Battle of Bosworth - 28mm Wargame - part 1

 

The Battle of Bosworth

The Battle of Bosworth is seen by many as the official end of the Wars of the Roses. This significant event saw the advent of the Tudor dynasty supplanting the old platagenet line and as such it trepresents for those that have gamed in the Shed over the last eighteen months a culmination of our attemopt to refight all of the major engagements of this English civil war. I’ll post up a summary of our games in a later post but for now this address focusses on the final battle – the Battle of Bosworth.

Bosworth Field - Richard on Right, Henry Tudor on Left, Stanleys Left Front, Northumberland Right front

The battle was fought on the 22^nd August 1485 between King Richard III and the forces of Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond. Richard had siezed the throne from his nephews when his brother Edward IV passed away a couple of years earlier. A defeat of Henry Tudor, the last real heir on the Lancastrian faction (albeit tenuous) would almost certainly secure Richard’s lineage.

Henry Tudor, who had spent much of his life exiled in France and Brittany, was finally persuaded to have a tilt at the throne when he was financially backed by the King of France with money and troops. Henry landed his forces in south west Wales and along with his uncle , Jasper Tudor, the Earl of Pembroke marched through the principality gathering forces. Upon hearing of his landing Richard marched into the midlands and raised his banners. Many Lords failed to materialise but by the time Richard set out to meet the enemy his army numbered between 9,000-12,000 men.

Henry meanwhile had raised his banners drawing some 6000 men to his cause. By the time the two sides approached Bosworth the Kings army was considerably larger and Richard expected success.

As the forces drew near the two hosts were joined by a third. A sizeable army lead by Lord Hastings. Hastings was perhaps one of the most powerful nobles in the north west and although he had informed Richard he would support the King’s cause his allegiance could not be taken for granted. To ensure obedience Richard took Hasting’s son hostage.

The dilemma for Hastings was simple, his son was in chains but his step son Henry Tudor could become King, thereby promote significant advancement for the Hastings family. Apparently Henry and Hastings met the night before the battle and Hastings swore allegiance to the pretender. Would he turn?

As the battle lines were drawn Richard seized the high ground of Ambion Hill and ordered his second Norfolk to crush the arrayed Lancastrian forces ahead. His left flank were guarded by forces loyal to Percy, Duke of Northumberland. Percy was no real fan of the Yorkist cause – afterall his line had been decimated in earlier battles by Warwick and Edward, and real advancement of titles , land and monies in their traditional northern heartlands was diminishing fast as Richard showered these on his nephew, Edward de la Pole. Northumberland might also benefit from a change but with Richard having such a commanding majority in the coming battle Northumberland probably felt less inclined to turncoat. Perhaps watching might be the best option.

As the battle raged Norfolk made hard going against the Lancastrian forces and it was only when Richard saw Henry separate from his army he launched a charge down the hill with his personal retinue. This charge was the last time a King of England personally lead his troops from the front. Reaching Henry’s bodyguard a furious melee ensued and Richard came within feet of killing his foe. The tide had turned as the charge faltered when Stanley rode to the aid of Henry. Richard was unhorsed and cut down. With the King dead the Yorkist forces fled the field. Richard’s crown was recovered from a hawthorn bush and Henry was crowned King.

 

Henry's smaller army face the Yorkists

Recreating Bosworth

There has been much debate as to the real location of the actual site and the forces disposition. In the end I have adopted the most common themes.

Richards forces are aligned along the slopes of Ambion hill in three battles, Henry forces face them with Stanley to the right of Tudor’s army.

The marshy ground sits on the right flank of Henry’s army and the field is bisected by the old roman road known as Fenn lane.

Full orders of battle and special rules are listed below…

 

Richard III atop Ambion Hill

Winning the game

Either side will win if they can kill their opposite number. Both Henry Tudor and Richard III MUST remain on the table throughout the game. To begin with they are attached to their personal bodyguard of knights. They MUST always be attached to a unit and may move from one unit to another.

Killing Lords (and Kings) – played in addition to standard rules

In combat if a unit is destroyed all excess unsaved casualties are transferred to any leader attached. For example unit A has six remaining bill men and after saves suffers 8 casualties in the fight. The two excess casualties are then allocated to any attached Lords. Most Lords have two wounds so in this case the Lord will die.

 

Henry looks across at his nemesis

The Stanley’s and Northumberland

Lord Stanley was Henry Tudor’s stepfather and given they had met only the night before the battle it is reasonable to argue that Stanley was far more likely to join Tudor’s forces than support Richard. In our recreation Stanley will NOT join Richard although there is the remote possibility he may not support Tudor.

As far as Northumberland is concerned he may well have been tasked to shadow Stanley and only protect Richard’s flank were Stanley to attack. Equally there was no love lost between the Percy’s and the Yorkist cause so it is just possible Northumberland was going to sit on the side and do nothing. There is no evidence to suggest Northumberland was going to support Tudor in the battle. 

How will these forces intereract in the game will potentially be a deciding factor in the fight for the English crown.

Shuffle the Turn cards for Northumberland and the two leading Stanleys into the playing deck. When they are drawn roll 2d6 and adjust with the following modifiers. Then consult the table below

Modified Roll	Outcome
2* unmodified	Subtract 1 from next die roll
3	Subtract 1 from next die roll
4	Do Nothing
5	Do Nothing
6	Do Nothing
7	Do Nothing
8	Do Nothing
9	Add +1 to Die Roll next turn
10	Join Richard/Henry Tudor
11	Join Richard/Henry Tudor
12+	Join Richard/Henry Tudor

 

Modifiers

First turn	-1
If Richard/Henry are within 12” of Stanley/Northumberland	+1
For each pair of Yorkist tokens taken (cumulative) – Stanley’s only	+1
For each pair of Lancastrian tokens (cumulative) – Northumberland only	+1
Stanley/Northumberland is under attack	+5
If a Stanley has already committed (Stanley only)	+2
Richard/Henry involved in melee	+3

 

The Bonus card that allows rerolls may be used

Northumberland's forces on left wing

The Battlefield

Richards forces edge the field along Ambion Hill, at the bottom of the hill lay the Roman road (Fenn Lane) and an area of swampy ground. As far as the game is concerned the swamp will cause disarray when traversed. The streams shown on the board do not hinder movement.

Marshy ground in the foreground

Based on internet searches I have set the armies at Bosworth at the following level

Richard – 8000 men

Henry Tudor – 5000 men

Northumberland – 1500 men*

Stanley – 4000 men (split into f2 orces commanded by Lord Stanley & Sir William Stanley)

I am treating Northumberland as a separate army for the purposes of the game. In the actual battle Northumberland’s contingent watched, did nothing and then retired.

 

Stanleys forces arrive - still waiting on some figures

The Orders of Battle

Army size estimates taken from figure counts in Poleaxed books

Lancastrian – est 5000 – 8000 men – assume 5000

Leader	Units	#units	#figures
Sir Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond (BC)	1 x Knights	1		P1
Sir Jasper Tudor, Earl of Pembroke (BC)	1 x Knights	1
Sir John Savage of Clifton	1 x Light Cavalry	1
Sir Gilbert Talbot of Stodesden	1 x Light Cavalry	1
Sir John de Vere, Earl of Oxford (BC)	1 x Men at Arms 1 x Bill 1 x Bow	3		P2
Sir Rhys ap Thomas	2 x Bill 2 x Bow	4
Sir John Welles, Viscount Welles	2 x Bill 2 x Bow	4
Sir Edward Poynings of Southwark	3 x Pike 1 x Crossbows	4
Sir Richard Guildford of Halden	3 x Pike 1 x Crossbows	4
Artillery/Skirmishers	2 x Artillery 2 x Handgunners	4		any
Total		27	5000
Ratio			185

 

 

 

Yorkist – est 8000-12000 men – Assume 8000

Leader	Units	#units	#figures
Richard III (BC)	1 x Knights (large) 1 x Knights	2.5		Y1
Sir Robert Percy of Scotton	1 x Knights	1
Sir John Howard, Duke of Norfolk (BC)	2 x Men at Arms 2 x Bow	4
Sir George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury	2 x Bill 2 x Bow	4
Sir John de la Zouch, Lord Zouche	2 x Bill 2 x Bow	4
Sir Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey	2 x Bill 2 x Bow	4
Sir Robert Brackenbury of Denton (BC)	1 x Men at Arms 1 x Bill 2 x Bow	4		Y2
Sir John Scrope, Lord Scrope	2 x Bill 2 x Bow	4
Sir Ralph Greystoke, Lord Greystoke	2 x Bill 2 x Bow	4
Sir Walter Devereux, Baron Ferrers	2 x Bill 2 x Bow	4
Artillery/Skirmishers	3 x Artillery 3 x Handgunners 2 x Sk Bow	8		any
Total		43.5	8047
Ratio			185
NORTHUMBERLAND				N1
Sir Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland (BC)	1 x Knights	1
Sir John Middleton	1 x Bill 1 x Bow	2
Sir John Widdrington of Chipchase	1 x Bill 1 x Bow	2
Sir Robert Manners of Ethal	1 x Light Horse	1
Sir John Pudsey of Barford	1 x Light Horse	1
Artillery/Skirmishers	2 sk bow	2
Total		9
Ratio		185	1665 men

 

 

 

Estimate 4000- 6000

Leader	Units	#units	#figures
Thomas Stanley, Lord Stanley (BC)	1 x Knights	1		S1
Sir Hugh Peshall	2 x Bill 2 x Bow	4
Sir Everard Digbie	2 x Bill 2 x Bow	4
Sir William Stanley of Holt (BC)	1 x Men at Arms 1 x Bow	2		S2
Humphrey Stanley of Pipe	2 x Bill 2 x Bow	4
Sir Peter Legh of Lyme and Haydock	2 x Bill 2 x Bow	4
Sir George Holford	1 x Bill 1 x Bow	2
Artillery Skirmishers	2 sk bow	2
Total		23	4255 men

 

So the battlelines are set - the full battle report next....

Battle Report can be found HERE