Battle Reports Thread: King of the Franks game

[_Tristan_]

Placeholder for the battle near Rambouillet, 1102

[OverKnight]

The Second Battle of Staufen, 1102

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

My lord Duc Hugues de Champagne was concerned. With others wars and a Crusade on the horizon and the Germans massing men on the Rhine, he sought a decisive battle against the Empire before they moved west and men and resources were siphoned away to other fronts. The Duc marched to the bridge near Staufen, inviting the Germans to attack. They obliged despite the bloody defeat they had already suffered there.



A steady rain fell as the Germans gathered on the other side of the Rhine. My lord capped the bridge with a U of spearmen. The mercenaries, the most skilled of the lot, were given the center. Bowmen were on a rise to right. The cavalry was in the rear, ready to pounce on those who broke or support the spears.

A contingent of Imperial archers and spearmen charged across the bridge to begin the battle. They were showered with missiles as they charged.



The German bowmen, unwisely put in the vanguard, broke almost instantly, their spearmen were hardier.



Mounted sergeants charged in to try to break the impasse. They managed to shift our mercenaries, but died in droves. More infantry poured in after them.



The cap held, those Germans that broke and tried to flee to our rear were chased down by Bertin de Montsault and our own Mounted Sergeants. Their first and second waves defeated, the Germans held position on the bridge as the Staufen garrison, led by Johann von Bremen arrived.



Their archers were able to loose on our men, but being packed together so tightly ruined their aim. Our own missiles, fired on a flat trajectory into their bunched up ranks, were much more effective. Our one company of crossbowmen would claim 400 kills after the battle.

Von Bremen, showing no patience, charged our reformed lines valiantly.



He died valiantly and quickly.

The remaining German foot charged in.



But at this point they were arrow bit and bloodied even before making contact. When their commander fell, they broke.



As the routers were chased by our light cavalry, the Duc ordered a general advance across the bridge.



The German archers, with no foot left to protect them, fled. They were all run down. The bridge was again a scene of slaughter.



The day was ours.

[Cecil XIX]

Placeholder.

[_Tristan_]

Placeholder for the first battle on English soil

[Braden]

*Steinbach-Hallenberg Mountain pass – Spring 1104*

Andreas sat on his horse and looked up at the mountain in front of them. Following reports that the Imperial army had formed up, with ballista support, at the very summit directly blocking the road Henri had ordered the Kings army to climb down the steep hill to the very bottom. Above them to the left the mountain’s ominous rocky outcrop blocked their view of the other army. On their right flank was dense forest.

“I don’t like this much my lord. We have refused any high ground and the easy travel of the road to the enemy. I am not sure either your father or your elder brother would have decided to take battle here.”

Henri ordered a crossbow unit forward on the right before answering his mentor.

“The enemy leave us little choice my friend. Even if we stayed on the road they have the ultimate summit of the mountain and still height over our men…besides we cannot manuveor or men effectively in such a narrow path. No better we stay here and work to our benefit.”

“..but how do you propose to..”

Andreas’ comment was cut off by Henri spurring his horse forward up the mountain. Andreas and the Royal Guard had to follow.

“My lord, what are we doing precisely?”

Henri smiled and turned to his old friend.

“This is as good as we’re going to get. We now have position. See to our right? That outcrop is impassable and the Germans will have to funnel down around it and between the forest on our left. I have positioned all our ranged units just around the corner from the outcropping meaning the enemy will only see our spearmen at the bottom of the hill until after they pass the outcrop…meaning?”

Henri paused for Andreas to catch up. Andreas continued as he understood.

“…meaning all our crossbows and bowmen will have a crossfire into the sides of anyone coming past!”

“Exactly, and the enemy has to walk a long way to get to us ultimately. If they want us not to just go around them, they have to take the fight to us.”

“So, my lord, what are we doing out of position?”

Henri and his body guard reached the summit

“We are the bait…see the Germans move, we shall disappear now..”

With that Henri reigned in his horse and turned about, trotting down the hill apace before turning deep into the forest. With urgency and quiet he address his men.

“We wait here until all the Germans have passed before we move or act…silence now”

The German army marched passed oblivious to Henri’s placement. As the bulk of them moved down the hill and passed the mountains outcrop the combined bolt and arrow force unleashed a deadly fusillade into the sides of the spearmen, archers and horsemen. Everytime they tried to reposition to face the incoming rain of death with their shields Henri’s spearmen at the bottom of the hill would also reposition to threaten their flank….they could not engage and were being cut down by deadly fire rapidly.

Henri saw his chance and signalled his men forward, now the entire enemy army was below them and some units had already started to break back up towards his now very elevated position. With a below Henri gave the order.
“For France, for King Phillip! Make this count my brothers! CHARRRGGGEEE!!”

They levelled lances and charged down the steep incline into the mass of fleeing men and crashed into the rear of unsuspecting horsemen, spearmen and archers.

At the bottom of the mountain two enemy militia spear units had managed to engage Henri’s mercenary spearmen.

……..

“English look out!”

The Englishman didn’t hesitate and dodged a clumsy blow from the militiaman before driving the ridge of his own shield up and into his assailants nose. He gave a cursory nod to his German captain before ploughing back into the fray.

The militiamen didn’t last long, outclassed by spear to the front and still being struck by bolt and arrow from behind. They started to run back up the hill.

“Hold the line! Hold the line!” the mercenary captain made sure his men redressed “Werez not been told ta be running up dat hill huh? We stay put ya!”

……………

The fleeing Germans struggled up the hill, rapidly getting exhausted but as the sun crested the mountain they were hit again by Henri’s own cavalry…full gallop, lances braced.

The final results were by then known. Henri spent the rest of the battle mopping up. His was the only cavalry unit and it was his duty to capture as many as possible. He returned with some 300 prisoners but by this time the mercenaries had rested arms and several even had braziers lit.

……………

*That same evening*

The messenger arrived, a dour look on his face, before handing the missive to Henri in his tent. Henri took the note, handing a silver coin to the courier before dismissing him and sitting at his camp table to read it.

He sighed.

“What say they my lord?”

“hmmm? Oh, sorry Andreas…they say no”

“Oh..”

“Indeed. I had hoped not only for some coin for our campaign but for the safety of all those men but it is not to be.”

He looked at Andreas…Andreas responded

“Leave this to me my Prince”

With that Andreas left the tent, he knew a certain German Mercenary Captain he could rely on for such a grim task…..


(OOC: due to no pictures I’ve tried to make this as descriptive as possible)

[KnightnDay]

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The thunder cracked in the skies of Champagne as a pouring rain beat down upon the earth. Thomas de Saint-Amand along with two spear militia companies had been marching for many miles to the southwest in order to track down the empire’s troops commanded by a Captain Hugo that were reported to be in the area.

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As they reached the vicinity where the enemy was to be found, Thomas discovered them high upon a hill, while his own men faced the prospect of a tiring upwards climb. Thomas was undaunted. This was to be his first test at fighting at the head of his troops and he would not be denied. He ordered his men to move to the left and begin the ascent. It was not an easy climb, and the driving rain only served to make the challenge more difficult.

After a considerable time had passed, the men of the royaume had accomplished the feat, but were not only soaked to the skin, but were extremely tired, almost to the point of exhaustion. Proceeding then towards the enemy, Thomas found two sergeant spear companies deployed to the front with a company of mounted sergeants behind them.

Thomas looked back at his spearmen. After such a march, what condition would they be in to fight when the time came? We must improve our chances, Thomas thought to himself. He ordered his bodyguard forward, slowly to the left now, in order to work his way around the enemy. Would they charge as soon as Thomas had distanced himself from his two militia companies? For a few tense minutes the adversaries eyed each other warily, yet the men of the Reich made no move. Most fortunate that these people make no move upon us, Thomas thought, as he soon found himself on the right flank of the mounted sergeants.

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Now was the moment, to the attack.
For France, for glory, charge!

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With that command, Thomas’ men tore into the mounted sergeants and for a fateful moment the German spearmen stood standing, watching the melee and not knowing quite what to do. If they turned to face Thomas, would they then be counter-charged from behind by the French spearmen? The left spear company acted first, beginning to take several steps towards Thomas. He adroitly maneuvered his guard back for a moment, and with that the German spears again hesitated, then returned back to where they stood before. Now was the time to finish off the mounted sergeants. Once again to the attack, and with a second charge, the mounted sergeants broke and began to run for safety.

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The remaining infantry companies were now on their own, facing the unsettling and imminent prospect of attack from opposite sides. The first company on the left finally decided to act. The Germans marched forward. Thomas’ spear militia companies responded immediately by charging head-on with one company and the other slightly to the left. The engagement was brief as the outnumbered men of the Reich began to falter. Sensing this, Thomas decided it was time to finish this fight. He charged his bodyguard into the back of the second company which staggered under the blows of the swords now raining down death upon them.

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The morale of the enemy was broken in short order, and they turned to flee. Thomas drove his men on, to finish the task they had set out to do. When it was over, the count was 144 prisoners, and word was sent out that a ransom would be offered to the Reich.

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When it was learned that no payment would be forthcoming, the prisoners were dispatched to God’s care.

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After the battle was over, it was acknowledged by many that Thomas had performed well indeed and had proven himself a promising general when on the attack.

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