Nicopolis, 1396: the Battle

The Library of Alexandria by J. Michael Bestul Nicopolis, 1396: the Battle In 1393, the city of Nicopolis played host was a good idea to ignore Sigismund’s to the signing of a treaty, the “First counsel. Apparently, “the Fearless” is Capitulation” of the Ottoman Empire. synonymous with “the Stupid.” Mircea the Old and Beyazid I inked terms Instead of Sigismund’s defensive strategy, of reciprocation between Wallachia and the John fearlessly went with an aggressive Empire. campaign. The Crusader army swept Three years later, Nicopolis would through the Turkish strongholds in the witness ink give way to blood. Balkans, claiming the peninsula in the name Outside the “City of Victory,” a of Christianity. Crusading army would christen the Then they came to Nicopolis… upcoming 15th century with the deaths of thousands of knights. the Ottoman Empire While the Crusaders were rampaging the Crusaders through Beyazid’s recent acquisitions, the Abstract: By 1396, King Sigismund of Hungary sultan was out east. He was in the process of Savasi Nicopolis was worried. Shortly after his reign began putting Byzantium out of its misery (just in 1387, he watched as Beyazid (ol’ like Old Yeller), when the news arrived: Thunderbolt) defeated Serbia, conquered Western Europe had stopped fighting Bulgaria, and signed a bilateral treaty with among itself. They’d taken smaller cities, Culture: Turkish Wallachia. made it to Nicopolis, and began the siege. But 1396 also held good news for In a display of Turkish alacrity and Although the battle was the Sigismund. English and French kings took Crusader unpreparedness, Beyazid quickly result of a European crusade, it a break from bloodying each other in the marched his army towards the besieged city was the Ottoman Empire that Hundred Years’ War. Instead, at the without John the Sightless noticing. came out of it on top. In fact, it urging of the Pope, they decided to bloody Records state that John didn’t realize until would be nearly another 150 the swiftly-growing Ottoman Empire with Beyazid was less than four miles away. years before Turkish forces a new Crusade. Good news, indeed! The Ottoman war machine had come to would clash with Western Perhaps Sigismund should have been Nicopolis, and the sultan was at its head. Europe in a major conflict. worried when the kings turned this Crusade over to Preparations two dukes and a count Once the Crusaders realized (there’s a joke there, With God and knights on Beyazid was coming home, they somewhere). These fellows, broke off the siege and prepared Trait: Quest in turn, gave it over to the their side, how could the for the glorious battle that would While the Savasi’s culture Count of Burgundy’s son, Crusaders lose? ensue. John again displayed his makes sense, it’s trait is a little John the Fearless. Go get lack of fear or intelligence, confusing. If this were a French card, ‘em, son! ignoring Sigismund’s plan of or Hungarian, “Quest” would make Or, perhaps Sigismund attack. sense. About the best we can stretch is should have been worried that John’s The King of Hungary advocated that the that the Battle of Nicopolis was the end moniker was “the Fearless,” despite limited Hungarian and irregular infantry should of a quest. Or we could chalk it up to military experience. make the first charge. Sigismund reasoned In any omen, this crusading army left for that Beyazid would, as usual, lead out with the designers trying to cut back on the Hungary in April of 1396. By the time it stakes and irregular infantry. Against such number of traits in Anachronism. arrived two months later, the army had a formation, a first wave of knights would Compared to the other existing traits, picked up some German and Wallachian be a serious waste of a cavalry charge. “Quest” is probably the closest fit. pals, as well as a few Knights Hospitaller. John, Fearless as he was, disagreed. He Upon arrival, John the Fearless talked saw through what could only be In case you missed it, the prequel to Savasi is tactics with Sigismund, a man who’d Sigismund’s grab for glory: “Yes, yes, the in the first half of this look at Nicopolis: fought with the Turkish forces on many an King of Hungary wishes to gain all the occasion. After talking, John decided that it honor of the day. He has given us the Nicopolis, 1393: the Treaty continued on the next page... The Library of Alexandria ...continued from previous page had. In less than an hour, the Crusade was away, that he may have the first blow.” in a full rout. That’s what one writer records as John’s Bad skipped over worse and became fearless words. Nevermind John’s massacre. The infantry on the Danube saw inexperience with Turkish warfare, or even cavalry racing away from battle. They did the need for tactics. With God and knights the only sane thing to do. Mircea’s on their side, how could the Crusaders lose? Wallachians and Transylvanians booked it. You see where this is going, don’t you? Sigismund and most of the Hungarian Meanwhile, Beyazid was preparing for infantry got back on the boats. the next day’s battle. Besides the Turkish The knights weren’t as lucky. Trapped troops and elite Janissaries, the Ottoman between the Ottoman army and the Danube army contained infantry from defeated River, the only options for them were regions, including Serbia and Bulgaria. surrender or death. And what did the Ottoman battle lines look like? Lines of irregular troops, the Aftermath followed by anti-cavalry stakes, of course. John the Fearless was able to talk Beyazid into ransoming a small percentage the Battle of the captured knights. The rest were On the 25th of September, 1396, the executed. Of the 6000 knights that went Crusading army of John the Fearless east with John, less than 300 returned with looked out over the battlefield. On their him. He would return to the political and right flank was the city of Nicopolis. martial insanity that was the Hundred Behind them, boats on the Danube River Years’ War. Savasi Nicopolis were unloading infantry. In front of them Beyazid, despite heavy losses, emerged The Battle of Nicopolis was a stood the soon-to-be defeated Ottoman from the Battle of Nicopolis in an enviable bloodbath, plain and simple. No army. position. He had soundly defeated a mighty quarter was given by either side, Without waiting for its infantry to get in army from Western Europe. His coffers and poems were written lamenting place, John the Fearless and his knights were filled by the survivors’ ransoms. In the the blood that stained the ground charged the Turkish lines. years that followed, the Thunderbolt was on outside Nicopolis. At first, there was success. But not the the verge of subduing Mircea and capturing Savasi Nicopolis mirrors this kind of success the Crusaders expected. The the ultimate prize: Constantinople. bloodshed with its feast-or-famine infantry, though irregular, was not without It was not to be. The force of nature that design. It’ll be a lucky day for any war experience (see “Nicopolis, 1393”). was Tamurlane would defeat Beyazid at the warrior than can block even one Rather than breaking from the charge, Battle of Ankara. The sultan would die in attack when Savasi is revealed. they reformed and got stuck in. captivity. Mercury is another example of a The Crusaders mounted a second charge, As for the Hungarian king, he went on to feast-or-famine card. Mauve may be again inflicted serious casualties. Again, become Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund. the new black, but Savasi is the new Beyazid’s infantry held. By this time, He would support the Teutonic Knights at Mercury. Here’s what I mean: though, stakes had taken a toll on the Tannenberg (where the Knights were Assuming you have the experience edge, charging cavalry. This would become the massacred). He signed the execution order there are only two cards’ printed initiatives moment that writers would embellish, the for Jan Hus (sparking the costly Hussite that could beat yours. Plus, you’ve got two moment that would draw tears from the Wars). All in all, ol’ Siggy did not have the extra actions with which to finish off your eyes of widows and relations. best luck in battle. opponent before his turn. With the cavalry mired in melee, It would be well over a century Savasi Nicopolis fills that role, but in a Beyazid committed his reserves: the before Western Europe and Ottoman slightly different way. The initiative is the regulars. Cavalry, archers, and elite Empire would clash in such a large battle. same. It’s a special, so any three-card infantry poured into the fray. The Western In that time, the Turkish empire would not combo with an Inspiration (and therefore knights were completely overwhelmed. only hold onto Nicopolis, but gain an couldn’t use Mercury) can use Savasi to What little Crusader infantry was in place important new city: Istanbul (not devastating effect. In addition, it’s a better tried to provide relief, but none would be Constantinople). fit (vs. Mercury) for decks that rely on fewer attacks and more damage bonuses. “The Library of Alexandria” is a series written for The Coliseum, your community resource for all things Anachronism. Just remember, Savasi gives no quarter “Nicopolis, 1396” originally appeared in the Anachronism Players’ Section, on the TriKing Game website. Credits: “Savasi Nicopolis” artwork by Alan Pollack; TM & © 2006 AETN, TM & © 2006 TriKing Games. to either side.

Load more