and were approaching the mass of crossbowmen at the rear of the German battle line. Kachig whistled through his teeth - the audacity of the Khan was amazing. Only around half a dozen men remained in the Khan’s escort. In such small numbers, there was little they could expect to do against over five hundred crossbowmen. Seeing that the German crossbowmen stood firm and did not try to retreat, the Khan turned back and charged again into the mass of the German infantry.

“Bring him down! For @#$%^&!!!’s sake, bring him down!” screamed Elberhard, ordering his escort to ignore the Mongol infantry in the central melee and head straight for the Khan.

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Elberhard seeks out the Khan.

But the Prinz got there too late. In the end, the mighty Khan was brought down by a lowly German sergeant.

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A brave man making a good end.

With the death of their Khan, the Mongol infantry were doomed. The German horse hunted them down ruthlessly.

After the battle, when Elberhard heard his Captain’s reports, he was shocked to hear the casualty figures. The Khan had wrecked all three of his regiments of armoured sergeants, and killed half his dismounted Imperial knights.

“The @#$%^&!!!er!” he swore, adding almost respectfully. “The @#$%^&!!!ing @#$%^&!!!er!”

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The butcher’s bill