[Battle Report] Religous wars: The Battle of Dreux 1562

[jchaos79]

Battle of Dreux was the first of the french religious wars during the XVI century. Protestants known as hugonotes fight against catholics.

Hugonote army was besieging Paris, but need to break up the siege to march to Normandy where the english protestant was waiting to give them a high amount of money in order to pay the mercenaries of the army.

Catholic army raise an army near Flandes and intercept the march of hugonote army in Dreux. The battle was fought between the villages of L'Epinay and Blanville.

Catholic army was leaded by Marshal Sant André a veterean general with 70 years old who still was making the charge with his gendarmes. In warmaster terms, the general still attach himself to the cavalry charge.

Hugonote army was leaded by Prince Condé.

Curiosities: Battle of Dreux was the only battle in the history that both generals were made captives during the battle.

Army list: Both armies are based on the same list: French Ordennance
I will put them in spanish, if someone of you are interested in the translation, please let me know (respond to this topic) and then I will be please make the translation to english:

Ejercito Católico.

VANGUARDIA

Mariscal de Sant -André --> Noble 80

- 14 banderas españolas 2500 hombres + protección de carros --> Picas 60

- Duque de guise con siete compañías de gendarmes (350 hombres) --> Gendarmes 135

- 22 banderas de soldados y gascones franceses (2000 hombres) --> 2x Infantería 90

- 14 piezas de artillería --> Cañones 50

- Escaramuzadores/escolta de artillería (300 hombres) --> ballesteros escaramuceadores 35

- Mariscal Sant-André y seis banderas de caballería ligera (300 hombres)--> Costilleros 110

- 11 insigneas de landsquenetes católicos (3000 hombres) --> Picas 60

- Almirante d'Amville y su compañía de gendarmes (350 hombres) --> Gendarmes 135

CENTRO:

- Condestable de Montmorency --> General 100

- 22 banderas de suizos (6000 hombres) --> 2x Piqueros suizos 140

- 9  piezas de artillería --> cañones 50

- Escaramuzadores/escolta de artillería (250 hombres) --> ballesteros escaramuceadores 35

- 17 banderas de bretones y picards (1300 hombres) --> Picas 60

- Monseñor de Sansac y seis banderas de caballería ligera (250 hombres) --> Costilleros 110

- Condestable de Montmorency y 12 compñias de gendarmes (600 hombres)--> Gendarmes 135

TOTAL 1335? BP 7  --> de 17.000 a 18.000  hombres

 

Ejercito Hugonote

Centro:

- Principe de Condé --> general 100

- Príncipe de Hesse y 7 banderas de acompañantes (1400 hombres) --> 2x costilleros 220

- Príncipe de Condé y 800 gendarmes --> 2x gendarmes 270

- Monseñor de la Curée y 6 banderas de argolotes (200 hombres) --> Argolotes 60

- 400 "Infantes perdidos" --> escaramuceadores ballesteros 35

- 13 banderas de infantería (2300 hombres) --> 2x infantería 90

- 6 banderas de landsquenetes (1800 hombres) --> Picas 60

- 5 piezas de artillería y barricadas --> Artillería 50 + barricadas 10?

Vanguardía:

- Almirante de Coligny --> noble 80

- Almirante de Coligny y 350 gendarmes --> Gendarmes 135

- 6 banderas de acompañantes (1200 hombres) --> Straditores y argolotes 60

- 10 banderas de infantería (1800 hombres) --> Picas 60

- 6 banderas de landsquenetes (1800 hombres) --> Picas 60

TOTAL 1290  BP 7   12.000 hombres


The GAME:
the battle was very fast, as catholic general attach himself in the first cavalry charge and it becames captive in turn 2 or 3

Here it cames the pics. Remember you can click the image to enlarge it and read the text:
















 

[pw]

Looks like a fun, if fast, game and you've got me really interested in the idea of playing some historical Warmaster to re-enact actual battles (I imagine that the research before the game is really good fun too).  Forgive my ignorance, but historically who won this battle?

[jchaos79]

I have made some historical battles using warmaster and I get really surprise with the high degree of simulation you can get with this set of rules. I had played, Qadesh, Meggido, Fornovo, Navas de Tolosa, Dreux and Pavia. I played them a couple of times and all the battles seems different, but with a accurate deploy, balanced armylist and the terrain you can get situations and tactical decisions really interesting and very close to the sources-chronicles. In fact, I get more exciting battles with historical "scenarios" than randomize terrain, and "well fitted/optimized" armylists.

I would like to adapt historical battles to fantasy. For example battle of lake peipus (teutonic vs Rusian) became chaos vs kislev, or Hattin (saladin vs crusades) could be Araby vs empire in fantasy. 

Battle of Dreux historically was won by catholic army.  We played it again, and when I get more time I will make the  other battle report.

I'm pleased you like the battle

[Happymcclap]

Nice report, i'd be interested in seeing the english army lists if its no problem.

We too have re-enacted a few historical battles mainly War of the Roses (eg Towton & Wakefield as i live about 10miles from both) Towton went with history whilst Wakefield didnt. I'd highly recommend it and would choose Warmaster Ancients/Medieveal rules over standard Warmaster anyday.

[jchaos79]

VANGUARD

Marshall Sant -André --> Noble 80

- 14 spanish flags 2500 men + wagon protection --> Pikes 60

- Duke of Guise and seven gendarmes companies (350 men) --> Gendarme 135

- 22 flags of soldiers and french "gascons" (2000 men) --> 2x Infantry 90

- 14 pieces of artillery --> Cannons 50

- skirmishers / artillery scort (300 men) --> Crossbowman skirmishers 35

- Marshall Sant-André and six flags of light cavalry (300 men)--> Costilleurs 110

- 11 Flags of catholic landskenets (3000 men) --> Pike 60

- Admiral d'Amville and a company of gendarms (350 men) --> Gendarme 135

CENTER:

- Condestable of Montmorency --> General 100

- 22 Flags of Swiss (6000 men) --> 2x Swiss pikes 140

- 9  pieces of artillery --> cannons 50

- Skirmishers / artillery scort (250 men) --> Crossbowmen skirmishers 35

- 17 flags of bretons and picards (1300 men) --> Pikes 60

- Mylord of Sansac and six flags of light cavallery (250 men) --> Costilleurs 110

- Condestable of Montmorency and 12 companies of gendarms (600 men)--> Gendarms 135

TOTAL 1335? BP 7  --> de 17.000 a 18.000  hombres

 

HUGONOTE ARMY

CENTER:

- Prince of Condé --> general 100

- Prince of Hesse and 7 flags of bodyguards (1400 men) --> 2x costilleurs 220

- Prince of Condé and 800 gendarme --> 2x gendarmes 270

- Mylord of the la Curée and 6 flags of argolouts (200 men) --> Argolouts 60

- 400 "lost infants" --> skirmishers Crossbowmen 35

- 13 flags of infantry(2300 men) --> 2x infantry 90

- 6 flags of landsquenets (1800 hombres) --> Pikes 60

- 5 pieces of artillery and stockadess --> artillery 50 + stockades/roadblock 10?

VANGUARD:

- Admiral of Coligny --> noble 80

- Admiral of Coligny and 350 gendarmes --> Gendarmes 135

- 6 flags of bodyguards (1200 men) --> stradiroy and argoloutes 60

- 10 flags of infantry (1800 men) --> Pikes 60

- 6 flags of landschenets(1800 men) --> Pikes 60

TOTAL 1290  BP 7   12.000 men