The Last Battle of Antioch, 28 June, 1098 - A Wargame Scenario

The Last Battle of Antioch, 28 June, 1098 The following scenario does not specify a particular ruleset, but players should have no problem adapting it to their chosen game system.

Historical Background The Frankish hosts faced a desperate situation in Antioch. A larger army surrounded them and they could not outlast a siege with their meager provisions. The crusaders had to somehow break out with an army that had lost most of its horses. They prepared for battle with three days of fasting and faced the enemy hosts with no small measure of religious fervor. The crusaders placed Bohemond of Taranto in command of their combined forces. His strategy made the best use of the terrain and a powerful reserve. The crusaders launched their attack over Antioch’s Bridge Gate; the Orontes separated their immediate foes from their nearest allies. Hugh of Vermandois pushed the enemy back with horsemen and archers and then the crusaders deployed in four battle groups: Robert of Flanders and Robert of Normandy with the northern French on the right, Godfrey of Bouillon with the Germans in the center, Bishop Adhémar and the southern French on the left, and Bohemond with the large reserve. Raymond of Toulouse remained behind to guard the citadel. Turkish cavalry slowed Adhémar’s force as it advanced against the enemy’s right. The crusader center and right advanced against Muslim infantry (possibly religious volunteers). Bohemond dispatched Renard of Toul and a rearguard to stop an attacking relief force from the south. They prevented a disastrous breakthrough but suffered heavy casualties. From the north, Kerbogha and his elite retinue moved towards the repulsed Muslim line. The Muslim infantry withdrew across a wadi and held a low hill for a short time. They broke before Kerbogha reached the field and before long his entire army fled. The sources indicate that some of his subjects betrayed him, while others suggest that panic swept the army. Kerbogha’s army lost relatively few men despite its decisive defeat.

Armies / Orders of Battle The Crusaders • No more than 20% of troops or purchase points may be cavalry. • Increase the morale and/or fighting ability of any peasant infantry units to reflect religious fervor and dismounted knights within their ranks. • The reserve must contain between 30% and 40% of the entire force. • Assign major leaders stands or command bonus effects to each battle group. Kerbogha’s Army • No more than 30% of troops or purchase points may be cavalry. • Must contain one or two units of volunteer infantry (high morale/ poorly equipped), which must be deployed on-table. • The Flanking Force may not contain more than 25% of army. It may not have more cavalry than on-table forces. • The army may have no more than two leaders.

Deployment The Crusaders deploy in four groups: Right, Center, Left, and Reserve. Kerbogha’s Army on-table forces deploy in three groups: Right, Center, and Left. The Flanking Force deploys in the Crusader rear on the 3rd turn. The Battlefield Place 4-6 small hills on the Muslims’ half of the table (see below for an example). Who Goes First The Crusaders go first. Game Length Per chosen rules. Victory Conditions Each army must destroy or break the enemy army to achieve a major victory. An army may achieve a minor victory if it destroys or routs more enemy units than it loses. Download a copy of the article in PDF format here...