Battle of Linz

Battle of Linz
Part of Vionnan Anarchy (1398 - 1411)
The Frankenlischian vanguard charges in the NDS television show Krigen.
Date December 7 1406 - December 9 1406 Location Linz, Duchy of Gestoria Result Strategic Frankenlischian Victory Tactically Inconlusive
Belligerents
Kingdom of Frankenlisch	Vionnan Alliance Duchy of Larkinge County of Ballaeter
Commanders and leaders
Prince Haakon of the Fallen Isles	Duke Henry Forrest Balderic Randell  (POW)
Strength
3,000 Horse 11,000 Foot	Around 17,000 Men 14,000 Horse and Foot Around 3,000 Men
Casualties and losses
2,500 Dead and Wounded	2,000 Dead and Wounded 300 Captured

The Battle of Linz was a battle in the Vionnan Anarchy fought over a two day period just outside the Gestorian village of Linz between the Frankenlischian forces of Haakon, Prince of the Fallen Isles and Duke Henry Forrest's army of Larkingens and Ballaetans under the banner of the Vionnan Alliance. The battle was a strategic victory for the Frankenlischians as it was the last time that the Vionnan Alliance threatened Frankenlischian territory but neither side managed to gain a tactical advantage and the battle only ended when Duke Forrest withdrew his troops in the night of December 8.

Prelude

Following the inconclusive Battle of Bannkampf, Prince Haakon of the Fallen Isles was forced to split his force in order to support the Riverlandian attack against the County of Ballaeter, this left only fourteen thousand troops at his command to press his counterattack against the Vionnans still in Gestoria. He led a force of 3,000 horse and 11,000 infantry against the army of Duke Henry Forrest that was encamped outside Linz, a village eighteen miles away from Gestoria. Forrest's army numbered 17,000 and consisted of a main body of 14,000 Larkingens and a right wing of 3,000 Ballaetans commanded by Balderic Randell.

First Day

Prince Haakon's infantry mainly made up of Germanan and Wolfswood mercenaries armed with pikes and swords with Housecarls on the flanks, formed up in a traditional line of battle several rows deep. Haakon's cavalry positioned themselves equally on either flank, Haakon himself positioned on the Frankenlischian right. The Frankenlischian foot made a general advance towards the Vionnan camp around noon and were met by scouts on the outskirts of the camp soon after who were quickly routed but managed to raise the alarm as to the attack. Duke Forrest led the vanguard of his cavalry, made up of Larkingen knights and Prodavan mercenaries, in a wedge formation into the left flank of the Frankenlischian infantry which soon collapsed as they fell back. The Vionnan cavalry was then met by the pikes of Herman De'Stafad, Commander of the Stafad Company of mercenaries. De'Stafad and his men made short work of the Prodavans, many of which were unarmoured and unsuited to such combat, the mercenaries that survived retreated to the Vionnan camp while the Frankenlischian line reformed and pushed back the remainder of the enemy vanguard.

The Frankenlischian line reformed with some of the Housecarls on the right flank moving over to the left whilst the men who had retreated began to set up camp behind the Frankenlischian line. Prince Haakon ordered the infantry to continue their advance. They were met by the Vionnan infantry who streamed from their camp in waves, slowly overwhelming the Frankenlischian line and by the late afternoon both sides had taken heavy casualties and the Frankenlischians pulled back in good order.

Second Day

Early in the morning of December 8th Larkingen and Ballaetan infantry rushed the Frankenlischian camp and were only seen at the last moment so the Frankenlischian forces were caught entirely by surprise. Many casualties were inflicted on the mercenaries in the outskirts of the camp until the rest of the Frankenlischian infantry were in any shape to fight. After some time the Frankenlischian Housecarls launched a major counterattack which all but drove the Vionnan infantry from the camp. Both sides took some time to reorganise their troops into battle lines but despite the formations and serious preparation on both sides for a final attack neither side actually committed to battle and the rest of the day was made up of foraging, fortifying the camps and archery attacks.

Third Day

Late in the night of 8th December or very early in the morning of the 9th, the Vionnan force slipped away and retreated to Ballaeter leaving only a small rearguard of around 300 men. Around nine in the morning, Prince Haakon led his cavalry in in a rush towards this force, surrounding them. They surrendered without fighting.

Aftermath

The battle was tactically inconclusive as both sides suffered similar casualties and there were no particularly important losses besides the Frankenlischian capture of Balderic Randell. The battle is only particularly well known due to its appearance in Theodorus' Krigen. There was an episode dedicated to the battle in the NDS television show Krigen, based on the book of the same name.