Battle of Upper Rodenburg

Battle of Upper Rodenburg
Part of the War of Two Emperors
Date: 1715 Place: Rodenburg, Renatus Result: Orenian victory Belligerents Holy Orenian Empire Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska Golden City of Ves County of Leuven Princedom of Fenn Empire of Renatus Kingdom of Norland Rexdom of Krugmar Commanders Arthur de Falstaff Marius II, King of Hanseti-Ruska Conrad De Falstaff Solarius Watanabe Aelthos Tundrak Vyrion Tundrak Martinus Horen Alvar I, King of Norland Burbur'Lur, Rex of Krugmar Strength ~7,300 infantry ~3,000 cavalry ~7,600 Infantry Casualties ~1,400 dead or wounded ~5,900 dead or wounded

The Battle of Upper Rodenburg was the first large scale skirmish between the Renatian Alliance and the Orenian Alliance during the War of Two Emperors resulting in a decisive Orenian Victory after the two armies clashed on the fields of Upper Rodenburg

Prelude

A Saint's day before the battle the spies of Renatus had managed to gain information that the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska and The Golden City of Ves was planning to swear fealty to Joseph I, Holy Orenian Emperor with the intention to restore House of Horen-Marna to the imperial throne. Once rumors had begun to spread across the realm Antonius I, Emperor of Man who at the time was on a pilgrimage in Aeldin dissolved the Empire of Man.

Once the news had broke that the Empire was dissolved Renatian legionnaires began patrolling the roads between Reza and Ves to ensure that order was maintained and to possibly seize the Emperor-claimant. As a response small skirmishes between the two factions occured all over the countryside with no clear outcome other then chaos.

Joseph managed to make his way to Reza alongside Vîlachians and Fennic allies. There they linked up with the Haensetic forces and High Pontiff Everard V crowned him as Emperor of the Holy Orenian Empire in the Basilica of the Fifty Virgins. During the same time as the coronation, Renatians loyal to the line of Pertinax rallied in Helena to engage the Orenians, together with their allies from the Rexdom of Krugmar.

Just after the coronation the Orenian army marched towads Helena where outside of Rodenburg they'd encounter the Renatian host.

Battle

The Orenians led by the Imperial Field Marshal Arthur de Falstaff alongside their Fennic allies arrived at Upper Rodenburg where the Renatian host had already assembled into formation on the western riverbank. The Orenian troops quickly moved into formation on the eastern side of the river, lining up their infanty alongside a small hill. On both flanks the Fennic cavalry consisting of auxiliary troops and the elite Valkyrim moved into formation, awaiting further orders.

The Renatian army consisted of a mixture of old Imperial legionnaires, auxiliaries from Helena and Nordengrad and also Orcish infantry. They had formed up right across a bridge connecting outside of Rodenburg, moving to protect the choke point to try and stop the Orenians from using their superior number.

The Orenian Charge

With the Renatians clearly outnumbered the Orenian commanders ordered a full infantry charge across the bridge, with the intention of using the full force of the numerical superiority to try and break the Renatian center. On the bridge heavy fighting began as the Renatians push forward to try and counter the Orenians. On the bridge the two armies got locked into a grim struggle with both sides beginning to take casualties as they tried to break the deadlock.

The Renatians managed to keep the bridge from falling into control of the Orenian forces and it was during this engagement that Oren suffered most casualties. After a brief struggle the Orenian army finally managed to push over the bridge and started flooding across the western bank, however the Renatians were still holding their ground and fighting continued still. A few pockets of Renatian troops got scattered around the battlefield and tried to fend of the Orenian forces and unorganized fighting still took place over the bridge as well on the western bank as the Renatian troops left pockets of resistance fighting against the Orenian rearguard, mostly consisting of Haensemen and Vîlachians.

The Fennic Flank

As the battle carried on in the center the Fennic cavalry had begun a wade across the river on both flanks, with the intention of encircling the Renatian army. The battle was going in Orens favour but a clear win had still not been reached as the Renatians still held their ground against the combined forces of Leuven, Haense and Vîlachia. The Fennic commanders after crossing the river quickly ordered their cavalry to swing around west and slam down on the Renatian rearguard to try and break the deadlock.

The cavalry was unopposed on their march west and once the Valkyrim had linked up with the auxiliary troops a full charge of the cavalry was ordered, the Renatians who had been busy fighting against the Orenian infantry had missed the flanking movement and got taken by surprise by the sudden attack on their rear. The Fenns cut down the Renatian infantry mercilessly and a full route all over the Renatian lines was soon reality. As the Orenian troops moved forward and regrouped at Lower Rodenburg the Fennic cavalry chased down the retreating Renatians and caused heavy casualties. Before stopping their push just outside Helena and returning to regroup with the bulk of the Orenian forces.

Aftermath

As the Renatian troops retreated back to Helena the Orenian forces rallied in Lower Rodenburg and collected their dead and tended to their wounded. Soon after the Orenian army instead of marching on Helena decided to fall back to Reza to recover. Just after the battle Emperor Joseph issued The Nenzing Proclamation and the The 85 Grievances against the Pertinaxi Dynasty to openly declare the reasoning for his cause and muster support. More minor skirmishes took place between the forces of Renatus and Oren after the battle but the bulk of the two armies had retreated back and were stationed within the cities of Helena, Reza and Ves. As a result of the battle both sides recruited mercenaries in the form of the Reivers being hired by Oren and the Reiters by Renatus.

A saint's day after the battle Renatus declared an anti-pontiff who crowned Remus of Horen as emperor of the Empire of Renatus. He took the regal name of Godfrey III, Emperor of Renatus and shortly after married Adeline of Alstion. After the battle The Kingdom of Curon decided to side with the Josephites and declared their support for his rule with the promise of independenc from Imperial Rule. The Renatians also elevated their vassal in Nordengrad to be granted a royal decree and once more be the the Kingdom of Norland.