Battle reports thread - King of the Romans PBM

[OverKnight]

The Raid into the Levantine Frontier, 1224


"We are no longer men, Adalric, we are wolves," Matthias said to the newest member of his bodyguard as they rode north from the Orontes.

"We cannot face our enemy in open battle, at least not yet, we must first nip at his flanks. Separate the weakest members from the larger herd and bring them down. We must strike at night, defend bottle necks and use the terrain to our advantage."

Adalric nodded, but looked uncertain, "It's not exactly honorable, is it my Lord?"

Matthias sighed, his face becoming grim, "Honor? We don't have the luxury. Honor and chivalry have their place, but first we must survive. What do wolves know of nobility? What do noble men know of survival? Once the Greeks have been bled and finally crushed, then honor and chivalry can help us rebuild Outremer. But for now, in this time of trials that God has sent us, it is the hour of the wolf."

The rest of the ride took place in silence.


The First Battle

The raiders came upon an army led by Captain Rossos and fell upon them in the night.

Matthias seized the high ground. The cannon and archers were deployed to take full advantage of this.

Captain Rossos, taking fire from the cannons and crossbowmen, advanced his archers to reply. Matthias, seeing that they had come too far forward, charged in.

The move stripped the Greeks of many archers. Their foot pursued futiley as he withdrew down the hill. They were now out of position and the Imperial infantry charged in after several volleys from the crossbowmen.

The lines met, and the Imperial cavalry rushed in to assist.

The Greeks broke, with the infantry joining the archers in flight.

The Second Battle

Again Matthias caught a Byzantine army on the road at night. He thought the Greeks must be reinforcements for the armies to the south, due to the marked majority of archers. No field army would have such an imbalance.

The Army of Antioch was deployed in loose formation on a hill overlooking a small valley between the two forces. The cannons and crossbowmen were deployed forward, with the infantry behind them and the cavalry on the flanks. The cannon began firing on the Byzantine catapults.

A lone unit of Byzantine archers advanced tentatively against the Imperial line.

It was mauled by Imperial bowmen. Other Greek archers came up in support.

Matthias, wary of being overwhelmed by the weight of their fire, ordered the Teutons on his right flank to charge.

The knights crushed a unit of Greeks and then withdrew only to wheel about and charge in again, trampling a second unit. Riding back to the Imperial line, a few Teutons were lost, but the Greek archers, those that did not rout, retreated back to their line to reorganize.

While this was happening, cannon fire had wrecked the Greek catapults and bloodied their infantry.

The Byzantines rallied, and Captain Slavos led his archers forward again. Matthias, sensing a moment of decision, charged in with all his cavalry.

As the Imperial horse bore down on him, Captain Slavos was killed in a hail of bolts.

With the horsemen among the archers and their Captain dead, the Greek infantry decided to withdraw. An organized retreat soon turned into a rout.

The second army was crushed as well.

Adalric approached Matthias after the battle.

"What are we to do with the prisoners? Try to ransom them?"

Matthias, surveying his captives, shook his head, "No, the Greeks have refused our previous offers. If they will not pay, then we must teach them fear. The prisoners will be executed and their rotting bodies left on this road. Any Byzantine army that marches past, on their way to Aleppo or the Iron Bridge, will see the bleached bones of their comrades, and know what awaits them if they continue to fight us. The terror will grow in their hearts, giving us a needed edge in future battles."

Adalric paled, while he had no love for the Greeks, this stark decision shocked him, "Ah. . .As you say, my Lord."

Matthias took note of the man's hesitation, "It is a terrible thing I do, I know this. But tell me Adalric, what do wolves know of mercy?"