This scenario is intended to be played with Knight Hack, a rule set we picked up at Little Wars. My friends and I played both Classical Hack Ancient Warfare and Knight Hack on Saturday at Little Wars with the author. Thanks for driving from Buffalo, N.Y. to put on your games Phil. Those games lead me to a renewed interest in both ancients and medieval gaming.
Setting the Stage
The constant fighting of the city states leads to numerous opportunities to wargame battles in Italy. This is the reason "feats of arms" leaders such as Catruccio Castracani who gained power and dominance in 14th-century Italy are worth researching. Catruccio Castracani obtained his lands by both political and military prowess.
While we might want to battle a mighty hero like Alexander the Great in a ancient's wargame; I think you'll find Castracani's violent role in 14th-century Italy, a tumultuous time in history, as a worthy captain too. The army of Lucca was led by Castracani, and he was involved at the heart of the upheavals in his country. He is described by Machiavelli as a careful thinker who devotes all of his energies to enlarging and protecting his holdings. Castracani manages to juggle so many political balls and drop none. By shrewdness, luck, or association with others Castracani found out about his enemy's plans or their plots against him, thus giving him time to consider his best recourse.
Machiavelli writes about Castracani that Fortune, "hostile to his fame, when it was time to give him life, took it from him and broke off those plans that he for a long time before had been intending to put into effect, nor by anything other than death could he have been impeded" Ultimately, Castracani is a tragic figure who's desire to enlarge his lands leads to his death, for it is after this battle that he catches ill and later dies.
The Scenario Background
Catruccio Castracani recent expansion into Pistoia made his enemies gather to the aid of the Florentine Army in 1380. King Ruberto of Naples sent his son Carlo with 4,000 horseman to assist the Florentine Army to take Pisa and Pistoia. With allies like Carlo, Florence was able to draw together an army of 30,000 infantry, and 10,000 cavalry to campaign against Luccas. At this time, the infantry were mostly bill man backed by spears. Some of the infantry would be equipped with crossbow. The horseman were predominate a mixture of knights and mounted men-at arms, with some mounted crossbow men.
The Florentine Army began its advance in May 1328 occupying Lastra, Montelupo, Signa, and Empoli. Castracani rallied his forces and gathered 20,000 foot and 5,000 horse to face the threat, positioning the force outside of the walled city of Fucecchio. Outside of the city is the Arno River which played a critical role in the battle. This was an excellent position for a smaller force. If the Florentine Army tried to bypass it for Pisa or Pistoia, Catruccio Castracani would cut their supply lines. If the Florentines offered battle they would need to fight across a river with steep and muddy banks. In the end, the strategic consequences out weighed the tactical difficulties. The Florentine Army attacked the Lucchese Army on June 10th in 1380. The defense at the river bank was too much for the Florentine Army and it was badly defeated.
Order of Battle
Lucchese Army
Catruccio Castracani, Army Commander
Four Sub-Commanders (add more if additional players require it)
| Type | Morale | Weapon | Figures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knights (kt) | Class A | Lance, Shield | 9 |
| Knights (kt) | Class B | Lance, Shield | 6 |
| Knights (kt) | Class B | Sword, Shield | 6 |
| Heavy Cavalry (HC) | Class B | Sword, Shield | 9 |
| Light Cavalry (LC) | Class B | Javelin, Shield | 6 |
| Light Cavalry (LC) | Class B | Javelin, Shield | 6 |
| Light Cavalry (LC) | Class C | Crossbow | 6 |
| Light Cavalry (LC) | Class C | Crossbow | 6 |
| Medium Infantry (LMI) | Class B | Crossbow, Shield | 9 |
| Medium Infantry (LMI) | Class C | Crossbow, Shield | 9 |
| Light Infantry (LI) | Class A | Javelin, Shield | 8 |
| Light Infantry (LI) | Class A | Javelin, Shield | 8 |
| Light Infantry (LI) | Class A | Javelin, Shield | 8 |
| Light Infantry (LI) | Class B | Javelin, Shield | 6 |
| Light Infantry (LI) | Class B | Long Bow | 8 |
| Light Infantry (LI) | Class C | Long Bow | 8 |
| Light Infantry (LI) | Class C | Long Bow | 6 |
| Light Infantry (LI) | Class C | Long Bow | 6 |
| Heavy Infantry (HI) | Class B | Bill man, Shield | 16 |
| Heavy Infantry (HI) | Class B | Bill man, Shield | 16 |
| Heavy Infantry (HI) | Class B | Bill man, Shield | 16 |
| Medium Infantry (LMI) | Class B | Bill man, Shield | 16 |
| Medium Infantry (LMI) | Class C | Bill man, Shield | 16 |
| Medium Infantry (LMI) | Class B | Spear, Shield | 8 |
Florentine Army
Carlo of Naples, Army Commander
Three Sub-Commanders (add more if additional players require it)
| Type | Morale | Weapon | Figures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knights (kt) | Class B | Lance, Shield | 12 |
| Knights (kt) | Class B | Lance, Shield | 12 |
| Knights (kt) | Class C | Lance, Shield | 12 |
| Naples Knights (kt) | Class C | Lance, Shield | 12 |
| Naples Heavy Cavalry (HC) | Class C | Sword, Shield | 12 |
| Naples Light Cavalry (LC) | Class B | Sword, Shield | 9 |
| Light Cavalry (LC) | Class C | Sword, Shield | 9 |
| Light Cavalry (LC) | Class C | Crossbow | 9 |
| Medium Infantry (LMI) | Class C | Crossbow, Shield | 12 |
| Medium Infantry (LMI) | Class C | Crossbow, Shield | 12 |
| Light Infantry (LI) | Class B | Javelin, Shield | 8 |
| Light Infantry (LI) | Class B | Javelin, Shield | 8 |
| Light Infantry (LI) | Class B | Javelin, Shield | 6 |
| Light Infantry (LI) | Class C | Javelin, Shield | 6 |
| Light Infantry (LI) | Class B | Long Bow | 12 |
| Light Infantry (LI) | Class B | Long Bow | 12 |
| Light Infantry (LI) | Class C | Long Bow | 12 |
| Heavy Infantry (HI) | Class B | Bill man, Shield | 20 |
| Heavy Infantry (HI) | Class B | Bill man, Shield | 20 |
| Heavy Infantry (HI) | Class B | Bill man, Shield | 20 |
| Heavy Infantry (HI) | Class C | Bill man, Shield | 20 |
| Medium Infantry (LMI) | Class C | Bill man, Shield | 20 |
| Medium Infantry (LMI) | Class C | Bill man, Shield | 20 |
| Medium Infantry (LMI) | Class C | Bill man, Shield | 16 |
| Medium Infantry (LMI) | Class B | Spear, Shield | 12 |
| Medium Infantry (LMI) | Class C | Spear, Shield | 12 |
Terrain
The river valley is relatively flat with Fucecchio on a slight rise. The west bank of the river provides a height advantage to the defenders. Reeds and shrubs obscure some depressions beyond the west bank from the Florentine view (i.e. Florentines are unaware of these dead zones). The Arno is shallow but 5" wide and runs the length of the game board. The attackers must advance up a steep muddy river bank. The muddy river disorders all formed units, and units do not receive a charge bonus if they attack in or through the river (i.e. they can charge but without impetus). The river reduces movement by half. In addition, pursuits rules are modified for units in the river and defending the river bank. Pursuits that begin in the river do not roll pursuit dice. Units defending the river bank are not required to purse into the river. Units that rout in or into the river are removed from play. Units that retreat backin or into the river are still in play.
Besides the river (walls of the city are not in play) and a few depressions, no other terrain features exist as obstacles to play. Two depressions exist 1" beyond the west bank of the river. The placement of the depressions is up to the game judge or if you are playing without a judge the Lucchese Army C-in-C places them as desired. Units in the depression are revealed and lose their Ambush advantage once an enemy unit is completely on the west bank within 8".
Scenario Notes
The Lucchese Army sets up just outside the walled city (well away from the river) to help encourage the Florentine Army to attack. When the Florentine Army committed itself to an advance the Lucchese Army ran forward to defend the river bank.
Historically, the Lucchese were able execute a river ambush on Florentine Knights which tried to cross the river upstream. Light troops were able to disrupt the knights with javelins running out of their hidden spots among the river bank scrub brush. In this scenario three Class A light javelin units will be hidden among the two depressions.
The Florentine Army is determined to defeat Catruccio Castracani quickly and move on to Pisa and Pistoia. The heavy infantry are committed to a frontal assault directly across the Arno river. The Florentine Army victory condition is to destory 4 of Catruccio Castracani's bill man units and all 3 knight units. Whereas, Catruccio Castracani wins by retaining some control of the west bank with at least 1 knight unit, 1 light cavalry unit, and 2 bill man units.
The horse troops from Naples are positioned together. The Florentine Army does not know Carlo will either withdraw all his Naples Cavalry to his starting position if he losses his Knight Cavalry or over 50% causalities from all three cavalry units combined. He is here to support Florence not throw all his cavalry away.
The numbers of figures for the Florentine Army is reduced to provide some improved game play. Remember, a bill is a cutting weapon not a pike, so use that modifier in the melee combat. An effective billman would be in loose order to use his bill properly; under Hack he can be protected infantry or heavy or medium infantry in loose order. So, for this scenario all bill armed troops will operate in loose order.
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© Copyright 1998 Hal Thinglum
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