I am scheduled to run the Battle of Pavia on Thursday night at Historicon next month. Last month we played a test game on a slightly smaller field (6 x 10 feet instead of 6 x 12 feet). I used Oman, the Osprey on Pavia, and the recently released Helion publication, The Italian Wars, Volume 3: Francis I and the Battle of Pavia, 1525, as sources. The following account is from:
https://www.henryviiithereign.co.uk/1525-battle-of-pavia.html
In October 1524, Francis, assured by Wolsey that there would be no English attack in the north, crossed the Alps and advanced on Milan at the head of an army 40,000. Bourbon, d'Avalos and their troops were in a weak position after fleeing southern France and found themselves besieged by Francis’s army at Pavia
On 21 November, Francis tried an assault on the city but was repulsed with heavy casualties; and hampered by the weather decided on a strategy to defeat the Imperialists by starvation over the winter.
Francis also signed a secret agreement with Pope Clement VII, who pledged not to aid Charles in exchange for Francis's assistance with the conquest of Naples. Against the advice of his senior commanders, Francis detached a section of his forces under the Duke of Albany and sent them south to support the Pope.
In January 1525, Lannoy was reinforced by the arrival of Georg Frundsberg with 15,000 landsknechts from Germany and renewed the offensive. the French outpost at Sant'Angelo Lomellina, was captured severing communications between Pavia and Milan Another column of landsknechts advanced on Belgiojoso and occupied the town. By 2 February, Lannoy was a few miles from Pavia.
On 21 February, the Imperial commanders, running low on supplies and little more to lose decided to launch an attack on Mirabello Castle and attempt to break the siege.
On the evening of 23 February, Lannoy's Imperial troops, camped outside the east wall of the park, began to march north along the walls. At the same time, the Imperial artillery began a bombardment of the French siege to create a diversion and conceal the advance.
Imperial engineers set about the walls breached the masonry defence, at the Porta Pescarina near the village of San Genesio and Imperial army charged through.
By 5:00 am, some three thousand arquebusiers under the command of Alfonso d'Avalos had invaded the park and advancing on Mirabello Castle followed by Imperial light cavalry.
A detachment of French cavalry under Charles Tiercelin then encountered the Imperial cavalry and began skirmishes. Swiss pike men under Robert de la Marck, Seigneur de la Flourance overran a battery of Spanish artillery and by 7:00 am, the full-scale attack underway, the French had been taken by surprise and were overwhelmed.
It was all over by 9.00am, the French gendarmes were surrounded and killed. Richard de la Pole and Lorraine, advanced to aid Francis, were met by Frundsberg's arriving landsknechts; the French infantry was broken and routed, and de la Pole and Lorraine were both killed, as were many nobles including Bonnivet, La Tremoille and La Palice . Montmorency and Flourance were captured. The French king continued to fight on horseback but his horse was killed from under him, ‘all is lost to me save honour and life, ‘he was taken prisoner’.
On 21 November, Francis tried an assault on the city but was repulsed with heavy casualties; and hampered by the weather decided on a strategy to defeat the Imperialists by starvation over the winter.
Francis also signed a secret agreement with Pope Clement VII, who pledged not to aid Charles in exchange for Francis's assistance with the conquest of Naples. Against the advice of his senior commanders, Francis detached a section of his forces under the Duke of Albany and sent them south to support the Pope.
In January 1525, Lannoy was reinforced by the arrival of Georg Frundsberg with 15,000 landsknechts from Germany and renewed the offensive. the French outpost at Sant'Angelo Lomellina, was captured severing communications between Pavia and Milan Another column of landsknechts advanced on Belgiojoso and occupied the town. By 2 February, Lannoy was a few miles from Pavia.
On 21 February, the Imperial commanders, running low on supplies and little more to lose decided to launch an attack on Mirabello Castle and attempt to break the siege.
On the evening of 23 February, Lannoy's Imperial troops, camped outside the east wall of the park, began to march north along the walls. At the same time, the Imperial artillery began a bombardment of the French siege to create a diversion and conceal the advance.
Imperial engineers set about the walls breached the masonry defence, at the Porta Pescarina near the village of San Genesio and Imperial army charged through.
By 5:00 am, some three thousand arquebusiers under the command of Alfonso d'Avalos had invaded the park and advancing on Mirabello Castle followed by Imperial light cavalry.
A detachment of French cavalry under Charles Tiercelin then encountered the Imperial cavalry and began skirmishes. Swiss pike men under Robert de la Marck, Seigneur de la Flourance overran a battery of Spanish artillery and by 7:00 am, the full-scale attack underway, the French had been taken by surprise and were overwhelmed.
It was all over by 9.00am, the French gendarmes were surrounded and killed. Richard de la Pole and Lorraine, advanced to aid Francis, were met by Frundsberg's arriving landsknechts; the French infantry was broken and routed, and de la Pole and Lorraine were both killed, as were many nobles including Bonnivet, La Tremoille and La Palice . Montmorency and Flourance were captured. The French king continued to fight on horseback but his horse was killed from under him, ‘all is lost to me save honour and life, ‘he was taken prisoner’.
Early on in the Battle; The Imperialists, Peter C (red shirt) and John (black shirt) get the first move to reflect their surprise attack. I played the French.
Orders of Battle (I will probably incre4ase these a bit more for Historicon):
FRENCH
French 271 pts, 56 VM
IMPERIALISTS
Imperial 274 pts, 63 VM
To the West of the Vernavola stream, Flourance and his Swiss are outnumbered by Frundsberg and his Landsknechts.
The Imperialist want to seize the small woods in the center. The (lousy) French Militia Crossbows are hanging way back (they turned several Aces for movement!), while the. Gendarmes barrel forards!
Peter C looks pensive as my French cavalry try to turn his far right flank.
On the French right, my (crappy) light cavalry try to distract some Landsknechts!
Overview of the action as the opposing armies close!
Close up of the Imperial Right under Pescara and Lannoy. That French cavalry sure looks tough!
Peter C. is smiling; I think at the spectacle, as he can't be happy about 2 units of French heavy cavalry having turned huis flank!
On the French Right, the famed lightning advance of the Swiss is looking like that of aa laconic armadillo in the sun!
Despite having maneuver problems of their own, the Landskechts are setting into position to take advantage of their numbers versus the Swiss.
Clash of the Titans! French Gendarmes face off against Spanish knights and Imperial Gendarmes!
The developing situation West of the stream.
Overview from the French left.
The French come off the better in the cavalry clash, and are able to bring their own "Black Band" landsknechts up... and even the craven French Militia Crossbowmen finally move forward.
The Swiss are outnumbered, but tough! Being "stubborn", they continue to hit on a "6+" in melee despite any losses!
"Hut, dich, hier komm ich!"
Francis and his Gendarmes are crushing the Imperialist cavalry!
Quite a confusing mess on the Imperialist right!
Push of Pike!
Merde! Spanish LC Genitors have shot the gap between my Swiss pike blocks! Maybe guns can dispatch them, now that they finally have an actual target?!
""And just who is upon whose flanks today, milord?"
Messy, messy messy!
Light cavalry are junk in To the Strongest! - except when they aren't! One unit of Genitors gleefully ran down my cannons (seen returning from the foul deed!), whilst another is harassing the flank of one of my Swiss kells...
and now the second has returned from its murderous ride to assault my rear... Mon Dieu!
Asa side show the clash of the heavy hitters, French Crossbowmen face off against Spanish Arquebusiers.
Open flanks everywhere... but the unit that Francois I is accompanying takes a hit; the King survives his test to fight on! With the game nearing it's final stages,. we had to call it quits due to a Zoom meeting I had with the next group of Medical students commencing their Family Medicine clerkships.
I played out the remaining 2 turns of the game. Both sides to the West of the stream had a pike block in trouble; whichever broke first would likely decide the game.
The far right Landsknecht unit is pursuing a few Swiss skirmishers.
Decisive results evade Francois on the French left.
After several successful charges by the "Italian" pike block (an numerous missed hit cards by the Genitors), the Swiss finally suffer their 4th hit.
With the loss of the Swiss, French morale breaks, and the Imperialists are victorious!
That seemed like an exciting game Peter, and very colourful. It should go over very well at Historicon.
ReplyDeleteIt was a very tense, exciting game! breaking those pike blocks (and/or Colunellas) is tough!
DeleteGreat looking situation, should be well received at H Con.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Joe. If it plays out anything like this one, it should be a blast!
DeleteWow that seemed like a titanic struggle Peter - TTS delivers a good game - we have not played it for a while - must discuss that with Julian when he returns from the US i a months time! I thought the French were going to reverse history there for a lot of the game......
ReplyDeleteAs the French player, my problem as traffic jam! It was hard to maneuver to bring the advantages of the Cavalry sweep (and later the Landsknechts) to bear. Also, Colunellas suffer no penalty for being taken in the flank or rear... not that it ever happened in this game.
DeleteAwesome looking game that reminds me I need at least one more unit of genitors! Is this straight up to the Strongest or the draft renaissance rules and what size are your boxes? Best Iain
ReplyDeleteI use 8"/200 cm boxes for this era - my Pike Blocks are 36 figures, 12 wide by 3 deep, so the 6"/150 cm boxes won't quite fit. Of course, I could use 8 wide by 4 deep and then they would fit.
DeleteWe used the proposed but unofficial Renaissance modifications to TTS!:
https://blundersonthedanube.blogspot.com/2018/10/to-longest-to-strongest-modifications.html
We allowed double fire by formed Arquebuses; they are just too weak without it!
Fab looking battle, Peter, with lots of colorful troops and banners. You answered one of the questions I had on whether there were any changes from your previous QRS. The answer, I guess, is, "No!"
DeletePretty much right, Jon; we did allow both crossbows and Arquebuses (formed units, 2 VM), to "Double shoot" like archers. Otherwise, they are too weak. I might treat them like artillery otherwise; a second or subsequent shooting activation requires 2 higher instead of 1. That would still give a small edge to archers for volume of fire (and armor penetration for the crossbows and arquebusiers).
DeleteAn excellent looking and sounding game ! hope it goes just as well at Historicon for you
ReplyDeleteThanks, Gary, and hopefully so!
DeleteA great looking bash!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ray!
DeleteFast-moving game, well-balanced with lots of weapons-types and formations.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it! The variety of weapons and tactics, along with the color of the era, make the Italian Wars a great period for wargaming!
DeleteA great looking game full of colour Peter. It looks like it was truly chaotic in places as well which is always fun!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Oli. Pavia was a pretty chaotic battle, especially for the French!
DeleteGreat gaming of an iconic battle with lots of beautifully painted figures!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Dean. The conventional wisdom is that Pavia completed the rise of hand firearms as equal partners, proving decisive even in the absence of filed works (as at Cerignola and La Bicocca). Maybe, but is was far from a wide open field, and I'd say the lesson is one that dates back to Antiquity; catch your enemy by surprise and at a disadvantage, and the battle is more than half won already!
Delete