Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Battle at Kolbäcksån 1467 an Hail Caesar AAR



Inspired by the Baltic Crusade game we run some time ago I and Jonas decided to run a Kalmar Union War game in our on going 1466/67 campaign using the Hail Caesar rules as a change from our Dux Britanniarum/Dux Suecia games. Here follows a AAR.


Background:.The Civil war in Sweden have raged for about two years, The Rebel army was on it´s way to besiege the capital Stockholm, when the Unionist´s advanced with a force inland by Örebro, to Västerås and initiated a Siege of the Rebel held castel in the town. The main part of the rebel army then returned to Västerås to lift the siege, the unionist´s the started a retreat back against Örebro but decided to stop then they crosed the strem "Kolbäcksån" and to prepeare a defence against the approaching rebel army. The union troop started to rawage the the suroundings as several of the estates and farms in the area belonged to the Rebel nobles.



Opposing Armies: As there are no true historical account of which and how many participated in the battle, I have based the army lists on the minis I had available in my collection. The commanders that are mentioned in the sourses are for the Union party Erik Nilsson from the House of Oxenstierna and for the Rebels Nils Bosson Sture from the House of Natt och Dag, Sten Gustavsson from the House of Sture and Erik Axelsson from the House of Tott.


Deployment: When the game starts the Union force have one unit of handgunners, from Kristiren Bengtsson´s command at the farm to try to set it on fire. The Rest of Kristiren Bengtsson´s command are deploued at the bridge. The remaining parts of the Union forces will arrive during the battle.

The Rebel force arrive in the first turn. Exccept for Ivar Axelsson´s command that will arrive in turn 2 or 3.. The rebell had the first turn.

As there had been very good wether the last weeks the fields does not effect the movement, but provide cover from shooting.

The stream "Kolbäcksån" may be crossed at two places, by the bridge or by the ford. To cross the bridge does not effect the movement of the unit. To cross the ford the unit must spend one move action to wade through the water in open order.

The Allmoge troops under command of the rebell leaders Nils Bosson Sture and Sten Sture advanced to cross and engage the Union troops on the other side of the Kolbäcksån.

The Union troops guarding the bridge sen some handgunners forward to slow down the Rebel advance...

As the Rebell commander Ivar Axelsson ordered his Knights and Allmoge troops to advance and follow the other two commands, the Allmoge units refused and declared that they would not participate in todays battle as a couple of month erlier Ivar Axelsson had urged the allmoge NOT to fight the union...

As the Union handgunners fight a deffensive action against Nils Bosson Stures allmoge the Allmoge under command of Sten Sture starts to wade through by the ford...

The rebells think they have an easy victory at hand even though Ivar Axelssons Allmoge just look on. 

But at that moment they can see and heare a force of mounted knechts and Nobles emerge over a hill just in the back of the rebell troops...

Even more union reinforcements arrive as some German and Danish Knechts march along the road to support the hard pressed union troops at the bridge...

The troops guarding the bridge are forced to retreat as the allmoge make good use of their crossbows...

The Union Knights see some easy prey in the approaching allmoge...

The rebel commander Nils Bosson Sture order his Allmoge to leave the bridge and line up and engage the Union Cavalry...

The union foot knechts hurry on to link up to be able to puch back the rebells that pours across the ford...

By the bridge tha Rebell Knights under command of Ivar Axelsson (Tott) charges the German and Danish knechts that are trying to defend the bridge...

The Union Knights hesitate a bit in front of the Allmoge battle line 
that shower them with crossbow bolts... 

The rebel knights swiftly routed the first unit of union knechts and puched forward to engage the second one...

The union mounted knecht and knights took a greate deal of beating by the allmoges crossbow shooting...

The knechts was puched back along the small road by the fearsome rebell knights...

At last the union knights managed to make a charge of the rebel almoge lines that was scatered at once, but as the second unit of union infantry broke the union side had to call it a day...

The command of the upcomming hero Sten Sture...

In a last atempt to even the scores the union knights slaughtered some allmoge...

One a gain a realy good game of Hail Caesar in my favourite wargaming periond the Kalmar Union War:)

We decided to run one more game of HC when I finished the Union infantry I currently working on..


16 comments:

  1. A most excellent write up and images.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Beautiful stuff Michael! Those pike blocks look really fantastic. Great scenario aswell.
    /Mattias

    ReplyDelete
  3. THe game certainly looks great and reads as a good time! Very nicely done, really shows off your work in the era.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Another excellent AAR.

    I just love this project and the terrain is supurb for this.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wonderful looking game and write up! Nice to see your pikes out on the field.

    Christopher

    ReplyDelete
  6. Excellent AAR, figures and scenery:).

    ReplyDelete
  7. A great AAR. You have a fantastic collection of figures and terrain!!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Outstanding stuff! Excellent Hail Caesar AAR --- I do like the rules and you've got a beautiful layout and miniatures here ... just outstanding all around Michael!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Great work all around. A meeting engagement with surprises for both forces. A treat to look at, and play I'm sure!

    ReplyDelete
  10. What a beautiful and colourful collection Michael.
    I too love your pike blocs and terrain.
    Also thanks for the historical background to this.

    Chris

    ReplyDelete
  11. Nice report as always, great figures and terrain too.

    Steve

    ReplyDelete
  12. Stunning pictures and a very entertaining write up. I'm more than impressed by all these expertly painted figures clashing over awesome terrain.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Beautifully shot and a joy to read. Thanks, Michael!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Excellent AAR Michael – thanks for writing it up and hosting the game.

    This was a real nail biter of a game, that swung back and forth a couple of times – very tense, very fun.

    I'm not sure who actually won in the end, but I think it's proof of a great game when you forget such things and the only thing that matters is that you had a good time.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I'm a Swedish wargamer living in England for the last 25 years. I have modelled the Battle of Brunkeberg and I'm currently painting the two armies. How can I send you some pictures? The armies are 6mm Baccus.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Gruvan
      Brunkeberg are a nice wargaming goal that i to Will reach by the end of My project.

      You can mail me at dalauppror@gmail.com

      Best regards Michael

      Delete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.