Reckless at Agnadello, 1509 - A Battle Report

Last Monday I took up Jonathan Freitag's invitation to go head to head with him via Zoom in a refight of the Battle of Agnadello.  Hit the link to see Jonathan's briefing for the game.

For no other reason than I enjoy playing the underdog (some might call it a masochistic streak!), I chose to command the Venetians.  Jonathan therefore commanded the French.

I have to confess that, after having studied the briefing material that Jonathan sent, I had absolutely no clue about how I was going to play this.  My only vague thought was to not be too passive and therefore effectively hand the initiative to the French.

The Venetians were deployed in defensive positions behind irrigation ditches.  Carpi's wing on the left behind the forward ditch and, the commander, d"Alviano and his wing behind the second ditch.

Being inclined to a more aggressive stance in order to take the fight to the French before their reinforcements could arrive, Carpi was given the order to advance over the ditch.  The artillery opened up with minimal effect and the Stradiots positioned themselves in front of the French artillery.

Likewise, Alviano's pike approached the ditch and the cavalry on the right started crossing.  All hoping that the skirmishers might screen and harass the French king's troops on the road.  It sounds like a plan, but it was really more a principle for the game established on nothing more than a state of mind!

The French right, Chamont, bounded forward with the Swiss pike block, charging Carpi's pike on the left as it struggled to climb out of the ditch.

Having been thrown back by the Swiss, Carpi decided to charge the Swiss with the damaged pike block in the hope of catching them disordered and in the ditch.  Alas, the struggle again proved to be beyond the Venetian's ability and were swiftly repulsed.

However, Carpi's Stradiots quickly bounded forward to despatch the French artillery and pursued the stragglers towards the French rear.

On the far left flank, Carpi now decides to take matters in hand and hurls his men at arms at Chamont's gendarmes.

The melee proved to be protracted and bloody, but in the end the French prevailed and Carpi fell to the sword along with the rest of his troops.  The Venetian left is looking rather exposed.

Just then, as if to avenge the loss of their commander, Carpi's central pike block charged the Gascon crossbowmen...

... swept them from the field and then turned their attentions on the next.

Which, having been roughly handled by the Venetian pike, rout from the field.  Ha!  So much for the fabled Gascon martial spirit!

This success forces the French king to turn a pike block away from his general advance.  Perhaps things are looking up?  Alas, as events will show, this was probably the highpoint for the Venetians

Alviano's pike blocks now move out of the irrigation ditches to stiffen the centre while his men at arms and Stradiots start to emerge from the woods on the right.

However, Chamont's Swiss charge out of the ditch on the left.

After initially repulsing the Swiss assault, their own was overcome.  Carpi's wing is looking very thin.

On the right flank, the King has deployed his gendarmes behind a light cavalry screen.  His intention is clear.  He aims to charge and eliminate Alviano's men at arms.

... and charge he does.

With Alviano's men at arms beaten by the armoured impact of the French gendarmes, they are driven into the woods.

Meanwhile, on the left flank, Chamont sends the Swiss forward to finish of the leftmost Venetian pike block.

However, the Venetians hold firm and with a last great effort throw the Swiss back.  Alas, they expended all their energy in the push of pike and had nothing left for a pursuit.  Thus the exhausted Venetians fall foul to Chamont's gendarmes charging into their flank.

The Venetian pike is mauled and rout.  The Venetian left has now been well and truly torn apart.

It is all about the flanks now.  On the Venetian right the French King seizes his moment and launches the gendarmes into Alviano's exposed flank...

Jonathan helpfully pointing to the King's charge.

... and sweeps the Venetian men at arms from the field, who leave their commander dead amongst the wreckage of his army.

Note the empty space where once stood d'Alviano and his men at arms.

With that act, the Venetian army's resolve crumbles and, in rout, leave the field to the French.

A French win after a thoroughly enjoyable game.  Well done Jonathan.

After Thoughts
This was a fine victory for Jonathan and the French.  He played a smart game.  I, on the other hand, came into the game without a plan.  Then once I made my first aggressive moves, I committed myself to that approach.  The hope being to concentrate on eliminating the French right under Chamont with the weight of my forces.  However, I merely disordered all my own units and didn't move the rearmost pike blocks forward quickly enough.  Having punched a hole in the French centre with the Stradiots and the pike, I then did not have anything coming up behind them to exploit the situation.  Ultimately, I played a reckless game with forces that in numbers and quality were at a disadvantage.  The biggest advantage that I did have, terrain, was the one that I gave away.  Reckless and, on reflection, quite stupid.  But, this must not take away from the fact that Jonathan played his army well to capitalise on my decisions and to make his own luck.

Nonetheless, I was buzzing after a very entertaining game and convivial evening with an excellent host.

Thank you Jonathan.