100 years war week - Battle of Mauron

 Whilst on tour visiting the combat of the thirty site near Josselin we also visited the battlefield of Mauron on the return trip after lunch. Much of the site today is under housing but the road to Rennes and St Levy still exist so it is easily placed. The manor near  the bridge still remains but is un-accessible and private, however the river Ivel can be walked in summer as it is not wide nor very marshy and has a walking path along the St Levy side. 

Brembili Manor stables

The memorial on the crossroads at Mauron. To the left to Rennes, to the right St Levy. 

We play tested the scenario on the tabletop with a very narrow win to the French, both sides were down to last point rolls and army break. The French suffered from a large number of ones….. 5 in fact for the division movements which allowed the English archers to heavily toll upon the French cavalry. Eventually the MAA met and the French made good use of a number of good rolls finally! 

Agincourt Anniversary refight

 Agincourt! 

My mate David and I have planned 100YW tours and wargames this week. We visited a number of chateaux, two battlefield walks and 100YW sites in old Maine, Normandy and Anjou. 

We also planned and played three 100YW games from all three phases of the war, play testing a upcoming rule set that should be published early next year. It is very morale based and takes time to break the morale of the of each base (representing 500 men) as attached leaders can roll off disorder and morale. 

We organised the English into three battles, the French into 3 also, but only committing two battles with the first assault, one of these divisions needed success to win an outright victory, the last division being only deployed if the French assault fails and a successful roll is made. I was very keen to roll out all of my 100YW armies for our games. 

Enjoy the pics 

The English happy few 

The French first Battle 

The field 

The flanking move fails ….again 

The French start to crowd but head towards the English MAA

French line starts to break up from the archery 

The cavalry finally retire 

The English MAA await with the Norman Allied contingent 

Gird your loins here they come! 

The retired cavalry let the archers shoot into the flanks again 

The MAA clash 

Heavy fighting continues 

French MAA reach breakpoint 

Generals attach to rally men on both sides 

Holes appear in the French line as the morale collapses 

The Duke de Harcourt falters and is captured

Pierre the Alençon almost cuts his way through to the king, just like the actual battle 

Then break, the French army retires and history repeats itself, the third French division fails to activate and it’s game over! 

Cheers

Matt

French HYW mounted crossbow

 French HYW Mounted Crossbow 

Additions to the Hundred Years War collection. The mounted crossbowmen were often in the free companies, but some are mentioned in the Manche arrie Ban for the battle of Formigny. The miniatures are from the Perry range, I have another base to complete of mounted archers then onto Scottish nobles and men at arms. 

Cheers

Matt

Joan d’Arc

 Jeanne d’Arc

Next off the desk is a Perry Miniatures Jeanne d’Arc miniature. I really like this miniature but it needed something on the base to help lift it more so I added archer stakes and arrows. The flag is a photocopy of the Perry supplied one, then repainted, not 100% happy with it and I may replace it at some time in the future with my interpretation of it or just purchase a pre made one. Another entry in the analogue painting challenge. 

Jeanne d’Arc 

Joan d’Arc

Cheers

Matt

Longbow vs Armour 1418 English Longbow Myth

 English longbow myth busted

As I have long suspected from my reading that the myth of the high poundage longbow piercing quality armour covered with a quilted gambeson has been busted........ 

Reading the historical documents from the late Hundred Years’ War it was not the piercing but the kinetic energy and the morale that done the damage to any charge, multiple hits like hail stones would of been most disconcerting to advancing French, English or Scots, Italians et al under the hail of the longbow fire. Yes exposed parts would of been pierced, but in the majority a well armoured knight needed to put up with the hail of shots that would of caused blunt force trauma rather than actual piercing of the armour. Morale was the big factor and effected the charge more than I think we can possibly imagine. 

I was surprised that Toby Capewell had not done this type of experiment before, especially when it came to the quilted gambesons effectiveness in reducing kinetic energy. I have used one over my armour for 10 years or more, the reduction of a blow from a two handed weapon is worth the extra heat.

Enjoy the video amd let me know what you think 

Video presented by Todds Workshop 

Can arrows defeat armour?

Cheers

Matt

One Hundred Years War Chevaliers et Écuyers du Maine VIII

 Knights and Squires of Maine

Another completed base of French for my post Agincourt French HYW army, these men are from the baronies of Chateau-Gontier and Châteaubriant, again Perry Plastics

"Wargaming History”

cheers

Matt

One Hundred Years War Chevaliers et Écuyers du Maine VII

 Chevaliers et écuyers du Maine

Based a number of figures in this last week or so as my basing material has arrived, a lot more coming as I have completed all of the English foot and some more French foot for my armies. 

I think I need another three or four boxes to complete the army completely, two cavalry, one french foot plus some metals to flesh out some commands etc.

"walk the battlefield in the morning, wargame in the afternoon"™ 

From Caesar to World War Two

cheers

Matt

100 Years War French Longbow II

French HYW Longbowmen

French longbowmen in skirmish order, the 60 x 60 base fits into the castle towers I am building for my big terrain project this year. lots more on the way for the next week or so before my birthday parade! 

French Perry Archers, Agincourt plastics range

"Wargaming History"™ 

From Caesar to the Cold War

cheers

Matt

100 years war French Chevaliers and écuyers du Maine VI

French Chevaliers and Écuyers du Maine   

Finally completed some stuff of my own this week some Perry 28mm chevaliers for my French Armagnac western HYW post Agincourt army based on the armies in Maine and Anjou.  The first of the 20 odd figures coming. All Perry plastics as always lovely to paint.

Jean de Boissière, seigneur de la Boissière, Maine
In the company Guy de Laval, at La Brossinere, Le Mans, Fresnay, Baugé, and Verneuil, owed thirty days service La Gravel chateau.

Jean de Quatrebarbes 1407 Motte of Ampoigné , Motte-Sorchin, Genest , others still in Cosmes , Cossé , Astillé (fealty to Baron of Chateau Gontier-Sceau 1441). His father Pierre armorial seal 1372 seal is mentioned as "où étoit empreinte la figure d'une tête d'homme portant une grande moustache fourchue".
Pierre , his son, Jean, Gilles and his grandson Jean, all died at the battle of Verneuil 

Fought at Baugé, La Brossinière, Sainte-Suzanne, Verneuil where he died, in the company of Guy de Laval.

Guy d’Orenges,Seigneur de la Feuillée, la motte d’Orenges, Saint Jean Mayenne.
At Baugé, La Brossinière, Sainte-Suzanne, Verneuil, Vassal de Guy Laval

 

Bertrand de Parthenay, Seigneur de Soubise
At La Brossinière, Sainte-Suzanne, Verneuil, Vassal de Guy Laval

Lancelot de Rouvray, écuyer, seigneur de Fournes
At La Brossinière, Sainte-Suzanne, killed at Verneuil, Vassal de Guy Laval

Guillaume de Sacé, écuyer, sire de Brain-sur-Allonnes, château Sacé (destroyed 1361)
At La Brossinière, Sainte-Suzanne, killed at Verneuil, Vassal de Guy Laval

Jean L'enfant, écuyer seigneur de the Patrière and Cimbré,
At La Brossinière, Sainte-Suzanne, killed at Verneuil, Vassal de Guy Laval

Jean de Foucault, écuyer, seigneur du Cerisier, Maine
At La Brossinière, Sainte-Suzanne, Saint James, Le Mans, Orleans, Vassal de Guy Laval

"walk the battlefield in the morning, wargame in the afternoon"™ 

From Caesar to World War Two

Cheers 

Matt