Battle reports thread - King of the Romans PBM

[Ituralde]

Defense of Vienna

"The men are ready for the sally, mein Herr!"

"Tell them, that they will have their fight, but it won't be us attacking. Looks like they finally got around to assaulting our walls."
Leopold stood on the battlement over the gate, his gaze directed at the Venetian column advancing towards the city. Ever since the reports had come in that the Venetians had withdrawn the larger part of their infantry from the siege, he had tried to get confirmation of this. Finally a spy had reported that the attacker's force had indeed been diminished and Leopold had immediately ordered his men to ready themselves for an attack in the morning.
It seems that the Venetians had gotten information on their own preparations and were now marching on the city. They had a ram built and also some ladders.
As their force consisted mainly of Mailed Knights and the bodyguard of Allessandro Selvo their general, their only two units of infantry were now manning the siege equipment. Peasant Archers were pushing the ram and Italian Spear Militia was ready to scale the walls.

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"Looks like a straightforward attack, Rainer. Let's organize a straightforward defence then."

"Jawohl, mein Herr!"
Leopold was already leaving the battlement to saddle his horse and address his men. With the Venetians heading straight for the south gate, that would be the place to meet them.
He organized three of his Spear Militia in a box around the gate, ready to give a sharp welcome to anyone coming through the gate. The walls around the gate were manned by Town Militia and Spear Militia respectively. The Spear Militia positioned to the left of the gate were the ladders were to be expected. The rest of the Town Militia was arrayed behind the Spears to charge once combat has begun. Leopold and his bodyguard blocked the main causeway to the city square to lend their support to the Spears directly in front of them.

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Soon enough the Italian Spear Militia was scaling the wooden walls, while the ram hammered at the gates of Vienna. Fierce fighting erupted on the battlements, but it looked as though the Imperial forces could hold.

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The gates had been breached.
"Steady men, Steady!" cried Leopold to the assembled Spears that would have to take the charge from the Venetian cavalry and had to hold.
Furiously the Venetian cavalry charged through the gates and their commander even threw his Peasant Archers into the fray.
"Advance!" yelled Leopold once the fighting in front of him had ensued.

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A glance to the walls showed that the Imperial troops had held and the remaining Italian Spear Militia was already fleeing the field.
"Rainer! Get a messenger up the walls. Let's put those ladders to use, shall we! Tell the Spears to get down there and block the gates from the outside. That vile oath-breaker will not escape from my city!"

While Leopold charged forward with his bodyguards, the other Town Militia was already in contact with the enemy horsemen. Already many of them were pulled off their horses and the battle seemed to go bad for the Venetians.
As though sensing his doom, Alessandro Selvo ordered a hasty retreat. Unfortunately before the Spears had closed off the gate.

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"Damn coward! Ride! Ride hard, Ritter of the Reich. I will not let that traitor escape!"
Spurring his horse onward, Leopold led his retinue out of the gates in hot pursuit of the Venetian cavalry.

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Alessandro Selvo made good use of his head-start though and was able to escape the grasp of Duke Leopold.
Disheartened Leopold and his men return from their pursuit. He meets up with Rainer at the Towns Square where the captured Venetians await their fate.
"Mein Herr, what do we do with the prisoners?"

Leopold glances briefly over the men in front of him. One of them is a young noble, a retainer of Alessandro Selva surely. Leopold fixates him with his gaze:
"You have entered my lands under the cover of goodwill! I gave you assistance and trusted in the power of our alliance! You betrayed your word, you have lost your honour. There's nothing left for me to do, but to hand you the fate of every traitor!"
He turns to Rainer, a determined expression on his face. "Kill them!" Rainer looks at his master as though to object. "They're traitors and oath-breakers, they deserve nothing less!" Without another glance to the prisoners Leopold leaves the town square, while Rainer instructs his men to do the grizzly business.

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[OverKnight]

The Defense of Milan

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Otto von Kassel was sitting down to his breakfast porridge when a messenger intruded, "My lord! The Venetians are bringing up a ram to attack our east gate!"

"What!", said Otto slamming down his spoon, "Did they bring up reinforcments during the night?"

"Well. . .no", mumbled the messenger, "That company of crossbowmen has decided to attack."

"They're idiots! Oh well, this will let me end this farce! Have our 'garrison' drawn up, archers to the walls next to the east gate. . .

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. . .and my retainers to the south gate. I'm going to finish my breakfast."

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With Otto's men in position, the brave, but stupid, Venetians began their assault.

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Despite suffering losses the pavise crossbowmen were able to bring the ram to the gate. In their haste to enter the city, however, they failed to notice the cavalry charging toward them through the mist.

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It would be their last mistake.

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All the Venetians were killed or captured.

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Otto surveyed the bound prisoners in front of him. From the little Italian he knew, he understood that they were begging for their lives. They mentioned the chivalrous Chancellor Sigismund, known throughout Europe for his mercy towards prisoners.

As the morning mist burned off, Otto looked east past his captives, squinting into the sun. He could see a large dust cloud on the horizon. A much larger Venetian force was on its way. This victory was only temporary.

"Of course you may join your comrades", Otto told the prisoners, "You have fought bravely and will be released. After, of course, we hack off your thumbs. I will not have you firing crossbows again!"

Otto chuckled darkly as the prisoners began screaming, he called for a chopping block and an axe.

After the deed was done, and the Venetians' digits were placed in their coin purses, Otto spoke again, "Now go! Tell that army to the east what awaits them if they come here. Next time I will cut off more than just thumbs!"


The Butcher's Bill:

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[Kagemusha]

Battle of Kamienski

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Dietrich of Saxony was not happy. He sat on his war horse on a hill near the village of Kamienski, to South East from Stettin. A beutifull valley opened under his eyes,as he sat on his horse looking at a dust cloud in the distance, created by rapidly advancing horse of one of his scouts.The ground was lovely,but he had no missile troops to protect the hills he had deployed his men on.

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The scouts had spotted the enemy force and the reports sayed that there were nearly 200 Polish mounted noblemen coming at his way with about 100 Nobles on foot. He had little over hundred Spearmen and about same amount of Peasants as his infantry and Adolf Von Mahren´s and his own knights,amounting 62 men on horseback.
He had the high ground,but what to do with it? The Polish were known of their use of missiles on horseback so they could just run around his force,hurling missiles from their horses,while the heavier German Knights couldnt catch them. There were only glumps of trees on the hills,so he Dietrich could not protect his force by going inside an forest. Dietrich sat there for a while looking around and thinking.
For a little while he forgot the Polish army aproaching the battlefiield and the upcoming battle.He didnt think of the last years marching around the Reich on muddy roads with his men, building watchtowers and waiting for the message from Kaiser that he wouldnt be the Duke of Franconia anymore. In his eyes he saw his beutifull wife,smiling at him,like she had done on many quite evenings,when they were with each other smiling talking and doing what lovers do.
Dietrich woke up from his thoughts,as he heard the loud yell from the aproaching messenger: "The Polish are coming! The Polish are coming!"
Quickly he called to him,Von Mahren and the captain of the Spearmen.
Dietrich spoke with determination in his voice:

"Gentlemen. We are not here to die today! We will beat the Polish here today.Captain! Take command of the Peasants also and deploy your men to that ridge between these two hills."

Captain looked in Dietrichs eyes and nodded like a man who is going into a certain death and started to turn around to give orders to his men. But before he could,Dietrich continued:

"Captain, listen carefully. You will be our bait with your men. I will deploy my Knights on the other side of this hill we are standing so the Polish wont see us from the valley. Von Mahren will deploy his Knights,there behind the other hill on your right side. When the Polish Nobles see that there are only few men on foot on a hill against them, they will come right at you. Now listen carefully,since what you do then can decide the battle. When The Polish cavalry aProaches your men, you order your troops to run. And you will keep running untill you reach the highest spot on the ridge. Then turn around and fight and hold the line.I will attack the Polish right and Von Mahren their left flank. If God will´s we will trap them and the day is ours.If not,then atleast no one can say we didnt try."

Dietrich stared the captain of the Spearmen for a second and continued:

"Did you understand my orders?"

Captain nodded,looking same time worried and anxious.

"Then go man and give your orders to your men!"

Dietrich turned towards Von Mahren and sayed:

"My good man Mahren, what we are about to do could be the last thing for both of us. Do you have any questions?"

Mahren answered briefly:

"My Lord! Nothing to ask.Lets run down the Polish scum!"

Dietrich smiled becouse of the determinanation of the younger man and continued:

"Remember.Wait untill the Polish get in melee with our foot men.We cant let them escape or we are Finished.We will meet at the center once the Polish have been slain. Good luck and may God be with us all."

Von Mahren nodded and started galloping towards his men.

The Battle ensued first like Dietrich had planned.The Polish Nobility charged the Spearmen and two units of them were trapped between the Spearmen and German Knights. Third Unit of the Polish Nole cavalry charged the same mass and routed Dietrichs peasants, but Dietrich rallied them with his warhorn after some time. Dietrich charged and formed up and again and again and again. He saw how on the right Von Mahren fought like a beast with his men,giving blows to right and left. But the Polish were no peasants and they just kept on fighting untill also the dismounted nobles entered the fray. Dietrich and his men were covered on blood of their own and their enemies,while forming up again and again. While after each charge there was less and less of them. Finally he had only three of his knights with him and he saw that there were not much more men left of Von Mahrens Knights. Dietrich thought that it was just matter of time,when the younger Lion or himself would be struck down to the mud.
But suddenly as Lord himself had watched over the German army.The Polish commander was struck down by one of the remaining spearmen. This cutted the backbone of the Nobility of Poland,that had so far fought equally to any German. The Polish still outnumbering the tired Germans,broke of through and rode away,while the few German Knights led by Dietrich and Von Mahren charged after them.

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The ridge was a grim site of butchery.Dead and dying men and horses with the ground coloured red from the blood. The Polish horses were faster, so after short time Dietrich ordered his knights to turn around and finish of the reminders of the Dismounted Polish.
Dietrichs tired men,what was left of them had captured only few prisoners,but as there were not many of them left themselves either. Dietrich had no choice,but execute the prisoners and move his army of the area before another Polish army would arrive.

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The Butchers bill:

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[Ignoramus]

Battle in the Alps

[Ignoramus]

Defence of Bologna

[Warluster]

Northen Italy, 1136

Jobst von Salva looked out into the open plains, near the Alps. Here was the spot where the troops of the ROman Republic fought over 500 years ago, and now here are there predecsors. This battle was a small one, and the first battle Jobst von Salva has commanded.

There aim was to destroy the Veneatian Soldiers. A outline appeared on the hrizon, and slowly that outline turned into the figure of a horse and its rider. It turned out to be a scout. The scout wore armour silver and gull, and a helm for his head. He raced up to Jobst von Salva and stopped.

"Please,Jobst von Salva, sir, I have a report on the Veneatian Army" said the scout, Jobst von Salva nodded.
The scout continued,
"It is a meager force of 200 troops, 3 units of Armoured soldiers, one company is seriously short of soldiers" said the scout. Jobst shooed the scout away, and turned to his Majors.
"How should we approach them?" asked jobst, the Majors looked out onto the plains.
"There protected by a forest on one side" commented one,
"So we can not attack from that way" said the other major, Jobst von Salva nodded. Jobst looked on the other side, and pointed.
"Theres hills and mountains on that side aswell" said a Major,
"The troops could easily march over the hills" said another,
"yes but imagine, they'd be sweating baddly climbing the hills, and when they engaged the Veneatians..." said jobst, not finishing his sentence,
"Then we attck downhill" finished one major. Jobst shook his head,
"That leaves us one thing, so heres the battle plan" said Jobst, the 2 Majors lisntened closely.
"All 6 companies of our soldiers shall charge the Veneatian army herad on, distracting them." said jbost, he continued,
"There will be a buffer, so when they are in battle, 1 soldiers are to wothdraw to the forests, then strike out behind the Venetian Buffer. Meanwhile my Bodyguard and me, shall travel over the hills and hide, then when the buffer is gone, our army attacks the Generals unit, while thats happening two units are to go either side, and block us from view, we will round around them, and attack from behind" finished Jobst von Salva, the Majors nodded, it was a good plan, enough to get them through alive. jobst issued hos orders, and watched the Majors hurry off, and heard them yelling out commands to there companies. Jobst was relieved, remembering the days of when he was a Knight, and had fought with Dietrich von Saxony in poland. jbost sighed, those days were tough. Now he was a General, Jobst formed up with his bodyguard, a unit of highly experinced Knights, all hand picked by Jobst von Salva. He knew them all well, and knew they knew him, as they trained with Jobst. Jobst von Salva stayed with his unit, and made signals that the Roman Army is to start the battle plan. The veneatians had not moved yet, and were standing still. The Imperial Army moved forward. Jobst waited patiently, finally the army was close. Trumpets sounded, soldiers cried, and the army ran forward, swords and spears raised. The two armies clashed, and from where Jobst was, couldn't see anything. then Jobst von Salva remembered his Battle Plan, and the Bodyguard moved to the hills. When they were behind the hills, they saw not a lot, as thye were concentrating. But they saw the Veneatian buffer rout, and the Imperial Army ran foward and attacked the Generals unit. Jobst saw the signal, the two units of Imperial spearmen moved to the sides, blocking tje Cavarly from view, and Jbost and his bodyguards moved around the fighting queitly, until they were behind the Veneatians. Then they charged. And hit the Veneatians hard, the two sides clashinh like waves. Jobst von Salva unit hit the Venetians, the back soldiers fell forward like a wave, and the front soldiers fell like a wave. And soon all but 24 were dead. They had won the battle, and had caputred 150 venetian soldiers. An offer of Ransom was sent to the Venetians, they refused, that night there were none from the venetian army left, but 20 who escaped.

[Kagemusha]

Battle of Stendal, September 10th, 1136 Anno Domini

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The Franconian force was camped between Stettin and Magdeburg in region of Stendal for a while now. Dietrich had sent letters to Chancellor Sigismund,so he could engage a small Polish force consisting of Polish Vendic allies, hardy woodsmen armed with axes, who were blocking his army from moving to Stettin. For some reason Sigismund had not accepted Dietrich´s proposal and had only allowed some armoured Sergeants to enter his army.
At the morning of the 10th, Dietrich was talking with the Captain of the Spearmen about drilling of the peasants in his force when suddenly a scout rode to the camp and confronted Dietrich.

"The Vends have broken down their camp North from us and are heading here."

The Scout informed. Dietrich didnt know what to think about this turn of events.

"Why would the Vends challenge us to an open battle when we outnumber them and they have no cavalry".

Dietrich thought outloud,but the captain didnt have time to answer, when a loud sound of horn came from the South.

"Thats the war horn of Von Kastilien. To arms men!"

Dietrich shouted and ordered his page to get his armour. As he was getting on his suit of armour,he saw how the escort of Von Kastillien came in to the vicinity, behind one of the hills to the South. As Dietrichs servants got ready with his armour,Gunther Von Kastillien rode in to the camp and adressed Dietrich still from the horseback.

"Mein Duke. Two small armies are heading towards us! One from the South and one from the West. The Southern one is advancing rapidly,becouse its all Polish Noble cavalry. One from the West is infantry,but they should be here soon also.

Dietrich understood the situation. They were trapped from three directions and becouse most of his army was infantry they couldnt retreat in time from here. Dietrich sayed to Von Kastillien.

"It seems that the Polish have outsmarted us and trapped us on open terrain with good strategy. I think they leave us no choice other then give them fight,right here,right now. It is time for you to get your pabtism of war today Von Kastillien,are you ready?"

Von Kastillien spoke with terrible smile on his face.

"Mein Lord,this is the day i have waited for all my life. Lets give helll to the Polish dogs!"

Dietrich smiled to Von Kastilliens will to fight and continued.

"Allright again we will have to face Polish Nobles with their Javelins. In the battle of Kamienski,we were able to get them in the melee with feigned infantry retreat and that is exactly what we are going to do again,since we still dont have a single archer in this army."

Dietrich deployed his force pretty much the same way is he had done at Kamienski.Infatry in the high ground and cavalry hidden behind a ridge on the both flanks.

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The Polish Southern cavalry army appeared in the field first and immediately attacked the german infantry,hurling missiles and killing men,while the infantry run like they were running away. But this time the cavalry counter charge worked better then last time. Gunthers men on the right charged and Gunther killed the enemy captain with his first swing of his sword.

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As Dietrich sharged the last unit of the Polish nobles and Gunther catched the second one immediately after the first one,when the German infantry entered the strife the Polish broke and started fleeing. The Captain of the Spearmen shouted:

"Enemy infatry to the North and West aproaching!!"

Dieter shouted back,

"Infantry folllow the cavalry,on the double!"

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As the German cavalry chased the remainders of the Polish mounted nobles of the field Dietrich commanded his infantry to create a line facing North West. Tired from the running the infantry got a little brake as the cavalry of Dietrich and Gunther deployed on the right side of the infantry. This time they were facing unit of Polish dismounted nobles and another one of peasants. Dietrich saw how the success of early battle had got into the army. They were ready to strike down the aproaching enemy.

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German infantry took the charge of the Polish noblemen as Dietrich´s cavalry hit them on their left flank.Simultaneously Von Kastilliens Knights smashed into the Polish peasants.The Polish broke down as the German knights pursued them relentlesly.

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Soon there was nothing left of the second Polish army and Dietrich ordered the Spearmen to the line,Von Kastillien to the right and he himself stayed on the left as the Vends came running towards them yelling their war cryes and wawing hteir fearsome war axes.

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As the Woodsmen touched the infantry line,The German Kights charged on their both flanks with devastating force. One of Von Kastilliens Knights run through the Polish captain with his lance.

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As Dietrichs men hit the other end of the Polish line,they broke and run. Again German Kights pursued them untill there was no Vend left.They were all either killed or captured.

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After the last Polish had been killed or captured,the German Infantry raised a huge victory roar. Maybe many of them had thought this was their last day on earth and were now so happy after seeing that instead of death they had gained an heroic victory.
Dietrich rode to Von Kastillien and the two shaked hands with their blood soaked gauntlets still on their hands.Duke of Franconia ordered Gunther Von Kastillien to kneel and sayed with a loud voice that men around could hear.

"By the Grace of our lord and saviour! I knight thee Gunther Von Kastillien as knight of Franconia and the Holy Roman Empire! You have shown skill and valour today that are hard to match even by the most experienced of Knights.After counting, did you not just slay the enemys cavalry captain,with your own hand,but you and your men killed 140 Polish and captured 111,while loosing just 7 knights. I am happy and honoured to have men like you with me. Rise Knight Von Kastillien!"

The army gave load cheer to Von Kastillien as he stood up after Dietrich had touched both of his shoulders,with the tip of his sword.

The Butchers Bill:

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After the battle Dietrich sent messengers to Magdeburg with offer of returning the prisoners to the Polish if they payed ransom, but the Polish rejected the offer so the 251 captured Polish were put to the sword.