The Battle of Ashdown

Big Battle Ravenfeast

SET UP: 2-4 players

The Danish army deploys first,
anywhere along the ridge
running the length of the table. A
dirt track—an east-west Saxon
road—is behind their position.
The Saxons deploy second. All
woods and the small farm village
are “rough ground.”

There is no turn limit!

FORCES: Historians know very little about this pivotal battle, except that it occurred in early January 871 near the
Saxon village of Reading, along the eastern border of Wessex. We do not know the number of Saxons or Danes
present for the battle, but armies in this era could be as small as a few thousand men. From Asser’s chronicle, The
Life of King Alfred we do know the names of several famous historical personalities who fought (and died) in this
climatic engagement. Orders of battle for both armies appear on the next page.

SCALE: One “unit” in this scenario represents approximately 100 men.

OBJECTIVES: Both sides must try to eliminate at least two-thirds of the opposing army. The first side to suffer over
66% losses immediately retreats and loses the scenario.

HISTORICAL OUTCOME: The Danish army deployed on a ridge in two wings—one wing under the kings Bagsecg
and Halfdan, and the other wing under the command of five lesser earls. The Saxon army attacked the ridge in a
matching formation, with King Aethelred leading one wing and his younger brother Alfred commanding the other
flank. The Saxon attack was disjointed but ultimately victorious. One Danish king (Bagsecg) and all five of the
lesser earls were killed in the battle and the subsequent, bloody pursuit. In the months that followed, the Saxons
would suffer a string of defeats in major battles, culminating in the death of King Aethelred I in April 871. He was
succeeded by his brother, the future King Alfred “the Great.”

Ravenfeast is a product of Little Wars TV, copy-written in 2020, authorized for free non-commercial reproduction.
 WEST SAXON ARMY
ORDER OF BATTLE

LEFT WING, commanded by King Aethelred I (13 units / 391 points)

Name Units Move Missile Melee Armor Morale Pts Traits

King Aethelred x1 6” 0 5 5 5 75 Leader, Tough (3)
Mounted Spearman x2 14” 0 3 4 4 100 Mighty, Tough (2)
Hearthguard x2 6” 0 4 4 4 72 Tough (2)
Veteran Fyrd x6 6” 0 3 3 3 108
Bowman x2 6” 2 (18”) 2 2 2 36

RIGHT WING, commanded by Lord Alfred (12 units / 246 points)

Name Units Move Missile Melee Armor Morale Pts Traits
Lord Alfred x1 6” 0 4 4 5 54 Hero, Tough (2)
Hearthguard x2 6” 0 4 4 4 72 Tough (2)
Bowman x2 6” 2 (18”) 2 2 2 36
Fyrd x7 6” 0 2 2 2 84

The Great Heathen ARMY

ORDER OF BATTLE

RIGHT WING, commanded by the Danish kings (14 units / 319 points)
Name Units Move Missile Melee Armor Morale Pts Traits
King Bagsecg x1 6” 0 5 5 5 75 Leader, Tough (3)
King Halfdan x1 6” 0 4 4 4 46 Hero, Tough (2)
Huskarl x1 6” 0 4 4 4 36 Tough (2)
Berserker x1 6” 0 4 (x2) 3 4 30
Bondi Archer x2 6” 2 (18”) 3 3 3 36
Bondi x8 6” 0 2 2 2 96

LEFT WING, commanded by the Danish earls (14 units / 310 points)
Name Units Move Missile Melee Armor Morale Pts Traits
Earl Sidroc the Old x1 6” 0 4 4 4 46 Hero, Tough (2)
Huskarl x4 6” 0 4 4 4 144 Tough (2)
Bondi Archer x2 6” 0 3 3 3 36
Bondi x7 6” 2 (18”) 2 2 2 84