Marnon Campaign Part I Marnon Campaign Part II Marnon Campaign Part III NOTE: This fourth installment in the series tracing the progress of the hypothetical medieval campaign begins in a divided Principality of Marnon, on the verge of civil war and under threat of the Tatar invaders' farther expansion. Long before the fall of Bentwood (see part III), the Prince of Dunes (Henry) had been promoting his hold on the island continent by Marnon by suggesting a crusade-type campaign against the now established Tatar invaders in the West. Marnon Island Map Large (slow: 169K) Marnon Island Map Jumbo (extremely slow: 372K) To this end he obtained Papal support, and the old Dunes Cathedral was re surrected to service under the bishopric of Ord-Arne, with the first born of the late Lord Oxleaf as Canon. All Military Orders at Hempen Rook were required to join Prince Henry's faction by Papal Decree, and ad ditional troops were made available to him by the bishopric's considerable influence on the mainland. Success in his endeavor to unify all the factions on the island and impose Christianity on the pagans would assure him the Marnish crown. Henry would become only the second king of this land in the last 100 years -- an ambition worth fighting for! Tatars notwithstanding, Bentwood's supporters were strong and had to be dealt with sooner or later. The time was ripe in mid-summer; the SE marshlands were dry and Fernham castle (Sir George Radner's strong hold) could be reached from Hempen Rook by the Military Orders there, while Henry marched through the Ancient Forest from his home in Dunes (see map of Marnon). On the way, he stopped at Castle Kil garren to inform Montreil deGascon of his intentions in hopes of gaining his support. It was widely known that the "Gascon Free Company" (a mercenary or ganization) would side with any and all against the Tatar invaders, but marching against another faction; and under the command of a Prince who once signed treaties with the invaders, endowing them with vast western lands, was a different matter. Henry tried to impress on him that once Bentwood's sympathizers were subdued, a crusade against the Tatars would begin. Not only would deGascon have none of it, but he sent a messenger to warn Radner and deMarl even before Prince Henry left Kilgarren. Sir John deMarl was master of Bentwood Castle in the Duke's absence and commanded a number of knights originally allied with Bentwood before his self-imposed exile. Sir John immediately set out to cut off the approaching Templars and Hospitallers before they could join Henry and attack Fernham. All of the above events resulted from a procedure of option selection developed early in the Marnon Campaign. Each faction (player) is given a number of options suitable to the situation. They may be influenced and altered by option selected for other factions. The option played is determined by dice. In Prince Henry's case the Primary Options were as follows: 1. Join the Tatars; 2. Get Papal support v.s. the Tatars; 3. Wait to rebuild a cavalry force. Number 2 was chosen by dice, which produced the second set of options thus: 1. Attack the Tatars; 2. Wait for Papal reinforcements; 3. Attack Bentwood's faction. This time number 3 was the dice result and precipitated seeking deGascon's support (at player's own discretion). DeGascon, in turn, went through a similar op tion procedure resulting in his actions as described above. Once these broad objectives are identified, tactical aspects of the campaign reenter the play. Thus, Sir John deMarl and his chivalry were faced with an equal number of Military Order brethern in northern Radner Fen. Although by mid-July the salt marsh along the coast was not entirely dry, deMarl formed up behind a strip of soft ground to await the opponent's charge. The Orders, however, refused battle and attempted to circumvent both the poor ground and deMarl's chivalry -- alas to no avail.... Their pace was slow and open to flank attack which deMarl tried to launch. But his action was slow and permitted the monastic knights to conduct an orderly retreat. It was a stalemate. Both sides (120 knights each) stood apart with soft ground between them once again. This situation remained unchanged for the entire day when Henry's scouts were sent to investigate why the Military Orders were late they came upon this stalemate. They hurried back to inform Henry, who immediately dispatched his spearmen to deal with the impasse. This force was a strong regular infantry unit well suited to the task. Sir George Radner, having been informed of Henry's intent, expected just such a move. From his castle at Fernham, he led a substantial force of pikemen and archers to help deMarl. Once their forces had gathered, it became obvious to both sides that a battle under these circumstances would be extremely difficult to conduct. DeMarl's position behind soft ground and with protected flanks appeared impregnable. Radner's pikemen were un suited to offensive tactics and Henry's spearmen were in an awkward position to attack -- sure to draw heavy archery fire. (See diag.) Both sides awaited the other's move. Prince Henry, in the meantime, was losing time and patience. Deciding to take matters in his own hands, he marched his entire army into Radner Fen the next morning. A battle was imminent; Henry had assembled a sizeable host whose composition was as follows: Map ID Unit Size Unit Type Morale Class* Description 1 400 LI M Feudal levy (Prince Henry) 2 160 LI M Archers 3 180 Ml R Spearmen 4 120 HC E Military Orders . 860 total A 120 HC R Knights (Sir John deMarl) B 200 HI V Pikemen (Sir George Radner) C 80 LI M Archers . 400 total *Elite, Veteran, Regular, Militia Battle in the Marshes Bentwood's faction were outnumbered better than 2:1, but due to a favorable position, they stood their ground and let Henry make the first move. Marnon Large Battle of Marshes Map (slow: 70K) The Prince personally led his militia class levy, inciting them with uncommon fervor, against the pike formation of Radner's veterans. His spearmen reacted to orders and hit the pikemen from the flank. Sheer weight of numbers (3 to 1) decided the outcome: the pikemen broke ranks and retreated. In the center, receiving an arrow barrage, the monastic knights charged around the soft ground to face the countercharging knights with deMarl. Henry's archers moved up the flank to provide supporting fire from behind soft ground, where they could not be charged upon. The weight of numbers again told the tale. The battle ended swiftly. DeMarl fell back and many of Radner's archers were mowed down by the advancing Templars and Hospitallers. Their survivors joined the fleeing pikemen to follow deMarl back into Fernham Castle. Prince Henry marched to Bentwood Castle to proclaim himself lord of all Marnon. Bentwood's faction was no longer a threat; his attention could be turned again to Tatar held western lands. Generating Battlefield Terrain from the Strategic Map This may be a good time to briefly described how we arrive at battlefield terrain "lifted" from the strategic map. Our semi-random placement of features is not original and is similar to systems suggested by several rules writers, but modified to suit our situation. It works as follows: If terrain shown on the map leaves no doubt, it is duplicated on the tabletop and nothing else needs to be done. More often, however, the map is not clear or not all-inclusive due to its scale. It is then determined which of the following features are present and players take turns emplacing or removing these features, one at a time, until a player turns down both his options. The major features are: Woods Lakes Walls Hills Rivers Buildings Marshes Hedgerows Roads Gullies (or soft ground) Small streams Dense (impassable) woods or jungle Restrictions of placement are: No marches,rivers or lakes on any hills. No roads, bridges or buildings in marshes. There must be a ford or a bridge wherever roads cross a river. Rivers should have low shrubbery along both banks and water depth and strength/direction of current must be specified. In the case (above) of northern Radner Fen, map of Marnon shows a low, marshy area, bordered by the sea to the East. The only features allowed were streams (of which none were emplaced), gullies and marshes. Once the tabletop battlefield was laid out, player with deMarl's unit deployed first entering from the West, as dictated by strategic moves just preceding and location of Bentwood Castle. Remaining participants entered the battlefield as an extention of their strategic moves on the map. We found this system quick, and simple, producing no ambiguities or disagreements throughout its use in the Marnon Campaign. Discontented Peace Peace prevailed once more in Marnon. But it was a discontented peace and lasted only thru the summer. The Tatar khan systematically subjugated western Marnon to his rule and stripped the countryside of its economic independence. Jesugai, his second in command, imposed heavy tolls on local merchants using bridges across the Amnon in order to utilize the southwestern harbors under Tatar control. Other harbors were available, but there were no roads and routes were longer for shipping to reach them. Even then, it was risky to trade in free harbors, as Toghrul Khan's tribal units were repeatedly sent to intercept such merchant caravans. But as long as trade went thru Island Harbor or the one at Oxleaf, they were safe from Tatar harassment. Heavy taxes were levied on all goods passing thru these harbors, and Toghrul saw to it that all those using them were allowed safe conduct. Revenue from these shady sources was used to reinforce Tatar position in Marnon and to resupply their army. This unhappy state of affairs prevailed until a contin gent of Templars, Hospitallers and Teutonic Knights, sent by the Pope, arrived in Marnon to begin the promised crusade in earnest. Envoys sent to Oxleaf, to persuade the Khan to help unify Marnon and accept Christianity were ill-received, ejected or beheaded. Having gained a firm foothold on the island, Toghrul had no intention of giving concessions with his aim of total conquest now within reach. Instead, he suspected Prince Henry's betrayal of the treaty and sent Barak's tribal horse archers to rape and pillage Henry's magni ficent Castle of Dunes and its environs. When the Dunes Cathedral was desecrated and its canon put to the sword, the crusade instantly gained popular support throughout Marnon. Even Montreil deGascon joined ranks with Henry against the Tatar khan. Although they had been reluctant, Bentwood's supporters -- Radner and deMarl -- could also see the virtue of uniting against the invaders. Not since the first Tatar invasion was the island mobilized to march in concert against a common enemy. It led to the biggest battle of the campaign, whose consequences shaped the future of Prince Henry of all Marnon. Strength Toghrul Khan was strong. Three castles and 3 harbors were in his control; reinforcements could readily be brought in and maintained until needed. Infantry units made up of the conquered Marnish levy were recruited and pressed into Tatar service, though under their own command. Toghrul knew they could not be effective within the Tatar military doctrine, and so he released the imprisoned Sieur Falcon deBlac to lead them employing Frankish methods in which they were already trained.* DeBlac knew they would all be slaughtered if they disobeyed. * History supports this method of utilizing defeated armies by the Mongol (Tatar) khans throughout their campaigns in Asia and Eastern Europe. Battle at Heatherlawn 21 December 1232 The Marnish army gathered at Bentwood Castle to organize and plan the first major offensive against Toghrul Khan in December. Only the Gascon Free Company was not present. It waited at Kilgarren, where the main forces would pass on their way to Spruceton, to join them. The march began on the last day of November, and by December 8th the Castle of Dunes was liberated. Barak's troops abandoned it and fled southward. They were joined by Toghrul's army at Heatherlawn before long, as the Khan in tended to stop Prince Henry's advance as early as possible. Henry encamped at Spruceton awaiting completion of its garrisoning and the restoration of order in Dunes. These actions were accomplished within the fortnight and on December 21st, the Marnish Army emerged from the forest to face the assembled Tatar horde. [Used here only as a general term and not descriptive of the Mongol Horde, or Orta, of 3 or more Tuman (of 10,000 men each).] It was the largest enemy army ever seen in Marnon. Its composition was as follows: TARTARS Map ID Unit Size Unit Type Morale Class Description Losses A 280 MC Vet Sword/Archers (Toghrul Cic) 100 B 340 LC Elite Horse Archers (Jesugai) 120 C 240 LI Mil Marnish feudal levy (deBlac) None D 240 LC Vet Tribal Spearmen (Kushala) 120 E 300 LC Reg Tribal Archers (Barak) 260 MARNON Map ID Unit Size Unit Type Morale Class Description Losses 1 180 MI Reg Spearmen (Henry CiC) 80 2 160 MI Reg Crossbowmen (Henry CiC) 160 3 100 HC Reg Mtd Men-at-Arms (deMarl) 100 4 160 HC Elite Knights (Military Orders) 40 5 400 LI Mil Feudal Levy 200 6 320 LI Mil Feudal Archers 160 7 240 HI Vet Pikemen (Radner) None 8 200 HI Vet Ex-King's Archers (Gascon Free Company) None 9 140 HC Elite Knights (Gascon Free Company) 60 Battle Joined The Frankish Knights charges on both flanks began the battle. Kushala's tribal spear cavalry countercharged the monastic knights, but suffered 50% losses including their commander and broke into a morale-induced retreat. Marnon Large Battle of Heatherlawn Map 1 (slow: 112K) The Gascon Free Company's charge, on the other flank, was met by Barak. The impressed Marnish levy had been sent forward as a screen by the Gascon Knights intentionally by-passed them, permitting their escape. Company archers supported the charge, but Toghrul himself later attacked deGascon's flank and forced a retreat. DeBlac slipped thru and saved the levy by dispersing them in the woods. Jesugai, once again, demonstrated his ability at mobile tactics by doubling back behind Tatar ranks to the opposite flank (see diagrams) to meet the military order knights as they pursued Kushala's fleeing survivors. Sir John deMarl and his Men-at-Arms rode down the center to help the Brethren, but they were wiped out to the last man. Sir John barely escaped. In the center, Henry's feudal levy broke under Jesugai's arrow barrage, but before they were annihilated the Tatar horse archers were beaten off by the knights and retreated in disorder. Marnon Large Battle of Heatherlawn Map 2 (slow: 59K) Prince Henry's units and the heavy pike also held and reformed line for a momentary stand-off, during which the Crossbowmen attempted a formation charge to double rank. Toghrul Khan changed the direction of his original advance on Henry's center and charged the unformed crossbowmen instead. They were overrun and destroyed but not before the military orders inflicted heavy losses on Barak's unit. The Tatars broke thru but failed to exploit the breach. The Marnish Army was still largely intact and quit the field in good order as the battle ended. Escape After his escape from Tatar clutches, deBlac single handedly tried to quell the looting of his own Marnish camp by the uncontrollable levy troops. It continued unchecked until the Gascon mercenaries arrived to stop it. Although the Frank's losses were heavier, it was clear that they had a stronger force at Heatherlawn. Even the usually effective Tatar mobility failed to tip the scales in Toghrul Khan's favor. In retrospect there were no real winners in this battle; both sides came away significantly weakened in military strength, and the Marnish factions were even more dissastisfied with one another than they had been in the summer. The Principality was nearly as weak and unstable as it was in April. It was small consolation to Henry that the Tatars were too weak to renew their expansion beyond local raids. The full impact of Heatherlawn, however, would not surface until the spring of 1233. Marnon Marnon Campaign Part I Marnon Campaign Part II Marnon Campaign Part III Marnon Campaign Part IV Marnon Campaign Part V Back to Table of Contents -- Courier Vol. IV No. 5 Back to Courier List of Issues Back to Master Magazine List © Copyright 1983 by The Courier Publishing Company. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com