057.Najera_b_CCW - Variant - WDS Age of Longbow Volume I
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| Rating: | 0 (0) |
| Games Played: | 0 |
| SM: | 2 |
| Turns: | 20 |
| Type: | Stock |
| First Side: | Side_A (ALB1) |
| Second Side: | Side_B (ALB1) |
Date: 3 April 1367 - Size: Medium - Location: Najera, La Rioja, Castile, Spain
Scenario Briefing: Variant - Although England and France had signed the 1360 Treaty of Bretigny, the Castilian civil war between Pedro I and his illegitimate half-brother Henry of Trastamara provided a fresh theatre of war for the numerous mercenary bands. To keep England safe from the powerful Castilian fleet, Edward III encouraged his sons, Edward the Black Prince and John of Gaunt, to lead an army of English, Gascon and other mercenaries to assist Pedro I recover his throne. Meanwhile, Trastamara received assistance from France and the neighboring kingdom of Aragon. While Trastamara expected that the enemy army would advance towards Najera directly from Navarrete, instead the Black Prince conducted a surprise nocturnal flanking march which caught Trastamara's forces unprepared. As things started to go badly, some of Trastamara's troops started to abandon the field or even switch sides, causing further routing and disorder. However, the elite French cavalry fighting alongside Trastamara's forces, fought courageously.
The exact strength of the two sides is uncertain, but it's likely that the Black Prince's army, which fought mostly on foot, numbered at least 10,000 men, perhaps not counting the Castilians loyal to Pedro. According to some accounts, the Trastamaran army may have been only half as large, assuming the potentially large number of mostly poor quality infantry deployed in the rear - but who took little if any part in the battle - are discounted. To make the scenario more balanced - and to reflect the fact that Henry was no fool and unlikely to risk a battle when outnumbered 2:1 - the Trastamaran infantry are present in force but initially fixed. However, their poor quality may mean that they'll potentially be of limited value, even if they see much action before they're swept away in rout.
Since this was a personal civil war between Pedro and his brother and, historically, the survival of Henry of Trastamara was more important than the defeat of his army, neither side can claim a major victory without either killing or capturing the opposing claimant to the Castilian throne. When informed after the battle that Henry had neither been captured or killed, the Black Prince is reputed to have said "Non ay res fait" - nothing has been achieved.
This variant scenario assumes that the Black Prince led his mixed force army advanced towards Najera directly from Navarrete, as the enemy had expected, rather than conducting his historical surprise nocturnal flanking march.
Recommended Rules: [Default]
Note: Side A = Trastamara faction Castilian, French and Aragonese, Side B = Anglo-Gascons (English), Pedro faction Castilian, Navarrese & Majorcans
Suitable for playing either side against the A/I or else Head-To-Head.
Scenario Briefing: Variant - Although England and France had signed the 1360 Treaty of Bretigny, the Castilian civil war between Pedro I and his illegitimate half-brother Henry of Trastamara provided a fresh theatre of war for the numerous mercenary bands. To keep England safe from the powerful Castilian fleet, Edward III encouraged his sons, Edward the Black Prince and John of Gaunt, to lead an army of English, Gascon and other mercenaries to assist Pedro I recover his throne. Meanwhile, Trastamara received assistance from France and the neighboring kingdom of Aragon. While Trastamara expected that the enemy army would advance towards Najera directly from Navarrete, instead the Black Prince conducted a surprise nocturnal flanking march which caught Trastamara's forces unprepared. As things started to go badly, some of Trastamara's troops started to abandon the field or even switch sides, causing further routing and disorder. However, the elite French cavalry fighting alongside Trastamara's forces, fought courageously.
The exact strength of the two sides is uncertain, but it's likely that the Black Prince's army, which fought mostly on foot, numbered at least 10,000 men, perhaps not counting the Castilians loyal to Pedro. According to some accounts, the Trastamaran army may have been only half as large, assuming the potentially large number of mostly poor quality infantry deployed in the rear - but who took little if any part in the battle - are discounted. To make the scenario more balanced - and to reflect the fact that Henry was no fool and unlikely to risk a battle when outnumbered 2:1 - the Trastamaran infantry are present in force but initially fixed. However, their poor quality may mean that they'll potentially be of limited value, even if they see much action before they're swept away in rout.
Since this was a personal civil war between Pedro and his brother and, historically, the survival of Henry of Trastamara was more important than the defeat of his army, neither side can claim a major victory without either killing or capturing the opposing claimant to the Castilian throne. When informed after the battle that Henry had neither been captured or killed, the Black Prince is reputed to have said "Non ay res fait" - nothing has been achieved.
This variant scenario assumes that the Black Prince led his mixed force army advanced towards Najera directly from Navarrete, as the enemy had expected, rather than conducting his historical surprise nocturnal flanking march.
Recommended Rules: [Default]
Note: Side A = Trastamara faction Castilian, French and Aragonese, Side B = Anglo-Gascons (English), Pedro faction Castilian, Navarrese & Majorcans
Suitable for playing either side against the A/I or else Head-To-Head.
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