Tarcal, 1527

My series of games with Tom, https://englandswarsinfrance.blogspot.com/, continued last weekend with another game using the Hungarian forces I have recently completed. We chose the battle of Tarcal, or Tokaj, which took place on 27 September 1527, between the forces of Charles V's brother Ferdinand of Habsburg and the army of John Zápolya, who were both fighting for control of Hungary in the wake of Mohacs the year before. We knew that this was fight between a large Habsburg army, which included thousands of landsknecht, and a mixed Zápolya army comprised of Hungarians, Transylvanians and Serbs. As it is hard to find many details of this encounter, especially in English, this gave us free rein to fight an engagement between two very different but interesting 16th century forces.

Tarcal, 1527

The death of Louis II King of Hungary at Mohacs in August 1526 signalled the end of the Jagiellonian dynasty. Although the Ottoman Sultan, Suleiman the Magnificent, pillaged Buda he soon withdrew his forces leaving a power vacuum in Hungary and Bohemia. John Zápolya, Voivode of Transylvania, had been on his way to Mohacs with an army at his back but had not reached the field in time for the battle. Supported by much of the lesser nobility he was proclaimed King of Hungary at the Diet of Székesfehérvár in November. 

His claim was contended by Ferdinand of Habsburg, brother of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. He became King of Bohemia and in line with a treaty made between his grandfather Maximilan I, Louis II's father, Vladislaus II, and Sigismund I of Poland, Ferdinand was made King of Hungary by a faction of the Hungarian greater nobility and Catholic clergy. The treaty of 1515 meant Louis II's brother-in-law, Ferdinand of Habsburg, inherited the Hungarian throne as Louis had died without an heir. The strong arguement in support of Ferdinand becoming King was that only the Habsburg's were powerful enough to defend the kingdom from further Ottoman encroachment. 

The peasantry in much of southern Hungary rebelled in 1527 and, having ignored requests from Zápolya to form an alliance against the Ottomans, Ferdinand used this opportunity to invade Hungary with a German mercenary army in the summer of 1527, quickly capturing Buda. Following desertions and defections to the Habsburgs, John Zápolya led an army of 7,000-8,000 men comprised mainly of Hungarians, Transylvanians and Serbians against Ferdinand's much larger force of around 18,000 troops made up of German mercenaries and some Hungarian troops. Ferdinand's army was under the leadership of a veteran of Pavia, Nicholas, Count of Salm, who would lead the defence of Vienna in 1529, Bálint Török, a Mohac's veteran who had commanded the late Louis II's bodyguard and would be instrumental in the Ottoman defeat at Leobersdorf in 1532, http://camisado1500s.blogspot.com/2021/06/leobersdorf-1532.html and Johann von Katzianer, a veteran Imperial commander who led much of the infantry at Tarcal and was also at Leobersdorf. With John Zápolya were Paul Bakith, a Hungarian nobleman, also a Mohacs veteran whose loyalty was suspect as he joined Ferdinand immediately after the battle, Lukács Kismarjay and Ferenc Bodó who had been a commander at Szávaszentdemeter, http://camisado1500s.blogspot.com/2021/07/szavaszentdemeter-august-1523.html in 1523.

As is often the case with these battles it is hard to piece together what happened in this clash but it seems the battle was initiated by a skirmish the day before where the Habsburg forces defeated a small force of Zápolya's men at Sajólád. The following day Zápolya's commanders Lukács Kismarjay and Ferenc Bodó attacked Ferdinand's army and although they had some initial success they were soon defeated in what became a pitched battle with landsknecht defeating Zápolya's cavalry and Ferdinand's allied Hungarian hussars breaking through Zápolya's centre and pushing his army back to the river Tisza. Zápolya's camp was taken by the advancing Habsburg forces and Ferenc Bodó fought a rearguard action as Zápolya's forces attempted to cross the river to safety. The bridge accross was broken once some of the retreating troops were across leaving many to drown or be killed, Ferenc Bodó himself being wounded as the route to safety for his men and himself was gone. Ferdinand's captains estimated 2,000 of Zápolya's forces were slain whilst much of his armies equipment was lost when the camp was taken.

John Zápolya would attempt to push Ferdinand out of Hungary once again in 1528 but was defeated at Szina. This drove him firmly into the sphere of the Ottomans and a year later in 1529 Suleiman would push the Habsburgs back out of Hungary and besiege Vienna.

The two armies deployed, Ferdinand I's Imperialists are in the foreground with John Zápolya's forces in front of the village and camp.

Nicholas, Count of Salm, deploys his landsknecht in front of the Zápolya cavalry under Ferenc Bodó and Lukács Kismarjay.

The Imperial horse deploy opposing Zápolya's infantry and his camp.

The whole of John Zápolya's army comprised of Hungarians, Transylvanians and Serbians. The bridge over which they could cross the river Tisza can be seen in the top left of the picture.

The Scenario

As always we played the game using an adapted version of Lion Rampant, Renaissance Rampant.

As Zápolya's forces were clearly outnumbered by the opposing Habsburgs this game was fought as a rearguard action with Zápolya attempting to get as many of his units off the table in the face of Ferdinand's advancing forces.

 

The two armies were divided into two retinues. Ferdinand's men could deploy up to 8" from their table edge but all of Bálint Török's men, the Habsburg cavalry retinue, had to deploy on the half of the table by the river opposing Zápolya's infantry, who were deployed closest to the bridge. The Habsburg infantry under Nicholas, Count of Salm, were deployed further away along the other half of the table facing Lukács Kismarjay and Ferenc Bodó's retinue of Zápolya's cavalry.

Zápolya's army deployed along the centre of the table up to 24" in but no closer than 8" to their own table edge. John Zápolya and his retinue could deploy on the table half closest to the bridge whilst Lukács Kismarjay and Ferenc Bodó's retinue, comprised mainly of cavalry, deployed further away on the other half of the table. This way the cavalry of each army faced the infantry of the other.

The Bridge over the Tisza

Zápolya's objective was to get himself and as many units to safety as possible. The twist was that once he had crossed the bridge every subsequent unit that crossed had to take a courage test as it crossed and if it failed it would automatically destroy the bridge once it had crossed thus trapping the rest of the force on the other side.

The Boats

There were also be two boats on the river bank which if reached by a Zápolya unit would automatically transport that unit accross the river to safety. This would be useful if the bridge was destroyed after Zápolya had crossed it. 

The Camp

Zápolya's camp also had artillery which could automatically fire as the equivalent of an arquesbusier unit at the start of each turn at any enemy unit within 12" of the war wagons and guns. Rolling 12 dice they would hit on a 5+ with a -1 armour modifier to anyone within 6" and would hit on a 4+ for the first volley. Once a Habsburg unit reached the War Wagons the camp was considered taken and could no longer fire at the start of the turn. The Habsburg unit that achieved this was considered lost and removed from the game as they looted and took over the camp. This could affect it's retinues morale.

Victory Points

Victory Points were awarded as follows:

John Zápolya

5 points if he escaped/lived but did not rout

1 point for every unit that crossed the bridge to safety
1 point for every Habsburg unit destroyed or routed

5 points if the camp was not taken

4 points if Nicholas, Count of Salm, was killed or routed

3 points if Bálint Török was killed or routed

2 points if Johann von Katzianer was killed or routed

The Army of Ferdinand of Habsburg

5 points if John Zápolya was killed or routed

1 point for every one of John Zápolya's units that was destroyed or routed

3 points if John Zápolya's camp was taken

2 points if Ferenc Bodó was killed or routed

Turn Sequence

The turns worked by having a deck of cards with the four suits, one representing each retinue. The number of cards in the deck corresponded to the number of units in each retinue. To play out a turn these were drawn at random and each card drawn meant that the retinue it corresponded to could attempt to activate a unit. So for example, for the Habsburg player Nicholas, Count of Salm's retinue were clubs and Bálint Török's retinue were spades, whilst for Zápolya's army the hearts represented Zápolya's retinue and the diamonds the retinue of Ferenc Bodó. If two spades were pulled in a row and then a diamond this meant that the Habsburg player could attempt to activate a unit in Nicholas, Count of Salm's retinue, then another in Salm's retinue and then the Zápolya player could attempt to activate one unit in Ferenc Bodó's retinue. A failed activation did not mean the retinues turn ended. There was also one joker card which, if pulled, would immediately restart the turn and the units that had not yet activated on both sides could not activate that turn. Rallying, challenges and wild charges for both sides were resolved at the start of each turn. This system really made the game very chaotic!

The Zápolya camp near the river Tisza with the bridge over the river at the top.

A view from the camp of John Zápolya. The Imperial horse under Bálint Török can be seen in the distance. 

A view from above. Going clockwise from the top right we have the Imperial horse under Bálint Török, next we have the Imperial infantry, predominantly landsknecht, under Nicholas, Count of Salm, and Johann von Katzianer. On the other side of the field are the Zápolya cavalry under Ferenc Bodó and Lukács Kismarjay. Finally in the top left can be seen the bridge over the Tisza, John Zápolya with his gendarmes and infantry in front of his camp.

The Armies

As I have mentioned above, there is very little information available about this battle but we know that the Habsburg army was comprised largely of German mercenaries with some Hungarian allies whilst John Zápolya's army was smaller and comprised of Hungarians, Serbians and Transylvanians. For the game the Habsburg army was about a third larger.

We decided to field the following to represent the two forces:

The Army of Ferdinand of Habsburg

Nicholas, Count of Salm

1 Unit of Gendarmes (Nicholas, Count of Salm)

1 Unit of Foot Knights (Johann von Katzianer)

4 Units of Landsknecht Pike

2 Unit of Landsknecht Halberdiers 

3 Units of Landsknecht Arquebusiers 

1 Unit of Hungarian Pavise Arquebus Infantry

12 Units 

Bálint Török

3 Units of Gendarmes (1 is Bálint Török) 

2 Units of Hussars

3 Units of Lancers

1 Unit of Hungarian Horse Archers 

9 Units 

The Army of John Zápolya

John Zápolya

2 Units of Gendarmes (1 is John Zápolya)

3 Units of Pavise Arquebus Infantry

1 Unit of Halberdiers

3 Units of Levy Pike

1 Unit of Mercenary Shot

10 Units 

Lukács Kismarjay and Ferenc Bodó

2 Units of Lancers ( Lukács Kismarjay and Ferenc Bodó. Bodó is the retinue leader) 

2 Units of Hussars 

4 Units of Balkan Cavalry 

1 Unit of Hungarian Horse Archers  

9 Units

Tom very bravely chose to play John Zápolya's army whilst I fielded the Habsburg's. I say this as whilst the Zápolya commander was faced with the more interesting challenge, of how to get his forces off the table in the face of a very close and more powerful army, as in the real battle the odds were very much in favour of the Habsburgs. A brief description of the action follows and the photo captions also help to tell the tale of the game.

The forces of Ferdinand of Habsburg launch an attack on John Zápolya's infantry.

In the centre of the field landsknecht arquebusiers skirmish with the Serbian and Transylvanian light horse.

A mixture of German and Hungarian heavy cavalry under Bálint Török charge into Zápolya's infantry. 

John Zápolya and his gendarmes watch the oncoming Habsburg horse.

The day began with the Habsburg cavalry under the command of Bálint Török launching an all out attack on Zápolya's infantry who were defending a corridor which would allow Zápolya's horse to get to the bridge. Spearheaded by three units of gendarmes and supported by lighter armed lancers and Hungarian horse archers the Habsburg forces launched charge after charge at Zápolya's pike and pavise armed infantry. Both sides took casualties with the heavy cavalry pushing back and routing some of Zápolya's troops whilst Zápolya's men struck back with volleys of shot fired from behind the protection of the pavisiers and pikemen.

At the other end of the field Salm's landsknecht arquebusiers and halberdiers pressed forward to engage in skirmishes with the light horse of Zápolya's cavalry wing. Horse archers rode back and forth targeting the oncoming German mercenaries whilst the landsknecht in their turn fired back at the cavalry. Lukács Kismarjay with his armoured lancers fought a defensive action against the Count of Salm's men whilst Ferenc Bodó began to lead some of the cavalry behind the Zápolya infantry in an attempt to cross the river Tisza.

Zápolya's infantry are pushed back by a charge after charge from the Habsburg heavy horse.

Lukács Kismarjay and his armoured lancers charge down the oncoming landsknecht. In the distance Nicholas, Count of Salm can be seen looking on with his mounted bodyguards. 

The landsknecht advance against the Hungarian, Transylvanian and Serbian cavalry of Zápolya.
  

A view of the whole field with the attack being pressed by the Habsburg army.

As the Habsburg cavalry crash through his lines John Zápolya leads his Gendarmes in a charge to plug the gap...

As the Habsburg heavy horse pushed through John Zápolya's infantry disaster struck for the claimant to the Hungarian throne. Zápolya and his bodyguard charged into some of the German armoured cavalry that had broken through the lines. Initially successful Zápolya and his men then rode into a unit of lighter armed lancers who they easily scattered in a brief melee. Seeing the banner of Ferdinand's rival within reach Bálint Török led his bodyguard in an attempt to ride down Zápolya, supported by another unit of lancers. In the chaos of the cavalry melee Zápolya was brought down dashing the hopes of his supporters.

With their leader gone it was now a case of cutting their losses and attempting to flee for the rest of Zápolya's commanders. As the overwhelming Habsburg forces drew ever closer those cavalry units that could made their way to the bridge to try and reach safety. Some horsemen, including Lukács Kismarjay, found their path blocked by the advancing landsknecht and were killed or routed as they attempted to escape. The infantry were unable to disengage from the constant charges of the Habsburg cavalry and found it difficult to make an orderly withdrawal to the river bank.

...he then leads his men into another charge against Imperialist lancers...

...before being charged himself by Bálint Török and his men at arms. In the swirling cavalry melee John Zápolya is brought down and his cause is lost!

Hungarian hussars in Habsburg employ push forward aside the landsknecht. 

The landsknecht advance whilst Zápolya's cavalry attempt to make an escape.

As the landsknecht push forward skirmishes break out with the retreating light cavalry that form a large part of Zápolya's army.

Zápolya's troops fight a fierce rearguard action.

The Habsburg horse launch charge after charge at Zápolya's infantry...

...as the Count of Salm's landsknecht move up to support the attack.

Some of Zápolya's forces make an escape with his hussars crossing the river to safety.

The landsknecht advance on Zápolya's camp as his light horse make a fighting retreat.

Ferenc Bodó is charged by Habsburg cavalry as he attempts to reach the bridge. He succesfully fights them off and retreats over the bridge along with the arquebusiers, the only infantry unit to escape the field.

All of the hussars from Zápolya's army made it over the Tisza. As John Zápolya had never crossed in person there was no chance that any of the retreating units would stop and destroy the wooden bridge as they crossed, blocking the path of the pursuers but also dooming their comrades who had not yet reached the river. Ferenc Bodó was charged by the German lancers as he tried to reach safety and he successfully fought them off being able to escape with a group of mercenary arquebusiers. These infantrymen had fired numerous volleys of shot into the Habsburg cavalry and were the only infantry unit in Zápolya's army that made it accross the Tisza.

The last infantry and light horse of Zápolya's army made valiant last stands as they were now heavily outnumbered by the mercenaries of Ferdinand's army. Sensing it was about to be stormed the defenders of Zápolya's camp fired light guns and arquebus at the advancing enemy. A lucky shot from one of these camp defenders caught Bálint Török, souring the Habsburg victory. Minutes later the landsknecht  stormed the camp sending the camp followers fleeing towards the river. It had been a bloody fight but the battle of Tarcal was over.

A view from Zápolya's camp, a unit of Serbian horse is attempting to escape in the face of Bálint Török's hussars.

In the distance one of Zápolya's infantry units makes a last stand against the overwhelming Habsburg forces.

Zápolya's army has one last sting in its tail, a lucky shot from one of the guns in the camp brings down Bálint Török souring the Habsburg victory.  

Landsknecht storm and sack the Zápolya camp, taking much of the rival Hungarian King's artillery. 

Another absorbing and exciting game. The card method for activations meant that we were really involved in each turn as there was no "I go, you go" formula. Admittedly it got a bit confusing at times but it made for a really exciting back and forth clash. The death of Zápolya relatively early in the game did kill the tension a little. He fell victim to endless wild charges once his unit of gendarmes was involved with the Habsburg cavalry.

That being said it was still a really close game. Using the victory point method detailed above we worked out that Tom scored 4 victory points for getting both Hussar units, Ferenc Bodó's lancers and the mercenary arquebusiers to safety, 3 victory points for bringing down Bálint Török with the shot from the camp and 10 points for destroying or routing 10 Habsburg units, making a total of 17 victory points. I scored 5 victory points for John Zápolya's untimely death, 3 points for storming the camp and 13 points for units routed or destroyed, making a total of 21 victory points. Considering the disparity in forces this was a very close result, in fact one that may even warrant a replay one day. I would quite like to try the challenge of getting the units to safety as the Habsburgs advance. 

Before any replays there are still plenty of other scenarios we are keen to try in this theatre of warfare. The second large clash between Zápolya and Ferdinand's armies at Szina in 1528 would be an obvious game to try next. I think we may move forward a little further in time for our next game though and try the disastrous Habsburg siege of Buda in 1541.

"this is like no house of praier"

The Tudor scenarios continue with Stuart and myself playing out another set of games, this time focusing on Surrey's 1522 campaign in northern France and a skirmish which took place in Ireland in January 1521. As with our last games some before and after videos can be found on Stuart's "Army Royal" Facebook Group, https://www.facebook.com/groups/1179255685825076/ if you wish to hear our inane ramblings and ideas behind the scenarios!

"this is like no house of praier"

Following the raid on Morlaix in July of 1522 Surrey was given command of Calais. He arrived in the town on 9 August accompanied by 3,000 extra troops and his brother Edmund as his second in command (Edmund Howard was the younger brother who got overwhelmed holding the English right wing at Flodden, see http://camisado1500s.blogspot.com/2018/09/home-huntly-and-howard.html for our refight of this part of the battle). Surrey was joined by troops provided by Charles V, at first 300 Spanish according to Hall who describes the start of the campaign as follows:

"When the lorde Admyrall had brought all his menne out of the shippes and that all the souldiors were come out of Englande and the ordinaunce set on land, then came into Caleys haven xiiii shyppes out of Spayne from the Emperor whiche set on land CCC Spanyardes whiche wer sent to serve the lorde Admyrall and under him they were put. When all thynges were ready, the lorde Admyral set in order his battels and for the forwarde he appointed sir Rober Ratcliffe, lorde Fitzwater for Capitayne, and with him divers knightes and gentlemen which capitaine kept his men in very good order.

After that battail folowed the oridinaunce, artilerie and other trusses with vitail and all necessaries, & for the capitaine of the horsemen was appointed sir Edward Gyldford, by whom the currers and vewers of the countrey were appointed. The myddle warde ledde the lorde Admyrall himselfe, and his compaignie the lorde Edmond Haward his brother with many worshipfull knightes, squiers, and tall yomen: The last battail was ledde by two valiaunt knightes of the Garter sir Wyllyam Sandes and sir Richarde Wyngfelde, and with theim was sir Richard Iernyngham with many other. In good order of battail they passed over Newman bridge the XXX day of August to a place called Calkewell & there lodged betwene y Wyndmyl & the Marrishe."

It is during this campaign that we first encounter some 400 of the auxilliary troops that accompanied the English armies of the 1520s. In 1523 a similar force were known as the "krekkers". They would be a feature of the French campaigns in the early 1520s and were heavily involved in the raiding and skirmishing that took place around the Calais Pale during the war with France in these years. Gervase Philips argues in "Irish "Ceatharnaigh" in English Service, 1544-1550, and the development of 'Gaelic Warfare" that the employment of kern in the wars in the 1540s may well have been a substitue for these auxiliaries who were so useful in raids and skirmishes. It seems these adventurers could also be a scapegoat for some of the more outrageous abuses of the army, which had to be pretty bad by 16th century standards, as they fell outside the normal organisation of the English force.
.

Hall has a great description of how they approached and persuaded the, initially reluctant, Earl of Surrey to allow them to accompany the English army:

"The same day came to the lorde Admyrall a certain nombre of wilde persones, as menne out of service and apprentises that ranne fro their Masters and other ydle persones, and him desired that they might be retained in the kinges wages, to who he answered, that the kyng had appointed the nobre of suche as should have wages, which was fully complete and advised theim to returne into England and not to loyter there. Then sayd a tall yoman, my lorde here be many good felowes that with your favor whould ieopard to get or lose, for their mynde is to be revenged on the Frenchemen enemies to the kyng and his realme. Good felowe sayd the lorde Admyrall, their mindes be good, but if for loack of conduite they should be caste awaye, it were a losse to the kyng and a great corage to the Frenchemen. Then all the compaignie cried, let us go in the name of God and sainct George: Then after counsail take he gave them a Penon of sainct George and bad them adventure (of whiche they were called adventurers) and farther bad theim that if they got any botie they should ever bryng it to tharmy and they should be payde to the uttermost, and then he gave them money and comaunded the weapons & so the sayd xxxi day the sayd adventurers iiiiC in nombre and mo, sette forwarde before the host"

So with  300 Spanish and 400 "adventurers" this composite force was finally joined on 2 September 1522 by 500 Burgundian Horsemen, ironically on the same spot that the Field of the Cloth of Gold had taken place only two years before. We return to Hall:

"Tewsday the second day of September the armye passed towarde Arde: and in the golden Valay where the kyng of England and the Frenche Kyng met two years before, there met with tharmy of England two capitaines of the Burgonions, the one called the erle of Egremond the Seneschal of Henaude, and the lorde of Bauers Admyrall of Flanders with v.C horsemen, like men of warre. The lord Admyrall in gentle maner received these two capitaines and their compaignie & so they ioyned theimselfes to the Englishe armye"

This turned out to be a fairly inauspicious campaign involving the raiding of smaller villages and fortresses, a siege of Hesdin being the only real event of note. One of the targets of the campaign was a fortified church in the town of "Boyardes"(?) which was attacked on 9 September 1522 and described by Hall:

"The ix day of Septembre the whole armye came before the toune of Boyardes in whiche was a Church more liker a castle then a Church, for it was depe ditched with drawe birdges and with Bulwarkes fortefied and lopes very warlike, The Admyrall beholdyng it sayd, this is like no house of praier. Then he cammauded his people to entre the dyches and plucke down the drawe bridges and set fyer in y Churche, and with gunpowder overthrew it, and brent the toune and all the villages adiacent to the same, the people cried and fledde, well was he that might save himselfe."

"Boyardes" in the background with Sir Richard Wingfield's retinue in the foreground and the Earl of Surrey's retinue behind that. 

"this is like no house of praier", the English attempt a parley with the defenders of the fortified church.

The Scenario

We tried something different for this game with the two of us each controlling an English retinue and competing with each other to achieve objectives against a French defence that was part static and part controlled by ourselves, depending on who "won" control of the French for that turn.

Our two English retinues had 5 objectives:

The two bulwarks

The church

The two drawbridges

To take a bulwark a unit needed to move into it either by destroying the gun in the bulwark in combat or entering after the gun crew had retreated. 

To blow up the church each player secretly assigned 3 infantry units in their retinue to carry powder barrels. If the unit carrying a powder barrel was routed or was destroyed the barrels would be revealed and another English unit could pick them up by moving into contact with them. A counter was used to represent the barrels once they were revealed.

To attempt to blow up the church an English (or allied) unit carrying the powder barrels had to be in base to base contact with any part of the building. Instead of an activation they could try and blow up the church. To do this they chose three numbers from 1-6 and rolled a D6. At the same time the other player placed a D6 under his palm showing a number he had chosen on the dice. If the player rolled one of their 3 numbers the church was considered blown up. If the other player's hidden number was rolled then the unit attempting the action was also blown up and removed from play regardless of whether the church had been destroyed!

To destroy a drawbridge a player had to have at least one base from a unit in contact with the drawbridge at the start of their activation phase. As an ordered activation, they could use that unit to try to pull down the drawbridge (instead of Moving, Attacking, or Shooting). If there were 7 or more models in the unit the bridge was pulled down on a roll of 8+ on 2D6; if there were 6 or fewer models in the unit the bridge was pulled own on a roll of 9+ on 2D6.

The French

As we each commanded an English retinue the French were mixture of static units, randomly controlled units and units that could emerge by surprise out of certain locations.

Static Units

Each of the two bulwarks had a culverin in it and the ditch had two units of aventuriers defending it behind wooden stakes. The only movement these units could make was to return to their position if they had retreated out of it. All of the static units could try and activate every turn. They would activate before the randomly controlled units. They behaved as follows:

 

The aventuriers would always try and shoot at the nearest enemy unit.

The culverins would shoot at the nearest enemy unit at long range on a 4-6 on a D6 each turn. They would always fire at an enemy unit within half range. They could fire at a 90 degree angle from the bulwarks.

Randomly controlled units

On the French table edge the following units were deployed:

1 Unit of Foot Knights (Retinue Leader Antoine de Créquy - he was killed at the siege of Hesdin a year later)

2 Units of French Men at Arms

2 Units of French Pikemen 

1 Unit of Gendarmes 

2 Units of Aventuriers 

We both started with 5 playing cards. Each turn we played a card and whoever played the highest got to control the randomly controlled units for that French turn. We both then took another card. These units behaved like a normal retinue and a failed activation would end their turn.

If Antoine de Créquy was killed they would all have to take a courage test but they did not have to test once 50% of the retinue was destroyed.

Surprise Units

There were 4 buildings that could potentially hold an ambush when our units passed them. We had to roll 2D6, consulting below, for any of  our units that passed within 8" of these buildings. This happened until a unit sprang from the building. Our units with counter charge or evade could use these skills against the emerging surprise units. The buildings that held these "surprise units" were the ruined building near Richard Wingfield's retinue, two of the buildings in the town and the fortified church.

The 2D6 result as an English or allied unit passed the four buildings could mean:

2-3 A unit of French foot knights launched from the building and instantly attacked the unit in combat.

3-5 A unit of French halberdiers launched from the building and instantly attacked the unit in combat.

6-7 A unit of arquebusiers emerged and shot at the unit at close range.

8-11 Nothing happenened

12 One of the passing unit saw silverware in the building and seized it. This gave 1 victory point for the person whose unit was passing the building.

Once a surprise unit had emerged from a building we no longer needed to roll when a subsequent unit passed it. The surprise unit would act with the randomly controlled units once it had launched its ambush.

Victory Points

Our retinues were awarded victory points as follows:

1 Point for any gained from the "surprise unit" buildings if a 12 was rolled when passing.

3 Points for each Bulwark taken.

2 Points for each draw bridge pulled down and destroyed.

5 points for blowing up the fortified church.

3 points in the other retinues leader was killed.

The Armies

For this game as we were both playing as the English against each other we took identical retinues. Stuart's had Sir Richard Wingfield as the retinue leader whilst I took the Admiral, Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey as my retinue captain.

The two retinues were:

1 Unit of Foot Knight's ( (Sir Richard Wingfield and Sir Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey for each of the two retinues)

1 Unit of Demilancers 

1 Unit of Burgundian Men at Arms 

1 Unit of Spanish Arquebusiers 

2 Units of Shire Archers 

2 Units of Shire Bill

2 Units of "Adventurers" 

For the "adventurers" we used the rules for Bidowers from Lion Rampant but gave them 12 instead of 6 "damage" points. We are still experimenting with this unit on the table top.

As always the best way to follow the action is the photo captions but a brief description (of a chaotic game!) follows.

Sir Richard Wingfield's retinue prepare to launch an assault.

A group of French defenders form up in front of a manor house on the outskirts of the town.

The attack begins with Surrey's troops storming the "depe ditched" church.

The English take casualties as they storm the fortifications but some of the French crossbowmen are driven back by arrows and shot.

The attack started with the troops under Surrey's command heading straight for the church and storming the ditch. His troops took a few casualties from the crossbow bolts of the French defenders. As some of the archers and Spanish arquebusiers reached the ditch the Spanish unleashed a hail of shot in the direction of the crossbowmen defending the fortified church. With the crossbowmen driven back it was not long before one of the bulwarks was stormed by Surrey's archers.

Sir Richard Wingfields troops were slower off the mark but they soon joined the assault. The "adventurers" attached to his command took the lead and were soon sending volleys of arrows into the French defenders. They also entered the ditch and began to attack the remaining gun position in front of the church. Much of Wingfield's retinue was slowed by a unit of aventuriers who took pot shots from the gardens of the manor house outside the town. As Wingfield ordered the rest of his troops to support the adventurers a unit of French halberdiers emerged from a derelict building. The halberdiers pushed back some of Wingfield's archers and it took volleys from more of his bowmen and his arquebusiers in combination with a charge by his demilancers to see them off.

The church, "more liker a castle then a Church" is under attack.

The troops in front of the manor house can be seen in the foreground with the attack on the church in the centre and "Boyardes" in the background.

English archers with Spanish Arquebusier auxiliaries, sent by Charles V, enter the ditch.

Some of the local troops form up in the town to organise a defence.

The attack intensifies with the English "adventurers" playing a prominent role.

Surrey and Wingfield's men storm the ditch with Spanish Arquebusiers on the left and English "adventurers", later to be known as "krekkers", on the right.

One of the French gun crews is driven back by the attack.

French halberdiers ambush some of the archers in Wingfield's retinue.

In the town a locally raised unit of pikemen under the Seigneur de Bournonville challenge the demilancers and adventurers.

At the other end of the field the French halberdiers continue to cause problems for the English assault.

A view of the attack on the church.

Adventurers with a banner of St George rain arrows on a unit of Picard pikemen.

In the town itself Surrey's horse, a combination of demilancers and the Burgundian men at arms, held their ground as de Crequy's infantry slowly advanced. The adventurers that were nominally under Surrey's command slowed the French infantry as many of them were well practiced archers. Having seen off the aventuriers and halberdiers on the other side of the field Wingfield's men were then threatened by French men at arms who were looking for easy targets to charge and ride down. Again English archery took it's toll and they were driven off by a rain of arrows.

Surrey's men had surged even further forward and the Spanish arquebusiers that had arrived in the ships from Charles V reached the church walls. They attempted to plant some powder barrels at the foot of the walls in an effort to bring them crashing down but a lit match from one of the arquebuses touched the powder of one of the barrels accidentally causing them all to blow before they were in the correct place. With an enormous explosion the arquebusiers were destroyed, leaving the walls standing strong!
This was not the case for long as Wingfield's adventurers were close behind them, they stormed the second gun position, although the crew managed to wheel the gun back to safety, and then reached the walls which were still wreathed in smoke. They planted their barrels of gunpowder and within minutes, after another huge explosion, a hole was blown in the wall of the fortified church.

French men at arms are seen off by the English archers.

There is a stand off in the town as the defenders are heavily outnumbered by adventurers, demilancers and Burgundian men at arms.

The Spanish auxiliary arquebusiers reach the church - they attempt to blow it up with powder kegs but one of the barrels explodes too soon and the unit is scattered!

Things are looking bad for the defenders of the church as two further units of adventurers return from looting a local village and join in the attack with Sir Richard Wingfield's retinue.

A unit of adventurers has reached the church...

...they plant a couple of powder kegs against the walls and are successful in blowing a hole in the defences.

Whilst this had been going on around the church Sir Richard Wingfield's retinue had been reinforced by another two units of adventurers. They had been pillaging a village nearby and returned to the main army when they had heard the fighting start. Surrey's retinue had slowed their advance after the misfortune that had befallen the Spanish arquebusiers. A unit of archers was about to destroy one of the drawbridges to the church but de Crequy emerged from the streets of Boyardes and pushed them back in a brief melee. De Crequy could not defend the bridge for long as the relentless adventurers joined the fight and sent so many arrows in his direction that he had to withdraw with his bodyguards. This left the drawbridge in the hands of the English and a unit of billmen broke it down and left it smashed in the ditch.

The drawbridge on the other side of the church was a scene of even greater carnage. First the remaining French gun fired a hail of grapeshot into some of Wingfield's billmen whilst a unit of French gendarmes thundered over the bridge and drove back his archers. Once again it was a fearless band of adventurers who sent the gendarmes back with their warbows and then dismantled the drawbridge. In the town some fighting had taken place with Seigneur de Bournonville and his Picard pikemen engaging with the demilancers and then the Burgundian men at arms. The charges were inconclusive and the French defenders withdrew. Whilst Surrey's men had taken one of the bulwarks and one of the drawbridges the glory had most definitely gone to Wingfield's men who had achieved the same whilst also storming the fortified church.

Antoine de Créquy and his bodyguards force some of the archers back from one of the churches drawbridges.

On the other side of the church one of the French gun crews is still bravely defending. They fire a deadly load of hailshot into an attacking unit of billmen. 

The other drawbridge is defended by a small unit of gendarmes who charge down the archers. The adventurers in the ditch make it to the drawbridge and pull it down.

De Bournonville and his pikemen put up a brave fight in the town.

As de Créquy is pushed back off the drawbridge by yet more of the English adventurers, a unit of billmen pull it down. The church has been taken.

The Last stand of Edward Plunkett, 4th Baron of Dunsany

Surrey's campaigns in Ireland had initially gone well in the Summer of 1520, http://camisado1500s.blogspot.com/2021/06/this-was-chaunce-of-warre-lord-maxwells.html. The Anglo Irish Lord, Sir Piers Butler, joined Surrey bringing in Mulroney O'Carroll to offer his submission. O'Carroll had caused much grief to the Pale, probably at the hand of the Earl of Kildare. While being held in England Kildare was suspected of writing to the Gaelic lords and urging them to make war on Surrey in the hope that they would cause such chaos that Henry would have to send Kildare back as the only man who could effectively govern Ireland. With the help of Butler and a truce with Hugh O'Donnell, ruler of Tyrconnel, who wanted Surrey's aid against his rivals the O'Neill, Surrey marched north and pushed back the McMahons of Oriel, a sept allied to the O'Neill. This led to a withdrawal of hostilities by the O'Neill. 

The peace did not last for long. As winter set in Surrey's army suffered badly from sickness and morale plummeted. Things got so extreme that 18 English soldiers were caught plotting to steal a small boat with which they would then attack a larger ship and become pirates! Surrey was kept alert by rumours that the Gaelic lords who had offered submission were already planning to attack as soon as the chance arose. By January the O'Connor and the O'Carroll had begun to attack the English Pale. The O'Connor fought a skirmish with Edward Plunkett, 4th Baron of Dunsany, on 23 January 1521. Plunkett was experienced in the warfare of Ireland and fought at Knockdoe in 1504. There is some irony to the fact that back then he had fought under the banner of Gerald FitzGerald, the 8th or Great Earl of Kildare, when in 1521 he was fighting in a war that Surrey suspected had been devised by the Great Earl's son, the 9th Earl of Kildare. In the skirmish Plunkett's horse broke a leg leaving the Anglo-Irish Lord to be slain by the O'Connor.

Edward Plunkett, 4th Baron of Dunsany and his troops return from a cattle raid into the O'Connor territory.  

Little do they know that the O'Connor lie in wait of them as they reach the English Pale. Some wait in the woods... 

The Scenario

Other than how Edward Plunkett met his demise I could find out little else about this skirmish. As the last game Stuart and I played that was set in Ireland was based on Surrey attacking the O'More, http://camisado1500s.blogspot.com/2021/06/this-was-chaunce-of-warre-lord-maxwells.html, I thought this game would be a good opportunity to have the Irish attacking the English or Anglo-Irish. Plunkett's forces deployed at one end of the table with the ditch at the other end representing the start of the English Pale. Plunkett and his men were returning from a cattle raid. Plunkett and his retinue had to traverse the length of the table and escape by crossing the ditch into the Pale to exit by the other table edge. The O'Connor had to attempt to stop them.

The English had 3 cattle "counters" that they could give to three of their units and would get victory points for each cattle counter that reached the ditch. With a counter a unit could move a maximum of 6" per turn and would lose the "cattle counter" if they were defeated in combat or battered. They could not attack but could shoot whilst they had the cattle. Both the Irish and English units could move the cattle.

Edward Plunkett's units had to get across the ditch and exit by the other side of the table.

The O'Connor deployed on two sides of the table ready to ambush the Anglo-Irish.

Victory Points were awarded as follows:

Edward Plunkett, 4th Baron of Dunsany

2 Points for every unit that made it across the table and exited.

5 Points if Edward Punkett exited

3 Points for every cattle "counter" that made it to the ditch.

3 Points if Brian O'Connor was slain.

The O'Connor

1 Point for every English unit that did not make it across the table and exited.

2 Points for every cattle "counter" that did not make it across the table and exited.

3 Points if Edward Plunkett was slain.

...while others are just in front of the ditch that demarks the Pale.

Seeing the O'Connor lying in wait Plunkett's men prepare for a fight.

The Armies

For this game Stuart took control of the O'Connor and I took command of the Anglo-Irish.

Brian O'Connor Faly, Lord of Uí Failghe

3 Units of Irish Noble Cavalry (one is Brian O'Connor)

3 Units of Galloglass

1 Unit of Kern with shot

1 Unit of Household Kern

2 Units of Kern 

1 Unit of Horseboys 

Edward Plunkett, 4th Baron of Dunsany

2 Units of Demilancers (one is Edward Plunkett, 4th Baron of Dunsany) 

1 Unit of Border Horse 

3 Units of Kern 

2 Units of Shire Archers 

2 Units of Shire Bill 

Kern in Anglo-Irish employ go forward to skirmish with the O'Connor.

Brian O'Connor Faly, Lord of Uí Failghe, rides out to confront Edward Plunkett.

This fight started badly for the O'Connor. As Plunkett's men saw the Gaelic warband lying in wait for them they took up a defensive formation, ordering their kern to the front to skirmish with O'Connor's infantry. Units of galloglass charged into Plunkett's men causing casualties but being quickly brought down by both the English and Irish archers in Plunkett's employ. Brian O'Connor Faly himself rode forward with his nobles. As his cavalry splashed through the shallow waters of the stream he called out Edward Plunkett but could not get near enough to draw him into a challenge. The archers in the Anglo-Irish force shot volley after volley at Brian O'Connor Faly and the Lord of Uí Failghe rode from the battlefield, many of his kern and galloglass withdrawing with him.

It looked as though that was the end of the attack and Plunkett's troops continued to drive the cattle down the hill towards the English Pale. They were horrified to see most of the Gaelic troops turn back from their flight and begin another attack with renewed vigour. Brian O'Connor may have fled back to safety but the main retreat had been a feint!

Galloglass charge into Plunkett's men.

Brian O'Connor Faly and his nobles are pushed back by a hail of javelins and arrows and for a moment his kern and galloglass falter, with some of the kern turning and fleeing into the woods.

But this seems to just be a feint, the O'Connor return with renewed vigour.

Another unit of galloglass launches at the billmen from the Pale.

Still in control of the cattle the English archers attempt to keep the enemy kern at bay whilst O'Connor horsemen ride forward to hurl darts at the Palesmen.

Edward Plunkett and his demilancers can see the fight developing in front of them.

O'Connor troops charge from the woods.

In the shallow stream galloglass supported by horseboys clash with billmen.

The remainder of the O'Connor cavalry stepped up their skirmish attacks across the stream, whilst a murderous mixture of arquebus shot, darts and javelins were aimed at the Anglo-Irish as they tried to advance. The O'Connor themselves were hard to target either taking cover in the woods or using the shallow stream to protect them as they darted in and out of the trees. More galloglass launched themselves at Plunkett's men and succeeded in defeating his billmen. 

By now the kern in Plunkett's service had turned and fled whilst his toughest infantry had been defeated in combat with the galloglass. With his demilancers he attempted to ride through the O'Connor trap and reach the safety of the Pale. Plunkett was brought down by an Irish dart in a skirmish with O'Connor cavalry and his last unit of demilancers could not push through the units of kern blocking their path to the Pale ditch. The Anglo-Irish force disentegrated with no hope of reaching their destination. The ambush had been a success and not only had the O'Connor retrieved their cattle they had also slain the 4th Baron of Dunsany.

Plunkett and his small force form a defensive position.

Plunkett's escape is blocked by units of O'Connor Kern.

Edward Plunkett is brought down in the hail of arrows and javelins launched by the O'Connor kern and horse.

As the English archers flee back into O'Connor territory a unit of demilancers make a last stand as they are overwhelmed by the O'Connor forces.

 These games were both very different and I really enjoyed them. The attack on the fortified church was a real visual feast with so many beautiful buildings and fortifications as well as lots of different units on the field. The idea of fighting on the same side but in competition with each other worked really well and I am keen to try this out again. Perhaps a game along the table where two players compete in an assault on a town where first they must win the ditch and earthworks, then a breach in the walls, then possibly more earthworks and then a fight into the streets. Something like that would be a lot of work to prepare but a lot of fun to game through. The Anglo-Irish game was quicker but had a very different feel.  We changed the "I go - you go" method of the game, instead drawing cards to see which unit activated when. This created a real element of chance and tension and helped to reflect a hit and run type of skirmish . There will certainly be more fights beyond the Pale to come.