Last Monday we gathered on a cold evening to recreate the Battle of Northam from 1069 on our tabletop. We used my 28mm sized figures and Impetus 2 Rules.
Both sides faced off across a valley and with only a few hours of daylight left and the fate of William's fledgling Kingdom in the balance went at it!
It was not long before archers and javelin men were exchanging fire and the Brenton Horsemen tried end the battle swiftly by rolling up the impertinent invaders. charged forward! The mass of horsemen was broken up by a wall of spear and thrown back with heavy losses!
The battle now turned into an infantry slugfest! A grinding clash of shield walls occurred in the centre of the line with the Normans slowly giving way.
The Normans left flank scored success against the Godwinson's Irish Allies, led by archers the local Fyrd pushed forward.
Gritty hard fought melees were now occurring all along the line and both sides believed they were on the brink of victory! The whole battle line started to pivot around the central units, the Norman right pulling back while their left advanced!
The coming of darkness ended the battle and the fighting subsided.
Brian of Brittany had failed to destroy the Raiders and capture their ships but importantly he was not defeated, King Harold's Sons had not been defeated but their grievous losses and failure to establish a base for themselves on mainland England meant their attempt to regain their Father's Crown was over, for now!
A DRAW!
For scenario details, lots more pictures a bit of a history lesson and more visit the TSOG Blog…
link
Some Pictures;
Our Battlefield Raiders to the right and the Normans to the left…
A few final taunts are exchanged before the biffo begins…
Brian of Brittany urging his men forward…
Huscarls engage and defeat some Fyrd…
…while more warriors come to grips with a Band of Select Fyrd they were not so fortunate!
With darkness gathering some Huscarls take a pounding from a Band of Anglo Saxons!
