Battle reports thread - King of the Romans PBM

[OverKnight]

Battle of the Belen Pass, 1366

Chancellor,

I caught up to the Greeks in the night. I'd been pushing the men and as we came through the pass I found them. I know you instructed me to use the army at the Iron Bridge to catch their army in a pincer, but I felt their archers, horse and foot, would have decimated them before I could assist. I had the high ground, and though Adalric had some misgivings, I felt that was enough to engage them without support.

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I quickly moved the men into a defensive position. I trusted that Greek arrogance would drive them to me. The crossbowmen and cannons were deployed on a cliff and rises, mostly inaccessible to a charge. There would be two avenues into my lines for the Greek, one in the center, where I put two units of spearmen backed up by a small unit of unhorsed knights, and my left flank, which I refused with another two units of spears and my dismounted knights. Knowing that this was the most vulnerable part of the line, I also put my Imperial Knights and my own body guard at a right angle to the refused flank. The battle started well, with fire raining down on the enemy.

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Captain Rossos tried to force the left flank, he paid for it with his life.

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After this failed attempt, the Greeks, seemingly unfazed by the loss of their commander, continued to advance. They brought pressure on both the center and the left. The crossbowmen were reaping a grim harvest, but the Greeks did not show their usual timidity and advanced rapidly before missile fire could have full effect.

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A unit of Vardriotai managed to climb the steep hill on my left flank and brought arrow fire onto the spearmen there. At the same time, Kataphractoi and infantry engaged them as well. I had no choice but to commit my cavalry.

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As one Greek unit was reduced, another came up to take its place. The flank was in danger of being turned. If that happened, the Greeks would be able to get at my archers and take the center from behind.

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Valiant efforts from the Imperial Knights and my own retainers drove off these attacks, but then the Varangian Guard, supported by cavalry, charged in. I had no choice but to keep my own cavalry engaged, otherwise my infantry would have run.

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Though all the Imperial Knights died in the effort, I was able to throw off all the Greek units but the Varangians. This gave me some precious room to charge into them from behind.

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But two thirds of my guard was gone by that point, and the charge, while telling, did not break them. As my men continued to fall about me, I noticed one of the units of spearmen from the center, assaulted by dismounted latinkon, had finally broken after fighting superior numbers and quality. The situation was becoming dire. Both the left and center were in danger of collapse.

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It was then that I yelled for the crossbowmen to fire into the melee. I'm sure some of my own were killed, but there were more Greeks in the fight at that point, so the odds were in our favor. Better to lose some men, than all of them.

Getting shot in the back finally broke the Varangians, and the rest of the Greeks, seeing their elite run, fled as well. I ran them all down with what was left of my brave bodyguard.

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I erected a cairn on that bloody hill for our dead. I made the few prisoners taken build it, before I killed them. God will guide our fallen home. The Greeks I left to rot.

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It was a great victory Chancellor, but one I could have fought better. The courage of my men redeemed my errors.

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I will not underestimate the Greeks again.

Viceroy Matthias