Pics & History of your Empire

[bamff]

Apologies all - this one is rather long.....a fair bit happened in this 32 year chunk!

The Chronicles of Bamff’s English

Chapter 6 – The Reign of King Edward III Begins (1201 – 1233)

The English chronicles fall strangely silent for the first five years of Edward III’s reign. Historians have long since argued whether this was because Edward had some dark secret that he was determined to keep silent, or whether it was because nothing much actually transpired during this time. A far more likely explanation is that Bamff of Brisbane, the chief scribe responsible for noting the achievements of the empire, simply lost his frantically scribbled campaign notes.

Whatever the reason, the next recorded entries in the chronicles are dated 1225. It would appear that Edward III had concentrated in consolidating his kingdom during this period, and in building his forces in Navarre and Aragon in readiness for the ever more likely outbreak of hostilities with the burgeoning kingdom of Spain.

For some years now, Lord Martok of the Duchy of Theguild has warned Edward that it would only be a matter of time before Enrique II’s covetous eyes would sooner or later lead to a full scale Spanish invasion north across the Pyrenees. Martok was a trusted advisor, who had served Edward’s father well, and Edward had wasted no time in following his advice on this matter. It was important to seize the initiative in this coming war – but Spain was a Catholic kingdom, and as such any initial strike would not be looked upon favourably by Rome. A diversion was required – and Edward had a perfect plan. He called a meeting with his generals, Sir Richard Plantagenet, commander of the English garrison of Navarre, and Lord Howard of the English army in Aragon.

Charles Greystoke, Bishop of Wessex, recorded the following conversation:

Lord Howard implored King Edward “My Lord, the Spaniards ready themselves to strike. Their armies in Castille and Valencia grow ever stronger. Our troops are ready. Let us strike the first blow now.”

Edward calmly responded “The time is not yet right, Howard. We will strike at Prussia and Pomerania first.”

Sir Richard Plantagenet reacted incredulously “My Lord, those lands belong to the kingdom of Poland, not Spain. I would not presume to question your judgement, your majesty, but…”

“And yet you do so. No matter Richard, old friend. I thank you for your counsel, gentlemen – and believe me I do value your services. I would have no others to lead my armies in Navarre and Aragon, nor would I wish any other to stand at my shoulder on the field of battle. My dear father, may he rest in peace, was an average field commander, it is true. It was his skills as a strategist and diplomat that saw our kingdom grow under his rule. We must tread warily around Pope Giovanni. Invading the Poles is a diversionary tactic, designed to occupy Rome. Giovanni will issue a Papal decree on Poland’s behalf. As only one such decree may be in force at any one time, it will free our hand to strike at Spain. Go, my generals – return to your garrisons and await my orders, for I assure you, war with Spain is indeed imminent.”

While there is some uncertainty as to the accuracy of Greystoke’s recording of this conversation, little doubt remains that the bishop had a taste for the melodramatic. It is also possibly indicative that Greystoke’s descendants many years hence would enjoy careers as script writers of B grade medieval films.

Edward’s invasion of the northernmost Polish provinces proceeded forthwith. Sir Charles Curthose and his men land in Prussia, and meeting no resistance, march immediately on Konigsberg Castle. Sir John Eadwulf leads the force invading Pomerania. Again the Poles withdraw to the safety of their castle.
Pope Giovanni II does not disappoint King Edward. In January 1226, an emissary arrives from Rome carrying the Papal decree that all English forces must withdraw from Polish territory forthwith. Edward orders Curthose and Eadwulf to withdraw to Sweden, and at the same time sends word to his fleet commanders that all Spanish shipping is to be sunk on sight.

Lord Wojno of Bohemia is determined to exact revenge for the English invasion. He leads a large army into Franconia. Sir George Herbert is our provincial commander. Whilst the Polish invasion takes all somewhat by surprise, he immediately sets about readying his defences to meet the invader. It will be a monumental task. His forces number only some 977 men, and the Polish army is some 2,168 strong. Herbert sets his defences on a hillside, and prepares to stand or die. Wave after wave of Poles crash upon the English line, but Herbert’s men stand firm. As the dust of battle clears, 704 Poles are dead, including Lord Wojno himself. 921 Poles surrender to Herbert’s men, and 543 flee back across the border to Bohemia in complete disarray. Herbert has carried the day, but at a frightening cost – 618 Englishmen have fallen – almost 2/3 of his total force.

Reinforcements are despatched immediately to bolster the depleted garrison of Franconia.

Edward prepares to unleash his forces in Navarre and Aragon, but events have overtaken him. In 1227, it is the Spanish who strike first. Don Ramon de Bonifaz leads a massive army of 3,268 men into Aragon to take on Howard’s force of 1,933. Howard is a skilled defender, however, and redresses this numerical imbalance by choosing to face the Spanish force at the Puente de Santiago, on the Ebro River. The northern end of this bridge is where Howard sets his men, with his arbalests lined up the hill that rises from the river’s bank, and billmen standing at the bridge itself.

The battle is joined. Of the first wave of 240 Spanish militia sergeants that charge the bridge, not a one crosses to the English side. Some 195 have succeeded in crossing to the kingdom of heaven, however, with but 45 men surviving the hail of arbalest bolts and longbow arrows to flee in terror.

Don Ramon de Bonifaz himself leads the second wave. He somehow rallies 26 of the panicked survivors of the first assault to join him in this second assault. With his men falling like flies all around him, de Bonifaz stoically pushes forward until his remaining troops break and run. Once again he steadies the nerves of the survivors, and with but 85 men he again leads his troops toward the blood soaked bridge.

Lord Howard is impressed with his Spanish counterpart’s ability to rally his troops, and is heard to comment to an aide “Say what you will of de Bonifaz – he is indeed a leader of men.”

The third assault proves as disastrous for the Spanish as had the first two. The air is rent with the screams of the Spaniards as a hail of arbalest bolts and arrows strike home. The Spanish general grimly presses on, even though only 34 men remain at his side as he steps onto the bridge. Only 3 survive the next hail of bolts, de Bonifaz is not among them.

Lord Howard is visibly moved by the heroism of de Bonifaz, commenting “And so dies a hero. A bloody fool, perhaps, to march so willingly into the face of that reception, but a brave man and a bold leader nonetheless.”

With Spanish morale flagging after the death of their beloved general, Prince Felipe attempts to inspire his men. The “charge of the Prince’s Guard” is perhaps one of the saddest chapters of this battle for the Spanish. Of the 21 knights that charge the bridge, there is but a sole survivor. Prince Felipe is amongst the first to die. 2 of these brave knights share the distinction of being the first and only Spaniards to cross the bridge, but any elation they may have felt was short-lived, as they were summarily hacked down by the English billmen.

Further Spanish assaults are also repulsed, with heavy casualties inflicted. Late in the day, the English suffer their first and only losses of the battle, as 3 billmen fall to Spanish arrows, before a hail of bolts cause the Spanish archers to flee.

The Spanish troops withdraw, having suffered a humiliating defeat. 867 Spanish corpses litter the field. Not a single prisoner is taken.

In 1228, the Poles accept our offer of a ceasefire, and an uneasy peace is restored to our eastern borders. The Holy Roman Empire remains an enemy, but her forces are too weak to offer a credible threat.

Lord d’Anghiera is chosen by King Enrique to lead the next Spanish assault on Aragon. Yet again, Lord Howard finds himself facing a Spanish force in excess of 3,000 men. Again he picks his field most skilfully, choosing a hilltop with commanding views of the valleys on all sides. The Spaniards are forced to march uphill into a hail of arrows and arbalest bolts. The Spanish spearmen and cavalry flee as the archers hold their ground. Howard’s hobilars and two squadrons of royal knights led by Sir Aelfgar Mortimer and Sir Nigel Howard charge down the hillside and make short work of the stranded archers, then withdraw back into position to await the next wave. Wave after wave of Spaniards are repulsed, with heavy casualties. As the Spaniards withdraw, 1,008 of their men lie dead on the valley floor. 367 Spanish prisoners are taken. Lord Howard’s cunning leadership has resulted in the loss of only 32 English lives.

In 1229, King Edward is satisfied that he has his troops in position to execute his planned annihilation of the Spanish armies. Sir Edmund Stuart leads the invasion of Algeria. The garrison are taken completely by surprise, and flee to the sanctuary of Algiers castle. At the same time, Prince John and a further English army have landed in Morocco. The Spanish defenders once more take flight.

1230 brings a double helping of welcome news to King Edward. First comes the news that Don Pero de Oliveres, the leading Spanish commander in Cordoba has mysteriously perished at a banquet in honour of King Enrique. It is no mystery to those members of the English court who are aware that Guy of Gisbourne had recently departed for Cordoba. A general too fond of his wine is all too easy a target for a man so skilled in the use of poisons.

Further good news comes from Portugal. The extremely pious Don Lope Vermúndez has had enough of the excesses of King Enrique and his son Alfonso, and has sent word that he wishes to swear allegiance to Edward and the English crown. Edward despatches his own emissary forthwith, to accept this offer, and to provide Vermúndez with 3,000 florins with which to raise a local army.

“The cards are indeed falling favourably…” muses a very content King Edward.
The following year, our spies in the east send news of the emergence of an incredibly strong force of soldiers. This army is said to number in the tens of thousands, and each and every one of them is reputed to be a fierce and capable warrior. They call themselves the “Golden Horde”, and have already over-run the Byzantine provinces of Khazar and Volga-Bulgaria. It appears that they intend to sweep westwards.

With Sir Edmund Stuart struck down by a mysterious disease in Algeria, Sir Thomas Scrope has assumed command in that province, and embarks immediately on the assault of Algiers castle. It is a well protected fortress indeed, and whilst Scrope succeeds in his aim, it proves a pyrrhic victory, with his forces all but wiped out in the battle. Reinforces are despatched from Morrocco to shore up this garrison’s strength.

As Scrope’s forces raise the English flag in Algiers, King Edward finally unleashes his attack on Spain. Lord Gascoigne leads a strong force into Valencia, Sir Richard Plantagenet’s men march south into Castille from Navarre, and King Edward himself lands in Leon with a strong invasion force.
The Spanish in Leon flee without a thought of their own dignity. The enormous Spanish armies in Castille are ripped to shreds by Plantagenet’s force, with over 1,600 Spaniards killed or captured. English casualties are 580. It is a similar story in Valencia, and again the Spanish are forced to withdraw.

This series of humiliating defeats would appear to be more than the Spanish people can bear. Rebellions break out in Cordoba, Granada, and Tunisia as 1231 draws to a close. It is an interesting historical sidenote that the rebel forces in Cordoba are lead by none other than King Enrique’s own son, Alfonso.

The pain of the Spanish King intensifies in 1232. Whilst he may have seen off the rebel forces in Cordoba, his son Alfonso has died leading the rebels, and our inquisitors have made Cordoba a place of fear, terror, and mistrust, as they burn in excess of 14,480 “heretics” throughout the province.
Meanwhile in the East, the Golden Horde seize Kiev from the Poles, and Crimea from Byzantium.

King Edward leads the invasion of the rebel province of Granada in 1233. The rebel forces are crushed, with the few survivors fleeing the field to take refuge within the walls of their stronghold. The noose is tightening around Enrique’s neck – soon all of the Iberian peninsula will be in English hands....