Battle of Blore Heath
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After the First Battle of St Albans in 410 MR, an uneasy peace held in Ghieste. Attempts at reconciliation between the factions of the Duke of Ghieste, Rhegor Ghieste, and the Baron of Ghoere, Regien Tael enjoyed marginal success. However, both sides became increasingly wary of each other and by 412 were actively recruiting armed supporters. The Duke continued to raise support amongst noblemen; whilst the Ghoere faction was finding plenty of anti-Rhegor support despite the severe punishment for raising arms against the Duke.
Baron Regien was Chancellor, but was sent to Tuornen for a diplomatic mission that was little more than a pretext to get him out of court, where his influence was resented by the Duke.Tuornen, however was a realm friendly to Regien, especially the Tuor family, and specifically Marc Tuor. The disorders in Ghieste, including the guild's struggle with Haelyn's Aegis had left Duke Rhegor very unpopular among his fellow Dukes.
By 414, Regien was resolved to march back into Ghieste. He gave instructions for his lands to begin assembling men in anticipation of his return. Meanwhile he and Marc Tuor raised men in Tuor's Hold that would make their way from Bellamie upriver to Maeren's Crossing where they would link up with the Baron's other forces. Regien left early to take command of the men assembling in Ghoere while Marc Tuor took command of the group assembling in Tuor's Hold.
Receiving word of this assembly, the Duke of Ghieste assembled his own force and moved south to confront the rebel, Ghoere. As he approached, word arrived of men coming up river and Rhegor sought to defeat the two forces separately and marched on Regien 's position. He successfully placed his force between Ghoere's army and the river. Rhegor chose the barren heathland of Blore Heath to set up an ambush. The next morning, a force of some 1200 men took up a defensive position behind a 'great hedge' on the south-western edge of Blore Heath facing the direction of Ghoere to the east, the direction from which Regien was approaching.
Ghoerean scouts spotted Ghiestean banners visible over the top of a hedge and immediately warned Regien. As they emerged from the woodland, the Ghoerean force of some 800 men realized that a much larger enemy force was awaiting their arrival. Regien immediately arranged his men into battle order, just out of range of the Ghiestean archers. To secure his right flank, he arranged the supply wagons in a defensive laager, a circular formation to provide cover to the men on that flank. Fearing a rout, Ghiestean soldiers are reported to have kissed the ground beneath them, supposing that this would be the ground on which they would meet their deaths.
The two armies were separated by about 300 metres on the barren heathland. A steep-sided, wide and fast-flowing brook flowed between them. The brook made Rhegor's position seemingly impenetrable.
Initially, both leaders sought to parley in a futile attempt to avoid bloodshed. In keeping with tactical doctrine, the conflict opened with an archery duel between the archers of both armies. At Blore Heath, this proved inconclusive because of the distance between the two sides.
Regien, aware that any attack across the brook would be suicidal, employed a ruse to encourage the enemy to attack him. He withdrew some of his middle-order just far enough that the Ghiesteans believed them to be retreating. The Duke launched a cavalry charge. After they had committed themselves, Regien ordered his men to turn back and catch the Ghiesteans as they attempted to cross the brook. The charge resulted in heavy casualties for Ghieste.
Ghieste withdrew, and then made a second assault, possibly attempting to rescue casualties. This second attack was more successful with many Ghiesteans crossing the brook. This led to a period of intense fighting in which Lord Richard Brona was killed.
The death of Richard Brona meant that Ghieste's horse were now commanded by his son, Entier Brona, who called for infantry to support this second crossing. As this attack also failed, some 100 Ghiesteans joined the enemy and began attacking their own side. At this, any remaining Ghiestean resistance collapsed and Ghoere only had to advance to complete the rout.
The rout continued through the night, with Baron Regien pursuing the fleeing enemy for miles across the countryside.
It is believed that at least 600 men died in the battle, with at least 400 of these from the Ghiestean side. Local legend says that Hempmill Brook flowed with blood for 3 days after the battle.
, 09-06-2008 at 11:59 AM|
Last edited by , 10-23-2011 at 02:19 PM
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