Italian Army List

Right Flank
Commander: Gianfresco, Count of Caiazzo,
commander of Milanese

1 x Sub general Reg Kn(S)
7 x Condottieri Reg Kn(O)
8 x Mercenary Pikemen Reg Pk(O)
4 x Militia crossbows Reg Ps(O)
2 x Mercenary crossbows Reg Bw(O)
2 x Bombards Reg Art(S)
4 x Pioneers Irr Hd(O)
Command = 24 EE Break point = 8

Centre
Commander: Francesco Gonzaga,
Duke of Mantua,
commander of Venetian Forces

1 x CinC Reg Kn(S)
6 x Condottieri Reg Kn(O)
6 x Mounted Crossbows Reg LH(I)
3 x Sword & buckler men Reg Bd(F)
4 x Mercenary crossbows Reg Bw(O)
3 x Handgunners Reg Ps(S)
3 x Militia crossbows Reg Ps(O)
8 x Immobile Baggage
Command = 23 EE Break point = 8

Left Flank
Commander: Fortebraccio Di Montone

1 x Sub-general Reg Kn(S)
6 x Condottieri Reg Kn(O)
2 x Billmen Reg Bd(O)
4 x Mercenary crossbows Reg Bw(O)
3 x Handgunners Reg Ps(S)
3 x Militia crossbows Reg Ps(O)
3 x Archers Reg Ps(O)
Command = 17.5 EE Break point = 6

Detached Flanking Force
Commander: Alessio Beccacuto

1 x Sub general Irr LH(O)
5 x Stradiots Irr LH(O)
6 x Mounted crossbows Reg LH(I)
2 x Turks Irr LH(F)
Command = 14 EE Break point = 5

Army Total = 78.5 EE
Army Break Point = 39.5

French List

Advanced Guard (Swiss)
Commander:

1 x Swiss Sub general Reg Pk(S)
9 x Swiss pikemen Reg Pk(S)
2 x Swiss halberdiers Reg Bd(X)
2 x Swiss handgunners Reg Ps(S)
2 x Swiss crossbows Reg Ps(O)
Command = 14 EE Break point = 5

Advanced Guard (French)
Commander: Pierre de Rohan, Marshal de Gie

1 x French Sub general Reg Kn(S)
3 x Ordannance gendarmes Reg Kn(S)
2 x Ordannance archers Reg Mtd Bw(S)
1 x Ordannance archers Reg Cv(O)
1 x Foot crossbowmen Reg Bw(O)
2 x Bombards Reg Art(S)
1 x Organ Gun Reg Art(I)
Command = 11 EE Break point = 4

Centre
Commander: King Charles VIII

1 x French CinC Reg Kn(S)
2 x Ordannance gendarmes Reg Kn(S)
2 x Ordannance archers Reg Cv(O)
1 x Gentaires Irr LH(O)
3 x Handgunners Reg Ps(S)
3 x Gascon crossbowmen Irr Ps(O)
4 x Foot crossbowmen Reg Bw(O)
2 x French partisanmen Irr Bd(O)
Command = 15 EE Break point = 5

Rearguard
Commander: Louis II, Seigneur De La Tremoille

1 x French Sub general Reg Kn(S)
2 x Ordannance gendarmes Reg Kn(S)
8 x Franc archers Irr Bw(I)
3 x Bretons Irr Ps(S)
1 x Gascon crossbowmen Irr Ps(O)
4 x French partisanmen Irr Bd(O)
4 x Foot crossbowmen Irr Bw(O)
8 x Mobile baggage
Command = 21 EE Break point = 7

Army Total = 61 EE
Army Break Point = 30.5

The Map

The fords were name from the local villages closest to them which are otherwise too small to be represented on the board. The Rough Going on the hills is low scrub/brush and rocky ground.

Italian Deployment

The Italian Force will be deployed on the West bank of the Taro river (except for the detached Flanking Force command) as follows:

1) Right wing. Centred around the Gairola ford. All troops must be set up within 6 inches of either side of the ford.

2) Centre. Centred around the Oppiano ford. All troops must be set up within 6 inches of either side of the ford.

3) Left wing. Deployed between the Gualatico and Ozzano fords. Troops may also be deployed 3 inches north of the Gualatico ford and 3 inches south of the Ozzano ford.

4) Detached Light horse command. In ambush, behind the hills at least four feet from the northern edge of the table. The command can be placed in up to three single element wide columns facing northwards.

French Deployment

The French Force will be deployed command by command from North to South. Each command must have its troops facing towards the northern edge of the table as follows:

1) French Advanced Guard, with the artillery deployed in column to the East of the road. All troops must be deployed at least two and a half feet (1500 paces) from the northern edge of the table.

2) Swiss Advanced Guard, with the pikemen in column on the road.

3) Centre. This force must deploy at least four feet (2400 paces) from the northern edge of the table. The command must be led by the King, who must be deployed on the road. The blades must also be deployed in column on the road.

4) Rearguard. The baggage must be placed in column on the road. No troops can be placed within one and a half foot (750 paces) of the southern edge of the table.

Victory conditions are checked at the end of each French bound.

To win the Italians must achieve either of the following conditions while still having at least three undemoralised commands at the end of the game:

1) Demoralise the French army, OR

2) To capture or kill the King of France.

If both or neither sides achieve their victory conditions then the game is a draw.

French Victory conditions

Victory conditions are checked at the end of each French bound.

To win the French must achieve one of the following victory conditions:

1) To demoralise the Italian army.

2) To move at least three undemoralised commands and the king off the northern edge of the table.

3) To clear a path to the northern edge of the table and destroy any Italian forces (apart from Light horse) from the West bank of the Taro river. This condition cannot be achieved in the first six turns of the game.

If both or neither sides achieve their victory conditions then the game is a draw.

Special Rules
The Taro River. The river will have four fords, each two elements wide and a bridge near Fornovo at the Southern edge of the table. The river rating is "easy" (3) in all sectors, with the fords being rated as "paltry"(1). Due to the previous nights storm the river will begin to rise. At the beginning of each French bound the French CinC rolls 1D6. If the weather is dry a roll of 6 will cause the river to rise by one point. If it is raining then a roll of 5 or 6 will cause the river to rise by 1 point.

The Results

This scenario was organised and run by Martin Morgan during one of our April meetings were we played two games, and later at our Public Open Day in September. The results were varied with different players in command.

Game 1: The French commanders deployed badly for this battle by poorly defending the baggage. The Italian Stradiots (Flanking Force) broke ambush and looted the baggage routing the French archers Bw(I) in the process. This effort broke the French rear guard. The Italian Left command was blocked and routed while attempting to cross the river but French luck ran out when their advanced guard was overwhelmed. The artillery failing to deploy in time was to be ridden down early in the game.

The start of the first game as seen from the Italian side. A French mistake during this battle was to have the artillery deployed directly opposite one of the fords, it was quickly overrun with minimal resistance.

Not wanting to be caught out twice on the same mistake, the French rearguard commander runs the baggage up the road out of trouble. Both the Italian Left command and "over eager" Flanking Force were both routed in the ensuing skirmish. The French advance guard was again broken but the Swiss held firm. The Italians ended this game tinkering on defeat so a marginal French victory was declared.