Siege of Oxford 1142 - Second DBA Battle

Since these games don't take that long, I had a second go at the re-fight of the battle preliminary to the Siege of Oxford in 1142.  I will just go straight into the action for this one, since all the details of the scenario and set-up were the same as in the first battle here.

The Battle:

This time there is a deal of confusion in the Royal Army and only the mounted knights led by Stephen personally make it across the river before the two Rebel contingents realize the situation and turn to face the attack.

Without waiting for the supports to come up, King Stephen attacks with his knights (centre-right), whilst some of his foot soldiers carry out a pinning attack through the river: he is clearly hoping to do irredeemable damage to the Rebel infantry before the Rebel knights can intervene.

King Stephen's knights, inspired by his Royal courage and prowess, rout the spearmen sent to oppose him; his diversionary infantry attack is rebuffed with loss, however.

The Rebel knights charge! The Royal knights facing them are heavily outnumbered, King Stephen will need to use all of his personal leadership and skill-at-arms to prevail...the remainder of the Royal knights are still engaged against the rebel spearmen by the river (centre-right)

A wider view

And  a closer view of King Stephen (centre) in the midst of knights, engaging the rebel horsemen...

Whilst the King and his outnumbered knights are at least holding on in the cavalry melee (centre-left), the combined attack of the remainder of the Royal knights and foot soldiers across the river against the Rebel foot soldiers is making great progress, as more of the Rebels fall and flee...the remainder of the Royal army is making somewhat slow progress over the ford to catch up (right)

But the Rebel foot soldiers are no pushover!  The Royal foot soldiers are pushed back into the river, the blood of the dead and wounded beginning to change the shade of the water...the Rebel position is still very awkward however.  The mounted melee has broken up somewhat (centre), with the King driving his foes before him.

A closer shot of the foot facing off

This time, the knights take the lead in trying to ride down the Rebel archers

The King is in trouble!  Some of the Rebel knights have swung round and encircled him and his bodyguard and attendants...(left)

Can the King fight his way out of this?!?

No!  The King and his men go down...a nation holds its breath, not knowing if the King is amongst the dead or the prisoners...

However, at that moment the remaining Rebel Foot break and run, and the Royal knights join the rout, most unaware that King Stephen is down!

The position at the end of the battle, at the point where the Rebel Army broke and fled.  The King and his knights were in trouble, either down or pushed back in the centre, but the majority of the Rebel Foot is dead or in flight for the bridge and the gates of Oxford (top)...

Game Notes: Another fun game, with very different dynamics to the first encounter as a result of the very different early activity dice rolls.  There was more pressure on the Royal army from the start and less freedom to take the initiative.  That said, the Rebels did not quite get enough advantages to really break clear and form a decent battle line, which I think is the best way for them to have a chance of winning this game, barring some outrageous luck!  Otherwise they remain just too vulnerable to defeat in detail.  OTOH, the randomness of the DBA command system at least means the Rebels have a chance, it would be distinctly more difficult in a more traditional IGOUGO no-friction set, because the Rebels would have to rely on fighting luck alone, not a mixture of command luck and fighting luck.

Anyway, all good stuff  -  all details as in the previous game.