Warhammer Ancient Battles by Cry Havoc - The Italian Wars: 1494-1534 - The Armies of the Popes

THE ARMIES OF THE POPES 1470-1520 “…And where is that captain-general. Albeit of divine virtue, who can fight a war reasonably, given that the soldiers, on receiving their pay often go over to the enemy camp, refuse to put up with the fortunes of war, steal from the supplies, cannot bear that wine or fresh victuals should be lacking in camp, and, finally are not ashamed in battle, when then trumpet sounds and the enemy starts advancing, to demand their pay before fighting?” Giovio, on the state of the army of the League of Cognac.

Characters: Up to 25%. All Character options allowed.

Cavalry: At least 25%. You must take at least one unit of Armigeri. Infantry: Up to 50%. May take all Militia and condotta options and 0-1 Provisionati per 1,000 points. May take 0-1 Papal Guard. Allies /Mercenaries: Up to 35%, may take either Venetian, French or Spanish Allies. May have 0-1 landsknechtes War occupied a curious role in ecclesiastical matters; a whole body of theology had evolved to define the circumstances in which war was justified, and in what circumstances it was acceptable for the church to condone and encourage it. Nonetheless, it would seem that for Calixtus VI, Alexander IV and Julius X, war was part of an ongoing policy of extending the ambit of papal control in the Papal States. To that end, Pope Calixtus VI, conspired with the Pazzi, in a failed attempt to overthrow the Medici. This resulted in the Pazzi war and the establishment of triple alliances directed at keeping Papal and Venetian ambitions under control. In 1508, Pope Julius X was instrumental in establishing the League of Cambrai against Venice; but concerned at the success of the French, deserted their cause and formed the Holy League against the French. In 1512, Pope Julius X even donned armour (as portrayed by Rex Hamiltion, in the movie, The Agony and the Ecstasy) and was present at the defeat at Ravenna.

The Army of Cesare Borgia 14941504 Characters: Up to 25%. The army is lead by an experienced Commander, you do not need to roll. Cavalry: Between 25% and 50%. You must take at least one unit of Armigeri. Infantry: Up to 35%. May take all Militia options and 0-1 Provisionati per 1,000 points. May take 0-1 Romagnol pike per 1,000 points from the Venetian list.

Allies /Mercenaries: Between 35%-75%. May take Spanish Infantry options. And allies chosen from the French Infantry and Cavalry sections. May take Swiss.

Special: Borgia Leadership: Cesare Borgia was able to inspire tremendous loyalty from his mercenaries. To reflect this, Allies and Mercenaries are not subject to the Allies and Mercenaries rules. Cesare Borgia was the illegitimate son of Pope Alexander VI. Initially, it had been decided that Cesare would follow in his father’s footsteps, but the allure of a military command and opportunity to carve out his own private kingdom from the various Papal States proved to great. In the wake of the initial French expedition, Cesare, with the full support of his father and an alliance with France, was made Duke of Valentinois in 1498. At the head of a largely mercenary army, he proceeded to subjugate much of the Papal States. However, the unexpected death of his father allowed Cesare’s enemies to catch him off guard and he was captured and sent to Spain, where he died in Navarre in 1509.

The Army of Clement VII, 1520-1534 Characters: Up to 25%. May take all Character choices

Cavalry: At least 10%, up to a maximum of 35% Infantry: At least 35%. May take all Militia and Condotta Options. 0-1 unit of Provisionati per 1,000 points may take Swiss Papal Guard. May not take more units of Condotta than Militia.

Allies /Mercenaries: At least 35%. May take Venetian allies and mercenaries from the Swiss list. The Imperial victory at Pavia, and subsequent capture and imprisonment of Francis 1, terrified Italy. With the French defeated, Charles V was now in a position to subdue all of Italy. Alarmed by this development, Pope Clement formed the League of Cognac, with France, Henry VIII and Venice, in the hope of launching a new offensive. An ambitious plan for simultaneously attacking Genoa, Milan and Sienna was conceived. It was envisioned that this would be supported by an Anglo-French thrust into Flanders. The Anglo-French offensive never materialised and the League crumbled; weakened by the timid leadership of the Venetian Captain-General and by dissension in the army of the League. Enraged, by the act of aggression, the Lutheran commander George Frundsburg pawned his estates to raise an army to punish the Pope. The campaign was to end with the sickening atrocities of the sack of Rome

and the complete subjugation of the Papacy by Charles V. CHARACTERS The Pope

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4 4

3

4

4

4

2

2

L d 9

Pts 110

The Pope may ride a horse (free) and wears heavy armour, he may take partial plate armour (+4) and may ride a warhorse (+4) If taken he is the Army General, otherwise your army must be lead by either the Captain General or by the Lieutenant General.

Captain General Nepotistic appointee Experienced Commander

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4 4

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4

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4

4

6

3

6

Pts

2

L d 8

2

9

150

150

The Experienced Commander rides a warhorse and wears full plate armour, he carries a lance. He may take cloth barding (+4) or plate barding (+6). The Nepotistic Appointee may ride a horse (free) and wears heavy armour, he may take partial plate armour (+4) and may ride a warhorse (+4) At the start of the game, roll a D6 on the roll of a 13, the Pope has appointed one of his insipid family members. On the roll of a 4-6 he has appointed an experienced commander. The tile of Captain General was often assigned on a purely nepotistic basis, to the cousins, nephews, and at times, the sons of the Pope. These men were of variable quality, but on occasion, the title could be conferred upon an experienced condottieri such as Duke D’Este of Ferrera (who married Lucretia Borga; the daughter of Pope Alexander VI) or Francesco Gonsalvo Marquis of Mantua.

Lieutenant- General M W S 4 4

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3

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2

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L d 7

Pts 50

The Lieutenant-General may ride a horse (free) and wears heavy armour, he may take partial plate armour (+4) and may ride a warhorse (+4). If neither the Pope nor a Captain General has been taken, you may choose for the Lieutenant General to be the Army General. The Lieutenant General was a secondary commander of the Papal Armies. However, civilian appointees, such as the diplomat-turned-historian Guicciardini, often occupied the post.

Captains:

Roman Baron: M WS

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Pts

Baron

4 5

3

4

4

4

2

2

d 8

70

Full plate armour, lance and rides a warhorse. May take cloth barding (+4) or plate barding (+6) Special: Potentially Disloyal: At the start of the game roll 1d6 on the roll of a 5 or 6, the Baron, and any unit he leads, is subject to the rules for Allies and Mercenaries. The Baron may only lead Men at Arms

Condottieri Captain Condottieri

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4 5

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6

2

2

L d 8

Pts 62

The Condottierii Captain wears light armour and carries a hand weapon. He may have heavy armour (+2) or full plate armour (+3) he may ride a horse (free) or a warhorse (+4). If mounted he may carry a lance (+4). If mounted he may take cloth barding (+4) or plate barding (+6). If dismounted they may carry a halberd (+1), pike (+1) or two handed weapon (+2).

Gonfalionner Gonfalionie r

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4 5

3

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4

6

2

2

L d 8

Pts 102

Rides a warhorse and wears full plate armour. He may take cloth barding (+4) or plate barding (+6). Special: Army Standard Bearer.

CAVALRY Condottieri Men at Arms:: Armigeri

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8

3

3

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1

4

1

L d 8

Pts 34

Equipment: Full Plate armour, lance, First Charge, warhorses. May take plate barding (+6) or cloth barding (+4). May count a rank bonus of +1. One unit may be upgraded to Lanze Spezzatta at (+2). Lanze Spetzatta are veterans

Mounted Crossbow Crossbow

M W S 8 2

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3

3

3

1

1

1

L d 6

Pts 14

Equipped with light crossbows. May have light armour, (+2). Mounted crossbow are Skirmishers. One unit may be upgraded to Guard status at (+2). The Guard are veterans and have LD7. The Guard unit must be the smallest, formed infantry unit, in the army.

INFANTRY Provisionati 0-1 per 1,000 points Provisionati

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4

3

3

3

3

1

7

11

3

1

Provisionati are equipped with crossbows and wear heavy armour. A unit may replace its crossbows for Arquebuses. One unit may exchange crossbows for pikes or halbards.

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1 1

4 4

At the battle of Soriano in 1496, Italian spearmen, in the employ of the Orsini, adopted the use of the Swiss pike. The greater length of the pike, over the spear used by their Papal adversaries, allowed the Orsini infantry to rout the Papal army.

Skirmishers

0-1 Papal Guard Italian Swiss

Are equipped with spear, large shield and light armour. May exchange their spears and large shields for pikes in which case they become a medieval pike phalanx.

1 1

L d 8 9

W S 3

Pts Skirmish

5

B S 3

Condotta Crossbow

Militia Spearmen

Artillery:

Militia

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W A

4

2

3

3

3

1

2

1

L d 6

Pts 8

Equipped with spear, large shield and light armour. May exchange their spears and large shields for pikes (no cost). Militia with Pike, are a medieval pike phalanx. Militia pike, may only count a rank bonus of +2 on the turn in which they charge.

Militia Crossbow Militia

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W A

4

2

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3

3

1

2

1

L d 6

Pts 8

Equipped with crossbow and light armour. Militia equipped with crossbows may be in a combined formation with Militia Spearmen.

Militia Schioppetto Militia

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4

2

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3

1

2

1

L d 6

Pts 8

Equipped with handgun, light armour and hand weapons.

Condotta Spearmen Militia

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4

3

3

3

3

1

3

1

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3

3

3

1 1

L D 6

Pt s 6

Skirmishers have hand weapons and may take light crossbows (+2) or handguns (+2).

They have heavy armour and either halberds or double handed swords. They may only be taken in armies led by the Pope. Swiss Guards may have Pikes. As long as the Pope is alive, the Papal Guard may re-roll all leadership tests that they are required to take. Must not outnumber any other formed infantry unit. Swiss are subject to Bitter Rivalry of Landsknects.

BS

T

14 15

The Papal Guard are Veteran and Stubborn.

M WS

S

L d 7

Pts 10

Condotta

M WS

BS

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W A

4

3

3

3

3

1

3

1

L d 7

Pts 11

Equipped with hand weapons, light armour and crossbow, May exchange their crossbow for arquebus (free) may be designated as Open Order (free) or skirmishers.

May take 1 artillery piece per 750 points at 50 points. Each gun may have up two extra crewmen at +10 per crew.