top of page

Pavia the other way round

Writer's picture: Simon MacDowallSimon MacDowall

Almost a year has passed since we first re-fought Pavia (1525) on the wargames table.


Earlier this week we gave it another go. For variety we swapped the sides, with the French this time advancing through Visconti Park to reach the town.


Robert de la Marck commanding the French left advanced rapidly, throwing his arquebusiers forward to occupy a wood from where they hoped to discomfort Charles de Lannoy’s mounted men-at-arms. Their first volley did just that (3 sixes rolled on 3 dice) but, stunned by their own success, they achieved little more after that.


De la Marck’s pikemen followed up in an echelon attack from the left.


The French got their guns into action first. Richard de la Pole (the rightful King of England), commanding the French right, held back to give the guns a clear field of fire, positioning his pikemen ready to advance and take advantage of (what he hoped would be) a blistering barrage. Unfortunately the badly laid guns made little impression on the advancing Imperialists. When the Imperialist guns came into action their fire was more effective.


De la Pole sent his arquebusiers forward but they were outshot by Alfonso de Avalos’ more numerous Spanish. The Spanish were soon able to bring fire to bear on de la Pole’s pike blocks causing disruption in the ranks.


The pikemen in both armies advanced on each other in the centre with the French suffering casualties from the Imperialist guns and arquebusiers. On the French right de la Pole held back due to the casualties inflicted on his men by the Spanish arquebusiers. Seizing the initiative, Georg von Frundsberg led his men forward in a devastating charge.


Frundsberg’s Imperialists threw back the French pikemen and as de la Pole joined in the fray he was killed (two 1s rolled). The morale of the French right collapsed and the men began streaming to the rear. King Henry VIII of England will be most pleased to hear of de la Pole’s death.


In the centre, the push of pike went back and forth with neither side gaining a clear advantage.

It was down to de la Marck to salvage the situation for the French. He personally led his men forward to chase off the enemy light horse and arquebusiers protecting the Imperialist right. As his pikemen surged forward flush with victory they were charged by de Lannoy’s men-at-arms.

Despite being in disarray the French pikemen held off the initial Imperialist cavalry charge but a second charge wounded de la Marck and the French morale began to waiver.


As Frundsberg’s victorious men broke through the French left, King Francis led his gendarmes forward. If the French king could catch the pursuing Imperialists whilst in disarray from their pursuit, he would have a good chance of shattering them. Alas! The gendarmes were slow to move and they failed to contact before the Imperialists had time to re-form. It was time for the French to rally their surviving men and retire from the field.


The game was played using Tree of Battles rules with amendments to take into consideration the troops of 1525 Italy and the larger-based units fielded by Martin Waller who hosted the game with his beautifully painted Renaissance figures. I have posted the amended QRS we used on my website in the Tree of Battles Rules Section (free download)

31 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


  • Facebook Black Round
  • Twitter Black Round
  • Instagram - Black Circle
bottom of page