After the Battle of Pescara where the Neapolitan Spanish and Papal forces beat lumps out of each other the only winner appeared to the French who had been enjoying themselves in the north of Italy.
At this stage the Papal States (Nigel) came up with a bit of a “wheeze” why don’t we march north together join up with the Venetians (Julian) and try to stop the French (“Broken Dice”).
So as the French watched the Papal and Spanish forces march up the country in parallel, getting more and more paranoid he was in fact correct we were out to get him.
The forces we had split in two half marching to Milan and the other half heading to Turin. The expected clash happened at Milan.
So the three very strange bedfellows joined to attack the French. The Neapolitan Spanish forces consisted of a battalia of veteran foot and a battalia of Light Horse which were deployed on the left flank.
The Venetian/Milanese forces deployed in the centre while the Papal forces took the left flank.
The French army deployed with their Landsknechts on the left and the French Militia and artillery in the centre on the right flank they deployed the Swiss battalia supported by Gendarmes.
While the Papal forces started a sedate advance the Venetians rushed across the board.
As for the Spanish it was a very sluggish start as they ambled forward towards the Swiss.
The French guns soon started taking their toll on the advancing infantry slowing the advance.
A charge by the Stradiots cleared away some of the French crossbow but it did leave them very exposed in front of the French Gendarmes.
But at this point “Broken Dice” decided to help the allies by rolling a double 1 and blowing up one of his guns.
The Stradiots paid for their mistake as they were rode over by the Gendarmes.
The Spanish Ginetes learnt from the Stradiots mistake and took to their heels when the Gendarmes appeared (they had stayed in skirmish order).
Over on our right flank the Landsknechts in Papal pay had clashed with the Landsknechts in French pay and with the “Bloody War” rule in effect butchered each other but the Papal Landsknechts routing.
Trying to protect some of the French Militia foot the French Gendarmes in the centre advanced and faced off against the Milanese Cavalry.
While on the left flank the Spanish were taking pot shots at the Gendarmes but with little effect.
In the centre there was some success for the Milanese as they saw off a unit of French Archers.
And “Broken Dice” struck again with another double 1, and another gun exploded.
After their success against the Archers the Milanese horse did not prove as effective as they met a unit of French Gendarmes.
The allies continued to attack along the line but gaps were rapidly developing and the attacks becoming more piecemeal.
Things were deteriorating with even the French militia pike winning combats.
But the militia pike soon paid for its eagerness when it was hit by another pike unit and routed.
To avoid getting charged by the “large” Swiss pike and therefore avoid the “ferocious charge” which allows them to reroll any misses in the charge! They themselves launched a charge.
In the centre the French Gendarmes had swallowed their pride and charged some arquebus who failed to form “hedgehog” with their supporting pike and were ridden down.
The Spanish pike and supporting arquebus were also beaten by the Swiss and the battalia broke taking the allied army with it and the “cunning plan” had failed. But thanks to “Broken Dice” the French artillery had been reduced in number.
So its back to the planning board and scheming to see what happens next in the campaign as the allied army retreats and goes into winter quarters at Pavia.
The Uncivil Servant 