After fighting the Battle on the Ice of Lake Peipus, My usual war gaming opponent, Dennis Tisdale, and myself decided to fight it out in an earlier, or "darker" period, of the Dark Ages. Since we hadn't gamed in the "Arthurian" period for a couple of years, it was time for a change of pace battle. Since we had previously played three Britons vs. barbarians games, why not fight the most famous of all "Arthurian" battles?

I command 140 Combrogi (follow countrymen) castings: 36 cavalry and 104 infantry. Dennis commands 172 Gemanio barbarians: Angles, Saxons. and Jutes. Most of the figures we used are the Essex, large 25mm castings. Unarmored Anglo-Saxons and unmailed, Vikings from the 1066 period are pressed into service. Franks, Romans, Lombards and even converted Slave, with oval shields and top knots (15mm horse tails) added, are also used.

The time is 517 A.D.. The places Southwestern Britain.. The Angles, Saxons and Jutes are under the command of Bretwalda (supreme commander) Aella, of the Saxons. The great host of barbarism has ailed to the southern coast of Britain. Aella's goal is bring the astern part of the island under heathen domination.

Arthur, Dux Bellorum (duke/war lord) of the Britons, has led his army of Combrogi (British fellow countrymen) to the village that would one day grow into the town of Bath, England. His Novantes and Damonii tribesmen, organized into pedyts of militia spearmen, hold the Village (worth 2 points) on the extreme right of the Combrogi position. The river can only be crossed at the Roman bridge (2 points) or at the ford (2 points). The Barbarian camp is also worth 2 points. Each hill and each one of the woods in worth one point each. Hold a majority by turn 16 and you win the game.

Concealed behind the north woods are the Welch bowmen under the command of Cei Wyn (Kay). Held in reserve, behind the north hill, are the commaniplures (companions) of Arthur mounted on armorodq black Frisian horses; the only mounts in the Northern world large enough to carry horse armor and mailed warriors. Arthur commands on the left and Gualganius (Gawain) commands on the right. Gualganius saw that a war band of Saxons was on the west side of the river. On the east side was another war band under the personal command of Aella himself. Aella, the only mounted Saxon commander on the field, was easy to identify. A white draco standard flow over his head. His facial features were concealed behind the eye protectors and chain mail of his elegant Valagarde helmet. Nest to Aella's South Saxons were the Angle bowmen under the command of Ida; the only barbarian archers present on the battlefield. Thus, Gualganius, and the Cohort of Hadrian's Wall that was under his own personal command, was greatly outnumbered.

To the tremendous relief of Gualganius, Aella's war band and the Angle bowmen started to cross the Roman bridge to the west side of the river. The commaniplures of Drust Ironfiat (Tristan), from Cornwall, and the commaniplures of Gereint (Gareth), from Dryvnaint (Devon), rode toward Mount Badonicus. Arthur, satisfied that the Cohort of The Antonine Wall, under the command of Angeselus (Lancelot), would take care of Reedwald's war band of Angle spearmen, rode with his commaniplures to the Combrogi center. Angeselus and the Cohort of the Antonine Wall now began their advance. To their immediate right were the Welch bowmen moving in concealment through the north woods.

The Germanic barbarians, in the meantime, now began their advance. With the exception of the berserkers and ulfhedners, who were concealed behind the tents of the coup, the entire center and right of the heathen line were now in forward motion. The Britons could now see two bands of unarmored Jute raiders moving over the crest of the south hill. To the left of those Jutes, two bands of unarmored Saxon javilinmen were observed moving toward the east flank of Mount Badonicus.

On the barbarian left flank, in the meantime, Cedric's warband of professional killers was moving far ahead of Aella's South Saxon war band. Percival know that the Combrogi pedyta could not resist an attack by two bands of professional warriors wearing leather byrnies. If, however, he could engage the forward most Saxon war band with his Novantas, levies, then perhaps he could contain them long enough for Bedwyr to reinforce him with his Damonii warriors. Together they might be able to drive back Cedric's West Saxons and then turn on Aella's South Saxons. The Novantas pedyt charged the West Saxons and actually halted their advance, but not for long. Percival's Pedyt, unarmored and only partially trained, routed to the villa". Bedwyr led led his pedyt to the ford.

On the opposite bank, the Cohort of the Antonine Wall, under the command of Angeselus, met Raedwald's band in a head on stabbing match. The Welch bowmen, who had reached the south edge of the north woods. shot to pieces a band of unarmored and undisciplined Jute raiders with feathered shafts of death. Octha led his blood stained survivors off of the battlefield. Although Octhals Jutes were on the run. Raedwald's Angles stood their ground. The disciplined spear thrusts of Raedwald's professional killers routed the Cohort of the Antonine Wall, and Angeselus fell back in an attempt to rally his retreating warriors.

Gereint's commiplures of Dryvnant, galloping over the east flank of the bowl shaped Mount Badon (2), charged Cyman's band of South Saxon javilinmen. Cyman's raiders, who were not professional warriors trained in the art of war, were seized by panic and terror (3) as they saw Gereint's horsemen bearing down on them. Gereint, whose shield was emblazoned with the images of the heads of three barbarian chieftains that he had slain, led his horsemen into and over the terror stricken Saxons who were slaughtered and scattered. Gereint didn't even bother to run Cyman down.

It was now the turn of Drwst Ironfist, to lead his commaniplures of Cornwall against another band of Saxon raiders. On his shield was the image of a stone castle surrounded by fish. (4) The West Saxons, undisciplined and unarmored though they were, actually hold their ground as the charging cavalry plunged their mounts down the east slope of Mount Badon and then galloped toward their ranks. Cynric now gave the command that his raiders had been waiting for, and a volley of javilins was launched that slaughtered most of the mounts of the Cornish commaniplures. Drwat's warriors, after struggling to their feet, drew their swords and flung themselves against the Saxons. (5)

The ineffectual sword thrusts of Drwat's commaniplures, who had now been converted into infantry, did little to open gaps in the Saxon ranks. Cynric laughed heartily. (6)

As Drwat's Cornishmen were being humbled by an undisciplined mob, another band of Jute raiders, under the command of Oesc, moved toward Mount Badon. In order to avoid being charged in the flank by these Jutes, Gereint's commaniplures of Dryvnaint, whose mounts were now well rested, moved toward the barbarian camp. Emerging from behind the tents were berserkers and ulfheiners from Jutland; hungry for battle and thirsting for blood. Gereint, who had personally slain a black bearded Pict leader, as well as a chieftain from the Emerald Isle, and a red bearded, Saxon champion in previous battles, (7) would not run from these two legged beasts. Gereint's commaniplume, with oaths and heathen curses, galloped into the growling berserkers and howling ulfhedners. The height advantage and long spears of the commaniplures, as well as the slashing hooves of their rearing steeds, mercilessly out down the beast men of Jutland who, with their shields slung on their backs to allow them to wield a weapon in each hand, (8) fought back with an intense fury that covered the ground with the blood of both horse and rider.

After killing half of the commaniplures and almost all of their horses, the berserkers and ulfhedners, the fiersome warriors of the Northern world, broke and ran from the bloodied remnants of Gereint's command. The bards will sing of this.

Arthur and his commaniplures thundered down the mountain and recklessly charged the Jutes, who heldd their ground and met the charge. A cloud of darts (javilins) descended on the Germanic barabarians; hurled by mailed warriors mounted an midnight black steeds. As Arthur's commaniplures charged into the Jutes, it seemed as though the cavalry was engulfed in a sea of blond and red top knots. Casualties caused by darts, thrusting spears and crashing hooves, however, scattered the Jutes.

Drwst Ironfist's commanipluros, in the meantime, finally routed Cymric's West Saxons. Drwat led his Cornishmen in pursuit of the retreating raiders that Cymric was desperately trying to rally. Eventually, Cymric rallied the undisciplined Saxons. West Saxon and dismounted commaniplures met once more in combat. Finally, Cymric led his warriors from the field.

Although Drwat had finally triumphed, he had only a few warriors (and even fewer horses) left. What had he actually accomplished? A unit of British elite drove off one band of unarmored and untrained "scum of the earth" warriors.

He even failed to slay Cynric. The bards will not sing of this!

As Angeselus managed to rally the Cohort of the Antonine's Wall, Raedwald's Angles routed the Welch bowmen from the battlefield. Raedwald now found his warband between Angeselus' warriors to the north and Drwat's Cornishmen to his south. The Britons closed in on the Angles and Raedwald and what was left of his war band, fled the battlefield. The center and east belonged to the Combrogi.

After resting his horses, (9) Arthur now led his commaniplures to the bridge while Gualganius, assisted by Merlin, moved the Cohort of Hadrian's Wall into the ford. On the west side of the river, the war bands of Aella and Cedric, after driving the pedyta of Percival and Bedwyr from the area, also advanced on the ford.

"Merlin!" shouted Gualganius. "We're greatly outnumbered! Summon the dragon!"

"Why bring my mother-in-law into this?" replied Merlin.

The males in the ford was brief and bloody, and the outnumbered Brits fell back.

Arthur's commaniplures, in the meantime, charged the Angle bowmen of Ida who were guarding the west end of the Roman bridge. The Angles fired their arrows at the same time that the cavalry hurled their darts. An the hurtling missles struck home, Arthur's commaniplures closed with the unarmored bowmen. The Angles, however, stood their ground and met the charge. Thrusting spears and deadly hooves showed no mercy to the unarmored bowmen, and Ida, their commander, knew that his Angles could not survive much longer. In an act of extreme courage (or desperation), Ida hurled himself at Arthur. If he could kill Arthur's war horse and dismount the great leader of the Briton, perhaps he would have a chance of killing him while he was dismounted. The barbarian blade was deflected by the horse armor, and Ida felt Excalibur enter his mailed cheat.

"We have done well today, my Lord." said Arthur's draco standard-bearer.

"We've scattered a band of raiders and slaughtered a band of bowman. Slaying a dismounted chieftain, while I am mounted did not take much effort. Unless something happens soon, the bards will not sing of this."

Although the ford and village belonged to Aella and Cedric, the day belonged to the Britons. (10) Aella and Cenric were cut off from their ships to the south. The landward route home to the east was also in the hands of the Combrogi. Although Aella was a defeated general, he was an undefeated warrior. Suddenly, two mailed warriors, on armored, black harass, galloped toward the east side of the ford. The man to the rear carried a red draco standard. The rider in front wore a purple cloak and he carried a shield emblazoned with the image of the Holy Mother and the Christ Child. Agolden dragon was mounted on top of his helmet that had a hinged, mask-like visor.

"Who could that be?" asked Aella.

"He who slew the Damon Cat of Loaanne and the Giant of Mount St. Michael with a magic sword that was presented to him by the Lady of the Lake."

"Those tales don't frighten me.

The rider with the purple cloak halted before the ford. His booming voice was heard by all.

"Ida wasn't much of a fighter and Oesc ran before I could hunt him down. I hunger for a real fight. Will the Bretwalda meet me in single combat? If I die, the Saxons will be in a position to conquer the entire island. If I defeat him, the barbarians will cease their advance into British territory."

"Arthur," gasped Aella. "After all of the tales I've heard about you, I expected you to be twice the size that you actually are."

"He's still growing," replied Arthur's standard bearer.

"I accept your challenge, Christian dog, The bards shall sing of this fight."

A place of single combat was chosen. It was ringed by Christians and heathens. Both mounted antagonists charged Excalibur flashed and the Bretwalda plunged from his galloping mount like a hurtling meteor. (11)

The Saxon devil room to his feet. Now was the time to sink his blade into Arthur's mount. Excalibur flashed a second time and a clang reverbrated inside the Valegarde helmet. (12)

Blood was streaming from beneath the curtain of mail that protected the lower half of the Bretwalda's face. Aella dropped his sword as he collapsed to his knees.

"Yield, Saxon," commanded Arthur.

"I yield."

And the bards sang of this.

An the defeated Saxons marched to their ships, Cenric asked the wounded Aella, "Will you keep your word? Will we stay in your own territory?"

"Promises are like pie crusts. They are meant to be broken."

"Like your skull?"

Arthur turned to Merlin and said, "Our southern and eastern borders are secure. My nephew Modred and his commaniplures have forced the Picts to obey him every command. Our northern boundaries are safe. Angeselus has agreed to champion the Queen. All is well."

"Beware of treachery. my Lord," replied Merlin.

"Where dwells treachery in my kingdom?" asked Arthur.

"Always where you least suspect."

Footnotes

1. "Raiders" have a militia, or peasant, morale status. All pedyts have a low morale status. Members of a war band or a teulu/cohort have a regular morale status because they are professional warriors. Elites are commaniplures, ulfhedners, or berserkers.

2. I finally found another use for my "Majuba Hill" model.

3. All "levy" status troops (i.e. "militia") must test morale to see if they can stand up to a cavalry charge. According to my rules, ordinary morale +1 must be rolled.

4. According to legend, Sir Tristan come from the Cornish city of Lyonesse. Lyonesse supposedly sank beneath the sea shortly after Tristan left it to journey to Camelot.

5. I have both mounted and dismounted cavalry castings. If a rider loses his mount, the mounted commaniplures figure is replaced by a foot casting. During this game, I used all of my dismounted commeniplure figures as well an all of the spare Combrogi that I could scrounge up. Hate those javilins!

6. Dennis let out a few chuckles at the sight of my cavalry being turned into infantry.

7. According to the Arthurian romances, Sir Gareth defeated a black knight, a green knight and a red knight. On Goreint's shield, I have a head outlinee in black, another in green, and a third outlined in red.

8. Ulfhedners and berserkers can continue fighting despite a multitude of wounds. Thus, despite the fact that they wear no armor, ulfhedners and beserkers are considered to be mailed. Because of their induced fury, ulfhedners and beserkers wield one handed weapons an though they were professional huscarles swinging two handed axes. The player commanding them can have them battle with a weapon in each hand if they sling their shields on their backs. Thus, one berserker/ulfhedner is worth two mailed double handed Saxons in a melee if they sling shields. If they use their shields, they are harder to kill but less deadly.

9. After each charge, armored horses must rest for two turns by standing stationary.

10. Dennis' big mistake was sending Aella's warband across the bridge. His Angle bowmen spent the entire game crossing and recrossing the bridge. The only time they fired was when they were charged by Arthur's commaniplures: my most "arrow proof" unit (mailed riders mounted or armored horses. Dennis' berserkers and ulfhedners were used as a reserve when they should have been used a "shock force" to soften up my line by routing pedyts and slaughtering the regulars of my two cohorts, Although Raedwald's war band fought well, it was Dennis' only reliable unit in action for most of the game. Cynric's raiders, however, proved that even the scum of the earth armed with javilins can do a great deal of damage.

11. Two mounted commanders may fight it out man to man. Each player rolls a die for his respective leader. In case of a tie, roll again. If you out roll your opponent, his commander is dismounted. The dismounted leader may regain his feet and then make an attempt to kill the mount of his opponent.

12. To kill an armored horse, a 6 must be rolled on a six sided die. If a 6 is not rolled, the dismounted champion is cut down.