This was another big battle we did with Black Wolf Games in St. Alban's museum.
The year is 890 (probably) Alfred the Great's grandson Athelstan is setting out to unite the Saxons and Danes to become one English nation (this happened circa 900 10 years after our game), but raiding parties and the like were still not uncommon from both sides of the borders set by the "Alfred and Guthrum pact" where the Danish and Saxon land borders were agreed.
A new Danish Jarl has come to power in one of the many petty kingdoms that made up Briton in those days, and his troops were on the march. The Jarl Agner intended to move his men across the river Ver and pillage the pleasant farmlands on the other side.
But the Saxons were ready there men quickly rallying to the call of Eorl Edward, who had marched to his borders. With him traveled Bishop Godric who had come to see that the small church of St. Peter was well looked after.
The game was to hold or capture all the three buildings: St. Peter's, the tithe barn and a farm holding. Other places of note were the old Roman bridge, the pen of livestock and the two fords.
The board...
St. Peter's parish church.
A farm house on the far side of the river.
The Tithe barn where the preparations for a feast had to be abandoned.
After deployment.
(B took the right) The Saxon commanders decided that the Danish heavy attack would probably come across the northern ford. So the Eorl and Bishop Godric took the heaviest troops including the household huscarls here. While the (my ones) men on the left would hold out until the heavy troops could flank the foe.
The Saxons had also hied the swords of a band of freebooters (under my command) they were placed at the bridge, though they were far from keen.
The main stay of the Saxon missile troops were placed in the center by the church.
(my men on the left) As the mists cleared from the river both forces arrayed themselves for battle. Two troops of fyrd with some thegns in the front line, were going to have hold off a large better equipped force of Danes at southern ford.
But the Saxons were not afeared for the Earl's banner fluttered above them as them beat there shields and roared insults to the Danes.
Two groups of gerburs made up of shepherds and farm hands were to be sent forward to secure the crossing.
The Danish army, well armored and ready for battle, were the first to move, and with a great shout the whole force moved forward their helmets and swords flashing in the early sunlight.
At the northern ford a group of women (seemingly unaware that a battle had just begun) remained by the ford washing linens in the cold water.
Danish Hirdmen march forward to the ford intent of crossing and bringing the battle to the Saxons.
The whole army moves forward, keeping their lines close and flanks well kept in.
The Saxons in their own time advanced to their positions, the army splitting up and moving to defend separate crossings.
As the fyrd moved up to the southern ford some of the ceorls debated wither or not to herd some of the livestock, in the nearby pen, to safety. But the thegn leading them called them back into line and formation kept moving.
In the center the freebooters were ordered up to the bridge although they are flanked by crossbows and archers they were far from keen.
At last with a roar the Danes plunged into the river and started wading across!
At the same time a troops of thralles started to rush over the bridge.
As the hiredmen moveed into the water the formation lost cohesion and two men at the front were confronted by the washer women. While they were still up to their wastes in water the women fell on them! One Dane received a bucket around his head while the other was smothered in a wet sheet before both were pushed under the freezing water never again to emerge!
The Danish hersir sends out his orders for the thralles to cross.
The freebooters rush up onto the bridge ready to slaughter the thralles!
As the Danes move up to the ford the Saxons take their chance and charge across the ford! hurling themselves against the Danish spear hirdmen! The two shield walls crashing together, the Saxon thegns hewing in with their swords while the ceorls thrusted in with their spears. The Danes fell before them like wheat!
The other troop of ceorls and thegns had crossed on the other side of farm and had charged the troop of bondi. But the skirmishers had fallen back before them.
As the freebooters came up onto the bridge the took a hail of javelins in the front and at once turned tail and fled!
The triumphant thralles yelled insults after them.
At the northern ford the Eorl had made a good position with his men encircling the crossing point.
As the hiredmen made slow progress across the river the Saxson Huscarls and Geburs sent hail after hail of throwing spears and javelins down on them striking them down in the water and turning the river red.
The battle was now in full swing over the whole field. The Saxons on the left (under my command) had sent their main body of troops over the river and were now giving the Danes a beating (and doing a lot better then expected!) in the center the Saxon bows kept the bridge under their control while the shamful freebooters continued to flee. On the right (B's men) had the danish crossing points covered by throwing spears and had a strong position.
On the left side of the old bridge the Saxon slingers started to make themselves felt on the Danish heavy infantry, who were waiting in reserve on the other side of the river.
The crossbows started to take their toll as well.
The Dan's right flank was in disarray, the thegn had sent their spear men fleeing and were in hot pursuit, while the bondi on the far side were also on the run. It was now that the Hersir decided to commit the reserve sending the heavily armored hiredmen to threaten the second fyrd's flank.
The Saxons pushed all before them!
The Danes at last start to get their men across the Ver under the showers of missiles thrown at them.
Then out of nowhere a Berserker rushed out and with horrific war cry leaped into the fyrd! striking out in all directions the Berserker killed two of the Saxons single handed, before the panic stricken Saxons cut himdown.
The Gerbur brought more of the Bondi down.
The Danish spear men seeing the hirdmen coming to their rescue turned and fought bitterly with the pursuing thegns. The other fyrd continued to charge the bondi but again they feld before them.
The thralles under the fire of the crossbows manage to make it across the bridge.
The thegns again see off the spearmen but they are too fast for them and run for the hills yet again. But now the Dane's heavy infantry where here and with a great charge they went for the fryd, but the fryd seeing them coming down on their flank fled!
The spear men again turned to fight the thegns rallying the bondi to them as well.
At long last the Danes cross the Ver only to find the Saxons ready and waiting for them. The two shield walls close in and the fighting starts!
A great axe welding Ulfhednar is the first into battle sweeping his great weapon before him!
The Huscarls close in for battle, while Bishop Godric prays for a swift victory with little lose of life.
The Fryd flees back across the river.
The battle at the tithe barn is fierce with neither side falling back.
The spear men put up one last fight and refuse to fall back before the thegns.
For they were under the eye of Jarl Agner who had come in person to lead the battle for the right flank.
The Huscarls butcher their Danish foes, the few remainders flying for the hills.
The Saxon spear men hold out for the Huscarls flanking charge.
The bondi had had enough and fled.
Then disaster struck for the Saxons! As the Fryd tried to recross the river they were caught in the rear by the Danes!
The fryd lost their formation and were broken and butchered by the Hirdmen.
In the north the Gebur plunged into the fray, flanking the Danish troops.
The thegns on the left pressed on and fought like lions. 
And at last killed or sent running the Danish spears.
On the right the Danish Hirdmen were completely surrounded but fought on!
The huscarls started to cross the Ver.
The Eorl himself rushes into the carnage.
Eorl Edward pushes his way to the front to come face to face with the axe swinging Ulfhednar.
The Danish thralles try to hold off the triumphant thegns with a hail of javelins, but to little avail.
The Hirdmen fight on until only the Ulfhednar and standard are left.
The standard is at last cut down,
Until standing, on a heap of dead, hewing his axe about him stands only the Ulfhednar.
Eorl Edward charges the huge Danish giant!
The thegns mop up the last of the skirmishers in the south while the battle in the north seems won.
Eorl Edward fells the great Dane with his own two handed axe.
The Eorl leads his men to battle against the last troop of Danes in the north.
The Eorl's men slaughtered the Danes leaving only the jarl's banner and the champion.
The champion and standard had no stomach for the fight and ran but the banner man held his ground.
In the south the Eorl's banner rallied the remaining troops for one last effort.
The geburs were brought over the river in support.
The banner bearer ledthe force off to find the last of the Danes.
Then the Danish thralls moved over the bridge and send the crossbows running with a volley of spears. The bows seeing their fellows fleeing follow them and both quit the battle.
The Jarl gathered his last Hirdmen and made for the bridge.
But the Saxons are hot on their tail, quickly forming column and giving chase.
The bold thralls pressed on hoping to hold out until the Jarl arrives.
They rushed the church, one trying to beat the door down while others tried to get through the windows.
Then the jarl arrived, leading his men onto the old bridge and making for the church.
The old wood creaks under the wight of armed men.
the Saxons "secure" the tithe barn.
The banner barer wasat last struck down.
Some gebur captured a group of looting Danish deserters, and took control of the farm holding.
The thegns pressed on.
Only the bridge is between them and the Jarl's men.
Making good speed they approached the crossing.
But disaster falls them as they start crossing the bridge, the old wood work could't take another crossing of marching men and part of it fells to pieces. Fortunately only two coerls and none of the thegns are swept down stream. The rest remained on the safe western side of the bridge.
The thegns prepared for a final fight.
Getting ready to face the foe in hand to hand combat.
But the Jarl saw his position and surrendered, choosing a ransom over a inglorious death.
A Saxon victory!
With the farm holding and the tithe barn in their control and almost all the enemy died or run they had the day.
It had been a great battle, me and B got on a roll quite early on and not really giving the Danes a chance to recover, over coming the disasters that came our way. B had held the right admirably taking wave after wave in his stride and butchering them as they came. My men had done very well too taking the opportunity to attack, we were going to do a defensive tactic but I don't think I would have held that. The only stain on my command being the massacre of one of my fryd in the river, though they had done something which was more then could be said for the freebooters! With many thanks to Black Wolf Games for the whole thing.
