The Feud - Part 2

This is the second wargame in my ‘Feud’ campaign, between Gilbert de Clare and King John's High Sherriff, Engelard de Cigogné. The first battle report is where Gilbert ambushed Englelard and his local ally Abbot Peter on Evesham Road. I used Lion Rampart, 2nd Edition, for this battle to see how these rules played. Each side had 24 points. As usual, I played this game solo. I used Adjunct Introuvable to generate the deployment and orders for Englelard’s forces. Although Nic Birt designed them with battles in mind, they worked well in this skirmish. Now onto the backstory.

Raiding, Burning and Pillaging

After his successful ambush on Evesham Road, Gilbert de Clare continued his feud with Engelard 

and Abbot Peter, and throughout 1210 both sides raided each other's lands. Winter finally ended the crop burning and pillaging, but in spring, hostilities restarted when Gilbert attacked Abbey’s farmsteads near Didbrook. These attacks finally drew Engelard into a hasty battle in the wooded area south of the village.

Opening Moves.

Engelard adopted a cautious strategy that would allow him maximum flexibility, to entice Gilbert from the high ground before delivering a killer blow with his best men, whom he held in reserve. De Clare saw the ragtag forces arrayed against him from his advantage point on the ridge, the local levy and some monks. He took advantage of the circumstances and ordered a general advance across his battlefront. He kept himself and his knights as a mobile reserve to deliver a killing blow.

Three melees developed. On de Clare's right flank, his sergeant had moved across the wheat field to be met by a hail of arrows from the neighbouring enclosure. In the middle of the battlefield, Gilbert’s foresters moved slowly through Staites Wood to be encountered by the Abbot's men, hoping to use the dense wood to neutralise the enemy’s attack. On the left, Gilbert’s crossbowmen had seized the farm on the eastern end of Staites Wood farm. Where they conducted a historical resistance against Engelard’s spearmen, supported by the local levy, who were trying to turn Gilbert's weaker left flank.

 

De Clare's crossbowmen hold Wood farm against all comers[/caption]

The Battle Heats Up.

Seeing his crossbowman successfully holding the Sheriff's advance, Gilbert committed his mounted sergeant into the fray. They charged the spearman and forced them back without doing much damage. The sergeants' attack was the moment Engelard had anticipated because Clare had over-extended his battle line. Leading his knights, he suddenly appeared before Wood Farm and crashed into de Clare’s mounted sergeants, cutting them to pieces.

Engelard slaughters de Clare sergeants.[/caption]

The Challenge

Witnessing his hated rival's charge, De Clare committed himself and his knights to the fray. Engelard noticing he was now at a disadvantage, challenged de Clare to a due of honourl to improve the odds. Something Gilbert was too shrewd to accept. Thankfully for Gilbert, his men agreed, and the loss of honour had no impact on his men's morale, and fighting continued uninterrupted.
Guilbert‘s knights now engaged Engelard and his close retainers, forcing them to flee the field after several rounds of fierce combat.

 

De Clare charges Engelard's knights, after refusing a challenge.[/caption]

All is Lost

Seeing their commander in flight, Englelatd's levy decided to scamper to safety. Gaps appeared throughout Engelard's battleline, with many of the Sherriff’s foot retainers becoming isolated and lacking support began to flee, abandoning their comrades to Gilberts and his knights.