The Italian Wars Volume 2, by Massimo Predonzani

I missed the release of this book through usual channels so I'm indebted to Colin over at Carry On Up the Dale for putting me onto it. Indeed, because he's pretty much said what I want to say, use the link to read his review of the book. 

What I would like to double down on is the quality of the account of the Battle of Agnadello 1509, with a full order of battle and deployment diagrams to help explain what went on during the action. This, for the wargamer, is simply glorious because it's so rare to see this level of detail for battles in this period. It's a battle I've always wanted to do but, up until now, never fully understood: hence my reticence to undertake it. This book has removed all obstacles to its recreation, as a game, in the future.

Another thing I would like to complement the author on is his detailed breakdown of the French OOB at Agnadello because, for once, he specifically states the number of heavy cavalry. Most books, when referring to heavy cavalry numbers will simply say "50 men-at-arms", which confuses the novice to this period into thinking that this is the number of cavalry present. It's not of course, because almost invariably when books say 'Men-at-arms' they are in fact referring to 'Lances' and each 'Lance' generally comprises a man-at-arms and two 'archers' (heavy cavalrymen armed with lances not bows, confusingly): so 50 men-at-arms becomes 150 heavy cavalry. In this book the entries read "Teodoro Trivulzio: 30 Lombard men-at-arms and 60 archers.", thus removing any doubt (providing you know 'archers' are lance armed, well armoured cavalry). 

Unfortunately, he doesn't do the same for the Venetian list: He simply states the number of men-at-arms. It's not a complete fudge because cross referencing in the book does reveal that the numbers of men-at-arms given does indeed refer to the number of Lances but, it's not explicit. I can only presume the authors reticence to give a detailed breakdown of Venetian heavy cavalry numbers stems from the fact that early in the 16th century, in response to French practice, the Italian 'Lance' increased in size from two heavy cavalry per Lance to three but, the change was gradual and inconsistent: I'm guessing he's simply not prepared to stick his neck out - and that's fair enough.

That criticism aside, the book is excellent. Don't wait, buy it!

 

 

The Battle of Novara 6th June 1513 - a scenario

This will not be the first time we have re-fought this battle. Indeed, it's not even the first time will have re-fought it using our house rules Hell Broke Loose. However, the set up is different, especially with regards to the placement of the Landsknechts. 

The game also has a few more troops in use than before. To enhance the visual spectacle without increasing the number of units I'm using 50% more stands per unit (e.g. a four stand unit is six stands strong). I have chosen a figure scale of 1:40 and a dollop of fudge.

The historical background is a cut and paste job from the original scenario. Although the army facing the French was ostensibly in the employ of Massimiliano Sforza I have called it Swiss, as the Swiss seem to have called the tune. 

The order of battle and scenario notes are fresh, and I've put them together with notes about why I have chosen to do the set up the way I have and what fudges I've chosen to use.

A Short Historical Background

In 1512, following the Battle of Ravenna, France somehow failed to capitalise on her victory. In fact, the campaign proved to be a disaster, and she lost Milan. In mid May 1513, Louis XII of France dispatched an army, under the command of La Tremouille, over the Alps to retake his lost duchy. 

By early June, much of the duchy, including Milan itself, had been retaken, and Tremouille had moved to besiege Novara (the duchy’s second city) where the duchy’s new, Swiss backed duke, Massimiliano Sforza, was holed up with 4000 Swiss. 

Shortly after the French invested Novara a Swiss army arrived to its relief. On their approach La Tremouille, not wishing to be caught in his siege lines, withdrew his army. At nightfall, the dispersed units of the French army made camp around the village of Trecate. Unexpectedly, the Swiss did not tarry after their long march to Novara. They linked up with the garrison there and immediately followed up the French as they withdrew. Using local guides they made their way, in the dark, to within striking distance of the French army. Just before dawn, they attacked.

The attack began with skirmish between Swiss ‘enfants perdus’ and French pickets in the village of Trecate. La Tremouille, who had taken a billet in the village, narrowly escaped capture. But, the Swiss skirmishers did not follow up this attack. It was a feint, and their skirmishers withdrew to a wood that lay within shooting distance of Trecate’s houses from where they kept up a noisy fire. 

The alarm had been sounded and French troops, bleary eyed and disorientated, were called to stand-to. They had no time to re-doploy to face their attackers – the Swiss were everywhere upon them.

This is where this scenario begins.

The Battlefield

I have set up the battle on a 12 x 6 table. 

The battlefield is dominated by the town of Trecate. This small town (located at 45 25 58 N, 8 44 17 E) lies about six miles east of Novara. Oman describes it as being sited on rising ground and that is how I have set it; in fact the ground only falls away gently to the south, the approaches being across a dead flat plain from other directions. The whole town counts as (type III) rough terrain and heavy cover. Cavalry may operate on the roads and in the square but not in other parts of the town. 

I have chosen to place the outskirts of Romentino at the extreme northern end of the table. This lies about two miles from Trecate and is useful as a boundary to the battlefield. It is not necessary for the scenario, the table edge would suffice.

East of the Trecate, between it and Novara, and within arquebus shot, there is a large wood. This wood helped to screen the advance of the Swiss from from the French when they marched from Novara. It counts as (type III) rough terrain and heavy cover. 

To the north of the town there is an expanse of boggy ground. The nature of this ground is contested. Tremouille used it as a reason for not supporting his Landsknechts with his heavy cavalry, however, Robert de Bouillon managed to lead his cavalry across the marshy ground in support of his son Florange. I have chosen to make this ground a patchwork of different terrain; areas of 'solid bog' pieces are impassable; the area marked with tufts represent ground that looks worse than it is - it counts as (type II) rough terrain for movement on odd rolls, otherwise (type I) open terrain. It does not provide cover.

To the south of the town is the French camp. For game purposes it is bounded by the walls extending from the south east quarter of Trecate. To French troops it counts as open terrain and does not provide cover. After its French defenders quit the camp the Swiss troops started to plunder it; I think the simplest way to represent this, whilst preventing a French rule lawyer from using the camp as a tool to stop the Swiss, is to say that any Swiss troops, fully in the camp, treat it as (type III) rough terrain for movement purposes - they can't move on odd rolls and move at half rate on even rolls.

There are two large cornfields on the table. These were placed to cover the approach of the main Swiss column and the flanking force sent to attack the French camp. Oman says that standing crops helped to conceal the approach of the Swiss and caused the French artillery to fire high. Consequently, the fields provide light cover vs fire.

The French

For this scenario I'm going to heavily penalise the French in three ways. This, I believe, is the only way to give the Swiss a fighting chance of performing as they did historically whilst still giving the French a fighting chance. 

Tremouille, regardless of former glories, must be rated as a poor commander. His lack of initiative and direction severely effected the French response to the surprise Swiss attack. Consequently, the French will use a D8 sequence deck and army die.

I've decided to assign army characterisation cards rather than deal them out randomly, and the French do not do well. The French are due 6 cards from the characterisation deck: they get 36 morale chips [5,5,6,6,7,7]. 

Finally, the French are deployed not fully prepared to meet the Swiss attack. The French are deployed in five commands. Four of these commands are historical, the fifth has been used to split the French gendarmerie into two commands to allow Robert de Bouilon to act independently of Tremouille and with more panache.

The French order of battle comprises 1,000 lances (about 3000 heavy cavalry); 1,000 light cavalry, 4,000 Gascon and Navarrese crossbowmen; 6000 Landsknecht; well provided artillery train.

C-in-C: Louis de La Tremouille: D8 motivation die. 

Commanding 500 lances. 

Three units of French Gendarmes. 

These units start the game vexed [surprised], unarmed and unformed. 

They are not counted as armoured unless they use the first Formation Change card to arm (at which point they can remove the 'broken wheel' counter). If they choose to do this they cannot change formation on the same card. 

Unformed troops present rear in all directions until they change formation on a Formation Change card. 

Robert de Bouillon: D10 motivation die. 

Commanding 500 lances.

Three units of French Gendarmes.  

These units start the game vexed [surprised], unarmed and unformed. (See notes above).

If Bouillon takes personal command of a unit of Gendarmes it becomes elite whilst he leads it. He can use this ability once in the game. It represents his attempts to save his sons serving with the Landsknechts.

Louis de Beaumont: D8 motivation die. 

Commanding 4000 Gascon and Navarrese crossbowmen.

Four units of French crossbowmen. 

Oman describes these troops as being "imperfectly formed" when the blow fell. To represent this all of the units count as vexed [surprised]. Two of the units (front to back, second and fourth) are completely unformed and require a Formation Change card to present a front.

Monfalcone: D10 motivation die.

Commanding 1,000 light cavalry.

One unit of Stradiots and one unit of mounted crossbows.

These units seem to have managed to mount some sort of defence from the outset. They start the game vexed [surprised].

Florange, Robert de la Marck: D10 motivation die.

Commanding 6,000 Landsknechts and the artillery train.

Three pike blocks (counting 6 stands each); one unit of Landsknecht shot; three medium guns.

This command managed to organise a defence from the start. All units start the game vexed [surprised].

I have chosen not to make the Landsknechts Murderous in this particular battle due to their rather poor performance.

Note that these troops have been deployed as per the description by Oman, who says that the shot were placed to one side and the artillery was deployed in front. He also says that the Swiss approached somewhat flank-wise, so I have deployed the bulk of the Landsknechts obliquely to the Swiss approach.


The Swiss

The Swiss order of battle comprised about 9,000 Swiss, a handful of Milanese cavalry and 8 falconets. These were disposed in the traditional Swiss manner, three columns under the nominal command of their employer Maximilian Sforza. 

I have chosen to misread, fudge and lie about the number of Milanese cavalry present. Oman sets their number at 200. This would mean a unit of four or five figures, which isn't worth representing. I have chosen to say 200 lances, which gives a unit of around twelve. Given that this unit is the only cavalry present in the army it shouldn't undo the general balance of the forces.

I have assigned a D10* sequence deck and a D10 army die to the Swiss (Milanese) army. They have also done quite well with their four army characterisation cards, getting 28 morale chips [9,9,10] and the Stratagem card "Surprise" which adds 8 initiative pips to the player's total on its first appearance.

Note that the names of the Swiss captains, Graff and Mottinus, are two names listed among the Swiss casualties. Both fell leading the main column but, as I do not know the name of the second column's captain, I have redeployed Graff to command it. 

C-in-C Maximilian Sforza: D10 motivation Die

Commanding 1000 Swiss pike and 200 [lances?] heavy cavalry.

1 unit (counting 4 stands) of Swiss pike and one unit of Milanese men-at-arms.

This column marched around the town unseen to attack the French camp.

Graff: D10 motivation die.

Commanding 2000 Swiss pike plus supporting troops.

1 unit (counting 4 stands) of Swiss pike, two units of Swiss shot and one light gun.

I have chosen to concentrate all of the Swiss shot with this column. I have also chosen to attach the artillery to it; I believe the artillery would have used the road from Novara so this seems appropriate. 

Mottinus: D10 motivation die.

Commanding 6,000 Swiss pike plus supports.

Three Swiss pike squares (counting 6 stands each); one unit of Swiss halberdiers.

The halberdiers were, according to Oman, a distinct body set to one side of the column. They attacked the Landsknecht shot before charging onto the flank of the Landsknecht pike. No numbers are given, so I have chosen to attach a full unit.

Victory Conditions

The victory conditions are simple: The destruction of the enemy as per the general rules in Hell Broke Loose.

HELL BROKE LOOSE TROOP TYPES 

FOR NOVARA 1513

FRENCH
Troop type	Combat dice	Defence dice	Unit Integrity	Notes
Elite Gendarmes (1 in each command)	D12	D8	4	Swift (move on swift cards); Fierce (melee on even move roll);
Other Gendarmes	D10	D8	4	Swift (move on swift cards); Fierce (melee on even move roll).
Stradiots	D8	D8	3	Swift (move on Swift cards); Grizzled (inc.).
Missile cavalry	D8	D6	4
Gascon & Navarrese crossbows	D6	D6	3	Brittle (down 1 to DD Vs missilery / morale); Skirmish (may only be ‘formed infantry’ in a deep formation, or when defending a linear obstacle).
Landsknecht pike	D10	D8	6 (2S)	Swift (move on Swift cards);
Landsknecht shot	D8	D8	3	Grizzled (inc.); Skirmish (may only be ‘formed infantry’ in a deep formation, or when defending a linear obstacle).
Medium artillery	D8	D6	2

MILANESE
Troop type	Combat dice	Defence dice	Unit Integrity	Notes
Heavy cavalry	D10	D8	4	Swift (move on swift cards); Fierce (melee on even move roll);
Swiss pike	D10	D8	6 (S) or 5 (S)	Fierce (melee on even move roll); Swift (move on Swift cards); Murderous (up 1 in melee Vs Landsknechts); Stubborn (all stands stubborn).
Swiss shot	D8	D8	3	Grizzled (inc.); Skirmish (may only be ‘formed infantry’ in a deep formation, or when defending a linear obstacle).
Swiss halberdiers	D10	D8	4 (S)	Fierce (melee on even move roll); Swift (move on Swift cards); Murderous (up 1 in melee Vs Landsknechts); Stubborn (all stands stubborn).
Light Artillery	D8	D6	2

Ravenna at Fiasco 2018 - fought to a conclusion

As the clocks changed from BST on Saturday, most of us got an extra hour in bed so the early start, for a Sunday, didn't feel quite so harsh. The day was bright, cold, but rain-free, which is always a bonus when you are loading open topped boxes of soldiers in and out of cars. Furthermore, although the Ravenna game employed 999 toy soldiers (exactly) it is relatively 'terrain-less' so it all fitted into six large tomato boxes and a carrier bag (plus cloths) - small in comparison to some games, where a removals van would be handier than a car. 

We arrived at the venue at 8.45 and were set up by 9.45, 15 minutes before the doors officially opened. I was suffering with a bad head cold, that I've had for a week, so I was pleased that everything had gone so smoothly. Members of the Leeds club were as helpful and welcoming as always - which is always nice - and we had a volunteer gamer to help push the troops about - so things were boding well.

From behind the left of the allied line - commanded by the 'Holy League' of Graham and guest player 'dice chucker' Bob, or 'Chuckie' as we will call him from now on.

From behind the French left, looking north to the Ronco. The French commanded, on the day, by Peter. 

  Following the artillery bombardment the League, as historically happened, were forced to send their cavalry out before it was destroyed without purpose to French gunnery. They didn't fair well and soon the French army was launching itself, en masse, towards the League's entrenchments.  

  At this point Chuckie, possibly working out a trajectory to lose another dice, is looking rather worried by the Landsknechts who have struggled across the 'hidden ditch' under heavy fire. 

 It's an awesome sight, and what's more the League's cavalry is now streaming to the rear in rout.

 The Landsknechts have been badly mauled in their approach but their commander, Jacob Empser, has managed to rally and inspire them to further effort. They breach the Spanish infantry line.

 Everywhere the The Spanish and their Papal allies are close to breaking point. The French cavalry are behind the earthworks at both ends of the line.

 The French are moving to exploit the breach made by the (now almost spent) Landsknechts with the Italian and French infantry following in their wake. The Spanish are at zero morale points, the French have seven. The game is called - a French win, and fairly historical in every respect.

Aside from the bad lighting (for a modern venue the lighting is awful) , and my head cold, the show was a good one for me. I was pleased by how busy it was, certainly much busier than the last couple of years, and how many people dropped by to say hello, and stopped to watch the game. One chap, yes, that's you Robbie, said he only came down from Newcastle to see the Ravenna game - the silly sod (and I told him so). There was even a photographer, who apparently sold her photos on to one of the national papers (Telegraph), who took a fancy to the game, so it might appear UK wide this week - that would be a first.

The game, as convention games go went extraordinarily well, though I was wilting by 2 pm. The scenario worked, and the rules worked. A historical result was achieved. Everyone said they liked the whole set up - job done. 

I got see a lot of the usual suspects, and some suspects who had obviously just been recently released. Good to see all of you.