Marnon Campaign: Part 1 (v4n2)
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is the second article in a series recounting the hypothetical medieval campaign using Avalon Hill's mapboard of Marnon (Wizard's Quest) for strategic moves and 40mm Hausser Elastolin miniature figures with many scratch-built accessories for resolving tactical battles on the tabletop. Rules are home-grown from previously listed references and based on TSR's "Chainmail". Siege and campaign rules are original.
Although Marnon is a fictitious land, historical basis for the campaign is the time of the Baltic Crusades in Lithuania, Prussia and Poland during the 13th century Mongol incursion into Eastern Europe.
Our hypothetical Tatar campaign against the Duchy of Marnia reached an impasse when Toghrul Khan, commander of the invading army, suffered a severe setback resulting in the siege of Gaudy Castle. He fled with most of his elite units, leaving Kushala's tribal troops and Timur's horse archers to defend the castle he took without a fight early in the campaign. His other occupied castle (Oxleaf) was in Jesugai's hands--his second in command.
A chronology of the 1231 campaign will help bring us up to date:
- 1 April - Am non Waterclay (a Marnon Holiday)
4 April - Tatar invasion begins
8 April - Toghrul Khan takes Gaudy Castle
17 April - Toghrul Khan takes Oxleaf Castle
18 April - Amnon River skirmish
30 April - BATTLE OF PORTSTON MOOR
2 May - Marnon mobilization completed
9 May - Siege of Gaudy Castle begins
14 May - Sir George Radner and Lord Oxleaf join the siege
The accompanying map (an approximation of Avalon Hill's island of Marnon, used for all strategic moves) shows the development of these troop dispositions begun shortly after the Battle of Portston Moor. Nearly half the Marnian Army was engaged in the siege, not including the Teutonic Knights keeping watch over Jesugai and deMarl's Men-at-Arms holding the Turkish ships at Island Harbour. Toghrul Khan was on everyone's mind in the Frankish camp. His contingent disappeared after Portston Moor and since a sizeable force of cavalry elite was with him, his whereabouts were understandably of some concern.
Although strength of forces were not known to the opponents at the beginning of the siege, it is given here to help put the strategic situation in perspective (each figure = 20 troops listed under unit size):
| TROOP DISPOSITIONS AS OF MID-MAY, 1231 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Unit | Description | Commanders | ||
| size | type | class* | |||
| Gaudy Castle (under siege) | 320 80** | LC LC | R
R | Horse archers Tribal spear | Timur Kushala |
| Oxleaf Castle | 320 | LC | R | Tribal archers | Jesugal |
| Unknown (NW Marnon?) | 300 100*** | MC LC | E E |
Horse archers Tribal Spear | Toghrul Khan (C-in-C) |
| Total Tartars | 1120 | - | |||
| Surrounding Gaudy Castle | 260 260 108**** 225***** 80 | HI HI HC MI HC | V V E E E |
Pikemen Pikemen Knights Crossbowmen Knights Templar |
Sir Gearge Radner Lord Oxleaf Montreil deGascon Falcon deBlac |
| Island Harbour | 80 | HC | R | Sergeants-at-Arms | Sir John deMarl |
| Marls Gate | 60 | HC | E | Teutonic Knights | independent |
| Flint Castle | 360 | MI | R | Mercenary spear | Prince Henry |
| Bentwood Castle | 160 | LI | M | Feudal Archers | Castle Garrison |
| Fernharn Castle | 160 | LI | M | ||
| Castle of Dunes | 320 | LI | M | ||
| Total Franks | 2073 | - | |||
| * Morale class: Elite, Veteran, Regular, Militia
** 20 lost at Amnon River, 18 April, 1231 *** 60 lost at Portston Moor, 30 April 1231 **** 12 lost at Portston Moor ***** 75 lost at Portston Moor | |||||
More Marnon Part II
Marnon
- Marnon Campaign Part I
Marnon Campaign Part II
Marnon Campaign Part III
Marnon Campaign Part IV
Marnon Campaign Part V
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