[SCENARIO] Las Navas de Tolosa 1212

[jchaos79]

Just open this topic to comment the battle order of a scenario of Las Navas de Tolosa 1212, during the Reconquista period in the Peninsula. I made the list for warmaster set of rules but I am sure it could be helpful or inspiring to any player and any set of rules.

Briefing: A religous reform was made in the muslims society. Almohads from north africa see his cousins from the Peninsula, the almoravids, weak and without the religous zeal to defend the Peninsula territory. So they made a quick invansion   to almoraivd territory (a jihads was called) and took control of them and starts an agressive offensive into christian territory. Christian kings starts to fight almohads back and called on a crusade.

Then starts a campaing, the Christian kingdom army (Navarra, Castille and Aragon kingdoms together) took some cities without battles or sieges. The french and german crusaders sack the cities and eventually returned with the looted stuff to their lands. Finally the Almohades leaded by Muhammad An-Nasir called the Miramamolin faces the Christian kingdom army in a open battle in Las Navas de Tolosa in the south of the Peninsula.

Almohade army: Mainly consituted by troops from Al-Andalus and Noth Africa (Berbers). They chose the battlefiled, so the Miramamolin camp was in the top of a hill. Legend tells that have chains around his tent. It is interpreted as stakes and chains to protect from the frieghtfull christian kinghts charge. But also is interpreted as having slaves armed with spears  chained to the ground around the Miramamolin tent to protect them, causing the same effect but using a human wall.

Chrisitian kingdom army: Three kings leaded the army, King Alfonso VIII form Castille, King Sancho VII from Navarra and king Pedro II from Aragon.  When the battle took place almost of the french and german troops went back to their lands so there was no significant participation.
Some military orders as Kinghts of Santiago, Calatrava, San Lázaro, Temple and San Juan fight in the Battle.

Legend tell that King Sancho VII was a giant (written sources point that he could was 1,90m tall and suffer a genetic illl called giagantism). King Sancho VII charge to the Miramamolin tent and broke the chains with his own hands, making a srength heroic deed, the rest of the kinghts could make the charge and the Miramamolin flee. All the Almohade army starts to flee and was persecuited to a precipice where almost all army was pulled down to the dead. The precipicie is called from this day to nowdays "Despeñaperros"

Almohade army
General: Miramamolin - AB1
some lesser leaders and imans - SC13
camp -SC13 and PS15

Battalion Vanguard:
Vanguard:
3x Alah volunteers  / skirmishers - mixed AB3 / AB4 / AB5 / AB6

Center:
Heavy Andalusian cavalry - Hasam guard cavalry - AB9
2x Andalusian infantry - AB6
2x Andalusian archers - AB5


Batallion Center:
Rearguard:
Back guard (elite unit) - AB2
4x Almohade infantry - AB2
2x Almohade archers - AB3
Camelry -   SC8?   (it is not sure that camels took place in the battle, but I could not resist to introduce a unit of this north africa army)
Stakes and chains with slaves called Imesebelen around the arab tents - tribal infantry -  AB4. They have stakes and can not move, neither attack/charge (only defensive) in the whole game.

Right wing:
Horse archers Guzz - AB7
berber cavalry /jinetes - AB8

Left wing:
2x berber cavlry /jinetes - AB8


Christians kings armies
King Alfonso VIII form Castille -general - ELM39
King Sancho VII from Navarra - leader/hero - ELM38 or a 15mm figure to represnt the giant in legendary games
king Pedro II from Aragon - leader/hero - ELM38

Batallion Vanguard:
Vanguard:
2x Mounted Military Orders: (santiago/calatrava/etc...) - ELM 36
Mounted crossbowmen - ELM23
Military orders kinghts on foot - ??

Batallion Center:
Center:
Castillian nobles knights - EMM1
jinetes - ELM20
Castillian infantry - EMM4
Archers - ELM7

Left:
Aragonese noble cavarly - N7
Jinetes - ELM20
Aragonese infantry - N3

Right:
Navarre noble cavlry - EMM2
Jinetes - ELM20
Navarre infatry - N3

Feedback, ideas, criticisim, or opinion is very welcome!

which pendraken figures will you use for military orders knights on foot?

enjoy it, (and apologies in advance for the gramma and akward english)

[nikharwood]

That's an intriguing scenario - like it lots, plenty of flavour to it 

For Military Orders Knights on Foot - how about ELM3 Dismounted Knights:


Or if they're too fancy, how about:

EMM3 Foot command [& ask Leon to give you more of the fella with sword, cut down some of the standard bearer's to be holding spears?]

[jchaos79]

Yep, I think EMM3 fits better. It is surprising to me that there is no reference of medieval kinghts on foot (a very typical entry in the imaginarium of wargames/fantasy figures).

I also considered ELM3  but it was too gothic for first quarter of XIII century. 

I almost have almohad army completed. Then I start with christian kingdom...

[FierceKitty]

That's an intriguing scenario - like it lots, plenty of flavour to it 

For Military Orders Knights on Foot - how about ELM3 Dismounted Knights:


Or if they're too fancy, how about:

EMM3 Foot command [& ask Leon to give you more of the fella with sword, cut down some of the standard bearer's to be holding spears?]

The first ones are far too modern.

[Bishop Lord]

Hi,
Yep first knights a little late for the time of Las Navas de Tolosa 1212 I would stick with the EMM ranges.Looking forward to seeing you results I did the battle using Hail Caesar rules earlier this year Here's the links to the thinking behind it and reports on my Blog:-

http://grandscalewargaming.blogspot.com/2011/07/hail-caesarla-navas-de-tolosa-1212.html

http://grandscalewargaming.blogspot.com/2011/07/la-navas-de-tolosa-1212-hail-ceasar.html

http://grandscalewargaming.blogspot.com/2011/07/more-photos-of-la-navas-de-tolosa-1212.html

Jason

[jchaos79]

Congratulation for your blog, I use to read it!

The end of the proyect is not too far away, some months I guess, then I will drive 600 km in order to get my usual opponent and play the game. I will post some pics. I will use WMM rules.

Thanks for sharing your game

[Druzhina]

For 13th century illustrations of Spanish troops see the Cantigas de Santa Maria

Druzhina

[jchaos79]

That webpage is awesome! many thanks Durzhina.

I have all the army ready except, the three chrisitan kings. But they are ready to paint. This summer we will have the game and conmemorate the 800th anniversary of the battle. We had try to play the game the exact day when the battle was fought, but unfortunatly as we are living in different cities right now we will have to wait for holidays to gather up.