Fritz's men carefully arranged themselves into their formations under cover, with his cavalry positioned to exploit the expected confusion at the rear of the enemy formation and his spearmen, crossbows, archers, and artillery in a woody high spot to form an anvil against which the cavalry could dash the life out of the Danes.
As planned the battle started with a barrage from the bombards and the withdrawal of Sighvat's reduced company of spearmen. The shocked Danish captain struggled to issue effective orders.
As the first cannonballs landed among their front ranks, Fritz's guardsmen struck the very center of their column, smashing half a company of Danish Axemen.
(Missed my charge, but still killed 40 of them)
The rear of the Danish column was in utter disarray. They had heard their captain's horn right after the crashing of the bombard echoed through the misty wood, and now as they rushed to rally to him a mass of cavalry beset them from every side. Dismounted Huscarls and Chivalric Knights died quickly, quietly under the assault.
Having done his part in drawing the attention of the Danish heavy cavalry, Fritz now withdrew in the direction of the mass of his army. All of the enemy's heavy cavalry pursued him, leaving his own cavalry free reign to operate against their infantry behind them.
As the Danes struggled to order their lines in the mist the rear of their column collapsed. Both companies of Huscarls broke and attempted to flee, running in different directions. Few would escape. The proud Chivalric knights marched on, but continued to take substantial losses. As Fritz came in view of his infantry pocket he witnessed the annihilation of the enemy's mounted crossbowmen under a massive barrage from the bombard, ribault, and crossbowmen.
Racing across the face of his infantrymen Fritz drew the enemy cavalry directly under the firing lanes of his ranged companies. Huscarls and mounted knights took heavy losses, but south of his crossbowmen Robert had planted stakes that were difficult to see in the mist. Fritz was forced to ride wide around them, losing some of his guardsmen when they fell behind due to the akwardness of the motion.
(Almost ran Fritz directly into the stake line. Not a good way to die.)
The remains of three companies of valiant Danish heavy cavalry fought a desperate battle south of Fritz's infantry line. Fritz's guardsmen likely would have won this engagement alone with the support of the crossbowmen, but he wanted to preserve as many of them as possible for the arrival of the Danish heavy infantry, so he called upon two companies of militia spearmen to leave the line and aid him. The melee was vicious and uncompromising.
At last the Huscarls fled, though a third of them remained ahorse and later rallied. Of the Chivalric Knights there were fewer than ten remaining between both companies, and they were no longer combat effective. Unfortunately Fritz's just hired mercenary German knights had been neglectfully pursuing a broken company of Norse Archers when they were charged by enemy axemen. Operating far from Fritz's lines they lost their courage and attempted to flee the field.
Danish infantry was now rapidly approaching Fritz's spear line, so he ordered the bombard to fire into the remaining whole company of Chivalric Knights, hoping to diminish their morale. While he was issuing orders to Robert the Danish Huscarls abruptly swept in out of the mist, determined to redeem themselves and kill Fritz himself. A brutal fight developed, but despite the initial shock Fritz's guardsmen were hardy veterans and refused to abandon him. In the end the few remaining Danes fled again.
(Man, sometimes the AI really does surprise me. This was a near thing, ten of Fritz's guards died in the Danish charge.)
Now the dismounted Chivalric Knights reached the militia spearmen line. They struck the reduced company of veterans from Hamburg, who crouched low behind their shields and held desperately.
Free of the Huscarls, Fritz now selected the lightest armored target before him and charged home, destroying an entire company of Viking Raiders with a single charge as they rout on contact and never recover. The strategic picture is a bit of a mess, but Fritz's remaining merchant cavalry are moving to smash the Danish right flank, and after scattering the Raiders Fritz finds time to rally the Mercenary Knights as well.
With precision Fritz brings his unopposed militiamen from his right flank down against the Danish left, where the dismounted chivalric knights are still carving a path, and then lines his cavalry up next to the mercenaries to charge home against the rear of the Danish line. They are shattered all across the front, every company of them breaks and struggles to flee. Only the two slow walking companies of Obudshaer continue to advance. Though it wouldn't hurt to let the crossbowmen deal with them, Fritz decides to end the battle quickly and get his plagued companies some much needed rest in case the second Danish army crosses soon. The Obudshaer are surrounded and smashed.
(The two were at the front of the column, but they're the last to arrive at the fight.)
On this dark, misty evening there will be no pursuit. 'Let them go. Let's count the prisoners and send word to Prince Stenkil of our demands.'
Prince Stenkil sent no message with the florins to ransom his soldiers, just a sack full of money. With a shrug Fritz thought,
Good enough for me. Now stay on your side of the river or we'll see if your King will pay for your hide.
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