The Battle of Pianura Padana

 Hostilities have resumed in GHQ after a six week break caused by a combination of the Coronovirus, a holiday, visiting grandchildren and a weekend in Herefordshire! It's been as hot as hell of late, so as a nod to the heatwave Phil and I decided on a run out for our Italian Wars armies using our variant of Neil Thomas's Ancient and Medieval Rules. As you'd expect it's an entirely fictitious battle, as the title would have told you. As is usual a briefly labelled photomontage will hopefully convey the ebb and flow of the conflict over our usual twelve turns ~

Having heard mass at a nearby chapel the Papal army moves off to confront the Florentines.

After breaking his fast, Don Phillipe orders his Florentines forward on the enemy.

With his Condetteri on both flanks Cesare Bicclione feels secure. On his right the heavies move forward to threaten the enemy.

Don Phillipe has deployed handgunners supported by knights to hold his right flank and deter the enemy's force from attack. (More In Command dice in early moves might have helped me!)

The respective knights move steadily towards each other on the opposite flank.

The clash of man and beast begins. Steel rings on steel, cries and shrieks rent the air!(A bit of literary fluff!)

Despite the carnage on the flank the infantry of both armies manoeuvres steadily while artillery shot causes the odd loss!

In the vineyard the Florentines' handgunners move cautiously forward.

Fighting on the flank is fierce but largely inconclusive, with Don Phillipe's mounted crossbowmen the only losers. 

In the centre the infantry are closing with each other. The Florentines' shot causes some loss but the solid Papal infantry move determinedly forward.

On the far flank Cesare Bicclione has at last moved up his pike and crossbows in support of the reluctant Elmetti.

The struggle in the centre begins with a clash of halberdiers. Early success there for the Florentines blunts Cesare's attack.

Finally emboldened by the pike block support Cesare's Elmetti thunder forward on the outnumbered enemy. The handgunners must feel intimidated as they lurk inactive amongst the vines!

The battle rages all across the plain now and losses for both sides are mounting.

Sensing events swinging his way at last, Cesare moves to order his gunners to redouble their efforts against the Florentines' pike block to their front.

Seeing his left flank broken and his centre threatened from front, flank and rear Don Phillipe concedes defeat and his forces begin to withdraw where they can, while elsewhere the slaughter continues until exhausted men and beasts can do no more...