War with Leon
From Asturias to Gibralter: A Castillian AAR
June 1 1068
At the Conference Hall. The conclusion of the meeting of the court is being delivered.
Sancho: “Ok so this is how things look right now. The overall of stability and prosperity in my Kingdom has improved in the past year. Is that correct?”
The king is answered with a volley of “Yes, M’lord”s from his advisors seated around the table.
Sancho: “Ok and in the war between Leon and Toledo, they are both just staring at each other across the Duere river?”
Rodrigo answers this one alone “Yes, it seems that Leon is just defending themselves and Toledo is planning for a large offensive.”
Sancho: “Well then I see no reason to further prolong this meeting. We are dismissed”
*Everybody leaves*
Later that evening while walking the walls of the Castle Sancho notices a fief in the distance. Some peasant had three fields but left one empty. Puzzled he demanded to know why this lack of productivity was going on. The peasant was brought before him the courtyard of the Castle.
Sancho: “Why do you leave one field barren and deny my realm increased productivity”
In a nervous stutter the peasant responded
Peasant: “Um, We…We…Well m’…m’…m’lord, I notice that rotating my crops every season and leaving one field empty has increased my overall productity.”
Sancho:” Nonsense! Explain how not utilizing an extra field increases your output”
Peasant: “I…I…I don’t know. But it does m’lord, I assure you it does!”
Sancho: “We shall see about that! I will send out a demand that all peasant farmers to do as you do. If it works you shall be granted a reward for your discovery. But if it shall fail, you shall be put to death!”
Peasant: *swallows* “ Ye…Yes m’lord. I assure it shall work!”
Sancho: “You are dismissed! Guards show our guest out.”
September 20 1068
Sancho goes through a report handed to him by Rodrigo. He stands analyzing the paper staring at it as if it has a hidden message. After a few minutes he speaks.
“Mobilize our armies, send them to Burgos.”
Rodrigo: “YES M’LORD!”
November 12 1068
Outside the Castle with all the regiments of Castille before him.
Sancho: “Today we march to victory! A victory that shall unite the Kingdoms of Castille and Leon under one rule. A victory that shall establish Castille as a land of fierce warriors, warriors to be feared by all of Iberia! We shall proclaim that we are the dominant kingdom of Iberia!” My army shall march south to Salamanca to meet Alfonso. The rest of you shall march under Rodrigo to Leon and seize his castle. And now I declare, MARCH, MARCH ONWARD TO GLORY AND VICTORY!”
With that Sancho’s army moved south to Salamanca and the rest of the armies to Leon.
February 21 1068
Sancho: The cowards, they refuse to meet us in the field. They hide in their fort.
Soldier: “M’Lord what shall we do.”
Sancho: “Begin the siege.”
“yes sir. CHARGE!”
“AGHHHH”
Sancho watches as his men charge up the hill to the makeshift fort and begins to wonder how things are going in Leon. He then daydreams of his brother’s face, that look of shame and defeat on it, Alfonso kneeling at his feet pledging his allegiance to Sancho. He refocused though as the screams and cries of his men began to fill the air.
May 20 1068
“They’ve breached the gate. To the gate to the ga…”
Catillian soldiers storm the the fort in Salamanca. The month long siege was coming to a close. Leading the charge through the gate was the king. He watched as he saw his men storm through every doorway putting down what little resistance remained and searched for Alfonso. After ten minutes a man bleeding badly from numerous cuts on his face and chest. He was covered in sweat and dirt from a month’s struggle. He wore clothes that distinguished him from the others.
"Who is this? Where is Alfonso?!” Demanded Sancho
“M’lord he’s nowhere to be found. This rat says he fled to Leon before we ever arrived”
In a weak voice the man said “It is true, he left before your men even set sight on our land.” He left 2000 men strong.
Sancho: “Remove him from my sight. NOW!” Sancho now worries of the status of his men in Leon.
The next morning Sancho ordered his leading officers to rally the troops and report to him on their losses. They reported losses of almost 50 men during the month long fight. Finally when all the men were rallied before him he gave his orders.
“We march to Leon at noon! A some of you will remain here to repair and occupy this fort. The rest are to gather their gear and report to the field in the northwest at 11 o’clock. Go now”
When Sancho arrived at Leon on August the 12th Rodrigo and his men were already engaged in combat.The sounds of clashing metal and cries of the wounded could be heard throughout Leon.
Sancho: “Charge, Charge, help our brothers in combat. Come to their aid.”
Sancho’s army charges to the aid of the others.At the battles end Sancho notices there are far fewer men then he remembered sending off. He then looks at the field of the fallen soldiers. The scent of the dead filled the air. The King of Castille stood bewildered at the loss of life here compared to that at Salamanca. From behind him he heard his name being called.
“Sancho”
Startled Sancho turns around he sees his Marchal Rodrigo.
“Rodrigo what happened here”
“In due time m’lord, let us return to camp.”
The king still in shock agrees to return without protest.
At the camp now angered Sancho demands to be updated as to what has occurred.
“What in G-d’s name happened here. How did so many die”
Rodrigo: “We arrived in early December. When we got here Alfonso was waiting for us. We fought outside the walls in the field you were standing in. We won. We then began the siege of the castle. Several times during the siege armies from the rest of the kingdom came and attacked us. The bloodiest battle occurred when Alfonso came out of the castle when I was off on diplomatic duty with the army from Asturias andEl Bierzo.”
Sancho: “What?”
Rodrigo: “I was as puzzled as you are. Apparently during our siege El Bierzo and Asturias declared war on Leon. A messenger came to me and told me my presence was requested in the Camp of Rodrigo de Leon, Count of Asturias de Oviedo. I went with a small party of soldiers as escorts. Rodrigo said that he would rather be a vassal of ours than continue under the rule of Alfonso.”
Sancho: “Ha even his vassals agree he is incompetent”
Rodrigo: “Well while I was away the Count from Valladolid lead your army. The man is a fool. He thinks he is a leader. He is so naïve of his own abilities. He lead our men into a total bloodbath. Despite his horrible leadership our superior army prevailed.”
Sancho: “He is a fool. How did nobody else take leadership? Now you understand why he is a count though, he is easy to control because of his lack of intellect.”
Rodrigo: “From there the siege has gone on uninterrupted until the battle you arrived for. “
Sancho “What are your estimated losses”
Rodrigo:” I have 1800 men left, I had 3200. So my losses are 1400.
Sancho: “Ok, we shall end this siege soon and peace will be brought back to our land. The sky grows dark, we should rest for tomorrow shall surely be a long day”
Rodrigo: “Yes m’lord, goodnight m’lord”
Guards escort Sancho to his tent which had been set up during the conversation.
October 7 1069
Outside the Castle of Leon
Bells ring a sad sound. Sancho King of Castille stands above the body of his fallen brother, dressed in full armor of the Kingdom of Castille. A tear falls from his cheek. Sancho begins to speak, in a choked up voice to his, brother’s corpse.
“Brother I never meant for this. We were always rivals but I never dreamed of having you dead. Humiliated yes but dead no. You shall not be forgotten brother.”
To the crowd “Let it be known Alfonso Jimenez died as a hero! He died valiantly in battle to defend his kingdom, a kingdom which betrayed him when he called upon them! He is to be buried as King of Leon and hero of Castille.”
Later that day in the halls of Leon’ castle Sancho was crowned King of Leon and all of Alfonso’s vassals pledged their allegiance to him, and to the Kingdom of Castille and all who shall inherit it, for themselves and their heirs.
This concluded the War with Leon.
