AAR Battle at Helgeandsholmen 21 August 1463

Here comes the AAR from our latest Kalmar Union War game using the Hail Caesar rules.

Background
In 1459 the Union/Danish King Christian I got the opportunity to inherit Schleswig, but he had to pay off some of he´s relatives. The price however, was astronomical, 123000 guilders, equivalent to 30750 silver marks or six tons of silver!!! and this would be borne by the Union population. All citizens in Denmark and Sweden had to pay extra taxes to cover for the cost...

The increased tax burden in Sweden met with resistance. 1463 imposed an additional tax of 12 cents for each tax farmer and 6 cents for every country people. When the Allmoge in Uppland protested violently, declared Archbishop Jöns Bengtsson (Oxenstierna) that the tax was abolished.

When King Christian returned to Stockholm the Archbishop was imprisoned and taken to Denmark. Uppland Allmoge marched to Stockholm and camped on Norrmalm. Under the leadership of the Swedish Marshal Ture Turesson (Bielke) the Kings soldiers attacked the Allmoge on August 21 at Helgeandsholmen just outside the Stockholm city walls...

Opposing Armies
As there is no true historical account of which and how many participated in the battle, I have based the army lists on the minis I had available at the moment, The scenario at the end have a different OOB then the one we used in this AAR, it was my firts intentiobn but I diden´t have time to finish all minis...

As Commander for the Allmoge I have put relatives to the Imprisoned Archbishop that had estates in Uppland and had the possibility to influence the Allmoge to a rebellion.

The Rebel Allmoge army was attacked from two directions. One force attacked from Stockholm under command of the Danish Marshal Claus Rönnow and one was the reinforcements attack by the Knechts under command of Swedish Marshal Ture Turesson (Bielke) that was returning back from an attack on the Archbishops fortress at Almarestäket...

Order of Battle Union

Command of Claus Rönnow, Defenders of Stockholm
2 Units of Mercenarys halberdmen and crossbowmen
1 Small Unit of Mercenary Handguners

Command of C-in-C Ture Turesson (Bielke), Reinforcements
2 Small Units of Knechts
1 Small Unit of Mercenary Handguners

Order of Battle Rebels

Command of C-in-C Kristiern Bengtsson (Oxenstierna) Brother to Archbishop Jöns Bengtsson (Oxenstierna)
2 Units of Allmoge
1 Small unit of Allmoge skirmishers

Command of Erik Nilsson (Oxenstierna) Cousin to Archbishop Jöns Bengtsson (Oxenstierna)
2 Units of Allmoge

The game starts when the Defenders of Stockholm have deployed outside the city walls to engage the rebels according to map.

The Union reinforcements will enter on a roll of 4,5 or 6 in turn 2, on 3,4,5 or 6 in turn 3 and in turn 4 they will enter automatically. The Rebels has the first turn...

The rebells on Brunkebergsåsen leave theris night camp and start to move against the Bridge to Helgeandsholmen. They are going to reinforce the allmoge units that got over during the night...

The defender of Stockholm just await to have theirs reinforcement to arrive...

The Danish 2nd in command decide that he will try to deffeat the rebel force on Helgeandsholmen before they can get theirs reinforcements over the bridge...

The battle start out with some missile fire from both sides, the rebell allmoge got the uper edge and manage to break!!! one of the Danish mercenary units, due to poor morale. The mercenary unit flees back behind the safty of the Stockholm City Wall...

With one mercenary unit taken care of the Rebell commander order a charge!!! a fierce hand to hand combat that last for several turns begins...

At last! The Danish Reinforcements arrives, but they have left the Knights back at the camp... The commander Ture Turesson Bielke was a keen fighter so we gave him +3 if he joins a combat, all other commander only added +1.

Ture Turesson orders he´s Knecht to advance against the supprised Allmoge.

Then he order he´s mercenary handgunners to make a advance to the left...but they "missunderstod" the order and as they already got all the loot they could carry, by ransacking the Archbishops estate, they decided to go back to the camp and party with the Knights...

At Helgeandsholmen the rebell allmoge had managed to defeat the last danish mercenary unit, chasing them back behind the city walls...

Battle field overview. The Danish Knecht preper themself for a charge that will puch the allmoge down in "norrström" i.e. the north stream...

The Knecht charged but was repulsed, both units shaken...even though Ture Tureson Bielke was leading from the front adding 3 attacks...

With 2 mercenary infantry units Broken, the 2 units of Knechts shaken and all mercenary handgunners of to party, the Danish commandes shoose to call it a day...

It was a realy nice and intense game, but I think it would have turned out more to history i.e Ture Turesson Bielke and he´s Knechts and Knights massacred the allmoge. The Union Soldiers even entered the Helgeandhouse and killed enemy´s that had seek sanctuary in the chapel after this event Ture Turesson Bielke was known as infamous "allmoge butcher"...

Song of Drums and Shakos

I have tryed out the rules "Song of Drums and Shakos" with my 28mm AWI minis.

It worked out realy well even if my minis are multi based. 1 of my bases was equal to 1 mini in the rules...

I was runing a small engagement. A Native war party was assaulting a small settlement but meet harsh resistanse from the local militia...

OOB

Native Indian War Party
1x Warchief
10x Warriors with some coureurs de bois

Local Militia
1x Captain
8x Militia

A small groupe of Braves advance through the field, the militia respond with a volly of muskets that dosen´t harm even a barn door...

As it takes 2 actions to reload, the Natives take the chance and charge the poor militia...

a fierce fight begins and both sides take casualtys...

the fight continued for some more rounds, and ended with the escape of the Militia Captain and some small part of he´s glorius militia company...

It was a short but nice test game with just about half as many points as the rules recomend, and I think it will get even better and faster then I learned the rules:)

Casulty markers

I have painted up some more casulty and disordered markers for my Hail Caesar/15th centery Kalmar Union War project.

Loss of 3 stamina each ...

Loss of 5 stamina each...

Disordered and Loss of 1 stamina each...

Medieval Manner of Dress #2

I have done as "The Angry Lurker" commented "it's not my period of interest at this time and they should go to medieval nuts" so I have looked after some "medieval nuts" and found that these 3 fits the description;)

Alan at The Duchy of Tradgardland for he´s great interest in Medieval Scandinavia. Good luck with your Danish 13th centry army;)

Sire Godefroy at Conquering the Lead Mountain that are a real medieval reenactor and historical fencer as well as a realy good miniature painter.

Bedford at La Journee That was one of the creators behind the spectacular demo game "Battle of Verneuil 1424" at Salute.

They will each get a copy of the book, Medieval Manner of Dress: Documents, Images and Surviving Examples of Northern Europe, Emphasizing Gotland in the Baltic Sea.

I hope it will inspiring them to paint some medievla scaninavians now;)

If you wasn´t one of the 3 and still want to get hold of a copy you can send a e-mail to the Museum Shop and order one, they have a realy good price at the moment;)

Medieval Manner of Dress

Medieval Manner of Dress: Documents, Images and Surviving Examples of Northern Europe, Emphasizing Gotland in the Baltic Sea.

Publication Date: 2001

Priests, monks, burghers and peasants - how did they dress in the Nordic countries during the Middle Ages? What materials and colors were used? Which changes of fashion occurred?

Knowledge of the medieval manner of dress must be drawn from visual and written records - art, provincial statutes and court findings, supplemented by all too few examples of surviving textile material.

Else Marie Gutarp presents a compilation of the extensive, albeit widely-scattered material - an invaluable guide for workshops, theater groups, organisers of medieval festivals and interested readers in general.

The book also contains diagrammed cutting patterns for several simple medieval garments.

From book's back cover

When I was at the Gotland Fornsal during the Medieval week I purchase 3 extra copys of this book about Medieval Manner of Dress that I thought I woud give away to my blog readers:)

The book are in english and there are NO arms or armour in it at all, but good info about Medieval Manner of Dress, Images and Surviving Examples of Northern Europe, Emphasizing Gotland in the Baltic Sea...

If this sound as something intersting to you pleas make a separate comment that you are interested, include your e-mail adress. If you are one of the first 3 to show interest, I get in contact with you about were to send the book.

I ofcourse won´t publish your comments including your mail adress, but I will publish who got the books in a later post at my blog.

Good Luck;)

Best regards Dalauppror

Flea Market Bargains #2

Back to painting minis again after a week of posts about the Medieval Week on Gotland...

There will be one more post connected to the Medieval week...I thought the one about Lojsta Slott would be the last one BUT I just remebered that I purchase 3 extra copys of a books about Medieval Manner of Dress then I visited the museum.

The 3 books will I give away to my blog readers;) More about the book and how you will be one of the lucky 3 to get a copy in a post tomorrow...i.e. 24 houres;)

Here are a pictures of my new painted flea market bargins, I think they turned out quite well:)

They will ofcourse be used with my 28mm, 15th centry Kalmar Union Project;)

Iron Age Great Hall

My last post of pictures from the Medieval Week are some pictures from Lojsta Slott that are a Iron age hill fort and near by you have a reconstructed Iron age/Viking Great Hall. Unfortunally the hillfort area was´t cleard so you couldn´t realy see the hill fort...they promissed to clear the are from trees and bruches to next summer...but here are some pictures of the Great hall.
Here you can find a Satellite view of the area:)

Lojsta Hall is the oldest reconstructed Iron Age type house in Sweden, an important historical landmark on Gotland. It was built after the excavations in 1929 on the original site, near one of the Manor’s lakes.

It dates to about 400 AD and is a typical longhouse with both people and their livestock living under one roof.

It was probably inhabited for about 300 years before it got abandoned like many other Iron Age sites at the same time. In those days, it was easy to travel from Lojsta to the Baltic Sea and trade goods. The roof is thatched with Great Fen-Sedge (Cladium mariscus), a plant which is common to the local moors.

The Lojsta area on Gotland is famous for its lakes. The Lojsta Slott Manor is taken care of by the Lojsta Slotts Hembygdsförening, founded 1921. They keep the area around Lojsta Slott open and available for outdoor activities. Since 1921 Midsummer is celebrated in traditional ways. There are regular activities to preserve old crafts, like coalmining, building boats and old ways of constructing and maintaining houses. Many school classes start or end their semesters on Lojsta Slott with a outdoor camp.

Battle at Visby

Unfortunaly we left Visby by boatduring the night befoe the reenactment of the Battle of Wisby, but I found some nice film that show the battle.

The Battle at Wisby Monday the 27 of July 1631

A unit of peasant soldiers march onto the battle field. They look ragged and their armor consists of various pieces gathered from different places. Some have decent equipment and some have no equipment at all. Some of them have swords, spears and crossbows and others still have tools for agriculture which will now be used to harvest lives instead of crops. Some are mere boys. Others are already old. Some come riding at their small horses, russar, but most of them walk. They are what could be mustered, the last defence. They have already tried to stop the Danes in Mästerby, with little luck.

They greet another Gotlandish force coming from a different direction. They all know that the enemy is close. A courier comes riding, telling them that the Danes are already there. The Gotlandish leaders decide to take up defensive positions on a couple of small hills – there is not enough time to get inside the walls.

The Danes appear behind a ridge. A Gotlandish force is not quick enough, but are trodden down by the heavy horses of the Danish knights. The main Danish force form up and march at the Gotlandish lines. The battle commences. The well-oiled, efficient Danish force gains the upper hand, and the Gotlandish center breaks. People scream and the Danes break through. They are now able to fight one half of the Gotlandish army at a time.

They start with the left one. Arrows dart through the air, and the infantry grinds the peasants to a panicking mass of dying, retreating men. The Danish cavalry pursue the fleeing men and cut them down. After all is finished, the Danes turn to the right one. The Gotlanders are firmly defending their hill – but it is of no use. In the end, they are only a handful left and they are completely surrounded, fighting for their lives. In the middle, the Gotlandish banner is still flying, but eventually no one is able to hold it high anymore. It falls. The Gotlanders are defeated and the Danes pursue the fleeing peasants.

The Danish king charges the field with his body guard. Then all is silent. All that is left is the bodies of the men that fought and died to defend their homes. The bells in the cathedral tolls, when a memorial service is held for the fallen.

Text from the "Battle at Wisby 1361-2011" site

Battle at Mästerby

During the Medieval Week there was 2 reenactments revolving the Danish Invasion in 1361.

I and several houndred of interested was out side Visby to a place called Mästerby and watched the reenactment battle. Here are some pictures and 2 short film clips.

The Swedish Historical Professor Dick Harrison was guiding the audience through the battle.

The Gotlandish force is located on the northern side of Sudertingsån. A number of men are destroying the bridge which crosses the stream. They are working fast, since their scouts have told them that the Danish army is close, and on its way. The Danes have large numbers, modern armour and modern weapons. The Gotlanders themselves have old equipment, but they are truly motivated. They fight to protect their families and homes from the devestation following the Danish army.

The bridge finally crumbles, pulled down by horses, and it does so with a terrible crash. It is at the very last minute, because the Danish vanguard is in sight. The Danes spy out the Gotlanders and, after a while, they pick up formation and advance towards the stream. Getting into and then up from the stream furrow proves to be a hard task; the Gotlanders hold their formations, stabbing and slashing anyone who tries to cross the stream. The Danish vanguard is forced to retreat several times and at last, king Valdemar realizes that his troops will not be able to cross.

He sends off scouts to find another passage over the steam – not too far off, at Fjäle myr, a passage is found. A group of Danish soldiers are sent to cross at Fjäle. The Gotlander crossbow archers attempt to stop the group, but their bolts are almost useless due to the modern, Danish armours. At the same time, the main army attack again, across the stream.

Suddenly, the Gotlanders find themselves battling their enemy at several fronts at once. Their lines break and parts of the Gotlander army starts to retreat. The Danish finally manage to cross the bog on horseback and attack full scale. The Gotlanders are pursued and killed in what proves to be a strenuous battle. Valdemar expresses his hopes that the following battles will not prove to be as difficult as those at Mästerby. Text from the "Battle of Wisby 1361-2011" site

After the battle...

There was participants from 9 countrys...

And of course from Sweden to, these fighters are true Allmoge soldiers from "Bondeuppbådet i Östergötaland"

And here are some lousy film clips of the later part of the battle...sorry I got to get a better film camera...

Medieval Camp outside Visby

Here are some pictures from one of the larger, about 40 tents, medieval camps just out side Visby. This camp was set up by the "Battle at Visby 1361-2011" project, they was responible to arrangentwo 1361 reenactment battles during the medieval week.

The 2 battles was The Battle at Mästerby and the Battle at Visby, unforunaly I only could se the smaler one at Mästerby...pictures soon...

Enterance...yes, you had to pay to get in...

Swedish banners...first a small St. Olof banner, then a 3-crowns banner, the Swdish royal banner.

Close-up of the 3-crowns banner.

Shield with St. Olof

Cooking...got to eat god if you are fighting the Danes...

I guess you have to wait a year or two before signing up for the army...

Gotlandic militia...

Weapon check before the battle...

Instructing the troop how to fight and die...some pictures from the Battle at Mästerby comming soon...

You can find some nice pictures and drawing at the swedish part of the "Battle of Wisby 1361-2011" site