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Three Norman Battles
Three Norman Battles
Three Norman Battles
INTRODUCTION
15 Thereis a wealthof information the chronicles, not a although'. . . the king'sown anny wasvery large . . .(HH), in but systematic blow by blow account the battle. However.by the'. . . forceofcavalry (HH) There of appeared belowstrength.' inlerlockingthe delails from each chronicle a reasonably is no statement actualnumbers, bearing mind thal il of but in picture the disposilions accurate of ofthe two amies andofthe waswinter and thal both sideswere assembled a hurry, I in battlei.selfcanbe built up. suggest Stephen anarmyofaround that had 5,000 nenwhile the posirion rebels Srephent army:'He himself rookup rhecenrre in werenearer6,000. two wargame The amieswhichl used lhe midstof a hostofnailed knights, whoweredisnounted and for the battle are as follows(at a scale 1:40): of drawn up in closefomation.' (HH) In fronl of this infantry werelwo bodies ofcavalry.onecomposedofa mixtureofearh and the other commanded William of Ypres. by RanulfandRobert:'lnlike manner, Ranulf,Earl ofChester, with his cavalry.also dismounted, and encouraged bold the infantryofChestertothe work of slaughter. (OV)This infantry alsohad two bodies cavalryin front, one consisting the of of 'Disinhented' the otherunderthe command and ofRobert. ln Iront oI his cavalrywerethe Welshmen. The battle opered with a fierce charge by the rebels Nots 'Disinherited' (average) exceptthe WelshwhoareC agaiflst king's'Earls'.The'Earls'werenot a 1. All troopsareB class the (belowaverage). 'Disinhented'nea.t business. class Thereare no archels. cohesive force and the They brokethrough bodyofthe Earls' . . . with such lhe forcethatit 2. The royal army is uphill. wasscattered. ir were.in theiwinklingofanyeyeanddivided 3. The opening phase of the battle should be with the as 'Disinherited' 'Earls'charging and each other,whilewilliam of into three.For someof thernwereslain,otherslakenprisoner Yprescharges Welsh.The Welshshouldreallybe beaten the and yet otherslook lo flight. (HH) on On the oiher flank, the cavalryof'. . . Willian of Ypres quite quicklyso that Ypresploughs into Robeft'scavalry. and leaden hold vital charged Welshastheywereadvanc;ngon flank andput 4. Bearingin mind that ommanden the the in the theln to flight.' (HH) They mustthen haveengaged Roberts places ny rules(seelater) I haveusedthem to balance battle in favour of the rebels.Only Robert of the two rebel cavalry. not Ior longbecause'.. . the forces but ofthe Earl of actually counts a commander the beginning as at Chester drovebackthistroopofhorsernen it wasscatlered commanders and of the game(Ranulfcountsas a leader).However,if Robe( in a noment like the first line.' (HH) becomes casualty then Ranulf can take over ascornnander a The wholerebelarmynow attacked Stephen.And so King immediately withouttherebeinganyoveralllossof mntrol or Stephen was left alone wilh his infantry in the midsrof the morale.On Stephen\sidethe 'Earls'do not countashavinga enemy. Thelatterencircled royalarmyand the attacked from commander ir within rangeor any leaderfor moralepurposes, all sides,as if they were assaulting castle. a Thenceforth the This reflects thei poor cohesion a unit. If you do not usemy as battle was seento rage horribly aroundthe royal defences, rulesyou shouldensure that your rulestake into account the helnetsandswords gleamed they clashed, the dreadful rebels andmorale thi\ batllE. in as and sreater conrrol noisere echoed from the hills andtbe wallsof the city. (HH) Stephen himself'. . . foughtwith sreatcourage . .'(OV) and . '. . . he neverceased dealing heavy blowswilh hisswordanda Nonvegian battle-axe . .'(OV) Eventually. he'. . . felltothe \\'groundon beingsruck by a stone. . . (HN) He was taken @,^ (' prisonerand batilewassoonover.Therebels the sackedthe city "o of Lincoln. \\ Why did Stephen lose?This seems basically havebeen to because cavalryran awry beforehis infantrygot into the his t\\.' fight and lhis featureof the batlle must be reflectedin the wargam. The 'Earls' appeared have had no real leader. to : Thereis flo obvious reason the defeatof Williamof Ypres. for except heprobablywent far intotherebelarmy that without too supporl.MaybeSrephen's pinneddown Whenrefighting Lincoln there is everychancethat Stephenwill infantrywerealready But thereis th way in by thevictoriousDisinherited' allowing rebels throw stilllose exactly same asheoriginallydid. lhus the to can of alsoa goodchance a twistin the tail ifhis cavalry holdon their infantryagainst Ypres's force.The rebels wereobviously his longenough forthe inlantryto getstuckin andprevent army very determined thereis a suggestion rhechronicles and ;n that from beingdefeated piecemealsome ofStephen's earls werea bit lukewarnin theirenthusiasm for the battle. Next monlh: Oxford, 1142,
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THE FORCES
The As to thesizes ofthe armies. that is difficultto determine. wbich litlle information chroniclesto seemto not ag.eeoverlhe a they provide.The rebelswere saidto have - . . assembled vastbodyofmen underarms . . . (OV) The bestknightsand men-at-arms werein the king s armyi but 1beenemyoutnumberedthen in infantryand the welsh levies.'(OV) However,
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PATRICIAN MINIATURES
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Normanarmies thatcan Therearea numberof battles between be recreated warganes. thesethreeI havelried to givea as In peiod canoffer.The ruleswhihI flavourofwhatthe Norrnan to battles my own andsotheamies are haveusd refighlthese in pa icularlnayneedto be modifiedto suityourown rules.I my feel thar it would be usetulto describe rules here,parrly for (and beause werespeci{ically they designed theserefights they may have some interesling othefs) and pa ly because as created themovera senes featureswhich evolved I gradually You abitcumbersome. in places and ofbaules. naythinklhem rheyare.But theydo helpto recreate ebbandflow of the indeed a confused mcl6ewhich is what nany Normanbattlesboiled and The downto,andwhichlwas tryingto recreare investigate. features are: mostinteresting thal to 1 A mechanism allowsfor menon bothsides run away from a melaeat lhe sametime in largeor smallnumbe$.I believe that both armies a battlewouldweardownin this in way beforeone sidegainedthe upperhand. way andlhecommanderprovides a simple 2. Theuseofleaders the ofan amy. Bygivinga ofreflecling moraleandcohesion rnoreleadersthan largerside have a I managed to smallside objectives ofwargames, is the that achieve oftbe elusive one wargame wherea smallarmy candefeala largearmy.
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38 I haveincluded workedexample illustrate a to thecrucial mlee Remove wholelost units,otherwise keepa runningtotal of part of the rules. figurelosses against each trooptypein eachmCl6euntilwhole a unit canbe removed. Nots, on M6l6es 1. On second subsequent and tumsa merce beextended can by Fieure5 l unit on eachflank(a totalof2 for eachopposing group).A I used5mm,but 15mmwould be fine. Figures nounted in are the $oup must stay2 ranksdeep,so eventually side with (in unitsof 4 cavalryor 5 infantrywith the samefrontage one larger numbers wraproundtheother.It alsomeansthal will (andgroupt cane.d up merging separate mCl6es into one. All lroop typesarea combination B orC class, of armoured or After beingtully extended casualties cause can onesideto unarmoured, archeror not. become than2 ranksdeep.Thisis alrightandis catered less Cavalryare l7r points,so one cavalryunit is 6 points. forin the moralerules.Alternatively groupcancontract the Infantryare I point. so one infantryunit is 5 points. to a maximum ranksdeep.Theenemy of2 stays contact in of Always remenber this because points valueis usedfor the places lhe rules. calculations several in in Armies are organised usually3 or 4 groupsof units. Each 2. After 2 full turnsofmCl6e sidecantry andbreakaway in one or group can be a mixtur of different iypes of units (seethe detach from the other(xceptthat infantrycanneverdetach from cavalry). Throwoned10:Cavalry need1to 9 to break awayfrom infantry. Orde. of GameTu.n Infantryagainst infantryandcavalryagainsi cavalryneedI to 7 to breakaway. 2. Archery 3. Mel6es 3. Whenonesidedetaches from a ml6ethe othersidethrows 4. Conmanders/leaders one d10 to seeif it hasto (or is allowedto) puFue: 5. Morale A 1 means doesfor 2 tums. it A 2 or 3 meansit doesfor I tum. OtheNise there is no l. Movement Armouredlnfantry 8cm Detaching frorna mel6eis usually takenasa signofdefeat. Unarmouredlnfantry 10cm Cavalry 12cm 4. The chargebonus is allowedeven when troops join an lnfantry + 2cm whencharging. cavalry+ 3cm. providing existing mCl6e. thevendthecharge contactwith in Archersmay movea maximum ofa half moveand slill shoot. Rivencannot crossed, fordscanbecrossed halfspeed. be but al 4. Commanders/leaders 2. Arche.y Commanders leaders or with unitsunder archeryor in mCl6e Archerscanshootin up lo 2 ranks.For eachunir throw a d6. canbecome casuahies: At long range.12 to 24cm,subtract.lfrom eachdie. Al short range,under 12cm,subtract hon eachdie_ M6l6e A.chery 3 Throw a dlo for eachleader The .emainder potentialcasualries. 9 = Wounded Wounded are 10 = Killed Wounded Throwa d20for eachcommander = Wounueu 19 Saving Throws For eachpotentiai 20 = Killed Wounded casualty archery rnele of or throw one d6. Unarmoured troopsneeda 5 or a 6 to be saved. Beingwounded only applies the rnoralerest(if any)in the Armouredtroopsneeda .1.5 or 6 to be saved. for Otherwise they are casualries. Conmanders are ahraJsavailable moralepurposes. 3. Mles for but in or Melesoccur when opposingtroops advance chargeinto theycanelectro beactive a mel6e not. If theyareno1 active or factoris not allowed (see contact. the first turn only 1 rank canIight. For subsequent thenthe +1 mCI6e mCtes). they But, In if tums, count 2 ranks.Add up the rotat pointsfor rhe figures can only becomecalualties they are acrive.This tules will of eligibleto fighi (infantryI point. cavatrylyr poinrt for-each rellectthe temperament the wargarner- acti\'e An comman, der in an evenrnClde tip the balance favourof his own can side. in Then.for each a in unit eligible fightaddorsubtract following side,aslong as he doesnot become casualty the proces!. to rhe Leaders not havethis option. do pointsto or from the total: Ifa comnanderorleaderis killed.thenasanoptionhecanbe Charging -t capturedinstead (which for rhe purposes the wargame Uphill -l of +1 Artackinsover ford a to thing).Any comnanderor leaderwith a Commandermelee +l in Cctasq I amounts lhe same forcewhichis wipedout is killedor caplured. Any commander below) GeeCommandersileaders orleaderNitha forcewhichroutsmal,escape orbe captured. I Dividethetotalfigureby 5 androunddown.Throwthisnunber usea d6 with evenchances decide ro anyofrhesepossibililies. ot average diceand add up the total. Divide this by 2 and the They help the \rargamerro take a vened interest in his figuresand help to reflectthe fortunes the real rnswerls the numberof pointsof potentialenemycasuatties. personality of in Apportion thesepotentialcasualiies eventyas Dossible personalities ihe scenarios. as umongirhedrlferenr lrooprype.of rheenemy unirs rnd rhen applysomesaving throws.Bear in mind thar while I poinl is I 5. Morale infantryfigure.a cavalryfigureis wonh 17rpoints.Thoseihat 1. Whenthereis no uns,ounded leadero. commander rhe are not saved casualties_ in are
THE RULES
39 nel6e or group underarchery. 2. When 10%of pointsvalueof a group is lost in one tum. 3 Whena groupin a ml6eis outnumbered a points by valueof 2:1or more. dividedby lyr). The saving throwsare 6, 4, 5, I so only onefigureis actually lost.Afrer dicethrowsfor cornnander/leader casualties whicharenegative and since pointsout of24 is less 1t, thanl0%, thecavalry do not baveto test morale.
Add up the followingfactorsfor eachside which hasto test morale eachmelee Broup in or unde'!rchery: lnfantry- ylofthe unitsarearmoured, rheytakeyi ofthe 12 so Killed more pointsthan lost in mel6erhis tum +1 pointscasualties whichis 3. Saving throwsare5,3,4 In at least2 ranks +1 so they have I figure losr. 7a of the units are Commander killed or captured not (evenif wounded) +2 unarmoured,so they rake 7a of the 12 points For eachleader mCle with group(evenifwounded) +1 in or casualties is9. Savingthrows 6,5,5,3,4,1, which are Comnandernot killd. wounded caprured rurn or this 2,5,6 so they have4 figureslost- Neitherrype of 2 For each leaderin mCl6eor wirh group killed. wo'rndedor infantry have any casualties canied forward frorn captured this tum -1 prevrous tumssono unitsareremoved. But5 figures No comnander,and no leaderin nl6e or with group -3 lost(4 + 1) is still5 out of25 whichis 25%, whichis Over half B class mCle group +1 in or enoughfor a morale test. The die throw for the Enemywilhin 10cm.including ml6e -l in cornnander casualty nega.ive. is No enemyin contaci +2 At leastbalf poinlsvaluein mCl6e group ar cavalry +1 Infantry or In two ranks+1, Commander present +2, Over -1,20% lost Outnurnbered at least2:1 pointsor grerter in mCl6e -1 moraletest halfB class Enemywirhin by +1. 10cm or Ouhunbered by at leas13:1 pointsor grearer mCl6e -2 in thisturn-2. Thisgives atotalof +1. Theaverage For each10% poinlslost by group rhislurn -1 dicethrowfor +/-l gives +1 whichgives final a a total of +2. This means that the 3 unarmoured Throw 2 average dice (onecounting plusandthe otherIninus) unitsof infantryrour_ for a potenlial modifierof + 1or I depending rhedifference on in Ihe dicescores nothingif borhdiceare the same). (or givesa ratherdrasticresult,but if rhere Then This srnallexamples compare resultwith the fouowingrable: tbe wresay20 unitsper sidethe resulrwould still havebeenth +5 or over OK (or same nearlythesame) that the20unirson onesidewould so +4 havereduced 17.In thisway one or both sides to wouldwear +3 2 unitsrout graduallyuntiladecisivemCl6etumwasreachedandone down +2 3 units .out
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Half unitsrout (or at least5 units,whichever is the most) REFERENCES All unitsin group roul The main referencesare these:
1. (CS) GestaStephani (The Deeds of Stephen) tanslaredby K. R. Pot.er (published by Thornas Nelson and Sons Ltd,
(HN) H istoria N ove a b) w i iam of M almes ury, rr anst^ted b by K. R. Porter(published byThomasNelson andSons Ltd, l9s5). (HH) Henry of Huntingdon:someevenrs rhe reign of of Stephen described "The Historyof theEnglish"(C. 1154) in translatedby T. Forsrer (London, 1853), in t,1grnft HistotialDocuments VolumeII 1042-1189 editedby D. C. Douglas and G. W- creenaway(Eyrc Merhuen,1981). (ov) Ecclesiastiul History of Ensland and Normandy by Oderic8 Vitalis, tdlanslated ThomasForester (Henry c_ by M6ldeExampl Bohn,l-ondon, 1853). On the secondround of a mCle,there are foul units of 5. Warfarcin England 1066-1189 by John Beeler (Comell armoured cavalry 2 ranksagainst unit ofarmoured in I infanrry University Press. 1966). and3unitsofunarmoured infantry(ahoin 2 rankt. Thecavalry 6. Ordnance Srney Landmnger Maps nos. 164 Oxford and have I commanderand I leader. The infantry have 1 sunounding areaand 184Salisbury The Plain,both 17a and conrnander.All troops are B class.Both sideshave their inches 1 mile. to commander activein the mel6eaDdlhe cavalryare upbill. Other usefulreferences whichI usedare: Cavalry 4 units@6 poinrs: 24points,+ 4forcommander in 7- TheAnglo-Saxon Chrorrclerranslated c. N. carmonsby mCl6eand + 4 for being uphill = 32. 32 dividedby 5 and way (J. M. Dent andSons Ltd. Everyman's Libmry, 1984). roundeddown = 6 average dice. a. Nornan Costlesin Britain by Derek Renn (John Baker = Inlantry-4units@5points20points. 4forcommander= + Publishe's lqTJ). Lld. 24. 24 dividedby 5 and roundeddown : 4 average dice. 9. The Saxon and Norman (irar by Christopher Brooke (Fonlan,/collins,1984). Cavalry throw 5.2..1.4,5,4which a total gives of24.24 dividd b) 2 givesl2 poinls potenrial ca.uatties lhe intanrry. on Infantrythrow4.3,3,2which givsalotalof t2dividedby2 12. gives6 pointspotentialcasualties rhe cavatry. on Cavalry 6 pointscasualties 4 potentialfigurecasuathes is (6
Notes Morale on 1 All rouled unils are permanentl)lost. 2. The lessertroop typesalways rout firsr,thatisCclassbefore 2. B class, then unarmouredbefore amoured and then inlantry beforecavalry. 3. I{ in a mCl6eall the opposingunits run away. rhen the 3. winninggroupstillhaveto restto seeifthey haveto pursue the dispersed (seeNoteson Mleno3) fugitives 4. lf lroopsare surrounded whenrhe!'areforcedto rout then they surrender instead. 5. Thereareno 'ulesco!eringdi\o'ganr,ation. 4-
19ss).