The year is 1072, and King Philippe of France has issued a kingdom wide decree that binds all subjects to strive for peace, order, and prosperity. This decree extends to and includes such specific orders as: insuring trade with all neighbors, a general calm of the people, and the quelling of all bordering rebel resistance. As such, the construction of public execution places in all major settlements in the next five years has been promised by each and every vassal, as well as the training of the local population to fight for these undeniably pious causes.

By 1073, son and heir to the Crown, Hugues Capet, is sent to prove his worth to God, Kingdom, and people by liberating the region around Fougeres, which inevitably means the forced capitulation of the occupying forces located in the stronghold at Fougeres itself. And so men from all regions of France are sent to aid.


Fougeres is sieged and starved for over a year. As their supplies run short, soon enough the leader of the resistance comes to realize there is little future in playing the waiting game, and orders a sally.


Their troops are eager, but hardly organized. They rush Hugues' men in a chaotic matter, one by one hitting the line in different paces, a poor tactic which has little effect on the overall composure of the army.


Their men soon change their tactics in an opposite, yet equally chaotic manner, that is to say: RETREAT. They are, however, chased and run down along their walls and into their gate.


Hugues' men left outside the walls soon become anxious, and whilst their general and all their captains are on horse back inside, they pick up the yet unused rams, and push them up to the walls. Their efforts are to no avail though, as men inside the walls are quickly slaying all those still resisting the inevitable. The victory and the stronghold belong to the Frenchmen, but Fougeres is now home only to the stench of the dead. The surrounding population are spared their lives on the condition of pledging allegiance and obedience to King Philippe.


While Hugues and his men rest and regroup after quelling the North, large groups of rebels, led by those who do not recognize Philippe's decree as righteous, are spotted in the south. Messengers are sent to persuade the rebels to lay down their arms, but not all are convinced of the King's vision. However, few can disagree with an argument which is backed by a hefty sum of gold.


It is now 1075, a little less than a year has passed since Fougeres has been taken as the first step towards peace and order in the Kingdom, and now the promising Crown heir will have to prove himself once again.


While the snow gently falls, the two armies position themselves. The crossbowmen are on the left flank, backed by horsemen, while the archers are on the right flank, behind a barrier of rock. Captain Odo's men are under the cover of the woods, but Hugues' men are under the cover of numerous deadly volleys of arrows and bolts. And Odo's men quickly find that arrows and bolts offer more protection and decide to return to the woods before they ever reach Hugues' front line.


While Odo is still hiding in the woods, Hugues marches his men over the dead of the enemy, closer to the trees, hopping to provoke Odo to come out and away from his cover.


Odo answers the provocation, and sends a wave of footmen and horsemen. This time the charge is more effective, and Hugues himself rushes in to support the right flank. In the mean time, the remaining French cavalry hits the enemy from the back.


And once again the rebels fall back to the trees. And once again Hugues regroups the men. His ranks now thinned, his arrows and bolts depleted, but moral is still high, and the men are still eager.


However, now Odo orders his archers to fire. Understanding that he cant allow his men to be pelted by enemy, Hugues now takes the initiative. The men approach their opponents, ready their weapons, and.... CHARGE! The infantry followed closely by the cavalry. This deadly combination quickly breaks the Odo's tired front ranks, only his horsemen stand their ground, but are quickly overwhelmed.


The victory is decisive, and theres little that remains between Hugues and the next objective - Bordeaux. But the rest of the empire must not be forgotten - is what the distressed messengers from Clermont plead to Philippe!


To be continued..... maybe