A Battle from the Valois - Habsburg Wars, with To the Strongest

    A second edition of To the Strongest is planned, but is not expected before 2020. Among the considerations are carrying the system forward up  through the late 16th century, probably splitting the rules into to separate books, the later covering perhaps the Medieval era onward. Thus this fictional action was a chance to get my Great Italian Wars collection on the table, as well as trying out some of the ideas under consideration for handling Renaissance warfare using these excellent rules. 

View from the French vantage point after French Move 1.

View from the Hapsburg vantage after Hapsburg Move 1. The forces chosen were reflective of the era when Spain and the Holy Roman Empire were united under the rule of Charles V, circa 1519 onward. 

View from the French vantage after French Move 2. I, Pierre, Master of the Knight of St André, commanded the left half of the army (foreground).

French Army, Great Italian Wars

CMD	Description	Save	Spec/Ammo	Pts	VM
1	General, attached, Mounted, Heroic	3+		6	2
1	Mounted Crossbows - LC, Crossbow	8+	3	5	1
1	French Gendarmes - Later Knights, Lance, Veteran may replace Lances by Rally	5+	Hero, Lance Armor	17	2
1	French Gendarmes - Later Knights, Lance, Veteran may replace Lances by Rally	5+	Hero, Lance Armor	17	2
1	Command Total			45	7
2	General, attached, Heroic	3+		5	2
2	Light Infantry Crossbowmen	8+	3; Range 2	4	1
2	Light Infantry Crossbowmen	8+	3; Range 2	4	1
2	Swiss Pikes - Extra Deep, Veteran, Stubborn	6+	Swiss Move	24	4
2	Swiss Pikes - Extra Deep, Veteran, Stubborn	6+	Swiss Move	24	4
2	Command Total			61	12

Sir Jaques, Constable of France (aka John) had command of the  the right half, seen here. 

French Army, Great Italian Wars

CMD	Description	Save	Spec/Ammo	Pts	VM
3	General, Foot, attached	2+		4	2
3	Light Infantry Arquebusiers	8+	3; Range 2	4	1
3	Light Infantry Arquebusiers	8+	3; Range 2	4	1
3	French  Crossbowmen - Raw	9+	5; no move and fire	5	2
3	French  Crossbowmen - Raw	9+	5; no move and fire	5	2
3	French Pikes - Raw, Extra Deep	8+		14	4
3	Cannons: eliminated in melee in open, no move* Target all, 2 cards vs Deep/Extra	8+	6;, range 8,	7	1
3	Cannons: eliminated in melee in open, no move* 2 cards vs Deep/Extra,	8+	6; Target all, range 8,	7	1
3	Camp	-		1	3
3	Command Total			50	17
4	General, attached, Mounted	3+		5	2
4	Mounted Crossbows - LC, Crossbow	8+	3	5	1
4	French Gendarmes - Later Knights, Lance, Veteran may replace Lances by Rally	5+	Hero, Lance Armor	17	2
4	French Gendarmes - Later Knights, Lance, Veteran may replace Lances by Rally	5+	Hero, Lance Armor	17	2
4	Command Total			44	7
	ARMY TOTAL    Victory Medals = 18			201	53

Don Bartolomeo de la Fuente (aka Czar Barry) commanded the Habsburgs. The right half of the army was the Spanish contingent.

Imperialist Army List

CMD	Description	Save	Spec/Ammo	Pts	VM
1	Genitors - Light Cavalry, Javelin, Veteran	6+	3	6	1
1	Spanish Knights - Knights, Lance, Veteran may replace Lances by Rally	5+	Lance	13	2
1	Elmeti - Knights, Lance may replace Lances by Rally	6+	Lance	11	2
1	General, attached, Mounted, Heroic	3+		6	2
	Command Total			36	7
2	Light Infantry Arquebusiers	8+	3; Range 2	4	1
2	Light Infantry Arquebusiers	8+	3; Range 2	4	1
2	Spanish Colunella - Pike, Extra Deep, extra Arquebus, Veteran Defensive Fire No flank/rear bonus for attackers	6+	4; -1 Move activations (only); Swordsmen	24	4
2	Spanish Colunella - Pike, Extra Deep, extra Arquebus, Veteran Defensive Fire No flank/rear bonus for attackers	6+	4; -1 Move activations (only); Swordsmen	24	4
	Cannons eliminated in melee in open, no move*	8+	6; Target all, 2 cards vs Deep/Extra, range 8,	7	1
2	Camp	-		-	3
2	General, attached, foot, heroic	3+		5	2
	Command Total			64	16

The left half of the Habsburg host was composed of the German/Imperial troops, including the Landsknechts.  Situation at the end of Hapsburg Move 2. 

Imperialist Army List

CMD	Description	Save	Spec/Ammo	Pts	VM
3	Light Infantry Crossbowmen	8+	3; Range 2	4	1
3	Light Infantry Crossbowmen	8+	3; Range 2	4	1
3	Light Infantry Crossbowmen	8+	3; Range 2	4	1
3	Landsknect Pikes - Extra Deep	7+	Hero, special vs Swiss	18	4
3	Landsknect Pikes - Extra Deep	7+	Hero, special vs Swiss	18	4
3	Landsknect Pikes - Extra Deep	7+	Hero, special vs Swiss	18	4
3	General, attached, foot	2+		4	2
3	Command Total			60	17
4	Mounted Arquebusiers - LC, Arquebus	8+	3	5	1
4	Imperial Gendarmes, Later Knights, Lance may replace Lances by Rally	6+	Lance	14	2
4	Later Reiters  - Cavalry, Veteran, Pistol, Deep Caracole:  Move forward 1, shoot, move back 1, OR shoot and move back 1 facing front	7+	4; Caracole Defensive Fire	16	3
4	General, attached, mounted	2+		5	2
4	Command Total			40	8
	ARMY TOTAL  Victory medals = 16			200	48

French left at the end of French Move 3. My skirmish arquebsiers have ensconced themselves in the cover of a local vineyard. Hic!

Center from the French viewpoint. Both sides cannon were having an effect on the spectacular targets made by the Pike blocks!

View from behind the French Right. 

The battle as seen from the Habsburg Right after their turn 3; the Spanish knights have maneuvered onto the flank of my "Red" Gendarmes, and the Swiss Pikes and Spanish Colunellas have closed upon one another. 

Habsburg Left, end of their Move 3; the Reiters very much took it on the chin when confronting the French Gendarmes, their pisto shots having no effect upon the armor encased French nobility!

Note the French and Imperial Gendarmes in head to head combat

French Right, Move 4; my Gendarmes have turned to counter the flank threat, and one of my Swiss pike blocks has charged a Spanish Colunella. Neither their arquebuses nor their swordsmen had any apparent effect on the grimly determined Swiss!

View of the Centre, French Move 3. 

From the French Right, Move 3. the Gendarmes charge and counter-charge one another,to little effect!

Habsburg right, end of their Move 3. Don Bartolomeo was not amused by the timidness of his Elmeti lancers, treated as they were to the sight of an open French flank!

Center from the Hapsburg lines, Move 3. Note the two hits on the right hand Landsklnechts, courtesy of earlier French Artillery fire. Their performance was said to later to serve as inspiration to Pachabel...

Habsburg Left; the Battle of the Gendarmes continues...

French right, Move 4. My Blue Gendarmes have put a stop to that nasty Flank threat. My Swiss pikes are each stuck in with a Spanish Colunella. 

Center after French Move 4 Spanish Genitors saw the chance to sack the French Camp (building). A unit of French Militia Crossbows (pretty much scum #1) have faced to threaten a flanking volley of quarrels, but were unable to get their arlabests cranked up in time. 

French left, Move 4. The Battle of the Gendarmes continues. "Rudolf, mon cheri, the honour of the first blow must fall to you." Ach nein,  mein lieber Francois, you the first blow strike must!"

Habsburg right Move 4; , both of the French Gendarmes have taken a hit, but the right hand Colunella is on the ropes, with only one more hit before they are eliminated by the Swiss! Their arquebuses seem curiously ineffective against the mountain men. 

Another view of the battlefield.

Habsburg Left, Move 4. The Reiters keep shooting and retiring, and missing the Gendarmes, whilst being unable to activate again to Rally!

French Move 5; the Gendarmes Rouge have pulled back and then rallied; the Gendarmes Bleu could not attempt this, as pulling back would place them in the Zone of Control of the Spanish Knights!

Meanwhile, my left hand Swiss unit has dispatched the opposing Colunella with ease (4 medals lost!), leaving the undefended camp in sight.  What's a Mercenary to do? 

The pesky Genitors were eliminated by the despised crossbowmen. 

View of the Center, end of French Move 5. 

A longer view shows the French Cannons with just skirmishers for targets, but the French Gendarmes Noirs (upper right) have finally destroyed the Reiters - another 3 lost Victory medals. 

Habsburg Move 5, right flank. The Elmeti activate to charge, but have little effect on the Gendarmes Bleu. The Spanish Knights, lead by their general then play back to back Aces in their attempt to charge the Bleus from the rear. Madre de Dios!

Habsburg Centre, Move 5. Their cannon has no targets, and the Landsknechts are finally  closing with the enemy, ganging up on a unit of Raw French Pikes (scum #2).

Lefty flank, Habsburg Move 5. The opposing light cavalry contest the vineyard. In other news, the battle of the Gendarmes continues...

French Left, end of their Move 6. My Gendarmes Rouge have moved on to the flank of the Spanish knights. This should force them to face me, which woukld allow my other gendarmes to attempt to pull back and rally off their hit  before it is too late. Maybe...

Center, French Move 6; the battered French pikes have withdrawn, in the hopes of a possible Rally attempt.

Another view of the French Left.

Habsburg Move 6; The French pikes have been destroyed, the final blow delivered by Imperialist arquebus fire. Four Victory medals surrendered!

French Move 7; My Gendarmes Rouge have turned to outflank the Spanish knights, but are unable to charge home, but my Swiss have taken the Imperial Camp - 3 Victory medals lost. However, they have taken losses from the Spanish light infantry, and the hitherto underused Imperial artillery now has drawn a bead on them as well. Together, they have put 2 more hits on the pikemen, just one from elimination. "Say Cheese for the camera, boys!" - Swiss cheese, full of holes!

Move 8; the Spanish Knights turned to face my Gendarmes Rouges, allowing the Gendarmes Bleus to withdraw... and, yes, rally! A unit of Landsknechts threatens the flank of my Swiss; can they pull off a flank charge before my Swiss run through a second Colunella?  In the Center, 2 Landsknecht Pike blocks debate whether it is worth it to try to close with and overrun the French guns, which are low on ammunition by now. The opposing Gendarmes locked in combat on the French Left continue to trade blows using padded practice swords, their armor remaining proof against all harm. 

My Gendarmes are charged by Spanish knights and Elmeti, but no losses are inflicted by either side. Hard to make a hit stick when you only need a 4 card or better to save!

In the center, Imperial Landsknechts complete their turn onto the flank of my Swiss, but are unable to engage them... yet!

On the French Left, the Gendarmes Noirs maneuvers kept the Orange and Green Landsknect unit off balance, having to turn laboriously to counter each move. Meanwhile, the same Gendarmes have run down the Imperial Mounted Arquebusiers that had occupied the Vineyard for so long. 

Move 9 from the Habsburg Left; the opposing Gendarmes continue to exchange insults and witticisms, their horses nearing exhaustion!

Pike-adilly Circus!

Bird's eye view of the indecisive face off between the French Gendarmes and the Spanish heavy Cavalry. 

And then suddenly, my second Swiss pike unit put the final hit on the Colunella that was to its front, killing the attached general for good measure (the Swiss don't take captives for ransom, either!). 

Six victory medals lost - Game over. man, game over!

    Thanks to Barry and John for a fun game, that was much closer than the final victory medal tally suggested (the French had 12 medals left, but both my Swiss pike units were near elimination. The "Stubborn" trait and veteran rating makes them very, very tough! The rules generally worked well, with a number of suggestions to be forwarded to Simon for his consideration.