Sunday 2 January 2022

Burgundian Ordonnance vs Low Countries - posted by Josh Barton, 1 January 2022

Started the new year with a game against Alastair Duncan.
After defeating the Swiss invasion to the south last month, Charles the Bold marched the Ordonnance army north to deal with the Burghers of the low countries who (again) refused to pay their taxes. The Burgher army consisted mostly of pike although of lower quality than the dreaded Swiss, and also many small guns and halberdiers and assorted skirmishers.
Charles laid siege to a fortified coastal town, setting up fortifications (sadly I left mine at home so I had to do with hedges), and awaiting the Burghers’ army. The mobile guns and handgunners manned the fortifications facing the fortress walls, while the field guns, crossbowmen, pikemen and knights lined up in a field facing the oncoming low country militia. The fortress garrison marched out to join the attack, leaving several guns behind (however the thick walls of the fortress protected them from the Burgundian guns).
What resulted was a bloody affair, as the massed pikemen of the Burghers advanced on the outnumbered Burgundian lines. The fortress garrison made initial progress capturing the Burgundian fortifications and several guns, but suffered heavy losses on the way, with Jacques du Savoy leading a spirited defence.
Meanwhile the English mercenary longbowmen entered the forest on the right of the Burgundian lines and encountered both halberdiers and some light skirmishers. The elite bowmen made short work of both but were unable to partake in the rest of the battle. Furthermore their exposed position forced the Genitores (Spanish light cavalry) to charge the Burghers’ left flank, resulting in a hard fought delaying action.
The Burghers’ main force arrived, having suffered relatively light casualties to the Burgundian guns and attacked the lines. While the Burgundian pikemen held their own and eventually overcame their counterparts, the crossbowmen and light guns that formed the pivot of the Burgundian line were eventually overrun.
Charles committed a portion of his gendarme reserves into the emerging gap in the Burgundian lines. The French knights suffered heavy losses but were able to delay a breakthrough long enough for both of the Burghers’ flanks to collapse as their losses continued to mount.

With their army fleeing the field the Burgher leaders still refused to cooperatively pay their taxes, claiming the guilds had hid their wealth. Consequently, the Ordonnance army were ‘permitted’ to act as tax collectors. The loot of the low countries will finance future conflict with the Swiss and French. 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/824840264342234/posts/1971558373003745/






  • Vincent Cholewa
    Admin
    Group expert
    Good on you, Josh. Great to see such historical matchups. Were you playing Alastair?
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  • John Edmundson
    Just pay up. You know it covers hospitals and schools right? Good Catholic schools where they'll learn to burn you Low Countries heretics :~)
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    • Vincent Cholewa
      Admin
      Group expert
      John Edmundson to misquote Kelis and her milkshake song:
      My one true god brings the boys to the yard
      And they're like, it's better than yours
      Damn right it's better than yours
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      • John Edmundson
        Vincent Cholewa Or to misquote the Whiteadders, winter is God's way to remind us to burn more Catholics.
        Either way it ends badly for someone . . .
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    • Josh Barton
      Author
      John Edmundson would I be a spoil sport if I pointed out 1477 was pre-reformation
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