King John in Ireland

 

King John has retreated back to England, lucky to escape in the defeat by his nephew, Arthur Duke of Brittany.   The unrest roll for Normandy is a 5.  That turns the Duchy over to Arthur.  I dice for Anjou and Maine, and these are taken by King Louis as payment for his assistance, but he will probably not help Arthur again so John gets a breathing space.   English unrest -2.

John draws Theobald, Butler of Ireland as an active character and decides to campaign there for the rest of the year in the hopes of recovering his finances and reducing the unrest in England.

The Irish have average warriors and cavalry, and will abandon the battle if they fall below six units still in play.

John is supported by the Anglo Irish Lords, lead by the Butler.

The woods and bogs of Ireland

And a settlement, containing the Irish King Connar, who has risen in rebellion against the Crown.

The armies go down

So these Celts are actually Gauls, but here they make passable Irish.

The action tokens for today, slightly changed from normal because of the almost colonial nature of the game.

The Irish are tentative, using cover to avoid those bowmen. 

And behind John's advance the Irish jump on his following foot.

The Big Infantry fight continues.

The Infantry fight continues.

It goes back and forward but the Irish are winning.

The Irish even manage a rally.

Mid way point

King John throws in more Infantry.

Some desperate fighting

John's Anglo-Irish allies get stuck into the Irish cavalry

But the Irish have win the second phase if the Infantry battle too. John's army is near breaking.

John charges his Knights into the Irish Town.  All hits are 5 or 6 in here.

And it's a big fight.

And in a second battle action he wipes out the Irish King and his household, clearing the town.

And the Anglo Irish also win.  
The numbers tip over for the Irish to rout, since part of my set up was to give the Irish a "less than 6 units" morale rule.

The remaining Irish warbands flee the battlefield.

John has repaired the Engish Unrest by +2.  He has also regained 4000 marks.

Back in England however William Longsword, Earl of Shrewsbury, a bastard son of King Henry II, John's half brother, has declared his total support for the King.  Why should John be worried?