The Battle of Legnano 29 May 1176 AD

Early Imperialist (Medieval German) vs. Communal Italian By Stefanos Skarmintzos Legnano was fought between the Holy The Armies Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa and * Early Imperialist (IV/13a, modified): 1x the so-called Lombard League of communes Kn(Gen), 4xKn, 3xCv, 2xLH (Cuman headed by Milan. Frederick had called for Mercenaries), 1xCb, 1xPs. German aid in his struggle in Northern Italy, and the army that had responded had * Communal Italian (III/72a, modified): reached Como. The Emperor was based at 1xWW, 3xKn, 2xCb or Ps, 4xSp, 2xAux Pavia, with Milan lying on a direct line General can be a Knight Element or the War between the two places. Barbarossa quickly Wagon made to Como, and determined to march back to Pavia with his new army, skirting Deployment around Milan. The Milanese heard news of The Milanese deploy first and defend. Barbarossas movements, and moved the communal army into a position where they Terrain Notes could intercept Barbarossas line of march. The road to Pavia crosses the middle of the Despite his German reenforcements, battlefield, bisecting the German and Italian Barbarossa was still outnumbered. baselines. Most of the battlemap should be flat good going, representing grain fields On 29 May, the two advance guards met in and pastures. Gentle rolling hillocks are the fields near Legnano. Barbarossa had a centered in opposite quarters of the map. As mostly cavalry force, while the Lombard additional (optional) terrain, the Italians may League had four corps of cavalry, and an place one vineyard and/or one woods infantry reserve which guarded the (orchard) feature, which must be deployed carroccio, the sacred car of Milan, a wagon touching a board edge. containing the city's banners. Barbarossa took the offensive, and his Knights defeated Special Rules each of the communal cavalry corps, before Dismounting: All German and Italian falling on the infantry reserves,. The mounted are eligible to dismount. Knights communal footmen fought well, but would dismount as Blades. Cavalry dismount as have been defeated if their Knights had not Spears. Light Horse dismounts as Psiloi. The regrouped and returned to the fray. The German horsemen cannot dismount before already tired German troops were further the third bound. If the Italian player deploys disheartened by the fall of the Imperial optional terrain (see above), then the banner, and when Barbarossa himself German may ignore the third bound appeared to have been killed, they broke and dismounting restriction. fled, taking serious casualties. Barbarossa escaped, and reappeared three days later, but Victory Conditions his cause in Italy was greatly weakened. Normal DBA.