A further medieval battle

[AndrewL]

Now Alan of Beaumont has to try to rally his forces, as confusion spreads through his line like wildfire...

But panic spreads through Malterre's lines as well, and some of his men begin to flee...

[AndrewL]

Marshal Thurold of the Templars has been struck down, and (despite the Rule forbidding it) his remaining men turn to run, as do the knights of the late Eduard de L'Isle.

Berengar de Ville St Jean tries to rally his men...

[AndrewL]

The battle is becoming increasingly chaotic...

And now Erchengar and his knights pounce on Godfrey of Malterre's unsuspecting swordsmen.

[AndrewL]

Chrodegang tries to rally his men, but to no avail. He chooses to flee with his men, rather than stay and likely die. Better to live to fight another day...

But while the magenta-clad men run, the sheriff of Oakford's men push forward, advancing their green and crimson banner against the fleeing Templars and the Earl of Newbridge's griffin.

[AndrewL]

Asgot de Houghtonville's 'green dragons' have panicked, leaving Payne de St Ivry's knights bearing the quarters-and-lily to turn on Godfrey's pikemen. Sensing his chance, Gilbert fitzOsbern throws his men into the fray as well.

Now it is Malterre's pikemen who are increasingly beleaguered by Duke Alan's billmen.

[AndrewL]

Picot manages to rally his men and re-form them, but on the opposite side, captain Bartolomeo himself is attacked while trying to stop his men from fleeing.

[AndrewL]

Erchengar's wolf-badged knights are wreaking havoc among Malterre's swordsmen...

Adding to the heaps of men and horses already strewn across the field.

[AndrewL]

The lines of battle in the centre of the field have nearly disintegrated...

[AndrewL]

The chaos of battle...

Note in the second shot Godfrey of Malterre near the top-left centre, frantically trying to regain control of his troops.

[AndrewL]

But the contagion of fear has now spread throughout Godfrey's army, and mass flight begins...

[AndrewL]

Mercenary captain Bartolomeo succeeds in bringing his pikemen back under control, so they can withdraw rather than run.

And the crossbowmen of Middleport, despite losing their sheriff early in the battle, manage to maintain their discipline and cohesion in the rout.

[AndrewL]

And while the Earl of Newbridge's men fall back in good order...

Godfrey's attempts to re-establish any control of what is now a mob bent on nothing but escape fail utterly.

[AndrewL]

Some of the duke of Beaumont's men make a half-hearted effort to harry their fleeing opponents, but given how many men they have lost, they are in no shape for pursuit.

[AndrewL]

The battle now won, Duke Alan and his supporters ride to meet each other.

[AndrewL]

The process of picking up the pieces begins...

And there are a lot of pieces to pick up.