A Close Affair...

...somewhere in northern Italy. For the most recent encounter between Phil and yours truly here in GHQ we decided to look out Italian Wars collections and play out an encounter battle using Hail Caesar V.2 between my Papal army of Cesare Borgia and Phil's Florentines. As usual the game would conclude after 12 turns if no result was forthcoming, night having fallen - or rather Sue serving lunch! As you've no doubt come to expect by now, an annotated photomontage to carry you down into the action ~

A council of War! Herman von Bikel and his associates deliberate as to whether the payment has been enough to commit their mental to action!

All of the two infantry divisions he has placed in the centre and on his left. With the latter he plans to seize the high ground and threaten the Florentine right!

The third division, mainly made up of his Condietteri, he has placed on his right, again hoping to seize the higher ground and threaten the Florentine's other flank! 

The Florentine army is disposed pretty much in a mirror image of their foes! They win the Initiative and the battle is joined!

As the Papal left division advances towards the higher ground the Florentine army makes a cautious move forward. (Poor Command rolls all round in Turn 1!)

The Papal army's Condietteri secure the higher ground on their army's right flank, supported by the mounted crossbowmen. From this position they threaten the Florentine left.

The Florentine centre holds it's ground determined to do it's duty, threatened as it is to its front and right, with halberdiers and mercenary pike advancing in the centre and shot threatening from the higher ground on its right flank.

The Condietteri in the service of Florence move slowly to counter the threat on the left flank. In the centre of the Papal army's line Cesare Borgia surveys the progress of the battle from relative safety.

The advancing mercenaries find themselves without immediate support as the Florentine's sense an opportunity to score an early victory and thwart Cesare's plans.

The massed Papal Condietteri holding the Papal army's right flank sense an opportunity to charge their Florentine opponents. Victory here would bring an opportunity to roll up the remaining Florentine infantry.

The opportunity is too good to turn down! The leading units thunder down the slope! One Florentine unit is routed, but the second is more determined, leaving their opponents Shaken. Not the desired outcome at all!

In the centre battle is joined all along the line now as more pike arrives to support the assault, urged on by Cesare putting himself in harm's way!

The Florentine's artillery suffers severely from the galling fire from the Papal army's shot on the higher ground to it's right flank until it's morale breaks and it retires Shaken and Disordered!

In the Florentine's centre the fighting has intensified. Despite steadfast support from their own pike blocks the swordsmen are shaken by losses!

However, their compatriots fare somewhat better as the Papal army's second block of mercenary pike and shot fall back in Disorder having had the worst of the initial exchanges!

Despite some losses and with mounting pressure developing the Papal Condietteri are confident of victory on their army's right! Overconfident perhaps...?

In the centre, the struggle between rival units of pike and shot continues. Both sides are weakened by losses and the morale of some is dangerously Shaken in both armies.

While the centre is in the balance fighting between rival Condietteri begins to sway in the favour of the Florentine's. Victory here is vital to Cesare's plans to roll up the Florentine army from it's left flank!

Despite Cesare's confidence the morale of the Condietteri on his right has suffered irreparable loss. The Division breaks under the losses and falls back in Disorder! Disaster threatens the Papal army's centre if the Florentine Condietteri attack it from the flank!

Despite the developing threat, or perhaps rather oblivious to it, the Papal centre presses home it's advantage feeling victory in its grasp!

Too late it realises the threat to it's right! Despite breaking one Florentine Division it cannot finish off the second before the Condietteri unopposed smash into it's flank!

It's all up for Cesare in Turn 7! Victory has slipped away in two short turns, from apparent victory in Turn 6 to bitter defeat in Turn 7. The Florentine army's victory can now be recorded for posterity...

...though the butcher's bill in victory is still a bitter pill to swallow!

A splendid game we both agreed, though on Cesare's part through gritted teeth having seen the opportunity of victory evaporate like the morning mist in two brief Turns! A triumph for Hail Caesar of course and a dogged victory for Phil😉!