Backs (or flank) against the wall, Heavenfield, 633 CE

The Battle of Heavenfield (ca. 633-634) was fought between a Northumbrian army under Oswald of Bernicia and a British/Welsh army under Cadwallon of Gwynedd. Bede, who refers to it as the 'Battle of Deniseburna' notes the proximity of the battle to a section of Hadrian's Wall - which it is thought that Cadwallon secured one flank of his army on.

'The place, on its noth side, is close to the wall with which the Romans once girded the whole of Britain from sea to sea to keep off the attacks of the barbarians...' Bede, Baedae Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum, iii.2 My 2mm DBA (v.2.2) forces being complete for Oswald's Northumbrians (II/73 Old Saxon) and Cadwallon's Britons/Welsh (III/19a Welsh), it is time for some terrain! The most iconic item of terrain is surely the (then ruinous) Roman wall! Here is a prototype section scratch built from pvc sheet. Paint job is a WIP with Vallejo grey undercoat and Army Painter Speed Paint first coat (Runic Grey for the wall and Sand Golem for the ground and to highlight the 'fill' in broken areas of the wall. More pictures to follow once I get a few sections done.

Miniatures by Irregular Miniatures, of course!

Beyond the 4th cataract: campaigns in Nubia during the New Kingdom

I've definitely been through a dry patch as far as DBA goes. I've not even been inspired to paint for several months (what's going on?!). I always find a campaign is the way to get me back into the saddle - so to speak.

So, the project is to be around the campaigns of the New Kingdom Pharaohs to conquer Nubia.

Spurred by threats from the south, Egypt’s New Kingdom pharaohs mounted military campaigns against Nubia, and by the Reign of Thutmose III (1479–1425 BC) Egyptians controlled Nubia to the 4th cataract. An Egyptian govenor administered the country called Kush and ensured the flow of Nubian gold to Egypt. Nubia also contributed exotic products such as animal skins, ivory, and ebony as well as dates, cattle, and horses prized for their quality. Despite being required to send many rich resources to Egypt, Nubia prospered during this period. Many Egyptians settled in Nubia, and Nubians moved north to Egypt. 

Egyptian pharoahs constructed temples throughout Nubia to honor Egyptian dieties, gods unique to Nubia, and themselves as divinities. The most important religious site in Nubia was dedicated to the Egyptian state god Amun. It was located at the foot of a sacred mountain (modern Gebel Barkal) at the frontier settlement of Napata near the 3rd cataract. Started by Thutmose III, this temple complex was elarged by later pharaohs.
New Kingdom Egyptian pharaohs conducted many campaigns to bring Nubia under Egyptian control.

Source:  http://oi.uchicago.edu/museum/nubia/nknapnk.html

Just a teaser to start the ball rolling.

Ploughland

With the impending addition of 'ploughland' to the DBA terrain options for arable landscapes, there have been some excellent pieces of terrain being created. Some inspirational ploughland terrain created by Timurilank which can been seen at his Eighteenth Century Sojourn blog - have a look!

In the same spirit I will provide some before and after (when they're done) shots. Currently I'm using these pieces cut from a larger terrain mat I was working on a couple of years ago.

Rupert routed in Wick Field, 12 Oct 1642

This year I'm repeating the ECW early war campaign I tested last year with the aim of fighting the battled on the actual days. Tonight it was Powick Bridge.

This year I tinkered a little more with the terrain to ensure Colonel Sandys' cavalry regiment had to fight its way down the lane leading Wick Field under fire from Rupert's dragoons behind the hedgerows, while providing some opportunity for Wick Field to come into play a bit more.

Deployment: with the Parliamentary force in the foreground

Rupert, deployed his dragoons in the wood along the lane, while his shot and main force of cavaliers remained in Wick Field. Parliament moved first and was obliged to move down the lane a full movement allowance in this turn.

Position about three turns into the game viewed from Royalist position.

All through the game Rupert's force suffered command issues (no Pips!) giving Parliament the initiative. This allowed Sandys' Regiment to charge down the lane while their dragoons cleared the woods - destroying Rupert's dragoons in the process.

A melee raged back and forth at the entrance to Wick Field but neither side could gain advantage.

Final dispositions on 12th October 1642

The break down in command among the Royalist forces (due to a lack of pips) resulted in teh second loss with Rupert's commanded shot getting caught out in the field on their left - having incautiously ventured out from the safety of the hedgerows - and was ridden down by cavalry and shot on Parliament's right. Rupert, sensing the day was lost, withdrew to Worcester to count the cost.

The Royalists lost one unit of shot and one of dragoons - Parliament had no losses. Replacements were rolled for by the Royalists (4, 5 or 6 on a D6 meaning a unit was replaced before the next battle) with the shot unable to be replaced but the dragoons were successfully reinforced. This will leave the king with only 11 elements at the next battle.

On to Edgehill!

Somewhere near Pevensey, 14 October 1066

One of my earliest projects when I began playing DBA was to paint up the armies for a 1066 campaign. Well, in 2011 I finally finished the Normans (the Anglo-Danes being pained many years ago) and this allows me to set in place a new tradition of playing Anglo-Danes vs. Normans each year on the anniversary of the Battle of Hastings, 14 October 1066.

Tonight, Harold Godwinson's army achieved an even-more epic forced march and met Duke William's force on the road from Pevensey. What happened? Did King Harold II throw the Norman usurper back into the sea? Was the thunderous charge of William's knights too powerful for the exhausted Saxons? Stay tuned ...

hic milites exierunt dehestenga

Here the knights have set out from Hastings ...

At last my Museum Normans are nearing completion. Just a few remaining touch-ups, the rest of the shields (no small task) and dip/varnish to go. I've had them for years and have always been put off by painting so many horses. Something I don't dread as much as I used to.

Shields designs are a mix of material taken directly form the Bayeux Tapestry and copies of the (far superior) work done by Neldoreth.

This one doesn't look to scary - better give him a touch up

Amazing how photography brings up the imperfections - back to the paintbrush!

Thanks for looking.

1861: Somewhere in Virginia ...

Last night we began the first of many encounters to come between Lincolnites and Rebels testing out the DBACW rules with an encounter between two 24 point early war divisions based around 3 infantry brigades and attached artillery and cavalry. Neither of us having even experimented with these rules before we sat at the table (I'd not even read them!) we spent a goodly portion of the evening just sorting our orders of battle and deployment.

More to come ...

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The Dacians take on the might of Rome

Tonight I took my newly painted Dacian army for its first walk on the park. They faced the might of Rome - and while my strategy had been developed with the Marian Roman army in mind (heavy with legionaries), my opponent instead opted for the Early Imperial Romans (legionaries and auxiliaries).*

I fielded a Dacian list heavy with foot troops opting for the dismounted general (4Wb), 6 warbands (3Wb), 2 elements of falxmen (3Bd), two skirmishers (2Ps), and an element of light cavalry (3Cv). The Romans fielded 5 elements of legionaries (4Bd) including their general, 4 elements of auxiliaries (4Ax), one element of cavalry (3Cv), one light horse (2LH), and an element of ballistae (Art).

The Romans were the aggressors and deployed their foot in columns between the woods on his right and a steep hill on his left. His cavalry and light horse deployed beyond the hill (out of command) on his extreme left. I straddled the steep hill in my centre using the following deployment:

[2Ps] [3Bd] [4Wb(g)#] [ 3Bd] [3Wb] [3Wb#] [3Wb#] [2Ps] [2LH]

(The Warbands marked with # were supported in the rear by a second Wb element)

The first few bounds were both sides well supplied with PIPs so both armies moved forward to clear the bad going in their deployment zones. The Roman general formed a line with his ballistae in his centre and auxiliaries supported by blades on his right and blades supported with auxiliaries (and his general) on his left. The Roman cavalry (Cv and LH) charged clear of the hill and menaced the Dacian right flank as the warbands and skirmishers marched down from the steep hill.

The Dacians general continued to advance clearing the bad going and recovering the cohesion of his original deployment. The only exception was that the skirmishers on the Dacian right fell back to protect the flank of the advancing warbands, while the clearly outmatched Dacian light horse (facing the Roman Cv and LH) charged across the enemy's front to seek some tactical advantage on the Dacian left wing.

The Dacian general's plan was to use his own warband (with another warband providing rear support) flanked by falxmen as the hammer to punch a hole in the Roman legionaries facing his left flank. On the Dacian right, a pair of warbands (again with two more in support) would similarly seek to punch through the Roman legionaries to their front. Light horse and skirmishers were to protect the flanks and limit the extension of the Roman line (particularly to the Dacian left).

The Roman general sent his light horse in pursuit of the redeployed Dacian light horse (see above). While doing so, the light horse blocked the arc of fire of the ballistae – shielding the Dacian line for a turn. The Dacian general took advantage of this lull in the ballista fire to begin his final advance to a point about 400 paces from the Roman line. His warbands began to chant and roar at the steely eyed legionaries to their front - this was the point of no return! Meanwhile, the Roman light horse had neutralised the advantage of the Dacian light horse allowing a unit of legionaries to extend the line on the Roman right (below). The Dacian general knew that he had to win in the centre to neutralise the Roman advantage on his flanks.

At this point the Dacian line advanced to within 200 paces of the Romans suffering only an the occasional disruption of the line by the returning ballista fire. At this moment, the Roman general, sensing the threat the falxmen posed to his ballistae, advanced his right and left flanks to contact – seizing the initiative. His two flanks were overlapped in the centre by the falxmen – the legionaries unable to fill the gap left by the ballistae – and, despite relentless shower of bolts raining down upon them, they held firm. The Dacians general knew this was his opportunity to grasp the advantage (see below)

The legionaries on the Roman left pushed the Dacian warbands back from their defensive line – although one warband stood firm cutting down the auxiliaries they faced. At this moment the battle hung in the balance. All eyes turned to the Dacian left would they hold? Could the Dacian general and his warriors hold their line against the determined Roman advance?

If the Roman general could look, at that moment, through the eyes of the carrion birds overhead, he would have seen his line crash into the Dacian left ... hold ... then falter. A counter-charge by the Dacian general and his warbands destroyed the auxiliaries to their front and charged to contact the legionaries supporting them. With this advantage gained, the falxmen to their left cut a bloody swathe through the auxiliaries they faced. The Roman right was definitively repulsed! The Dacian falxmen to the right of their general seized the opportunity to penetrate deep into the gap between the Roman flanks and fall upon the ballistae – their terrible curved falxes made short work of the crews allowing them to seize and neutralise these engines of war.

All momentum lost, the Roman flanks received one last final charge by the Dacian warbands – and before the result was known on the right, the Romans facing the Dacian left collapsed with an element of legionaries decimated by the general's warbands (see below). The collapse led to a rout – the Dacians took the field and, no doubt, exacted a bloody revenge upon the fleeing Romans.

So ended the maiden battle of my Dacians – a 4-1 victory in about 8 bounds. I could not have been happier with the result. The hammer blow of the supported 4 Wb general flanked by the two elements of falxmen was sufficient to bring about the collapse of the Roman line. However, much of this success hinged on the security provided to the flanks by terrain initially, and then by the the skirmishing troops as the warbands charged to contact. One wonders how they would fare against the Marian Romans - but that is another day and another battle!

* I was too consumed by the game to photograph it - so here I have reproduced key moments in the battle after the fact (NB: had to use a 3Cv gen. as I lacked a fifth blade element - it never came into contact so the element type is immaterial).

Enemies of Rome: Dacians finished!

87 CE: The Dacian general Decebalus marches to take up a defensive position at the 'Iron Gates of Transylvania' – a pass between the Ţarcului and Poiana Ruscă Mountains.

Enemies of Rome: Dacians BCE 60–106 CE (II/52)

The painting of my Essex Dacians is now complete. I have attempted to use more washes and shading during the painting process and some figures have come out quite well.

The shields posed a big challenge. The majority of shields use designs which are a simplification of images from Trajan's Column. Some are of my own creation. I find this fine detail work very tricky but from a distance I think they look OK.

Flocking tonight - more pictures to follow.

I will field them this Thursday for the first time. Battle report to follow.

Psiloi and artillery:

Warbands, falxmen, and mounted:

Next project: Later Carthaginians:

Here's how they start out looking:

The push of pike

Low Countries (IV/57c) versus Later Swiss (IV/79)

At last the mighty guildsmen of the Low Countries have proved their metal defeating the Later Swiss (4-1). While this was not a historical match-up it provided a great opportunity to bring two late medieval pike armies together. I'd not won a battle with my Low Countries having faced a number of encounters with the same opponent's Early Burgundians (IV/76) with his dreaded 6 x 3Kn that can dismount to blades. His Swiss, however, I met on more even terms.

The Swiss were defending in this game and deployed their pike between a steep hill and a mighty castle (BUA) which was held by their heavy foot (6Bd). Skirmishers covered the pike's flanks, while light horse sat in reserve to the rear.

The Swiss elected not to advance beyond this defensive position (a decision exacerbated by poor PIP rolls) and waited as my pike block advanced. My artillery also advanced on the centre-right, supported by crossbows and skirmishers, taking up a key position in front of the Swiss castle.

As the impending clash of pike loomed the Swiss sent their light horse around their castle to try and neutralise (or worse) the artillery. Skirmishers passed across in front of the Flemish gunners to try and draw their fire. The Flemish knights (3Kn) under the command of my general charged to the right flank to firm up our position and contain the threat of the Swiss light horse. At this moment the Swiss heavy foot (6Bd) sallied forth from the castle but found little room to safely deploy on their constrained extreme left flank.

The Flemish general, crossbows and skirmishers fell onto the blades and skirmishers (the light horse lacking room to deploy fell back behind them). The blades were soon surrounded and destroyed under the very walls of their now undefended castle. The skirmishers were also surrounded and destroyed.

Some well-placed shot from the Flemish artillery disordered the left flank of the Swiss pike just before the guildsmen charged their pikes and pushed ahead to contact. The fighting in the centre ebbed and flowed with both sides deploying their pikes in depth and the terrain offering little opportunity to exploit an open flank to garner advantage. A second body of Flemish knights charged in to contain Swiss skirmishers on the slopes of the steep hill that threatened to flank the Flemish pike but were bettered in the bad terrain (Losses so far – Swiss 2: Low Countries 1).

The Flemish gunners then applied their art to the mighty ramparts of the castle driving off the local levy that was left to defend the walls after the untimely demise of the Swiss heavy foot. With the Swiss left flank in tatters and the walls of the castle undefended all that remained was for the Flemish knights to ride through the gates and raise the Maid of Ghent from its highest tower.

Realising that the fortification on which their left flank was anchored was now lost, the Swiss pike fell into disorder and were routed. Victory, at last!

The advance of the Flemish pikemen viewed from the Swiss lines.

NB: Please ignore the horrid flocking on the pike - they hale from a time before I knew any better. This army is on the list for some renovation - or, indeed, finishing!

Empingham , 12 March 1470

On the 12th march 1470 Edward IV met and defeated a Lancastrian force under Robert Welles at Empingham, Country Rutland, in the East Midlands. During the engagement Welles was killed and the loss struck a serious blow to the Lancastrians with the rebellious Warwick fleeing to France to seek an alliance with Margaret of Anjou. The site of the battle is popularly known as Losecote field – traditionally thought to refer to the shedding of their identifying coats by the fleeing Lancastrian troops. However, the name may predate the battle and is though to mean pigsty field.

Not the battle of Losecote Field (Tewkesbury, actually)

So, tonight's DBA match saw York (IV 83 a) pitted against Lancaster (IV 83 a) again.

The Lancastrians defended the field with woods dividing their line of deployment in half, and their left flank anchored on the village of Empingham (BUA). The battle on their left flank was commanded by Welles and consisted of equal number of bows (3 x 4Lb) and heavy infantry (3 x 4Bd - inc. gen.). The right flank was held by a battle consisting of bows (3 x 4Lb), heavy infantry (2 x 4Bd), and artillery (1 x Art).

The Yorkists (under my command) deployed in two battles straddling a steep hill in the centre of their deployment area. The battle on the left flank consisted of bows (3 x 3Lb), heavy infantry (2 x 4Bd), and knights (1 x 3Kn). The right flank was held by bows (3 x 3Lb), heavy infantry (1 x 4Bd), and artillery (1 x Art). Edward sat with his knights (1 x 3Kn gen) on the crest of the steep hill between the two battles.

Both lines advanced beyond their deployment zones with the Lancastrians slowed by command difficulties (poor PIP rolls). As both side cleared the rough terrain in their centres unsuccessful efforts were made to join the two battles into a cohesive line. The Lancastrian cannons disordered the Yorkist left flank but the heavy infantry managed to effectively shield the bows as the line advanced to contact.

Yorkist command and control faltered in the second half of the battle (I kept rolling 1's for PIPs) while the Lancastrians seized the initiative. Despite the best efforts of the Yorkist artillery on their right flank, the Lancastrians used this later advantage in mobility to push home an assault on the Yorkist right, which was disordered with heavy losses (at this stage it was Yorkist losses 3 / Lancastrian 0).

In a final effort to regain the initiative Edward pushed home an assault with the relatively fresh battle on his left flank, while holding ground on his decimated right. Close combats with his heavy infantry and effective shooting by the Yorkist bowmen along the line saw Edward turn the tide of the battle for about 30 minutes (2 turns), destroying Lancastrian heavy infantry and bows (Yorkist losses 3 / Lancastrian 3). Alas, a final push by the Lancastrians on Edward's right flank saw the battle lost and his force retreated in disorder (Final losses Lancastrian 3 / Yorkist 4).

2011: DBA matches so far ...

Here are the other DBA campaigns/battles so far:

1. Thutmosis III’s campaign for the Levant: a DBA piston campaign

6 battles were fought between Thutmosis III’s New Kingdom Egyptians (I/22 a) and the rebellious Syro-Canaanite (I/20 b) tribes centring on the arable lands around Gaza and Jeppa (maps 5 and 6). The Pharaoh's efforts to subdue the Levant and expand his empire resulted in a series of fierce encounters with significant losses on both sides (particularly amongst chariots and Egyptian heavy infantry). Two of the rebellious Syro-Canaanite generals we killed during these encounters (3 generals killed = victory) but the final rebel general fought the Egyptians to a stand-still. Both sides decided to withdraw and lick their wounds after 3 victories each.

2. Somewhere on the Eurasian Steppe c. 300 CE

The steppes thundered with the hooves of two mighty barbarian cavalry armies – the Sarmatians (II/26) and the Alans (II/58). As the Alan General I took 8 units of knights (8 x 3Kn) and 4 light horse (4 x 2LH). The two armies formed up in two opposing battle lines and pushed into contact. The first clash of the saw the Sarmatian line disordered with the Alan light horse taking a toll on the impetuous knights. The Sarmatians never recovered the cohesion they required to better my Alans and were defeated with 4:1 losses.

3. Khan Kubrat and the Bulgars c. 584 CE - empire postponed!

Khan Kubrat, Early Bulgars (III/14 b - technically not a historical match-up) engaged a force of Later Sarmatians (II/26) knights in hilly country on the edge of the steppe. However, when the forces clashed the Sarmatian knights presented a cohesive battle line and defeated the Bulgars who became seriously disordered on their right flank ultimately with the loss of their Khan. Losses: Sarmatians 2 / Early Bulgars 3 (inc. gen). The Bulgars would have to look to another mighty Khan to unify their kingdom.

4. Battle of Edgecote Moor, 26 July 1469

My Yorkists, led by king Edward IV, were narrowly defeated by Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick. Both sides struggled to deploy their forces in a battlefield confined by steep hills and woods. The Yorkist left flank (largely archers and skirmishers) sought to advance to woods on the right flank of the Lancastrian line. However, the Flemish mercenaries (pike and auxiliaries) and Neville's heavy infantry pushed back my right flank (knights and heavy infantry) inflicting heavy losses. Losses: Lancastrian 2, Yorkist 4

Middle Imperial Romans (West) vs. Later Sarmatians

A recent encounter saw me field the Middle Imperial Romans (II/64) – the first ever DBA army I put together (and they look like it!) – against the Sarmatian knights. We deployed with a road running down the centre of the board at right angles to our lines. The road bisected some woods in the centre of the battlefield. I had a steep hill on my right flank and the Sarmatians had a similar hill on their left flank.

As I advanced the Roman line (cavalry and auxiliaries on the right flank and legionaries, ballista, and light horse on the left) towards the centre of the board the Sarmatians split their force (their total force was 9 bases of knights, 1 of light horse, and 2 of skirmishers) and charged around both sides of the woods. On my right flank my auxileries took to the relative safety of the woods and my cavalry threatened the Sarmatian's weaker left flank, causing it to withdraw out of contact range.

However, two lines of knights thundered around the wood on my left causing me to hastily form a battle line with my heavy infantry (pictured). This manoeuvring took all the movement pips I had for a few turns, starving my right flank of the ability to pursue its advantage. On my left, the Sarmatians contacted the light horse on my extreme left flank driving it off and subsequently disordered my legionaries. Sarmatian skirmishers harried my ballista rendering them ineffective. From there is was a turkey shoot - with the knights decimating my disordered heavy infantry. Rome succumbed to the barbarian invaders!

The Teutonic Order (DBA IV/30)

At last after months of sitting half painted, the Teutonic Order can take the field.

This army reflects the Order during the Baltic Crusades during the 13th and 14th centuries CE.

Figures are a mix of Museum, Irregular and Khurasan Miniatures (the best of the lot).

While painting this army I played them several times against the Mongols (DBA IV/35) whom the Order encountered in Eastern Europe in the first half of the 13th century CE. My next project is to build up some armies of historical opponents in the Baltic – Prussians, Estonians, Lithuanians, and Russians (for a bit of Alexander Nevsky (1220–1263 CE) action!). The Teutonic Order were defeated by Nevsky at the Battle of Lake Peipus – a battle notable for having been largely fought on the frozen lake.

Much is made of the Order falling though the ice as they charged to engage the Novgorodian force ... some recent research on this battle can be found here.

The Hochmeister (the Grand Master of the Order) and his Brother Knights prepare to Christianise the pagan Baltic tribes.

Knights from the West would volunteer to serve with the Order for a year. Here Sir William de Keynes from Dodford in the English Midlands (red and yellow arms) advances with some fellow Crusaders. These temporary volunteers would fight under the Cross of St George when riding with the Teutonic Order.

The Brother Knights (3Kn) form a line behind crusaders from the West (3Cv), Lithuanian and Turcopole light horse (2LH), and skirmishers (2Ps).

Crossbowmen (4Cb) and the local peasant levy (7Hd) hold a crofter's cottage on the right wing.

Here come the Early Bulgars!

I have finally finished off my Early Bulgars (III/14 b) made up mostly of Essex figures (their DBA army pack). The light horse for the a-list are currently half-painted. The army includes one stand of Irregular Turk/Arab heavy cavalry which will have to do until I can order some more Bulgars from Essex.

The 3Cv unit of Bulgars (Essex) display the trident tamga (arms) of the Dulo Clan on their shields to which belonged the great Kahn Krum:

• Krum was Khan of Bulgaria, from after 796, but before 803, to 814 AD. During his reign the Bulgarian territory doubled in size, spreading from the middle Danube to the Dnieper and from Odrin to the Tatra Mountains (Wiki).

The Early Bulgars take the field:

Kahn Krum (3Cv - Gen) leads his mounted troops:

Bulgar/Slavic foot troops (4 x 3Ax and 1 x Ps) in bad going:

The army saw my first use of a Magic Wash recipe I found on Fanaticus. Moderately good shading resulted but still needs some fine tuning. Instead of water soluble ink I used Vallejo pigments to colour the floor wax/water mixture.

BUA and camp to come.

They took to the field for the first time recently and gave my old adversary the Alans' a good run for their money but unfortunately the final clash of our mounted troops saw my 3Cv (Gen) destroyed by the Alan knights. Next time for sure.

Some larger pictures of my Picts

Pictish spearmen (detail)

Pictish spearmen

Scratch built Pictish Camp