The Battle of Breitenfield, Saxony 1631

 This article is my own interpretation of events in this era. Any mistakes are my own. Once again I’ve used the Peter Dennis Paperboys I used in the Edgehill scenario.

The conflict that became known as The Thirty Years War in Europe started in 1618. The social and economic situation was complicated, not only amongst the Germanic Principalities, but also between members of the Hapsburg family, however the central basic reason was confessional politics. 

The Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire and his Council came up  with a Law that the people of a State within the Empire must follow the religion of the leader. 

Naturally, most of the major leaders were Catholic, and there was a concerted effort to remove Protestants from positions of power and ruin them financially.

After one heated meeting between the Emperors representatives and Protestant delegates, three Catholic Ministers were thrown out of a high window! This incident became known as the Defenestration of Prague. Luckily the three men survived by landing on a dung heap!.

The Protestant Leaders raised military forces and there were battles, but their efforts were disorganised and the Catholic Imperial  military were more than capable of defeating them. The Battle of the White Mountain is one example.

Another major stumbling block was money. Very often forces of militia and mercenaries were raised, then defrauded of their pay. This led to banditry and looting which became worse as the War progressed.

Then, in 1631 the Protestants found a Champion. King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, who landed at Pomerania. King Gustavus wasn’t there just to help the Protestant cause. The King was concerned about the Emperor’s plans to wrest control of the Baltic from the Swedish Kingdom. While the Protestant Princes dithered, Magdeburg was sacked by the Catholic Imperial army led by General Ferdinand.

King Gustav marched his army to Leipzig. Offering John Georg better terms, the Saxon Monarch was persuaded to join the Protestant side. The Catholic Army, now led by Count Tilly ( Ferdinand having been sacked by the Emperor ) marched into Saxony intent on destroying the Swedish army along with its Saxon allies.

The two opposing armies faced each other across an undulating plain North- East of Leipzig near a village that was to give the battle its name.

THE SWEDISH ARMY; 23,000 = 23 points x 2 = 46 points.

15,000 Infantry = 15 points x 2 = 30 points.

8 stands of Muskets @ 2 points = 16 points.

4 stands of Pike. @. 3 points = 12 points.

1 General ( Gustav Horn ). @ 2 points.

8,000 Cavalry = 8 points x 2 =16 points.

6 stands of Cavalry. @ 2 points. = 12 points.

1 General ( Sir Johann Baner ) @ 2 points.

1 General ( King Gustavus ). @. 2 point.

THE SAXON ARMY: 12,000 = 12 points x 2 = 24 Points.

7,000 Infantry = 7 points x 2 = 14 points.

2 stands of Pikemen @ 3 points = 6 points.

4 stands of muskets. @ 2 points. = 8 points.

5,000 Cavalry. = 5 points x 2 = 10 points.

4 stands of Cavalry @ 2 points. = 8 points.

1 stand of Dragoon Cavalry @ 1 point.

1 General ( John George )  @ 1 point.

COMBINED ARTILLERY: 70 Guns + 1,400 Gunners.=

1.4 x 2 = 2.8 or 3 points r/u = 3 stands of Light Artillery @ 1pt = 3 points.

THE IMPERIAL ARMY: 37,000 = 37 points x 2 = 74 Points.

28,000 Infantry = 28 points x 2 = 56 points.

10 stands of Pikemen @ 3 points = 30 points.

12 stands of muskets  @ 2 points = 24 points.

1 General ( Count Ergon 8th of Furstenburg )  @  1 point.

1 General  (  Johann Tserclaes Count of Tilly )  @  1 point.

9,000 Cavalry = 9 points x 2 = 18 points.

6 stands of Cavalry @ 2 points = 12 points.

5 stands of Dragoon Cavalry  @ 1 point =5 points

1 General ( Gottfried Heinrich Graf zu Pappenheim ) @ 1 point.

ARTILLERY:

46 Guns with 920 Gunners = 0.920 pts x 2 = 2pts r/u.=

2 stands of Light Artillery @ 1 point = 2 points.

BATTLE NOTES;

* All the Infantry, Cavalry, Imperial and Saxon  Artillery stands must move through the face of a square not a diagonal.

*  Dragoon Cavalry of 1 point and the Swedish Artillery of 1 point can move in any direction.

* The Swedish Army retains the Initiative Point for the duration of the battle. This does not include the Saxons. This is because the Saxon Army were mostly Militia.

* The Imperial Army moves first on the first Game-Turn. From Game-Turn 2 until Game-Turn 8, the Swedish Army moves first. ( including the Saxons ).

* The Swedish Army fires first on every Game-Turn.

* The Swedish Army gets 1 extra point on every Firing and Combat die. ( NOT THE SAXONS).

Note: The Swedish army at this time, was a well trained force with superior fire and movement tactics against the Imperial Army which were still using old doctrine.

* At the start of the 3rd Game-Turn, a 6 sided die is rolled for the Saxon army. On a roll of 1,2 or 3 the entire Saxon Wing is removed from the board.!  This test takes place at the start of every Game-Turn, after Game-Turn 3 while the Saxons are on the board.

* The Swedish army wins any tied results.

* ARTILLERY:

*  The artillery of the Swedish Army can move and fire.  The Artillery of the Imperial and Saxon Army must remain static.

Note:  I’ve played this game using normal procedures and the Swedish army becomes overwhelmed without their abilities and training being reflected.

* At the end of the 8th Game-Turn, the side with the higher number of stands lost,  looses the battle. The Saxons that run off are NOT included in that total.

THE SET-UP.

The blocks of figures, the trees and the villages were made up using the illustrations from the English Civil War book by Peter Dennis and printed by Helion and Co. The prints were reproduced in A5. See the previous blog on “ The Paperboys of Peter Dennis”——.

The road was made from thin card obtained from Amazon. The cloth is a 3 foot x 2 foot ( 90cm x 60cm) piece of felt cloth marked in 2 inch ( 50mm ) squares.

The windmills were scratchbuilt using foam board, thin cardboard and matchsticks. I used a piece of paintbrush tubing and a dressmakers pin to attach the sails.

The flags were made from sticky labels and cocktail sticks, then hand painted also using a 0.5 marker pen.

The 5th Century in Britannia: Part 9, Arthur’s battle of Cat Coit Celidan; Battle of the River Croquet, June 488AD.

 This article is my personal interpretation of the events at that time. Any mistakes are my own.

During the Winter Solstice of 487AD, Arthur, with Merlin in attendance meets with the Kings at Caerleon. They are;

Tutagaul, King of Alclud.

Einon,  King of Gwynedd.

Cadell,  King of Powys.

Geraint Llyngesic,  King of Dumnonia.

Iddon Ap Ynyr,  King of Gwent.

At this time, the Seaxons were not staging any major incursions into Briton territory apart from sporadic raiding. Reluctantly, the Round Table Council have come to the conclusion that they cannot dislodge the Seaxons from the South and East coast, with more arriving every month. Arthur tells the Council that he cannot go on the offensive, lacking the troops to do so.

The decision is made to stay on the defensive with the border along the river Trent and Ouse being patrolled. King Geraint confirmed that his fleet would continue to cover the West Coast in order to deter Irish raiders.

As 488AD commences, the new recruits and Veterans are bought together at Caerleon for formation training. The Commitatus numbers 4,800 men. Arthur is still the Pendragon. By now the Suebians under Rogatainus are an established part of the Army

THE BRITON ARMY; 4,800 = 4.8pts  x 10 = 48 points.

Arthur,s Bucellarii = 400 = 0.4 pts x 10 = 4 pts. 1 stand of Heavy Cavalry @ 4 pts.

Light Cavalry Regulars = 400 = 0.4 pts x 10 = 2 stands of Regular Light Cav @ 2 pts = 4pts.

Line Infantry Veterans = 1,200 = 1.2 pts x 10 = 12 points = 4 stands of Regular Infantry @ 3pts = 12pts.

Auxiliary Infantry ( the Suebians ) = 1,200 = 1.2 pts x 10 = 12 points = 6 stands of Auxilliary Infantry @ 2pts = 12 points.

Regular Lt Infantry Archers = 800 = 0.8 pts x 10 =  8 points = 8 stands of Archers @ 1 point = 8pts.

Arthur @ 3 points.

Owain  @ 2 points.

Rogatainus @ 2 points.

Cadwy @ 1 point.

As the Army trains, raiding and counter-raids continue across the frontier.  Merlin is also using his powers of perception and network of spies to ascertain movements of the enemy. Merlin has quietly warned Arthur that Medreut with Cadwallons help, is fomenting discord among the Kings to the detriment of Arthur’s position as Pendragon.

As April turns into May of 488AD the relative calm at Caerleon is shattered by the unexpected arrival of Tutagaul accompanied by 300 of his Bucellarii and a troop of horse warriors from Gwynedd.

In a hastily assembled Council, Tutagaul relates the events in Alclud. Tutagaul has been deposed in a coup led by a noble named as Caw, assisted by his son Hueil. Both have gained the support of Drest 2nd, a high King of the Picts. Also supporting Caw is Loarn Mac Eric, the High King of the Dal-Riata ( the Scots-Irish ). Loarn has sent Briacat, Grandson of Hengist and son of Pascent!.

The conclusion is reached that Caw will not invade Gwynedd. Einon has a powerful army lately reinforced by troops loyal to Tutagaul. The “ Caledonian “ Army could head south-east to attack the territory of the Votadinii, a Briton tribe on the eastern side of Alclud. The possibility is that the Caledonians could ally with the Seaxons of Lindsey.

Arthur’s mind is set. He is aware that his army is not strong enough for a major offensive, but he cannot let the Caledonians rampage south or link up with the Seaxons. Five days later, the army is marching north to Luguvallium ( Carlisle ). Along the way Arthur has requested troops from Einon, who sends 1,000 Gwynedd Militia backed up with 1,000 troops of Tutagaul,s.

From Luguvallium, the army marches east to Onnum ( an old cavalry fort ). This position is between Lindsey to the south, and any army approaching from the north. Scouts are sent north along Dere Street and The Devils Causeway. It is not long before they come back on lathered horses. The Caledonian Army is a days march away, camped on the north bank of the Coccuueda ( river Croquet ) and spread out east to west across the Causeway road.

The next day Arthur orders a short march and encampment with the troops sleeping under arms. The following morning the army, in full panopoly appears at the river. Greeting them with a huge roar is an 8,000 strong Caledonian army of Picts, Scots-Irish, and bolstered by 2,000 Saxons. Once again, Arthur is facing an enemy army across a small river in desolate country, quietly praying that his men will prevail.———-.

THE ALLIED CALEDONIAN ARMY; 8,000 = 8pts x 10 = 80 points.

Chieftain;  Caw @ 2 points.

THE PICTS 2,300 = 2.3 pts x 10 = 23pts.

9 stands of Pict warriors    @ 2 points = 18 points.

2 stands of archers/crossbows @ 1pt = 2 points.

2 stands of Light Cavalry @ 1pt = 2 points.

1 Warleader, ( Hueil )  @ 1 point.

THE DAL RIATA ( Scots-Irish ); 3,500 = 3.5pts x 10 = 35 points.

12 stands of warriors  @ 2 pts = 24 points.

4 stands of Light Chariots  @ 2 pts = 8 points.

2 stands of Light Archers  @ 1pt = 2 points.

1 Warleader ( Briacat )  @ 1 point.

THE SAXONS; 2,000 = 2pts x 10 = 20 points.

9 stands of warriors  @ 2 points = 18 points.

1 stand of Light Archers  @ 1 point

1 Warleader ( Aelfhere )  @ 1 point.

GWYNEDD MILITIA: 1,000 = 1 point x 10 = 10 points.

4 stands of Militia Infantry @ 2pts = 8 points.

2 stands of Light Infantry Archers @ 1pt = 2points.

ALCLUD MILITIA; 1,000 = 1 point x 10 = 10 points.

Tutagaul  @ 1 point.

2 stands of Light Cavalry @ 1pt = 2 points.

1 stand of Light Archers  @ 1 point.

3 stands of Militia Infantry @ 2pts = 6 points.

As the two armies face each other,the archers of both sides pepper each other with missiles. The Briton army wins the missile exchange. It is to much for the Picts, and Caw, seeing his warriors starting to surge signals his warriors to attack. As the Picts charge the Dal and the Saxons follow. The Chariots of the Scot- Irish try to skirmish and, although the river is shallow the chariots are either immobilised by missiles or forced away from the battle. 

Arthur’s infantry have the advantage of ground on their side of the river and after a long fight the Caledonians and Saxons start to tire. Finally the Caledonian army starts to break and Arthur unleashes his Cavalry.————-.

GAMING THE BATTLE.

* The battle is played for 8 Game-Turns.

* The Britons retain the Initiative Point for the entire battle.

* The Caledonian Army moves first on the first Game-Turn. Game-Turns 2 to 8 are diced for as given in the rules.

* The river Coquet does not impede movement. The river is very shallow in June. Stands may also fire and engage in Close Combat with no restrictions while positioned in the river.

* The Britons win any tied results.

HISTORICAL NOTE;

When Nennius wrote of Arthur’s seventh battle he said;

  “ Septimum in Silva Celidonis quae Bryttanicae cacoit celidan nominatur “.

This translates as; “ The seventh in the wood of celandine which is called the cacoit of Brittanicae celidan”.

All the established Historians put the battle north of Carlisle in the Caledonian Forest. I’m not so sure.

Celandine is a plant that looks like a giant buttercup. This plant grows in abundance on the eastern side of Britain because of the soil.

The word “Cat Coit” is given as Cacoit and I looked around the Ordinance Survey Map of Roman Britain, to see if I could find any similarity with Cacoit, and found the river Coquet. In a document called “ The Ravenna Cosmology” circa 700AD, the river is called the Coccuueda.

In a paper by the Bernician Studies Group published in 2021, the river was also called the Cocwudu. The river rises in the Cheviot Hills and flows eastward toward the east coast. As it does so the land becomes more open.

The Roman Road of Dere Street crossed the Coquet from Corbridge on Hadrians Wall, all the way north to the Antonine Wall. Dere Street ran through hill country. The Devils Causeway is further east, running from Corbridge, north- east, up to the Roman port of Certisnassa ( Berwick- upon- Tweed ). There was a further road running east to west connecting the two main roads. North of the Coquet the land gradually rises up toward Rothbury Forest and the start of the Cheviot Hills.

Why would the Caledonians fight here. My reasoning is;

* The Picts were concentrated on the eastern side of Caledonian and had the use of Roman roads which went through Briton territory.

* The Scots-Irish could not move by sea southward because of the Briton fleet guarding the west coast. They would move across country via Loch Lomond.

* The Caledonians would not want to move directly into Briton territory down the west side of Brittania.

* The ground within the Votadini territory was more open with settlements ripe for raiding.

* The possibility of joining up with Germanic groups to create a larger force to invade the Briton Provinces.

POSTSCRIPT;

Caw and Hueil are both historical characters. Pascent and Briacat are not verified although I have found their names given in historical listings.

During the last part of the battle Hueil was captured. Many of the Picts and Scots Irish were killed during the pursuit. Arthur carried on this action for two days before calling a halt. Caw and Briacat had managed to escape along with a number of Saxons. Arthur did not want the army to fragment because of the continual threat of Seaxon incursions.

On his return to Caerleon, Arthur encamps his army at Deva ( Chester ) where he meets up with King Einon. The King requests that Hueil be handed to him for royal execution. This is because Einon is of the Votodinii and wants revenge for the death of his kin.

Arthur was hoping to use Hueil as a bargaining chip with Caw, but realised that he needs to keep the peace with the Briton Kings knowing that treachery is ever-present. Einon has Hueil taken to Ruthin ( Castel coch yng Ngwern-for ) which is regarded as a mystical place. Tutagaul, in a ritual execution has Hueil put to death.

Note: There is a stone marker in Ruthin marking the place where Hueil was executed.

Arthur continues his march to Caerleon knowing he has only gained a breathing space for the Briton Kingdoms. Merlin has foretold of the storm coming once again.

Having made it back to Alclud, Caw calls all his supporters together. Realising that Arthur has not razed his territories, Caw uses the situation to point out how weak the Briton army has become. It can win battles but cannot win Wars! Now is the time to plan an attack on Arthur’s stronghold in league with the Seaxons and swears revenge for his son!

THE SET-UP;

The figures used are mostly from Hat Industries, using the Goth and Roman Medium Infantry sets. The Picts are from Red Box. The chariots are converted from Hat British Chariots..The Roman Light cavalry are from Hat and the Native Light Cavalry are from Hats Gothic Cavalry.

Arthur and some of the Roman light archers and the Bucellarii are from Newline designs, Nearly all the standards are homemade except for Arthur’s standard and the Bucellari shields which are from Little Big Man Decals. The shields are from Magister Militum.

The hills are a mixture of those made by Brian of Essex Miniatures and home made ones from cork tiles. The trees are made by various manufactures, Guagemaster being one of them. The road and river were cut from thin card. The battle was laid out on a 3 foot ( 90 cm ) x 2 foot (60 cm ) board of 2” ( 50cm ) squares.