The Dark Ages Campaign 798 AD - Border disputes in Pictia

Fearing the growing  power of the Pictish Kingdom Riderch King of Strathclyde has determined on a show of force.  The target is the region of Menteith to the immediate North West of Strat Clut and an important link between Pict and Scot's-Irish lands.  Riderch gathers all his might at Cambuslang and heads North.  He is met close to Mucetauc (Modern Mugdock in Sterlingshire) by a force lead by the Mormaer of Menteith supported by the men of  Fib and Strath Erin.  This is close by the site of an actual real world battle between Strathclyde and the Picts a century earlier.

I diced for sides and the Picts fell to be managed by the solo rules.  These determined that they would be formed up in five groups (the DBA solo rules require groups of no more than four elements and cavalry to be in two groups which means that the first turn for the AI is usually sorting the groups out to a more sensible arrangement I think I want to change this).  The Pictish spearmen (3Pk) were two elements deep in two groups on a crestline in the centre.  Cavalry and Light Horse on their right and Light Infantry on the left.  The plan was for the spearmen to push forwards with the horse and light Infantry protecting the flanks of the spearmen.

The initial deployment.  Picts are furthest away 

On my side after the Pictish defenders had deployed I placed my Spearmen in two lines in the centre with a frontline wide enough to overlap the Pictish spearmen on both ends of their line and as far forwards as possible.  All my cavalry bar one element on my left facing the Pictish horsemen and all the Light Infantry along with the remaining cavalry element on my right.  My plan was to engage the two flank groups and hold them back while dealing with the main Pictish threat in the centre.

You know what they say about plans though!

The overall tactical stance of the Picts was aggressive which to be fair to the solo rules seemed right given the situation.  They started with a general advance and closed up the two groups of infantry in the centre into one body.  Their cavalry pushed ahead of the centre trying to engage the Welsh cavalry and prevent it getting around the back of the main body.  In response the Britons of Strathclyde push their own cavalry forward to clash with the Pictish light cavalry who form the front line opposite them.  In the combat they destroy one LH element and recoil the others, 0-1 to the Welsh.

The Pictish massed spears pour down from the distant ridge 

The Picts continue to plod forwards in the centre and a swirling cavalry melee erupts on their left wing as they feed the second line of cavalry into the fight.  They destroy a Welsh cavalry element 1-1.  In return the Welsh also feed their reserves into the cavalry fight but then seem to loose all of the fights with recoils along the line.  Those Pictish light cavalry are tougher than they look.  On the other wing the light infantry fight is inconclusive although the lone unit of welsh cavalry does get into a flank position.  Next turn the Picts get the dreaded single pip just when they don't want it.  They elect to continue to push the mass of spearmen forward but this means that there is no movement on the two flanks and the centre is starting to push too far ahead of it's flank guards.

So far so good the Pictish infantry have advanced beyond their supports

In response the Britons withdraw their centre and try to reform line with their horse.  Over on the right the light infantry fight is still see sawing.

The Strathclyde Welsh refuse their centre

The Pictish command still favours aggressive action but doesn't have the pip score to do all it would like.  They prioritise stabilising the cavalry wing and attacking with their light infantry while they still have it to attack with.  They manage to destroy one light infantry element making it 2-1 to the Picts.  The Welsh get a good pip score and take the opportunity to deploy their reserve of spearmen.  One unit moves into the front line and the remaining two head out over towards the right wing in case the light infantry fail to hold over there.  The cavalry regroup but loose another cavalry element in the melee. 3-1 to the Picts.  This was not how the plan was meant to unfold!

The Picts continue in their attempt to come to grips with the Welsh shield wall but are still a move away from contact.  To try to offset the overlap on their spearmen they add a light Infantry element to the end of the line.  On the left flank things are falling apart with another Welsh light infantry unit destroyed, 4-1 to the Picts and only two elements off the Strathclyde Welsh's breakpoint!  The Welsh can see the day slipping away from them and having a reasonable pip score they advance in the centre hoping it isn't too little too late.

The Welsh centre commits and starts to turn the left flank of the Picts

The dice Gods now turn their face away from the painted men of Pictia and narrow their options with a low pip score.  In a do or die move the surviving Pictish light infantry attempts to hold the Welsh cavalry in place for a turn to prevent a camp run.  They hold for a turn and then succumb to a flank attack from the Welsh spear reserves. In the centre the main infantry action starts.  Pictish 3Pk stacked up two deep for a cumulative opening factor of six against Welsh spear on a basic factor of four.  Again the dice Gods turn away and the Picts only kill one spear element in the first round of combats 5- 2 to the Picts.  In an equivalent to Wellington shouting 'Now Maitland. now's your time!' the Welsh close onto the flanks of the Pictish Infantry line and attack all along the line.  It will only take one Welsh loss and it is all over.  The first attack goes in with flank support and the Pict Light infantry recoil, except they can't,  5-3 Another kill in the centre of the line 5-4 and the flank attack on the other end of the line kills another element 5-5!  There are some Welsh cavalry on the field ...they think it's all over! and with the destruction of one more element it is, the Welsh have pulled it out of the bag.

There are some Picts left but they are all intent on going home, without further delay

Menteith has passed into Strathclyde Welsh control.  There were no command casualties, but there will be lamentations in Pictia and Strathclyde for the small folk who never came away from this field.

Strathclyde losses
Strat Clut 1 x Cv, 1 x Sp, 1 x Ps.
Rheghed  1 x Cv, 1 x Ps

Pictish losses
Menteith    1 x Ps (now SC Welsh)
Fib             1 x 3Pk, 1 x Ps
Strath Erin 1 x 3Pk, 1 x LH, 1 x Ps

These casualties will have an effect in later games in this five year turn as destroyed elements from this fight will not be available until the next full game turn and Strathclyde are to be attacked by Northumbria and the Picts are attacking the Dal Raitian Scots.

I learned that a solid wall of spears can hold off a pike armed body but only once they start to get overlaps can they do real damage to them.  Pike have to be used aggressively before their flanks can be turned.  Light Cavalry are stronger in these rules against cavalry than I expected and light infantry are a nuisance if allowed to do what they want so they have to be neutralised early. 

Strathclyde Welsh figures are from Baccus’ Goth range.  The Picts are from Irregular.  Buildings are Leven and 2D6 Miniatures.  The sharp eyed will have noticed that I had to proxy some figures as I need more Picts and Strathclyde Welsh.  I really wish someone did some Picts that were a better match for the Baccus figures. Plus I need to do something a bit more creative with the built up area than dumping buildings on a bit of felt!

Last but not least the chronicles have another entry.

798 AD In this year in spring, on the 25th day of May, there was a great battle at Mucetauc in Pictia and there the Peithwyr were put to flight by the Britons of Alt Clut and divers were slain of both peoples.  Such a slaughter has not been in these lands since the time of the Romans.