I ran a demo historical miniatures game at Franciscan University of Steubenville, OH, on Oct. 2. Our sponsor, Dr. Michael Welker, put us in a great place for people to see our game (the student lounge -- where almost everyone passed through).

We talked with dozens of people and handed out lots of HMGS stuff. Everyone liked the figures and people asked a lot of questions. After awhile, both my son Preston and Dr. Welker had heard my talk about what we were doing that they were able to give portions of it themselves. Dr. Welker wants us to come back next year, and is already asking for a medieval DBA tournament. I think they may even start a historical gaming club at the school. Hopefully we can support this group.

Preston and I got to the school at about 8:30am, started playing about 10:30, and ended about 2:30pm. I used about 1000 figures in the 15mm scale for the game, with 1"=100'. With that scale, it is best to have a 9'x5' table, but we had only 8'x4', so we were a little cramped. The rules I used are called Lance & Spear and the battle was hypothetical one between English King Edward IV and French King Louis XI, in 1475. Edward did invade France in June, but it is a "what if" because Louis paid Edward off instead of fighting.

What If...

What would have happened if the French wanted a fight? There are lots of factors that would have made this an interesting battle. The French army had been remodeled in the 1450s and was the first modern standing army in Europe. Artillery was a regular part of armies, now, but the guns were run by civilians. One of the changes to the French army was that the artillerist were now part of the army -- not civilians. With these changes, France would no longer be the push-over that it once was. With improved crossbows, better armor and tactics, the army facing Edward was clearly not the same one from just 60 years before. Technology also had made the long bow a less effective weapon, thereby reducing what once was a powerful force to almost second rate status. This would continue to be a problem for the English before the mid 1500s. Despite modest try to improve and change, the English would fall further and further behind for the next 100 years.

The French army was based around knights called gendarmes. Instead of having a land that supported knights, the gendarmes were paid money to be ready and available for war at any time. When the gendarmes were not at war, they were given areas of control and were to patrol the roads and local towns to protect travelers and merchants. To this day the French police are called gendarmes. French foot was still weak, but good crossbows and the bill make foot units much stronger than before. Swiss forces were used regularly by the French -- especially by Louis XI. Louis was not a fighter like his father, though. He was a diplomat, and thus, he paid Edward off instead if fighting. Louis would not have led his army into battle because he was having troubles with his nobles in the north. The army most likely would have been led by a low level noble from the southwest, by the Alps.

Edward arrived on the French shores with little more then 10,000 men. His plan was to pick up local forces, get help from Brittany -- and most importantly -- from Charles the Bold of Burgundy. Charles had been fighting the Swiss paid for by the French for several years, and getting the extra help from the English could turn the tide that historically he lost. Burgundian pike units were veteran forces and would have added a great deal to Edward's strength.

Hypothetical Game

In our hypothetical battle, the French started with their Swiss pike in the center and cavalry on each flank. The English placed their Irish troops on the left where there was difficult terrain, where they perform best. To the right of the Irish were the Burgundian Pike (including their new technology hand gunners). Strung out from there, was a mix of longbow and billmen of very quality. Edward would keep a small contingent of cavalry made up of knights and lesser troops in reserve.

The battle started with the French Cavalry making assaults on both English flanks. First came the mounted crossbows and then the gendarmes. Preston was commanding the French forces, while I led the English. Preston rolled well with both attacks from his mounted crossbows and started what looked like a roll up of the English flanks. Only some good shooting by long bows and artillery were able to slow the onslaught. By sending the reserve cavalry to the flanks earlier than expected, the English were able to create a stable line that brought things to a stalemate.

Attention then turned to the center, where crossbows and longbows shot at each other, trying to effect the battle. It finally came down to a push of Pike. A meeting of the two opposing pike forces and their support troops determined the battle. At first, the strong Swiss pikes made real headway against the Burgundians. But special Burgundian sword troops designed to get inside and around the pike formations were able to catch the Swiss on an open Flank and drive them back. At this point, the French retired from the field in good order. The English did not give chase.

The English had done well, but the French did not fare badly. French losses were not the terrible numbers of the past, and all the units were in place for the 1495 the invasion of Italy -- one of France's greatest military successes.

(Image from Dover Publications, Inc.'s Warriors through the Ages)