Battle of the Rivers

Battle of the Rivers Part of the War of the Two Emperors Renatian, Norlander and Reiter cavalry corp running down Orenian peasants on the Battle of the Rivers 1716 Date: 1716 Location: Reza, Ves Result: Decisive Renatian Victory Belligerents Empire of Renatus: Empire of Renatus Kingdom of Norland Rexdom of Krugmar Kingdom of Courland Reiter Mercenaries House Bartham Holy Orenian Empire: Holy Orenian Empire Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska Golden City of Ves County of Leuven Princedom of Fenn Reiver Mercenaries Commanders and leaders Empire of Renatus: Martinus Horen Donald Dabber Alvar I, King of Norland Burbur'Lur, Rex of Krugmar Percival II Staunton Holy Orenian Empire: Arthur de Falstaff Marius II, King of Hanseti-Ruska Alfred Myre, Prince of Ves Conrad de Falstaff, Count of Leuven Aelthir Tundrak, Grand Prince of Fenn Strength Empire of Renatus: 6,000 Infantry, 1,000 Cavalry Holy Orenian Empire: 5,500 Infantry, 1,000 Cavalry Casualties Empire of Renatus: ~1,500 dead or missing Holy Orenian Empire: ~5,000 dead or missing

The Battle of the Rivers was a large scale battle between the Empire of Renatus and the Holy Orenian Empire, being reconized as a large battle in the war. Although no land was attained by each side, it was a major morale booster for the Renatian Empire.

Prelude

The Renatian army had provisioned, equipped and rationed their army on the frontline of Nordengrad. This was much to the dismay of the Orenian marshal and the legions under him who sought out to rid the Renatian army from the border. At the helm of the Renatian army rode Hannibal Horen, recently legitimized and promoted to the rank of field commander. His task, his mission, to plan a campaign deep into Orenian lines and begin burning villages. The peasantry who raised arms and craftsmen which supplied the Orenian war machine with food and equipment were also valid targets of the campaign.

Hannibal Horen began the campaign by carefully maneuvering the army around Leuven so that he might gain unrestricted access to the riverlands of Haense and Ves. His army began its campaign of bloody warfare, and set to salting the fields as well as raiding nearby villages. At first the Renatian campaign met no resistance until a band of Reiver mercenaries tried to halt their advance. The Reiver band, although brave enough to fight a numerically superior army were isolated and cut down by well trained skirmishers and cavalry, whatever remained of their party retreated to the city gates of Reza.

Battle

The campaign came to a sudden halt twenty days after the battle against the Reivers, when word of the Orenian army marching upon their own spread amongst the raiding parties. The bait had been set and taken, the Orenian and Renatian armies were set to meet at center of the riverlands. In anticipation of Orenian cavalry and a potential flank, the cavalry corp of the Renatian army was carefully placed on the right flank.

When the two armies clashed on the field, the Renatian infantry took the full brunt of the Orenian army. It appeared to be a certain defeat, yet resolve and courage is a trait inherently bound to the men of the Imperium Renatum. It would be foolish to state that the battle had started well for the Renatian side, yet the tide turned immediately when waves of Renatian shock cavalry smacked into the side of the ensuing melee, like a hammer collapsing upon a brittle anvil. The cavalry corps pulled through the ranks of Orenian infantry, before riding out through the back and collapsing back in for yet another charge.