Chapter Eight – United We Stand
July, AD-1218, Reign of Lord Ultrexor Xandavich.
Fields South of Vienna
The German Civil War – Battle of Vienna
Talles looked up. His men in testudo formation are holding tight outside the tree line where the fighting has taken place. A runner came up to the captain and reported an update.
"Sir, Captain Klinge's cavalry has appeared."
"Okay, give the signal and launch the attack!"
A trumpet sounded along the Cypriot lines as the Byzantines, well trained in the old Roman styles of combat, quickly broke their defensive formation and rushed into the forest. The other non-Byzantines took a while longer, but were soon joined the leading charge towards the German rebels.
A rebel looked back and saw their 'reinforcements' coming, and turned just in time to take an arrow into his heart, killing him instantly. The winning rebels were suddenly charged from behind, and the fighting turned out to be a massacre. With loyalist forces holding a line, and the Byzantines slowly advancing through the masses, the rebels had no where to go.
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"General, there appears to be confusion in the forest. The mercenaries have just begun their advance, and it seems that the loyalists are gaining the upper hand."
"What?" General Byros Stange rode to the front to get a better view.
"I don't get it. The mercenaries were supposed to go in first…" He muttered.
Suddenly, the sound of battle ceased.
The rebels looked forward, battle lines formed and ready for whatever threat might emerge. Byros ordered up his reserves of 10,000 auxiliary troops to bolster his flanks as he brought his famed heavy cavalry to the center.
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The two sides looked at each other.
The Byzantines, maintaining a tight defensive formation while holding their ground, and the loyalist forces, also holding a similar formation.
The remaining rebels have surrendered, and are quickly hoarded to the rear, where they were tied up in bunches, although there weren't many of them left.
Between the two lines, Captain Selven Klinge of the Cypriot Mercenaries stood with his sword pointed to the Heavens. Looking the other way, Captain Klaudius Konovalov of the German Loyalist faced his men with his sword high as well.
Both had sent orders along their lines. The Byzantines are not to engage fully, risking friendly casualties amongst the confusion of similar uniforms, while the Germans are not to engage any non-German soldiers.
Looking at his counterpart, Klaudius reported. "My men are tired. I need you to take the center against the other rebels."
Nodding his head, Selven replied. "My men are mainly cavalry. These troops belong to Captain Talles, who should be joining us soon."
A break opened in the Byzantine line, as a man dressed in more conventional equipment approached Selven.
"Captain Jerovus Talles, reporting. My men are lined up and ready to turn about and reform a battle line."
"Okay Captain, I will need your infantry on the center after we break out of this area. My cavalry will assist you from the right flank-" Selven pointed to the side, "While the Germans will fill your left flank."
"Yes sir, moving out now."
"Well, that's that I guess." Selven said as he turned back to Klaudius. "What's your name Captain?"
"Klaudius Konovalov, my brother, Kael Konovalov is in the city."
"Okay, you got the order of battle, do you not?"
"My men are mainly light infantry and heavy cavalry. I also have a strong force of missile infantry, and should be able to support your advance."
Nodding, the Byzantine commander added, "Link up with my archers at the third line when they leave the tree line, my troops consists of men from far Trebizond and our Guards from the Middle East. We will need to play this off defensively, wear down those rebels slowly. Soon, they will probably resort to desperate tactics. Lets' go."
Looking at the departing captain, Klaudius could not help but wonder how this fellow knew so much about native German warfare.
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The Viennan Plains
"General, mercenary forces coming out of the forest!"
Nodding, Byros observed the infantry carefully. They marched out of the forest not in any relaxed manner, but in full battle formation as they pivoted on one end to face his lines fully.
So… Byros noted. He realized that the mercenaries have turned against him as they advanced as a solid line towards his forces. There are plenty of spaces in the area, and both sides have a lot of room to maneuver.
Riding back to his lines, Byros summoned all his officers and laid out his plans to counter the Byzantine formation.
"Bring out all our men from the other sides, and when battle is engaged, launch the signal, and we will crush the enemy under our feet."
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Battle of the Viennan Plains
The two sides faced each other.
General Byros Stange, with an entire force of almost 300,000 men, despite all the losses he suffered, and more reinforcements coming from other cities as well as the French Army.
On the other side, Captain Commander Selven Klinge, with 70,000 men, inclusive of German Loyalist, elements from Captains Jerovus Talles, Klaudius Konovalov, and local militia.
The German Klinge steadied his horse as he readied his personal unit of 6,000 cavalry. Mostly Germans and native Byzantines whom had followed their captain through the Crusade and battles he fought from Constantinople to Fort Aexicos, and to Antioch and all his battles as a mercenary.
Many had died, but even more has joined his ranks as the Hammer of his battle strategies. And the Byzantines meant to help their German counterparts in the battle for one's homeland.
Now, they take up the position of honor at the Right Flank.
The rebels have an overwhelming 200,000 foot soldiers, mostly made up of spearmen, while 70,000 Zweihandlers make up the first line of battle.
On the flanks are 60,000 of the famed Gothic Cavalry which General Byros commanded himself, and 40,000 Imperial Knights loyal to their general till death.
The pavise crossbowmen of the rebels took up positions and rested on their weapons as they awaited the approach of the Allied force.
On the other side, Klaudius' men have taken up positions on the left flank, and mainly consist of dismounted knights and spearmen. His mounted force has joined Captain Talles' Vadariotai and Byzantine lancers on the right.
The fresh troops of Talles have assumed a defensive posture, while the spearmen are brought up to the front, two ranks deep ahead of the heavy infantry, just like before in Antioch.
Captain Zentan has arrived with an additional 2,000 infantry, mostly Guard archers and the brigands which so often fought side by side with the Byzantines against the Hungarians.
Behind the forces, in the city, Kael Konovalov and his force of 12,000 German knights and the Forlorn Hope stood along the walls, staring in awe at the line up of the two forces.
Byros made the first move.
Seeing that the Allied infantry are packed tightly together, he ordered his light cavalry to chase off the Allied cavalry on his left, while his knights challenge the heavier cavalry on the right.
As the rebel cavalry rode off, his infantry began a slow march towards their opponents. Deeper in unit depth, the rebels could afford to lose their troops in wearing down the Byzantine line, as the Allies had fewer men to throw against them.
Selven saw them coming.
Blowing his horn, his unit of 100 riders locked their lances in below their waists, and took up longbows as they followed Selven's lead towards the enemy light cavalry. The Allied archers began firing their missiles at the rebel heavy cavalry, and their specially crafted arrows did much more than just pierce through the enemy armour.
Selven's cavalry unleashed a storm of arrows at the charging rebels while they are still a distance away. Letting lose three volleys of bodkin arrows, he signaled to the lances, and his men, joined by other men from the same division, formed a line.
The rebel sergeants charged on, willing to drive these missile cavalry from the field. What they did not expect was the sudden transition to a style of western chargers as Selven ordered the charge.
Long lances at the ready, the Cypriot cavalry smashed onto the light cavalry, long lances taking men off their horses before the light spears of the rebels even got close. Retracting his lance, Selven thrust it onto another opponent trying to charge onto a fellow cavalier. Letting it drop onto the side of his saddle, secured by the ingenious strap which his smiths has created for the cavalry, Selven's longsword flashed as he took out three rebels in a straight pass.
Crushing the light cavalry, Selven's men hardly suffered any casualties, although some lost their lances. Looking at the battle, the rebel infantry are charging the Allied line as a mass of infantry. On the other flank, Zentan, Talles and Klaudius are fighting an even battle against a small contingent of knights while spearmen held off a large portion of Byros' deadly knights.
Looking ahead, a unit of several thousand Gothic knights faced his cavalry. Summoning his sergeants, Selven ordered an indirect engagement against the rebels.
As the infantry clashed, the Byzantine spearmen launched their heavy spears at the first wave of rebels, and quickly retreated to the rear through the gaps made by the heavy infantry. Blowing a whistle, a sergeant readied his men for the initial impact.
The rebels came smashing onto the line of Allied infantry. The Germans held on, fast changing into a mass of confusion as the first three lines were engaged.
The Byzantines held onto their heavy squares, the first line engaging with short thrusts just like the ancient legionaries of Rome.
Slowly counting, the sergeant blew his whistle again, which was echoed along the ranks of the Byzantines. As one, the first line of engaged troops side-stepped to their right, and shifted between the columns to the rear. As they did this, the second line of Byzantine infantry took up the vacated positions and continued the fight. This cycle enabled the infantry to rest before engaging the enemy, rather than fighting till the death as was being done by the rebels.
The missile units of both sides now took to engaging each other. The faster firing cycle of the Allies took their toll on the slower rebel crossbowmen, killing them faster then the casualties suffered.
Selven's cavalry formed a long line as the rebel knights rode towards them. Following a signal, both ends of the Byzantine line rode outwards, and the rest of the troops followed, opening a gap for the rebel knights to ride through.
Taken by surprise, the rebels had to continue forward, while Selven's cavalry took them down with point blank shots from their deadly bows. Turning about after two volleys, the leading men of the circle took up their lances as they caught up with the slowing Gothic knights, and charged them with lances pointed forward.
The impact resulted in chaos. The rebels, aware that they could not turn in time in such a tight mass of large animals, simply rode forward, trying to gain some distance from the Byzantines which are chewing up their rear in rapid fashion.
"Forth!" Selven yelled, and his unit lanced across an empty distance to engage the retreating knights. Swinging his sword, Selven was stunned to feel it cut through the plate armour worn by the Gothic knights as his men's weapons favored precision strikes at seams in the armour.
Looking back at the general fighting, Selven saw that his left flank is compromised by the number of rebel knights engaging his men. The infantry are holding well, inflicting more casualties on the weary rebels, but are suffering from the onslaught as well. As his cavalry continued to slaughter the rebel knights, the captain ordered five companies of eighty men each to his call.
Marking the end of the rebel infantry line, he led his cavalry into a wedge formation, firing arrows as they went, causing confusion among the attacking rebels.
Seeing the battle unfold, Byros ordered his personal unit of 500 bodyguard knights into action, aiming to clear the irritating Byzantine cavalry before more trouble could be caused.
He knew that it's hopeless. Klaudius knocked off another rebel with his sword as he came by a pass. Cutting another rebel by his ribs, Klaudius rode around to rejoin a group of four cavaliers who have been covering one another with their swords and spears.
How many? Twenty? Thirty?
He thought as he brought another cavalier down. No matter how many he kill, they just keep coming, and his sword arm limped from exhaustion, and blood ran freely from a dozen light wounds.
Talles rallied a unit of specialized infantry around him. The Byzantine has dismounted and taken up a long spear to support his cavalry. Now on the left flank of his men, the captain held off a number of Imperial knights, knowing that if they broke towards his allies, the line would surely collapse.
"Captain Talles! I don't know how many there are!" A nearby sergeant called out to him as the man brought down a rebel knight with his polearm. Nodding, the veteran called for his reserve of 800 spearmen to bolster the line while the current batch retreats.
We fought for too long. The men are losing hope. We have to regroup now…
On horseback, Zentan of the Latinkon regiment present at Antioch rallied the men along the line. Changing horses to allow them rest, the captain called out to his men to hold the line, and at times charging in to relieve a hard pressed group of infantry.
Selven's cavalry charged in onto Byros' bodyguard at full pace. Lances shattered upon impact and cries of dying men filled his ears as the captain dropped his lance and drew both his swords. Ambidextrous and trained in two-weapon fighting at a young age, the German had no problem utilizing both his weapons to full effect, even on horseback.
Suddenly, a heavy sword came from nowhere, and Selven barely had time to block it. Even so, the strike numbed his right arm and he quickly pulled away. Looking at his adversary, Selven the German recognized the outfit worn by Byros the German. Surprisingly, Byros recognized Selven as one of the captains that fought in the Crusade.
"Captain Klinge I suppose, the disgraced captain of the Imperial Knights?"
Looking closely at his opponent, Selven realized who he was talking to, even after several years, he remembered the captain who left his men to get killed by the Turks.
"Byros Stange… You were the one who withheld the reinforcements didn't you?"
"No. I just realized that one of your ability could never win even with reinforcements."
Staring hard, Selven faced Byros as the rebel drew a spear and thrust it at him. Dodging it, Selven took a javelin and thrust it back, taking care not to leave himself too exposed. After several seconds of minor strikes, the two commanders drew back from one another.
Gesturing at the battle, the rebel comments. "Look, even now your men are being slaughtered! If you had the knowledge you won't even betray your contract from the beginning. Now, you die."
Their spears met in the next pass, and Selven's snapped at mid-shaft, while Byros gashed the captain on his arm. Nearly fainting from exhaustion, Selven barely managed to turn about to face Byros.
"The Spear. Stanges are my specialty… Klinge…" Byros smirked.
Drawing out his sword, the captain managed to prepare for another pass, knowing that no matter what, it will be his last in this duel.
"Spears are longer and better in the pass, boy, or were you discharged too soon to learn about it?" The rebel taunted.
Selven stared straight at his opponent, willing his body for one final pass. Ordering his horse onto a gallop, he charged at the rebel, who had begun to charge as well.
Byros' spear pierced deep into Selven's shoulder, the force knocking the captain to the side. However, with one final burst of strength, Selven thrust forward, and his sword impaled the rebel through his neck.
Both men fell. Byros, dead from the mortal strike, and Selven, barely conscious from the pain and exhaustion.
A Byzantine quickly dismounted and dislodged the spear from Selven, as two others helped their captain on their horse. A fourth rider brought Selven's horse about, determined not to lose the creature.
As they rode back to the rear, not a single rebel cavalier was left alive at that scene.
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"Zentan! We're losing the line!"
Cursing, the captain killed yet another rebel swordsman as he fought on foot.
The pressure has pushed the Allies to the forest, where even the archers are firing atop trees and helping in hand-to-hand combat. The rebel cavalry has routed the Allied flank, and Captain Talles lay wounded on the ground, covered by four of his men and a doctor patched him up.
Klaudius sat down behind the line, barely able to stand. He discarded his armour and fought in light clothing, relying on the agility he has from the training in Russia.
Damn. Damn it, is this the fall?
Hearing horns, Klaudius took some time to register it. However, when he figured the source of it, his mood brightened immediately.
Russian horns filled the towers of Vienna as Kael Konovalov led his 10,000 men out to attack the rear of the rebel force. Running flat out, the Forlorn Hope quickly gained on the fleeing missile infantry, who are scattering to escape the furious charge.
However, he knew. Rebel knights are on the fields, and cavalry are masters of warfare on the plains. Praying, the Russian's spirits are further dampened as a messenger came to him.
"Captain, French forces have appeared. It seems that Gerald de Compare is their commander. They have arrived with a mass of infantry and knights, sir, with a contingent of cavalry numbering by the hundreds."
"Prepare to fall back to the trees; we cannot engage their cavalry now."
"Klaudius!"
Turning to the source, the Russian saw a limping Selven being supported by his men.
"Byros is dead, what's our situation?"
"Many dead and wounded, we are regrouping now."
"The situation…" Selven looked over, but he heard horns in the distance, and paused.
"French. The French are here, Byros' allies."
Shaking his head, Selven suddenly brightened up.
"No… these horns… they belong to the Germans! But I have not heard them in such a long time… they are German horns…"
Looking to the East, Selven saw it. He does not know their exact identity, but he does know the man leading the reinforcements.
Five kilometers away, Manfred von Stettin rode with his Cypriot band, as well as 4,000 additional men recalled from the last Crusade, and some allies from the Nicaean Federation, led by Captain Jurosis. A force of 50,000 heavy cavalry and 100,000 mixed footmen, Manfred has brought up all the men he could muster for the defence of his homeland.
"Never one to abandon one's roots eh? Manfred." Jurosis asked from the side.
"Of course, and I'm sure he would have done the same. Selven Klinge, always getting himself into trouble." Manfred replied. "Pick up the pace!"
As the cavalry galloped towards the battlefield, a man atop a warhorse observed the maneuvers.
"Captains!" he summoned.
"Yes sir!"
"Send your infantry into the woods, fast march, we have to cover the distance as soon as possible. Our allies will need help so you are to position your forces between them and the enemy while they rest and fall back. Move now!"
"Yes General!"
As the captains scattered to gather their forces, General Rige Alexandros looked upon the field. Raising his sword, he led his cavalry of 10,000 Nicosian Cataphracts into a fast gallop…
The two sides had gathered, now is the time to see who will prevail…
