As I have promised.... I hope you like it.
The battle of the red field
Motto: “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.”[1]
The year of the Lord 1295, 4 August, Thursday
Gregoire de Flers returned to his men very concerned and hounded by thoughts. What should he do? Should he betray his friend and commander for a last time? Should he go to the end? Those thoughts were hunting him for a while and more the day of the confrontation approached, more he was in doubts. After long reflection and countless changes of mind, he finally took a piece of paper and start to write. He will send a last letter to Philip and his staff, the letter they expected, the one he have sworn to send. After finishing it and seal it, he give it to a trustful men to have it carried to the other side in secret, a task the man successfully accomplished in the dread of the night. Then he tried to sleep but he could not even close his eyes.
Le Maigre received the letter and summoned the war council to decide what should they do? Should they believe the message or not? The letter detailed the battle plan. It seems that the Bastard have strengthened his flanks while he have left his center weaker. He seems to want a Canae but he forget that in the age of the knights such stratagems could not work anymore. If they attack the center in force, they could break it and therefore split his army in two. But what if is a trap? Charging straight forward in the center is the easier think to do. Everyone could do it! But the French were the best at that. They have the best knights protected by the best armors, riding the best horses in the entire world. Making complicate maneuvers for surrounding the enemy or louring into traps are all good but dangerous actions which only smaller armies and very well trained could do.
Le Maigre have played with plans to envelop the enemy with his cavalry, while his infantry could take the center. A day before he had even managed to convince the King and the Council to spread the cavalry thin and create two big wings which will try to force the enemy flanks. The rivulet on which the Bastard have anchored his right flank was easily to cross trough. More problematic were the swamps nearby but two or even three detachments could easily pass, especially in this very dry period when most of the swamps were dried. Same for the right flank. The terrain was a little bit roughly and covered with small bushes, but the horses could cross them. However, having such a big plain on front of them was very temping. And now, after discovering that his center is the weakest, well… any other argument was worthless. The council quickly decided to drop the previous plan and to concentrate all the force on the center. Everybody then hurried to their tents, wanting to get a little bit of rest.
The footmen, which that night remained on the field, tried to have their night passed as best as they could. Some singed, other prayed, other tried to sleep nut everybody was on guard to not have being attacked during the night. While no attack comes, that entire night was not a quite one. Patrols and scouts were very busy, trying to gather information and not only once, they meet midway and fought themselves in the darkness. The knights however, were camped in their tents and they have few worries than their inferior followers.
If Gregoire and many others could not sleep, Edouard instead slept like a baby. He was dreaming… He was on the banks of Nile with his old friend, Nicolas de Manduel, discussing about the book Nicolas have translated from Chinese and he have it offered to him before he died. Nicolas read him a paragraph: "
Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt”. The words which Edouard had read them countless of times from that book sound now very odd coming out his friend’s mouth.
“What that means?” asked him Edouard.
“Should that mean hiding your plans from the enemy or also from your men too?” Nicolas smiled and continued to read:
“So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong, and strike at what is weak.” [2]
While they reflected to the meaning of this paragraph, they were suddenly disturbed by a noise. What was that? War drums. The noise seems to approach, becoming closer and closer. Edouard wake up and look stupefied around him. He was dreaming. God, he missed his friend. After so many adventures and thousands upon thousands of miles across continents and seas, had died on their road to Jerusalem, before reaching the Holy City. He have him promised to have him buried in Jerusalem and he have kept his word even if it have nearly cost his life.
But the drums were not from his dream. They were real! They were his drummers which were waking up the men. It was already morning. How long he was asleep? Dam, he have slept all night! Curse that boy, he had asked him to wake him up after several hours! Where is he? Edouard jumped out of his tent looking after the servant to admonish him. He was sleeping as well, on a blanket outside his tent. Edouard approached to him and slap him. The boy tried to exonerating himself. He had tried to wake him but in vain, he had refused to wake up. Edouard send him after Robert Lecointe, the man he should have him meet in the night. He was the chef of his spies and the commander of the scouts. Until Lecointe arrived, Edouard was already dressed in the armor, helped by two squires. The sun was timidly making its appearance at the horizon.
Lecointe quickly debriefed Edouard with the latest information. It seems that the night was very agitated on both sides. The night patrols had fallen one upon another and, after a short brawls, two enemy scouts were captured. They were interrogated and they confirmed that the enemy camp was plagued with factionalism and the King and the Count of Champagne were at bitter odds. Hmm… nothing new. But a piece of information catch his attention. One of the scouts have told them that, his team was sent into reconnaissance to check some information about the disposition of the troops, task that they obviously failed being captured.
So the enemy have found about the battle plan… Satisfied with these new information, Edouard decided to make some changes. If the enemy knows that his center is the strongest part of his army, he will attack the flanks. Philip might have being a stupid stubborn adolescent, but Constable le Maigre was a very competent commander. The fact that he have kept in leash the entire army for so long was a proof of his great capacity. He will definitely impose his view and will try to hit his flanks harder. Very well, let them charge! He will outsmart them and therefore he ordered of some of his captains to change their positions. Practically, he pushed his veterans to the wings and let the center covered by his newer and greener troops. All along the front there were placed stakes and ditches and therefore he judged the center being safe enough.
Sometimes betrayals are useful, as long as they were known. Edouard crossed his friend Gregoire de Flers and smile to him, patting him friendly on his shoulder.
“Come my friend, I fill that you will bring me victory today! Tomorrow we will dinner in Reims!”
***
The deployment
The two armies slowly took their positions and by 9 AM everybody was ready to battle. The Royal Army took more time to form the lines, being bigger and having less cohesion. The fact that the infantry was already on the field greatly helped their deployment. However, the deployment was not without incidents. A dispute erupted among the great nobles on who shall take which place and who shall charge first. It seemed that not everybody accepted the decisions and tried to impose themselves.
For a last time, Jean le Maigre tried to persuade the others to let the infantry to attack first, to test and soften the enemy and only then to have the knights charging. It was in vain. Encouraged by the terrain which seems to be perfect for cavalry, the nobles requested the privilege to charge first otherwise they will leave the battlefield. They will not hide behind la piettaile [3]! Finally, after much persuasions they still agree to form the ranks.
On the right wing were placed the English knights ranged in two “battailes”[4], one commanded by Richard de Montfort, count of Nottingham and Marshal of England, and the other one by his cousin Aumory de Montfort, count of Leicester. Next to them was count of Rohan, commanding the Breton and Poitevin knights. Placing the English on the right, far from the real action disappoint them all greatly. They filled robed by the glory by their French counterparts. Nonetheless, the flower of the French army was massed on the center under the joint command of King Philip himself and King Louis of Arles. All great nobles were present there, around their king. However, the plain was not big enough to have them all put on the front, therefore they formed up in many ranks deep, to the disaffection of some of the nobles which received a less honorable place behind the first line. Therefore, at the right of the king were the detachments of Flanders and Burgundy, with the Angevin and Normand contingents behind them. On the left of the King was Louis of Arles which his personal knights and the Languedocian troops, while the Burbonais and other Frenchmen lined behind them. Right behind the King himself, was Duke of Auvergne, with Blois on his left, right behind Arles. On the left flanks were placed the rest of the knights coming from Lothringia, Aquitaine, and Champagne. Great nobles with their mighty retinues or petty ones, knights or simple men at arms, they were the crème de la crème of the Capetian “Empire”. Theoretically, King Philip could have easily put on the field more than double of this number but logistically, it would have being a nightmare to do it.
Jean le Maigre, which was theoretically the overall commander, was pushed behind with the infantry and his Grand Companies he commanded directly. Still, a great concession was made. The archers and the crossbowmen received the permission to advance in front of the knights for the usual exchange of missiles, until their most nobles lords were ready to charge. They were allowed as they could not steal their victory and their glory. The plan was simple: the knights will charge and crush the enemy, the infantry will follow behind to dispatch the fallen one and… well… they were anyway useless. They could do whatever they want.
The moral was high.
On the other side of the battle, Edouard was also prepared.
The entire left wing was put under the overall command of Etienne d’Aurillac, with the instruction to rain fire and death on the enemy. The best of his infantry was placed on this flank, including the Swiss halberdiers and most of his fire weapons (primitive hand cannons and fire-lances), as well as the bombards and all available the pot-de-fer. While these were siege weapons, they could be used to shoot once against the approaching enemy at point blank to disrupt their charges. The left also received twice the number of archers and crossbowmen than the right flank as they could shoot on the un-shielded side of the enemy and therefore being more efficient.
At the extremity of the line, there was Saruch Eger with his horse archers. He have orders to screen the entire battlefield and to cross the rivulet on the other side to shoot the enemy from behind when they will engage.
The command of the center was entrusted to Henrik von Rottweil which have the difficult task to keep the weakest element of the army somehow in line and cohesive. They were a patchwork of different mercenary contingents recruited on the last year as well men pressed in service latter, in order to boost the numbers. Nevertheless, they should expect less action than the wings and they were flanked on both sides by veteran troops. Right next to them were placed the fire-arows (explosive arrows propelled by rockets) launchers which could raise havoc among the enemy.
The infantry on the right wing was commanded by Bernard de Joinville and numbered only 3.000 men. However, they were backed up by 2000 mounted men, including the men personally commanded by Edouard, ones of the finest warriors form the entire Christendom. At the extremity of the right wing and bordering the rivulet, Edouard placed the light cavalry formed by Vlachs and Bosniacs under the command of Knyaz Voicu of Baia. In reserve was placed a unit of mounted men, which could fight both on foot or mounted, having the task of guarding the camp and to serve as reinforcement if the battle needed.
The initial deployment of the forces
The battle
Before starting the battle, Edouard sent a messenger to Philip to provoke him to a one to one fight, between them. Philip was so furious and eager to combat that he do not even listen what the envoy had to say. He could not forget the humiliation which he felt when the Bastard had sent him the letter via a cook servant [5].
At a sign, his archers advanced for the usual exchange of missiles. However, they were soon overwhelmed by the storm of arrows coming from the opposite side. Not only the enemy foot archers shoot quicker, but also their horse archers rushed forward from the left and shoot them into pieces before crossing the entire field. The entire archery duel lasted only 15 minutes or so but the casualties were horrific. The French archers fallen back disorganized. Seeing his archers dispersed, Philip ordered the general attack. More than 8.000 heavy horses were put in movement. Firstly at pace, then at trap and, later at full gallop. The forest of lances glittered in the sun! Saruch Egher led his men on the other side of the river, in order to avoid the charge of the enemy. Most of the nobles which considered to change side, were now less convinced to do so... The bastard will be crushed. Some of the, few in number, tried to take positions well behind, so they could betray Philip if the odds will turn against him, but for now, they preferred to not openly show their intention.
When the enemy approached to the middle of the field, a storm of arrows hit them hard. But that was nothing. Soon the earth and sky trembled even harder than from the noise provoked by the charging horses. The great bombards thundered, followed by many other smaller pot-de-fers. For most of the knights it was not the first time when they met the poudre a tonnerre and the firearms, but they have never experienced such a concentration of them. Using the bombards in battle was unheard. Yeah, they were sometime used in sieges. But to shoot small stones at point blank into the mass of nobles and knights was simply barbarous! The horses’ scared and a great panic and disorder spread across the lines. An even greater impression was made by the fire-arrows. The two launchers started to spit arrows in all directions across the field, with terrible whistling. It seemed like dragons escaped from the inferno. They provoked small damages but instead they created chaos and disruption among the ranks.
Nevertheless, despite all these, the knights charged the enemy in front of them. Their charge was firstly broken by arrows and fire and now they fenced upon the stakes raised and the ditches dug across the entire line. Horses fallen by hundreds, followed by their riders. From the left, the hand canons and fire lances were shoot from less than 20 foots, while from behind the trenches, the infantry armed with voulges, halberds, billhooks and bec-de-corbins advanced and cut the mighty knights into pieces. The knights were either unhorsed or have voluntarily dismounted to better fight in the melee. Seeing the carnage, some knights decided to ditch their pride and run away. The first to do so were the one ready to change camp.
On the right, the French were counterattacked by Edouard’s own cavalry, while the horse archers and the light cavalry have crossed the river shooting them from behind. They overwhelmed them and even managed to flank them. The light cavalry avoided the combat and have crossed the river from where they shoot arrows into the enemies. All over the battlefield the unhorsed French and English knights were crushed and slaughtered in droves. The upper-class of the most magnificent kingdom in Christendom was horrified by how many of them died in battle, being cut into pieces without mercy, without pity.
All over the battlefield… except in the center. The low quality troops scared to death by both the enemy charge and by the allied firepower. They brooked their ranks and run away, followed by the French knights which make their way through the ditches and slaughtered them merciless. The center was falling.
Moreover, across the river on the right flank, the light horses were repulsed by a sudden apparition. The Count of Champagne have observed the maneuver and instead pressing the charge forward, he took his men and cross on the other side of the river. The water was only up to the knees of the horses, and the crossing was done without difficulty. From there he charged the light horses which fallen back refusing the engagement, except several Vlachs which stubbornly refused to retreat and were cut into pieces. Among the fallen, was their commander, Knyaz Voicu of Baia. Saruch Eger however led everybody back safely across the river, assuming the command of the entire light cavalry. They regrouped behind the lines, at a safe distance. Champagne was now crossing the river as well, but he do not follow them. He had spotted a higher target and was headed for him. Edouard and his men were engaged on the right when they were hit from behind.
Egher throw a general look at the battlefield. The center was gone, while Edouard was hit from behind. It was the beginning of a disaster. At least, if something shall not be done quickly. The men left as reserved were rushed forward to repulse the onslaught in the center. But the left resisted. Actualy, the left flank was wining. From the distance, the enemy infantry was approaching. He was ready to commit himself to Edouard rescue when he saw something even more terrible. Two detachments were approaching in a hurry from the far south. It was Count Jean IV of Pierrepont with his retinue followed by the garrison of Reims who decided to join the battle. They were moving quickly on the road, heading directly to the camp, now undefended because the reserves were gone to help the center.
Egher do not care about the baggage train, even if he recognized that losing the camp will be a great hit to the moral of the men. No, other thing he care about. In the camp was the person he have sworn to protect – Elizabeth, the daughter of the Khan. Screw Edouard and screw everyone! He is not his master so he will save his Lady and her unborn son, not him. Edouard was the past. They were the future. Therefore, he rallied all the men and rushed to the camp.
Pierrepont’s men were busted up by Reims mounted militia and therefore they were a composite force so they were cut into pieces by Eger and his ferocious warriors. Elizabeth was saved. But the battle might have being already lost. The chaos reigned on the battlefield and thus led to a strange situation. On the left side, Edouard was surrounded and was fighting to the death against enemies four time stronger. On the left, it was Philip who was surrounded and his men were the ones slaughtered. The King of France and England was hooked from the sell by a Swiss mercenary with his halberd and was nearly tramped to the death by his horse. He fall in ditch while his destrier was decapitated by a huge blow and fall upon him, covering him in blood. Luckily, the ditch in which he had fallen saved him from the weight of the horse.
When the King had fallen, the last knights which fought with obstinacy loose heart and run back covered in shame. Fortunately, the infantry led by Jean le Maigre was coming up to help. Usually, in these cases when the knights were defeated, the infantry will not even engage the enemy, retreating all together. But the men from the great Companies have seen many things in their lives. They were veterans, disciplined soldiers and loyal to the death to their commander. And their commander was now the Constable and the Constable ordered them to charge. Their example was followed by other infantry units.
Philip saw the death with his own eyes and it would have being his end there in the ditch if not an infantrymen from the Great Companies have him dragged out from the ditch. He was covered in mud made from dust and blood. He had it everywhere, under his armor, in his ears, in his nose, in his eyes, in his mouth. The man have grabbed him from his helmet and dragged him out through the soaked earth. Indeed, the entire field which two hours before was light green with yellow shades, it was now red from the blood. The earth of France sucked avidly the blood of the Frenchmen. The dry grass was trampled by the horses and clouds of dusk have raised to the air. The sun was heating the men and their armors, drying the blood.
Few hundred meters away, Edouard similarly saw death with his own eyes. Surrounded by all sides, he was unhorsed and captured by Champagne himself. It was all lost! Theobald the Champagne was cheered by his men for his feats of arms. He disarmed Edouard and tied him with this own horse reins, to increase his humiliation. Theobald hated Edouard for the ravages he brought to his lands. King Louis of Arles, have seen the capture and rushed to felicitate the Count, despite being wounded. Maybe, but maybe, Champagne will become his son in law. This match would be perfect. He could not even dream more for his daughter and his kingdom. Would he agree to this match? Or he will be too discouraged by the rumors which those pesky doctors had spread about his daughter...
***
In her camp, Elizabeth saw with horror her husband dismissal. She was filled with grief and sorrow. And there, on the battlefield, it happens. When the survivors were retreating to the camp followed by the enemy, she filled herself wet between her legs. She looked down and a puddle was under her feet. Then she filled a powerful pain followed quickly by a relief, the contractions have begun. She needed to give birth right now and right there. The survivors, less than 8.000 men, were retreating more or less organized to the camp. They heard about what was happening and they all swear to defend the unborn baby and his mother with their own life. Exhausted and defeated but not crushed, they formed a huge circle around their uncrowned Queen. The camp was slightly fortified with a small palisade. It was better than nothing. The enemy was coming.
Attack after attack, they repulsed the French infantry. When le Maigre request them their surrender, as any resistance was futile now if Edouard was captured, Egger shout him the only thing he knew in French: “
Merde!”
On the other side, Philip finally meet his half-brother. Now, Edouard was in chains in front of him but he felt barely victorious… From more than 8.000 knights which charged that day, less than 3.000 managed to return. It was an unimaginable catastrophe. His pride was trashed and buried under his horse. He was saved by a merely pieton. He recompensed the man lavishly but nothing will efface the filling of being drag by the head through the mud, out of a ditch. The day was saved by the despised infantry and the core of the enemy army survived. He do not understand why they are still resisting. Why did they not run?. And now, he should support the sights of Champagne… who was cheered by everyone as the true winner of the battle. Everyone praised his audacity, his strategy his courage, his everything. The French refused to conceive that it was infantry who habe won the batle and therfore put all the merits on Champagne's shoulders. And when he saw his uncle Arles how he tried to enter in his favors he got sick. A terrible envy reigned the hearth of the young king. He start hating everything from his former friend. He hate him for being taller, for being stronger, for being better looking, for being better fighter, for the rumors that his father had banged his mother, and now he hate him because he have stolen his victory.
Champagne offered the captive to his King, waiting to be recompensed. Such a high born prisoner would cost a fortune in ransom. But Philip offer him the price for a footmen. Outrageously! Both Edouard’s and Champagne’s pride were trashed. Both filled terribly offended. Edouard himself was still uncertain about what and how it have happened. He thought he have outsmarted his enemy and yet look him there, in the chains. How they knew that he will make his center weaker? But what had happens with his wife? Nobody tel him anything. Nobody knew anything. Was she alive? Were all his men killed? What will happens now to him? Will he be spared or would he meet his end on a gibbet?
After several long hours, Elizabeth brought to life the son she had promised. Exhausted, she was asked how the boy should be called as the priest wanted him to be baptized on the spot. She answered…
Charles Alexander Temujin. Everybody was surprised by the last name. It was not a French name, but she was stubborn on her choice. Born on the battlefield, the heir of both Charlemagne and Temujin [6], he will be a second Alexander [7] who will unite the west and the east.
The sun was falling and the night brought the end of the hostilities. Elizabeth and his men raised their camp and retreated from the battlefield. They were defeated but not subdued. If Edouard was lost, she will continue her fight. Until the end. She was not a simple girl, she was the daughter of the wolf [1], a she-wolf herself. And as long the life beat in its heart, a wolf will not give up. The birth and the battle triggered a huge mystic aura around her and most of the men follow her without hesitation.
-------------------
[1] Perhaps the most important of Murphy's Laws
[2] From
https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/3200649-s-nzi-b-ngf
[3] Sounds you familiar?
[4] Detachments of around 500 men
[5] Edward III of England sent the message with the Claim of the French Crown via a cook servant, to the outrage of the French court. Usually, diplomacy between kings was conducted by high nobles and high clergy.
[6] Despite Jochi being suspected to not have being the son of Genghis Khan, he have always treat him like his own son. His descendants will rather die than to recognize or admit that they might have not being the heirs of Genghis. Temujin was the name of Genghis Khan.
[7] While Genghis Khan might be considered a greater conqueror, Alexander was viewed as the ultimate conqueror and commander, by grace of the greatest Hellenistic literature available in Occident ITTL.
[8] Her father name, Nogai, signified “Dog” in Mongol language… it was not a pejorative appellation, on the contrary, but when they translated to the western languages, they used “Wolf” as being more prestigious than “Dog”. Therefore Nogai adopted the winged wolf on his banners and heraldry.
