The Welcoming Party
The Council
“I mean, Lancano is part of the Spoleto, and therefore it is within a rightful domain of the Duchess,” Bishop Abelard started. “Perhaps the most wise course of action would be just to give it u...”
He stopped mid-word. No words were even needed. Murderous glares of the Duke, his brother and three of his nephews or by other words, Robert Guiscard’s totally nepotism-free council, made him wisely close his mouth.
“No,” it was Count Robert of Messina who opened his mouth first.
“Hell no,” added Count Abelard of Camrada.
“Out of the question,” commented Count Geoffrey of Bari
“Fuck no,” added Count Robert of Lanciano. “If she wants land so much, I can give her a small plot. About two meters in length, half in width and one and half in depth. That is all she is going to get!”
“You see,” Robert Guiscard ended the conversation. “We Normans are good at taking, but not so good at giving. So let us just all pretend you didn’t say it. Nor thought of it.”
Abelard just nodded. “Sorry, my Liege,” he said, quietly, eyes looking at his feet.
“So, how are we going to defeat this Italian bitch?” asked the Duke. “She seriously outnumbers us, after all”
“Our allies, of course,” said Robert of Lanciano. “Both Salamon of Hungary and Nikephoros of Epirus will certainly be of help. With both of them on our side, the numbers tip to our advantage.”
“Yes, naturally,” replied Robert Guiscard “But it takes time for them to reach us. We need something to hold off the bloody Tuscans now!”
“Mercenaries?” asked Abelard. “I know a band, you know. Nearly a 1000 extra men...”
“We are stripped of cash though,” said Robert Guiscard. “We have about 70 gold. We would need about twice as such. And I really hate to go to red. It does not help the morale of men...”
It was Bishop Abelard who opened his mouth again. “The Pope has money,” he said. Now, he had undivided attention of Duke, his brother and three of his nephews. “And since you just liberated Palermo and Syracuse from the infidels, he looks at you favourably. If you add that the disastrous war against fellow Christians can result in Muslims from Africa coming to prey upon the weakened Normans and retake the island, he can be persuaded”
“Brilliant!” said Robert Guiscard. “How much can we squeeze out of Alexander?”
If Abelard was shocked at the Duke’s words, he did not show it. “Around 100 or so,” he said.
“More than enough. See to it!” Duke said.
“Ok, Bishop Abelard will try to get some gold from the Pope,” Robert Guiscard concluded. “Nephew Robert will call for our allies. Count Abelard will contact the mercenaries. All clear? Let us go, we have a war to win!”
Saved by the Pope!
Meeting
An army was marching toward Trani. Half of them, just your average peasants, but the other half, more weathered soldiers. Lightly armored, sure. But still capable men. Two knights rode in front of them, carrying a banner of multiple golden lions (the more, the merrier of course) on a red background, separated by a white stripe.
Duke and his entourage were there, expecting. The knights stopped, the army stopping at their heels. One of the knights dismounted and kneeled before Robert Guiscard.
“My Liege,” he said.
“Oh, fuck off,” said the Duke, dismounting as well.
“And a merry fuck off to you too,” replied the knight, grinning and rising up.
Robert reached the knight and gave him a proper bear hug. Plus a few pats on his back.
“It has been too long, Perctarit!”, he said. “How’s your father?”
“Happily retired, living a peaceful burgers life in Camarda,” he replied.
“So, you’re in charge now?” Robert asked. “That is a pleasant surprise. Come on, you were but a boy when we fought alongside your father.”
The Duke suddenly felt his age. Sill, he continued. “Now, tell me all about how your father is doing, and what the Longbeards have been up to these years!
With this, the Normans and the Langobards joined camp, while Duke Robert and Perctarit spent an evening in Trani, drinking and reminiscing. The next morning, the combined armies marched northwards, feeling a bit of hangover, from the Duke in charge to the lower peasant. Reunions can have consequences.
Preferring the local businesses
Battle of Lanciano
It was the Venetians, most likely. The allies of the Duchess Matilda, due to her marrying Carlo Conarini, son of Doge Domenico II of Venice. Who else would get an idea that hey! why should we march when we could sail? There is some logic to if of course. Moving by sea is faster, and perhaps added with arrogance, like we shall show these Norman upstarts how things are and be done by Christmas. Land in Lanciano, take it as fast as possible. Normans will be cowering in fear somewhere in the South, most likely. After taking Lanciano, march south, beat the army of Robert Guiscard and force him to give up claim.
A fine plan, overall. But with one wrong assumption- that the Normans will be cowering in the South. Instead, the Normans and Longbeard mercenaries were marching northwards. Even better- unsure of her chances, Matilda had hired mercenaries. Just in case. And while the original Tuscan forces with Venetian allies were landing in Lanciano, they were landing in neighboring barony, Chieti. Meaning that Normans could pick them off one by one, if successful.
This looks like a recipe for disaster. If you happen to be a Tuscan, at least.
The enemy outnumbered the Normans by little over 1000. Then again, the Normans had Robert Guiscard. The enemy had some random Venetian. Robert positioned his troops in a way that forced the enemy to attack in an unfavourable position, still embarking from the ships, while the Norman main forces were in the coverage of the woods. This mattered little though. Robert Guiscard mattered the most. His knowledge on how to use the troops. His timing of the attack. His personal bravery, as he and his gallant knights charged into battle, slaughtering peasants left and right.
As the battle starts, Normans have just a tiny advantage. Or by other words, enemy was caught by their pants down.
The enemy did try their best, attacking the Normans as they embarked. Meanwhile, Tuscan mercenaries in the next province were still in the process of disembarking as well and were of no help, so the Tuscans and Venetians were on their own. Against a numerically inferior opponent, sure. But a numerically inferior opponent who just happened to be very good at warfare.
Before long, the Tuscans and Venetians found themselves not fighting, but fleeing back to their ships, preferring the questionable safety of Venetial galleys to the cold steel of Norman knights. It was 2nd of April of the year 1068. Normans won their first victory in the war, losing only little less than 300 soldiers while killing about 1300 enemies. About a third of their army. It was a good start, but the war was not won yet.
Count Robert of Messina won the little peasant-slaying contest by reaching a kill score of impressive 73. Geoffrey de Mowbray, a simple knight, become second with a score of 67 skewered peasants and Geoffrey of Bari and Abelard of Camrada shared the third and fourth positions by killing 62 of them both.
Great success. And amazing kill-score.
Matilda’s mercenaries had started their march to the rescue after disembarking properly. Unfortunately, Robert won too soon- meaning they could still turn back and flee. It was a shame, for the Normans were hoping to curb their numbers as well, but you can’t have it all.
Initial wave of Tuscans was beaten back successfully. They still outnumbered the Normans though and Robert Guiscard was pretty certain that they will stay off the boats in the future. The result of the war was still uncertain.