Hundred Years Wars - Game 5 of 6x6 challenge

With the dice deciding, the first battle to be played involved the chasing French forces lead by Duc Duclos against the bulk of the English army. The second battle just north with a single (red) English army element would be played second. Breakdown of forces here for the first battle.

A question was posed to me via comments about whether with two simultaneous battles occurring -  would the outcome of one battle affect the other? A really interesting question and not one I had considered when I merrily launched into this Hundred Years War campaign.

A reminder of the campaign situation where there are two close battles.

In previous battles the loser has generally been able to choose their path of retreat. Unless a there was a major victory, then the winner chooses the path of retreat.

Looking at the campaign map a minor victory to the French could be to the English advantage due to the close proximately of the battles. While this does not seem fair, the loser gaining an advantage from a loss. It does add to the vagaries of campaigning in the medieval world. I have decided not to add any new rules and let the vagaries apply. From a campaign point of view the English could be fighting a delaying action to allow for a hasty retreat to catch up with their leader to the north of them.

The game began with the English defenders positioning most of their foot units on their left flank to take advantage of the woods and difficult terrain. Their mounted units were placed on the right flank where there was open ground. This was pretty much mirrored by the French army who had one extra unit.

The French commanders view

The French were the attackers in this game and they quickly moved up on the English left flank. After a few exchanges of volleys by the bowmen, the French rushed forward very reminiscent of the last game where they had successfully disrupted the English defenders. However this time they were not as effective and the fighting became a bit of a slog with bowmen (mainly English) taking shots at any French unit not engaged in combat.

On the other flank the cavalry prepared to engage each other.

Both sides engage in and around the difficult terrain.

Cavalry line up before charging

The cavalry fight was close with a slight advantage to the French. This brought the reserves from both sides into the game lead by their respective commanders to help sway the cavalry fight. While on the other flank the English archers were providing effective support to their units helping them wear down the attacking French.

The French attack starts to stall as English bowmen were proving effective shots

English Men at Arms start to counter attack on their left flank

In the centre both commanders lead Men at Arm units against each other. In the melee Duc Duclos was injured and had to retire from the battlefield. This combined with the French losing fifty percent of their units meant a major victory to the English.

A double one and the French commander is a casualty

The game was starting to go the way of the English when the Duc was injured. Their commander Sir John Lockdew effectively using his bowmen to support his units firing in volleys of arrows at every opportunity. The English victory will allow them to determine the path of the French retreat.