Robert Guiscard advances in Sicily and William 'Iron-Arm' takes on the might of the Byzantine Empire.....

The campaign continues:

As Robert landed his army in Sicily, William 'Iron-Arm' has remained undefeated..(so far!)... and sent his Normans into Apulia- Byzantine territory! He's beaten all manner of Lombard forces and even the army of Pope Leo IX himself....and as he was EXTRA nice to the captured Pontiff...he had Papal endorsement ....which meant that more Normans joined his rampaging forces....could anyone stop him?

The Byzantines ....in formation as described by the Treatise of the Emperor Nikephoras II Phokas himself....( although he'd been dead for nearly 80 years by this stage)- Spearmen with archers backing them up. Cavalry ready to charge out....the Norman army in the distance.

William Hautville's very powerful army.

The Byzantines

The table - with suitable refreshments!!

The Byzantines weren't going to take William's incursion lying down- and how do you stop Normans....by hiring some yourself!! 

William's heavy cavalry ....waiting to get stuck in.

The Norman line

More of the Norman line

Bird's eye view! ( Drone's eye view??)

Byzantine left wing- Thematic cavalry charge forward. They were supported by Lombard and Norman mercenaries.....if you can't beat them- get some to help you out.

Byzantine line awaiting the Norman charge!

Norman infantry forcing Byzantine psiloi (skirmishers) out of the words. 

The big mounted stoush on the Norman right /Byzantine left.

The extreme Byzantine right

The center.

Clash all along the line.....the Normans shaking

Things not looking good...Norman units getting around behind the Byzantine line

Bloody melee- neither side giving way....but the Normans getting the worst of it......

and  then breaking......

What looked like being a Norman victory as a number of Norman units swept around the Byzantine right flank actually took a nasty turn in the center as the Normans main line collapsed before they flanking group could get stuck in. The Byzantine commander, realising what could occur on his flank sent everyone  forward ...and the Norman infantry buckled under the pressure.......a Byzantine victory...and William has had his frst defeat! In game terms it was  a very bloody draw- but in campiagn terms William failed to secure a battlefield victory outright....and therefore no longer has the 'full support' of the Pope- things might not work out for him...who knows? The Emperor and the Pope may have some other ideas! Those Byzantines are a stubborn lot...as both William and Robert have found out!

ROBERT IN SICILY

While William was having his problems with the Byzantines, Robert was on his merry way, tearing through eastern Sicily and firmly establishing himself by wiping the Aghlabids and capturing Syracuse.

Norman cavalry - in the distance, the Sicilian Muslims.

Norman left flank

Turn one- lost of movement

Norman advancing

Skirmsh!

The red arrows are 'charge' markers......and there are a lot of them!!

Heavy fighting.....

First Norman line on Robert's right get stuck in

The infantry clash in the center

The Norman right have swept away the enemy flank..........another Norman victory!!

Robert's victory enabled him to immediately lay siege to Syracuse...which he took, although it caused casualties to his battle weary armies. Campaign Year 1050 will be a year of rest and refit for both Norman adventurers.......but who know what the newly freed pope and the Byzantine emperor have in mind??

Campaign map- Robert in Yellow and William in Green.

So Robert had a win....and William his first setback. William controls most of south central Italy with only a couple of Byzantine holdouts. Robert will continue campaigning in Sicily!