Hello and Welcome to Part II!
The Woodhouse Dynasty, 1187-1453 - The Directors Cut Check it out!
In 1237 A.D, Bevan Woodhouse the younger, 2nd Duke of Lancaster siezed the crown of England from his cousin, Waleran I, King of England. For just over two centuries, the descendants of Saint Bevan the Elder, named, Epee de Dieu The Sword of God, ruled England. Over this time, they would consolidate their hold on England forge a powerful dynasty that would be placed on many thrones. The Kings of England would collect many crowns themselves. These Kings of England were true Crusader Kings, Bevan the Elder had personally liberated Jerusalem and his heirs kept it sacred to their hearts. But, the Strength of Saint Bevan waned, and the Kings of England forgot their duty to God and began a slow fall from grace. Rebellious Nobles, unscrupulous relatives and foreign Kings began to weigh the once mighty England down. In 1449, a small scale rebellion set the Empire ablaze and plunged the Woodhouse Empire into full scale Civil War. This war would engulf England, Scotland, Wales, France, Flanders, Italy and Spain. For four long years, the aged King Richard II, the King of the eighth generation of the Woodhouse dynasty watched his Empire crumble. But with the will of God, England might rise again, and the Woodhouse dynasty may witness its rebirth.
Converted usingMichaelM's Scenario editor extra units from Merlin 2199's custom graphics although the new English black uniform is my own repainting.And of course the .bmp map is thrashing_mad's!
Well I hope you all enjoy and please leave feedback!
Richard II was an old and broken King, he had ruled over an Empire on the brink of destruction and for the past four years, over a Kingdom torn apart by Civil war. A battle had not been fought since Grey’s hill for almost a year, Richard, though old had enough will to order his commanders to rebuild their armies and begin the war against, the Scottish Galloways, and the French Bourbons and Armagnac anew. Both the Royalists and the Rebels forces were weak in England, most of the fighting had and would be done in the fields of France. The Armies of the King were commanded by three men, Henry de St John, the Marshal of England, John de Hautville, a Veteran of the 1449-1453 wars against Galloway and Richard Grey a Capable Commander. De Hautville and de St John were deployed in the north of france, ready to liberate Paris, while Grey was deployed in Northern Italy to strike at the Galloway’s German lands.
On the 2nd of September 1453 King Richard ordered the Winter offensive, Henry de st John would lay siege to Paris, de Hautville to Orleans and Grey to Galloway held Romagna. A day later, cowering in fear, the Duke of Bourbonnais sued for peace and offered to hand control of Orleans back to England, Richard gladly accepted and sent de Hautville to link up withde St John’s army heading towards Paris.
In an attempt to bring the independent Duchies of England closer to his control, Richard II consented to a marriage between Princess Anne of Normandy, great-grandaughter to Richard II and Piers de Quincy of York. Late in September an Alliance was signed with prospects of Connacht returning to vassalage under England.
These last two diplomatic victories would be the last achievements of the Woodhouse dynasty’s longest reigning and perhaps most destructive King. His reign had seen both an increase in Royal Power and for the last four years of his life, total civil war. The likes of which had destroyed the Empire. While the nation mourned they hoped for a King better suited to ruling a demanding Empire. His heir, young Prince Bevan of Normandy, his great-grandson through his son Bevan of Normandy and his son William of Normandy. Prince Bevan was crowned Bevan IV in Lancaster Cathedral. Westminster was now under control of the independent Earl of Essex and Rheims was occupied by the Scottish Rebels. Bevan IV was the first Woodhouse King not to be crowned at Westminster and the first King since Bevan II not to be crowned at Rheims.
Bevan IV, King of England and France, Lord of Ireland and Scotland, crowned by the grace of God in 1453
Battle of Rouen 2nd October 1453 – Royal Victory
Legend dictates, that the day Bevan IV was crowned, was the day the battle of Rouen was fought between the scottish rebels and the Royalist army led by de Hautville. The Scottish army had been fed false information and had foolishly mounted an offensive in Normandy,only to be met by de Hautvilles army numbering eight thousand men. The Scots were outnumbered eight to one and had no choice but to stand and fight. The battle was the first of the second half of the civil war and it ended in a total victory for the Royalists. Numbers taken down at the battle indicate that the Royalists lost a total of fifty-five men, compared to the Scots rebels who lost all their number of one thousand men. The Scots were crushed and the battle sent the Royalists morale into the Sky.
Late in October of that year King Bevan IV was approached by Scottish Ambassadors demanding the freedom of the Scot Kingdom. Bevan IV was well informed of the war and dismissed them. The Scots had hoped for an advantageous settlement before the war turned sour, for the Scots, their hopes had failed and now they faced Royal steel. In 1454 as Armagnac was laid siege to, its Duke begged for peace against the Royalist army. They refused, Armagnac was insignificant enough to be annexed and was of vital importance to join Gascony to England’s Castillian holdings. On the 12th of March Armagnac was captured by the Royalist forces and the province duly annexed by Bevan IV.
Armagnac annexed to English Gascony 13th March 1454
By April the offensive was in full swing, de Hautville was besieging Paris and de St. John was besieging Othe. The Scots in England, well aware of the lack of defense moved to attack Lothian and on the 12th of April they captured the Castle at Lothian. Such a minor reversal would soon be overshadowed by de Hautvilles’s liberation of Paris six days later. De Hautville did not rest, instead he pushed on, overtaking de St. John and besieging Champagne.
In August, in an attempt to turn Cardinals away from petty matters in Leon and into more crucial matters in England and France, Bevan IV sent gifts and letters to Cardinal Fonsesca and Cardinal de Garbol. The Cardinals were agreeable in England’s need to be represented above all others and began to put their views to the Holy See in Rome. While de Hautville, mindful of the need of discipline and courage needed of an army that would have to fight all over western Europe against highly organised foes completed his thesis on Military Drill and the needs of the modern army. The thesis, newly completed was sent to Bevan IV who endorsed it officially and would put it into use for training new recruits and old veterans.
Romagna captured by Sir Richard Grey 16th September 1454
November was an ambivalant month for the Royalists. The assault on the Scottish capital of Ayreshire failed resulting in heavy casualties for the besiegers. Othe was liberated by de St. John in France, but later on the 16th Schwyz was captured by the Scots who had taken advantage of the English absence in the alps to launch an offensive.
Othe captured by de St. John 8th November
Schwyz captured by Scots rebels 16th November
However, brighter news came near the end of the year, in which de Hautville, the Hero of England captured Champagne and pushed on against the Scots. Christmas and new year passed without war on English soil. The battlefield, as was usual was France.
January and February of 1455 were quiet months, the war continued unabated, but in the cold winter none moved from their camps to attack the enemy, most just stayed to siege each others cities. On the 6th of March, Ayreshire, the Scottish capital fell to the Royalists. However, James Duke of Galloway had fled to Switzerland, hoping to escape the looming grasp of the Royalist armies. Once again the war was in Royalist hands and the rebels were running out of places to hide. On the 28th of March, in the cold night in Valenciennes. Henry de St John, Marshal of England and veteran of the Civil War died. As was the tradition his body was boiled down and his bones returned to his country estate in Bedfordshire. John de Hautville was promoted to Marshal of England. Months would pass of quiet siege warfare. A mere day later to de St. Johns death the rebels besieging Lothian were attacked and defeated by a numerically and militarily superior force, giving yet another victory to the seemingly invincible Royalists.
Ayreshire captured 6th March 1455
Battle of Lothian 29th March 1455
Valenciennes captured 2nd June 1455
Barrois captured 18th July 1455
On the 18th of July Barrois fell to de Hautville’s army. Leaving a small garrison behind de Hautville, with Bevan IV’s blessing and a right of way from the Duke of Lorraine marched into Rebel held Baden to liberate the Germans from the Scots. The army was Jubilant, the Royalists after six years of defensive warfare were now truly on the offensive, hot on the reeling Scots heels.
On the 14th of October, in furtherance to Lancastrian policy towards York, Bevan IV married Mary de Quincy, daughter to the Duke of York. The marriage was well received amongst the people though less so among the Nobles who felt that the Breakaway Yorkists were getting better treatment than themselves.
On the 2nd of November, Scottish settlers in Cumbria raised a revolt in support of the Duke of Galloway and began to besiege the city of Newcastle, less than two weeks later the Scots under Galloway were defeated once again at the 2nd battle of Lothian, so far the rebels had yet to experience any victory in the second period of the Civil war. The rebels, demoralised from constant defeat met the English armies early in the day ten miles from Edinborough. As the rebels maneouvred into a defensive position they were pelted by longbow and cannon fire from the Royalist lines. Lacking any artillery or missile strength of their own the Scots had no choice but to flee. The rebel casualties were comparatively light, but their morale was desicated.
2nd Battle of Lothian 15th December 1455 –Royalist Victory
On the 26th of January the English army under Cornwallis felt safe enough from the Scots that they could engage the rebels in Cumbria. The Royalists and Rebels were evenly matched in terms of numbers. But the English were unbeatable in terms of Morale and Discipline, tempered by months of victory the Royalists advanced on the rebels supported by cannonfire. The rebels under such a hellish bombardment scattered and were quickly isolated and mopped up by the English men at arms. Although Cannons were making their way into pitched warfare, the Man at arms still reigned supreme.
Battle of Newcastle 26th January 1456 – Royalist Victory
Once again the war descended into sieges, early in march Metz and Baden were captured by the Royalist armies and de Hautville headed south into Germany to meet the Duke of Galloway in battle. In April dissidents, perhaps funded by the Angevin Duke of Gloucester rebelled against the King and ravaged the countryside. On the 8th of April de Hautville, cornered the Scots in a deep valley after their defeat by the Anglo-Italian army. De Hautville rushed to engage the Duke of Galloway before he could set a defensive position, once again the Royalists had the superiority of numbers and the Scots were engaged mid-march to their great disadvantage. Confused and out of formation the Scots were quickly rounded up and defeated. The Duke of Galloway was decisively defeated and his army suffered heavy losses.
Battle of Spirstock 8th April 1456 – Royalist Victory
On the 20th of July in continuation of their policy with York, Bevan IV arranged a marriage between his younger brother Henry, Duke of Lancaster and Lady Eleanor, daughter of the Earl of Essex an ally of York. The Wedding was great cause for a days festival and entertainment throughout England against the backdrop of war in France
A month later the city of Gloucester fell to the rebel forces there. It took Cornwallis until October to gather his forces from Scotland and join up with reinforcements north of Gloucester. The two armies met two miles outside Gloucester castle, the rebels, having plundered the armouries of Gloucester castle, were well armed and rested. The Royalists, however, were tired from the march. Rebel Cannonfire began the battle mid afternoon and both sides released volleys of arrows upon each other. Cornwallis blundered and left his line to thin. When cannon fire left gaps the rebels rushed in between to exploit the weaknesses. The reinforcements were the first to break, their experience low they fled from the field. The Veterans of the Scottish campaign withdrew too to protect the army from a mass rout. The Royalists had been beaten in their own territory and had to retreat south into Devon.
Battle of Gloucester 16th August 1456 – Rebel Victory
Previously in 1456 Spain had been suffering from a series of rebellions and rampaging peasants. In late october the rebels crossed the Aragones border into Anglo-Spanish territory and lay siege to the city of Aragon. November was another month of victories for Bevan IV, on the 5th Scottish Garrisons in Schwyz were ejected by de Hautville, on the 24th Breisgau was captured by the Royal North France army and on the 29th Cornwallis met the rebels on the Somerset borders. Given time to create a solid position on a nearby escarpment, Cornwallis fired first creating havoc among the rebels. As they neared a vicious exchange of Longbow volleys commenced, but by mid-morning both sides were engaged in deadly melee. The disciplined forces of Earl Cornwallis held their line against the rebels and inflicted heavy casualties before the rebels broke and dispersed.
Battle of Winford 29th November 1456 – Royalist Victory
In late autumn the Scots sent an ambassador to Artois France in the hopes of bringing them back into the war against England. The negotiations lasted months but in the end the alliance was declined owing to a war against Guyenne. The Scot navy was used to escort the ambassador to France, but it would now have to make its way back across hostile waters. The Captain of Calais was alerted to their presence of the night of the 27th as the Scottish fleet attempted to sneak away undetected. Launching his eighteen ships against the Scots five ships the Captain caught the Scottish navy on the early morning of the 28th. The Scottish ships were enveloped and fired upon by the English fleet. The Scottish were badly defeated, but managed to save their ships, they retreated back to France in the hope of escaping again and avoiding the English Blockade round the straits of Dover.
Battle of Calais 28th December 1456 – Royalist Victory
It would take a whole year for the Scots to repair their ships and attempt a break out again. On the 18th of September, the five Scottish ships boldly set out into the channel hoping to reach home. But the English fleet was on watch and caught the Scottish fleet and chased it across the channel before blocking it at southampton. There it cut off the “Unicorn” and the “Rainbow of Dundee” and sank them. The rest of the Scottish ships escaped to Scotland badly mauled.
Battle of Southampton 18th September 1457 – Royalist Victory
1457 was a almost silent year apart from the afore mentioned battle, Bevan IV spent most of his time negotiating a Military access treaty with Burgundy to attack the Scottish fortress in Lyonnais. By winter he had succeeded. De Hautville was poised to attack, England was peaceful and the rebellion in Spain had fizzled out only to be mopped up by Bevan IV’s waiting Spanish army.
In February of 1458 de Hautville attacked the Scottish army outside Lyonnais. The battle was a massacre, de Hautville’s army was invicible in terms of numbers, morale and experience. The Scots were simply outnumbered and killed, those few that survived retreated to the City walls and prepared for a siege.
Battle of Lyons 22nd February – Royalist Victory
On the 31st of March, the Royal artist, Stephen Byron presented to Bevan IV, a gallery of the Kings royal ancestry and renditions of their feats of arms and of governance. Byron was widely celebrated and the gallery was set up in the Royal Palace at Lancaster. England was entering an economic golden age, the war wasn’t even over yet its trade was flourishing, its merchants unbeatable in Paris, the standard of living was rising and discontent and falling across the land. Bevan IV was well on the way to restoring the Empire.
On the 5th of July Lyons fell to de Hautville. All rebel lands were occupied by the Royalists and Bevan IV prepared his peace proposals. In late July the Scots were met with demands of the return of Romagna, Lyonnais and freedom for the State of Baden as well as reparations for the grevious harm done to the citizens of the Kingdom.
On the 3rd of August, The Duke of Galloway accepted these terms. The Civil war lasted from the 17th June 1449 (Battle of Carisle) to the 3rd of August 1458 (Peace of Paris) Bevan IV had set the Kingdom back on the long road to recovery and greatness once again.
The peace did not last for long on the 14th September, in support of their allies Portugal, England declared war on Castile and Irish Munster who held lands in France. This would be an ample chance to regain lost lands.
Europe in 1458
The Woodhouse Dynasty, 1187-1453 - The Directors Cut Check it out!
In 1237 A.D, Bevan Woodhouse the younger, 2nd Duke of Lancaster siezed the crown of England from his cousin, Waleran I, King of England. For just over two centuries, the descendants of Saint Bevan the Elder, named, Epee de Dieu The Sword of God, ruled England. Over this time, they would consolidate their hold on England forge a powerful dynasty that would be placed on many thrones. The Kings of England would collect many crowns themselves. These Kings of England were true Crusader Kings, Bevan the Elder had personally liberated Jerusalem and his heirs kept it sacred to their hearts. But, the Strength of Saint Bevan waned, and the Kings of England forgot their duty to God and began a slow fall from grace. Rebellious Nobles, unscrupulous relatives and foreign Kings began to weigh the once mighty England down. In 1449, a small scale rebellion set the Empire ablaze and plunged the Woodhouse Empire into full scale Civil War. This war would engulf England, Scotland, Wales, France, Flanders, Italy and Spain. For four long years, the aged King Richard II, the King of the eighth generation of the Woodhouse dynasty watched his Empire crumble. But with the will of God, England might rise again, and the Woodhouse dynasty may witness its rebirth.
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Converted usingMichaelM's Scenario editor extra units from Merlin 2199's custom graphics although the new English black uniform is my own repainting.And of course the .bmp map is thrashing_mad's!
Well I hope you all enjoy and please leave feedback!
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Bloody constraint: for if you hide the Crowne
Euen in your hearts, there will he rake for it.
Therefore in fierce Tempest is he comming,
In Thunder and in Earth-quake, like a Ioue:
That if requiring faile, he will compell.
And bids you, in the Bowels of the Lord,
Deliuer vp the Crowne, and to take mercie
On the poore Soules, for whom this hungry Warre
Opens his vastie Iawes: and on your head
Turning the Widdowes Teares, the Orphans Cryes,
The dead-mens Blood, the priuy Maidens Groanes,
For Husbands, Fathers, and betrothed Louers,
That shall be swallowed in this Controuersie.
Henry V - Shakespeare
The Rebirth of England, Part I
The Cast
Richard II, the ailing King of England
Bevan IV, son of Prince William of Normandy and King of England
Princess Anne, sister to Bevan IV
Piers de Quincy, son of the Duke of York
Duke of Galloway, treacherous and false Ruler of Scotland and its fiefs
John de Hautville, a noble commander to the King
Cardinal Fonsesca and De Garbol, two corrupt Cardinals of the See
Henry de st John, Marshal of England
Lady Mary de Quincy, Wife to Bevan IV and Queen of England
Richard Grey, A Commander of England
Henry, Duke of Lancaster and younger brother to the King
Lady Eleanor of Essex, a young noblewoman an wife to Henry, Duke of Lancaster
John Cornwallis, A Commander of England
Stephen Byron, An artistic Genius
Europe in 1453
Richard II, King of England and France, Lord of Ireland and Scotland, crowned by the grace of God in 1392
Bloody constraint: for if you hide the Crowne
Euen in your hearts, there will he rake for it.
Therefore in fierce Tempest is he comming,
In Thunder and in Earth-quake, like a Ioue:
That if requiring faile, he will compell.
And bids you, in the Bowels of the Lord,
Deliuer vp the Crowne, and to take mercie
On the poore Soules, for whom this hungry Warre
Opens his vastie Iawes: and on your head
Turning the Widdowes Teares, the Orphans Cryes,
The dead-mens Blood, the priuy Maidens Groanes,
For Husbands, Fathers, and betrothed Louers,
That shall be swallowed in this Controuersie.
Henry V - Shakespeare
The Rebirth of England, Part I
The Cast
Richard II, the ailing King of England
Bevan IV, son of Prince William of Normandy and King of England
Princess Anne, sister to Bevan IV
Piers de Quincy, son of the Duke of York
Duke of Galloway, treacherous and false Ruler of Scotland and its fiefs
John de Hautville, a noble commander to the King
Cardinal Fonsesca and De Garbol, two corrupt Cardinals of the See
Henry de st John, Marshal of England
Lady Mary de Quincy, Wife to Bevan IV and Queen of England
Richard Grey, A Commander of England
Henry, Duke of Lancaster and younger brother to the King
Lady Eleanor of Essex, a young noblewoman an wife to Henry, Duke of Lancaster
John Cornwallis, A Commander of England
Stephen Byron, An artistic Genius
Europe in 1453
Richard II, King of England and France, Lord of Ireland and Scotland, crowned by the grace of God in 1392
Richard II was an old and broken King, he had ruled over an Empire on the brink of destruction and for the past four years, over a Kingdom torn apart by Civil war. A battle had not been fought since Grey’s hill for almost a year, Richard, though old had enough will to order his commanders to rebuild their armies and begin the war against, the Scottish Galloways, and the French Bourbons and Armagnac anew. Both the Royalists and the Rebels forces were weak in England, most of the fighting had and would be done in the fields of France. The Armies of the King were commanded by three men, Henry de St John, the Marshal of England, John de Hautville, a Veteran of the 1449-1453 wars against Galloway and Richard Grey a Capable Commander. De Hautville and de St John were deployed in the north of france, ready to liberate Paris, while Grey was deployed in Northern Italy to strike at the Galloway’s German lands.
On the 2nd of September 1453 King Richard ordered the Winter offensive, Henry de st John would lay siege to Paris, de Hautville to Orleans and Grey to Galloway held Romagna. A day later, cowering in fear, the Duke of Bourbonnais sued for peace and offered to hand control of Orleans back to England, Richard gladly accepted and sent de Hautville to link up withde St John’s army heading towards Paris.
In an attempt to bring the independent Duchies of England closer to his control, Richard II consented to a marriage between Princess Anne of Normandy, great-grandaughter to Richard II and Piers de Quincy of York. Late in September an Alliance was signed with prospects of Connacht returning to vassalage under England.
These last two diplomatic victories would be the last achievements of the Woodhouse dynasty’s longest reigning and perhaps most destructive King. His reign had seen both an increase in Royal Power and for the last four years of his life, total civil war. The likes of which had destroyed the Empire. While the nation mourned they hoped for a King better suited to ruling a demanding Empire. His heir, young Prince Bevan of Normandy, his great-grandson through his son Bevan of Normandy and his son William of Normandy. Prince Bevan was crowned Bevan IV in Lancaster Cathedral. Westminster was now under control of the independent Earl of Essex and Rheims was occupied by the Scottish Rebels. Bevan IV was the first Woodhouse King not to be crowned at Westminster and the first King since Bevan II not to be crowned at Rheims.
Bevan IV, King of England and France, Lord of Ireland and Scotland, crowned by the grace of God in 1453
Battle of Rouen 2nd October 1453 – Royal Victory
Legend dictates, that the day Bevan IV was crowned, was the day the battle of Rouen was fought between the scottish rebels and the Royalist army led by de Hautville. The Scottish army had been fed false information and had foolishly mounted an offensive in Normandy,only to be met by de Hautvilles army numbering eight thousand men. The Scots were outnumbered eight to one and had no choice but to stand and fight. The battle was the first of the second half of the civil war and it ended in a total victory for the Royalists. Numbers taken down at the battle indicate that the Royalists lost a total of fifty-five men, compared to the Scots rebels who lost all their number of one thousand men. The Scots were crushed and the battle sent the Royalists morale into the Sky.
Late in October of that year King Bevan IV was approached by Scottish Ambassadors demanding the freedom of the Scot Kingdom. Bevan IV was well informed of the war and dismissed them. The Scots had hoped for an advantageous settlement before the war turned sour, for the Scots, their hopes had failed and now they faced Royal steel. In 1454 as Armagnac was laid siege to, its Duke begged for peace against the Royalist army. They refused, Armagnac was insignificant enough to be annexed and was of vital importance to join Gascony to England’s Castillian holdings. On the 12th of March Armagnac was captured by the Royalist forces and the province duly annexed by Bevan IV.
Armagnac annexed to English Gascony 13th March 1454
By April the offensive was in full swing, de Hautville was besieging Paris and de St. John was besieging Othe. The Scots in England, well aware of the lack of defense moved to attack Lothian and on the 12th of April they captured the Castle at Lothian. Such a minor reversal would soon be overshadowed by de Hautvilles’s liberation of Paris six days later. De Hautville did not rest, instead he pushed on, overtaking de St. John and besieging Champagne.
In August, in an attempt to turn Cardinals away from petty matters in Leon and into more crucial matters in England and France, Bevan IV sent gifts and letters to Cardinal Fonsesca and Cardinal de Garbol. The Cardinals were agreeable in England’s need to be represented above all others and began to put their views to the Holy See in Rome. While de Hautville, mindful of the need of discipline and courage needed of an army that would have to fight all over western Europe against highly organised foes completed his thesis on Military Drill and the needs of the modern army. The thesis, newly completed was sent to Bevan IV who endorsed it officially and would put it into use for training new recruits and old veterans.
Romagna captured by Sir Richard Grey 16th September 1454
November was an ambivalant month for the Royalists. The assault on the Scottish capital of Ayreshire failed resulting in heavy casualties for the besiegers. Othe was liberated by de St. John in France, but later on the 16th Schwyz was captured by the Scots who had taken advantage of the English absence in the alps to launch an offensive.
Othe captured by de St. John 8th November
Schwyz captured by Scots rebels 16th November
However, brighter news came near the end of the year, in which de Hautville, the Hero of England captured Champagne and pushed on against the Scots. Christmas and new year passed without war on English soil. The battlefield, as was usual was France.
January and February of 1455 were quiet months, the war continued unabated, but in the cold winter none moved from their camps to attack the enemy, most just stayed to siege each others cities. On the 6th of March, Ayreshire, the Scottish capital fell to the Royalists. However, James Duke of Galloway had fled to Switzerland, hoping to escape the looming grasp of the Royalist armies. Once again the war was in Royalist hands and the rebels were running out of places to hide. On the 28th of March, in the cold night in Valenciennes. Henry de St John, Marshal of England and veteran of the Civil War died. As was the tradition his body was boiled down and his bones returned to his country estate in Bedfordshire. John de Hautville was promoted to Marshal of England. Months would pass of quiet siege warfare. A mere day later to de St. Johns death the rebels besieging Lothian were attacked and defeated by a numerically and militarily superior force, giving yet another victory to the seemingly invincible Royalists.
Ayreshire captured 6th March 1455
Battle of Lothian 29th March 1455
Valenciennes captured 2nd June 1455
Barrois captured 18th July 1455
On the 18th of July Barrois fell to de Hautville’s army. Leaving a small garrison behind de Hautville, with Bevan IV’s blessing and a right of way from the Duke of Lorraine marched into Rebel held Baden to liberate the Germans from the Scots. The army was Jubilant, the Royalists after six years of defensive warfare were now truly on the offensive, hot on the reeling Scots heels.
On the 14th of October, in furtherance to Lancastrian policy towards York, Bevan IV married Mary de Quincy, daughter to the Duke of York. The marriage was well received amongst the people though less so among the Nobles who felt that the Breakaway Yorkists were getting better treatment than themselves.
On the 2nd of November, Scottish settlers in Cumbria raised a revolt in support of the Duke of Galloway and began to besiege the city of Newcastle, less than two weeks later the Scots under Galloway were defeated once again at the 2nd battle of Lothian, so far the rebels had yet to experience any victory in the second period of the Civil war. The rebels, demoralised from constant defeat met the English armies early in the day ten miles from Edinborough. As the rebels maneouvred into a defensive position they were pelted by longbow and cannon fire from the Royalist lines. Lacking any artillery or missile strength of their own the Scots had no choice but to flee. The rebel casualties were comparatively light, but their morale was desicated.
2nd Battle of Lothian 15th December 1455 –Royalist Victory
On the 26th of January the English army under Cornwallis felt safe enough from the Scots that they could engage the rebels in Cumbria. The Royalists and Rebels were evenly matched in terms of numbers. But the English were unbeatable in terms of Morale and Discipline, tempered by months of victory the Royalists advanced on the rebels supported by cannonfire. The rebels under such a hellish bombardment scattered and were quickly isolated and mopped up by the English men at arms. Although Cannons were making their way into pitched warfare, the Man at arms still reigned supreme.
Battle of Newcastle 26th January 1456 – Royalist Victory
Once again the war descended into sieges, early in march Metz and Baden were captured by the Royalist armies and de Hautville headed south into Germany to meet the Duke of Galloway in battle. In April dissidents, perhaps funded by the Angevin Duke of Gloucester rebelled against the King and ravaged the countryside. On the 8th of April de Hautville, cornered the Scots in a deep valley after their defeat by the Anglo-Italian army. De Hautville rushed to engage the Duke of Galloway before he could set a defensive position, once again the Royalists had the superiority of numbers and the Scots were engaged mid-march to their great disadvantage. Confused and out of formation the Scots were quickly rounded up and defeated. The Duke of Galloway was decisively defeated and his army suffered heavy losses.
Battle of Spirstock 8th April 1456 – Royalist Victory
On the 20th of July in continuation of their policy with York, Bevan IV arranged a marriage between his younger brother Henry, Duke of Lancaster and Lady Eleanor, daughter of the Earl of Essex an ally of York. The Wedding was great cause for a days festival and entertainment throughout England against the backdrop of war in France
A month later the city of Gloucester fell to the rebel forces there. It took Cornwallis until October to gather his forces from Scotland and join up with reinforcements north of Gloucester. The two armies met two miles outside Gloucester castle, the rebels, having plundered the armouries of Gloucester castle, were well armed and rested. The Royalists, however, were tired from the march. Rebel Cannonfire began the battle mid afternoon and both sides released volleys of arrows upon each other. Cornwallis blundered and left his line to thin. When cannon fire left gaps the rebels rushed in between to exploit the weaknesses. The reinforcements were the first to break, their experience low they fled from the field. The Veterans of the Scottish campaign withdrew too to protect the army from a mass rout. The Royalists had been beaten in their own territory and had to retreat south into Devon.
Battle of Gloucester 16th August 1456 – Rebel Victory
Previously in 1456 Spain had been suffering from a series of rebellions and rampaging peasants. In late october the rebels crossed the Aragones border into Anglo-Spanish territory and lay siege to the city of Aragon. November was another month of victories for Bevan IV, on the 5th Scottish Garrisons in Schwyz were ejected by de Hautville, on the 24th Breisgau was captured by the Royal North France army and on the 29th Cornwallis met the rebels on the Somerset borders. Given time to create a solid position on a nearby escarpment, Cornwallis fired first creating havoc among the rebels. As they neared a vicious exchange of Longbow volleys commenced, but by mid-morning both sides were engaged in deadly melee. The disciplined forces of Earl Cornwallis held their line against the rebels and inflicted heavy casualties before the rebels broke and dispersed.
Battle of Winford 29th November 1456 – Royalist Victory
In late autumn the Scots sent an ambassador to Artois France in the hopes of bringing them back into the war against England. The negotiations lasted months but in the end the alliance was declined owing to a war against Guyenne. The Scot navy was used to escort the ambassador to France, but it would now have to make its way back across hostile waters. The Captain of Calais was alerted to their presence of the night of the 27th as the Scottish fleet attempted to sneak away undetected. Launching his eighteen ships against the Scots five ships the Captain caught the Scottish navy on the early morning of the 28th. The Scottish ships were enveloped and fired upon by the English fleet. The Scottish were badly defeated, but managed to save their ships, they retreated back to France in the hope of escaping again and avoiding the English Blockade round the straits of Dover.
Battle of Calais 28th December 1456 – Royalist Victory
It would take a whole year for the Scots to repair their ships and attempt a break out again. On the 18th of September, the five Scottish ships boldly set out into the channel hoping to reach home. But the English fleet was on watch and caught the Scottish fleet and chased it across the channel before blocking it at southampton. There it cut off the “Unicorn” and the “Rainbow of Dundee” and sank them. The rest of the Scottish ships escaped to Scotland badly mauled.
Battle of Southampton 18th September 1457 – Royalist Victory
1457 was a almost silent year apart from the afore mentioned battle, Bevan IV spent most of his time negotiating a Military access treaty with Burgundy to attack the Scottish fortress in Lyonnais. By winter he had succeeded. De Hautville was poised to attack, England was peaceful and the rebellion in Spain had fizzled out only to be mopped up by Bevan IV’s waiting Spanish army.
In February of 1458 de Hautville attacked the Scottish army outside Lyonnais. The battle was a massacre, de Hautville’s army was invicible in terms of numbers, morale and experience. The Scots were simply outnumbered and killed, those few that survived retreated to the City walls and prepared for a siege.
Battle of Lyons 22nd February – Royalist Victory
On the 31st of March, the Royal artist, Stephen Byron presented to Bevan IV, a gallery of the Kings royal ancestry and renditions of their feats of arms and of governance. Byron was widely celebrated and the gallery was set up in the Royal Palace at Lancaster. England was entering an economic golden age, the war wasn’t even over yet its trade was flourishing, its merchants unbeatable in Paris, the standard of living was rising and discontent and falling across the land. Bevan IV was well on the way to restoring the Empire.
On the 5th of July Lyons fell to de Hautville. All rebel lands were occupied by the Royalists and Bevan IV prepared his peace proposals. In late July the Scots were met with demands of the return of Romagna, Lyonnais and freedom for the State of Baden as well as reparations for the grevious harm done to the citizens of the Kingdom.
On the 3rd of August, The Duke of Galloway accepted these terms. The Civil war lasted from the 17th June 1449 (Battle of Carisle) to the 3rd of August 1458 (Peace of Paris) Bevan IV had set the Kingdom back on the long road to recovery and greatness once again.
The peace did not last for long on the 14th September, in support of their allies Portugal, England declared war on Castile and Irish Munster who held lands in France. This would be an ample chance to regain lost lands.
Europe in 1458
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