August 1080
Ludovico sat in his chair, inside his tent in the war camp and sat, thinking,”Am I really going to do this after agreeing with what that old man told me last year? That only idiots blindly follow ambition, and that a quiet life is best?”
Ludovico paused his thoughts to take a sip of wine, and after setting the goblet back down on the table thought to himself,”I suppose it doesn't matter that much, if I do not strike against Queen Neda, someone else will or she will attack me first. She couldn’t fight off the Byzantines, so I suppose the Croatians are especially weak now. Maybe the peasants and city people of Brinje will be happier under my rule, they say she treats them like vermin to be trampled underfoot.”
As he stood up and looked at his bed, he noted his wife’s absence,”I’m glad that she and my children accompanied me in the war camps in the prior months, but now that Tomasina is with child again it is best that they are all back in the palace. Though from what I hear she’s been helping Soabja organize the defense of Veglia. This fight today should be enough to relieve them, though I appreciate their efforts. ”
Ludovico scratched his beard and then exited the tent, and as he walked a few paces in the midmorning sun he met with Guillen De Cerdanya, before the smoldering remains of a campfire. The hefty man smiled and shook Ludovico’s hand,”It seems like a good day for a battle milord.”
Ludovico nodded and pulled his hand away,”Yes, the Bulgarian sellswords will prove themselves in pitched battle today, enough of ambushing small bands that can’t hope to win. As for the siege of Senj, well I’m glad I brought Tomasina with me, she helped provide some excitement.”
Guillen grinned,”I dare say that’s when the baby that grows in her belly was conceived.”
Ludovico smirked,”Oh yes, speaking of children, how is little Sibila doing?”
“When I last saw her last week, she has started to say a number of words, beyond just mother and father.”
He smiled at his commander,”That is great, unfortunately Marco has only said my name and his mother’s so far, hopefully he doesn't fall too far behind others his age.”
Guilen shrugged,”I wouldn’t worry too much, he’s a big boy for his age, perhaps he has the makings of a fine warrior.”
“Maybe, though hopefully such a vocation won’t cut his life tragically short. Alfontso for his part is being educated by Adelaida, and he seems to have a way with words, not unlike his uncle the Serene Doge… And his late mother.”
Tears welled up in Ludovico’s eyes and he shook his head, as a stray tear slid down his cheek,”Enough of that, we should be preparing to smash the Croatians, and defeat the husband of a Queen who will not march with her own men.”
Guillen nodded in affirmation,”Yes, we should be able to trounce them easily enough, though Guy’s father Robert, has recently crowned himself as King of Sicily. Those Normans seem to be a crafty bunch.”
“From what I heard King Robert won’t be supporting his daughter-in-law, perhaps this is a test to see if she is worthy to be Queen.”
“Yes, but it seems foolish that he’d hinder the rule of any grandchildren he would have by her and his younger son.”
Ludovico nodded,”Yes it is, I know if I was in his position I would do whatever it would take to support her.”
After a moment of silence Guilen asked,”Are you sure you will be able to keep paying the mercenaries and the levies?”
“That’s a good question, trade has been a bit unpredictable over the months, as you know the dockworkers have been very productive, but some drunk idiot, who captained one of my galleys, ruined a pier by ramming his ship into it, luckily justice was done by the mob, but I still had to pay for the repairs. I think if this battle goes well I’ll have the levies return home, then I’ll be able to afford to keep the mercenaries.”
“Captain Drzislav will be pleased, he seems to be a good enough sort.”
As he heard several, heavy footsteps, Ludovico turned around and called out to the dark haired man,”That’s funny we were just talking about you, come and speak with us.”
As the man moved next to Guillen he asked,”When will we meet our foes on the field of battle?”
Ludovico was unsure but grunted,”Soon enough, probably around noon.”
Drzislav smiled,”Good, we should be able to rout the bastards easily enough.”
He nodded,”Yes, so as the leader of my forces I’ll command the center, Guillen the left flank, and Drzislav the right flank. That way all parts of the army will outnumber the enemy. Remember that numbers won’t make us invincible though, and we still need to be cautious.”
Both of the men nodded and simultaneously responded,”Yes Patrician Ludovico.”
Three hours later….
Ludovico stood in front of the men in the center of his army,, clad in leather armour, the summer sun beating down mercilessly upon them all, especially for those infantrymen equipped with heavy, steel armour. Ludovico took a long, drawn out breath, and gave a short yet concise speech,”Men, today we fight to turn the tables against the monarchs of Croatia, now they are on the defensive. Now, without further delay, let’s defeat their kingdom.”
This was met by widespread cheers, and applause, as even the mercenaries who did not live under Ludovico’s rule liked the idea of defeating an entire kingdom. As the smaller Croatian army approached he yelled,”Archers, forward and fire upon the enemies archers.”
The archers for their part obeyed, and walked forward stopping roughly fifty paces away, while the Croatian archers walked in front of their infantry as well. Soon after their Croatian counterparts stopped, his archers released their first volley, their arrows making a swoosh sound as they were released, and from what he could see, Ludovico observed that they took down at least a couple dozen Croatians. Then came the dreaded counter volley, which landed half a minute later, taking down a couple dozen archers, most of whom had the mercy to be shot in the head, throat, or chest, while a few unfortunate ones were shot in their bellies, and their comrades, wanting to end their agony, cut their throats. After this the archers fired another volley, killing dozens more, and the Croatian archers, likely realizing the futility of skirmishing further, moved behind the footsoldiers and the Croatian infantry advanced, and as they neared closer, Ludovico gave an order,”All infantry, charge at the enemy, I want the cavalry to engage their own, and after you defeat them, I want the cavalry commanders to lead attacks on the nemesis flank and rear.” The pell mell of battle soon began as Ludovico’s infantry clashed with that of the enemy, and it soon became clear that his men held the advantage.
Ludovico then faced an older man, clad in full steel armour, who swung his sword at Ludovico, who bashed the sword out of his foe's hand, and decapitated him. Another enemy also ran after him, this one a young man likely in his early twenties, and the man swung his axe at Ludovico, who narrowly avoided it by ducking, he shoved him back with his shield and stabbed upwards towards his throat, killing him. As this fight ended, and some of his infantry advanced in front of him Ludovico noted how the rest of the battle progressed: Guillen’s troops on the left did well enough, slowly pushing the Croatians back, while Ludovico’s men and Drzislav’s on the right easily pushed their enemies back, while the light cavalry, after defeating the less numerous Croatian cavalry, repeatedly charged in cycles against the Croatian infantry, causing chaos, and the Croatians, despite the urging of their King Consort, were routed.
One hour later…
Ludovico sat on his chair in his war tent, spat a date pit into a small wooden bowl he held in his lap and thought to himself,”This is excellent, all the comforts of home.”
Suddenly, his solitude was interrupted by Guillen, who dragged a chained man wearing leather armour and his commander announced that,”This is a commander of one of the Croatian companies, we thought we’d have you decide what to do with him.”
Ludovico nodded,“Thank you.”
The jittery prisoner said,”My name’s Vukan, all that I do is command small bands of men, under the Mayor of Brinje.”
Ludovico raised his eyebrow,”Are you able to pay a ransom for yourself, or related to anyone who would do so for you?”
Vukan’s eyes widened out of fear and he shook his head,”No, I am just a common soldier who worked his way to command other men, but if you released me it would reflect well on yourself milord.”
“Then you are released Vukan, if you have no ransom to pay, then it is the most fair thing to do.”
The man smiled,”Thank you so much milord, you are a most merciful man.”
As Guillen unbound the man Ludovico asked his commander,”How many men did we lose?”
“They counted a little over one hundred among the dead, while our enemies lost over five hundred, not a bad result.”
Ludovico nodded,”Very good, I’ll have the levies return home, the mercenaries should be enough to finish our enemies off.”
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