Battle of Ucles 1108

Today's battle report is long overdue.  Fought in the middle of July, I am only just now getting around to chronicling this great battle.  Besides fighting other battles, I have been at work on developing a scenario for the Battle of Cheriton and wrangling survey data for the next Great Wargaming Survey analysis.  Toss in a little painting, some steady yard work, a minor injury or two, and a lot of cycling (logged a tad under 600 miles for July) and time slips by faster than I realize.  Perhaps the hot weather takes its toll as well in making everything take a little bit longer.  Either that or age is catching up with me.  I lobby for the former.  Anyway, back to today's battle report.

On 18th July, the Battle of Ucles was on the docket with four players lined up to participate.  At the last minute one player bowed out leaving a planned four-player game with three players.  Being the Acceptor of All Challenges, Doug volunteered to command the Almoravid Army alone.  Stephen and Colin split the Spanish command with Stephen taking both wings while Colin commanded the heavy cavalry and reserve infantry in the center.

Initial dispositions

After three weeks, let's see how much of this battle I recall.

With the Almoravid Army besieging Ucles, word arrives that a Spanish relief force under Sancho Alfonsez is on its way to break the siege.  Calling his army to the colors, Ibn Yusef deploys his army to face the enemy in front of the gates of Ucles.  Yusef places his medium cavalry in the center of his battle line.  Sancho deploys his Spanish Army with his heavy knights in the center

Ibn Yusef draws up his army at the gates of Ucles.

As the battle begins, both armies advance their wings while the center cavalry remain still.  Almost still.  Yusef turns his two horse units about to face the rear.  The camels remain in place facing the enemy.

The wings probe forward while the centers holds.

Skirmishing on the flanks.

Almoravid cavalry about face.

Sancho can restrain his knights no longer.  In they all go into the awaiting enemy hordes!  Sancho leads a charge up the hill and into the Muslim mixed foot unit.  The Muslims are driven back in retreat.  Sancho pursues but his pursuit crashes into a veteran body of spearmen.  The spearmen stand their ground and Sancho falls back.  A second body of knights to the right of Sancho charge into another body of spearmen.  Yusef's heavy infantry fall back from the weight of the charge.  

A third body of Christian knights charges into the Almoravid camelry.  They too are drive away in disorder!  These knights refuse to pursue but Sancho has cut a wide swath through the Almoravid line!  The Christians cheer!  Yusef brings up a body of mixed infantry in an attempt to drive off the knights isolated in the center.  The Almoravid infantry is driven off.        

Charge!

Where is the Almoravid Center?

Seeing a gaping hole where his center was moments before, Yusef, advances against both wings to relieve pressure on the center.  These advances on the flanks see success in that the Spanish Right is turned and Yusef's light cavalry is able to swing around the enemy flank and threaten the Spanish rear.  Sancho sends his red knights in again against the Almoravid Center.  Repulsed!  

Yusef attacks against the Spanish Right...

and against the Spanish Left.

The isolated Spanish knights are attacked again.

Yusef working to turn the Spanish Right.

Driven off a second time,
Almoravid infantry is in full retreat!

At this point in the battle, the Spanish cavalry have driven all before them.  Yusef was not done for yet!  

With his medium horsemen returning to the battle, Yusef begins to execute his plan.  First, the isolated Spanish knights in the center are driven back with heavy casualties.  The attacking Muslim horsemen follow up in pursuit.  The Spanish are caught and dispatched.  The Almoravid horsemen continue to pursue.  The Muslim cavalry reach the red knights and cut them down.  Sancho is lucky to escape!  

Counterattack...

and pursuit...

and pursuit.
Sancho barely escapes with his life.

Against the Spanish Left, Yusef orders his heavy infantry down from the heights to engage the enemy.  In supported attacks, the Almoravids strike with a vengeance.  Spanish infantry and Spanish cavalry are driven off in retreat.  Although Muslim casualties are heavy in these clashes, the Spanish Left collapses.  

Almoravids on the attack!

Spanish Left is shredded!

Almoravids control the battlefield.

With the Spanish center gone, his right turned, and his left now in flight, Sancho puts an end to his attempt to relieve the siege at Ucles.  The occupants must fend for themselves.

After watching Colin rip apart the Almoravid Center, I figured this battle might be a short one.  Once these massive Spanish cavalry charges ran their course, exhausted, they were vulnerable.  Doug did not allow this opportunity to slip away.  He counterattacked vigorously everywhere.  Where moments before, it looked like a Spanish steamroller crushing everything in its path, Doug struck back and turned the tables.  Impressive comeback and another very exciting game.

Thank you all for another, most entertaining session.  Great fun!

Yeah, I think this is how the battle unfolded…