I have a nice wife, a nice fief too, a castle on a hill with a magnificent view. I have fertile lands, and villages that thrive, hundreds of troops who somehow stay alive. My coffers are heavy, my warband is fed, my enemies see my banner and occasionally drop dead. I have horses and armor, silver and grain, a hall full of nobles complaining again. By every measure, I’ve won at this game. I’ve conquered, grown wealthy, and built up my name. Yet I stand on my battlements when the campaigning is done, watching the mountains fade with the sun. My wife is beside me. My kingdom is strong. My vaults overflow. But something feels wrong. I’ve everything a lord could possibly acquire… Maybe what’s missing another fief to desire. submitted by /u/t-o-m-u-s-a [link] [comments]
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This tapestry depicts a fallen Sturgian Warrior lying next to a forgotten Vlandian banner after the Battle of Rhotae Wood on 3 Summer 1101. The Sturgians and Vlandians had been at war for over a year, and this was the first in a series of heavy defeats that the Vlandians were able to inflict, breaking the Sturgian siege of Rhotae in the process. The Vlandians had the smaller force with just under 1000 men whereas contemporary estimates place the Sturgian numbers at around 1350. The famed Vlandian cavalry, along with Khuzait mounted archers, harassed the Sturgian horsemen, drawing them in range of the massed ranks of Vlandian bowmen where they were quickly dispatched. The Vlandian shieldwall then advanced to meet the oncoming lines of Sturgian infantry whilst the Vlandian cavalry smashed the exposed lines of Sturgian bowmen at the rear. The soldier in the tapestry is believed to have been among the first casualties of the battle, falling upon the Vlandian shield wall which eventually pushed the Sturgian forces back to the tree line in the far distance. Despite reinforcments arriving to mount a courageous last stand, the Sturgian line broke and swathes of men were ridden down by the swarming Vlandian cavalry. In spite of their smaller numbers, the Vlandians were able to inflict heavy losses upon the Sturgians, with estimates placing casualties at 1250-1300 for the Sturgians and 500-525 for the Vlandians. It is believed that the tapestry was commissioned by King Derthert in celebration of the victory, and he specified that it be an exact representation of an eye-witness account from a Vlandian infantry man who fought in the battle. [link] [comments] |
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