Friday Night Games: The Battle of Cerigmoza, 1503

Friday 28th February, saw us all reconvene at Rupert's for a second week of Italian Wars fun and games, this week we refought the Battle of Cerigmoza, which occurred a few weeks after last week's refought Battle of Seminara.

Seminara had been fought on the 'Toe of Italy', this Battle was on the 'Heel of Italy' with the French and their Swiss troops, looking to check Spanish armies uniting and creating an even larger problem for the French.

This week the Spanish were commanded by Mike N, John and Steve, whilst the old stalwarts Mike W, Mat and Dave commanded the French army.

The difference this time was that the French Command had learn the hard lessons from the week before and improved their initial deployment set-outs and with a better understanding of the rules, they were much more effective in getting their powerful Swiss pike blocks into contact with the enemy and checking the Spanish Horse wings with their own balanced mounted wings!

Both armies attempted to secure the advantage on the flanks, with spirited fights extending through out the game on both sides.

Gradually the French prevailed on both flanks, but on the French right the victory was Pyric and thus  no advantage was really gained. On the French left, it went better, with the Spanish ultimately pushed back and French units, including a supporting pike block, turning the Spanish flank.

In the centre the Spanish strategy had been to hold their positions on the slope, behind the dried stream and force the French had to attack .

This week, better coordination between pike and shot allowed the French to engage their pike blocks as well as sustain ongoing fire into he enemy.

A French pike block centre right refused to engage much of the game, but the two Swiss pike blocks did Stirling work in the centre and centre left.

The left most block, immediately routed a German Landsknechts block and then whittled down a Spanish block before breaking that. 

By the time the central Swiss pike bloke (it had been stopped by heavy fire and a Spanish block), the Spanish flank had been turned and the umpire called the game at that point, a victory to the French.