Today we had a sort of Crusader battle between the Kingdom of Jerusalem and the Fatamids. Tony asked me to make the lists based on the figures he had, so please don't say the mix of troops is not as historical as it could be!!!
Lawrence and I had the Fatimids - Tony the Kingdom of Jerusalem. The Fatimids got to be attackers.
The armies (10mm) Crusaders to the left.
I had 2 units of skirmishing archers a unit of 'Abid al-shira Spearmen and 2 of formed Sudanese archers, I also had some light Bedouin cavalry and a unit of Syrian Lancers.
Lawrence had more 'Abid al-shira Spears and Bows, together with more Lancers and our unit of Ghulams, together with another unit of Bedouins.
Facing me was 3 units of Frankish knights, some dismounted Hospitallers and some foot sergeants.
Lawrence faced mounted Templars, Outremer knights and some Turcopoles (those in the second line looking like mounted sergeants are them!) He also faced some Crossbowmen , foot men-at-arms and sergeants.
I started by sending my skirmishers into the wood, I used my 'On my command, unleash hell' and got a 1!!! My 4 dice failed to hit anything!!! (Lawrence had exactly the same on the right!)
However, the Franks withdrew towards the centre to avoid any more shooting!
On the right, Lawrence had sent his Light Cavalry to outflank the Christians, but Tony countered them with his Knights. The Templars charged the Ghulams.
On my wing, the rather clumped Crusaders advanced on my 'Abid al-shira.
My skirmishers would have to move to harass the Crusaders now!
Amazingly, the Ghulams won, driving the Templars back into the Knights behind!
The Syrian Lancers only drew against the Religious order infantry.
The Frankish crossbowmen drove Lawrence's 'Abid al-shira archers back, with heavy damage!
My 'Abid al-shira stood back - hoping the Frankish knights would charge!
They continued advancing, but my archery drove the Hospitaler infantry back into the unit behind, damaging both!
Lawrence, as we have seen, was holding up the Frankish troops well...
In the centre, he had a solid line with my troops.
My Light troops were leaving the wood.
I tried a low level pic on Lawrence's wing!
Next turn, the Ghulams broke the Templars, but the Ghulams were pretty wrecked.
One of my 'Abid al-shira bow units was destroyed by the Hospitallers.
The cursed Crossbowmen destroyed one of Lawrence's, too!
Our centre was looking decidedly ropey!
Some of Lawrence's Lancers drove back some Templar foot and drove them into the following dismounted sergeants, each lost 1 Stamina!!!
Lawrence's 'Abid al-shira spearmen charged the Frankish Crossbowmen and routed them.
On my wing, the massed Frankish Knights attacked, beating back my Spearmen, and the Archers behind.
Back on Lawrence's wing, his Lancers broke the Templar foot!
Tony charged his 'Turcopoles' into the damaged Syrian lancers.
His French Knights charged and broke the last of the brave Ghulams.
On the left in this picture, you can see Tony charged my Bedouins, who evaded, and then my archers ambushed the Knights from the wood, allowing my Bedouins to go behind the pinned Knights. One more unit of Skirmishers pinned the Knights who were menacing my 'Abid al-shira Archers.
Lawrence finally got his Bedouins to charge the flank of the 'Turcopoles'.
On my wing, my Bow armed Skirmishers actually broke the Knights!
The Bedouin attack broke the 'Turcopoles'.
Back in the centre, Lawrence's 'Abid al-shira Spearmen broke some dismounted Sergeants with an amazing die roll!!!
For some reason, Tony didn't try to extricate his 'Hero' from the melee? (Hmm!)
The King of Jerusalem himself charged his Knights into my Archers in the wood, but, already weakened, they broke.
One last flurry for the Franks! Tony charged a weakened Lancer unit, beating them badly, so a supporting Lancer unit broke too!!!
That was the end of a turn and we found the Fatimids had 2 Reputation left, the Franks -5!!
A great victory for the Fatimids!
Poor Tony, the dice really let him down at times!!!
