From the pages of Biographer to Karl Zirn the Honourable

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Vienna 1344

The last few years have been hard on the old man. The Duke was incapacitated because of an unknown sickness. Karl was now the Steward of the Austrian House and here he was out in some old field engaging the enemy again and trying to get two young nobles prepared to lead men into battle. It was a changing of the guard. He knew it was time for him to move aside and let the younger generation lead.

Karl looked at the two men while sitting in his tent reviewing the battle map. Both were eager to prove their worth. Especially Dieter von Essen his son in law and who had combat experience under the old man. However, not with the amount of responsibility that was before him today. The other young man von Hapsburg was eager but indifferent to the situation. He had come from an aristocratic family and was well educated but had no experience in combat.

The Hungarians were harassing the peasants in the region they had made a threat to Vienna earlier but backed off. They have remained in the region with no objective and their presence was a threat to Vienna and Zagreb. The plan was to remove them out of the region so they were no longer a concern.

Karl looked at the two men then with a mug of hot drink he raised it in the air. “Victory with honour” he then drank from the mug savoring the aromas and flavour. He then continued on. “We will attack tomorrow morning. I wanted you men to see what combat is like in the dark and how to use it to your advantage. However, it does limit our artillery in spotting targets. I wanted to see what you are made of and make the enemy pay for the land we had to conceit years earlier. I want to send a message that we mean business and will get back what has been lost.” These were words that were not expected to come from the old man. There was a lot of conviction and they were both expecting a softer tone from Karl the Honourable.

They spoke not a word and were dismissed to prepare for the fight that lay ahead.

The morning sun was already up before the troops converged on the battlefield. The enemy was deep in the woods and to bring them out Zirn backed himself into a depression in front of a cliff face. He wanted to use the little open space for his missile troops and artillery. The young nobles were in reserve for the final punch to the enemy ranks.



The Hungarians came out of the woods quickly and formation. Their speed surprised the artillery crews who could not target individual regiments.



Karl was amazed at the speed of the enemy and the discipline they demonstrated. They approached the higher ground and at full speed burst into the Austrian lines. All fronts were hit and the Hungarians reached through some gaps quickly.



Karl Zirn was engaged in combat before he realized what had happened. He bravely fought the Hungarian Knights off. He tried to signal his nobles but they were already engaged with the enemy spearmen. Both young nobles were gaining their worth.



Hapsburg was quickly overwhelmed by the spearmen and viciously fought his way from being encircled. In no time he was down to himself and one man. He finally broke from the enemy and headed to the open field
Dieter von Essen found himself in a similar situation but his experience in combat prevented serious losses. Both nobles met in the field being pursued by the enemy spearmen. They joined together in the open field and combining their skills helped defeat the enemy spearmen.



The fight of the Hungarians was unprecedented in Zirn’s view. He never saw such speed and tenacity and at one point thought he was heading for defeat. The 2nd AHA held out for the old man. The young nobles were knighted in front of the men and given a great cheer.

Karl was tired and sore from the combat but his losses were not has great compared to the young nobles.
The prisoners were rounded up before Karl and the young nobles.

Karl looked at the Hungarians and then turned to the young nobles. I know how much you wanted to kill these men and you had every right to do so but now, is not he time for such action. These men fought like you but were not victors. You are the victors and there you shall show the mercy on the defeated. Save your vengeance for the next time you meet.

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Karl the Honourable then walked away leaving the young nobles to contemplate his message. The prisoners were released without ransom or death has been always the way with the old man.


The deployment and results:

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