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What you are holding in your hands is a set of army lists, in period flavour rules and a brief guide to a fascinating period in history, which, sadly is badly documented in English. The development of these lists has so far entailed nearly a year of research and playtesting.Admittedly, this has entailed a certain degree of educated speculation, given that much of the source literature is not available in English (if I had only learned Italian and French). Now, it should be appreciated that during this period, tactics were in a state of flux, with new developments arising. The first major battle, Fornovo, with its cavalry charges, was in many respects a typical Medieval battle, but Ravenna in 1512, showed a whole new set of tactics; mobile artillery, artillery enfilades, assaults on an entrenched position and the use of an experimental gun wagon. This has meant that the development of the in period flavour rules has been something of a challenge, but hopefully, the rules strike the right balance to make them interesting and varied. The astute reader may well comment that the Italian Wars did not formally end until the treaty of Cậteau-Cambiesis in 1559, when France formally surrendered her claims to Milan and Naples; so why then do the lists end in 1534? The simple answer is that 1534 saw the emergence of the Spanish Tercio; I remain dubious that the WAB game mechanism can accurately model this formation. Additionally, from 1543, the Man at Arms began to discard the lance in favour of the new wheel lock pistol. These weapons, could be used either as part of a caracole formation or discharged at point blank range against infantry to create gaps in the line. Again, to simulate these factors would entail more special rules and a great deal of research. That said, the history of the later stages of the Italian Wars is characterised by the marked reluctance of the protagonists to commit to a field battle; in fact, no significant engagement occurs until Ceresole in 1546.I am greatly indebted to those who contributed to the development of these lists; Clive Mcloud for his contributions to the Tudor list and for loaning me his copy of Charles Oman. Dr S Moore for helping with the playtesting, and more importantly, for keeping the tea flowing whilst wargaming (an essential prerequisite for a long gaming session), John ”The Commisar” Kersey for his support. My thanks also to Dave Scully and Ben Osbourne for playtesting and pointing out errors in the text, as can be seen from “The Ben Rule.” And to Tom and Tony Staffard, Andrew and Mathew Dodderidge, my adversary in the “Great Hirsute War”: Guy Bowers, Graham “The Grande Turk” Wallis, the French connection: Mattiu Batiste and Alex Burchel, and finally, all the guys on the Cry Havoc Yahoo Group. Je Lay EmpirinsGeorge “Father Georgi”Moraitis
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Imperial Armies of the Habsburgs, 1476-1534
Imperial Armies of the Habsburgs, 1476-1534
I shall go into Italy and revenge myself on those who have injured me, especially on that poltroon the Pope. Some day, perhaps, Martin Luther will become a man of weight
Charles V
Following his marriage to Mary of Burgundy, the young Maximillian was forced to fight to defend what he considered to be his Burgundian inheritance. At the battle of Guinnegatte, Maximillian led an army composed of the remnants of the Burgundian Ordonnance Companies (including English longbow), Flemish pike and militia from the Austrian lands. The French cavalry routed the Austrio-Burgundian cavalry, while in the centre, the Flemish achieved victory. However, Maximillian could not rely upon the Flemish and as the Swiss would not serve under the house of Habsburg, he decided instead to create his own version of the Swiss: the Landsknects.
The bands of landsknects were recruited by Kreigsherren (gentleman of war) and hired under a contract of employment. As mercenaries they were motivated by pay and the opportunity for loot and soon acquired a fearsome reputation for avarice and cruelty.
During this period, German cavalry were noted as fighting in very deep formation, but based on their poor showing at Guinnegatte, Maximillian made no attempt to enhance their skills. Instead, Maximillian urged German knighthood to dismount and to lead the infantry, effectively transforming them into an officer class. During the Italian Wars, there are few references to the use of German cavalry, where cavalry are mentioned they are usually Burgundian (recruited from the Netherlands) or Italian mercenaries.
In 1519, the election of Maximillians grandson, Charles to the position of Holy Roman Emperor (achieved largely through bribery) altered the balance of power substantially. For Charles was the King of Spain, Duke of Burgundy and ruler Count of Flanders.
For much of his reign Charles V was embroiled in conflict, primarily with France over control of Milan and Naples, but increasingly with the Ottomans and also with the League of protestant Princes.
IN 1522, Charles V secured the allegiance of the powerful Duke of the Bourbonaisse. Concerned, that he stood to loose his lands and inheritance in a law suit brought by Francis Mother, Bourbon felt that he no other course of action but to desert to the Imperial cause. Now in conjunction with Henry VIII of England, Bourbon led an army, which besieged Marseilles. However, Henrys invasion proved abortive and Bourbon was forced to abandon the siege when a French army led by Francis advanced to relieve the siege.
Further campaigns led to the imperial victory at Pavia and the capture of Francis.
Outraged at the activities of the Pope, Charles V gave his blessing to a campaign to subdue the Pope. Led by the Lutheran commander Frundsberg and Bourban. This army sacked Rome, in an incident fuelled by the arrears of back pay, the breakdown of discipline following Bourbans death, and the protracted hatred felt by many German Lutherans for the city they saw as Babylon.
Charles undertook a punitive expedition to Tunisia and also Algeria. Then, as a tired and weary man, he retired to a monastery in 1556.
Early armies 1476-1494
Characters: up to 25%
Cavalry: Up to 30%: All Cavalry choices except mounted arquebus.
Infantry: At least 50%. All infantry choices allowed, 0-1 units of landsknechts per 1,000 points.
Allies and mercenaries: Up to 25%: May have allies from the Wars of the Roses list in Armies of Chivalry.
Later Armies: 1494-1534
Characters: Up to 25%
Cavalry: Up to 20%: May only take 1 unit of Burgundian Lances. May take mounted arqubusiers.
Infantry: At least 50%. Only Landsknechts and Verlaunne Haufe are allowed, longbow and Flemish pike may not be selected.
Allies and mercenaries: Up to 45%: May take Spanish allies or Allies from the Neapolitan list. You may take 0-1 Bande Nero from the Florentine list.
Special
Verlaune Haufe. These were soldiers, often selected by lot or the roll of dice or at times comprising condemned criminals, who undertook dangerous and at times suicidal missions. To encourage players to use such troops with a suitable disregard for their value, these units do not concede victory points to your opponent if they are destroyed, but do concede points if they survive the game.
Further, if these units are destroyed, they do not force friends to take panic tests.
Orbrist
If taken, the Orbrist must lead a unit of landsknechts. The Orbrist is taken in place of the unit Leader. He may issue and accept challenges. He may not leave the unit.
CHARACTERS
MWSBSSTIWALdPts
Kriegsherren
453346229125
Noble463446228100
Orbris44334422850
Equipment: Full plate armour, hand weapon. May have a horse (free) or warhorse (+4). If mounted may have plate barding (+6) and a lance (+4). If on foot may have a double-handed weapon (+2) or a pike (+2).
If taken the Kriegsherren is the army general otherwise you may make a Noble into an Army General at +25 points.
One Noble may carry the army standard (+25) instead of a lance.
INFANTRY
German Militia
MWSBSSTIWALdPts
Pikemen4223321157
Crossbow4223321157
Equipment: The pikemen carry pikes and wear light armour. Crossbowmen may exchange their crossbows for handguns.
Militia with Pike, are a medieval pike phalanx. Militia pike may only count a rank bonus of +2 on the turn in which they charge.
Landsknecht
MWSBSSTIWALdPts
Landsknecht4333331179
Arquebus4333331179
Equipment: Landsknechts carry pikes or halberds; they may have light armour (+1), heavy armour (+2), or partial plate armour (+4). The front rank may be upgraded to doplesoldner (+3), doplesoldner have WS4 and carry zweihander (two handed swords).
One unit may be veteran (+2 per model) and one unit may be Stubborn (+2 per model)
Landsknect with pike are a medieval phalanx.
Landsknechts are subject to Bitter Rivalry of Swiss and Landsknechts in French employ.
Landsknechts with arquebus may exchange their arquebus for crossbow at no cost, they may be designated as skirmishers (free)
Landsknechts may take up to two detachments, these may be either one unit of skirmisher screen or a unit of rear support.
0-1 Verlaune Haufe per 1,000 points
MWSBSSTIWALdPts
4333331177
Verlaune Haufe, may have halberds (+2), double handed weapons (+2), crossbows (+2) or arquebus (+2). They may take light armour (+1) or heavy armour (+2). Verlaune Haufe may not outnumber any infantry unit, other than artillery crew.
Flemish Pikemen
MWSBSSTIWALdPts
Pikemen4333331169
Flemish Pike have pikes and light armour, they may take heavy armour (+1)
Medieval phalanx
The Flemish disliked and mistrusted Maximillian. At Guinnegatte they fought, as they had no desire to be French subjects and out of a sense of duty to Mary of Burgundy. Following Marys death, Maximillian had difficulty in raising support from the Burgundian Netherlands.
0-1 English Longbow
MWSBSSTIWALdPts
Long
bow
43333311710
Longbowmen, carry longbows and have light armour
Longbowmen may take heavy armour (+1). Longbowmen, may take stakes at +20 per unit May be skirmishers (free), may take hand-a-half swords (count as halbards).at +2 points. May be veteran +2
Maximillians army at Guinnegatte included 300 English Longbow provided by Edward IV.
Artilery:
May take 1 artillery piece per 500 points at 50 points per gun.
CAVALRY
German cavalry
MWSBSSTIWALdPts
Reiter83333311720
Arquebusie83333311720
Reiters have heavy armour, and thrusting spears. May take Partial Plate Armour (+2), they may exchange thrusting spear for lance (+4)
They may count a rank bonus of +1.
Arquebusiers have arquebus, light armour, and swords. Arquebusier equipped cavalry may be designated as Mounted infantry May take heavy armour (+1).
During this period Reitter carried a boar spear and functioned as lancers. By the end of the sixteenth century, they were equipped as pistoliers.
Mounted Crossbowmen
MWSBSSTIWALdPts
Mounted Crossbowman83233311614