Save the Sacred Tree

In 772, fed up with Saxon raids, Charlemagne launches an invasion of Saxon territory to bring them to heel.

Charlemagne’s first target is the Saxon sacred tree Irminsal near modern Paderborn. Our game assumes this is an advance force and so the Franks are cavarly-heavy up against Saxon defenders mostly on foot. The game is played using Comitatus rules — again play-testing the draft new edition.

Albbi, holding the Saxon right, forms his men into shieldwall, their flank anchored on woods and further protected by light infantry. The Franks advance quickly, their cavalry approaching perilously close to Irminsal — the Saxon sacred tree.

Widukind in the centre and Hathagat on the Saxon left, advance quickly to save Irminsal from Charlemagne’s cavalry. Charlemagne realises he will not be able to take the tree in a coup de main so he withdraws. As he does he is badly wounded by a lucky shot from the supporting Saxon archers.

Meanwhile battle is joined on the Saxon right. Worad leads his Frankish infantry to charge Albbi’s shieldwall. To make matters worse for the Saxons, Adalgisile has managed to lead some Frankish cavalry through boggy ground which the Saxons (misled by the umpire) had assumed to be impassable to cavalry.

The Franks get the best of the combat, slowly pushing the Saxons back. When Adalgisile’s cavalry join in, Albbi’s Saxon shieldwall begins to crumble.

In the nick of time, Widukind’s Saxon infantry surge out to hit Worad’s Franks in the flank, routing their right-hand unit.

Despite Worad’s loss, he and Adalgisile break Albbi’s Saxon right wing and chase them in hot pursuit.

Widukind dismounts his Comitatus to defend Irminsal.

Meanwhile Hathagat holds the Saxon left firm against Charlemagne’s cavalry. When the Frankish cavalry charge the Saxons see them off easily.

With dusk falling Irminsal is still in Saxon hands. Their right wing has been broken and the Franks are reforming in a position to move in on the Saxon centre. However Irminsal is firmly held by Widukind’s dismounted Comitatus and Hathagat’s contingent on the Saxon left is at full strength and in good order.

Although the Franks have suffered less casualties than the Saxons, Charlemagne has suffered a serous wound and the Franks will begin an orderly withdrawal to their camp leaving the field to the Saxons who can claim a minor victory due to the fact that they have saved Irminsal from destruction — at least for now.

The revised Comitatus rules worked really well. The next play-test will be Byzantines vs Arabs.