Re: An Eastern Jewel in a Western World !!! Chronicles of a French Miserable.
Italian Campaign (Part I)
Chapter XIX : Excommunication
An de Grâce 1203 AC.
Papal State.
Somewhere around Rome.
Current world...
Aide memoire:
Heroes...
After four days, we reached the suburbs of Rome. We hadn’t suffered a single ambush.
As forecasted, the Pope sent some messengers ordering us to go back, menacing to condemn us to Evil if we mucked again the sacral soil of the Papal States.
I laughed, seeing clearly the fear in the messenger.
- “Don’t worry; I’m just here to present my army to the Pope. Why should he fear his own soldiers? And I have also some little advices to send him.”
I said with a visible irony.
The messenger surged back, but it was too late. The Pope couldn’t escape the trap. Some of my units had already blocked the main ways to leave Rome.
The day after, an important Papal army came from the North. They had been warned of our presence and weren’t there to joke. I prepared my army, placing it between Rome and the North Papal Army.
The morning of the following day, a new messenger came. He said proudly:
- ”Heretic French, your Kingdom is now excommunicated, and you can pray your pagan idols because it is your last day.”
I shouted.
- “Evil bastard, go back to join your bribed lazy Pope. And it is useless for you to pray being protected by him. He just can do nothing than lying with whores.
Go back before my sword reach your piggy throat”.
He rushed back.
- “They believe to be saved by their Northern Army” I thought.
“Let’s show them the Crusader strength so”.
I was still confident but I knew that the following day was already the most important day of my life.
I ordered my generals to gather and plan to forecast the battle. My strengths were compound of regular French soldiers - mostly crossbowmen and some spearmen – and of a major part of crusaders – mounted knights and spearmen.
I decided to divide my troops in two distinct parts. My strategy was to secure a way to retreat by sending some troops in our back. I chose to keep with me all the Crusaders, spearmen and Knights. I would like to offer a wall of spears to the Pope’s armies.
I asked my generals who wanted to take the responsibility of this second army. Foulques, a chivalric noble from Normandy, offered to be this leader. I was confident on him.
I clearly warned him to stay close to the main army, in case of need. Reinforcements are never useless.
I knew that we were outnumbered. I was relying on my powerful army. My soldiers were experimented, well trained and well protected by heavy amours.
However, the armies which were waiting for our blood were also very strong. They were compound of the best spearmen of the Christendom, the Papal guards. There were also a lot of experimented crossbowmen, halberds militia and some fearful pikemen.
The only thing the Pope was lacking was a solid cavalry. Just the opposite of mine.
The day of the battle came. I arranged my army in the field. Ironically, the priests were walking across the soldiers, blessing them, praying God to help us against the Pope.
“What a joke” I thought.
That moment, some of our scouts rushed near our headquarters. The Pope’s armies were approaching!
I asked my generals to come a last time to plan the battle. Olivier was there, in his bright armor. I ordered them that I would like to make profit of our defensive position. I said that we should rely on our spearmen and protect the cavalry behind.
One of my general, Godefroy, stopped me.
- “My lord” he said, “There is no way for the cavalry to wait. We want to charge. We want the honor of the battle. We don’t want the spearmen saying that they won the battle without us.”
I was annoyed. Always this will to charge for the honor. It wasn’t efficient at all. I knew that but my generals were brilliant nobles, skilled, fearless, and didn’t want to wait behind their men.
Olivier started to speak:
- “Bien, there is one solution, we have to use the opportunity of the little wood near the battlefield to hide ourselves, and launch the charge when the foes will reach the spearmen.”
Godefroy complained:
- “Where is the French honor? Should we hide ourselves like cowards? Couldn’t we charge under the sun, watching the eyes of the Popes better than his ass?”
“No” I shouted “Olivier is right, we should use the benefit of our charge but not in front of the Pikemen. I don’t want to see our fate annihilated by those bastards’ pikes, like my father against the cunning Dutchmen.
Olivier, you are the leader of the cavalry. Go to the wood. I will stay with the spearmen, waiting for Alexander.
Let’s go my friends.”
The battle could begin now…
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) far from us. They stopped.
Originally Posted by wvswem
