By David Kuijt
Note: all images are thumbnails, and are clickable to see the larger original.
The DBA options:
3x 3Kn/4Bd, 1x 3Cv or 4Bd, 6x 4Lb, 1x 3Aux, 1x4Lb or Arty
Opponents of the Hundred-Years War (HYW) English are Scots Common (#140), Medieval French (#170), Medieval Spanish (#171), and Early Burgundian (#173).
One glaring omission to the Enemies List above is army #93, the Welsh. The Welsh were largely crushed in the late 13th century by the military might and castle-building of Edward I (who didn't restrict his depredations to the Welsh -- he was also known as "the Hammer of the Scots" for his campaigns in the North). Nonetheless there was a notable rebellion against English rule in the first decade of the 15th century under Owen Glendower. The young Henry V of England (later to be victor at Agincourt against the French) earned his spurs in warfare against the Welsh.
The Cv option reflects the use of hobilars before 1350. English knights commonly fought dismounted, although a mounted reserve was often kept.
The army pictured at the top of the page is with the artillery option and billmen (off-screen to the right) instead of hobilars.
The heart of this army is the longbow, six or seven elements worth. Against mounted foes the English are devastating; against heavy foot less so. So for the English HYW Army the question is simple: how do you fight well with longbow? Some preliminary thoughts are available as a separate document here.
The distressing thing to me is that DBA does not simulate combat between the Medieval French and the HYW English very well. In any fight with English, the French knights all dismount to be blades. Then, with an army composed of 6 blades, 3 auxilia, 1 spear/arty, and 2 crossbow, the French just walk up and all the English longbow die.
The longbow does better against the Scots pikes, giving a very realistic matchup. If used carefully, you can recreate Falkirk where the clothyard shafts of the English gradually decimated the Scots pikes until they were weakened and disordered enough for the knights to charge home. If the Scots player is careful, though, the English may be caught in another Bannockburn.
All the figures are by Essex. The only interesting modifications or detailing is the pile of stones for the bombard (painted mustard seeds) and the bowstrings on all the longbows (black thread, glued down after the figure was painted). The arms painted on the shields of the auxilia are those of Oxford at that period. I have since discovered that the auxilia for the HYW English should be brigans; lightly armoured spear or polearm men. I'm planning to buy some more figures and alter my auxilia at some (moderately-soon) future point.
Last Updated: July 9, 1998
The author may be contacted at kuijt@umiacs.umd.edu Please do not use any pictures or text from this page without permission.