Tuttavia, la costituzione della Lega di venezia tra alcuni stati
italiani e l'Impero minaccia i collegamenti tra il re francese e la
madre patria. Il 30 maggio 1495 Carlo VIII divide il suo esercito,
tenendo con sé circa la metà delle truppe (approssimativamente
9.000 uomini, cavalleria e fanteria) che porta verso nord combattendo
per tornare in Francia (a luglio nella battaglia di Fornovo) e lasciando
il resto al sud per presidiare le recenti conquiste nei territori
napoletani.
Nel mese di giugno i francesi rimasti al sud, al comando del Gran Connestabile di Napoli, lo scozzese Bernard Stuart d'Aubigny, che, peraltro, è fortemente debilitato dalla malaria, si scontrano presso Seminara, non lontano da Reggio Calabria, con un corpo di spedizione spagnolo guidato dal re di Napoli Ferdinando II che, con l'appoggio degli spagnoli, vuole riconquistare il proprio regno. Al suo fianco il generale spagnolo Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba, che ancora non è diventato "El Gran Capitan".
La partita:
Regolamento Pike & Shotte (con House Rules).
Gli spagnoli sono schierati su una linea di colline basse con la cavalleria leggera all'estrema destra, quella pesante più verso il centro, mentre la fanteria al comando di Don Gonzalo è piazzata alla sinistra dello schieramento.
I Francesi, che devono attraversare una fiumara in secca, ma che può rallentarli, hanno la battaglia degli svizzeri sulle sinistra e la cavalleria sulla destra. (fig. 1)
fig.1 |
Fig.2 |
Nel frattempo, dall'altra parte del campo di battaglia, la cavalleria francese non riesce a coordinarsi e fatica ad attraversare il torrente. Solo i gendarmi si lanciano impetuosamente all'assalto della fanteria calabro-spagnola e, nonostante il tiro degli avversasri, respinge un'unità di archibugeri e massacra una di Rodeleros. Ma è da sola e viene colpita da tutto il tiro dei nemici, tanto che deve ritirarsi, scossa. (figg. 3 e 4)
Fig.3 |
Fig.4 |
Fig.5 |
Fig.6 |
E' la fine. Il morale della battaglia di cavalleria francese crolla e si ritira.
Fig.7 |
Ferdinando II può ancora sperare di rinconquistare il proprio trono.
*****
Charles VIII, king of France, conquered the kingdom of
Naples without great efforts thanks to the divisions of the Italian states.
However, the establishment of the League of Venice between
some Italian states and the Empire threatens the connections between the French
king and his kingdom. On May 30, 1495, Charles VIII divided his army,
taking with him about half of the troops (approximately 9,000 men, cavalry and
infantry) leading north to fight back to France (in July at the Battle of
Fornovo) and leaving the rest to south to guard the recent conquests in the
Neapolitan territories.
In June, the French which remained in the south, under the command
of the Grand Constable of Naples, the Scottish Bernard Stuart d'Aubigny, who,
however, is strongly weakened by malaria,
clash at Seminara, not
far from Reggio Calabria, with a Spanish expeditionary force led by the King of
Naples Ferdinand II who, with the support of the Spaniards, wants to reconquer
his kingdom. At his side the Spanish general Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba, who
has not yet become "El Gran Capitan".
The game:
Rules: Pike & Shotte (with House Rules).
The Spaniards are
lined up on a line of low hills with light cavalry on the far right, the heavy
one more towards the center, while the infantry under the command of Don
Gonzalo is placed to the left of the deployment.
The Calabrian-Spanish battalia |
The French, who must cross a dry river, which can slow them
down, have the battle of the Swiss on the left and the cavalry on the right.
The Spanish light cavalry rushes towards the Swiss square to
slow down it while crossing of the stream. Their action is particularly
effective and causes moderate losses on the Swiss square with the throwing of
javelins and darts. The square, not properly defended by its arquebusiers,
accuses the blows and advances very slowly.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the battlefield, the French
cavalry fails to coordinate and struggle to cross the stream. Only the
gendarmes rush impetuously to the assault of the calabro-Spanish infantry and,
despite the shooting of the adversaries, it repulse a unit of arquebuses and
massacres one of Rodeleros. But the Gendarmes are left alone and are hit by all
the shooting of the enemies, so that they must retreat, shaken.
Finally, the other French heavy cavalry unit also manages to
cross the river and clashes with the Spanish heavy cavalry. But it's a bad day
for France: the Spaniards hit hard and the morale of the Archers collapses.
Finally, a unit of French crossbowmen on horseback, which has just crossed the
river, is targeted by Spanish shooters and, when it has gone badly, becomes
shaken.
It's the end. The morale of the French cavalry battle
collapses and retreats. The Swiss, left alone and distressed by the enemy's fire,
can do nothing but retreat.
Ferdinand II can still hope to regain his throne.
Nice game and batrep Luca. Seminara is an under played battle and a favourite of mine.
RispondiEliminaThanks a lot!
EliminaA great battle report and some lovely figures, I really enjoyed this. I intend to do a refight of this battle sometime later in the year so it was interesting to see your version.
RispondiEliminaThank you Oli. The OOB has been adapted from the very scarce information I was able to collect about this battle.. Even about the number of Italian militia there are very different versions...
EliminaBut, apart from all, it was a quite small engagement and an ideal one as a friday evening game ... ;)
Wonderful battle report and even better minis :)
RispondiEliminaI wonder which were the house rules, though...
Lovely looking game! Gorgeous figures and I appreciate the OOB as I might pinch it to use myself!
RispondiEliminaBest Iain
Very nice looking game and thanks for the OB. I would be interested to know what house rules you use for Pike and Shotte?
RispondiEliminaYou can download from this samme blog... http://grancapitano.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html
EliminaVery nicely done, and always good to see the battles of my namesake on the tabletop! :-)
RispondiElimina