Thorn, 1252 AD
It was night in the city of Thorn, all seemed quite as he had seemed for the past years. Thorn had been under siege for a full 2 years now, but there was hardly anything to worry about; there was plenty of food and water, sides the Poles failed to secure the river entirely and resources could be brought into the city from time to time. People even managed to leave the city.
During the first year of the siege there was plenty of fighting. The garrison sallied out to destroy a stronghold or the Poles were practise shooting at the walls, but in the second year this stopped. It seemed like the Poles didn't dare to attack, and the Thorn garrison didn't care about fighting anymore, they knew they couldn't fight the Poles on the flat plains outside the city as the Poles had swift horsemen. But by the middle of 1252 news came of reinforcements led by Fritz von Kastilien had crossed the Vistula earlier that year and were making for Thorn.
That brought some action into the Poles again who started making another siege tower so that they could take the city before the reinforcements could arrive. Soon however it seemed like the reinforcements halted as they had to rest to make the final push towards Thorn, and this also could be seen in the activities of the Poles outside Thorn, who stopped many of their guard duties.
But this night was going to be different. Inside Thorn knights gathered around the main gate, but this all happened as quiet as possible. Tonight was the night that Fritz von Kastilien would come within striking distance and tonight was the night to sally out.
On the walls three men were looking at the Poles in the distance.
"I want to attack tonight," said the youngest of them. "Ansehelm, you take the spearmen on the right, the Teutons will attack the left, while father and me charge through the middle. In the meantime Gert von Runstede will lead the infantry out of the city to form a line in front of the gate. We should be quick and hit them before they know what's happening, the night isn't as dark as it could be so we won't be able to use it at our full advantage, but Fritz will attack them from behind. If things go as planned the battle may be over before we even know it. Let's go."
The three men came down from the wall and mounted their horses. The gate opened and the garrison stormed out.
The Poles, who saw the enemy coming, quickly assembled a defensive line to defend their siege equipment, but this line was doomed at the moment is was made. Within seconds they were hit by an almighty body of heavely armoured knights.
And while all this happened the Poles became aware that they were being attacked from behind as well.
Quickly the Polish lines were beginning to fall, the infantry routed within seconds. The honourable nobles held out for a little longer, but they too were routed from the battlefield.
The outcome:
Re: Battle reports thread - King of the Romans PBM
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks