John Corvinus and the relief of Jajce, November 1501

This weekend my friend Tom visited and we continued our Ottoman Hungarian series of games with another battle set around the beleaguered town of Jajce. Last year we played a game based on one of the town's dramatic rescues from its besiegers that took place in 1502, https://camisado1500s.blogspot.com/2024/04/because-without-that-nothing-is-done.html. For this game we jumped back a year to 1501 for what turned out to be a far more savage tabletop clash!

John Corvinus and the 1501 relief of Jajce

In the late 15th century the town of Jajce, former capital of the Kingdom of Bosnia, played a key role in the defence of Hungary's southern border. Lying at the confluence of the Pliva and Vrbas rivers, in modern day Bosnia-Herzegovina, it was one of a chain of forts that ran from Klis through Knin, Jajce, Srebrenik, Šabac, Zemun, Belgrade, Szentlászlóvár, Orșova and Severin. During the early decades of the 16th century Jajce would come under repeated Ottoman attack with one such attack taking place in September 1501 when the Sanjak-bey of Bosnia, İskender Pasha Mihaloğlu, besieged the town with 12,000 men. The relief attempt fell to the Ban of Croatia, Ban being the Hungarian title for the military governors of the Kingdom's outlying territories. In the autumn of 1501 this position was held by the illegitimate son of Matthias Corvinus, John Corvinus.

Being only 17 when his father died in April 1490 John Corvinus had been duped into relinquishing any possible claim he had to his father's crown on the understanding that he would be made King of Bosnia. Far from being given a Royal title John Corvinus was then pursued by an army led by his father's commanders, Stephen Báthory and Pál Kinizsi, who with the support of John's step mother, Beatrice of Naples, were determined to destroy any claim the young Corvinus had to the Hungarian throne. On 4 July 1490 John Corvinus and his supporters were caught by the army of Báthory and Kinizsi and defeated at the Battle of Bonefield or Bonehill. Following his defeat Corvinus paid homage to the new Hungarian King, Vladislaus II, and by the 1490s was assisting him in the defence of Hungary's southern border as Ban of Croatia. 

In order to face the Ottomans besieging Jajce Corvinus led an army comprised of royal troops under Emerik Cobor, two hundred heavy cavalry, two detachments of infantry sent by Palatine Petar Gereb and contingents of troops from the Croatian noblemen of the Karlovići, Frankopan and Zrinski families. Corvinus led this army towards Jajce reaching the beleaguered town at the start of November 1501. The late 19th early 20th century Croatian Historian Vjekoslav Klaić described the ensuing battle as follows in his "History of the Croats" (translated from Croatian)

"The Turks, however, camped under the city, went to meet the ban and suddenly fell upon him. Surprised by the Turkish onslaught, the ban deployed his troops in a quadrangle and engaged in battle, prepared to either win or die. The battle lasted several hours, and ended with a Christian victory. The Turks were forced to flee, and took refuge in the nearby mountains and gorges. But the ban's troops pursued them, and either killed and captured them, or drove them into a river, where they drowned. Then the ban attacked the Turkish camp, and seized everything he found in it; he sent heavy cannons from it to the city of Jajce. Up to 4,000 Turks were killed in the battle; but there were also about 1,000 dead and wounded from the ban's army."

A view of the table. The Hungarian relief army under John Corvinus, Ban of Croatia, is in the foreground with the Bosnian Ottoman infantry deployed in front of their siege works in the middle of the photo. The Ottoman cavalry under İskender Pasha Mihaloğlu, Sanjak-bey of Bosnia, will attack from one of the sides of the table from turn one onwards. The Ottoman guns that the Hungarians need to reach can be seen on an earthwork in the top centre of the photo, behind the Ottoman infantry.

The Scenario

The game was played across the length of the table as shown in the photo above. At the start of the game the Hungarian army deployed in a square at one end of the table with the infantry in the centre and cavalry in the front and on the wings. At the other end of the table, in front of their siege lines, the Ottoman infantry were deployed. The Ottoman cavalry did not start on the table. As always we used our heavily modified version of Lion Rampant to play the game with each army being divided into two retinues. One of cavalry and one of infantry.

The Ottoman cavalry could enter from turn one. On the first turn they arrived the Ottoman player diced for which side of the table they would arrive from, 1-3 being the Hungarian right and 4-6 the Hungarian left. The Ottoman cavalry could then arrive via move activations from the side of the table that was rolled. The Ottoman cavalry could only enter via the central 48" of the table edge.

Activation Fails

Each turn both players took 5 cards from a deck. Any King, Queen or Jack cards from the 5 they took could be used to get a reroll on an activation fail for that turn for either of their retinues. At the end of the turn all unused cards were put in a discard pile. Once the deck ran out a fresh deck was used for the reroll cards. Any blunders automatically ended the retinue's turn and the King, Queen or Jack cards could not be used to reroll these.

Victory

The Bosnian Ottoman player would win as soon as both of the Hungarian commanders, John Corvinus and Emerik Cobor were killed or routed. The Hungarian player would win as soon as they could move a unit into contact with the Ottoman guns (see the photo below) and they remained in that position for a full turn.

The Bosnian Ottoman siege lines. The Hungarians must reach the Ottoman guns shown above to achieve victory.

War wagons protect the Ottoman guns from sallies by the defenders.

A view from the walls of Jajce as the Hungarian and Croatian relief column arrives behind the Ottoman siege lines.

The Armies

Tom chose to take control of the Hungarians and Croatians under John Corvinus so I took control of the forces of the the Sanjak-bey of Bosnia.

John Corvinus, Ban of Croatia, and the Hungarian relief army

The Cavalry under John Corvinus, Ban of Croatia

2 Units of Men at Arms (One contains John Corvinus, Ban of Croatia - retinue leader)

4 Units of Hussars

4 Units of Balkan Cavalry

The Hungarian Infantry under Emerik Cobor

1 Unit of Foot Knights (Contains Emerik Cobor - retinue leader)

2 Units of Pavise Infantry with Crossbows

2 Units of Pavise Infantry with Arquebuses

2 Units of Balkan Archers

1 Unit of Halberdiers

İskender Pasha Mihaloğlu, Sanjak-bey of Bosnia, and the army of Ottoman Bosnia

İskender Pasha Mihaloğlu, Sanjak-bey of Bosnia, and the Bosnian Ottoman cavalry

2 Units of Delis (One contains İskender Pasha Mihaloğlu, the Sanjak-bey of Bosnia - retinue leader) 

4 Units of Akinji

6 Units of Sipahis

The Bosnian Ottoman infantry

1 Unit of Dismounted Sipahis (contains the retinue leader)

2 Units of Voynuks

1 Unit of Azabs with Handguns

3 Units of Azab Archers

3 Units of Azab Infantry

This was an epic table top clash that took all day to game. A brief write up follows and as always the captions under the photos are a good way to follow the action.

As Corvinus's forces close in on the besieged town the Ottoman infantry begin to skirmish with the Hungarian light cavalry.

The Ottoman cavalry emerge from the woodland onto the Hungarian left.

A fierce cavalry melee develops with Ottoman sipahis and akinji fighting Hungarian and Croatian hussars and light horse.

John Corvinus, under his raven banner, looks on as his hussars attack the Bosnian Ottoman horse.

On the Hungarian right flank the light cavalry skirmish with the Ottoman infantry.

The cavalry melee continues...

...with both sides taking heavy casualties in the running battle.

Hussars and sipahis come to blows on the Hungarian left flank.

Despite coming under sustained attack Corvinus's relief column continues to advance.

The Hussars and sipahis engage in a fight to the death.

An overview of the field as the battle develops.

As John Corvinus neared the walls of Jajce he saw the Ottomans deployed ahead and formed his army into a square. His light cavalry rode at the head of the relief column and were met by skirmishing attacks from the infantry positioned around the Ottoman siege works. These brief skirmishes at the head of the column were merely a sideshow to the main Ottoman attack which immediately came out of the woodland on the relief column's left flank.

A cavalry melee developed as the akinji and sipahis battled against Hungarian and Croatian hussars and light cavalry. The hussars were particularly fearless leading repeated charges into the sipahis and driving them back from the relief column. Amidst the dust and the chaos of the fighting it was hard to see which side held the advantage.

A unit of hussars charge into a unit of Bosnian sipahis.

Whilst Corvinus's left is heavily engaged on his right his cavalry surge forward in an attempt to break into the Ottoman siege lines.

For a moment it looks like the Hungarian cavalry on the right will make it through.

The Hungarian infantry hold the centre of the battlefield as fighting rages around them.

John Corvinus looks on, yet to commit his men at arms to the fighting.

On the Hungarian right the Frankopan men at arms along with hussars and light cavalry have been driven back.

As the Hungarian infantry send a hail of shot and crossbow bolts into the Ottoman cavalry...

...John Corvinus leads his men at arms in a charge into the remaining sipahis.

Supported by more hussars Corvinus and his men at arms engage with the Ottoman cavalry and a fierce melee ensues. 

With the cavalry battle in full swing on the Hungarian left flank the cavalry on the Hungarian right made a push for the siege lines around Jajce in an attempt to capture the Ottoman siege guns. For a moment it looked like the momentum of their attack would allow them to break through but as they raced forward the Ottoman infantry brought many of them down with handguns and bows whilst redeploying to block any path to the guns. In the face of this the cavalry's morale waivered and the Hungarian horsemen reeled back.

At the same time the Hungarian and Croatian infantry under the command of Emerik Cobor moved forward to support their left flank, their arquebuses and crossbows helping to drive back the mass of Ottoman horsemen. Up until now John Corvinus, surrounded by his men at arms under his raven banner, had been watching the fight develop but now he added the weight of his heavy horse to the cavalry melee and charged in to drive back the sipahis.

A view from the Ottoman siege works as the battle continues.

The Ottoman artillery crews panic as it looks like the Hungarians may break through.

Croatian men at arms of the Frankopan family are fired at by Ottoman handgunners.

The defenders of Jajce look on from the town walls.

There is fighting all across the battlefield.

The Hungarian infantry maintain their discipline and hold firm despite the chaotic fighting taking place all around.

With their infantry looking on the Frankopan men at arms repeatedly attack the Ottoman siege lines...

...only to be driven back each time.

John Corvinus has been in the thick of the fighting on the Ottoman left flank...

...but he is finally unhorsed and killed in the swirling cavalry fight.

The defenders of the walls of Jajce and the Ottoman gunners in the siege works looked on as a pitched battle developed outside the besieged town. The Ottomans continued to push their cavalry attack with unit after unit of sipahis riding into the fray only to be brought down by the Hungarian men at arms and hussars or the shot and crossbow bolts of the Hungarian and Croatian infantry. In the centre the men at arms of the Frankopan family made charge after charge against the Ottoman siege lines but they took heavy losses and could not break the Ottoman infantry.

As the battle hung in the balance the Hungarians suffered a major blow. In the thick of the fight John Corvinus was brought down. As his raven banner fell some of the Hungarian and Croatian horse fled but the infantry remained steadfast and held their ground.

 

Ottoman reinforcements arrive from along the siege lines as their cavalry begin to flee.

Corvinus may be dead but the Hungarian infantry have maintained their discipline and held fast.

With many of the Ottoman horsemen fleeing , İskender Pasha Mihaloğlu arrives with his delis bodyguards and attempts to rally his troops.

The voynuks, supported by irregular infantry, attack the Hungarian infantry.

Voynuks crash into the Hungarian and Croatian pavise infantry...

...but the voynuks are driven back as are the azabs who follow them into the fight.

In command of the royal Hungarian contingent of the relief force Emerik Cobor enters the melee.

With most of their cavalry killed or having fled the Hungarian and Croatian infantry grimly held their ground. They poured crossbow bolts and arquebus shot into the Ottomans driving off many of the akinji and sipahis. It was now that the Bosnian Ottoman infantry went on the offensive and charged into the ranks of Hungarians and Croatians but still the Kingdom of Hungary's men stood firm, driving back the Ottomans and their Balkan auxiliaries.

Furious at their stubborn defence the Sanjak-bey of Bosnia, İskender Pasha Mihaloğlu, led his fierce delis in a charge against the Hungarian infantry but he too was driven back. If they could maintain their discipline and fend off the Ottoman charges, which were getting weaker and weaker, it looked as though Emerik Cobor and his pavise armed troops would be able to break through the siege lines.

An infantry battle has now developed in front on the beleaguered town.

In the bottom left a unit of akinji attacks the pavisiers from the rear... 

...whilst İskender Pasha Mihaloğlu leads his delis to attack them from the front.

Emerik Cobor engages in one on one combat with the captain of the Ottoman infantry and kills him in the brief duel.

Moments later the Sanjak-bey of Bosnia, İskender Pasha Mihaloğlu, is also slain as his delis charge another unit of Hungarian infantry and are driven off in a bloody fight.

As the fighting continued Emerik Cobor led his mean from the front. With a personal bodyguard of dismounted men at arms he drove the Ottoman infantry back. Cobor engaged in personal combat with the captain of the Ottoman infantry and a cheer went up from the Hungarian ranks as the Ottoman captain was slain by Cobor. Enraged by this İskender Pasha Mihaloğlu led his delis in another charge, only to be brought down and killed in the bloody fighting. Now it was Ottoman morale that severely faltered and for a moment the fighting seemed to pause as both sides had fought themselves to a standstill.

The pause was only momentary and as the fighting continued Ottoman numbers counted against the Hungarian and Croatian infantry, many of them being cut down as they attempted to break through to Jajce. Despite his heroism Emerik Cobor was slain as the dismounted sipahis ,whose captain Cobor had killed minutes earlier, took their revenge. The relief army of John Corvinus had failed to relieve Jajce. It had been a Prryhic victory for the Bosnian Ottomans with their Sanjak-bey having been killed and their army sustaining terrible casualties in the battle.

Despite the loss of the Ottoman leadership it is too late for the relief column. A unit of dismounted Bosnian sipahis defeat a unit of Hungarian infantry...

...before reaching Emerik Cobor. In vengeance for the death of their captain the sipahis kill Cobor. It has been an extremely bloody battle with high casualties on both sides but the Bosnian Ottomans have won a Pyrrhic victory.

This was a close game that hung in the balance for most of the day as our two armies traded blows. The Ottoman cavalry attack looked spectacular on the field, this being the first time I have used all of the sipahis on the table. Tom, as ever, was a great opponent with his infantry defiantly holding the centre of the field against my Ottomans. No matter what was thrown at them it seemed they would never break. The write up doesn't mention it but Tom rolled an incredible amount of double 1's for his activations, with some really bad consequences, and we joked that this may have just cost him the game. It was so close otherwise.

Whilst Tom and I will focus on another theatre for our next game we are certainly not done with Jajce yet. There is still Petar Berislavić's relief of the town in the snows of January 1518 to game, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relief_of_Jajce_(1518), as well as the heroic relief of the town by Christoph Frankopan in 1525, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christoph_Frankopan. If these prove to be half as dramatic as this game they will be worth doing!

"what honour they shoulde obteyne yf they hurted or spoyled the out partes of Caleis", the French raid on Newnham Bridge, August 1513

Last weekend Stuart visited and we played a couple of games based on events that took place during Henry VIII's 1513 invasion of France. For many of our Anglo-French clashes we have used Hall's chronicle as a (somewhat biased) source of information as it contains a wealth of detail about skirmishes that took place in the first half of the 16th century between the French and English. Some of these happened around Calais and were fought in the dunes and marshes. To help recreate these I have recently invested in a set of scenic sand dunes whilst Stuart has some new marsh terrain pieces. We thought the 1513 clash described below was the perfect event to recreate on the tabletop and put these new terrain pieces to use.

The Attack of Newnham Bridge

Whilst Henry VIII and his Army Royal were encamped beneath the walls of Thérouanne in the summer of 1513 the French forces in the area did not stand idly by. Sallies were made from within the walls of the town (http://camisado1500s.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-almaynes-on-foot-would-diverse.html) and English supply columns heading from Calais to the siege lines were ambushed (see second scenario http://camisado1500s.blogspot.com/2022/08/belahoe-1539.html). Hall's chronicle contains an account of how in early August 1513 the commander of the garrison of Boulogne decided to send a force of 1,000 men from Boulogne's garrison in a night attack on Calais after he had been informed by his spies that many of the Calais garrison were with the King at Thérouanne. At three in the morning the troops from Boulogne arrived at one of the outlying fortifications of Calais, Newnham Bridge. Newnham Bridge, or Fort Nieulay as it was known later, guarded the causeway across the marshes to the west of Calais. It was a fortified bridge that controlled sluices which could be used to flood the marshes around Calais in a matter of hours. As the French had suspected the guards at Newnham were found asleep and unprepared. They were quickly slain allowing the men of Boulogne to capture the fort's guns, lower the bridge and continue the advance on Calais:

"While the kyng lay thus before Tyrwyn, the capitayne of Bullen knowynge by hys espialles that many of the garryson of Cale'ys were with the kynge at the siege, and also that daylye vitailles were brought out of Englande to Caleys to succour the campe, imagened a greate entreprice and sent for all the men of warre under his dominion and rule, and declared to them what honour they shoulde obteyne yf they hurted or spoyled the out partes of Caleis, the kyng of Enland beyng on that syde the see. The men of warre perceivyng good courage of the capitaine, assented to his purpose, and so with all diligence they to the nomber of a. M. men in the evenyng set forward, and came to Newnam Bridge by. iii of the clock in the morning, and founde the watchmen that kept the bridge a slepe and so entred the bulwerke & slewe the watchmen, & toke the ordinaunce of the bridge & then let the bridge fall, so that al entred that would."

A 1602 image showing the loss of Calais in 1558. Newnham Bridge is shown to the left of the image, marked with an "N". The fort shown at the bridge was not present in 1513. The harbour is shown at the top of the image. Calais is shown surrounded by dunes with a causeway across the marsh and dunes leading to the gates.

Boulogne's Captain kept six hundred of his men at Newnham Bridge whilst the rest advanced into the marshes around Calais intent on rustling the cattle that grazed outside the walls and plundering the provisions for the siege of Thérouanne. Some of the French soldiers reached the gates of the town itself. The Lord Deputy of Calais, Sir Gilbert Talbot, suspected a trap and ordered the gates to remain closed. If Calais fell it would mean the King's line of retreat from Thérouanne would be cut off. But whilst the garrison may have remained within the town there were Englishmen outside the walls. "Richard Hunnyng & Richard Brycks of the Caterie" or the acatry, this being the royal household office that supplied meat and fish, along with other royal officers, had been overseeing the supply of provisions for the main English army besieging Thérouanne and were encamped by the harbour. These officials organised a force about 120 men, "not past vi skore persones", comprised of bakers, coopers and sailors. Being dispersed amongst the marshes, attempting to drive the cattle back to the bridge at Newnham, the French were caught off guard when the hastily raised force of royal officers, bakers, coopers and sailors attacked. The English took no prisoners as they drove the French back to Newnham where they retook the bridge only pausing when they realised another six hundred of the French had taken up position by the bridge, the "vi. C. men for a stale at the bridge" as Hall puts it:

"The capitayn of Bulleyn kept. vi. C. men for a stale at the bridge, & sent the other into the marsshes and meadowes where the Cattell fedde, and some of the Frenshmen came to Caleys gate, & were askryed of the watch and so rang alarme: The English souldiours ran to the walles, and saw the Frenshmen without the toune walles: then thei knewe that Newnam brydge was lost, and would have issued out, but Sir Gylbert Talbott deputie there, would not suffer any gate to be opened. Now it happened that without Caleys gates were Richard Hunnyng & Richard Brycks of the Caterie, and iii or. iiii of the kynges servauntes whiche lay there to sende provisions to the hoost : which heryng of this alarme, called to them the kynges bakers, and cowpers, and a fewe shippemen, which lay in the haven, and coragiously folowed the Frenchmen. Thenglishmen were not past vi skore persones, and sett on the Frenchmen as thei were a forragyng or they might assemble together, & slew them doune right, and toke no prisoners in maner, and so thei came to Newnam brydge & toke it and put the Frenchmen backe. But or Thenglishme had thus gathered them selfes together, the Frenchmen had forraged all with in the river up to sainct Peters, and had driven away the cattell and the ordinaunce of Newnam brydge and so passed till they came where the stale lay, and ther they taried lokyng for ther company that were gone a forragyng to Caleys walles."

Around 5am, as dawn broke, Sir Gilbert Talbot ordered the gates of Calais to be opened and Sir Walter Culpepper, Under Marshall of Calais, led a force of two hundred mounted archers towards Newnham where they joined with the victorious force of English victuallers, craftsmen and sailors. Initially the six hundred Frenchmen waiting in formation thought this force was their foragers returning but on seeing the banner of St George being held aloft they realised it was the English. In the ensuing clash two dozen of the French were slain whilst 240 were captured and taken back to Calais to be ransomed. The guns of Newnham were recaptured along with the plunder the men of Boulogne had taken:

"About v of the clock in the morenyng, the gate of Caleys called Bulleyn gate, was opened, & then issuyd out one Culpiper the under marshall, with. ii C hundred archers with the banner of sainct George, and with great hast came to Newnarn bridge, where thei found the kynges servauntes and the other that had wonne the brydge, and then they all together marched toward the Frenchmen, which kepte the stale. The Frenchmen thought it had ben there awne company that had returned, till they saw the banner of sainct George, then they knewe that their company were overthrowen, and that they must nedes fight or dy. Then thenglishmen though thei were the smaller nomber, valiantly set on the Frenchmen, which with great force them defended, but at the last thei were all discomfited and. xxiiii slayne and xii skore taken prisoners and ther ordinaunce and hole booty recovered. Those prisoners were brought to Caleys, and there sold in open market"

A view of the table from above. Calais and its moat is in the top left corner with the gates being shown across the drawbridge. The causeway that crosses the marshes is at the top of the photo. The harbour is in the bottom left of the photo with the supplies being shown next to the tower that defends the harbour. The English will deploy around the harbour and gates of the town whilst the French will deploy on the right hand side of the photo.

"which heryng of this alarme, called to them the kynges bakers, and cowpers, and a fewe shippemen"

The first game focused on the royal officers "Richard Hunnyng & Richard Brycks of the Caterie" leading a force of bakers, coopers and sailors in an attack on the members of Boulogne's garrison who were rustling the cattle in the dunes and marshes outside the walls of Calais. The game would end as soon as one force lost over half its points and victory would go to whichever side achieved the most victory points. 

As always both of the games were played using our modified version of Lion Rampant.

"the marsshes and meadowes where the Cattell fedde"

At the start of the game various livestock counters were be placed in between the two forces amidst the marshes and sand dunes (see the photo above). If they had not been picked up every turn each of the livestock counters would move 2D6 inches in a random direction. If the counter met a table edge or immoveable terrain the livestock would not move any further. No movement was deducted for terrain. If a unit moved into base to base contact with a counter the unit was considered to have picked up to counter and was now herding the livestock.

The units from both sides could pick up the counters. Once a unit had picked up a counter it could move a maximum of 6" per turn and would loose the counter if it was defeated in combat or battered. The unit could not attack or skirmish but could shoot whilst it had the counter. If a French unit reached their table edge with a counter the counter was removed from play and the victory points gained.

Units did not need to test for Wild Charge whilst they held a counter.

The sand dunes could not be moved over or shot over and were considered impassable. The marshes could be moved over at half movement rate and counted as rough terrain to fight in as well as giving cover from missile attacks.

"and some of the Frenshmen came to Caleys gate"

The French could score victory points by moving a unit into base to base contact with the gates of Calais and also by reaching the area designated as the "supplies" in the harbour (see the photo above for the locations of these.

Night Movement

To represent the dark “battered” markers were used to represent each unit, with each player writing down in secret which unit each marker was for. A unit was revealed either by an enemy unit attacking or shooting it once it was within 6” of the marker or by an enemy unit simply moving within 3” of it. If a sand dune was in between the counters/units they could not see each other even if the distance was less than 3". Retinue leaders could not apply their morale bonus until revealed and all counters could "move" activate on a 6+ and move 6” until they were revealed. If units wanted to “reveal” themselves earlier, for example if the Retinue Leader wanted to give his leadership benefit, they could do so by declaring this when they attempted to activate. Once “revealed” units did not disappear again. Declaring a challenge would reveal a unit. If a unit picked up a livestock counter, reached the gates or the supplies they will also become revealed.

A view of the table from the French deployment area with the hidden movement counters in place as well as the livestock counters which are placed amongst the dunes and marshes.

Victory Points

 The Victory Points in this game were awarded as follows:

The French

2 points for every livestock counter taken

3 points if they could reach the gates of Calais

3 points if the could plunder the supplies in the harbour

3 points if Richard Hunnyng was killed or routed

3 points if Richard Brycks unit was killed or routed

The English

1 point for every French unit killed or routed (other than the men at arms)

2 points for very French men at arms unit killed or routed

2 points if the French retinue leader was killed or routed

Calais harbour with the town shown behind it protected by a moat.

The Armies

Stuart took control of the English for the first game and I commanded the French foragers attempting to steal the livestock from the dunes and marshes. For the English sailors we used the same rules as we do for our dismounted borderers meaning they acted as fast infantry who could shoot as well as being average at close combat.

"Richard Hunnyng & Richard Brycks of the Caterie" and "the kynges bakers, and cowpers, and a fewe shippemen"

1 Unit of Foot Knights (Richard Hunnyng, retinue leader) 

1 Unit of Demi Lancers (unit contains Richard Brycks)

3 Units of Shire Archers

2 Units of Shire Bill

2 Units of Sailors

The French that "came to Caleys gate"

2 Units of French Men-at-Arms ( one unit contains the retinue leader)

1 Unit of French Ordonnance Archers with bows

3 Units of French Ordonnance Archers with lances

1 Unit of Picard Pike

2 Units of Aventuriers

2 Units of Franc Archer Infantry

The captions to the photos below are the best way to follow the action but a brief description of the game also follows.

Under the night sky the French quickly round up some of the cattle that are grazing in the marshes.

No fighting has yet taken place but sensing something is not right Richard Brycks leads a group of demilancers into the dunes to round up the livestock and bring the animals back to the safety of the town.

The first clash takes place when a group of aventuriers attempt to steal some cattle but are driven off by a group of "the kynges bakers, and cowpers" armed with bows.

A unit of French infantry attempt to take the same cattle but are also driven off by the English sailors and King's servants "which lay in the haven".

The English outside of Calais drive much of the livestock back to the town walls.

A unit of sailors is attacked by French lancers in the dunes...

...although they are taken by surprise they manage to drive the lancers off.

The men in the harbour's tower peer into the night as the fighting develops in the dunes and marshes.

As the French foragers quietly made their way "into the marsshes and meadowes where the Cattell fedde" they had some early success and were able to gather up two small herds of cattle and drive them back to Newnham Bridge. It was not long though until the English became aware of their presence. The alarm was given in Calais and under the orders of the Lord Deputy of Calais, Sir Gilbert Talbot, the gates remained shut. Instead of heading directly into the dunes to attack the raiders the English outside the walls quickly tried to round up all the rest of the livestock and began to drive the cattle and sheep back towards the town and the harbour. 

One of the small herds of cows was still out in the marsh when a band of French aventuriers attempted to drive them back to the Boulogne forces waiting at the bridge. As they did so some of the "the kynges bakers, and cowpers" who had been outside the walls of Calais shot at them with their bows and the aventuriers were driven off. More French attempted to rustle the cattle but came under a hail of arrows from the bakers, coopers and sailors who had now made their way into the dunes and marshes. Brief melees took place in the sand as French light cavalry set upon the English in an attempt to rout them but the English irregular troops held their ground.

A view across the marshes as the French advance.

Calais is now on full alert and Sir Gilbert Talbot, the Lord Deputy of Calais, has ordered that the gates remain shut.

In the dunes some of the "kynges bakers, and cowpers" are charged and defeated by French lancers...

..."a fewe shippemen" succeed in driving off some of the French light cavalry before they too succumb to the French horse.

Richard Hunnyng has organised the men in "the haven" into an effective defensive force.

The English have gathered in most of the livestock and form a battle line...

...as the English archers trade shots with the French aventuriers and mounted archers.

A group of Sailors tries to force the French back.

As the French attempt to advance through the dunes they are reinforced by a band of stradiots.

Beneath the moonlight the French pikemen struggle to move through the dunes and marshes

The English archers are making any French advance difficult.

A view of the fighting in the dunes.

"a fewe shippemen...coragiously folowed the Frenchmen"

As more of the French advanced into the dunes the fighting intensified with the French light cavalry continuing to charge the sailors and armed men from the harbour. Some of the English were routed but under the command of "Richard Hunnyng & Richard Brycks of the Caterie" they were putting up stiff resistance and refused to allow the French to push through their lines.

Taking cover in the dunes French aventuriers and archers traded shots with the English archers. A band of courageous English sailors were caught by some French men at arms from Boulogne's garrison and slain but despite this the French were unable to steal any more livestock or get to the harbour and the walls of Calais. As the first signs of dawn appeared a troop of stradiots arrived to reinforce the French foragers but would they be enough to break the stalemate that was developing?

The courageous sailors are finally ridden down by a troop of men at arms.

A stalemate has developed in the dunes.

The late arriving stradiots advance on Calais.

"Richard Brycks of the Caterie" drives the French men at arms back...

...before being slain in a counter attack by some French light cavalry.

In an attempt to drive the English from the dunes and marshes the French men at arms attacked Richard Brycks and his small band of armoured horsemen from the acatry. Brycks sent the men at arms reeling back only to then be charged by a troop of French lancers who slew him in the attack. Whilst this clash of spears was taking place the stradiot reinforcements made for the gates of Calais, knowing it would infuriate the troops within the walls if they could ride right up and knock on the gates. The Balkan mercenaries were unsuccessful in this as their path was blocked with billmen whilst English archers sent a hail of arrows to drive the stradiots off.

With Richard Brycks slain the captain of the French foraging party challenged Richard Hunnyng to a personal combat and the two men dueled in the dunes. He may have been a royal official rather than professional soldier but Hunnyngs brought much honour to the English by defeating and killing the French captain. With that the foragers retreated back to Newnham Bridge with the sailors, coopers and bakers in pursuit. The French had only succeeded in stealing a small amount of cattle and killing one of the officers of the acatry whilst the English had killed the French Captain, had driven most of the livestock to the safety of the harbour and had prevented the French from getting anywhere near the walls of Calais itself.

The stradiot reinforcements are attempting to insult the English by riding up to the gates of Calais...

...but before they can do this the French captain engages in a one on one fight with Richard Hunnyng. Hunnyng kills the Frechman and the French foragers are forced to retreat having only succeeded in taking a number of cattle.

"About v of the clock in the morenyng, the gate of Caleys called Bulleyn gate, was opened, & then issuyd out one Culpiper the under marshal!, with. ii C hundred archers with the banner of sainct George, and with great hast came to Newnarn bridge, where thei found the kynges servauntes and the other that had wonne the brydge, and then they all together marched toward the Frenchmen"

"Then thenglishmen though thei were the smaller nomber, valiantly set on the Frenchmen, which with great force them defended"

For our second game we focused on the combined force of "kynges bakers, and cowpers, and a fewe shippemen" joining with the two hundred mounted archers of the Calais Garrison under Sir Walter Culpepper, Under Marshall of Calais, to attack "the Frenchmen, which kepte the stale". The English were considered to have retaken Newnham Bridge and were positioned in front of it ready to advance on the French (see the photos below). The English could be deployed 12" from Newnham Bridge but had to be at least 24" away from the French position. The French were positioned at one end of the table, 12" from the table edge and had to travel across the dunes and marshes to the opposite table edge in order to attempt to escape. For the marshes and dunes the same rules as the first scenario applied.

"and ther ordinaunce and hole booty recovered"

The French carried six counters to represent the guns, booty and livestock taken. These six counters were represented by two guns, two wagons and two livestock counters. The same rules for the counters applied as in the first game with the livestock units moving randomly 2D6 inches if they were not held by anyone. The gun and wagon counters could not be taken through the marshes.

The French had to attempt to take all of the counters to the other table edge whilst the English had to take as many counters as possible back over Newnham Bridge. The game ended if all of the counters had either been taken to the bridge or the opposing table edge. Once a French unit took a counter to the correct table edge the counter was removed but the unit could remain in play. Similarly an English unit just needed to take the counter to the start of the bridge and the counter was then removed and the unit could remain in play. As you will see getting the counters to safety turned out to be a bit an irrelevance in this game!

A view of the table from above. Newnham Bridge is shown at the bottom centre of the photo with the English deployed across it. The French are shown on the left hand side of the photo. The French have to take the cattle, wagons and captured guns across the table to the righthand side to win the game whilst the English have to bring the cattle, wagons and guns back to the bridge to achieve victory.

The English have recaptured Newnham Bridge and are ready to engage "the Frenchmen, which kepte the stale".

As the English retake the bridge the bodies of the guards who were caught sleeping can be seen in the bottom right.

Victory Points

 The Victory Points in this game were awarded as follows:

The French

2 points for every livestock counter taken to their table edge

3 points for every wagon counter taken to their table edge

4 points for every gun counter taken to their table edge

4 points if Sir Walter Culpepper, Under Marshall of Calais, was killed or routed

The English

2 points for every livestock counter taken back to Newnham Bridge

3 points for every wagon counter taken back to Newnham Bridge

4 points for every gun counter taken back to Newnham Bridge

4 points if the "the capitayne of Bullen" was killed or routed

The Armies

For this game we swapped sides so Stuart now took control of the French whilst I took command of the English.

The Calais Garrison under Sir Walter Culpepper

1 Unit of Kings Spears (Sir Walter Culpepper, Under Marshall of Calais, retinue leader)

2 Units of Demilancers 

2 Units of Mounted Archers

2 Units of Shire Bill

2 Units of Shire Archers

2 Units of Sailors

The Boulogne Garrison

3 Units of Gendarmes (1 contains "the capitayne of Bullen", retinue leader) 

2 Units of French men at arms

1 Unit French Ordonnance Archers with bows

2 Units of French Ordonnance Archers with lances

2 Units of Aventuriers

1 Unit of Picard Pike

1 Unit of Franc Archer Bowmen

A very brief description of this games follows, as you will see it turned out to be a very one sided affair!

As the English cross the bridge French men at arms who were kept back "for a stale at the bridge" immediately set upon them.

The French men at arms are joined by gendarmes from Boulogne's garrison... 

...and the French heavy cavalry succeed in scattering the "the kynges bakers, and cowpers, and a fewe shippemen" who had chased the French foragers back to the bridge.

The English are unable to react as the French heavy cavalry charge even deeper into their ranks...

...a fierce melee develops around Newnham Bridge...

...and many of the English are slain in the fight.

Sir Walter Culpepper, Under Marshall of Calais, charges into the fray and finally drives off the attacking gendarmes.

A the English force of "kynges bakers, and cowpers, and a fewe shippemen" and "one Culpiper the under marshall, with. ii C hundred archers with the banner of sainct George" crossed Newnham Bridge and prepared to engage the six hundred troops from Boulogne's garrison "which kepte the stale" the "capitayn of Bulleyn" sent half of his men at arms and gendarmes on the attack. The French heavy cavalry thundered into the bakers, coopers and sailors who were scattered by the charge. The ferocity of the French assault was such that the gendarmes and men at arms of Boulgne then crashed into the English cavalry. As the English were forced back it was only the intervention of Sir Walter Culpepper, the Under Marshall of Calais, that prevented a complete rout. 

Seeing the key role Culpepper had played in steadying the English the "capitayn of Bulleyn" then advanced towards the bridge and engaged the Under Marshall of Calais in personal combat. As Sir Walter Culpepper was defeated and unhorsed some of his retinue attempted to drive away the French but the Captain of Boulogne's men were too strong and the English fled. Whilst the main fight had taken place in front of Newnham Bridge some of the mounted archers from Calais had managed to steal a herd of cattle back off the French but these men were soon routed as the English force crumbled. Whilst the English had defeated the foragers in the initial attack outside the walls of Calais once across the bridge the Boulogne Garrison had won a complete victory and were able to take the cattle, carts and guns back to Boulogne knowing they had defeated the force sent to pursue them.

Sir Walter Culpepper then engages in a personal combat with "The capitayn of Bulleyn" in which Culpepper is unhorsed and defeated.

At the same time some of the "ii C hundred archers with the banner of sainct George" who rode out of the gates of Calais attempt to bring some of the stolen cattle back to the town.

"The capitayn of Bulleyn" drives off the English men at arms and demilancers.

The mounted archers flee back across the bridge abandoning the cattle. The English attempt to retrieve their stolen cattle, carts and guns has ended in a total victory for the French garrison of Boulogne!

I may have suffered two defeats in these games, one being close with the other being a total defeat, but they were a lot of fun. It was great being able to recreate the dunes and marshes of the Calais Pale and this will definitely be a location we revisit for our games. In the first game the dunes added a new element to the skirmishing as units could hide behind them and then charge out and launch attacks. In the second game they didn't really play a part as Stuart launched an unbelievably successful heavy cavalry charge on my forces that pretty much won the game in the first few turns!

It is the middle of the reenactment season at the moment and I have already taken part in reenactments of the battles of Barnet and Tewkesbury. Stuart paid a visit to Tewkesbury, which happened during a heat wave, and I have included a photo of the two of us from the event. It makes a change from having a photo of us in a pub or kebab shop!

The two captains enjoying the sun at Tewkesbury Medieval Festival!