Battle of Montijo: A Twilight of Divine Right AAR

For the final refight of this mini-series of TYW refights using the Twilight of Divine Right rules, I selected from the accompanying TYW scenario book the Battle of Montijo, a battle between the Portuguese who were using the opportunity of Spanish commitment to the Thirty Years' War to rebel and attempt to regain their independence.  This battle features a Spanish force trying to drive off a Portuguese force which had invaded and started looting Estremadura.

Simplified Order of Battle:

The Portuguese Army:
C-in-C: Albuquerque
6 units of Foot (inc. a mixed Dutch/English unit)
4 units of Horse
1 unit of Guns

The Spanish Army:
C-in-C: Torrecuso
5 units of Foot (inc. a unit of Italian and a unit of Irish)
4 units of Horse
1 unit of Guns

The Scenario:
Quite straightforward this, as the Spanish army must defeat and/or drive off the Portuguese army deployed in front of the village of Puebla de la Calrada.

The Set-Up:

The Portuguese are defending the village (top) from the advancing Spanish (bottom)

A closer look at the Portuguese, deployed in classical order, Foot and Guns in the centre, Horse on the wings.

And the Spanish facing them.

And a view between the lines

The Battle:

Torrecuso advances with his centre slightly refused, threatening to attack on the flanks, whilst simultaneously tempting the Portuguese to do likewise

A closer look at the advance of the Spanish Foot

Torrecuso was bluffing slightly, halting his advance to deploy his guns and bring up his second line

The Spanish attack goes in, with simultaneous cavalry attacks on each flank, with the Foot in the centre a tactical bound behind

The Horseman go hand-to-hand on the Spanish Left...

...and on the Right...

The more aggressive Spanish horsemen gain the upper hand, pushing their Portuguese opponents right back

whilst their compatriots on the Left achieve even greater success, forcing one opposing Horse regiment back and destroying the other, really uncovering the right flank of the Portuguese infantry line (right)

However, exceptionally well-served Portuguese guns have smashed the central Spanish Foot!

The melee on the Spanish Right - now deep behind the Portuguese line - continues

Albuquerque refuses his right flank (centre) to form a defensive line against the Spanish Horse (left), but the Spanish Foot have braved the musketry and cannon fire to get in close...

A closer look

Surprisingly perhaps, the Portuguese Horse fighting on the Spanish right turn and renew the fight with fury!

The combat ends with half of each force routed!

The pressure is applied onto the Portuguese Foot, which is maintaining its position resolutely

The surviving Portuguese Horse (right) threatens the flank of the Spanish Foot, forcing it to refuse its flank in its turn...

The right-hand Portuguese Foot has been driven in and ridden down (left), but the main line still resists...note that one unit of Spanish Horse is now in the village, looting it...

The Portuguese continue to outshoot their Spanish opponents, and the right-hand Spanish unit is broken! (see gap centre-right)

However, the other end of the Portuguese line is crushed by the weight of the Spanish attack, as is the remaining unit of Portuguese Horse...

...and the Portuguese Army breaks and runs!  With no Horse left in hand, it is doubtful if any of the force will escape back to the border...

Game Notes:
A nice simple game to finish off with.  Given the more limited troop types, in some ways it is an easier introduction to the game than the actual introductory scenario in the rules, since it has fewer troop types.  Using my half-sized units, it can be played on a surface of only 45cm x 60cm too.
I have dealt with the basic mechanics in earlier battles, so this time I will concentrate on how the game feels.  Since there is basically no combat mechanic, only modified morale tests (which is a good concept), there is a decent premium on being the attacker in order that the other side starts rolling first.  The tactical side is based around trying to get a small advantage (e.g. 'Swedish'-trained Horse attacking first, hopefully with an advantage in depth or width and then hoping that the dice go with the odds.  There is always a chance however of an unexpected break by a unit which will create an opportunity to exploit.  In some favourable circumstances (typically decent Foot defending a fortification) there is no chance of that break at all, which seems fair enough. It is however generally easier to increase one's opponents chance of breaking than decreasing the chance of breaking oneself.  Combat is generally more chancy and slower than in Polemos, but slightly more predictable than in DBx.  The attrition mechanic does work pretty well and this can't be rallied away, so unless they win quickly, units will normally be distinctly more brittle after the first combat - particularly cavalry.  Manoeuvre is hard compared to DBx, but much easier than manoeuvring in Polemos: ECW, which is an epic PITA and only to be attempted in unusual circumstances.  It is however quite random (there is a roughly 33%-50% chance of failing a test per turn, usually).  This provides a useful degree of chaos and uncertainty, partly for the necessary injection of Clauswitzian friction, partly as a useful mechanic to make the game good for the solo player.

Anyway, I have enjoyed these recent games, and will look to get this back to the table at some point later this year.  I think that they will also serve as the rules for a refight of the TYW, should I get around to actually attempting that!

As ever, figures by Baccus 6mm and buildings from Total Battle Miniatures.