The Battle of the Chinorro Hills,an Italian Wars scenario for Pike and Shotte

Almost 6 months ago, I posted a report on a Italian Wars game at Steve's. (link)   Following that inconclusive clash the Franco-Swiss force had fallen back across the Borgogno hills, with the Imperial force of the Duke of Tempranillo  following them.  Hoping to catch his opponent off guard Le Compte de Carignan had halted and then marched towards the approaching Imperialists.  When they were sighted, crossing the Chinorro Hills, Carignan deployed Gamay on the left, then Carignan's command, with the Swiss under Landroter next and Merlot on the right wing.

The armies deploy

For his part Tempranillo had deployed with Trebbiano's cavalry on his right, then his own command of  arquebusiers and pikemen, with Graf von Spatburgunder's landsknechts and then Count Barbera's cavalry on the left.  Tempranillo's plan was to take the low hill in the centre with his arquebusiers and hold the narrow gap between it and the wood with his pikes.  The lansdknechts were to advance and deal with the Swiss, supported by Barbera's cavalry.    Trebbiano was to hold the right against the French cavalry, covering the flank of Tempranillo's infantry.

The battle did not start well for Barbera as part of his cavalry ignored his order to advance, leaving one unit of gendarmes close to the French cavalry and unsupported.  However, Signora Fortuna seemed to be smiling on Barbera as Gamay's cavalry remained rooted to the spot.  Tempranillo had no such problems with his arquebusiers who quickly established themselves on the central hill and prepared to defend it against Carignan's crossbowmen.  However, Spatburgunder's landsknechts advanced only slowly and the two units got in each other's way passing through the gap by the wood.

Temparanillo's men advance

Carignan had his own problems; Lord Randroter was once again proving difficult.  As usual the main stumbling block was money, this month's pay was late and veiled threats had been made about the Swiss returning home.  Using his courtier's charm, Carignan at last persuaded Landroter to stay with the army for another two weeks and in the meantime his participation in the day's battle would be 'much appreciated' (ie there would be a 'bonus').  At least Merlot's cavalry were following orders and moving forward at speed against Trebbiano's force.

Barbera's gendarmes take on Gamay's men at arms

Barbera had at last got his men moving, the gendarmes in particular now keen to attack.  They first clashed with Gamay's leading unit of men at arms and quickly scattered them.  Seeing a unit of gendarmes in front of them, the Imperialists charged into them as well.  The French gendarmes provided far tougher opposition, but in the end they too gave way routing back towards their own lines.  Barbera's men, now isolated and weakened by their losses  were in a rather precarious position, not helped by the moves of a unit of Swiss halberdiers which was attempting to work round onto their flank.

The first clash between Merlot and Trebbiano

On the Imperialist right, Trebbiano was trying to hold back Merlot's men.  After some skirmishing between the opposing units of light cavalry, the men at arms joined the fray.  Initially, the Imperialists gained the upper hand, driving back their French opponents.  However, before they could recover from the melee they were hit by a unit of French gendarmes.  This proved too much and they routed.  The rot was stopped by Imperialist gendarmes who charged the victorious French gendarmes and after a fierce struggle forced them to fall back.  Harassed by the Imperialist light cavalry the gendarmes lost all order and continued to fall back.  Their destruction was completed by Trebbiano himself, who, galloping over to his reserve unit of gendarmes, led them in an unstoppable charge which drove the hapless gendarmes from the field.

The Imperialist halberdiers attack the French crossbowmen

In the centre, Carignan and Tempranillo were urging their men forward. The Imperialist arquebusiers  won the race onto the central hill and their fire halted the French crossbowmen in their tracks.  A second unit of crossbowmen attempted to force a path through the gap between the hill and a wood, but they were met by a charge from a unit of Imperialist halberdiers.  These tough fighters made short work of the crossbowmen who turned and ran for their own lines.  Carried away with their success, the halberdiers pursued the fleeing French, only to be hit by a unit of French pikemen.  The much outnumbered halberdiers were driven back with very heavy casualties and played no further part in the battle.  In their turn, the French were charged by Imperialist pikemen and a prolonged melee took place.  Eventually, the French had had enough and fell back.  Determined not to over reach himself, Tempranillo ordered his pikemen to stand and recover their order before they advanced, trusting his arquebusiers to keep the French in check.

Swiss pikemen force the Imperialist cavalry to fall back

Tempranillo prepares to lead forward his pikemen to repel the French advance

Further to the Imperialist left, the Swiss and landsknechts had eventually begun to advance.  The smaller Swiss pike block outpaced their companions and pushed back a unit of Barbera's cavalry; the cavalry unwilling to charge the phalanx of pikes.  A unit of Imperialist arquebusiers also fell back before the Swiss and a gap opened up in the Imperialist line.  Fortunately, Spatburgunder had a unit of landsknechts on hand to plug that gap.  A fierce melee followed as the two between the two opposing pike blocks pushed home.  Although the initiative swung back and forth  the decision eventually went the way of the Imperialists.  However, these now found themselves 'out on a limb'.  To their front were Gamay's cavalry and the Swiss halberdiers, the second Swiss pike block had now advanced beyond them and was heading for the remainder of Spatburgunder's command.  Their nearest friendly unit were Barbera's gendarmes who were gradually falling back to reform after their earlier exertions.  The landsknecht commander eventually decided that the best course of action was to fall back in concert with the gendarmes.  To the left of the Imperialist gendarmes had been a unit of men at arms, but they were scattered by a charge from Gamay's final unit of gendarmes which followed up this success and moved forward towards Barbera's rallying units.  Disaster was averted by confusion in the French ranks.  Gamay was far away, trying to rally the survivors of the earlier clashes.  Imperialist light cavalry were hovering on the flanks of the gendarmes, peppering them with shot.  No one seemed to be taking charge and whilst they dithered the Imperialists regrouped.

Gamay's gendarmes drive back Barbera's men at arms

Urged on by Landroter the large Swiss pike block swept forward crushing a unit of arquebusiers which happened to be in their way.  Spatburgunder ordered his last reserve to stop them and a second mighty clash of pike took place.  Losses were heavy on each side and initially the Swiss were gaining the initiative.  Summoning their last reserves of energy the landsknechts halted the Swiss push and then moved forward themselves.  Slowly, step by step, the Swiss fell back, the landsknechts keeping up the pressure.

The unstoppable Swiss?

Irresistible force and immovable object

Surveying the field, Carignan saw he had done all that he could.  On the left, Merlot's attack had stalled and his men were now in danger of being surrounded.  In the centre, his own attack had failed and the Swiss had again failed to be the battle winners they claimed to be.  Gamay's men had also taken a beating.  His best option was to fall back while he had strength remaining to deter any close pursuit.  For his part Tempranillo also was keen for the battle to die down.  All his troops needed time to reform from the heavy fighting; any pursuit would have to be undertaken on the morrow.

Merlot's command (by trees), surrounded by Trebbiano's units

Thanks once again to Steve for hosting the game.