Early Polish III/63b v Teutonic Order IV/30 Feb 2020

So fast-forward a millenia or more and break open the knights.  That was the plan anyway as those Pesky Teutons have more knights than you can shake a stick (or a spear) at.  They even have knights on knights these guys (they call them Double knights apparently).

The Poles have a few dandy knights themselves (All the knights were looking splendid curtesy of Paddys expert painting skills.  I have to say that I always feel a little in awe of his perfectly painted miniatures.  …if it is possible for a 5 ft 8 inch human to stand in awe of 15mm of lead).

Heroic General holding it together single handedly...

But onto the battle.  I was the defender and threw down a Marsh, forest and a hill to hopefully slow down the impending thunder of a full on Knights charge.   Paddy had the tough choice between Forest and marsh to form up on/next to.   He chose to form up on the edge of the forest.  So I set up my troops with knights and bow on my Left to cover the clear ground where surely his Knights would favour.  With my heavier foot, psiloi and another bow formed up on my right to head towards the forest.

So with little choice Paddy set up much as I expected.  My first pips were poor and allowed  me only to elongate my battle line.   Paddy took advantage of my hesitancy and sent his first wave of knights to get out in front of my Heavy infantry and away from the massed bows I had placed on my left flank.

My Spears fought admirably.  Knocking back The Teutonic general and one single knight, then killing another.  This left the knights a little isolated as the supporting solid bows were making slow ground in the forest.

This action meant the banks of Teutonic knights that started on the left were now down to three and I was keen to engage there with bows followed by my knights.  But I could not press forward in time and my general who had ploughed in to support my spear was now attracting the attention of multiple waves of Teutonic Knights.   My 1-0 up turned to 3-1 down as slowly but surely the advantage of the deeper knight formations paid dividends.  Two knights and a spear fell as the Teutons pressed hard to focus on my Knight general.  But on he fought…

Things were looking really dire for me.  Then hope!  First my heavy foot managed to tin-open another knight unit, before as if from a deep slumber my bows on the left emerged from nowhere to let fly at another Knight unit that was pinned down with nowhere to run to.  Back to 3-3.

Battle lines shattered and pips hard to come by for both sides it had a feel of a real dogfight.  My centre had all but disintegrated.  Held by the heroic feats of my General who had been pretty much single handedly occupying three knight units (two of them doubles) for the past three bounds.  But all good things must come to an end, and in this case this was true for my heroic general finally overcome and surrounded he fell along with another spear and the Teutons were worthy winners 5 (inc General) v 3.

But to no avail, the Teutons win the day.

Early Polish III/63b v Teutonic Order IV/30. 3 v 5 inc General