Continuing the Italian Wars theme Conrad and John were here on Friday for another refight, this time of the battle of Marignano, a contest between the French and the Swiss in the pay of the Sforza dukes of Milan. The 30,000 French were camped behind a drainage ditch that had been deepened, the bank built up and even rows of patisserie er, pavises, embedded along the top of the bank. The 15,000 or so Swiss and 200’ish Milanese men at arms did not need to attack the French as precipitously as they did and so late in the day, but the arrogance of the Swiss and the faith they had in their invincibility prevailed so attack they did. We used Pike and Shotte with my house amendments. Conrad took the Swiss while John, aided by me, had the French.
The French had a speed bump of light cavalry out in front, then behind the embankment were gendarmes, French pike and lots of French crossbowmen. Behind that line was the main body with more gendarmes, several cannon and two huge units of Landsknechts (the Back Band). The French rearguard was behind the camp and another drainage ditch, and was composed of even more gendarmes, light cavalry and Landsknechts, but these would take no part in the battle. In fact, if the French were forced to commit them (unbeknown to Conrad) it was an instant Swiss victory.
The Swiss objective was to destroy the enemy and hold the camp at the end of the game (nightfall). Their army was made up of a unit of Milanese gendarmes, two light cannon and three humungous unis of pike, each with small units of attached arquebusiers and halberdiers in support. The pike units were big as you can see; two were 108 figures strong and the other was a mere 96 figures strong. They have much increased stamina and fighting capabilities but can be quite cumbersome. I also allow them to move a little quicker and more easily than the French.
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The French cavalry screen being driven back by the Swiss. |
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The first real line of defence - woefully outmatched French pike and crossbows supported by gendarmes on each flank. |
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These huge units are rather impressive. My motto is don’t do anything by halves and take advantage of Foundry’s Xmas sale of several years ago. During lockdown actually. |
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Every pike block needs a bear. |
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The poor French were in for a tough fight. After first of all pushing through the light cavalry screen, the Swiss traversed the ditch without too much trouble and smashed into the enemy line. |
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All three of the Swiss pike blocks cross the ditch and embankment. |
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The central Swiss pike block seeing off the French pikemen. |
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The Swiss drove the French defenders back but failed to break any of them. |
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John needed to buy himself some time so threw some gendarmes at the left-hand pike block. This had the desired effect of forcing the Swiss to stop and deal with the threat |
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The right-hand Swiss column had crossed the ditch and earthwork, destroying the French crossbowmen defending it. They had then been then charged by unit of Landsknechts and driven back over the defences. The aftermath can be seen at the top of the picture above. |
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The central Swiss pike block drove off or routed the French pike units and suddenly found itself facing the French artillery and another large unit of the Black Band. |
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The Black Bande charged the Swiss to their front while the artillery blasted the other pike block. |
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John's cavalry wormed their way round the Swiss and after avoiding some arquebusiers and swordsmen charged the Swiss artillery and rode them down. |
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This Swiss pike block had been forced backwards over the ditch, shaken and disordered. The French gendarmes are queuing up to charge them. |
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Meanwhile the huge pike block in the centre was hit in the flank by another Landsknecht unit while it was still locked in combat with another one to their front. |
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Same event from a different angle.
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By now all three of the Swiss pike blocks were shaken. In my house rules the Swiss pike blocks do not run away in rout. Instead, when they reach their army break point the whole lot turn around and march off the battlefield, daring anyone to stop them as they head off towards the nearest Alp.
The Swiss conceded defeat (not that they had any choice in the matter) and the game was suddenly over. We had managed about eight turns I think, and we had a result which more or less mirrored what happened at the real battle. We did not bother resetting the game for the next day's action as it was obvious that the French were still a very strong force to reckon with.
So, an excellent game and a good result. This is a very hard one for the Swiss and they did well, but not well enough.
Briliant spectacle thanks Colin. Those pike blocks are monsters - but (at least in our rules) they don't like getting struck in the side or rear.
ReplyDeleteRichard
Nice to see the collection in action! Missed you at TOP yesterday!
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