In the next phase of our Normans in Italy campaign, Robert 'Guiscard' decided to hit the Byzantines again after his disastrous defeat. He regathered his forces, called on reinforcements from Norman freebooters from Normandy and went after the Byzantine province of Rossano again. Another defeat could see him facing serious trouble - ( 3 defeats in a row and I'm out of the game).
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| Robert's Norman psychopaths. |
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| William 'Iron Arm' is the Green pins. Robert is the yellow pin. |
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| The armies deployed. |
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| The Byzantine cavalry |
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| Byzantine skutatoi advance...... |
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| Coming into range of the Norman archers and crossbowmen. |
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| The center of the battlefield. |
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| The right of the Norman line. |
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| The Norman right. |
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| The Norman left charges forward slamming into the Byzantine left. |
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By turn three- there was general melee across the battlefield- a violent and bloody fight,
both sides getting stuck in. |
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| In the center..the approach of teh Byzantine spearmen triggered the impetuous charge of my Norman knights. |
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| Norman spearmen vs Varangians! ( What are they doing in Italy!!) |
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| On my right....pushing the Byzantines back. |
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| Norman left.......most of my units have heavy casualties....disordered and fatigued....but you''ll note that there are no Byzantines! Robert's men managed to drive them from the field. |
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| Normans after driving the Byzantine cavalry away- going after the infantry. |
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| The Guiscard's cavalry swarm forward .....the Byzantine cavalry fleeing or dead....the last few infantry units about to be destroyed. |
What looked to be a very close game in turn 4, was suddenly over in turn 6 as the Norman cavalry drove the Byzantine cavalry off- and the remainder failed their morale tests.........
Rossco look at me over the table....and simply said..'You've won.'
I couldn't believe it- The Guiscard had pulled off a victory!!
Of course I couldn't leave well enough alone...so I took my depleted forces to besiege Reggio.....and failed dismally. It will take a couple of turns to retry......oh well..at least Robert has had his first victory!
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