KOH1 Komnenan Byzantines vs Crusaders

Greetings, first in our Kingdom Of Heaven series, the Komnenan Byzantines versus the Crusaders. Jack would be the attacker, playing the Crusaders & I the Byzantines. I must admit the Komnenan's were a new one to me, Knights/Light Horse & Archers. Would I get it right & do them justice? The main plan would be to use the Light Horse to capture the Crusaders camp & possibly use the Quick Kill ability against the Knights.

The battlefield, had a few hills, two pieces of 'rough' in the shape of some scrub & temple ruins. A road ran the length of the battlefield.

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The Battlefield & set-up. Light Horse on the flanks for the Komnenan's.

Knights & Bows/Blades in the centre.

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The mighty host of Crusaders. Jack placed his Spears in a vast column on the road, he was going straight for the kill! Knights off to the side of the road. His shooters were placed on the flanks to deal with the Light Horse threat.

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Nice shot of the Crusaders.

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Komnenan Knights, Bows & Blades.

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Light Horse & Psiloi race off for the Byzantines.

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Jack's PiPs are good & he's away. A slow sense of dread descends over me.

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An impressive sight, Crusaders march to war!

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More Byzantine Light Horse race out to attack the Crusaders flank.

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Oh no! The Lionheart spots the danger & races to attack

the Byzantine Light Horse.

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Those Crusader Spearmen are racing ahead. My PiPs are poor & I can only concentrate on the Light Troops on the flanks.

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Onward comes the Lionheart..!!!

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The combat begins & Jack has the advantage.

Strike one Byzantine Light Horse.

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The Battle opens up, Byzantine forces threaten the left flank. One Light Horse even manages to go for the Crusader camp. The Lionheart is rampant & he's off looking for more Glory!

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The Byzantine Light Horse gives Jack the shock of his life & nearly wins. But alas it's too much, down it goes.

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At last decent PiPs & off go the Byzantine Knights!

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Mercenary Frankish Knights are spotted by the Lionheart!

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No Quarter! Down go the Mercenary dogs....!!!

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The end is near for the poor old Byzantines!! Positions at this point.

The Light Horse attacking the Crusader camp is repulsed.

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Arrows fly into the Crusader Spears but they bounce off harmlessly.

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Not a chance Richard! Poor old Emperor Manuel Komnenos spots the Lionheart, but doesn't fancy his chances.

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He's spared his blushes as the last Kill for Crusader victory is achieved.

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Oh dear, what a disaster for the Byzantines & I'm to blame. A poor set-up, I should of known that putting that road down the centre of the field was an open invitation for Jacks Crusader Juggernaut. I even failed to get the Byzantine Bows matched up against the Crusader Knights.... Boo Hoo.

The Lionheart was rampant, I'll have to figure out a way to neutralize him in other games, given that the Crusaders have the Seljuks & Ayyubids left to face.

Jacks 'over the moon', he's whooped his Dad & back to winning ways.