This time they attempted to put the lessons they had learned in their previous battle against the Ilkhanids into practice.
The Late Medieval Germans lost the initiative again. Howeverm the terrain turned out to be far more favuorable, with a steep hill and plantation in the centre and piece of uneven ground on the right flank.
The pikes, halberdiers and light men-at-arms (cavalry with lancers and armour) were deployed to smash up between the uneven group and steep hills. The battle wagons where deployed to counter a flank march on the Right flank. The Mercenary knights were in reserve. The crossbowmen were deployed to protect the Left flank of the pike. While mounted crossbowmen and light horse attempted to engage his light horse on the Left flank.
The Late Medieval German army CIC knew the Ilkhanids had a flank march and was hoping to smash the Ilkhanid’s centre before it be brought into action. However, the Ilkhanid flank march never arrived.
In the end I lost the battle because crossbowmen managed to charge into the flank of lighter men-at-arms. The Late Medieval German army CIC had seen the possibility of his occurring a couple of turns before it happened. But Lighter men-at-arms rolled low for their pursuit roll and this allowed the Ilkhanid crossbow to charge in to their flank. The mercenary knights failed their cohesion test when the lighter men-at-arms broke. The halberdiers were broken in combat.
No general was with my mounted crossbowmen initially, which meant they were not able to keep the pressure on his light horse.
Lessons Learned.
1) I should protected the right flank of my lighter men-at-arm, ideally my crossbowmen should have done this.
2) My mounted crossbowmen and light horse were deployed too far away on the left flank. They should behind the pike in reserve.
3) The light foot should have been in the plantation.
4) It was very close battle. It showed the Medieval Germans can defeat the Ilkhanid if used properly.
5) I should have not fortified the camp and had two battle groups with four mercenary knights in each.
6) I should have got the pike into action faster. The light foot being in front of them, was one of factors that delayed the pikes getting into action.
