Battle of Sagrajas : Al Andalus Part 2

We played this game some time ago in lock down but I hadn’t managed to post it up. For those interested part one of this extended battle can be found  https://wargamesinthedungeon.blogspot.com/2020/08/battle-of-sagrajas-al-andalus-part-1.html where I have outlined the background which is from an article in WSS earlier in the year.

Part 2 having won the initial surprise arrack the Christians forces under Alfonso charge through towards the Almoravid camp. Here the retreating Andalusian Muslim forces regroup and bolstered by the Almoravid black guard turn the Christian assault back. This was a fairly small skirmish game played virtually so I didn’t take to many photos. Those I did will Have to tell the story....

The outskirts of the Almoravid camp, we had set up with the elite ‘black guard’ ready to receive the charge

The first elements of Christian cavalry charge across the table and are wiped out, but the black guard are over enthusiastic and advance out of the camp before their Andalusian reserves are properly deployed on the table

The Christians are advancing their second wave more cautiously

and there are a lot of Christians including a big unit of crossbowmen

Finally the rest of the Muslim army arrives under the direct command of Yusuf ibn Tashfin

But the Almoravid black guard his best troops are already well advanced and his light troops are lagging behind, this means his archers are unable to support the advance

Tashfin is perhaps over optimistic but on his left flank his forces have pushed back the dreaded crossbowmen, in the centre light spear men are running forward to support

Isolated and in danger of being charged himself and desperate to defeat the infidel Yusuf charges against Alfonso as they trade blows he is sadly wounded sufficiently to be out of the battle this shakes the morale of the Muslim army

Who are surrounded, isolated and cut down !

Well another fun game but not how history would have had it, the main mistake was the Arab forces rushing forward and becoming isolated allowing them to be defeated piecemeal. This with a few failed activation rolls meant the Arab archers never got into the battle and they are key to weakening the heavy Christian infantry before getting them into combat. Yusuf having been removed from the field injured will have to regroup....the third scenario will now need to be slightly adapted.

Thanks for looking we have continued to have occasional good weather so I have made the most and got out into the Lake District walking, hiking for those of you on the other side of the Atlantic.

Great Langdale Valley

Scafell (England’s highest point) in the distance from Bowfell, getting colder now so next time we might see some snow !