Battle of Westmark

The Battle of Westmark Part of the Riga War The Battle of Westmark, 1563 Date: 7th of Sun's Smile, 1563 Location: River Westmark, Barony of Kraken's Watch Result: Courlander Victory Followed by: The Riga Coup Belligerents Northern Coalition and Allies Duchy of Carnatia Barony of Kraken's Watch Duchy of Courland and Allies: Duchy of Courland Hetmanate of Krajia Danis' warband Orcish warband Commanders and leaders Northern Coalition: Britannus, Baron of Kraken's Watch John, Duke of Carnatia Lord Peter Barbanov Ser Rickard Barrow Duchy of Courland and Allies: Alexander, Duke of Courland Danis, Prince of the Dreadlands Sveneld, Hetman of Krajia Sven Staunton Strength Northern Coalition: 3100 Carnatian Soldiers 800 Imperial volunteers Duchy of Courland and Allies: 2700 Courlander soldiers 1200 Dreadlandic marauders 500 Uruk raiders 700 Krajian Cossacks Casualties Northern Coalition: 1700 dead 500 wounded Lord Peter Barbanov captured Duchy of Courland and Allies: 800 dead 200 wounded

The Battle of Westmark was the final battle of the Riga War, between the Duchy of Courland and the Coalition army of Duke John of Carnatia and his generals Ser Rickard Barrow and Britannus Vanir. The Courlander host was commanded by Sven Staunton and Hetman Sveneld. The result of this battle marked the start towards rebellion in both Courland and Krajia.

Prelude

The defeat at the Siege of Kraken's Watch forced the remaining Courlander host into full retreat to Riga. Duke Alexander had been brooding over his losses from the Siege of Kraken's Watch and was unable to effectively command Courlander forces. Taking up the mantle of leadership, Sven Staunton called for retaliation for those lost at the siege and began reforming the Courlander army. Hetman Sveneld, who had felt a sense of betrayal from his former ally, Duke John of Carnatia, left the Coalition and declared his intention to side with Duke Alexander.

Upon receiving word of the Hetman's betrayal, Duke John began rallying more forces from Carnatia, ushering them in to the main camp at Kraken's Watch. Two weeks before the battle, they broke camp and crossed the bridge on the River Westmark, prepared to meet a small host consisting entirely of Courlander and Krajian soldiers. Upon their arrival, they were surprised by the size of the enemy force, and quickly began to form ranks as the Courlander host prepared to charge.

Battle

The young Count Sven used his tactical intelligence to gain an advantage by placing his footmen and archers on higher ground, just below the mountainous Staunton Palace. He kept his cavalry on his right flank, his left secured by a steep incline. He ordered every archer to loose every arrow available to them, many of which found their mark on the disorientated Raevir and Imperial forces whilst the cavalry protecting his right flank was ordered to chase down the Imperial cavalry. After many hours of arrow fire and small cavalry engagements Sven was convinced that the Raevir and Imperial line had been damaged enough such that a full frontal charge from his main infantry from atop the hill would send the Raevir and Imperial armies into a full retreat or face certain death. Such was the case with many pockets of Raevir soldiers who resented retreating being mown down by the now superior Staunton cavalry with the Staunton and Dreadlandic heavy infantry mopping up what was left behind. The battle was a decisive Courlandic victory with Sven handing the news himself to his bed-ridden father.

Aftermath

Following the coup of Aleksander Staunton, the conspirators freed the newly captive Petyr Barbanov and allowed him to return to Carnatia.