Peter's Peasant Pilgrims Parade in Palermo

A Headless Body Production

Venue: Lancaster County Convention Center.
Event: Historicon 2024
Theme: Early Medieval, Round 1
Players: Phil Gardocki running Kingdom of Sicily, list 188
               Jeff Wiltrout running Later Crusader, list 195
Game System: L'Art de la Guerre, 15mm, 200 points per side.

It is 1300AD. The year is important in this list as there are 4 major selections based on the year as control of the island changed from Norman to Spanish control. The Sicilians are led by Frederick Tertius. The second of his name and not to be confused with his great grandfather Frederick II, the first of his name, but second king of his line. 

 

The Forces:

But back to the game. The Kingdom of Sicily are led by King Frederick Tertius, Darrell and Darrell (no relation). All are Competent
10 Medium Knights, 8 Impetuous, 6 Elite
6 Almughavars, Medium spearmen, Impact, 2 Elite
3 Crossbowmen, Light Infantry, Crossbow
2 Scouts, Light Cavalry, Javelin
Breakpoint of 21

Facing Tertius is the "Peasant Crusade", led by Peter the Hermit, who is Brilliant, Joel T, the ordinary, and Freddie T, also Ordinary and also included.
4 Medium Knights, Impetuous, 2 Elite
8 Fanatical Pilgrims, Medium Swordsmen, Impetuous
16 Not as well equipped, but just as Fanatical Pilgrims, Levy, Impetuous
4 Slingers, Light Infantry, Sling
6 Boys with sticks, Light Infantry, Javelin
Breakpoint...38

 

Display Conventions: When you see a word bubble like "Ouch!", this implies a disorder from missiles. Letters in parenthesis represent some value change for the specific unit. For commanders it is s for strategist, b for Brilliant, c for Competent and o for Ordinary, u for unreliable. For troops it is e for Elite, and m for Mediocre. Other abbreviations, Hvy Heavy, XB Crossbow, LB, Longbow, Jav Javelin, 2HW 2 Handed Weapons, B Bow, Kn Knight, HKn Heavy Knight, HC Heavy Cavalry, Md Medium, Sgt Sergeants, LC Light Cavalry, Chr Chariot, Cat Cataphract, Pa Pavise, LI, Light Infantry, HG Hand Gun, FKn Foot Knight, Hvy Spear, Heavy Spearmen.

Inappropriately capitalized words are used to highlight terms that are specific to the game. For example Brilliant, Competent and Ordinary have specific game values for the commanders.

"XX" implies a unit killed in that location on that turn.

Any inaccuracies and vagueness as to specific units is to be regarded as fog of war and part of the fun.

 

The Crusaders win the initiative and elect to attack in the plains.

The Crusaders have 38 units. Which means they could deploy board edge to board edge and have 8 elements to spare.

In addition to all those impetuous levy, they have 4 actual knights

The road from Palermo was choked with peasants this day.

Darrel's Almughavars will invest the terrain

While Frederick's knights will barrel down the center.

Darrel's knights will do the same on the right.

The view from the clouds.

Turn 1:
 

The Pilgrims advance a bit. They were hampered by low command points.

Their center advances in an organized fashion. Forming 3 lines. Lights, then Levy, then Swordsmen

Their left advances, pushing their lights in front of them.

The Almughavars advance into the field

Frederick's well pennoned knights advance.

Darrels knights keep pace.

Turn 2:

Ok the boring part is over. It's mass of steel vs mass off flesh.
 

The Crusader foot largely just hold and adjust their lines.

No real advance in the center

or on the left.

The Almughavars clear the fields of pesky lights.

The knights line up for one massive charge.

Darrel's Jintes move for position to threaten the Crusader lights, but out of range.

Turn 3:

Filled with faith of God, the Pilgrim swordsmen attack. One element of Almughavars is routed on contact.

The Crusader knights fill in the gaps

Just one long line of humanity.

Darrel's unengaged Almughavars charge. Another one routs, but another routs his foe.

Their job is to entertain the Crusader right command and give the knights a chance to burst through.

 

The Knights do very well. Trading disorders with Crusader knights, but causing multiple disorders on the Levy. And bursting through in two places.

Darrel's knights burst through in one place, but the Crusader knights are winning their fights.

Turn 4:

The battle is furious and bloody. The Kingdom of Sicily has 13 points towards their breakpoint of 21.

While the Crusaders are at 12 of 38!

All but one Almughavar has been routed.

Several Pilgrims have also left the field.

The first Sicilian knight has routed.

The Sicilians are at 17 of 21

The Crusaders are at 19 of 38

Darrel's last Almughavar scores his only victory.

Frederick's knights pursue new foes.

Darrel's knights are flanked, and so must charge forward!

At 19, the Sicilians are running out of gas.

But the Pilgrims have paid a heavy price at 30

Turn 5:

The Crusaders only need 2 points. The first one is a conformation onto the remaining Almughavar.

Against the Sicilians destroying another Pilgrim and a Crusader knight. But his brother crusader knight holds on with two hits.

To the far right, a Crusader knight flanks a Sicilian, scoring the second point needed to win.  The block of peasant levy, with only a Jintes light horse in view, resolutely advances.

The final score is 21

to 32 (of 38) for the Crusaders

What went wrong?