More Dark Age and Medieval Armies (Part 7)

More Dark Age and Medieval Armies

Part 7

By Terry L. Gore

56. MEDIEVAL GERMAN PRINCES: EARLY 12TH TO LATE 15TH.

The Medieval German armies were made up of various local troops from principalities, which paid nominal loyalty to the Holy Roman Emperor. The mainstay of German armies continued to be the lance-armed wedging knight. The militia foot, which were drawn from the German cities, were of little use unless placed in a defensive position. There were quality foot, however, as well, notably the Swabian swordsmen and mercenaries. Under Emperor Otto IV, they were the losers to the French at the pivotal Battle of Bouvines in 1214.

The Germans learned to utilize horse archers, using Hungarians as well as mounted trained crossbowmen to support the knights in their attacks. The standard tactics were to hold with the foot in the center, allowing the knights to ride through them to charge as well as retire back through them in retreat. The Swabians and mercenary foot could anchor one flank while knights and light cavalry attacked the other. Generalship sometimes proved more of a hindrance than help. At Tagliacozzo in 1268, 6,000 Germans under Frederick of Austria fought 3-5,000 French-Italians under Charles I of Naples. The Germans did not bother to scout the battlefield and were surprised by a concealed division of 1,000 men, which attacked their rear, effectively surrounding them.

This is a good army for the tough-minded gamer, but can be a problem for beginners.

57. MEDIEVAL IRISH: EARLY 12TH TO LATE 15TH.

The Irish armies had not changed very much since the Viking invasions of the 9th and 10th centuries. They continued to rely primarily on large numbers of unarmored foot and armored, axe-wielding Galloglaich (Scottish mercenaries). As the English lords became acclimated to the Irish way of life after Richard de Clare's (known as Strongbow) Anglo-Norman invasion in the mid-11th century, some actually 'turned Irish' and fought their own personal wars of conquest against their neighbors. Their small numbers are reflected in the list as mercenary horse. Irish tactics often could be quite elaborate, and use of rough terrain as well as woods was often essential for success. Galloglaich could form up in several divisions. The Battle of Athenry in 1316, the hardest fought battle since the Irish were invaded by the English, found King Felim O'Connor with 10-15,000 troops losing to a combined arms attack of longbowmen and cavalry under the Anglo-Norman Richard de Bermingham.

Loose order troops should be left in ambush in woods while Galloglaich hold the gaps between rough areas. A quick close to combat is essential as the Irish are basically shieldless and will suffer badly if allowed to be left under prolonged missile fire. The light cavalry should attempt to force a flank supported by mercenary knights and bonnagts. Use the kerns to force the enemy to continually charge and slowly withdraw before their attacks. The center must hold.

This is a great, fun army to use, but again, better for the experienced gamer.

58. MEDIEVAL SCOTTISH: EARLY 12TH TO EARLY 16TH.

This is the army of William Wallace and Robert the Bruce. The usual opponent throughout this period continued to be the English, who tried again and again to bring the Scots under their rule. Not to be outdone, the Scots marched into northern England more than once, Wallace actually making it to the major city of York. Notable Scottish victories at Stirling Bridge and Bannockburn were balanced by major English victories at Falkirk and Halidon Hill.

Scottish armies relied upon large numbers of spearmen, supported by Galwegian Islemen and Highland clansmen. There were few skirmishers and a handful of armored noble knights (500 at Bannockburn). Scots tactics were to establish themselves in favorable terrain, i.e. uphill, behind river or rough terrain, and induce the enemy to make foolish attacks, as they did at Stirling Bridge and Bannockburn. At Loudon Hill in 1307, the English under the Earl of Pembroke charged uphill, without archer support, and lost to Robert the Bruce.

When the English commanders saw fit to simply shoot the Scots into disorder with missiles, as at Falkirk, the Scottish tactics failed miserably. By lining up the spearmen and marching them toward the enemy baseline, with ample flank support from the looser ordered clansmen and whatever knights that are available, the Scots can cause problems for just about any enemy. This is a good army for any level of player.

59. ANGLO-IRISH: LATE 12TH TO LATE 15TH.

When Henry II of England landed in Ireland in the late 12th century, he had intentions of 'Anglicizing' the barbarous islanders through force of arms, if necessary. Later, the transplanted Anglo-Irish lords controlled much of the wealth of Ireland, but like the inhabitants of the island, were anything but Anglicized themselves, anymore. Their intricate intermarriages and political alliances with numerous Irish ruling families provided for a volatile mix of loyalties, feudal obligations and blood feuds. War was a way of life.

The Anglo-Irish armies contained few actual Englishmen until the early 14th century. Reliance upon large numbers of bonnagts, longbowmen and kerns as well as a small number of light cavalry and a few veteran knights meant that the Irish had to fight in rough terrain to have any chance at defeating other knight-heavy armies. After the early 14th century, the English presence intensified as Galloglaich, billmen and English longbowmen augmented the usual forces.

Tactically, you must use the terrain to your advantage. Ambushes, flank attacks; knight charges into a critical segment of a weak enemy position, all are needed to ensure a victory. This is definitely not a beginner's army, but with experience, it can be surprisingly effective.

60. LATER CRUSADERS: LATE 12TH TO EARLY 14TH.

These are the armies of Baldwin and Guy, Kings of Jerusalem, as well as Richard the Lion-Heart. The Crusaders had realized quite early on in their battles with the Moslems that they would have to evolve new tactics, quite different from those of traditional Western European warfare, to successfully deal with their enemies. Consequently, numbers of horse archer turcopoles were recruited, along with Armenian/Maronite Christians to help the knights defeat their adversaries. Large numbers of 'Frankish' foot were trained in the use of the crossbow, a lethal weapon, but slow to load. The combined arms attacks of knights and missile-armed close order foot proved fairly successful.

The Christian disaster at Hattin in 1187 brought an abrupt end to the Crusader empire in the Levant. Saladin had arrived as the savior of the Moslem faith. He later met his match, however, when he fought against Richard Lion-Heart, notably at Arsuf in 1191.

This is a strong army with troops capable of fighting in any terrain. The knights are extremely effective when fighting shoulder to shoulder in Conrois. They can retire behind the close order foot and attack out again at their leisure. A typical Crusader army would make a strong attack against the enemy center with knights. Use the many archers to keep enemy troops at bay and pick a point to attack, either flank or center. Shoot the target units into disorder and wade in with frenzied knights in conrois. Why not? That is what the Crusading generals did, with differing levels of success, however! A good army for any level of player with plenty of scope for artistic painting as well.

61. Lithuanian: Mid 12th to Early 15th.

The Lithuanians were constant enemies of the expansionist Teutonic knights. Their crowning glory came in 1410 when Witold, their king, fought a brilliant battle alongside his Polish allies to destroy a powerful Teutonic army at Tannenberg.

Lithuanians fought in rough terrain, but used large numbers of bow-armed cavalry to discomfort their Western European enemies. Ambushes, flank attacks, timely cavalry charges and feigned flights, all were used to catch enemy units at a disadvantage. Since there were no close order foot, Lithuanian commanders had to use their mobility to advantage, catching slower moving opponents with lightning cavalry strikes or ambushes. The large number of missile troops helped to disorder enemies before the charges went in. A player would do well to emulate these tactics. They work. A good army for any level of player.

62. AYYUBID SARACEN: Late 12th to mid-13th.

The army of Saladin has all of the ingredients of a successful force for conquest. Though Saladin surrounded and destroyed Guy's Crusader army at Hattin in 1187, he found Richard Lion-Heart a much smarter opponent and ended up in a state of uneasy truce.

The Saracens have some excellent bow and lance-armed heavy cavalry, supported by larger numbers of Turcoman light horse. Add to this Sudanese loose order archers and javelinmen as well as fanatic Ghazis and Syrian close order foot, and tactically, you can match up well with virtually any army. The cavalry should be used for flank attacks, while close order troops hold a hill or an obstacle in the center, with the Ghazis in ambush in woods and the Sudanese in support of the cavalry. This is a good army for any level of player.

63. FEUDAL ENGLISH: LATE 12th TO EARLY 14th.

The army of Henry II and Edward I and their wars of conquest against Wales, Ireland, Scotland and France were, by necessity, a mixture of all types of fighters. The English can fight in any terrain. Their knights are strong and have ample archer, crossbow and close order spear support. The Welsh can fight in any rough terrain and ships can sail a force up a flank.

Those who enjoyed Braveheart will be able to utilize Edward's army in attempting to destroy the Scots. There is plenty of missile fire here, but little in the way of skirmishing troops. Mobility is not a problem, however, with so many loose order troops.

Tactically, the English would, when intelligently led, allow their archers to shoot the enemy into disorder before charging in with frenzied cavalry attacks supported by foot. Knights would often charge the center of the enemy line, attempting to break the enemy in two and trying to rout the enemy commander. Another good army for any level of player.

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© Copyright 1999 by Terry Gore
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