The Battle of Bosworth 1485, using Hail Caesar.

 Charlie very kindly hosted a game of Hail Caesar for Ian and I today. Charlie had created a scenario based on the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. He mainly used the scenario from the Wars of the Roses HC book but with a few tweaks of his own. Loyalties decreed that I command the Lancastrians whilst Ian took control of the Yorkists. Charlie, having devised an activation system for Northumberland and the Stanleys would control those forces if they decided to enter the fray.

The French captains (Philibert de Chandee) troops held their ground as the men of Norfolk advanced losing their arrowstorm. 

Richard 3rd held himself and all his cavalry back initially.

The view from behind the Lancastrian line, note the marshy ground in the centre that impeded troop movement. 

Looking along the table, from behind Chandee's division. Note Richard 3rd's cavalry starting to advance in the centre. 

The first main casualties caused a Yorkist Household unit to break. The Lancastrian archery was proving to be superior (luckier?) than the Yorkists, especially when they throw a 4 on their Break Test. 

Here comes Richard!

Sir William Stanley chose this moment to advance his division and did so quite rapidly and straight into action against Brackenbury's troops.  

A couple of turns later Baron Stanley himself chose to advance. Northumberland waited until the last couple of turns before he chose to move but then failed his order tests two turns in a row so took no part in the battle!

With most longbow units arrow supplies used up it was time for melee. 

Most of the melee's were won by the Lancastrians so things were looking bleak for the Yorkists. 

In a desperate attempt to get through to Henry Tudor (hiding at the back) Richard 3rd led his cavalry in a reckless charge but lost his life fighting some household troops from Oxford's division...game over!

This was a large game using figures from all of our collections. Charlie hosted the game very well and Ian's desperate attempt to get Richard 3rd into melee with Henry Tudor was very cinematic and certainly echoed history. We all had great fun and enjoyed such a large game on a roughly 10ft by 5ft table. We are now looking at which large historical battle we can do next.