The Scottish Wars against England

Transcription

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2 The Scottish Wars against England Male lust and a mole can be blamed for the opening of the Scottish Wars of Independence. The male lust was in the breast of Alexander the Third, The King of Scots. (Note that the ruler is not King of Scotland but King of Scots.) Alexander had a new French wife, Yolande, and longed throughout the council meeting in Edinburgh to be back with his wife across the storm lashed Firth of Forth in Fife. Against all advice, Alexander set out for Fife and barely made it across the Forth by boat before galloping off with two attendants. In the storm the riders lost sight of each other and next morning the body of the king was found at the foot of the cliffs at Kinghorn. Legend has it that his horse was startled by a mole and both rider and horse fell over the cliff. The good news was that there was an heir but she was a mere female child and the granddaughter of the King of Norway. Not ideal for a faction driven Scotland but even this lifeline was lost when the Maid of Norway died shortly after landing in Scotland. Two factions now contended for the throne namely the Balliols and the Bruces who represented the most powerful noble sin the land. Into this argument came Edward the First of England who agreed to adjudicate as an honest and impartial broker. To be fair to Edward, his decision to award John Balliol the crown was probably the right one as he just about had a stronger claim. Edward now, however made his move and had Balliol pledge allegiance to him. This was no doubt viewed by Balliol as a formality but Edward capitalised by demanding Scots troops to fight in his wars overseas. Balliol eventually put his foot down and Edward invaded Scotland sacking Berwick ruthlessly and deposing Balliol before assuming the crown as his own. In this he was supported by the Bruces who were disappointed when he did not pass the crown on to them. For a while, Edward totally controlled Scotland but gradually small rebellions began to break out. Andrew Moray raised a rebellion in the north while in the South of the Country a member of the lesser gentry, one William Wallace, raided English garrisons. An English army under Surrey and his hated treasurer for Scotland, Cressingham, set out to disperse the rebels. At Stirling Bridge, however, the English recklessly crossed the river on a small bridge and the Scots descended on those who had crossed and wiped them out. Cressingham s skin was flayed from his body and became a belt for Wallace. With Moray dead from wounds received at the battle, Wallace was appointed Guardian of Scotland and raided into the North of England. Soon, however, Edward himself crossed the border in search of the Scottish army. Wallace, at first, carried out a brilliant retreat despoiling the land as he went and it is said that Edward was on the point of retreat but, receiving reports that the Scottish army was at Falkirk, advanced and brought Wallace to battle before he could retreat. The combination of longbows and knights won the day for the English. Wallace escaped the field and being stripped of his guardianship acted in an ambassadorial role on the continent. Over the next few years there was little to trouble Edward s rule but then Robert the Bruce, grandson of the man who competed with Balliol for the throne found himself with a problem. There can be little doubt that Bruce had been manoeuvring for years to get his hands on the crown. He was even prepared to work with the Balliols. It all went wrong though in a meeting in a churchyard which culminated in Bruce stabbing his Balliol rival to death. Suddenly, Edward

3 who had found out about his treachery, wanted him dead and in addition he was excommunicated by the church. It was an all or nothing situation and Bruce had himself proclaimed king. At first, Bruce tried to fight a noble war but a total defeat at Methven caused him to switch tactics. From now on he fought a guerrilla war for the next eight years against the invaders. Wallace is often regarded as a guerrilla fighter but it was Bruce who perfected the art. Step by step, he captured and reduced to ruin all the Scottish castles with the principal exception of Stirling which in 33 he began to besiege. This final stage was too much for Edward the Second and he pulled together a massive army to invade Scotland. Reaching Stirling, Edward knew he had to break through to the castle as this act would by terms of an agreement between the Scots and the governor of the castle result in the siege being lifted. Unfortunately for him, The Scottish army, which had been drilling for a year for this very moment blocked his path. On the first day, the English tried to manoeuvre around the Scots but the well drilled schiltrons blocked their efforts. Frustrated Edward moved his army across the treacherous Bannockburn into a triangle of boggy ground. Told of the low morale in the English camp, Bruce decided to attack. Rather than a battle this was a massacre with the English squashed together between the Scottish spears and the treacherous stream behind. Edward escaped but his army was virtually destroyed. In most histories, Bannockburn in 3 concludes the wars but these ran on for almost another decade before peace was restored Bruce recognised by the English king as being King of Scots. Part of this process in obtaining this result was the Declaration of Arbroath one of the greatest documents proclaiming the rights of a people to self determination. The death of Bruce sparked another round of conflict. This time the Balliols supported by the English invaded in an effort to get them back on the throne. The Scots suffered a horrendous defeat at Halidon Hill which for the first time saw the English utilising dismounted men at arms and longbows together. This was the winning formula that would be used throughout the Hundred Years war and beyond. The Scottish and English conflicts continued, with occasional gaps, throughout the next few hundred years with the Scottish spears generally coming off worse other than the notable exception of Otterburn. Scottish contingents of men at arms and longbows also fought on the continent supporting the French against the English armies there. Even with the switch to pikes in 53, Scottish armies suffered disasters at Flodden and then at Pinkie although certainly in the former case the Scottish army which was on paper a more modern and better equipped army suffered from the most awful bad luck. Both the weather and hidden terrain in the form of a ditch contributed to their defeat. With the accession of James the Sixth of Scotland to the English throne the wars died out in 3. and

4 Feudal Scots Army Commander Any Instinctive Dates SubGenerals 3 Any Instinctive TERRAIN allied General Galwegian ally any Instinctive before 5 Name Mounted Knights Prickers Spearmen Ettrick Archers Skirmishing Archers Islemen Catterans Type Formed Flexible Formed Flexible Skirmisher Tribal Flexible Tribal Loose Quality Shooting Javelin Bow Protection Camp 3 Standard, Mountains, Forest Flexible :Poor or WEAPONRY Characteristics Min UG MELEE Mandatory Optional Max Size Melee Expert Short Spear Long Spear Shield wall Caltrops 3 Orb Combat Shy Handed Cutting Devastating Charge,,,9,9,9

5 Notes This list represents the Kingdom of the Scots from AD until the Bruce went into hiding after the Battle of Methven. After this date until 3 there were virtually no pitched battles with the Scots restricting themselves to raiding and the taking of castles. In the late th Century there were a number of major battles with Stirling Bridge and Falkirk being the most notable examples. The schiltron at this period was predominantly a defensive formation and shieldwall is preferred to shove. At Falkirk the schiltrons were surrounded by rope and stake entanglements. Scottish archers of this period are often denigrated as being poor but in fact suffered from a shortage of numbers rather than not being well skilled. The Islemen and Catterans must be commanded by their own general who is considered sufficiently integrated not to be an ally but can command no other troops. As in their own list Islemen and Catterans may be formed in separate units or in mixed units with one rank of Islemen and one or two ranks of Catterans. Notes: Orbs and shieldwall can only be claimed when in close order.

6 Scots Isles Army Commander SubGenerals Any Instinctive 3 Any Instinctive Internal allied General Name Type Islemen Catterans Skirmishing Catterans Tribal Flexible Tribal Loose Skirmishers and Highlands Dates TERRAIN Camp Quality Shooting Bow Bow Protection AD 5AD Coastal, Mountains, Forest Mobile :Poor or WEAPONRY Characteristics Min UG MELEE Mandatory Optional Max Size Handed Cutting Handed Cutting Handed Cutting 9 Mixed Warriors Islemen Catterans Tribal Flexible Tribal Loose 3,, Only before 3Ad Irish Mercenaries Tribal Loose Galwegian Ally before 5 Galwegian Allies Tribal Loose Allies Viking Allies only before 75,9

7 Notes This list represents the Lordship of the Isles. This was very much a family tribal society which would eventually carry through to the later Clan system. The clan units historically tended to fight together with the wealthier and better armed men in the front ranks with the lesser tacksmen in the rear. Sometimes the Catteran elements would be hived off to fight separately or to raid. The bow was prevalent for all. They are classed as devastating chargers due to their performance at the Battle of Harlaw where they charged forward furiously and are described as driving back the lowland units back a distance of three acres. The few units of skirmishers are Catterans sent out as skirmishers. These were well trained fighters and did not shrink from hand to hand with other skirmishers. Irish in the earlier armies are mercenary types. Rather than being in separate TuGs Catterans can form a second and even third rank in the same unit as the Islemen. One rank of Islemen followed by a single or double rank of Catterans. If this option is taken the TuG will be 3 Islemen & Catterans or Islemen and Catterans. Based taken this way are deducted from the maximums for that type.

8 Plantagenant English Any Instinctive Dates SubGenerals 3 Any Instinctive TERRAIN allied General Any Instinctive Camp Name Type Army Commander Mounted Knights Upgrade Knights Prickers Spearmen Welsh Archers Crossbowmen English Archers Mounted Crossbowmen Irish Foot Irish Skirmishers Formed Flexible Tribal Loose Skirmisher Quality Superior Shooting Javelin Crossbow Crossbow Javelin Protection WEAPONRY 7 to 3 Standard Flexible :Poor or Characteristics Min Max MELEE Mandatory Optional Melee Expert up to / Short Spear Long Spear Shieldwall Handed Cutting Combat Shy UG Size,,,,

9 Notes This represents the army of Edward the First and Edward the Second during the main part of the Scottish Wars of Independence. The army relies on mounted knights as the main striking force supported by the firepower of Welsh and English archers. This army was victorious at Falkirk but failed badly at Stirling Bridge and Bannockburn. In both of the latter cases the army was restricted in its deployment area. The Welsh were often mutinous and the option exists to have them all under the control of an Ally general to reflect this. Indeed at Falkirk this Ally situation should be compulsory.

10 Bannockburn Scots Army Commander Dates Professional Legendary SubGenerals 3 Any Professional allied General Templar Ally any Professional Name Noble Spearmen Keith's horse Spearmen Ettrick Archers The Small Folk Islemen Catterans Templar Allies allies None Type Drilled Flexible Drilled Flexible Tribal Loose Tribal Flexible Tribal Loose Drilled Loose Quality Superior Exceptional TERRAIN Shooting Camp Protection 3 Standard, Mountains, Forest Flexible :Poor or WEAPONRY Characteristics Min UG MELEE Mandatory Optional Max Size Long Spear Long Spear Orb 3 Handed Cutting Melee Expert,,9,9

11 Notes This is probably a unique list in that it represents the Scottish army during the two days of the Battle of Bannockburn. The Bruce had been continually drilling the army in the environs of Stirling Castle for almost a year and this was shown during the battle where the schiltrons for almost the first time manoeuvred offensively. Where in the past this had been a static defensive formation it now became a moving offensive wall and deserves shove rather than shieldwall. The drilled movement of the formations were best highlighted in the first day when Moray manoeuvred his schiltron out of some heavy woods to head off the English knights trying to bypass them and relieve Stirling Castle. This pattern continued on the second day with the spears manouvering against mounted knights After this battle, the Scots will be back to formed at least until the Flodden army. The Scots did make use of fieldworks in the battle but did not stay behind them. The pottes or pits were rather used to funnel the English mounted into the chosen killing ground. I suspect the Scot s player will have to use terrain to achieve this result. Scottish archers of this period are often denigrated as being poor but in fact suffered from a shortage of numbers rather than not being well skilled. In common with the English, the archers would be contingents supplied by noble lords from their retinues. Ettrick archers were particularly praised for their skills. The Islemen and Catterans must be commanded by their own general who is considered sufficiently integrated not to be an ally but can command no other troops. As in their own list Islemen and Catterans may be formed in separate units or in mixed units with one rank of Islemen and one or two ranks of Catterans. The small folk represent the body described as camp followers who burst over the hill to join in the battle as the tide began to turn in Scotland s favour. In fact they may have been the late arrivals to the army who Bruce did not consider well trained enough to take their place in the main battle line. From the point of view of romance the clump of ferocious peasantry charging in to complete the rout seems better. Continuing the romance, there is now a body of evidence, expanded on in several books, that the Scottish army contained a small body of Knights Templar. This religious order had been purged in France in 37and then subjected to excommunication. Bruce at this time was also excommunicate and is believed to have offered them lands and refuge in Scotland. In return for this the knights fought in defence of the Scottish realm. The noble spearmen represent the Nobles and their dismounted knightly retinues. These are not be deployed in separate TUGs but replace a base in the front rank of other spear units with no more than bases of nobles in any one spear TUG. Orbs and shieldwall can only be claimed when in close order.

12 Medieval Scots Army Commander Any Instinctive Dates SubGenerals 3 Any Instinctive TERRAIN allied General Name Noble Spearmen Spearmen Prickers Islemen Catterans Type Formed Flexible Tribal Flexible Tribal Loose French Instinctive Any (Only in 35) Quality Superior Shooting Javelin Camp Protection in Britain 355 Standard, Mountains, Forest Flexible :Poor or WEAPONRY Characteristics Min UG Size MELEE Mandatory Optional Max Long Spear Orb Long Spear Orb 3 Short Spear Handed Cutting Melee Expert,9, Only in 35 French Knights French Crossbows Crossbow Fully Armoured Only after 3 Cannons Guns Artillery Artillery Heavy Artillery Light Artillery Only before 3 and after 37 Archers,9 Between 3 and 37 Archers,9

13 Notes Following the victory at Bannockburn, the Scottish army stuck very rigidly to the offensive use of large spear schiltrons with the nobles in the front rank. The drilled status of Bannockburn can no longer be claimed nor can the flexible troop categorisation. During the reign of James the First, the numbers of longbows were increased to match the English tactics but his was a short experiment that seem not to have outlived this particular reign As in their own list Islemen and Catterans may be formed in separate units or in mixed units with one rank of Islemen and one or two ranks of Catterans. Artillery was particularly loved by the Stewart monarchs and increased in numbers during the period. A small French contingent was sent to Scotland in 35 but did not really participate in any significant action. Notes: The noble spearmen represent the Nobles and their dismounted knightly retinues. These are not be deployed in separate TUGs but replace a base in the front rank of other spear units with no more than bases of nobles in any one spear TUG.

14 Medieval Scots Army Commander SubGenerals Any Instinctive Dates 3 Any Instinctive TERRAIN allied General Name Noble Nobles and Retinue Scottish archers French Knights Lesser Mens at Arms French Crossbows Genoese Crossbows Spearmen Ribald and levy Camp Type Tribal Loose Quality Superior Poor Shooting Crossbow Skilled Crossbow Protection Fully Armoured on the Continent 9 Standard Flexible :Poor or WEAPONRY Characteristics Min MELEE Mandatory Optional Max Long Spear Dismountable Melee Expert Dismountable Pavise Light Spear UG Size,,,9,

15 Notes This army represents a Scottish army sent to the continent to fight alongside the French. No spears appear to have been sent with all troops either being dismounted Nobles or archers. In every battle the Scots were supported by significant numbers of French troops. These fought in their own commands but I have chosen not to treat as allies as cooperation appears to have been very close. Indeed many of the Scottish nobles were given French titles and lands as well as French military rank. Troops shown as Scottish cannot be in the same commands as French troops. Artillery can be in any command

16 Medieval Scots Army Commander Any Instinctive Dates SubGenerals 3 Any Instinctive TERRAIN allied General Name Nobles Spearmen Town Militia and hastily raised levies Archers Catterans Type Tribal Loose French Instinctive Any (Only in 35) Quality Superior Poor Shooting Protection Fully Armoured Camp Local defence Force 355 Standard, Mountains, Forest Flexible :Poor or WEAPONRY Characteristics Min UG MELEE Mandatory Optional Max Size Long Spear Orb Long Spear Orb 3,,9,9

17 Notes This army represents a hastily raised Royal force such as that deployed against the Lord of The Isles at the Battle of Harlaw in. In this battle, the nobles fought mounted as highland troops did not traditionally like mounted enemy.on the down side, some levy foot such a town militia spears are compulsory. Indeed the Provost of Aberdeen was amongst the slain. The vast majority of highland troops were on the side of the Lord of the Isles but many of the noble with highland estates had their own bodies of Catteran troops which were deployed on the battlefield

18 Medieval English Army Commander SubGenerals Any Professional Dates 3 Any Professional TERRAIN allied General Name Dismounted Knights and men at arms Upgrade Dismounted Knights Retinue bowmen Upgrade Retinue as Skilled archers Retinue Billmen Levy bowmen Levy Billmen Borderers Camp Type Formed Flexible Quality Superior Poor Poor Shooting Protection Skilled Crossbow WEAPONRY 3 to 99 Standard Flexible :Poor or Characteristics Min Max MELEE Mandatory Optional Fully Armoured Handed Cutting Fully Armoured Handed Cutting up to / Stakes Stakes up to / Handed Cutting Stakes Handed Cutting Long Spear Orb UG Size,,, Only from 33 to 335 Exiled Scots Only from Heavy Artillery Light Artillery Artillery Artillery Heavy Artillery Light Artillery

19 Notes This represents the English army fighting in England and Scotland following the decision to dismount the knights and have them fight on foot to bolster the longbows. The army has now taken the shape that would make it such a formidable force throughout the period of the Hundred Years War. Although shown as fighting in England and Scotland it can also be used as an opponent for the Scots on the continent list. The option to include Scottish exiles reflects English support for the disinherited Balliol faction which invaded Scotland and fought the Battle of Dupplin Moor. It assumes that the Balliol nobles would have brought some of their own retainers who would have foot in the traditional Scottish schiltron formation.

20 Flodden Scots Army Commander SubGenerals Any Professional Dates 3 Any Professional TERRAIN allied General Name Noble Pikemen Common Pikemen Borderers Islemen Catterans Cannons Guns allies None Camp Type Drilled Close Drilled Close Formed Flexible Tribal Flexible Tribal Loose Artillery Artillery Quality Shooting Protection Fully Armoured Crossbow Poor Heavy Artillery Poor Light Artillery 53 Standard, Mountains, Forest Flexible :Poor or WEAPONRY Characteristics Min UG MELEE Mandatory Optional Max Size Pike, Pavise Pike Handed Cutting,

21 Notes Another unique list in that it represents the Scottish army during the disastrous engagement at Flodden in England hence the home territory being shown as England rather than Scotland. The army is considered drilled in that captains from France were brought over to introduce the use of the pikes to the Scots and also the use of Swiss Keill tactics. The units manoeuvred fairly well until attempting to come down a steep rain soaked hill with a dirty big ditch at the bottom. They were therefore thoroughly disorganised when set upon by the more flexible English billmen. This misfortune should not override their classification as drilled and average. The Scottish pike units should have an entire front rank of nobles who are heavily armoured and carrying pavises with the three remaining ranks being normal pikemen. The Scottish army was heavily equipped with artillery but unfortunately the better gunners were attached to the Scottish fleet and the performance of their land based cousins at Flodden was disappointing to say the least. Handguns were also provided by the French but appears that these did not reach the army before the battle. Indeed, other than the Islemen, Catterans and artillery, other missile troops seem to be absent probably because they did not fit in with the steamroller Swiss type tactics of the Scots. Notes: As in their own list Islemen and Catterans may be formed in separate units or in mixed units with one rank of Islemen and one or two ranks of Catterans. At Flodden the Islemen were in the same command as the Borderers and as to represent this they must both be in the same command led by a general who can command no other troop types The noble pikemen represent the Nobles and their dismounted knightly retinues. These are not be deployed in separate TUGs but replace all the front rank bases of common pikemen TugS, with no more than bases of nobles in any one pikemen TUG.

22 Henry VIII Army Commander SubGenerals Northern England (early) Any Professional Dates 3 Any Professional TERRAIN allied General Name Nobles Retinue Billmen Good Quality Militia Billmen Levy Billmen Retinue and similar bowmen Upgrade Retinue as Skilled archers Levy Bowmen Levy Northern Spears Borderers Demi Lancers Handgunners Guns allies None Camp Type Formed Flexible Artillery Quality Superior Poor Poor Poor Shooting Protection Fully Armoured Skilled Crossbow Firearm Light Artillery WEAPONRY 5535 Standard Flexible :Poor or Characteristics Min Max MELEE Mandatory Optional Handed Cutting Handed Cutting 3 Handed Cutting Stakes Stakes up to / Long Spear Combat Shy UG Size,,

23 Notes This represents a force raised in the North of England to combat Scottish incursions and invasions into Scotland in the period 5 to 535. It also represents the English army at the major Battle of Flodden. This army under the Earl of Surrey is described by most historians as belonging to a bygone age with the bill and longbow of previous generations still being the prime weapons. It is a mix of good quality retinue troops but bolstered by hastily raised local levy units. The English army was being modernised by Henry who was also raising mercenary pikemen units etc. All of these units were however more likely to be abroad with Henry or in the South rather than guarding the Northern frontier. At Flodden, the English artillery was far less equipped with good quality ordinance than their Scottish counterparts but won the shooting duel hands down due to their more rapid fire and also the depth of the Scottish pike formations.

24 Post Flodden Scots Army Commander SubGenerals Any Professional Dates 3 Any Professional TERRAIN allied General Name Noble Pikemen Common Pikemen Borderers Islemen Catterans Bowmen Guns Cannons Camp Type Drilled Close Drilled Close Formed Flexible Tribal Flexible Tribal Loose Artillery Artillery Quality Shooting Protection Fully Armoured Crossbow PowerBow Light Artillery Heavy Artillery 555 Standard, Mountains, Forest Flexible :Poor or WEAPONRY Characteristics Min UG MELEE Mandatory Optional Max Size Pike Orb Pike Orb Handed Cutting Combat Shy Combat Shy, Only between Hangunners Handgun Only After 539 Hangunners Regrade Borderers Formed Flexible Handgun Handgun all,

25 Notes After the disaster at Flodden the Scots persisted in the pike tactics with the nobles still fighting in the front line. The volume of nobles seems to have been less so Noble elements cannot be in separate TUGS but rather replace common pikemen stands in the front rank of pike units with no more than two stands of nobles per unit. As in their own list Islemen and Catterans may be formed in separate units or in mixed units with one rank of Islemen and one or two ranks of Catterans. The number of handguns and firearms gradually increased during the period. The most famous battle of the period was Pinkie in 57 which took part during the conflict in Scotland known as The Rough Wooing which was a military attempt by Henry the VIII to force a dynastic union on the Scots. The noble spearmen represent the Nobles and their dismounted knightly retinues. These are not be deployed in separate TUGs but replace a base in the front rank of common pikemen units with no more than bases of nobles in any one pikemen TUG.

26 Henry VIII Army Commander SubGenerals Northern England (later) Any Professional Dates 3 Any Professional TERRAIN allied General Name Nobles Retinue Billmen Good Quality Militia Billmen Retinue and similar bowmen Upgrade Retinue as Skilled archers Gentlemen Pensioners Boulogne Men at Arms Borderers Demi Lancers Italian Mounted Harquebusiers Handgunners Light Artillery Heavy Artillery Camp Type Formed Flexible Skirmisher Artillery Artillery Quality Superior Superior Shooting Protection Fully Armoured Skilled Crossbow Firearm Firearm Light Artillery Heavy Artillery WEAPONRY Standard Flexible :Poor or Characteristics Min Max MELEE Mandatory Optional Handed Cutting Handed Cutting 3 Stakes Stakes up to / Fully Armoured Melee Expert Fully Armoured Combat Shy UG Size,,,

27 Notes This represents a force raised in the North of England to invade Scotland as part of the Rough Wooing which resulted the major battle of Pinkie Cleugh in 57. Although thirty years had passed since Flodden the English army was still principally based on the Longbow and Bill combination and as such was still very much an army behind its time. As an invading force this army had less lower quality units than the Flodden army but was also strengthened by some Household units such as the gentlemen Pensioners and a force of armoured heavy cavalry from the Boulogne garrison. Mercenary units were also part of the strength with some Light Horse mounted arquebusiers being worthy of special mention. Numbers of and the weight of artillery pieces were significantly increased and these were supported by the English fleet whose cannon played a significant part in the battle. If the terrain selection results in a water secure flank then the English army can have two of its artillery pieces firing from this flank sector with the range being measured from the edge of the water feature. A different point can be selected each turn as the point of firing representing the fleet manoeuvring to maximise the effect of its shooting.