Battle of Milan (November 2013)

Organised by Jason

The Battle of Milan in 1522

Jason organised this renaissance game set in Italy in 1522 between French forces under King Francis I and the Papal-Imperial Forces under The Warrior Pope and Georg von Frundsberg (founder of the Landsknechts).

We used the Pike & Shotte rule set.

The Pope and von Frundsberg were hiding behind a long stone wall (cowards) with only the extreme left and right not having any walls (but not enough space for a cavalry line to move unhindered, as the Imperials would find out later).

The Pope command CR 8
2 Condottiere Heavy Horse units (Hand-to-Hand value 8, Morale Value 3+, Stamina Value 4, Special +1)
1 Swiss Pike Unit (Hand-to-Hand value 7, Morale Value 4+, Stamina Value 8, Special 4+)
1 Swiss Arquebus Unit (Hand-to-Hand 4, Shooting 2, Morale 4+, Stamina 3, Special 0)
1 Swiss Guard Unit (Hand-to-Hand 6, Morale 3+, Stamina 4, Special 4+)
1 Swiss Guard Arquebus Unit (Hand-to-Hand 4, Shooting 2, Morale 3+, Stamina 3, Special 0)

Georg von Frundsberg command CR 9
4 Landsknecht Pike Units (Hand-to-Hand 6, Morale 4+, Stamina 8, Specials BW, Hedgehog)
2 Dopplesoldners Units (Hand-to-Hand 6, Morale 4+, Stamina 4, Special Double-Handed weapons)
2 Arquebus Units (Hand-to-Hand 3, Shooting 2, Morale 5+, Stamina 3, Specials Bad War, Mercenary)

Don Antonio De Leyva command CR 8
1 Gendarmes Heavy Horse units (Hand-to-Hand 9, Morale 3+, Stamina 4, Special 4+ & d3)
2 Men-at-Arms Heavy Horse units (Hand-to-Hand 8, Morale 3+, Stamina 4, Special +1)
3 Light Cavalry Units (Hand-to-Hand 6, Shooting 2, Morale 5+, Stamina 3, Special Fire & Evade)

Fernando D'Alvaos, Marquis of Pescara command CR 8
4 Heavy Cannon units (Hand-to-Hand 1, Shooting 3-2-1, Morale 5+, Stamina 2, Special 0)
4 Arquebus Units (Hand-to-Hand 3, Shooting 2, Morale 5+, Stamina 3, Specials Bad War, Mercenary)
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For the French

Commander King Francis I of France

Francis I command CR 8
3 Gendarmes Heavy Horse units (Hand-to-Hand 10, Morale 3+, Stamina 4, Special 4+ & d3)
1 Sradiot Unit (Hand-to-Hand 6, Shooting 2, Morale 5+, Stamina 3, Special Fire & Evade)

Richard De La Pole command CR 8 The Black Band
2 Landsknecht Pike Units (Hand-to-Hand 6, Morale 4+, Stamina 8, Specials BW, Hedgehog, Brave)
1 Dopplesoldners Unit (Hand-to-Hand 6, Morale 4+, Stamina 4, Special Double-Handed weapons, Brave)
2 Arquebus Units (Hand-to-Hand 3, Shooting 2, Morale 5+, Stamina 3, Specials BW, Mercenary, Brave)

Anne De Montmorency command CR 8 The Swiss
4 Swiss Pike Units (Hand-to-Hand 7, Morale 4+, Stamina 8, Specials Ferocious, Hedgehog, Elite 4+)
1 Swiss Arquebus Units (Hand-to-Hand 4, Shooting 2, Morale 4+, Stamina 3)

Charles IV, Duc d'Alencon command CR 8 The French
3 French Pike Units (Hand-to-Hand 6, Morale 4+, Stamina 8, Specials Hedgehog)
4 Crossbow Units (Hand-to-Hand 2, Shooting 2, Morale 5+, Stamina 3)

4 Medium Cannon Units (Hand-to-Hand 1, Shooting 3-2-1, Morale 5+, Stamina 2)

Francesco Maria Della Rovere, Duke of Urbino command CR 8 The Venetians
2 Italian Pike Units (Hand-to-Hand 6, Morale 4+, Stamina 8, Specials Large, Hedgehog)
2 Condottiere Heavy Cavalry Units (Hand-to-Hand 8, Morale 3+, Stamina 4, Special +1)
4 Italian Arquebus Units (Hand-to-Hand 3, Shooting 2, Morale 5+, Stamina 3)

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The Pope and his forces waited behind their wall with just the 3 units Light Cavalry from Don Antonio De Leyva command out before the wall.

King Francis had his command on the Left Flank with the Duc d'Alencon command in support.
The cannon were assigned to Duke of Urbino's command on the Right Flank.
The centre was made up of Anne De Montmorency command Swiss and Richard De La Pole  command of the Black Band.

The objective was for the Swiss and Black Band of 6 pike armed units to punch through the centre while the French and Venetians held to Flanks while giving the enemy the idea they would try and role up the flanks.

The kings Gendarmes are ready to have a go at the Pope

The French are ready on the Left

The Venetians are ready on the Right

The Swiss and Black Band ready to advance

A view of the Imperial position the Left, lots of Pike in support

A long view from the Imperial Left of their strong position

A view of the the Papal-Imperial Centre

The Venetians advancing on the French Right Flank

Imperial Light Cavalry taking on Swiss Arquebusiers after taking care of all the French cannon, they did very well indeed.

Slow march for the French Pike through the fields

French Crossbow against Imperial Light Cavalry

French Gendarmes take on the Popes Swiss Pike

The Imperial Heavy Cannon did a far bit of damage to the slow advance

Imperial Gendarmes and Condottiere on the Imperial Left Flank

Swiss and Black Band

Still a long way from the wall for the Swiss 

Swiss Guard and the Pope

French Gendarmes and Pike on the Left

Swiss Pike at the wall at last and having at the Imperial Arquebusiers and heavy cannon.

French Crossbow supporting the French Stradiots

Condottiere and Swiss Arquebusiers attack the Imperials

Swiss and Landsknecht in battle, no love loss here

The Swiss in the Centre going for the gap and the crossing the wall to have a go at the Landsknecht

Venetian Condottiere cross the wall against Imperial Arquebus

French Pike attack the wall and it's defenders. The Pope's Swiss pike ready to take the French pike in flank.

Just before the Swiss cross the wall in force, one unit already has and fights Von Frundsberg's Landsknechts

The Swiss Pike of Francis have crossed the wall in the centre, not much to stop them now.

The Venetians had crossed the wall and their Pike took on the Dopplesoldners of Von Frundsberg

Close up of the Swiss Guard as they carve into the French Pikes' flank. Another turn or two would have seen the Swiss taken in flank by Gendarmes

Can see the Pope's Swiss Guard pushing in the French Right Flank in the flank. The Gendarmes had reached Stamina and King had to get them up for a charge.  The Centre was were the decision was going to be.

When the battle ended a draw was the decision, still the French had crossed the wall in the centre and on the Right Flank. The French Left flank was on the verge but still the Pope only had two units, their success may have been short lived.