RENAISSANCE BATTLES

1494-1700
Volume 1

by PETER SIDES

RENAISSANCE
BATTLES
1494-1700
Vol 1

by Peter Sides
First published 1996
ISBN 1 87435110 4
Copyright Gosling Press

Gosling Press
35 Cross Street
Upton
Pontefract
WF91EU

Page- 1

Page
3

4
6
8
10
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14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
36
38
40
42
44
46
48
50

INTRODUCTION
MORTEN
SEMINARA
FORNOVO
CALVERN & FRASTENZ
DONARCH
BARLETTA
CERIGNOLA
GARIGLIANO
KNOCKDOE
AGNADELLO
RAVENNA
NOVARA
GUINEGATE
FLODDEN
MARIGNANO
BICOCCA
PAVIA
SEIGE OF VIENNE
KAPPEL
CERESOLE d'ALBA
ANCRUM MOOR
BOULOGNE
THEPINKI
JEMMINGEN

51

The bit at the back

Page- 2

1475
1495
1495
1499
1499
1502
1503
1503
1504
1509
1512
1513
1513
1513
1515
1522
1525
1529
1543
1543
1545
1546
1547
1568

Renaissance Historical battles is the fourth book in a series that allows the wargamer to re-fight
actual historical battles with his own preferred set of wargame rules. I have based this book on
WRG De Bellis Renationis rules plus I have included a section allowing the army lists to be read
using other similar types of rules. My book gives enough information for you to re-enact the battle
described in a concise and compact way covering why it took place; the forces engaged, given in
elements and actual numbers of men; a deployment guide and illustration of the battles initial
positions; the victory conditions and the historical outcome.
The Battle map is drawn to scale and to simplify it I have used a. standard set of symbols to
represent troop types , these are in 'The Bit at the Back'. I have described each battle in a
compact form, my intentions are to allow people to re-fight the battle and in so doing learn the
lessons on the battlefield. You will soon find the Renaissance was not the 'Golden Age' of tactical
thinking and in order to stand a reasonable chance of changing the result of the battle a change in
tactics may be necessary, but often the smallest army is supposed to win and in all cases the gap
between victory and defeat is small. In representing the armies I have balanced the armies
'commands' to fit the historical command ability and flexibility of that battle, so in certain battles it
will be this 'command' ability that will give the inferior force the edge it had in real life enabling it
to win.
The battles range from small to massive affairs and are for both for indi,vidual duels and battles
requiring the resources of an entire club. Some of the bigger more spectacular actions making
excellent demonstration games.
The armies of this period are the most spectacular of the renaissance and certainly have the most
character, from the hard professional Landsknechts to the wild an savage Swiss. Don't feel bound
by history , you've got the army lists, you've got the terain , the rest can be up to you and your
army.

22
The BURGUNDIAN WAR
Charles the Bold of Burgundy became involved in the war against the Swiss when, as the Swiss
defeated their Austrian masters and expanded their borders to the Rhine, the Austrians attempted
to buy them off and in doing so became heavily in debt to Burgundia who put up the money. The
Burgundian plot to claim lands from Austria in security of payment was seized upon by both
France and the Emperor who struck a deal with the Swiss and Austrians to pay this debt and foil
the Burgundians. But when payment was offered Charles Duke ofBurgundia refused it. The result
of this refusal was that local people seized the Burgundian nobleman a Peter von Hagenbach,
already in possession of the pledged lands and cruelly exploiting them, and executed him in the
presence of Swiss emissaries. Charles' re-action came in 1476 when he invaded Switzerland and
the Swiss found the alliance with France and the Emperor worthless as they were abandoned to
their fate.

ARMIES
SWISS

A) Duke of Lorraine 1800 Mounted Knights

(CinC + 6 L(O))
B.) Vorhut (Vanguard) 9200 men
(Sub-Gen.+ 6 B(F); 17 P(S))
C.) Gewalthut ( cenre) 8000 men
(Sub-Gen. + 5 B(F); 30 P(S)
D.) Nachhut (rearguard) 6000 men
(Sub-Gen. + 6 Sk(O);
2 B(F); 10 P(S);l Ligh{ Gun.A(!))
E.) Defenders of Murten 2000
(Sub-Gen.+ l B(F);2 P(S);3 Sk(O))

BURGUNDIANS
1.)Duke ofBurgundy 1500 Knights
(CinC + 5 L(O))
2.)Hagenbach 1500 Knights
(Sub-Gen+ 5 L(O))
3.)3000 Knights (10 L(O))
4.)2000 Pike (5 Pike(O))
5.)2000 Pike (5 Pike(O))
6.)1050 Handgunners(5 Sk(I))
7-14.)1500 man Xbowunits
(8 Sk(I))
15) Artillery (5 Medium Guns A(O))
16) Camp (23 Baggage Elements)

DEPLOYMENT
The Burgundians deploy first and the Swiss move :first. The battle was fought in the pouring rain
so any rules degrading :firepower due to rain/weather should apply.
VICTORY CONDITIONS
For either army to force a command to be broken they need to destroy l/3rd of the oppositions
elements. To cause a rout result 2/3rds of the opposition's elements need to be destroyed. Lost
baggage counts against both commands.

I
Ill

CJ

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2;

78 inchC?s

HISTORICAL OUTCOME
Charles ofBurgundia first struck at the fortress of Grari.dson, by the lake Neuchatel which quickJy
fell to Charles' army. Charles had the entire garrison drowned in the lake or hanged. The Swiss
force marching to relieve Grandson now fell upon the Burgundian army still at Grandson and
utterly defeated it, capturing a hoard of booty unparalleled in its history. However the Burgundian
army was not destroyed and in June of that year the Duke attacked the walled town of Murten
(Morat) between Lake Neuchatel and Berne with over 24000 men. His intention was to capture
Murten as a base to move against Berne. Murten was garrisoned by Von Bubenberg with a
Bernese garrison and remembering the fate of the garrison of Grandson who had surrendered, held
out for re-inforcements. The Duke also remembered the lessons of Grandson when his army was
destroyed before it could deploy and so invested the town with a ring of earthworks and artillery
positions facing outwards to forestall any attack by a Swiss relief army. Unfortunately his position
was screened by a forests to his rear allowing the Swiss to move close to his lines undetected. The
Duke had failed to place piquets or patrols in these woods. Having secured his position, the Duke
attacked Murten, regardless of losses in full knowledge that a Swiss army was on its way. The
siege had lasted l 0 days when the Duke became aware that S~ss were close but he did not
prepare to face them until the following day the 22nd June. He marched out of the camp and
deployed for battle. The Duke waited until noon before deciding that the weather was to poor for
fighting and withdrew his main force to the camp leaving his artillery to cover the withdrawal At
this the Swiss, deployed in column in the woods, attacked, charging in pouring rain through the
guns and crossing the lightly defended earthworks. The Duke immediately counter-attacked
sending whatever troops that came up, straight at the Swiss who slaughtered these piecemeal
attacks and swept through the camp driving all before it. The Duke's army scattered escaping
north and south. The Burgundians had lost 10,000 killed and Charles the Bold's campaigns had
come to nothing. He was to die 6 months later at the hands of his former ally, Rene of Lorraine
and a force of hired Swiss Mercenaries.
5

SEMINARA June 28th 1495

FRANCE versus SPANISH and NEAPOLITANS
King Charles VIII of France set out from Lyons for Italy at the head ofhis army on 27th July 1494
and conquered Florence and Rome in rapid succession, moving onto Naples in the same year. At
Rapallo he defeated an army of the Kingdom of Naples composed mostly of militia infantry in
entrenched positions. The French Gendarmes with Swiss mercenaries under the Duke of Orleans,
after initially being forced back recovered, and drove the Neapolitans from the field.
Charles' success in Italy and his entrance into Naples in February 1495 bearing the Imperial Globe,
symbol of imperial authority, offended the Germans in as much they had custody of the Holy
Roman Empire and worried Spain's Ferdinand of Aragon over his rights to Naples. So on March
3lst 1495 the Venetians, Maximilian I, Ferdinand of Aragon, Ludovico Sforza the Duke of Milan
and Pope Alexander VI formed the 'Holy League' or (Venetian League) in order to restore Italian
independence - or more obviously to curb France's power.
Ferdinand, King of Spain sent Gonsalvo de Cordova with approximately 5000 Spanish troops to
support King Ferrante II of Naples in defeating the now encumbant French army.

ARMIES
SPANISH NEAPOLITANS
1.) King FerranteII 900MenatArms
(CinC + 3 GendarmesL(S))
2.) de Cordova 300 men at Arms
(Sub-Gen. 1 Gendarmes L(S))
3.) 1050 Italian Xbow Foot
(5 Sk(O))
4.) 2000 Spanish Pikemen
(5 Pike(I))
5.) 1050 Spanish Buckler men
(3 B(F))
6.) 1050 Spanish Musket
(3 S(I))
7.) Artillery (1 Medium Gun .A(O))

FRENCH
A) Duke of Aubigny 1200 Gendarmes
(CinC + 4 Gendarmes.L(S))
B.) 3000 Swiss Mercenaries
(Sub-Gen. 8 Pike.(S))
C.) 1200 Gascon Xbow Foot
(6 Sk(O))
D.) 3000 Gascon Xbow Foot
(15 Sk(O))
E.) 2000 Gascon Pikemen
(5 Pike (I))
F.) Artillery (2 Medium Guns. A(O))

DEPLOYMENT
The Spanish deploy first and the French move first.
VICTORY CONDITIONS
Both sides must lose l/3rd of a command to count as beaten and 2/3rds of the army must be lost
to count as being defeated.

SPANISH
3

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6
l/l
Qi

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co

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FRENCH

52 inches

HISTORICAL OUTCOME
The Neopolitan army under King Ferrante II supported by his Spanish ally Gonsalvo de Cordova
with about 5000 Spanish foot attacked a numerically superior French Army under Robert Stuart
Duke of Aubigny. The French response consisted of the Gendarmes charging the Neopolitan men
at arms and the Swiss mercenaries taking on the Spanish centre. The remainder of the French force
stood in reserve. The French Gendarmes soon broke the Neopolitian men at arms and at this the
Neopolitan foot threw down its arms and fled leaving the Spanish to face the Swiss alone. Though
the Spanish fought well they were no match for the massed Swiss pike and were soon
overwhelmed. De Cordova left the field with his own men at arms on seeing his army rout. The
remaining French army in Naples under Gilbert, Comt de Montpensier found himself fighting on
three fronts, firstly the Spanish under Cordova ; the Neapolitan Barons and the people of Naples.
Though he was to win all his pitched battles his army was destroyed through guerilla warfare and
he surrendered in June 1496 at Atella. The King of Naples returned to his throne and Charles VIII
was forced to sign a truce with Spain.

FORNOVO

July 6th 1495

FRANCE vs MILAN and VENICE

Following the battle of Seminara Charles VIII of France quickly conquered Naples early in 1495
He then began to march North to re-open his lines of communication with the re-inforcements
commanded by Louis, Duke of Orleans who was camped at Piedmont. The Milanese and
Venetians under Giovanni Francesco Gonzaga, Marquis ofMantua were camped along the French
line of march, two miles north of the village ofFomovo overlooking the river Taro. The French
arrived at Fomovo on 5th July and Charles attempted to negotiate with the Venetian/Milanese
faction to continue his march, but to no avail. Charles then deployed his force in a march column
that could tum quickly to face its right flank in the event of an attack by the Italians.

ARMIES
FRENCH
A.}King Charles VIII, 300 French Gendarmes.
(CinC + 2 L(S))
B.}MarshalDe Gie, 350 French Gendarmes.
(Sub-Gen. + 2 L(S))
C.)Count ofFoix, 300 French Gendarmes
(Sub-Gen +2 L(S))
D.)300 Gascon Crossbow (3 Sk(O))
E.)200 Royal Xbow (2 Lh(F})
F.)3000 Swiss Pike. (14 P(S);l B(F))
G.)2400 French Crossbow (24 Sk (0))
H.}2400 French Crossbow (24 Sk (0))
I.) Artillery (2 Medium Guns .A(O))
J.) Baggage(! Horde; 10 Baggage)

ITALIANS
1. )Marquis ofMantua,500 Men at Arms
(CinC + 3 L(O))
2. )Count of Caiazzo,600 Men at Arms
(Sub-Gen. +4 L(O))
3.) de-Montone, 500 Men at Arms
(Sub-Gen +3 L(O))
4.)Pietro Duodo,600 Stradiots
(Sub-Gen+ 6 Lh (0))
5.)1000 Milanese (5 Bw(O})
6. )2000 Landsknechts
(20 Pike(O))
7.)500 Italian Mounted Crossbow.
(3 Dr(I)}
8.)4000 Italian Xbow Foot (20 IBw(O))
9.)3000 Italian Xbow Foot(15 Bw(O))
10.)250 Papal Knights(2 L(O))
11.)1000 Papal Xbow Foot (10 Bow(O))
12.)300 Milanese (2 L(O))
13.)250 Venetian (2 L(O))
14.)300 Mounted Xbow Foot
(2 Dr (I)
15.)Artillery (2 Medium Guns A.(O))
16.)Camp (1Horde,=16 Baggage)

FIGURE SCALE 1 FIGURE= 50 MEN

DEPLOYMENT
The French deploy and move :first. Count the river as bad going.
VICTORY CONDITIONS
Both sides must destroy l/3rd of a command to cause a Broken result, and 2/3rds to win. The
baggage counts as casualities as long as it's held by the enemy.

STEEP HILLS

//
direction of march~
H

62 inches

HISTORICAL OUTCOME
The Italian plan was to halt the colunm and engage it frontally with the light cavalry , p:inning it
down so a mass charge in the flank by the mounted men at arms and knights, supported by the
infantry could smash the French army.
The Italian guns opened fire in support of the Stradiot's attack as soon as the French colunm was
in range. The French brought up its own artillery and countered the light cavalry with missile
troops, at this the Italian light cavalry broke off their attack, circled around the French army and
raided its baggage train. The Marquis ofMantua saw the French starting to deploy and ordered an
all out attack. The Italian plan failed at this point in that, as the Italians crossed the river, they
became disordered and easy meat for the French. On the Italian right the Gendarmes halted in the
face of French Infantry and artillery and were promptly routed by the French Gendarmes. The
Milanese and Landsknecthts also attempted to cross the river but were smashed by the Swiss pike.
In the centre much the same happened with the Italians being attacked as they emerged disordered
from the river and being driven back into the river.
After the initial Italian attack by the nobility and the first line of infantry the reserve lines seeing the
debacle at the river withdrew to the camp. The Italian light cavalry thinking that the day was lost
also broke off raiding the baggage. The battle had lasted 15 minutes. The Italians had 3300 men
and been soundly routed. King Charles did not pursue the Italians beyond the river to destroy
them utterly, but continued his march as before.
9

CALVERN March 22nd 1499

SWARIAN LEAGUE versus SWISS
The cause of the war is explained under Domach. Maximillian I advanced on Orisons with a
Swabian force of 15000 men and constructed earthworks close to the town in preparation for an
assault. Benedict Fortana attacked with 6000 Swiss rather than await the inevitable assault and
siege.

ARMIES

SWISS
A.) Fortana, 3000 Swiss
(CinC + 2B (F); 6 P (S))
B.) Orisons, 3000 Swiss
(Sub-Gen.+ 2B(F); 6 P (S))
C & D) 300 Xbow (3 Sk (0))
E.) Artillery (2 Light Guns A(I))

IMPERIALISTS
1.) Maximillian I, 1500 Gendarmes
(CinC + 5 L(O))
2.) 1500 Men at Arms (5 L(O))
3.) Reserve 3600 men (7B(F); 2P(O))
4 & 5) 800 Pike. (2P(O))
6.) 2000 Xbow (10 Sk(O))
7 & 8.) 4000 Xbow (20 Sk(O))

DEPLOYMENT
The Imperialists deploy first and the Swiss move first.
VICTORY CONDITIONS
The Swiss must destroy 24 elements to cause a Broken result and 48 elements to cause a rout. The
Imperialists must destroy 1/3rd of a command's elements to cause it to be broken. and destroy in
total 14 Elements to win.
filSTORICAL OUTCOME
The Swiss charged the thinly held earthworks and quickly drove the defenders back. The
retreating first line of the Imperialists soon disorganised the reserves and cavalry in the rear. Then
whole imperialist army fled. Fontana was to die shortly after in a skirmish close by, at a crossing
on the Calvem River.

IMPERlALISTS
3

vn/A V12ZV11111

mmm

mmn

8
earthworks
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,.,.llj'I,
E3

E
B
52 inches

10

SWABIAN LEAGUE versus SWISS

See Donarch for the cause and process of the war. There is little detail of the proceeding events
other than the Imperialists were marching towards Bern when they were con.fronted by Wolleb.

ARMIES
SWISS
A) Wolleb 1200 Forlorn Hope
(CinC + 4 B(F))
B.) Cantonial Commander 1800 pike
(Sub-Gen. + 5P(S))
C.) 1800 Pike ( 5 P(S))
D & E.) 1200 Halberd (3 B(F)) x2
F & G.) 600 Xbow (6 Sk(O)) x2

IMPERIALISTS
1.) Furstenberg 1500 Men at Arms
(CinC + 5L(O))
2.) 3000 Men at Anns on Foot
(8 B(F))
3 & 4) 800 Pike (4 P(O)) x2 5 & 6) 3800 bow (17 S(O))x2
7.) 1200 Xbow (6 Sk(O))

DEPLOYMENT
The Imperialists deploy first and the Swiss move first.
VICTORY CONDITIONS
The Swiss must destroy 21 Elements to cause the Imperialists to be broken and 42 Elements in
total to rout them The Imperialists must destroy 1/3rd of a command to cause the Swiss to retreat
and 11 Elements in total to cause them to rout. Forlorn hope do not count as casualties if
destroyed.
HISTORICAL OUTCOME
Heinrich Wolleb positioned himself amongst a larger than normal forlorn hope, supported them
with his Halberdiers and charged head on at the Imperialist army that occupied a good defensive
position on a hill. Wolleb's Forlorn hope smashed the centre of the Imperialist force and drove the
whole army back in confusion. Heinrich W olleb was killed in the attack but again the Swiss had
broken another Imperialist army through sheer ferocity.

IMPERIALISTS

Ill
(!)

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50 inches

11

SWABIAN LEAGUE versus SWISS

The founders of the Swiss Confederation had not intended to break their ties with the Empire and
in fact they had been eager to have the Emperor confirm their special privileges. But successive
Imperial officials high handed attitude had turned the Swiss away from acceptance of Imperial
power. This animosity was :further embittered when during the Burgundian wars the Hapsburg
Emperor did nothing to protect the Swiss garrison at Grandson from being massacred.
This background of mistrust gave way to open rebellion against the new Emperor Maximilian I
when he levied a tax on the entire Empire and overode local laws with an Imperial supreme court.
Maximilian's response to the Swiss refusal to obey was .to head the Swabian League (a group of
southern German states who had formed to prevent Swiss expansion and now saw the chance to
expand into Switzerland with Imperial approval) in a punitive expedition to bring these unruly
Swiss to order.

ARMIES
SWISS
1.)Conrad 3600 Foot
(CinC+ 7 (S);2 B(F).)
2.)d'Erlach 3200 Foot
(Sub-Gen.+ 6P(S);2B(F))
3.)3200 Foot( 6P(S);2 B(F))
4.)1500 Xbow( 8 Sk(O))
5.)1500 Xbow( 8 Sk(O))
6.)Artillery (3 Light Guns A(I))

IMPERIALISTS
A )Furstenberg 900 Men at Arms
(CinC+ 3 L(O))
B.)600 Men at Arms ( 2 L(O))
C.)5000 Foot ( 9 P(O); 3 B(F))
D.)1800 Crossbow Foot (9 Sk(O))
E.)1800 Crossbow Foot (9 Sk (0)
F).Artillery (2 Medium Guns A.(O))

DEPLOYMENT
The Imperialists deploy first and the Swiss move first.

VICTORY CONDITIONS
The Imperialists must destroy l/3rd of a command to cause Broken and 29 Elements in total to
cause rout. The Swiss must destroy 13 to cause Broken, 26 Elements to cause Rout.

12

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F

IMPEr<JALISTS
B.

GO inches

HISTORICAL OUTCOME
Domach was the :final battle in a series of battles fought along a 300 mile front. The
fighting started after an attack by Imperial forces on the ancient monastery of Mustair
in the Munstertal. But before long the people of the Grisons and their confederation
were involved in the war against the German-Austrian alliance. In 9 months of war the
Swiss lost their inspired leader Fontana during fighting on the River Calven but the
Swiss soldiers outfought the Imperialist army.
The final peace treaty of Basle, in September 1499, established Switzerland's virtual
independence of the Maximillian Empire and though Switzerland gained no territory
from the war it re-inforced its reputation, already established at St. Jakob and Morat.
This reputation now made Swiss mercenaries highly valued in the armies about to
embark on the conquest and defence ofltaly.

Page- 13

BARLETTA July 1502

FRANCE versus SPAIN
Louis XII came to throne of France in 1499 and determined to regain the lost possessions of his
predessor. Louis had assumed the titles of King of France, King of Naples, and Duke of Milan.
and these had become the reasons for the conflict. France was also weaker as a result of Charles'
adventure as the Imperialists and Spain had both gained from the war, partly from Charles' bribes
ofland prior to his invasion and partly through the conquest ofltaly. So Louis set about recruiting
new allies, these being Switzerland and the Pope who feared Spanish inroads into Italy through
Naples. Louis also entered into agreements with Venice (an enemy of Milan), Philip I Duke of
Burgundy and H~nry VII of England. But it was a French/Swiss army that marched over the Alps
to take Milan in 1500 at the battle of Novara where Sforza's (Duke of Milan), Swiss mercenaries
refused to fight the French/Swiss mercenaries and so Sforza was captured.
At this Louis allied with Ferdinand of Spain and carved up Naples together capturing the King of
Naples and dividing the Kingdom between them But Ferdinand had no intention of sharing the
Kingdom and with control of the seas around Naples and the French re-inforcements in Rome to
persuade the Cardinal elections for Pope to elect a French candidate Ferdinand set about taking
Naples.

ARMIES
FRENCH
1.) Duke of Nemours 1OOO Gendarmes
(CinC + 3 L(S))
2.) 3000 Swiss Pike
(Sub-Gen+ 8 Pike(S))
3.) 23 00 Gascon Pike ( 6 Pike(I))
4.) 1500 Scottish Longbow
(8 Sk(O))
5.) 2100 Gascon Xbow
( 10 Sk(O))
6.) Artillery (3 Medium Guns)(A(O))

SPANISH
A.) de Cordova 600 men at Arms
(CinC + 2 Gendarmes L(S))
B.) 1000 Light Cavalry (5 lh(O))
C.) 1200 Pike (3 Pike(I))
D.) 2500 Spanish Musket (8 S(I))
E.) 2700 Spanish Buckler (9 B(F))
F.) 1200 Pike (3 Pike (I))
G. )Artillery 2 medium Guns (A ( 0))

DEPOYMENT
The Spanish deploy first behind the earthworks and the French move first.
VICTORY CONDITIONS
The French must destroy 11 elements to cause the Spanish to be broken and 22 elements to win.
The Spanish must destroy 3 Swiss elements or 10 French elements to cause a command to be
broken, and 26 elements to win.

14

Ul

I.

.S

ULiq

FRENCH

48 inches

HISTORICAL OUTCOME
The French army with its Swiss mercenaries had smaShed all opposition up to this
point and the French had become reliant on the Swiss to do most of the fighting. De
Cordova, the Spanish Commander, realised after his defeat at Seminara that his troops
could not fight the Swiss on their terms, so he changed the odds. He increased the
numbers of Sword and Buckler men in his force and positioned himself behind
earthworks of a ditch and mound.
Louis d'Annagnac, Duke of Nemours appears to have paid little attention to the
Spanish disposition and as before simply followed his Swiss mercenary pike into
action, holding his other troops back to allow the Swiss easy access to the enemy. But
the Swiss charge was first disrupted by the Spanish musketry and artillery and then
further disordered by the ditch and mound. This is what de Cordova had planned,
Disordered pike verse swordsmen are at a great disadvantage and the Spanish sword
and buckler men drove the Swiss back. The French on seeing the Swiss attack fail,
instead of advancing to support the Swiss and continue the battle, started withdrawing.
The Spanish Swordsmen already pursuing the Swiss were then joined by a general
advance of all the Spanish forces, turning the French withdraw into a bloody rout
inflicting heavy losses on the French and particularly on the Swiss.

Page- 15

CERIGNOLA April 21st 1503

SPAIN versus FRANCE
France under Charles VIII invaded the kingdom of Naples in 1494 and initially defeated the
Neopolitan army at Rapallo. The King of Naples saw his peril and appealed to the King of Spain
to come to his aid. The Spanish responded by sending the great de Cordova and an army to help
the Neopolitans. Their combined force was defeated at Seminara as was a Milanese Venetian army
at Fomovo and in 1500 under the Treaty of Granada the kingdom of Naples was partitioned
between France and Spain. But peace was not to last long and in 1502 the Spanish defeated a
French army at Barletta by defending prepared positions. By now Cordovo had come into his own.
He defeated the French at Barletta in 1502 and faced them again at Cerignola using the same
tactics.

ARMIES
FRENCH
A Lollis d'Armagnac 300 French Gendarmes
( CinC + 2 L(S))
B. Yves d'Alegre 300 French Gendarmes
(2 L(S))
C. 500 Italian and Albanian Stradiots,(5 Lh(O).)
D. 4000 Swiss Pikemen, (20 P(S) )
E. 5000 Gascon Xbow Foot,(50 Sk(O))
F. Artillery (4 Medium Guns A(O))

SPAIN
1.)de Cordova 2000 Spanish Foot
(CinC + 6 P(I); 2S(I);2B(F))
2.)2000 Foot.(6 P(I);2S(I);2B(F))
3.)2000 Foot.(6 P(I);2S(I);2B(F))
4.)2000 Foot.(6 P(I);2S(I);2B(F))
5.)100 Men at Arms, (1 L(O))
6.)500 Spanish Genitors,(5 Lh(O).)
7.)500 Spanish Genitors,(5 Lh(O))
8)Artillery (5 Medium Guns A(O))

FIGURE SCALE 1 FIGURE = 50 MEN

DEPLOYMENT
The Spanish deploy first, and the French move first.
VICTORY CONDITIONS
The French must destroy 19 elements to cause a broken result 34 to win. The Spanish must
destroy 28 elements to cause a broken result and 56 elements to defeat the French.

16

FRENCH

............-...........-,E

~--...,_,,__

54 inches

HISTORICAL OUTCOME
At Barletta in 1502 De Cordova had defeated a French Army with Swiss mercenaries by deploying
his musket/pike formations behind earthworks. The Swiss had been defeated by the heavy fire and
the sword and buckler men of the Spanish force. The French army had been routed as it tried to
disengage. This time, as the French army under Louis d'Armagnac, Duke of Nemours closed on
the Spanish, De Cordova applied the same tactic, making his base on the lower slopes of a
vineyard and digging earthworks across his front.
The Duke of Nemours was persuaded by the rash Yves d'Alegre to immediately attack the Spanish
and so, after a brief fight with the Spanish light cavalry screening the earthworks the entire French
command plus all the Gendarmes charged ,only supported by the fire of its artillery, at the dug-in
Spanish army. The result was predictable. As the Gendarmes where halted by the earthworks they
were shot to pieces by close range musket and cannon fire. The Gendarmes already in some
disorder had most of their officers, and in particular the Duke ofNemors killed. The Swiss and
Gascon infantry had come up at this time and assaulted the Spanish positions in an uncoordinated
way only to be repulsed and left standing close to the Spanish earthworks being raked with musket
and cannon fire. At this De Cordova ordered an all out attack and the Spanish troops poured
across the earthworks to drive the French from the field.

17

GARIGLIANO 29th December 1503

SPAIN versus FRANCE
The defeated French from Cerignola withdrew to the fortress at Gaeta. Where they were joined
by Ludovico, Marquis of Saluzzo with 4000 Italian infantry. In June de Cordova arrived and laid
siege to Gaeta with his force of 11 OOO men, but all his attempts to assault the town failed and he
withdrew to blockaded it. Reinforcements recruited by Louis XII included 8000 Swiss
mercenaries marched on Parma where they were joined by Italian infantry from Milan and Mantua
increasing the force to over 20,000 men. After marching on Rome in an attempt to pressurise the
papal conclave to elect a French candidate to the post of Pope. The army under Gonzage marched
on Naples along the Via Latina. At the approach of this army the Spanish commander De Cordova
broke of his bloqkade of Gaeta and moved to tail this new threat eventually ending up back at his
start position on the Garigliano river.

ARMIES
FRENCH I ITALIAN
A )Marquis of Salzzo, 400 French Gendarmes
(CinC + 2 L(S))
B.)650 Gendarmes ( 4 L(S))
C.)500 Italian Stradiots (5 Lh(O))
D. )2000 Italian Ft.(lOS(I))
E.)2000 Italian Ft.(lOS(I))
F.)2000 Norman Ft. (20Sk(O))
G.)1000 Norman Pike (5 P(I))
H.)4000 Swiss Pike (20 P(S))
I.)4000 Swiss Pike (20 P(S))
J. )2500 Gascon Xbow & Italian Pike.
(13 Sk(O), 6 P (I))
K)lOOO Gascon Xbow (10 Sk(O))
L.) Artillery ( 2 Medium Guns A(O))

SPAIN I ITALIAN
I.)cie Cordova, 500 Men at Arms.
( CinC + 3 L(O))
2.)Andrado,400(Sub-Gen+2B(F))
3.)500 Genitors (5 Lh (0))
4.)4000Italian Pike;Xbow(24Sk(0).:8P(I)
5.)500 Italian Stradiots & Bridging Coy
( 5 Lh (0) & 1 Pontoon(O))
6.)500 Italian Stradiots (5 Lh(O))
7.)2000 Spanish Ft.(6P(I);2 S(I),2 B(F))
8.)2000 Spanish Ft.(6P(I);2 S(I); 2 B(F))
9.)2000 Spanish Ft.(6P(I);2 S(I); 2 B(F))
10.)2000 Spanish Ft.(6P(I); 2S(I); 2B(F))

FIGURE SCALE 1 FIGURE = 50 MEN.

DEPLOYMENT
The French deploy first and the Spanish move first. The river is impassible. This battle was
fought in appalling weather and any rules governing bad weather should be applied.
VICTORY CONDITIONS
The French must destroy 1/3rd of a command to cause it to be broken and must destroy 62
elements to win. The Spanish must destroy 42 elements to cause the French to be broken. And 84
elements to defeat the French.

18

mE3
E

//

~
SA
c ~

OE3
F

TRAJETTO

SPANlSH

106 inches

HISTORICAL OUTCOME
Gonzaga attempted to cross the Garigliano in the face of the Spanish and managed to construct a
pontoon across the river after much :fighting He was then however forced to postpone his attack
due to the dreadful weather. The conditions in which the army lived were inadequate for the
persistent bad weather and much of the French army withdrew from the river to find dryer and
better quarters. Also during this time due to friction in the command Gonzaga withdrew and the
Marquis of Saluzzo took command. On the Spanish side, De Cordova remained close to his troops
keeping morale up and when re-inforcements under Bartolomeo D'Alviano arrived, he set about
preparations to attack the French. He moved his army to with 5 miles of the village. Sujo on the
French side of the river and at dawn on the 29th December he constructed a prefabricated bridge
across the Garigliano without opposition.
De Cordova's plan was to attack from his bridge by the village Sujo and for Andrada to hold the
French bridge to prevent any counter attack. De Cordova's attack routed the Norman infantry at
Sujo and swept on to the village of Castelforte and San Cosma routing the Swiss soldiers before
they could deploy for battle, The scattered, leaderless and unprepared French army could offer
little organised resistance against the Spanish onslaught. The marquis and d'Alege did manage a
counter attack but it was hopelessly outnumbered and unsupported. He fell back turning to fight
again at Trajetto, ordering the French bridge across the Garigliano to be destroyed. But after
heavy :fighting the Spanish captured this bridge and advanced on two fronts.
The Spanish attack drove the French to the natural defile at Formia and again the Swiss and
F):ench made another stand, but the entire weight of the Spanish army drove them back after an
hour and the French forces fled back to Gaeta.
After a brief siege the Marquis surrendered Gaeta and all his forces to De Cordova on condition
the army was allowed to return home. Most of it died on the return voyage from fever .
19

KNOCKDOE August 19th 1504

ENGLISH versus IRISH
The English hold over Ireland had never been complete and the Irish lords often
assumed more power than the King would allow. This power was based on
introducing a new type of soldier the 'Galloglass' - Foreign Warrior' to Ireland for the
Irish had no warrior class of its own. The 'Galloglass' mostly Scots had settled in
Ireland. Their equipment and armour was defiantly Dark age consisting of two handed
axes and shirts of mail. The greatest battle in Irish history of these 'Galloglass' would
be Knockdoe for they where employed on both sides.
The protagonist's in this battle were Gerald Fitz-Gerald, the Great Earl of Kildare with
a force from Dublin and the English Pale mostly from the northern half of Ireland or
the 'Leath Chuinn' of ancient designation. And Ulick de Burgh, (or Burke) of
Clanrickard supported by Munster warriors from the lower Shannon basin .The Earl of
Kildare had risen to power during Richard IlI's reign and was present when the
Pretender Lambert Simnel had been crowned King of England in Dublin. And so on
Henry VII's accession to the throne after the battle of Bosworth he sent Richard
Edgecombe to Ireland in 1488 to limit the Earls powers. Later Sir Edward Poynings
parliament charged him with treason and he was imprisoned in the tower in 1495. But
the Earl was the only man who could keep the peace n Ireland and in 1496 he was
returned to power with King Henry's charge 'He is meet. to rule all Ireland, seeing all
Ireland cannot rule him!' But during the Earl of Kildare's imprisonment many of the
old fueds had restarted and Kildare returned to find himself at immediate odds with
many of his old enemies.
ARMIES
ENGLISH IRISH
A) Earl of Kildare 1200 foot
(Cine + 6 Blade(S))
B.) 900 Archers ( 6 Bow(S))
C.) 900 Archers (6 Bow(S))
D.) 1200 Irish (6 Blade (I))
E.) 600 Archers (4 Bow(S))
F.) 1200 Cavalry (8 L(F))
G.) Baggage. ( 6 Baggage)
Figure Scale 1 = 50men

IRISH
I.) Ulick Burke 3400
(Cine+ 17 Blade (0))
2.) 600 Mounted
(4 Lh(O))

DEPLOYMENT
The English Irish deploy and move first. The wall was a low-loose stone wall and had
no defensive practicalities, I would ignore it but for cavalry who should count it as bad
going.
VICTORY CONDITIONS
The English must destroy 7 elements to cause a broken result and 14 elements to cause
a rout. The Irish must destroy 12 elements to cause broken result and 24 elements to
cause a rout. The baggage will count as casualties long as it is held .

Page- 20

~G

I<

ENGLISH /IRISH

1zizlzz7lJ

RE13EL IRISH

50 inches

>I

HISTORICAL OUTCOME
The de Burgh family, the greatest Anglo-Norman house in Connacht, had long been
divided into two branches , that of MacWilliam of Clanrickard and the MacWilliam of
Mayo. These two families were often hostile to each other and so on the death of the
head of the Mayo branch a small war of succession took place between them This war
unfortunately involved the town of Galway which had a royal charter allowing only
entry to the Kings representatives , U1ick entered as an armed intruder.
Wick's allies were mostly anti-English, the worst being Turlough O'Brian. Because of
this anti-English bias, the Earl could legitimately remove many of his Irish opponents,
while ostensibly working for the King.
The two armies' assemblies differed in many ways. The Earls, by act of Parliament,
had organised and equipped in the English fashion using bow and halberd. Wick's army
would have been mostly 'Galloglass' relying on their two handed axes. Both forces
met at Knockdoe on a hill, appropriately named 'the hill of axes'. The Earrs
dispositions were to follow in the English pattern of billmen in the centre to fix the
enemy , and archers on the flanks to pour in arrows. This he arranged along an
existing low stone wall placed his own 'Galloglass' and cavalry on the extreme flanks
and leaving a small reserve, under his son Garret Og, to protect the baggage.
The Battle started as the commander of the Earl' cavalry (Baron of Delvin) had
promised, by casting the first spear. Oddly, nothing is heard ofthe_English cavalry after
its initial charge and one can only assume it withdrew to its flank after the attack. In
the centre the main body of Wick's 'Galloglass' charged the English line and after
suffering the English arrows engaged in a melee all along the front. Wick's Cavalry did
not charge the 'Galloglass' to its front but circled round them and fell on the baggage
in the rear, Garret Og and his force having left the baggage to join in the fighting.
Wick's charge had not broken the English and now, having been halted, it started to be
pushed back. Eventually Wick's army disintegrated through sheer casualties which
were heavy on both sides. Interestingly, Knockdoe was the first battle in Ireland in
which a firearm was used. A Dublin soldier surprised a disorientated Irish rebel
returning from plundering the baggage and 'Struch him with a gun with both his hands
and so beat out his brains.'.
Page- 21

AGNADELLO 14th MAY 1509

FRANCE versus VENICE
Louis XII, now campaigning against Venice as a co-member of the league of cambrca, was
involved in a war of manoeuvre against the Count of Pitigliano. The Venetian army was slightly
larger than the French army at 25000 against 20000 men but the French army contained 6-8000
Swiss mercenaries and therefore was probably a more dangourous army. Count Pitigliano feared a
general engagement and took up a position on Vine-Clad hills and refused to engage the French.
So Louis marched on the city of Rivolta and drew the Italian army into pursuit, whereupon the
French army circled around to close on the rear of the Italian forces.

ARMIES
FRENCH
A Louis XII 300 French Gendarmes
( CinC + lL(S))
B. d'Amboise 300 French Gendarmes
(Sub-Gen. + 1 L(S))
C. 300 French Gendarmes (1 (S))
D. 500 Italian & French Cavalry (3 Lh(O).)
E. 3000 Gascon Xbow (15 Sk(O))
F. 4000 Swiss Pike (10 P(S))
G. 4000 Swiss Pike (10 P(S))
H. Artillery (2 Medium Guns A(O))
I. Swiss Artillery (2 Light Guns A(I))

VENETIANS
1.)Count of Pitiglianol500 Italian Men at Arms
( CinC +5 L(O))
2. )d'Alviano 200 Italian Men at Arms
(Sub-Gen.+ 1 L(O))
3.)3000 Stradiots (15 L/C)
4.)5000 Italian Pike,Xbow (6 P(I); 13 Sk(O))
5.)5000 Italian Pike,Xbow (6 P(I); 13 Sk(O))
6.)5000 Italian Pike,Xbow (6 P(I); 13 Sk(O))
7.)2000 Italian Militia (10 Sk(I))
8.)3000 Romandiole Foot (8 Pike(O))
9.)Artillery (2 Medium Guns A(O))

DEPLOYMENT
The Venetians deploy first and the French move first.

VICTORY CONDITIONS
Both sides must inflict 1/3rd casualties on a comand to cause it to become broken. The French
must destroy 54 elements to defeat the Venetians. The Venetians must destroy 30 elements to
defeat the French.

22

-~'

VENETIANS
',

FRENCH

58 inches

HISTORICAL OUTCOME
The French Vanguard had orders to attack the Italians as quickly as possible in order to pin down
their army and bring it to battle. whereas the Italian rearguard was to hold the French vanguard
until its army deployed for battle, then withdraw giving the Italian main body time to escape. The
battle started with an artillery engagement when the French cavalry charged across the dry riverbed only to be quickly repulsed by the Romandiole infantry. D'Alviano commander of the Italian
rearguard, now over-confident about his position, refused to withdraw when ordered to by Count
of Pitigliano and even requested re-inforcements. Ambroise and Trivulzio the French vanguard
commanders increased the pressure on the Italians with repeated attacks and further artillery
bombardment which drove the Italians into more open ground. Once in more open terrain
Brisigella's infantry were cut to pieces by the French gendarmes plus re-inforcements from the
French main battle. The Italian rearguard fell apart and fled to the main body of the Italian army
which withdrew and split up into a number of fortified cities.

23

RAVENNA 11th April 1512

FRANCE versus SPAIN and THE PAPACY
Louis XII's of France had placed his army in Italy under the young but capable Gaston de Foix,
Duke of Nemours who, early in the campaign,had driven the Spanish from Bologna and invaded
Lombardy, besieging Brescia. During this siege the Viceroy of Naples, Ramon de Cardona,
reoccupied most of Romagna. This forced the French commander to return to Ravenna and
besiege this important city. De Cordona was forced to attempt the relief of this city and possibly
play into the French hands by fighting an open battle. So he marched to within 2 miles ofRavenna
and dug a defensive position on the banks of the River Ronco. The Duke of Nemours was indeed
eager to bring the Spanish to battle and as the Spanish camp was so close to his forces, he
marched out to engage them

ARMIES
FRANCE
A )Gaston de Foix 780 Gendarmes
(CinC+ 2 L(S))
B. )Marshall de la Palice 900 Men at Anns
(Sub-Gen+ 3 L(S))
C.)Yves d'Alegre 300 Gendarmes
(Sub-Gen+ 1 L(S))
D. )Caraciolo 300 Horse Arquebus.
(Sub-Gen+ lLh(I))
E.)600 Mounted Xbow (3 Lh (F))
F.)800 Stradiots (8 Lh (0))
G.)2000 Ital. Foot Pike&Xbow (3P(I);4Sk(O))
H.)3000 Picard Pikemen (8 P(I))
I.)5000 Landskecht (12 P(O))
J.)3500 Gascon Xbow(l 7 Sk(O))
K)4000 Italian Pike&Xbow (6P(I);8Sk(O))
L. )F oix' s Artillery (4 Heavy Guns A( 0))
M. )D'Algres Artillery ( 1 Light Gun A(I))
N.)Ferrara's Artillery (4 Medium Guns A(O))

SPAIN and THE PAPACY

1. )de Cardona 900 Men at Anns

(CinC + 3L(S))
2. )Fabrizio Colonna 900Papal Men at Anns
(Sub-Gen+ 3 L(S))
3.)Carvajal Spanish 450 Men at Anns
(Sub-General+ 3 L(O))
4. )D.Pescara 900Mounted Papal Arquebus
(Sub-General+ 5Lh(I))
5.)800 Genitors (8 Lh(O))
6.)2000 Papal Infantry (5 P(O))
7.)2000 Spanish Ft.(6P(0),2S(I),2B(F))
8.)2000 Spanish Ft.(6P(0);2S(I);2B(F))
9.)2000 Spanish Ft.(6P(0);2S(I);2B(F))
10.)2000 Spanish Ft.(6P(0);2S(I);2B(F))
11.)Artillery (6 A(O))
12.)War Carts. (6 A(I))

DEPLOYMENT
The Spanish deploy first and the French move first. The River Ronco is impassable.

VICTORY CONDITIONS
Both sides must destroy l/3rd of a command to cause it to be broken. The French must destroy 52
elements to defeat the Spanish. The Spanish must destroy 58 elements to win.

ffiEJ M

river ronco

1
1

SPANISH

:2

[]]
7

~ /lJ00

~5

~LB

~~
c

.I
<!J

..c:
~
N

ID

~4

70 inches

HISTORICAL OUTCOME
Having left 2000 men to maintain the siege of Ravenna the Duke of Nemours crossed the river
Ronco and deployed his army around the Spanish earthworks. Alfonso d'Este, Duke of Ferrara,
took much longer to get into position having travelled by a different route. The Battle started with
a long artillery duel which drove the Spanish infantry away from the earthworks and into the
shelter of low lying ground behind. But the French Landsknechtes and Gascon infantry also fell
back in some disorder. After two hours of bombardment with both sides taking mounting
casualties, the Spanish cavalry in an attempt to start the main battle and end this artillery duel,
charged out on both flanks. On both flanks the Spanish attacks were held and eventually driven
back and routed. In the centre, the Gascons and Landsknechtes charged the earthworks only to
take heavy casualties from the Spanish arquebus men and the light artillery carts. They were driven
out by the Spanish sword and buckler men. The sight of the fleeing Spanish cavalry heartened the
Landsknechts and re-inforced by 1OOO Picardy pike. They recharged the earthworks. It was the
remaining and rallied French cavalry attacking the flanks and rear of the Spanish forces that broke
the Spanish infanry. In 1inal stages, as the Spanish army fled, the French Commander Gaston de
Foix charged two companies of Spanish arquebus and was killed. The Spanish lost over 9000 men
killed and many Spanish nobles and men at arms were captured.

25

NOVARA 6th June 1513

FRANCE versus SWITZERLAND
Charles VIII died in 1498 and was succeeded by Louis XII who claimed the Duchy of Milan and
with the support of Venice overthrew Ludovico Sforza Duke of Milan. The Milanese soon tired
of the French rule and supported Maximilian Sforza who with the aid :from Maximilian I tried to
retake Milan with German and Swiss mercenaries.
Louis XII despatched Louis, La Tremouile with an army of 12000 men to retake Milan. As they
marched across the Alps the Swiss fell back in the face of the French army and c.ollected 4000 men
:from Novara in the process. The Swiss leaders then sent appeals for re-inforcements and about 68000 men were SOQn on their way to re-inforce them at Novara. During this time La Tremouille
blockaded Novara and captured the rest of the Duchy, but on the approach of the relief army he
withdrew to Trecate 2 miles east of Novara on the Milan road. He stood to arms till evening and
then dispersed to his camp for the night. But the Swiss advanced out of Novara at dawn the
following day and attacked the encamped French at first light.

ARMIES
FRANCE
A Louis de la Tremouille 500 Gendarmes
( CinC + 2 L(S))
B. 450 French Gendarmes (2 L(S))
C. 1000 French & Albanian Stradiots (5 Lc(O))
D. 2000 Navarrese Crossbow (10 Sk(O))
E. 2000 Gascon Crossbow (10 Sk(O))
F. Duke ofFlorence 6000 Landsknechts.
(Sub-Gen.+ 10 P(0);2 B(F);3 S(I))
G. Artillery (2 Medium Guns. A(O))
H. Baggage
(1 Horde (0);12 Baggage Elements)

SWITZERLAND
I.Duke of Milan.200 Milanese M at A
( CinC + lL(S))
2. )Mottinus of Unterwalden
6000 Swiss (Sub-Gen+ 12P(S);3 B(F)
3 )1000 Swiss Foot (3 P(S))
4.) 2000 Swiss Foot (5P(O))
5.) 200 Swiss crossbow (1 Sk(O))
6.) Aillery ( 2 Light Guns A(I))

DEPLOYMENT
The French deploy first and Swiss move first.
VICTORY CONDITIONS
The French must destroy 1/3rd of a command to cause broken and 18 elements to cause rout. The
Swiss must destroy 1/3rd of a command to cause broken and 32 Elements to cause rout. French

baggage counts as casualties as long as its captured.

26

l><:I
H

G9 inch<?s

IDSTORICAL OUTCOME
The battle started with the vanguard of the Swiss column emerging from the woods
and charging into the town of Trecate nearly capturing La Tremouille in the process.
As the French Gendarmes formed up the Swiss skirmishers fell back to the woods but
this diversion had allowed the Swiss march column to deploy either side of the wood
and attack the French encamped along the road. The Swiss right hand column fell upon
the French baggage and stradiots who broke leaving the Swiss to plunder the baggage.
The centre right Swiss column smashed the disorganised Naverrese and Gascon foot
but the extreme left hand Swiss column having taken longer to get into position faced
the German Landskechts who had formed up behind its artillery. The Landskecht's
position was isolated from the main French army by a wood so when the Swiss
charged it had to fight unsupported and after a brief fight the Landskechts broke.
Bouillon's gendarmes attempted to rally the Landskechts but the Swiss turned the
abandoned Landskecht artillery around and soon broke them again. La Tremouille all
this time had charged up the road to Novara and attacked the Swiss skirmishers in the
woods and on the road, but seeing all his army in flight and in danger of being captured
he retreated. The entire French baggage, artillery and over 5500 men were lost, the
expedition to recapture Milan had been smashed.

Page- 27

GUINEGATE August 16th 1513

ENGLAND versus FRANCE
The new King of England Henry VIII saw his chance at military glory and diplomatic prestige by
supporting the Imperialist against France in the vain hope of being seen as an important arbiter in
European politics. Jn 1511 he made his first foray into the European field by providing 1500
archers to Margaret of Savoy to assist her against the rebellious Duke of Guelders in the low
countries. He later sent a larger force of 5000 men under the Marquis of Dorset to north-eastern
Spain in support of his farther-in-law Ferdinand of Aragon in the hope that he would recover some
of his erstwhile possessions in south-western France. In the event, Ferdinand used the English
force to cover his French flank whilst he captured the independent Spanish Kingdoms of Navarre
and left. the English to rot in Garrison duty. The English expedition returned having achieved
nothing but Henry was already planning to send a much larger force in the following year as part
of the 'Holy League' to invade northern France.
Henry landed at Calaise on the 30th June 1513 with an army of35000 men and as before was used
more by Henry's ally the Emperor Maximilian I to further his own aims than to further those of
Henry. The first action of the English army was to invest the fortified town of Therouanne. The
town was held by the English vanguard and rearguard but the siege was not drawn tight enough to
prevent the French infiltrating the English lines. On the i 6th August the French attempted to
infiltrate a company of light horse loaded with powder and provisions through the English lines to
relieve the Therouanne garrison.

ARMIES
IMPERIALIST ENGLISH
A )King Henry & Maximilian I + 150 Men at arms
(CinC + 1 L(S))
B.)Vanguard 900 Men at Arms
(Sub-Gen+ 6 L(O))
C. )900 Mounted Foot Archers ( 6 Dragoon(!))
D.)2400 Halberd Foot (12 B(O))
E.)9600 Foot Longbow (48 Bw(S))
F.)Artillery (2 Light Guns A(I))

FRENCH
1. )La Palice 2000 Gendarmes

(CinC + 14 L(S))
2.) 1OOO Light Cavalry
(Sub-Gen+ 10 Lc(O).)

FIGURE SCALE l FIGURE= 50 MEN.

DEPLOYMENT
The English deploy first and the French move first. The French unit 2. dices to arrive each turn
(1D6 needing 5,6 to arrive.)
VICTORY CONDITIONS
The French must destroy 25 elements to cause the English to be br9ken and 50 elements to force
the English to rout. The English must destroy 5 elements of "commandl", and 3 elements of
"command 2" to cause them to be broken and 8 elements of"commandl", and 4 elements of
"command 2" to cause them to rout.

28

m.lJl

(Ll]

ENGLISH

T
111'
Qi

.c

64 inches

HISTORICAL OUCOME
A diversionary attack was mounted by the
French from the north-west whilst a relief
force with 2000 French Gendarmes made
an attempted to get past the English from
the south. But Henry had moved the main
battle south blocking the French route and
the French Commander La Palice found
himself facing l OOO English men at Arms.
King Henry quickly deployed archers and
light guns beillnd the hedge to the flank of
La Palice who attempted to withdraw in
the face of the enemy, at which he was
charged , turning the withdrawal into a rout.
To compound the situation he met the light
cavalry returning from its failed attempt on
the English siege who turned and fled on
seeing the headlong flight of the Gendarme
The attempt to resupply Therouanne had
failed and so a few days latter the Town
surrendered.
The French commander failed to grasp his
advantage at the initial meeting with the
English, had he immediately attacked the
unsupported Vanguard the battle may not
have been such a forgone conclusion.

Depiction of the 'BATTLE of the SPURS' as the English Knights Charged

29

.~
<.'.)

FLODDEN September 9th 1513

ENGLISH versus SCOTTISH.
Henry VIII intended invading France in support of the Imperialist cause led by the Pope and the
Emperor Maximillian in the continuing power struggle over control of Italy. Louis XII of France
reminding James IV of Scotland of the 'old alliance' between them persuaded James to invade
England in order to forestall Henry's invasion. Henry drew his invasion troops from southern
England crossed the channel on June 30th leaving Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey, to guard the
North. James with military aid and cash from France set about reforming his army on continental
Swiss/Landshneck lines and crossed the border into England with 60,000 men on the 22nd
August. By the time the two armies met at Flodden, James' army had lost 20,000 men to sickness
and desertion, but .he had taken up a position on the Flodden Massif: a very strong defensive
position. Surrey beset with supply problems attempted to mediate with James for a different battle
site but James refused to move.

ARMIES
ENGLISH
A) Earl of Surrey 5000 Foot

(CinC+3 B(O); 10 Bw(S))

B.) Lord Admiral 9000 Foot
(Sub-Gen.+5 B(O); 18 Bw(S))
C.)Howard 3000 Foot
(2 B(O) 6 Bw(S))
D. )Sir Marmaduke 2000 Foot
(1B(O);4 Bw(S))
E.)Lord Darce 1500 Foot & 1500 Cavalry
(4 Bw(S); 5 L(F).)
F.)Stanley 3500 Foot
(2 B(O); 7 B(S))
G.) Artillery (1 Medium A(O)& 4 L\Guns A(I))

SCOTTISH
l.}King James IV 15000 Foot.
(CinC+8 P(S) 30 P(O))
2.)Gordon 10000 Foot (Sub-Gen+
15P(0);10Wb(O))
3.)Montrose 7000foot (8P(O) 20P(O))
4.)Highlanders 5250
(14 Wb (0))
5.)EarlBotham 5000 Foot ( 12 P(O))
6.)50 French Gendarmes(! L(S))
7. )Artillery (2 Heavy Guns A(S))

DEPLOYMENT
The Scots deploy first and the English move first.

VICTORY CONDITIONS
Both sides must destroy 1/3rd of a command to cause it to be broken. The English must destroy
80 elements in total to defeat the Scotts. The Scotts must destroy 48 elements in total to defeat the
English.

30

3
2

SCOTIISH

~-----

68 inches

HISTORICAL OUTCOME
Surrey's army was formed in two parts, the vanguard under his younger brother Edmund, Admiral
of England, and the rearguard under Surrey himself During the English approach to the Scottish
position across the river the vanguard became dangerously isolated from the main body and King
James could at this point, have destroyed the bridge and annihilated half the English army.
However he remained on the defensive.
The English advanced as far as the Pallinsburn stream before joining into one force. (The battle
map shows them at their positions at 3.0pm as they approach the Scottish army and the earliest
point the Scots could have attacked them without going beyond the Pallinsburn valley.) On seeip_g
the Scottish deployment Surrey revised his own to suit by absorbing Darce's division into Surrey's,
leaving the horse separate, and Marmaduke's division being absorbed by the Admiral's division,
with elements also going into the two smaller divisions. All this took about an hour so the English
attack did not start till 4. Opm The battle started with an artillery duel. The English guns being
lighter, more manoeuvrable and more numerous soon won, thus silencing the Scottish battery. The
English then marched to the stream and let its artillery goad the Scots. Gordon's Division of pike
and highlanders attacked first, advancing down the hill at Howard's division who fled at the first
contact. Seeing the English division break James ordered an all out assault and his whole army
advanced.
With Howard's division gone the vanguard was in danger of being flanked, but Darce's light horse
managed to halt the Scots' pike by attacking its flanks and at that point both divisions broke off the
fight. In the centre James' Division crossed the stream and struck Surrey's division with Montrose
attacking the Admiral's division and a long and bloody fight ensued. Stanley had advanced beyond
the stream to flank the Scots and engaged the Argyle Division. Botham's division had advanced to
reinforce King James who had managed to drive back the English from the stream into the clear
ground beyond. The Scots had fought disordered across the stream and now uphill against the
English had taken too many casualties to break the English. Stanley had outmanoeuvred the
Highlanders and routed them, he had cut off any hope of a Scottish retreat and King James was
slain in the fighting. The result was a massacre of the Scottish army and much of its nobility.

31

MARIGNANO 13th September 1515

FRANCE versus SWITZERLAND
On January lst , 1515, aged 20 Francis I became King of France after the death of Louis XII.
Louis after the defeat of his army at Novara still intended recapturing Milan and had prepared an
army of30,000 men for the task, and so Francis I took this army over the Alps to Italy. Milan was
still in the control of Maximilian Sforza with his Swiss mercenaries and so Francis I made his camp
at Marignano and entered into negoitiations with the Swiss captains. Francis had already paid large
subsidies to his other neighbours to ensure his borders and again he used lavish bribes to buy off
the Swiss.

ARMIES
FRANCE
A King Francis I

SWITZERLAND

500 Gendarmes ( CinC + 1 L(S))

B. Duke of Alencon 300 French Gendarmes
(Sub-Gen+ 1 L(S))
C. Claude Duke of Guise .
9000 Landsknechts
(Sub-Gen. + 16 P(0);2 B(F);8 Sk(O))
D. Admiral of France 300 French Gendarmes
(Sub-Gen.+ 1 L(S))
E. Duke of Bourbon, 4000 French Pikemen
(Sub-Gen.+10 P(I))
F. 2000 Gascon Crossbow (10 Sk(O))
G. 100 French Gendarmes (1 L(S))
H 200 French Gendarmes (1 L(S))
I.. 100 French Gendarmes (1 L(S))
J. 500 French Light Cavalry (2Lc(O))
K Artillery (3 Medium Guns A(O)).
L. Artillery (3 Medium Guns A(O))

1.) Maximilian Sorza

500 Milanese men at Arms
( CinC + 2 L(S))
2.) 3000 Swiss Pike (6 P(S); 2B(F))
3.) 6000 Swiss Foot+ General
(Sub-Gen.+ 15 P(S))
4.) 3000 Swiss Foot (6 P(S); 2 B(F))
5.)Artillery (4 Light Guns A.(I))
6.)Baggage (1 Horde(O);ll Bagage)

DEPLOYMENT
The French deploy first and the Swiss move first.

VICTORY CONDITIONS
The French must destroy l/3rd of a commands elements to cause it to be broken, and 26 elements
to cause rout. The Swiss must destroy 1/3rd of a commands elements to cause it to be broken and
40 elements to cause rout. Swiss baggage counts as casualties as long as it's captured.

32

<?arthworks

earthworks

-!!.I

~l

marsh
\\(f

58 inches

>I

HISTORICAL OUTCOME
There should have been no battle but 12000 Swiss and Maximilian Sforza determined to attack
and smash the vastly superior French army. The French were encamped behind a series of ditches
close to an area of marshy terrain and a river making attack difficult, but the Swiss advanced in its
normal formation of vanguard, centre, and rearguard who deployed into echelon and charged the
French lines. The fighting started with the vanguard attacking the duke of Bourbons position.
Attacks from the Gendarmes of Florence and Dijon plus supporting artillery slowed the attack of
the Swiss vanguard and finally stopped it after it had crossed the first line of ditches and engaged
the French foot. The Swiss vanguard had started to drive the French foot back when the main
body of the Swiss crossed the ditches and charged the Landskechts who had come forward to
support the first line of French. Again charges in the flanks of the Swiss by the Gendarmes halted
the Swiss attack and artillery fire caused many casualties but the battle continued until nightfall.
During the night the French fell back to its last line of trenches, redeploying so that the Duke of
Bourbon stood on the right, Francis plus his artillery and Landsknetchs in the centre and Alencon
on the left. The Swiss covered their left with some skirmishers and guns opposite Bourbon's men.
The main column was in the centre and the rearguard opposite Alep.con. At dawn the Swiss
attacked. The centre column suffered heavily from the artillery and arquebus fire was then charged
in the flanks by the Gendarmes. The Swiss rearguard drove back Alecons foot and was halted by
the French Gendarmes so, as the day wore on, with mounting casualties on both sides, it may have
been a bloody stand off but for the arrival ofFrancis's Venetian ally Bartolomeo de Alviano who
plundered the Swiss baggage. At this, the Swiss, realising all was lost, left 400 men to hold the
French as the others made their escape. The French wiped out the Swiss forlorn hope but was
exhausted and did not follow the Swiss army. The French had lost over 6000 men and the Swiss
up to 10,000 men.

33

BICOCCA 27th APRIL 1522

FRANCE versus SPAIN
Following a campaign of extensive manouvering the French army in Milan, commanded by Odet
de Foix Marshal Lautrec, had been driven out of the Duchy of Milan by the Imperialist army
under Prospr Colonna, who's army was composed mostly of Spanish troops. In the spring of 1522
Lautrec received reinforcements from King Francis I these included 16000 Swiss and with this
force Marshal Lautrec retook Novara and beseiged Pavia. Colonna did not wish to engage this
tougher French army and positioned himself in the fortified monastery of Certosa.

ARMIES
FRENCH

SPANISH IMPERIALISTS

A.Odet de Foix, 750 French Gendarmes.

(CinC + 3 L(S))
B. Duke of Urbino, 200 Italian Men at Arms
(Sub-Gen. + 1 L(S))
C. Arnold Winkefried 4000 Swiss Foot
(Sub-Gen +8 P(S); 2 B(F))
D. Albert Von Stein 4000 Swiss Foot
(Sub-Gen.+ 8 P(S); 2 B(F))
E. 6000 Italian Foot (8 P(I); 7 S(I))
F. 6000 French Crossbow (30 Sk(O))
G. 3000 Italian Arquebus (8 S(I))
H. 250 French Gendarmes (1 L(S))
I. 200 Italian Men at Arms (1 L(F))
J. 300 Italian Mounted Arquebus (2 Lc(I))
K French Artillery ( 4 Medium Guns A(O))
L. Swiss Artillery (2 Light Guns A(I))

1. Colonna 2000 Spanish Foot

(CinC+3P(0);2 S(I)
2. Antonia de Layva,200 Men at Arms
(Sub-Gen. + lL(O))
3. Duke ofMilan400 Men at Arms
(Sub-Gen +2 L(S)
4. Von Frundsberg 4000 Landsknechts
(Sub-Gen+ 8 P(O); 2 S(I))
5. 100 Spanish Men at Arms (1 L(S))
6. 100 Spanish Men at Arms (1 L(S))
7. 1000 Spanish Genators (5 Lc(O))
8. 4000 Landsknechts (8 P(0);2 S(I))
9. 2000 Spanish Arquebus ( 5 S(I))
10.1500 Milanese Crossbow (8 Sk(O))
11. Artillery (7 Medium Guns A( o))
12. Baggage (1 Hore (0) 15 Baggage)

DEPLOYMENT
The French deploy and move first. Count the embankment as bad going

VICTORY CONDITIONS
The French must destroy 1/3rd of a commands elements to cause it to be broken and 32 elements
in total to cause the army to rout. The Imperialists must destroy 1/3rd of a commands elements
for it to be broken and 52 elements total in to rout the French army. The Imperialist Baggage
count as casualties as long as its captured.

34

~lj

F
/

~I

FRENCH

3:.
0

J>

:::v
~

0:

<ll
(!J

),.!I.!.

":!.!

\lL

\.\..!.

\>k,

l>.lz.

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.
lD

JaL

llM!lllalll.llllllmllmdi

63 inc.hC?s

HISTORICAL OUTCOME
Marshal Lautrec realised Certosa was too strong a position to be attacked so he positioned himself
at Monza cutting off supplies from Milan to the Imperialists and forcing Colonna to abandon
Certosa and move to an equally strong position at Bicocca four miles north of Milan, with
Francesco Sforza, Duke of Milan with 6500 men coming to re-inforce them Unfortunatly at this
point the Swiss commanders in the French army demanded they attack at once as they had not
been paid and did not wish to engage in a protracted war of siege. and manoeuvre. The enemy
where at hand and they were resolved to fight him or return home. Lautrec could do nothing to
dissuade them and so knowing how deadly the Spanish defences were, planned to advance up to
the enemy position and then after a protracted artillery bombardment, as at Ravenna, to storm the
position. Unfortunately the Swiss commanders ignored the plan and simply charged head-on at the
Spanish behind a sunken road , an embankment made higher by earthworks and lined with Spanish
Arquebus and artillery. The Swiss attack was halted at the embankment but the Swiss did not
retreat and continued fighting against impossible odds. During this Lescun's Gendarmes attacked
down the road and managed to get behind the Spanish position but were driven out by the Spanish
horse and only succeeded in preventing the Duke ofMilan's re-inforcements entering the battle.
The Venetians in support of the Swiss attempted to outflank Bicocca on the other side only to be
halted by the marsh. The Swiss attack was slaughtered with 5000 Swiss dying in the sunken road.
The French and Swiss eventually withdrew seeing the position was hopeless but the Imperialists,
perhaps suspecting a trap (as large bodies of French remained intact) did not pursue in any
strength.

35

PAVIA 24th February 1525

FRANCE versus THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE
The French defeat at Bicocca in 1522 and the following inconclusive fighting between the French
and the Imperialist forces weakened the French King's hold on his nobility. In 1523 the Admiral of
France led an invasion army to take the Duchy of Milan, the Constable of France joined the
Imperialist cause. The French attempt on Milan ended in failure and defeat at Sesia when the
Imperialists attacked the French in their dispersed camp. But this French reverse came to nothing.
The Imperialists failed to capture Marseilles and they were driven back into Italy. By October the
French were back besieging Milan.

ARMIES
SPANISH IMPERIALISTS

FRENCH
A.King Francis I, 600 French Gendarmes.
(CinC + 2 L(S))
B. Duke of Alencon, 300 French Gendarmes
(Sub-Gen. + 1 L(S))
C. Duke of Florange 4000 Swiss Foot
(Sub-Gen+ 8 P(S); 2 B(F))
D. Charles Brandon 4500 Landsknecht
(Sub-Gen.+8 P(O); 6 Sk(O))
E. 2000 Italian Foot (3 P(I); 4 Sk(O))
F. 2000 French Foot (3 P(I); 4 Sk(O))
G. 500 French Light Cavalry (3 Lc(O).)
H. Light Artillery (2 Light Guns A(I))
I. Artillery ( 5 Medium Guns A( 0))
J. Artillery (4 Medium Guns A(O))
K Baggage. (5 Horde(O); 16 Baggage)

l.Fernando d'Avalos 2000 Spanish Foot

(CinC+5P(O))
2. Alfonso d'Avalos 3000 Spanish Arquebus.
(Sub-Gen+ 7 S(I))
3. Duke of Bourbon 4000 Landsknechts
(Sub-Gen+ 8 P(O); 2 S(I))
4. Von Frundsberg 4000 Landsknechts
(Sub-Gen+ 8 P(O); 2 S(I))
5. Courit of Sain 800 Men at Arms
(Sub-Gen+ 3 L(O))
6. 200 Spanish Genators (1 Lc(I))
7. 2000 Italian Pike ( 10 P(I))
8. 2000 Spanish Pike (10 P(O))
9. Artillery (3 Medium Guns A(O))
10 Defenders of Pavia
(Sub-Gen.+5P(0);2 B(F); 5 S(I);
5 Horde (0))

DEPLOYMENT
The Imperialists deploy first and the French move first. Count the river as impassible, the wall as
Earthworks. The defenders of Pavia may sally out once the French retreat level has been achieved
and start attacking the French camp.

VICTORY CONDITIONS
Both sides must cause l/3rd casualties to a command to cause it to be broken. The French must
destroy 56 elements in total to defeat the Imperialists, and the Imperialists must destroy in total
36 elements to defeat the French. The French baggage counts as casualties as long as it is captured.

36

IMPERIALISTS
6

~
4

<

rn

::u

J>

BROKEN

GROUND~

c;;::----: I G

~~

(")

1f

cr

J>

e.

::u
l/l

:;;::i

C!J

<
rn

..c.

.~

:<J

I.()

FRENCH

A
I

FREND-l CAMP

[::><::]
K

DffENDERS OF PAVIA ATTACK .....

69 inches

~~

~
~

HISTORICAL OUTCOME
Charles de Lannoy Viceroy of Naples withdrew eastwards from Milan and left Antonia de Leyva
to defend Pavia. Francis started to besiege Pavia on October 28th 1524 and was still there in
January 1525 when an Imperialist army under the Viceroy of Naples attempted to relieve the city.
Francis redeployed his forces on the approach of the Imperialists in a defensive line along the
Vemacula brook. The Imperialists dug their own lines and proceeded to besiege the French. For
the next three weeks both sides fought across these defenses, and during this time suffered
considerable losses from sickness and desertion. Both sides could not sustain these losses and as
Francis refused to break off the siege , so the Imperialists attempted to capture the park of
Mirabello and gain access to Pavia. Under the cover of an artillery bombardment the Imperialists
marched upstream, crossed the brook and cut through wall of the park. As they entered they
overran one of the French camps and the alarm was raised.
The French immediately sent light cavalry against the Spanish vanguard but these could only fall
back as the Imperialists advanced. Then the French artillery redeployed to face this new threat,
:firing on the Imperialist columns and driving them back in confusion. The French gendarmes
charged, breaking the imperialist cavalry, but as they were unsupported, they were soon driven off.
The Swiss on the French left found themselves pinned in place by a combination of lightly wooded
terrain and a mass of Imperialist muskets. The French then launched another unsupported attack
by its Landscknects who were flanked as they advanced and massacred. The French gendarmes
continued to launch uncoordinated attacks on the Imperialists until a counter attack by the
Imperialists captured Francis I. As the French retreated the defenders of Pavia sallied out to
capture the French camp and Alencon, the remaining French commander seeing all was lost
retreated across the river, destroying the bridges. The French had lost over 10000 men and many
of its nobility as well as the King being captured.

37

SEIGE OF VIENNA October 12th 1529

OTTOMAN INVASION OF AUSTRIA
Europe was wracked with wars and religious conflict and as a result, the Ottoman invasion of
Hungry by Suleiman the Magnificent in 15 26 went unnoticed even when he decisively defeated the
Hungarians at Mohacs. By 1529 Suleiman, with an enormous army of 120,000 men, had arrived at
Vienna having defeated all opposition and taken hundreds of thousands of women and young boys
as slaves. Only Presburg resisted Suleiman and this he by-passed, knowing that if Vienna fell,
Presburg would be in a hopeless position. The Western powers were so entangled in their own
wars that they could do little to resist this invasion. The Habsburg Emperor Charles V was at war
with France and this tied down the bulk of his seasoned Spanish and German troops. When his
Brother Ferdinand asked for assistance to halt 120,000 invading Turks the Emperor sent 700
Spanish Arquebus under Luis de Avalos. The Imperial Diet voted more troops to help the
Viennese but the relief force under Frederick had onJy reached Krems when they found the Turks
had surrounded Vienna and so did not attempt to close on the Turkish forces.
Vienna was fortunate in its geography, having rivers on two sides, the Danube and the Wiener
Bach. In addition it had two seasoned warriors in command, Count Von Salm and Wilhhelm von
Rogendorf These professional military men foresaw the siege and put the city in proper defensive
order, removing thatch from the buildings roofs and demolishing outlying buildings to improve
fields of fire. The Turks arrived on 23rd September and within 3 days had surrounded the city
placing 300 siege guns and a Turkish flotilla on the Danube.

ARMIES
OTTOMAN TURK
1.)13500 Mounted and Foot
(Sub-Gen.+ 8 Si(S).15 Wb(O)
6 Bw(I); 6 S(F) )
2.)13500 Mounted and Foot
(Sub-Gen. + 8 Si(S). 15 Wb(O)
6 Bw(I); 6 S(F))
3.)6000 Foot +Grand Vizier Pasha
(CinC.+ 15 Wb(O))

AUSTIUAN
A)Von Salm 600 Mounted
(CinC+ 2 L(O))
B.)Sub-Gen 3250 Foot
(Sub-Gen. + 2 B(I); 2P(O); 2S(I).
4 Sk(O))
C.)Sub-Gen. 300 Foot
(Sub-Gen.+ 4P(0).8 Sk(0);.2 L/Guns A(I))
D.)Sub-Gen. 3200 Foot
(Sub-Gen.+4P(0).8 Sk(0).2 L/Guns A(I))
E.)1200 Foot (3 B(I))

DEPLOYMENT
The Turks deploy and move first. The Corinthian Gate counts as a walled built up area.

VICTORY CONDITIONS
Both sides must destroy l/3rd of a comand to cause it to be broken and 2/3rds of the army to win.

38

AUSTRIANS

foot & art.

r-ll;l

r:

11.Ui

-~rlhWtlrk"S- - - - - - -

=~~J
walls

foot & artillery

@I

IIDlB ~

broken ground

'._ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -'ea c;nth

l!

- - - - eu r th vvor ks - - - - broken ground

,

walls

got e

'~

<!J
L
\.)

-~

II
turkish foot

70 inches

HISTORICAL OUTCOME
The Turks concentrated their efforts on the southern wall and only lightly covered the other
approaches which made the job of the defenders much easier, the action was fought around the
Corinthian Gate. Six days after Suleiman's arrival, Rogendmf with 2500 foot sallied out and
attacked the Turkish work parties, killing many of the engineers and nearly ~apturing the
Commander-in-Chief, the Grand Vizier Ibrahaim Pasha. By October lst the bombardment began
on Vienna's medieval walls. Von Salm had prepared earthworks and fortifications within the walls
so when they were destroyed the enemy found himself :fighting over rubble, against men in
prepared positions. Suleiman attempted to drive the defenders away with mass missile attacks.
This proved of little use so digging mines and tunnels became the preferred tactic. The Austrians
equalled the Turks and counter-mined the Turkish mines breaking in to them and :fighting
underground with pike and sword. On 6th October Count Von Salm sallied out with 8000 men
and attacked the Turkish positions doing great slaughter , but as he fell back his troops could not
pass through the Corinthian gate fast enough to avoid the Turkish counter attack and many
Austrians were killed. By the 12th of October with mounting sickness and losses from the siege
Suleiman was now faced with a change in the weather as winter started to tell. He determined that
the city would be taken by one final mass attack. Two mines were dug either side of the Corinthian
gate and his remaining soldiers, approximately 30 - 50,000 men, prepared for one last charge.
The Game depicts this last attack which was the decisive action in the siege. The mines were
blown bringing down the walls either side of the Corinthian gate and Suleimans army charged.
Suleiman had offered massive incentives to the first into the city, the officers whipped their men
into battle, but the heart had gone out of the Turks for this fight and against the professional
soldiers of the Empire. The attack crumbled. By October the l 7th it was snowing and the Turkish
army retreated in disarray. This retreat turned into a rout as the peoples they had persecuted on
their advance took their revenge on a straggling, frozen and exhausted army.

39

LD
M

KAPPEL llth October 1531

SWISS RELIGOUS WAR
The rise of Protestantism in Switzerland came about as a result of the Swiss involvement in the
Italian wars and a general influx of Protestant peoples escaping persecution in their own countries.
Its main preacher and teacher Huldrych Zwingli was based in the state of Zurich and soon had
sufficient influence to persuade the city to refuse to sign an agreement with France to provide
mercenaries. Zwingli's influence soon actively pushed the established church authorities out of
Zurich by arranging the churches prerogative to be controlled by the State council. Zwingli's
influence, being particularly favourable to the people, spread and soon Basle, Schafthausen, St.
Gallen, Grisons, Glams and Appenzell had all gone over to the Protestant faith. The :final blow
came to the confederation when Berne also joined the Protestant alliance in 1528 and the so the
remaining Catholic provinces joined in a Christian Alliance with Southern German states under the
Hapsburgs, Switzerlands inveterate enemies.
The battle lines were now drawn with both sides appealing to outside countries for military aid but
at the last moment both sides drew back from civil war, broke their alliances with outside
countries and resolved to co-exist. But it was not to be. Zwingli had decided to convert the whole
of Switzerland and then join the Protestant movement in Europe as a major power. To acheive
this aim he started an economic war of blockade against the Catholic Cantons. Unfortunately, after
a poor haivest, the Catholic Cantons seeing no alternative, declared war in October 1531 and with
eight thousand men marched on Zurich.

ARMIES
SWISS CATHOLICS

SWISS PROTESTANTS

A. Main Body Wolfgang Kolins 7000 Foot

(CinC + 2 B(F);lO P (S) ;lOSk(O))

l. Golgi 1200 Foot

(CinC+ 2 P(S)2 Sk(0);2Medium Guns A(O))

2 .Zwingli 800 foot
(Sub-Gen. + 2 P(S); 1 Medium Gun A(O))
3.Joner 300 Foot
(Sub-Gen.+ 3 Sk(O))

B. Vanguard Hans Jaunch 5000 Foot

(Sub'-Gen.+ 1 B(F);8 P(S); 6 Sk(O))

DEPLOYMENT.
The Protestants deploy and move first. The position at 2pm, shown on the map, is the first point
they could attack the enemy.. Re-inforcements Zwingli's force - these could have been as much as
4000 men if the Zurich council had not scattered its meagre force in futile garrisons. You may
wish to cover this option so the Protestant player dices 1D6 and multiplies the number of foot in
Zwinglis' force by that number.
Terrain, count Kappel Abbey as a fortified built up area and the hills as gentle.
VICTORY CONDITIONS
The Protestants must destroy l/3rd of a command's elements to cause it to be broken and 30
elements in total to cause the army to rout. The Catholics must destroy l/3rd of a comand to
count it to be broken and 8 elements in total to cause the army to rout.(Increased
re-inforcements will change this)

40

44 inches

HISTORICAL OUTCOME
Although men had been on the move since late September, the Zurich Council dismissed any
reports of hostilities and only had 300 men under arms with Joner at the Kappel Abbey. So when
news arrived of the Catholic army marching on Zurich reached them, they could only muster 4000
men and 6 cannon. The council then split the force sending all but 700 men and 4 cannon to face
the immediate threat. The Protestant Army commander Lavater, though experienced was now
cautioned by the council to limit his actions to defence only. They feared they might appear as the
aggressor and lose the support of Bern who had already pulled out of the economic blockade and
had little stomach for Zwingli's ambitions. Jorg Goldli was placed in charge of the force sent to
oppose the Catholic forces marching on Kappel. He arrived late in the day having swelled his force
1200 men on the march. On arrival at Kappel the Protestant command fell into dispute as to which
hill to hold. That at Scheuren was closer to Kappel Abbey but that at Monchbuhl was behind the
river and closer to the re-inforcements following. Goldi declared his intent to hold the Scheuren
Hill. He then settled his force down for the night , failing to clear the woods on his flank or send
out scouts. At 12 o clock on the 11th October the Protestants at Kappel Abbey opened fire on the
vanguard of the advancing Catholic army. The Catholic vanguard moved north to face the
Protestants on Scheuren Hill, but coming under artillery fire, moved back. The entire force of the
vanguard and main battle moved behind the Kalchofen woods. At 3pm Lavater and Zwingli
arrived with re-inforcements but this only increased the Protestant force to 2000 men and 18
cannon. So with the Catholics out of sight, but not apparently prepared to attack the Protestant
force prepared to withdraw to Monchbull hill. This is when a small force of Catholics under Hans
Jaunch suddenly attacked the flank of the Protestant force pinning it, whilst the main Catholic
army looped around the woods and crushed the Protestant forces. The Protestant artillery was
partially prepared for moving and proved ineffective. TheProtestant forces managed to hold on,
throwing back two attacks before :finally breaking and :fleeing for the bridge over the Muhlebach
river. Zwingli was killed during the fighting and his death took the fire out of the Protestant cause
and the war :finally fizzled out in an inconclusive peace.
41

CERESOLE d'ALBA June 1543

FRANCE versus IMPERIALISTS
The defeat of the Turks at Vienna in 1529 was not to be the last of the Turkish menace in Europe.
The Turks held the attention of the Mediterranean states throughout 1530's. During this time the
succession of the Duchy of Milan fell into dispute between the Emperor Charles V and King
Francis of France. That war proved inconclusive and a peace treaty was agreed because the Turks
renewed their aggression and the Emperor realised that he could not hope to fight a war on two
fronts. At the meeting at Aigues-Mortes in 1538, Francis agreed to abandon further alliances with
the Turks and Charles promised to yield most of Piedmont to France. This did not of course
resolve the Milan Question or the problem of the Turks.
The Turks continued their pressure capturing Corfu and invading Hungary in 1538, forcing the
Emperor again to try and repel them which he failed to do. Francis, seeing the Empire engaged
against a common enemy, declared war on Charles in hopes of easy gains. Following an
inconclusive campaign Francis lost Luxemburg and southern Peidmont.

ARMIES
IMPERIALISTS
A.) Marquis del Vasto 200 Men at Arms
(CinC.+ 1 L(O))
B.) 6000 Pike
(Sub-Gen.+9 P (O); 6 B (0))
C.) 6000 Pike
(Sub-Gen.+9 P (O); 6 B (0))
D.) 400 Light Cavalry ( 4 Lh (S))
E.) 400 Light Cavalry ( 4 Lh (S))
F.) 3000 Arquebus Foot
(10 S (I))
G.) 1500 Arquebus Foot (8 Sk (0))
H.) 1500 Arquebus Foot (8 Sk (0))
I.) Artillery (3 Medium Guns A (0))

FRENCH
1.) d'Enghien 450 Gendarmes+ 300 L/Cav.
(CinC+ 2 L (S) ; 2 Light Cavalry (F))
2.) 3200 Pike (Sub-Gen. +6 P(I); 2 B(F).)
3.) 3200 Pike (Sub-Gen .. +6P(I); 2 B (F).)
4.) 3000 Arquebus Foot (10 S (I))
5.) 1800 Arquebus Foot ( 9 Sk (0))
6.) 1800 Arquebus Foot ( 9 Sk (0))
7.) 450 Gendarmes+ 300 Light Cavalry
( 2 L (S); 3 Light Cavalry (F))
8.) Artillery (3 Medium Guns A.(O))

DEPLOYMENT
The French deploy first and the Imperialists should copy the deployment. Terrain appeared to have
no influence on the battle but the position of the flank missile units are in dispute. They could be
placed between the Cavalry and Pike units or as shown, in front of the Pike blocks.
VICTORY CONDITIONS
Both sides must suffer 1/3rd losses to force a command to be broken, and 2/3rds losses to rout the
army.

42

IM PEr<IALIS rs

E!:<?j

L__----10

l!1!J
I

I/)

Cl

..c
u

.S
co

("")

[]

@11111111@

L.

FRENCH

I<

6L. inches

HISTORICAL OUTCOME
The loss of Luxemburg and southern Piedmont did not conclude the war with France. Francis of
France still hoped the pressure from the Turks would force
settlement on the Emperor in
France's favour. Instead, in February 1543, Charles entered into an alliance with Henry VIII of
England against France. The intention was to invade France in a pincer movement, Henry from
Calais and the Emperor from the Low countries. Unfortunately the campaign was stalled as the
Emperor had to again fend off the Turks. This allowed. France to launch its own offensive and in
Piedmont Francois d'Enghien, cousin of the French King, laid siege to the Imperial fortress of
Carignano. The commander of the Imperialist forces the Marquis del Vasto decided to force the
issue by offering battle in an attempt to relieve the fortress. The two armies met about 30 miles
south east of Turin. The French commander deployed his army in an innovative formation which
the Imperialist commander mirrored. The armies had Cavalry on the wings, then Arquebus foot
either between or in front of the pike blocks with the centre held by artillery and Arquebus
infantry. The intention was to fight the battle on the flanks and use the flank arquebus foot to
destroy the front ranks of the enemy pike blocks killing the officers and seasoned troops before the
'Push of Pike'. The Imperialists attacked with Gendarmes against the-French right flank, intent on
clearing away the French cavalry before committing his foot , whereas the French commander
committed his entire right flank in a single attack. The result of this was that the Imperialists
drove off the French cavalry on the French right flank in preparation for the main attack. The
entire Imperialist right wing was being driven from the field by the French 'Provincial legions' and
units of Swiss pike. At this point del Vasto attempted to withdraw but in doing so had to give up
all his artillery and lost about 6000 men.
Though the battle was a victory for France, the siege was raised as the French force was recalled
from Piedmont to face an Imperialist invasion of Champagne and the English Invasion of
Boulogne.

43

ANCRUM MOOR February 12th 1545

ENGLISH versus SCOTS
The disaster at Flodden in 1513 and the death ofJames IV left Scotland without an effective king,
James V being only four years old, so the English raided across the border and the Scots feuded
amongst themselves unchecked. This was of course fine for Henry VIII who was heavily involved
in France. By 1526 with James V now seventeen James attempted to bring this situation under
control and set about limiting the power of the 'Red Douglases' in Scotland. This unfortunately he
succeeded in doing by driving them onto the English side. He continued to try and exert his
authority on the border and in 1542 made his biggest blunder yet. He launched an expeditions of
10,000 men towards Carlisle only to be utterly defeated by 3000 English, this disgrace was to
much for him and he died on 14th December 1542. This left the infant Mary Queen of Scots as the
heir apparent. At this the 'Old Alliance' rose its head and she was betrothed to Francis II of France.
The nobles captured at the debacle at Carlisle agreed terms with Henry of England that she should
marry his son (being held prisoner by the English probably had something to do with their
enthusiasm for the idea) unfortunately the Scottish parliament wasn't a prisoner of the English and
not smprisingly rejected the idea (Edward, Henry's son, being Protestant and having hereditary
syphilis didn't help the situation). Henry was incensed at this apparent double dealing and
instructed "Put all to fire and sword, burn Edingburgh Town, raze and deface it so that it may
remain for ever a perpetual memory of their falsity and disloyalty. Sack Leith and burn and subvert
it, all the rest putting man, woman and child to the sword without exception. " .Henry's
instructions listed destruction as far as St Andrews and their was no shortage of supporters of the
idea as authorised raids on the Scots was an easy source of income. Herford had made two such
raids in 1544 Unfortunately most of the places attacked were actually sympathisers of Henry and
the English cause.

ARMIES
ENGLISH
A) Sir Ralph Evers 1500 Border Horse
(CinC + 10 L(F))
B.) 3000 Mercenary German & Spanish Foot
(10 Pike(O); 5 S(I))
C.) 700 Scots mercenaries (5 Wb(O))

SCOTTISH
1.)Earl Angus 3000 Foot
CinC. + 4 Pike(O); 4 S(I); 8 Wb(O))

Figure Scale 1 = 50men

DEPLOYMENT
The Scots deploy and move first. The hill is a gentle slope with a crest line.
VICTORY CONDITIONS
The Scots must lose 6 elements to be broken and 12 elements to cause them to rout.
The English must lose 10 elements to be broken and 20 elements to cause them to rout.
*Note; The Scottish mercenaries will change sides if the English become Broken. - They will
count as casualties to the English player but will not increase the Scottish Broken & Rout levels
but will count as casualties for the Scottish side if lost. *

44

gcmtle slope

+---

SCOTS

----+ gen tie

ENGLISH

I
I

I B

sbpe

~D

39 inches

HISTORICAL OUTCOME
This raid was to be a big and brutal affair, led by Sir Ralph Evers who in previous raids had shown
himself to be particularly blood-thirsty and savage, he was to lead a force of 3700 mercenaries
and 1500 Border English.
The raid fell upon the lands of the Earl of Angus, a Red Douglas who was alienated by the now
dead James V (and therefore a potential ally to Henry). The Eari joined by the Earl of Arran had a
small but highly mobile force of mounted infantry who now tailed the English raid and gathered
troops on the way. The English having looted Melrose, and preparing to move on to Jedburgh,
encountered the Scottish force. This force could not be ignored, although they were outnumbered
by the English who camped at Ancrum Moor before crossing the river to Jedburgh. Though
Scottish recruits were still coming to the Earl's force he knew he must bring the English to battle
soon before the desire for revenge made the Scots attack at a disadvantage. He therfore resolved
to ambush the English.
Ancrum Moor is a great crested hill so, with the English camp at the foot of the hill,the Earl Angus
paraded his force on its crest. whilst sending his followers and baggage towards another hill. The
English captains seeing how small the Scottish force appeared urged Sir Evers to attack lest the
Scots, who appeared to be retreating already, escape. It was already late in the day and most of
the English force had been marching all day carrying heavy plunder, but with a quick charge the
Scots could be broken. So calling his men to arms Sir Evers charged off after the Scots. On
reaching the crest the Scots seemed to have gone, until they were spotted at the foot of the hill.
The English now strung out in a long line headed by the cavalry cha_rged head long into a dense
well formed body of Scottish pike,musket and halberd. The cavalry paid a heavy price and after a
brief carnage dragged themselves back up the hill into the mercenaries who were still arriving and
forming into line. The Scots now charged as a body up the hill, sweeping the cavalry with them,
and into and through the German/Spanish mercenaries line. The mercenaries fell back and tried to
reform at the crest only to be pushed back by the advancing Scots. The situation now grew
desperate. The Scots were uphill of the English who had lost their cavalry, and their German and
Spanish mercenaries were badly shaken. The Scottish mercenaries so far unengaged decided that it
was time to rip off the red badge of England, cry a Scottish war cry and kill the nearest
English/German or Spaniard. The English force, now shattered, fled the battlefield. Unfortunately
it had to flee through the areas it had just sacked and so suffered the revenge of the local populace.
45

THE 'CAMISADE OF BOULOGNE'

January 1546
ENGLISH versus FRENCH
Henry VIII captured Boulogne on the 18th September after a siege that lasted nearly two months
only to find his ally the Emperor had signed a separate peace with Francis I of France after
spending most of the season besieging St.Dizier. This peace treaty allowed Francis now to send his
main army against Henry knowing his borders were secure. Henry on learning of the approach of
the French forces under the Dauphin made a hasty retreat back to England leaving only 4000 men
to guard his recently gained possession. The Dauphin arrived on the 7th October with
approximately 30,000 men and saw the defenses had not been repaired since the English had
stormed the town. He selected 23 Companies (2300 men) of French and Italian Infantry to lead the
assault keeping large bodies of Swiss and Landsknechts in reserve. The initial assault was against
the lower town and was successful in capturing the town, but then the attackers, having lost many
of their commanders in the assault, set about plundering the houses. Meanwhile the English were
rallied by Sir Thomas Poynings in the upper town and counter attacked driving the disorganised
French from the town killing about 800 men. After this the Dauphin left Marshal de Biez with a
holding force on the south side of the river Laine.
The English held Boulogne throughout 1545 against a French force that never mustered enough
troops to seriously threaten its defence. In September 1545 Henry appointed the Soldier Poet
Howard Earl of Surrey as Lieutenant of Boulogne.

ARMIES
FRENCH
A) Commander 500 Gendarmes
( CinC.+ 4 L(S))
B.) Sub-General 4000 Landsknechts
( Sub-Gen+ 10 P(O);lO S(I))
C.) 4 Baggage Elements

ENGLISH
1.) Early of Surrey 1OOO Men at Arms
( CinC.+ 7 (0))
2.) Sub-General 2500 Foot
(Sub-Gen.+ 5 B(0);4 S(I);5 Bw(S))

FIGURE SCALE 1 FIGURE = 50 MEN.

DEPLOYMENT
The French deploy first and the English move first.
VICTORY CONDITIONS
Both sides must destroy l/3rd of a command to make it broken and 2/Jrds of the army to rout it:
The French lose automaticly if all the baggage is destroyed or driven from the field. The English
lose if the infantry are routed before the baggage is destroyed.

46

ENGLISH

road

to- Boulogne

FRENCH

43 inche::.

HISTORICAL OUTCOME
The defence of Boulogne became Henry's prime interest in France, although amongst his close
advisers, it was not popular. The Duke of Norfolk advised his son to " animate not the King too
much for the keeping of Boulogne; for who so doth at length shall get small thank" . Only The
Earl of Surrey encouraged the King by harassing the French convoys, until in January 1546 Surrey
overreached himself On learning of a French convoy nearing Boulogne, he gathered all the men at
arms and 2600 foot of the garrison and intercepted the convoy near Boulogne. Unfortunately for
Surrey he did not bother to reconnoitre the force first and found himself facing 4000 Landsknechts
and 500 Gendarmes. Surrey with the men at arms quickly defeated the French Gendarmes and
went onto destroy much of the convoy. He failed to support his infantry who, made up of mostly
English foot plus some Italian Arquebus footmen, were no match for the Landsknects. The English
foot were routed and over 200 men and several standards were lost -. the losses were small
because the French cavalry had been defeated and were unable to pursue. Though the English
destroyed the French convoy it was seen as an English defeat and Surrey was replaced by
Hertford, the rising star on the Tudor military and political scene. The King toyed with the idea of
sending a fresh expedition to France but it came to nothlng and a peace treaty was signed at Camp
on the 7 June 1546. The Treaty of Camp provided for the return of Boulogne to France after a
period of eight years and as Toumai had also been returned to France in 1519 Henry had nothing
to show for 35 years of military activity on the continent.
FRENCH ASSUALT ON BOULOGNE 1544
A. Lower Town of Boulogne B. Upper Town of Boulogne C. French Encampment. D.
Roman Light House

'

47

PINKIE September 10th 1547

ENGLISH versus SCOTTISH
The death of Henry VIII in January 1547 allowed Edward Seymour, Earl of Herford to assume
power as 'Lord Protector' of the future King, Edward IV, who was only 10 years old at this time.
Edward adopting the title Earl of Somerset now showed his true colours from mild AngloCatholic to intensely bigoted Protestant and apart from enforcing bis Protestantism on the
churches, also set about plunging England into war with both France and Scotland. Scotland at
this time under the regent Lord Arran was organising itself and preparing for war and so when
Somerset arrived. at Berwick in September 1547 the Scots had an army of over 30,000 men in the
field.
The English army, though smaller at about 20,000 men was well organised and contained many
experienced foreign mercenaries. The army marched North up the coast from Berwick
accompanied off.shore by a fleet of thirty warships and thirty two transport ships. Somerset
moved in a slow but organised way and met no opposition on bis route until he came upon the
Scots at Fawside on the Esk Estuary.

ARMIES
SCOTTISH
A) Lord Arran 11600 Lowland foot
(CinC+30 Pike.(O))
B. )Earl Angus 7000 County Foot+ 1OOO Priests
(Sub-Gen.+16 Pike(O); 3 Hordes(O))
C.) 11100 Highlanders and Islanders
(Sub-Gen.+8 Bow(S); 19 Warband(O).)
D.)3750 Scottish Cavalry
(12 L(F)

ENGLISH
1. )Lord Grey 4000 Men at Arms
( C~C. + 13 L(S))
2. )Warwick 4800 English
(Sub-Gen.+6B(O); 8 Bw(S))
3.) Don Pedro 1OOO Spanish cavalry
(Sub-Gen.+ 5 Lh(I))
4)Sir Mewtas 3000 German Arquebus
(Sub-Gen+ 15 Sk(O))
5. )Sir Bryan 2000 Light Cavalry
(10 Light Horse(O))
6. )4800 English Foot
(6 B(O); 8 Bw(S))
7.)1500 English Foot (4 Bw(S))
8.)Artillery (2 Medium Guns A(O))
9.) Artillery (1 Medium Gun A(O))
10.) 3 Warships (6 Heavy Guns A(S)

DEPLOYMENT
The Scots deploy and move first. The English warships cannot move other than to pivot to
change their arc of fire. The beach counts as swamp.
VICTORY CONDITIONS
Both the English and Scottish commands must lose a third of their elements to cause a broken
result and 2/3rds of the total army for defeat.

48

IJ

.. ""1

SCOTTISH

li)I

;'-'...

,'

If):
'-0

'C

ll!J10
d

O
'l/)

.r:.

121

I
;

B. i
.I

:l

gentle>
hill

l/)
(!,,

.i::::.

, E: i 111~

.. \ ,
: .

Is

1':,

123 inches

1-

i I~
I

HISTORICAL OUTCOME
The Scottish position behind the broad fast flowing Esk with well emplaced guns was a strong one
and excellent for barring an advance on Edinburgh. But the Scots seeing their numerical
superiority where eager to attack the English and on the 9th (the day before the main battle) Lord
Home with 1500 Scottish troopers challenged the En@.sh cavalry to open combat. Lord Grey
seeing how poorly armoured the Scots were (hence their classification as Cavalry) accepted and
charged with 1000 men at Arms and 500 Demi-Lancers. The Scots defiantly came off worse in this
unequal contest in which Lord Home was killed and his son taken prisoner. Somerset had placed
most of his artillery on the left overlooking the Scottish positions and on the morning of the lOth
placed the remainder on his right again on high ground. Lord Arran had completely misread the
situation and foolishly crossed the Esk to form up in open battle in the plain crossed by the Pinkie
Brook.
The Scots advanced quickly but soon came under a tremendouse barrage from the Warships at
anchor off the Musselborough sands as well as the English artillery. This barrage unopposed by the
Scottish artillery, left well in rear, forced the Scottish left flank to withdraw behind the centre
battle and allowed the English men at arms to flank the Scottish pike and pin their advance. But
the English men at arms could make no impression on the Scottish pike blocks and repeated
charges only caused mounting English casualties. The Scottish. cavalry could have counter
attacked at this point but Earl Angus maybe remembering the fate of the cavalry the previous day
held them back lest their defeat unsteady the army.With the Scottish advance halted, and the
English attack thrown back Somerset ordered forward his Spanish and German Arquebus to open
up the ranks of the Scots as well as ordering a redoubled artillery bombardment. The Scots under
a hail of cannon, arquebus and longbow were driven back and finally broken. The Esk river now
trapped the retreating Scots who could only cross at a single bridge or be drown in the fast
flowing waters. Many fled to the Musselbourgh Sands or the Moss a dangerous swamp but the
pursuit was bloody and thousands died. Somersets objective in the war was to break the Scottish
alliance with the French by forcing an alliance with the English but he failed for Mary Queen of
Scots was rushed off to France to marry the Dauphin and French troops remained in Scotland.

49

.i::::.

u
-~

I{)

JEMMINGEN July 21 1568

EIGHTY YEARS WAR
Spain had gained the control of the Netherlands through marriage within the Hadsburgs and their
links to the Spanish throne. A policy of centralisation, Spanish religious intolerance and brutality
at the hands of unpaid Spanish mercenaries soon drove the Dutch into revolt. The Dutch forces
where an equally undisciplined rabble made up of Dutch exiles, German mercenary Huguenots and
the whole army was referred to as 'the beggars'. The Spanish response to the rebellion was
typically short sighted and based on terror. The initial reverse at Heiliger-Lee put heart into the
Dutch cause and drove the Spanish to fearful excesses of brutality which only stiffened the Dutch
resistance.

ARMIES
DUTCH (BEGGARS)
1.) Louis ofNassu + 150 Swordsmen
(CinC + 1 Blade(S))
2.) 300 man work.party
(2 Shot(I))
3.) 600 Cavalry (4 Pistol(!))
4.) 5000 Foot (25 S(I))
(10 Missile Foot;5 Swordsmen;lOPike)
5.) 5000 Foot (25 S(I))
(10 Missile Foot;5 Swordsmen;lO Pike)
6.)Artillery. (1 MediumGunA.(I))

SPANISH
A.) Duke of Alva 15 0 Cavalry
(CinC + 1 L(S))
B.) 400 Forlorn Hope (4 Sk(S))
C.) 300 Cavalry ( 2 L(F))
D.) 1500 Muskets (15 Sk(S))
E.) 300 Cavalry (2 L(F))
F.) 2500 Spanish Foot
(6 S(I);6 Pike(O))
G.) 2500 Spanish Foot
(6 S(I);6 Pike(O))
H.) 2500 Spanish Foot
(6 S(I);6 Pike(O))
J.) 2500 Spanish Foot
(6 S(I);6 Pike(O))
Figure Scale 1Figure=50 men

DEPLOYMENT
The Dutch deploy first and the Spanish move first. Count the flooded area as bad going or marsh.
VICTORY CONDITIONS
The Spanish must destroy 19 elements to cause a broken result and 38 elements to cause a rout.
The Dutch must destroy 24 elements to cause a broken result and 48 elements to cause rnut.

50

I lll
i l!
.?;

I<

56 inches

HISTORICAL OUTCOME
This followed a success at Heiliger-Lee where the Dutch lured a Spanish force of 5000 men into
swamps by pretending to retreat and then turning on them massacring 1500 Spanish including their
commander. Prince Maurice of Nassau marched on to besiege Groningen but at the approach of
the Spanish Duke of Alvas and his army, Maurice retreated to Reyden on the Ems. Reyden was a
good defensive position but Maurice advanced to Jemmingen and placed his army in a crook in the
river with his sides and rear cover by the River Ems and his right flank covered by a tidal inlet. The
position was one that allowed for no manoeuvre or retreat. The Duke of Alvas on seeing the
Death or Glory stance of the Dutch 'Beggars' army promptly marched to engage it, confident that
it could not stand against his Tercios. At some point Maurice ofNassua's nerve broke and being
unable to retreat he ordered the dyke by the inlet to be cut, turning his position into an island and
making any attack impossible. By the time the Spanish were close, though still out off sight , most
of the Dutch front was waist deep in water but The Duke ordered forward a small force of forlorn
Hope supported by cavalry who drove off the working parties on the dyke and held the position
until they could be re-inforced by 1500 Spanish musket. The Dutch attacked this forward unit but
failed to recapture the breach in the dyke, but the Duke did not commit his main force and fooled
the Dutch into thinking this was the total Spanish force where upon the Dutch charged from their
position to clinch an easy victory. Of course once the Dutch had committed themselves to the
attack, the Duke ordered forward his main body and routed the 'Beggars' army , who were
trapped. Most were killed but Prince Maurice escaped by swimming the river.

51

THE BIT AT THE BACK

Unless otherwise stated all the battles in this book have been based on the same figure
scale , being 1 figure equals I 00 men . Thus a base of 4 figures represents 400 men.
The Artillery tends to be I Gun model represents 5 guns. - In smaller Battles I have
stated the figure scale where it differs. The Battle maps are also all drawn to scale
relative to a 15mm figure scale element size base so the Blocks of Troops should
occupy the same area on the wargames table as they do on the map. In addition I have
standardised the troop representation to a standard set of symbols representing the
various troop types as listed below.

TROOP TYPE MAP REPRESENTATION KEY

1%)

MOUNTED

FOOT

GENDARMES

~CAVALRY

LIGHT CAVALRY

t.ii7l L/Cav+mi ssile

~

armed

WARWAGONS

~ MOUNTED FOOT

UJ]
[[Ilil]
~

PIKE
SPEAR
HALBERDS
SWORDSMEN
MISSILE FOOT

I;!

~ ARTILLERY.

LIGHT FOOT
L.:_J

FORLORN HOPE

0-.

0,, Sub-General

~ foot type

L.LJ heavy/medium
1.ii1.1 ~RTILLERY
f'7I BAGGAGE
L.TJ light &orgongu~
CinC

OTHER DBA/DBM TYPE RULES

The battles are listed in a fast play format for any rules along the lines of DBA/DBM.
But if you are not using DBR then the Troop clasicifications may be slightly different.
For Blade read- Halberd or Swordsmen. Blade S. =Forlorn Hope. Pike= pike or
Spearmen
Bow= Missile Foot armed with Longbow or Xbow. Shot= Missile foot armed with
Arquabus. Either may also be Skirmishers under DBR. Lancers are Gendarmes or
Cavalry. Pistols = Missile armed cavalry. Light Horse or Dragoons = Mounted
Missile Infancy or light cavalry.
The Victory conditions are also set up for DBR and may be changed according to
whichever rule set you use.

LISTING CONVENTIONS
To save space I have abbreviated the WRG's conventions on troop type; L =Lancers.
Pi= Pistol Cavalry. Si= Sipahis. Lh = Light Horse. D = Dragoons. P = Pike. B =
Blade.

Page - 52