More Dark Age and Medieval Armies (Part 10)

More Dark Age and Medieval Armies

Part 10

By Terry L. Gore

77. THE KNIGHTS OF ST. JOHN: LATE 13TH TO EARLY 16TH

Anyone who has ever read of the fantastic battles of the Knights of Rhodes and Malta against the Ottomans has to admire the valiant resolve of such fighters as the Knights of St. john. Heavilly armored, steady under battle conditions, tenacious, but always few in number, the knights, under their Grand Master Jean de la Valette, managed to defeat the massive Ottoman assault commanded by Mustapha Pasha on Malta in 1565.

Tactically, the army is best used in a defensive posture, with the close order foot uphill or behind an obstacle. The crossbowmen can be used to support the inevitable knight charges. Tucopoles can protect flanks from outflanking maneuvers by numerically superior opponents. The artillery is especially formidable, with plenty of firepower to dissuade overly exuberant attackers.

This is a good army, and fun to use for the defensive minded gamer. It will do well for any level of player.

78. LOW COUNTRIES: LATE 13TH TO LATE 15TH

Centuries of fighting against French expansionist adventurers allowed the armies of the Low Countries to hone their marshall skills against some of the best fighters in Europe.

Tactically, the Low Country commanders usually used their foot in a phalanx-style formation, anchoring the flanks on an obstacle and setting up with an obstacle in the way of the enemy, if possible. It may be difficult to find opponents gullible enough to attack you under these circumstances. You will do well to line up the foot and march toward the enemy baseline. Use the knights on the flanks for support, with the fanatical 'white hoods' either ambushing out of woods or leading the charge on one flank or the other.

Historically, the Low Country armies rarely had a reserve. At Mons-en-Pevelle in 1314, the leaders used wagons to protect the rear. If threatened with an attack from the rear, the foot would form schiltron (which they called 'crown'). The close order foot were packed together in shieldwall, supported by crossbowmen and archers either on the flanks or skirmishing to the front. At Courtai in 1302, 8-12,000 Flemish under Guy de Dampierre formed up in pahlanx behind a stream with crossbowmen in front and spearmen behind. 10,000 French under the Count of Artois first fired missiles into the phalanx, forcing it back, and then the knights tried to attack across the stream and the Flemish charged them, destroying 40% of the knights and killing Artois.

This army is a challenge for beginners, but should hold its own against most opponents.

79. CATALAN COMPANY: EARLY 14TH TO LATE 14TH

Raised in 1281 by Pere III of Aragon, the Catalan Company numbered from 6-8,000 men in the early 14th century under Rutger von Blum, fighting for the byzantines until Rutger had the misfortune to be assassinated, along with fully half his men. The company reformed and fought at Kephissos in 1311, defeating the Greek (Athenian) army, whereby the Catalans took over the mainland, augmenting their numbers with Greeks, Turks and Albanians. Though it's empire only lasted three-quarters of a century, this is avery colorful, interesting and historically successful military force.

The Catalan fighters are not afraid. The Almughavars, being double-armed, would simply attack anything in sight. The handful of knights were mostly used in reserve with the light and heavy cavalry in support on the flanks. The numerous crossbowmen lent supporting fire to any charges. If possible, use as much rough terrain as possible, for this army is definitely at home in disordering terrain.

This army is a challenge for beginners, but any level of player should do fine with it.

80. ITALIAN CONDOTTA: EARLY 14TH TO LATE 15TH

The Italian city-states employed large numbers of mercenaries to fight for economic hegemony in the 14th and 15th centuries. The Italian peninsula had been a battleground for over 2500 years and the Italian city-states continued the trend.

Before 1400, the armies were made up of quality knights, a handful of light cavalry and some poor quality city militia. After 1400, the advent of gunpowder weapons, along with the growth of mercenary use, made the army more formidable. At Molinella in 1467, two condottieri forces totalling 30,000 men fought all day and only inflicted 3-600 casualties upon one another. Machiavelli actually claimed no one in either army was killed!

Tactically, the Condotta are in trouble if facing elephants, or fighting in rough terrain. There are no rough terrain troops, only a few skirmish cavalry, and not much else. Use the foot to hold the center while pounding a flank with the numerous knights. The skirmisher cavalry are best used on the other flank to tie up an enemy advance. You must close quickly and decisively with the knights to win. If the enmy gets to your center before you can get the advantage, you're in trouble.

This is not an army for beginners.

81. MEDIEVAL ENGLISH: EARLY 14TH TO MID-15TH

This is the army of the 100 Year's War, including the forces which fought at Crecy, Poitiers and Agincourt. This is the perfect army for those players who enjoy defending. With multitudes of double-armed heavy infantry crossbowmen, suitable established behind stakes, the enemies of this army will have to really plan ahead to win.

Tactically, the English formed their men-at-arms up in the center, dismounted, with archers (longbowmen) on the flanks of each unit of men-at-arms. This formation was first used against the Scots with success at Dupplin Muir in 1332, in three divisions at Halidon Hill in 1333, and at Agincourt. There are a large number of knights available, along with some supporting skirmisher foot, just in case you wish to try a flank attack or two. Do not be afraid to push the longbowmen rapidly forward, set up stakes and then sit back and shoot away. This army performs best when historically used.

This army is good for any level of player.

82. MEDIEVAL FRENCH: EARLY 14th TO MID-15th

The armies of France during the 100 Year's War were led by a variety of military leaders as well as kings. Unfortunatly for their troops, they were slow to evolve tactics needed to deal with the longbow-armed English invaders.

The usual tactic which the French attempted to employ was to get at the flanks of the English longbowmen with their knights. This failed. They also tried to put their crossbowmen up against the longbows, developing pavisses as protective devices by the 1350's. This also failed as the French knights were inclined to ride down their own missile troops for being in their way. Finally, the French tried to get around the English flanks with missile troops...another failure.

So, how do the French deal with the English? First of all, do not simply charge straight ahead with the knights, as the French did at Crecy in 1346. Instead, stay back and shoot the longbowmen into disorder. If fighting after 1400, use the artillery bombards to achieve a point to break through. Conversely, outflank the English line with both knights and crossbowmen, pinning the rest of the enemy with archers and a few knights just to keep your opponent guessing.

This is avery colorful and interesting army, but could be a real challenge for the beginner, especially if fighting English or an elephant army.

83. LATER MEDIEVAL GERMAN: EARLY 14TH TO LATE 15TH

The armies of the Holy Roman Empire made extensive use of mercenaries in its countless wars with its neighbors. The German army had to be versatile, it fought so many different types of enemies. To this end, the Emperors employed Hungarians, Low Countrymen, Italians, various pikemen and, later on, handgunners.

Tactically, the Germans can play a very intricate game of enticing an enemy to attack and then counter-charging him with numbers of knights when the enemy is unsupported or disordered. Use the feudal foot, in mixed weapon units, to anchor a flank. The center and other flank can be kept open for flanking maneuvers, skirmishing and deadly charges by the German knights.

This is a good army for any level of player.

84. CHINESE: LATE 14TH TO LATE 16TH

The armies of the Ming dynasty are colorful, exotic and tough. The emperors utilized a vast variety of fighters as their enemies included Southeast Asians, Mongols, Tibetans and Japanese.

Again, the tactical choices are many with such a diverse force. Using the close-order foot to simply march toward the enemy baseline with horse archers and heavy cavalry to the flanks certainly worked for the Chinese generals. Expeditious use of artillery and the large number of handgunners should disconcert any enemy unlucky enough to be their intended target. Wear the enemy down with foot and missile attacks, then wade in with the double-armed cavalry.

This is a good army for any level of player.

85. MEDIEVAL POLISH: EARLY 14TH TO EARLY 16TH

The Medieval Polish army, under the excellent leadership of Jagiello (Vladislav II), numbered 20-30,000 men and defeated the Teutonic Knights at Tannenberg in 1410. This is a versatile army with a good variety of troop types, though of limited numbers. Casimir the Great (1330-1370) was the father of the Polish success story. The Polish armies fought in successive lines, with the knights leading unless facing a horse archer enemy, in which case the heavy cavalry would form in the middle with the Polish and allied light cavalry on the flanks and screening the heavy horse. Archers and slingers were placed on the extreme flanks and in advance of the center. The light cavalry would attempt to encircle and fall upon the enemy camp or rear.

As the commanding general, you must decide whether you wish to field a knight cavalry army, a mixed force, or an infantry/war wagon army. Once that is settled, your tactics will be similar to other like armies of the period. A mixed army is obviously the most useful, allowing you to fight against virtually any opponent.

Use the heavy infantry to anchor the center or a flank. The doubl-armed Lithuanian cavalry should be used to sweep one flank, with knights following them or waiting a s mobile reserve in the center. Use the Serbian fanatic horse to tie up enemy units while you concentrate your fire and knight attacks on others. War wagons are useful to deploy on a flank or across the center as mobile obstacles.

This is a good army for any level of player.

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© Copyright 2000 by Terry Gore
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