Ace Levy & Campaign testers Christophe Correia and John Campbell face off in a run through the full-length scenario of Volume II, Almoravid. The scenario covers the Reconquista years 1085 to 1086 that historically saw Christian conquest of Toledo and a major Almoravid intervention from Africa in response. Christophe played the Muslims and John the Christians, all on Brian Reynolds’ beautiful production Vassal module, play-time for this epic scenario 7-8 hours. Cristophe gives us the blow by blow, including a climactic Battle of Toledo that will decide the conflict, while Volko adds rules orientation and historical comparisons. Enjoy this trip to medieval Spain!

Almoravid Scenario F starts at 10 VP for the Muslims and 7 VP for the Christians. The Muslims benefit from religious resistance to the Peninsula’s Christian kingdoms (Jihad markers in the game) and strong indendence of its Taifa emirates from the fundamentalist Almoravids (1VP markers in the Taifas box). The Christians have points from Parias (neutral tributary) status of several Taifas plus a little previous Ravaging of the central Taifa of Toledo. Alfonso VI, King of León, and his three most powerful lords are already Mustered and have begun a Siege of Toledo City. Only a single Muslim emir, al-Mutamid of Sevilla, has fielded a force to resist them.

Reconquest. The first turn of play (early spring, 1085) sees a Christian breakthrough: Toledo falls in two Siege actions, handing King Alfonso the Toledo Taifa (resetting the Taifa from the previous Parias status at 1VP to Reconquista for 3VP and rendering territory there Friendly to the Christian side).

The Muslims decide to Levy Rodrigo as soon as possible, paying 3 Coin for that, putting his Seat at the Fortress of Tudela, in the Zaragoza Taifa near the Leonese border. (Rodrigo is the famed mercenary El Cid. Historically, he served the Emir of Zaragoza during these years but is not known to have seen action. In the game, the Muslim player is able to grant Rodrigo a Seat at Tudela because that Locale has become friendly to the Muslim side, rather than neutral, through Muster of al‑Mustain of Zaragoza, not yet shown above, to join al-Mutamid against Alfonso.)

Maneuvers. Given the very low mobility of Muslim forces, the biggest focus for the Muslim player would be to slow the Christians down and not let them get too far in VP or let the Muslims to lose too many Taifas or Lords.

Thinking that Rodrigo could tie down some of the Christian forces, and having Taxed enough so that the cost for Alfonso to Reconcile with Rodrigo was very high (4 VP), the Muslims started to advance him into Christian lands to Ravage and with luck take at least one Stronghold. (Historically, Alfonso had exiled Rodrigo but later reconciled with him to regain his service. In the game, the Christian side can Reconcile with Rodrigo to remove him from Muslim service—but only at the the cost of VP for Rodrigo’s remaining service duration that the Muslims have purchased with their Coin.)

 King Alfonso VI with Count García March all the way up from the recently conquered Toledo to face Rodrigo.

Playing the SWOLLEN RIVER held Event card to block Rodrigo from Avoiding Battle, the Christian army is able to force the fight againstRodrigo. And, since Alfonso has the intitiative (it’s not Rodrigo’s Command card), the Cid will not be able to pull any of his special tricks (per card text at lower left of Rodrigo’s mat, shown above).

Despite Conceding in the Battle’s first round, all Rodrigo’s units (1 Knight, 1 Sergeant, 1 Light Horse, 1 Men-at-Arms, 1Militia, and 1 Serf) fail their Loss checks, and Rodrigo al‑Sayyid is no more (a 5.8% chance)!

Emir al-Mutamid of Sevilla—the only Muslim Taifa Lord with a Lordship of 2 (others have just 1), and the strongest Muslim Lord in the early game—feels the pressure growing in the north. He Marches there, trying to meet up with al-Mustain II, Taifa Lord of Zaragoza, and with al-Mundir of nextdoor Lérida (Lleida).

The chase after Rodrigo has for a time eased Christian pressure on the southern-western Taifa emirates, Badajoz of al‑ Mutawakkiland Sevilla of al-Mutamid.

The Christians, despite a good start, struggle more than they would wish during turns 2-3 to improve their VP situation. After the Disband of Rodrigo from Tudela in Zaragoza Taifa, the way was open for the Christians to try to Besiege Zaragoza City itself and raid its surroundings.

They start aggressively, with a lot of Ravaging of Emir of Zaragoza al‑Mustain II’s lands. This punishment shifts his Service marker several times, preventing him from staying in the field. Al-Mustain Disbands, awarding the Christains Parias Coin in payment for peace and marking Zaragoza as a neutral Parias Taifa for 1VP to the Christian side.

Al-Mutamid is still needed in the north, as now only al‑Mundir remains to protect the Strongholds there, while al‑Mutamid plays cat and mouse against a weaker Álvar Fáñez. Al‑Mutamid does manage to take the Castle of Cuenca (east of Toledo) in a 1-turn Storm without any loss.

Then disaster strikes the Christians mid-Summer. The Muslim player draws the Event DROUGHT (curtailing Service of Christian Lords that cannot meet the unplanned need for Provender). The King had just spent the Coin from al‑Mustain’s Parias tribute to pay his Lords, so he has none to extend hishousehold’s Service and Disbands.

Alfonso’s absence from the field will help the Muslims secure Zaragoza indirectly, as it becomes far harder for the Christian Lords to Besiege Muslim Cities. At the same time, it little changes the overall balance of forces, as Counts Pedro Ansúrez and García Ordóñez remain stronger individually than any Muslim Lord.

That is why, when the Christians with a formidable force again went to raid Zaragoza’s surroundings, al‑Mutamid and al-Mundir had to back off and bide their time.

But their time would come, as García Ordóñez goes to raid al-Mundir’s eastern lands (Lérida Taifa). To isolate the Christians and hinder their Muster of more forces in the next round, the Muslim player Marches al-Mutamid north to the Aragonese capital of Jaca and plays an Event to spur Jihad in Huesca. (Zaragoza Taifa is a neutral Parias state after Disband of al-Mustain ; Jihad turns its Huesca Fortress against the Christians.) Jaca is King Sancho of Aragón’s Seat, so he will not be able to Muster, and Huesca and Jaca block García Ordóñez’s route back to Friendly territory.

García’s Christians, confident that they would be able to win the Battle, go straight at al-Mutamid’s face. But what they don’t know is that the Muslims have two unexpected things on their side: HILLS and good fortune in combat.

Al-Mutamid fields the weaker force, but it can ready itself on the defense so is able to hit first each Battle step. The HILLS Event doubles the Muslims’ missiles. With some early luck in Protection rolls, al-Mutamid’s lighter troops prove able to stand against Ordóñez’s Knights, sealing the latter’s fate.

Not many of al-Mutamid’s units survive the onslaught. But no matter: as the turn is ending and the Christians decide that the next turn would give them no more VP, they decide to pause the fighting for Alfonso’s Curias (royal court duties). Curias removes a Conquered marker from Taifas box (costing the Muslims 1 VP) and advances the game directly to Winter.

Over Winter, all Lords Disband, then some of them Muster again. Here, the game m ap and Calendar at the start ofSpring 1086 (Turn 9). The victory standing is 14 VP to the Christians and 10½ VP to the Muslims.

• The Muslims now field al-Mutamid of the Sevilla Taifa, al-Mundir of the eastern Lérida Taifa, al‑Mutawakkil of the western Badajoz Taifa, and Abd Allah of the southern Granada Taifa. Taifa Lords al‑Mustain and Abu Bakr plus Africans Yusuf and Sir remain Ready.

• The Christians start the new year with only Pedro Ansúrez and Álvar Fáñez Mustered but with several other Lords at the ready: Alfonso VI, the crusading Duke Eudes I of Burgundy, and King Sancho I of Aragón.

Reinforcement. Given the situation, the Muslims now call upon Yusuf ibn Tashufin and his Almoravids for help,Mustering him and his numerous troops to face the Christians. (The Muslims alternatively can hold off on calling in the fundamentalists, enabling the Taifas to bank 1VP every 40 days for prolonging their dynastic independence.)

The first weeks of spring (Turn 9) see most ofthe action take place in Zaragoza Taifa. On this front, the Christians capture Tudela , slowed down only by al‑Mustain and al‑Mundir, the other Muslim Lords being way too far away to intervene.

When the Christians arrive at Zaragoza itself, al-Mustain chooses to withdraw inside hisCity with his ample Provender, while his uncle al‑Mundir fights outside, more in hopes ofdamaging the Christian invaders than of defeating them. As al‑Mundir has the Count ofBarcelona in his service (Capability card), he succeeded earlier in Mustering more troopsthan the Christians anticipated (playing with the hidden mats option).

Unfortunately for the Emir, his enemies were too strong, their Vassals too numerous (as theChristians chose to Levy them instead of specialist Capabilities), and he would need to Concede the Field at once (at the start of the Battle, standing only for the first Round). The first clash wipes out his army without it doing any significant damage. The Retreat and lack of food in this train to feed his beaten troops breaks their will to fight (a high penalty roll if 5 shifts al‑Mundir’s Service backward by 3 Calendar boxes). Al‑Mundir Disbands them, paying the Christians Coin from his private treasury (the Christians receive Coin equal to al‑Mundir’s Service rating of 4, plus 1 VP for Lérida becoming a Parias Taifa). The Christians now have freedom of maneuver in the northeast.

But help was on the way. Muslim forces meanwhile had made their waynorth from the Almoravids’ landing at Algeciras. Despite logistical difficulties due to the small numbers of Carts and Mules that the Muslim Lords had so far been able to Levy (with their relatively low Lordship ratings), they succeed in retaking Toledo City by late Spring (Turn 10). The Christians, though far stronger than al‑Mundir and al‑Mustain together, could not match the power of Yusuf’s Almoravids andal‑Mutamid of Sevilla.

Riposte. Yusuf’s retaking of Toledo reverses not only the Christian conquest of that city the previous year but also enforcement of Alfonso’s claim to Toledo Taifa as a Christian province. (Replacing Christian Conquest markers with Muslim Jihad markers plus resetting the Taifa from Reconquista to Parias status, minus flipping damage from Ravage there to now credit the Christian side, yields a whopping swing of 6 VP to the Muslims.)

Below, the strategic situation at the outset of Summer, 1086. With the Almoravids’ arrival and thrust into the center of the Peninsula, the Muslims now hold the advantage for the second part of the conflict, the Christians thrown on the defensive. (The score on Turn 11 is 11½ VP for the Muslim side, 10 VP for the Christians.)

But mid-Summer (Levy phase of Turn 12) will see a turning point, as political difficulties among the Muslims interfere in their military momentum. The Christian player draws the Events shown on the top half of the first two cards here.

The shortening of Service for both Yusuf at Toledo and al-Mustain inside Zaragoza, and the inability of either of them or Almoravid general Sir ibn Abu Bakr to Muster, will prove critical over the following months. Rivalries back in Africa block Yusuf’s use of his Lordship, meaning that he cannot Levy any more Capabilities or Transport for now. That and illness of the Zaragozan emir hinders any ability for the Muslims to counterattack northeasterward or to defend Zaragoza. The troubles also delay by 40 days Sir’s arrival from the Maghreb with the other half of the Almoravid host.

As ILLNESS OF THE EMIR puts al-Mustain was in danger of Disbanding right now, the Muslim player has to use the TAIFA MARRIAGE card that he had been holding to extend al-Mustain’s military resistance by another 40 days (shift his Service forward on the Calendar by 1 box).

At the same time, the Christians have their own political and financial troubles. The Muslim player draws the Events (top half of the cards) shown here, and the news is not good at all for theChristians.

As the large Turn 11 illustration above shows by the abundance of Coin on the Christian Lords mats along the left, DEVALUATION will hit them very hard. Of the 10 Coin in total that they hold, they lose five. These Events, however, will end up hurting the Christians less than they could have.

The Muslims, in a desperate attempt to gather some more forces to defend Zaragoza, strain with all of their available Lordship (dimished by the ABU BAKR IBN UMAR Event) to Muster Valencia’s Emir, Abu Bakr of the Banu Amir. But with his Fealty rating of 2 (shown by the red die icon at his mat’s upper right), they will need some luck to persuade him … which does not come.

Ravaging Zaragoza’s territory (placing three Ravage markers),the Christians are able to shorten al-Mustain’s Service oncemore and force him to Disband (as the punishment inflicted on the Emir’s subjects encourages him to come to terms with the invader). The Christian army is now free to seek Surrender of the City by Siege, without the need to Storm it.

When the City then falls into Christian hands as they advance their Siegeworks (a fortunate Surrender roll on the second Christian Siege action), Alfonso faces the question: What to do next?

• Go east for Lérida, where any resistance would be garrisons alone, without any Taifa army?
• Go south for Valencia, likely to be guarded by Emir Abu Bakr?
• Go west for Toledo, guarded by Yusuf and al-Mutamid, and try to fight either Yusuf or Sir before the two Almoravids can unite?

The Christians choose the third option, and so lead to a great Battle for Toledo that will decide the fate of Iberia. Historically, the armies of Alfonso and of Yusuf and his Taifa allies met only a few weeks later, near Badajoz somewhat to west. It was a magnificent victory for the Almoravids. Here, late Summer (Turn 12) will see the pivotal clash, in the center of Hispania.

For now, the Lords on both sides amass troops, as everyone gets ready. The situation appears a standoff (victory standing tied at 14½ VP each side).

As the Christians see Sir’s approach from the south, via the Taifa of Badajoz, they sense no time to lose. They cannot wait to complete a Siege of Madrid on the way to Toledo: they must reach Toledo’s capital before Sir’s reinforcing army does,or it would be too late for any hope to take the City.

When Alfonso’s army breaks camp to attack the Muslims at Toledo, Yusuf decides that it is better to give up his stock of Provender to the Christians (as the Muslim Lords do not have enough Transport to take all of it along if they Avoid Battle out of the area) than to fight a defensive Battle without Sir. Al‑Mutawakkil of Badajoz, with a much smaller part of the Muslim army, withdraws inside the walls to hold the City.

Why so cautious? Because it is a time for only deliberate action. With Alfonso’s Reconquista offensive and the Almoravids’ intervention in response nearing their climax (the game nearing its end after Turn 14), every shift in Service limit becomes more and more important. Every loss is definitive, and every victory counts double.

The Great Clash. First, Sir joins with Yusuf and al-Mutamid at Talavera. Then the combined army turns about and attacks the Christians Besiegers at Toledo, as al-Mutawakkil Sallies out of the gates to join in the Battle. The Christians have no Battle Events to played while the Muslims will employ SPEAR WALL and FEIGNED RETREAT .

Fortunately for the Christians, although Yusuf earlier had Levied Almoravid general DAWUD IBN ISHA (Capability card) to stage a CAMP ATTACK against the Christians for what would have made a far more devastating Battle, the Muslim player forgot that al-Mutamid had Levied that same card’s Capability (AQQARA Crossbows). (In Levy & Campaign, when a lower-half Capability is in play, the upper-half Event on the same card is unavailable, out of the deck.)

This detail of oversight would mean that—since the Muslims after leaving behind much of their Provender and consuming the rest in avoiding Alfonso’s approach now had none at all—a Muslim defeat would mean the end of Muslim dominance in Iberia. But a victory would not seal their position, as no CAMP ATTACK would steal the Christian lager’s Carts or Provender.

All told, the greater and lesser Christian captains at the Battle of Toledo command 14 units of Knights, seven of mounted Sergeants, one Light Horse unit, 12 units of armored Men-at-Arms, two of unarmored militia, and two of non-fighting men pressed into the line: presuming 60-man squadrons of heavy horse, a total strength of 3,000 to 4,000 troops. The Muslims field 10 units of African Horse, three of mounted Sergeants, three of Light Horse, three of Men-at-Arms, and a massive phalanx of 14 African Foot and 11 Militia units: some 9,000 troops and outnumbering the Christians over 2-to-1, man for man. (In the game, a Horse unit represents 60-200 mounted men, a Foot unit 120-400 infantry.)

By comparison, historian Bernard Reilly estimates the numbers at the Battle of Sagrajas [or Zalaca] in October 1086 as about 1,500 heavy and light horse plus 1,000 mixed foot on the Christian side against three times that on the Muslim side—at 10,000 combatants all together, a big battle by 11^th-Century standards. 

Comparing the sides’ combat power in our game’s battle, a Christian Strike total of 50.5 and likely absorption of 83.6 Hits faces Muslim totals of 55 Strike and 64.8 Hits absorbed. The Christian army has the advantage of standing on the defensive (allowing them to Strike first within each exchange of combat by type). But, countervailing that, the Muslims’ abundant African archery and javelins will Strike before the potent Christian Horse will make contact for Melee, damaging the Knights before they get to hit back. With the Christians split between Front and Reserve, the Muslims also have an advantage in frontline Strikes of 49.5 to only 33 for the Christians, with absorption of there of 58 Muslim to 57.6 Christian.

The first sign of those Muslim advantages can be seen here, just after the first missile exchange. The Rout of Álvar Fáñez and Eudes’s Foot units opposite the blue African phalanx shows that the situation is already desperate for the Christianinfantry. (The units slid back behind each mat’s center line have Routed.) Despite that, Christian hopes remain high, pinned on the charge of their Knights (Defender’s Horse Melee, up next).

The Spanish and crusader Knights charge, but the results are just not enough. While al-Mutawakkil’s light troops Rout back to the gates of Toledo, reducing the battle to just three Muslim Lords against five Christian, Alfonso and Sancho are now unable to come to grips with more of the enemy before the next Round (as only so many formations can occupy the front line).

The Muslim Foot skirmishers have diffused the Christian charge. While the light Foot has fled entirely, the African Foot with oversized hide shields and tight spear formations will harm the Christian Knights upon impact. The Round’s remaining steps of Defending Horse and both sides’ infantry Melee cut all chance of victory for the Christians.

By start of Battle Round 2, the forces have become hopelessly unbalanced. The Christians Concede the Field, in order to save as much of their surviving troops and their baggage as they can. (A Pursuit marker between the lines shows that the Christian rearguard action comes with a penality: their Strikes this Round are cut in half.) 

Aftermath. Troop losses during recovery from Battle prove high on the Christian side, a tactically uneven result despite the orderly Christian retreat. However, after this Battle and subsequent Retreat, and with the Autumn 1086 Arts of War card draws, forces on both sides find themselves in a tough situation with regard to sustaining themselves in the field until winter will end the campain. Both sides scramble for Coins to survive as armies until the end.

For the Muslims, the Lords Sir and al-Mutawakkil Disband their forces. For the Christians, Pedro Ansúrez and Álvar do the same. We will not see these four Lords in action again for the rest of the campaign. Most of the remaining Christian lords have but the leftovers of an army, and hastily recruited Militias become the bulk of their forces.

The Muslim victory at Toledo is resounding, but more disasters are coming. The Muslim side must expend a huge effort just so that Yusuf and al-Mutamid avoid Disband. The distraction results in leaving the Christians unmolested.

As a result, there are the no fights during the final two 40-day Campaigns of the year. While the Muslims might have sought combat, doing so would have meant the Disband of Yusuf and al-Mutamid remaining troops and providing the Christians thereby free victory points which the Muslims could not afford.

After the massed Battle, the Muslims do not have the wherewithal to garner the supplies needed to sustain a Siege of Zaragoza. Moreover, extremely dry considitions torment the Muslim troops (the Christian players draws the ARID TERRAIN Event twice and DROUGHT once over two Turns). So, the Muslims are left with options either to try to Ravage Christian lands or to block a potential Christian threat the City of Sevilla.

At the end, on the last card of the last game turn, victory points stand at 18 for the Muslims and 18 for the Christians. Alfonso makes a final Siege effort at Sevilla, and the roll obtains its Surrender and Conquest! The Christians receive 3VP (and pay a net 1VP as they now own the Ravage damage to the newly Conquered City’s environs). The score stands at 20½ for the Christians and 18½ for the Muslims.

But the Muslims respond by playing their Held Event Maliki Islam as Yusuf briefly invades the Guadarama border region of Alfonso’s Kingdom. The resulting placement of four Jihad markers (at ½VP each) raises the Muslim score also up to 20½.

Yusuf still has his second action after the March into the Guadarama (as shown on his cylinder, his Command rating is 2). He uses it to try to Ravage this Christian ground for a game-winning ½ victory point. But the Christians have Mustered the Caballeria Villana, who defend the frontier. The Muslim player must roll a 3 or less to place the ½VP Ravaged marker and get to 21VP … which they fail to do. 

The game ends after 11 turns of maneuver and fighting with a precise tie between the Christians and the Muslims—amazing!

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