Talavera 208 - Bassecourts Spanish 5th Division, Provincial de Siguenza (Militia) Regiment

5th Division: Major-General Bassecourt
1st Real Marina (Royal Marines), 1st Battalion
1st Real Marina (Royal Marines), 2nd Battalion
Africa Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion
Reina Infantry Regiment 1st Battalion
Murcia Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion
Murcia Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion
Provincial de Siguenza (Militia)

The Provincial Militia (Milicias Provinciales) were forty-two regiments each of one battalion except the Mallorca Regiment of two battalions.

The regiments took the name of their area of origin and detached their grenadier companies to form four divisions of two battalions in each.

The role of the militia during wartime was to support the main field armies by acting as garrison troops, but were considered to be able to take their place in the line alongside the regulars when required.

With a strength of 550 men per battalion in 1808, the militia battalions amounted to a force of about 30,000 men .

In 1805 the uniform changed from a blue coat and breeches to the white seen in the accompanying illustrations with red collars, cuffs and turn-backs and gold lace and buttons for officers.

However, as highlighted on the following link, many of the Provinciales had not received their white uniforms when the war started with many described accoutered in the more common brown with red facings as illustrated in the units covered in my posts about General Portago's 3rd Spanish Division at Talavera. 

http://www.the-ancients.com/gemigabok/spanish-militia-uniforms-in-may-1808/

Spanish 3rd Division - Talavera

The Provincial de Siguenza were one of the regiments that are reported to have been in their 1805 white uniform and I have depicted them, thus, but with a few brown clad recruits having joined the battalion by 1809.

The appearance of the Siguenza regiment on the Spanish order of battle can be traced from the start of the war as shown in May 1808 with the Spanish forces mustering and those troops forming the Army of Andalusia.

Spanish Army of Andalusia, 20th May 1808

Gibraltar Camp:

3/Guardias Wallonas (30/800)

Valencia Infantry Regiment (l/2)(7/318)

Corona Infantry Regiment (39/675)

l/,3/Africa Infantry Regiment (36/455)

Barbastro Light Infantry Regiment (l/2)(6/246)

Campo Mayor Infantry Regiment 33/1034

3/Murcia Infantry Regiment (10/121)

l/,2/Jaen Infantry Regiment (34/795)

Grenadieros provinciales de Andalucia (2)(50/l,400)

Provinciales de Cuenca (12/487)

Provinciales de Jaen (14/496)

Provinciales de Lorca (12/434)

Provinciales de Guadix (13/503)

Provinciales de Siguenza (14/543)

Provinciales de Chinchilla (13/408)

Provinciales de Malaga (12/313)

Artillery (20/575)

Sappers (9 131)

Santiago Cavalry Regiment (2)(16/130)

Alcantara Cavalry Regiment (2)(15/116)

Cueta:

Espana Infantry Regiment (44/872)

Cantabria Infantry Regiment (51/916)

3/Jaen Infantry Regiment (13/512)

Fixo de Cueta Infantry Regiment (62/l,112)

Artillery (18/326)

Sappers (6/250)

Cavalry (l sqn)(7/98)

Source - Clerc, Capitulation de Baylen, Causes et Consequences, Paris, 1903

The Siguenza were, as many of the Provinciale, popular formations with the people compared with the national army, and most show good up to strength numbers.

The Siguenza were, like the Africa and Murcia battalions who would stand alongside them at Talavera, part of Lapena's Reserve Division at Bailen in July 1808.

Spanish Forces at Baylen

17th  July 1808

Commanding General: Lieutenant General Francixco Xavier Castaños

Reserve Division: Lieutenant Genreal Manual de Lapeña

Provincial Grenadiers (912)

2/Africa Infantry Regiment (525)

Burgos Infantry Regiment (2,089)

Det/Reding #2 (Swiss) Infantry Regiment (243)

Zaragosa Infantry Battalion (8922)

3/Murcia Infantry Regiment (420)

Provinciales de Siguenza Infantry Regiment (502)

Naval Grenadier Company (50)

Pavia Dragoon Regiment (541 men & 408 horses)

Jerez Lancer Regiment (70)

Artillery (12 guns)(502)

Sappers (1 co)(100)

Source - Oman

Many of the battalions that served with Castanos at Bailen would form the core of his Army of the Centre that followed up the French withdrawal to the River Ebro in the late summer and early autumn of 1808 and would later find themselves chased to the south east of Madrid as the Emperor led his Grande Armee back into the Peninsula that November.   

Spanish Army of Andalucia, 19 July 1808

Commanding General: Teniente General Francisco X. Castanos

Reserve Division: Teniente general Manual de Lapena

Granaderos provinciales (912)

Africa Infantry Regiment (525)

Burgos Infantry Regiment (2,089)

2/,6/von Reding (Swiss) Infantry Regiment (243)

Batallon de Zaragosa (822)

3/Murcia Infantry Regiment (420)

Provincial de Siguenza (502)

Compania de Granaderos de marina (50)

Dragones de Pavia (541 men/408 horses)

2 Horse Batteries (12 guns)(502)

Sapper Company (1)(100)

Source - Gomez de Arteche Y Moro, Guerra de la Independencia, Historia Militar de Espana de 1808 a 1814

Following the reformation of the Army of the Centre under its new commander the Duke of Infantado in the December 1808 at their winter quarters in Cuenca, the Siguenza disappear from the order of battle and were definitely not involved in the Battle of Ucles in January which makes me wonder if they were left in Siguenza to recruit, when the Army of the Centre passed through on their march to Cuenca.

Either way the regiment does not appear in the orders of battle until April of 1809 when it is listed among the units transferred from the Army of the Centre to the Army of Estremadura with which it would be at Talavera in July 1809.

Forces Passed to the Army of Estramadura from the Army of the Centre by order of the Supreme Central Junta. April 1809 after the Battle of Medellin.

Division: Mariscal de campo de Echevarri
l/Reyna Infantry Regiment (l)(795)
l/Africa Infantry Regiment (l)(838)
lst Real Marina Infantry Regiment (2)(615)
l/,2/Murcia Infantry Regiment (2)(l,229)
2/Cazadores de Barbastro (l)(851)
Cazadores Voluntarios de Valencia y Albuquerque (l)(831)
Provincial de Siguenza (l)(l,081)

My Provincial de Siguenza are composed of figures from the AB and Warmodelling range of figures which helps differentiate their appearance from the regulars in their division, all composed of AB figures.

My Coronela and Sencilla are my home brewed concoction and I take no responsibility for their accuracy, only to say that I have taken the Siguenza coat of arms and applied them as required. They are posted here should others choose to use them.

So there we are, the final battalion of Bassecourt's 5th Division is finished and the pictures of the whole division on parade with General Bassecourt and Cuesta in attendance will follow.

As the first game approaches at the end of June, I will be finishing off the order of battle with the Spanish Horse battery of guns that accompanied Albuquerque's cavalry to the British left flank and will complete the project bar a few odds and end figures that will be added through the games.

This weekend I am off up to Lincoln and Newark for a weekend away with the chaps from the Devon Wargames Group. We will be spending an afternoon, guests of Wargames Foundry with a big game planned on the Saturday. Then it's a curry and a few evening games at the hotel in Lincoln before off to Partizan at Newark on the Sunday.

As always I will have the camera to hand with posts about all the fun and games to follow, and if that was not enough we have a book review to come from Mr Steve, so lots of things to come here on JJ's.

Sources referred to in this post:

http://www.eborense.es/batalla_talavera1809_ejercito_espanol.html

The Armies of Spain and Portugal 1808-14 - G.F.Nafziger & M Gilbert

Spanish Army of the Napoleonic Wars (1) 1793-1808 - Rene Chartrand & Bill Younghusband

Portsmouth 2017 - U Boat War Badge Postscript

In response to my post about the collection at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum in Gosport, 'Mr Steve' mentioned that he thought he had a U-boat War badge somewhere in his treasure box, where ever that was.
 
http://jjwargames.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/portsmouth-2017-royal-navy-submarine.html

Well, having rummaged high and low, he found it!

This U-Boat crew member can be seen wearing his U-Boat War badge, bottom right

If this is an original and not a replica then it appears to be a mid-late war badge. Whatever its origins it is a nice thing to have in the treasure box.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U-boat_War_Badge

Thanks for sharing Steve.

Casa de Salinas - Talavera, Over the Hills

Yesterday was a a bit different from a normal second Saturday of the month as I would usually have been at the regular monthly club meet up of the DWG.

This month however, clashed with our local show hosted by the Exmouth Wargamers, "Legionary" and so we decided in the main to relocate our meeting to the show by running two games, a 'Pickett's Charge' game in 28mm and my 18mm Napoleonic collection to run a test game of Casa de Salinas 1809 using 'Over the Hills'.

http://legionaryshow.co.uk

Things are still in a bit of a state of upheaval at home but here is all the stuff ready for the game, Saturday morning with bare floor-boards awaiting the new flooring on Monday.

All set up ready to go on Saturday morning

Legionary is a really nice local show and we got to the venue at 9am to have everything ready for 10am and doors opening. As usual the day was a gentle hub-bub of wargamers enjoying themselves, interrupted by old friends popping by to say hello as we got ready to play the game.

Legionary in full swing with happy gamers enjoying the day 

I have been trying out several of my scenarios using Over the Hills recently, including Vimeiro and Barrosa which were reported on at the DWG Blog

http://devonwargames.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/vimeiro-hill-over-hills.html
http://devonwargames.blogspot.co.uk/2017/03/battle-of-barrosa-1811-over-hills.html

This would be the first test of the Casa de Salinas scenario which is the first in a series of games that recreates the fighting over two days, 27th-28th July 1809, at Talavara.

The situation is that on the 27th July, at around midday, the last units of Cuesta's Spanish Army of Estremadura made their way back over the River Alberche after a difficult march whilst pursued by the now combined French I and IVth Corps under King Joseph.

Map to illustrate the Casa de Salinas battle site in relation to Talavera

To relieve the tired Spanish troops and allow them to fall back unmolested onto the Talavera position, Wellesley placed the British 3rd Division across a nearby road junction to act as a rearguard against the pursuing French.

With infantry defending the wooded thick undergrowth in front of the deserted Casa de Salinas farm complex and with Anson's Light cavalry brigade covering the open ground to the south, the position looked like a sound one for the British troops to delay the French by at least forcing them to deploy off the march.

The British troops at this stage of the Peninsular War were still relatively inexperienced and a combination of poor picket duty and Marshal Victor's knowledge of the terrain allowed the French infantry to pass over the Alberche further to the north, unspotted by Sir Arthur Wellesley observing other French troops crossing further south from a high tower on the wall surrounding the farm.

The surprise attack developed quickly, catching the infantry of Donkin's brigade (2/87th and 2/88th) sat around on the ground enjoying the shade of the trees in the hot Spanish sun and narrowly missed capturing Wellesley as he sprinted to his horse tethered close to his observation post but having its reins grabbed at by French voltigeurs as he spurred it away. The short fight would leave the British division with 400 fewer men and the French about 100, but would also deliver a hard earned lesson that would not be the last for the British forces in this battle.

The view of the table looking east from the French table edge with the 16me Legere set up in the woods with the 45me Ligne ready to follow them on

The French Order of Battle
General de Division Pierre-Bellon Lapisse
2me Division Divisional
2/6me Artillerie a Cheval 156 men  4 x 6pdrs, 2 x 5.5” Howitzers

General de Brigade Jean Bartholomew Rouger Laplanne
1er Brigade Brigade
1/16me Regiment de Legere 477 men
2/16me Regiment de Legere 477 men
3/16me Regiment de Legere 477 men
16me Voltigeur Battalion 285 men
1/45me Regiment de Ligne 477 men
2/45me Regiment de Ligne 477 men
3/45me Regiment de Ligne 477 men
45me Voltigeur Battalion 285 men

General de Brigade Jean Baptiste Solignac
2me Brigade Brigade
1/8me Regiment de Ligne 477 men
2/8me Regiment de Ligne 477 men
3/8me Regiment de Ligne 477 men
8me Voltigeur Battalion 285 men
1/54me Regiment de Ligne 477 men
2/54me Regiment de Ligne 477 men
3/54me Regiment de Ligne 477 men
54me Voltigeur Battalion 285 men

The view from the western edge with Anson's cavalry set up in the open plain guarding the retreat route of 3rd Division

The British Order of Battle
Lieutenant General Sir Arthur Wellesley
3rd Division - Sir Alexander Mackenzie

Lieutenant Colonel William Guard (45th Foot)
1st Brigade Brigade
2/24th Foot (Warwickshire) 708 men
2/31st Foot (Huntingdonshire) 660 men
1/45th Foot (Nottinghamshire) 680 men
Mackenzie's Brigade Light Battalion 228 men

Brigadier General Sir Rufane Shaw Donkin
2nd Brigade Brigade
2/87th (Prince of Wales Own Irish) 539 men
2/88th (Connaught Rangers) 539 men
5/60th (Rifles) 220 men
Donkin’s Brigade Light Battalion 175 men

Brigadier General George Anson Ready
Anson’s Brigade Brigade
23rd Light Dragoons A 230 men
23rd Light Dragoons B 230 men
1st KGL Light Dragoons A 225 men
1st KGL Light Dragoons B 225 men

What follows is a description of our game as it unfolded.

The 2/87th and 2/88th set up in a disordered line to indicate their unprepared order for the French attack

All seemed quiet as the last of Cuesta's Spanish troops trudged past the Casa de Salinas farm and Sir Arthur Wellesley doffed his hat towards his Spanish counterpart as he road into the yard to climb the nearby tower and observe the French pursuit.

The likely hood of any major attack this late in the day couldn't be ruled out but seemed unlikely given the French would be just as tired from their march pursuing the Spanish as the look of the Spanish troops betrayed as they passed by.

Sir Arthur and his Staff in the farm unaware of the approaching French troops

As Wellesley rested his glass on the arched window ledge of the tower he now looked out from, he could see the blue columns snaking their way down the slope of the higher ground on the east bank of the Alberche as the French began to cross on the Talavera road that followed the course of the River Tagus.

The 2/24th and 1/45th of Colonel Guard's brigade with the 'light bobs' forward

He was vaguely aware of the occasional pop, pop of musketry as forward pickets exchanged compliments, but then seemed to become more insistent as suddenly the 60th Rifles of Donkin's brigade were called to arms by the sounding of their bugles and the redcoats turned to look in the direction of the tree line as light infantry skirmish companies suddenly appeared falling back firing at, as yet, unseen pursuers.

GdeD Lapisse oversees the French attack as the Legere move forward in open order

Suddenly massed columns of French Legere charged out from the trees catching the 2/88th as they desperately tried to form line and issue some defensive fire.

Two of the columns kept on coming and the Irish troops fired as they fell back, stopping the attack but only by trading ground.

The 16me Legere were chosen by Marshal Victor to lead this attack

As Donkin's men fought hard to retain their position, with the veteran 60th Rifles managing to repel the attack on them and hold their position in front of the road, more French columns could be seen to their right heading towards Guard's brigade in front of the farm.

Just as French voltigeurs pushed back the British light troops, Sir Arthur Wellesley emerged through the front gates to be greeted by some well aimed shots, one of which seemed to graze the British general's right shoulder as he and his staff spurred their mounts back up the road towards Anson's cavalry.

As Laplanne's brigade moved forward, Solignac's brigade moved up behind and across the road to attack the farm

The clock showed an hour and fifteen minutes had passed since the French attack had begun and both British brigades had recoiled under the ferocity of the attack but had not had any of their units broken; with the 2/88th the seemingly worst affected battalion causing both General's Donkin and Mackenzie to ride over and help steady the new battalion.

Contact as Laplannes Voltigeur battalion opens fire on Donkin's Light troops

The French had also been surprised by the resistance shown by the British troops who didn't seem to behave like Austrians or Prussians and seemed to refuse to acknowledge when they had clearly been bested.

Wellesley rushes for down the stairs of the tower as the scale of the French attack is revealed

At the halfway stage of our scenario both British and French brigades had suffered around half their fatigue allowance lost, but the French had failed to get clear of the trees on their left and the passage of lines added to the difficulty of operating in formed columns in this difficult terrain was only adding to their problems.

The British on the other hand were now well aware of the attack and were busy rallying off the shock and forming their lines in anticipation of the French moving to occupy their former position.

At the halfway stage with just over an hour passed the troops of Donkin's brigade have reeled back beyond the road

On the French left in front of the farm, their commanders could congratulate themselves in forcing Wellesley from the battle slightly wounded and unable to help oversee events from now on.
The terrain though slightly more open was not much better and the French troops were forced to contend with the veteran 1/45th who were more than capable of stopping their attacks.

Solignac's brigade was however in better shape, fatigue wise, than those troops on the right and so lead the attack in the second half of our battle with two columns managing to contact the 1/45th and win the subsequent combat driving the British battalion back into the farm and behind its walls.

On the British right Wellesley has been wounded escaping from the farm and the 45th have been pushed back in the first attack.

With the fighting now in full swing and the volley firing clear to all nearby units, General Anson led his cavalry brigade forward at the trot passing Sir Arthur and his staff as they made their way back towards Talavera.

Donkin and Mackenzie join the 2/88th to rally of the fatigue caused by the shock of the French attack

Now rallied Donkin sought to take the pressure off of Guard's brigade by leading his brigade forward to push the French to his front back into the trees from where they had emerged.

The two sides swapped musketry and the British line seemed to waver only to see their French counterparts turn and rapidly fall back into the trees.

Both sides ready themselves for the final push

Donkin's men were shattered but had seen off the attack to their front and now were preparing to pull back as Anson's men drew near to cover their withdrawal.

The increased musketry in front of the farm revealed the intensity of the battle before it, as Solignac's French brigade pushed hard to break the British to their front only to reel under a crushing volley delivered by the 2/24th as the junior battalion stepped up to relieve the hard pressed 1/45th.

That and the firing from Mackenzies light troops who added to the fire of the line was enough to drive the second French brigade back.

With fatigue levels in single figures for both French and British brigades, Donkin's men hold with just two points remaining

Our game finished with just one turn from the ten in the scenario left to play and both sides had battered each other to a close finish and answered lots of questions I had in my own mind about how to model this little battle within a battle.

The French attack on the farm is suddenly stopped in the penultimate turn as the 2/24th and the light troops deliver telling fire 

Thank you to Bob, Steve M, Ian and Si for being great play test guinea-pigs for the day. The good humour and gaming experience they brought to the table made this a very interesting and exciting game to play through and has contributed hugely to the fine tuning of this scenario.

Also thanks to all those who stopped by the table and said hello during the game. I was able to renew several old friendships during the day and look forward to welcoming new attendees to future DWG meetings.

Thanks also to the Exmouth Wargamers for another well organised Legionary Show which is a real highlight in the calendar for our neck of the woods.

Talavera 208 - Bassecourts Spanish 5th Division, 3rd Battalion, Murcia Regiment

5th Division: Major-General Bassecourt
1st Real Marina (Royal Marines), 1st Battalion
1st Real Marina (Royal Marines), 2nd Battalion
Africa Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion
Reina Infantry Regiment 1st Battalion
Murcia Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion
Murcia Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion
Provincial de Siguenza (Militia)

So the 3rd Battalion, Murcia Regiment completes the penultimate battalion in Bassecourt's Infantry Division and moves the project on to complete the Allied order of battle for Talavera in time for the first Talavera 208 game next month.

If you are interested in the background of the Murcia Regiment leading up to the Battle of Talavera then follow the link above to my post about the second battalion.

This has been the hardest unit to complete so far as Casa JJ is in quite a state of disorder at the moment as we  have some major building and decorating work going on at the moment that has meant by painting desk and equipment have had to be put in storage in another room and I have been forced to relocate temporarily to another table.

I had not realised how much my painting position means to me until now but the move from my usual spot has been a real 'eye opener' and really caused some getting used to as my seating and lighting arrangements are completely different and I have found it a bit of a struggle to get used to the new arrangement.

This has meant the painting process has not been as enjoyable as usual and I am looking forward to getting my desk set up in the normal place with everything back as it was and I can then just reach out and pick up a certain colour or tube of glue without really thinking about it.

Not only has my painting routine been disrupted but as you will see the pictures of the new unit had to be done on the Talavera table as my normal photography set up had to be abandoned this month due to my relocation, but I hope they give you a feel form new Spanish battalion and the look of the regiment as a whole and how it will look on the battlefield next month.

Last week was spent in Murcia as Carolyn, the boys and I grabbed some much need time away in Spain enjoying the freedom from building work and delighting in eating out.

The time also gave me an opportunity to review the Talavera project and 'sense check' progress to putting on the first game with a slight adjustment needed to the order of battle and a review of the skirmish capabilities of the various infantry battalions to allow for the new functions added to Carnage & Glory since we last played.

With just one Spanish infantry battalion and a few supernumeraries including some Spanish horse gunners and Generals Bassecourt and Cuesta to complete I am really looking forward to playing the game and seeing the armies out on the table in all their splendour, so to speak.

My 3rd Battalion, Murcia Regiment is composed of figures from the AB range of figures supplied by Fighting 15's and their Sencilla is the one I created for the regiment and can be downloaded as an image from my post about the second battalion.

Still lots to come this month before the big game with trips and games planned at Legionary in Exeter, Partizan in Newark and a trip to Wargames Foundry to look forward to, not to mention a big 28mm Punic Wars game for our Summer trip to North Devon next month.

So onwards and upwards and the Provincial de Siguenza Militia battalion to come plus a divisional parade for Bassecourt's boys before putting them under fire in June.

Sources referred to in this post:

http://www.eborense.es/batalla_talavera1809_ejercito_espanol.html

The Armies of Spain and Portugal 1808-14 - G.F.Nafziger & M Gilbert

Spanish Army of the Napoleonic Wars (1) 1793-1808 - Rene Chartrand & Bill Younghusband

The Anglo-Saxons at War 800-1066 - Paul Hill

It was back at the beginning of April that regular JJ's follower Adam dropped me a comment following the post about Wallingford in Oxfordshire and its history as one of Alfred the Great's burghs.

Wallingford

In his comment he recommended "The Anglo-Saxons at War" by Paul Hill as a really good read on the subject and having just got back from a pleasant week away in southern Spain where I enjoyed plenty of time to read it from cover to cover I thought I would share my thoughts.

Firstly, 'spoiler alert', thank you Adam, I really enjoyed this book. As the title implies, anyone with an interest in the period of Anglo-Saxon warfare will find loads of stuff in here covering the historical record, principally the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, but bringing in other source material such as the Old Norse Sagas amongst others and the latest interpretation and thoughts of scholars with the updated information that archaeological finds add to the debate. 

Paul Hill has managed to produce a really comprehensive study of the subject despite the huge gaps in our knowledge of how armies fought their battles during this period and I found myself conjuring up plenty of potential wargaming scenarios based around the examples of battles, campaigns, subterfuge and the characters described in the text.

One aspect I found particularly interesting was the chapter focused on the early Anglo-Saxon fleet particularly under Alfred but also its later development as an English fleet that became the envy of other European Kings in the power it projected and its ability to deter raiders before they had landed. 

My home town of Exmouth even got a mention as the Exe estuary is potentially the site of the first run out of Alfred's new design of ship that took on a Viking raiding group, taking out two of the three Viking boats that tried to escape but then getting several boats stranded on the sand bars which forced a hand to hand battle with the Vikings still beached in the estuary leaving heavy casualties on both sides but sending a clear message to raiders that a new maritime force was up and running.

The naval aspects of this period are covered, looking at the  development of the Cinque Ports and the early English Navy

The progression of Alfred's changing approach to warfare following the attritional battles fought with Guthrum and the great heathen army to the defence in depth strategy he later adopted is a very interesting read, as was the campaigns and progression of that strategy leading to the creation of an English kingdom under his son Edward and daughter Aelthelflaed, Queen of Mercia, as they took and consolidated their hold on the Danelaw areas of East Anglia, the Midlands and the North.

There is a very interesting section looking at the evidence or lack for the use of cavalry by the Anglo-Saxons, with some references to mounted attacks, but possibly referring to pursuit after battle rather than full on charges against formed troops. The balance of the sources would suggest certainly a mounted infantry potential.

The weapons, armour and accessories also get a very good analysis taking into consideration the contemporary accounts of their use and effects together with the findings from the many re-enactment groups who bring a 'hands on' assessment that all adds to a growing picture of our understanding.

So the structure of the book is based around six chapters all broken down into logical subsections;

Chapter 1. Warfare, Violence and Society

Why Go to War?

Where Were Wars Fought?

The Training of the Anglo-Saxon Warrior

Injury, Death and Exile - the Personal Impact of War

Feuding

Hostages, Oaths, Treaties and Treachery

Chapter 2. Military Organisation

Recruitment and Obligation

The Size and Structure of Armies

Heriots

Logistics and Communications

The Question of Cavalry

Tributes, Gelds and Mercenaries 

Naval Warfare

Chapter 3. Strategy and Tactics

Ravaging, Harrying and the Use of the Landscape

Descriptions of the Armies in Action

Stratagems and Ruses

Chapter 4. Fortifications and Earthworks

Early Earthworks and Fortifications

The Burghs of Anglo-Saxon England

Private Fortifications, Strongholds and Castles

Chapter 5. Campaigns, Battles and Sieges

Campaigns

Battles

Sieges

Chapter 6. Weapons, Armour and Accessories

Weapons

Armour and Protection

Accessories

The six chapters are preceded by a Preface, Prologue and Introduction covering a survey of the evidence supporting the work.

A final section, entitled 'Conclusion' summarises the six chapters in an overall assessment of the period and the journey to a centralisation of power in an English King that created the English nation that would become in 1066 an Anglo-Norman power rather than purely Anglo-Saxon.

The man credited with the beginning the process of pulling together England as a nation
King Alfred the Great

The book is completed with a three page appendix listing the rulers of the English from 871 to 1066, five page bibliography section and an eight page index.

The text is further supported by twenty plates depicting views of battle sites, weapons and equipment and the Viking burial pit uncovered at Weymouth in 2009, together with illustrations from the Bayeux Tapestry and other similar depictions to illustrate the look of Anglo-Saxon warriors and their weapons through this period.

Finally there is a good selection of six maps illustrating where key points in the text were referenced along with three tables covering a list of where key battles were fought, Anglo-Saxon heriots under King Cnut 1020-23 to Spear types in later Anglo-Saxon England.

From Prologue to Index there are 211 pages and the book is published by Pen & Sword at a list price of £19.99

As I have mentioned in previous posts, my battlefield touring and wider reading is all about informing my hobby and seeking to capture that knowledge in the games I play. The Anglo-Saxons at War, really epitomises the kind of book I like in particular, with a great focus on academic knowledge interwoven with informed comment and analysis that allows me to think about the various dark ages/early middle ages games I have played and whether they reflect the period well, together with buckets of information that equally inform any campaigns planned in future. If you are interested in this period of warfare then I think you will be pleased to have this book as a reference.