WOTR 1455-1461 - Towton

 

Date: Weds 21st June 2023

Table Size: 8x6

Context: Following the Battle of Wakefield, King Henry VI has refused to permit his Lancastrian army to enter London, fearing that its many paid soldiers from the Scottish border country would loot the city.

The Yorkists have stablished themselves comfortably in London and Edward, Earl of March, was declared by Parliament the rightful King of England, in place of Henry VI, whom Parliament declared to be a usurper.

Henry VI, Margaret of Anjou and the Prince of Wales retreated with the Lancastrian army north to Yorkshire.

While Henry, Margaret and the Prince of Wales remained in York, the Lancastrian army assembled at Tadcaster, intending to defend the line of the River Aire.

At Tadcaster, Lancastrian noblemen, knights and soldiers have joined the army’s ranks from across the north.

Edward, Earl of March, now proclaimed King Edward IV, smarting from his defeat at the Second Battle of St Albans, advanced north in pursuit of the Lancastrian army with the aim of both finalising this claim and taking revenge for his fathers death.

The Lancastrian army has taken up position on a shallow ridge south of the village of Towton, on the road from Tadcaster. Flanked to the west by the river, the short ridge chosen did not give the Lancastrian army much room to deploy. On their right lay Castle Hill Wood, where a force of Lancastrian lightly mounted men was concealed in ambush.

On 28th March 1461, the Yorkist army reached the village of Saxton, a mile or so south of the Lancastrian position. Edward, Earl of March, chooses to wait until the next day, before advancing to the attack, giving time for the stragglers of his army time to come up and allow the Duke of Norfolk’s powerful contingent to reach the main army.

During the Yorkist advance, Norfolk was consistently a day’s march in the rear. Palm Sunday, 29th March 1461, dawned cold and cloudy, with the wind blowing from the south. As the Yorkists marched onto the field, it began to snow...............

Battlefield Map:

Objectives - Yorkist: Defeat the Lancastrian army. Engage and the opposing commanders. NO QUARTER.

Objectives - Lancastrian: Defeat the Yorkist army. Engage and kill the opposing commanders. NO QUARTER.

Order of Battle - Yorkist: All the toys (no cavalry, no artillery). Some households and units must be set aside for Norfolk battle in the rear.

Order of Battle - Lancastrian: All the toys, 2 units of light cavalry (no artillery)

Deployments: Lancastrians deploy first along the Northern edge of the table, up to the edge of the hill and equivalent. Yorkists deploy along the Southern edge of the table.

Scenarion Special rule: Due to the prevailing wind behind them, Yorkist archers have 24" range for the duration of the game, outranging the Lancastrians.