battle of molhim
fought near the end of 487YBCW. the battle became Know as the battle of 1000 casques was the last major engagement where knights were used in force.
The Conflict
Prelude
After the destruction of the verianberg imperial navy the northern isle army started marching south overrunning most parts of the duchy of heligoland. the imperial army under the command of Augustus Von hellnetz the senior 54 year old commander of the imperial army had finally reach the town of molhim within the duchy. Duke Michael Rastov had also rallied the ducal army still loyal to his grandfather. the main road south ran through molhim and the northern isle kingdom would need to take the town in order to march south in order to take the imperial capital. Augustus's plan was simple, stop them and then wait out the winter. the fear for the imperial's was wintering in the northern part of the empire. whist the professional were prepared for winter warfare , the young conscripts would not be prepared for wintering in a hostile land. the other fear was that augustus victory plan depended on Michael arriving with in his army which was marching north.
Deployment
The northern isle army under the command of there king, Christian olinberg 11th consisted of 50000 troops who had just won a battle at kingsguard fortress against Garon Hallsberg. most of the army was foot soldiers. there was limited pike men and most of the army were sword welding infantry. muskets were organised between the ranks of the infantry. the king commanded the cavalry reserve made up of 5000 lightly armored cavalry men. half were armed with pistols. the artillery were deployed in front of the sword infantry and on the flanks however this despaired the cannons through the line thinly. in the reserve the king had a corp of elite skirmish infantry men and his core of Ice magicitans.
Augustus army controlled a hill on the eastern side of the battlefield where he placed all 5 of the knightly orders consisting of some 6000 mounted knights. a further 2000 cavalry guarded the flanks. the main body of his army consisted of some 47000 infantry men, half was pike and sword infantry men the other half consisted of musket infantry which were like the there enemy diapered through the line. the one advantage the gunners of the imperial army had was that they had a group of some 1500 long rifle engineers who were normally used for sharpshooting were in the center of the army.
Conditions
the winter snow and frost had hardened the ground making it ideal for mounted knights. the temperature in the winter was -10 and while the northern army was the equipped for this battle white fur lined close, the imperial army would struggle as even the regulars would struggle to cope as the army was not overly trained to fight in winter.
The Engagement
morning- the drums roused the northern isle army, and after the prayers and the singing of the national anthem the northern army prepared to move. the artillery was carried and the army marched south. Augustus was been awake through the knight with his war council and was already in battle Armour and had joined his knights on the eastern hill. the imperial army was quickly roused and arranged into battle potions. the young men could be seen crying. the priest in the army decided to fight with the army to say that god would be on there side. there own artillery began to fire as the northern army marched towards them. the cannons failed to make a mark and when the northern artillery was finally deployed they made a much worse mark on the ranks of the imperial infantry. Augustus a careful commander was unsure when to deploy his cavalry hammer he nicknamed 'my steel sledge hammer' many senior knights said they would attack know while the northern army was still redeploying but he didn't know if the main army would support his attack. he first sent a rider to tell the army to attack when he had charge and broke the right flank.
the charge- before the runner came back Augustus at the head of his sledgehammer charged down the hill and made his way to the right flank. 6000 mounted knights in full plate Armour with swords, maces, lances, pistols and moringstars stormed down the hill. there war horse made the ground shake. the northern troops were unshaken and when the knights came close enough the first losses a volley from there rifles. there thin ranks allowed them to bring there guns to bare. this vollies of rifles and the artillery killed hundreds of knights who bodies hit the earth with thuds. Augustus Von hellnetz was hit in the shoulder by a musket ball which sent him to the ground and he was dragged by his war horse through the battle filed while cannon balls fired. his knight however kept dying they struck the right flank which fells back allowing there reserves to fill the gap and allowing 1000 of there own cavalry to strike them in the rear. the muskets cut through there plate Armour and many knights were dragged from there war horse (many of which were then taken by the northern armies for there own use.) those knights who used lances drew sword for sword men to dragged them from there horse. those knight who were at the rear decided it would be better to dismount and fight in foot. many however decided to try and brake the lighter northern cavalry. this succeeded and allowed for 1000 knights to retreated back up the hill only to be fired on from behind. those who were left fought on in the hope the army was on the way. however the runner had been killed by a lucky cannon ball. the army was placed under the command of count Henry hallsberg of zherik the 30 year old count of zherik. he was a head strong man and kept his mistresses in his camp. but he was a wary man in the field and knowing the bulk of his cavalry forces was gone he decided to hold the line. this in and of it self however would prove to be the wrong decision
mid-day and the snow storm-as mid day began a snow storm wracked the battle field and it was blowing in the faces of the northern isle forces. Count Henry decided at the best coarse of action was to attack know to the dismay of the rest of the the remaining generals and officer. the imperial army marched north up the field in the face of cannon fire and when they came close enough musket fire. by the time they reached the new positionAugustus Von hellnetz had come through the line being dragged by his horse. the horse was seized and the general was carried to the infirmary. he official designated to count Henry. the 30 year old commander was no where in the league of king christian who used his own cavalry to swing round the exposed flanks of the left flank which had moved to far forward. Henry responded believe that the northern isle had sent all there cavalry to that flank sent his remaining fresh cavalry to counter attack. this however was a fiat and Christian who was on foot led the right flank and the bulk of his cavalry force in an attack on the right flank. the remaining knight cavalry who were on the hill charged back down the hill but out of the remaining 1000 knights only 500 reached the bottom of the hill (this was due to the fact there own cannons were firing behind them and the northern isle cannons and muskets were also firing at the knights.) the 500 who got to the bottom hit the flank of the northern isle forces. but this heroic changed proved to be futile as it was to weak. the battle turned into a stand off and Henry order his army back to the town as the snow storm worsened. despite the wind blowing in there faces the army made good order and got to the defenses of the town.
defense of molhim- the imperial army including what was left of the knights retreated to the town. the town of molhim was a town of dirt tracks and had a wall around it. the northern forces then attacked the hill taking all the guns that hadn't been destroyed along with the 600 men defending them. the town gates were barred and a siege began. but the remaining cavalry was able to prevent a total encirclement. count Henry force had taken a massive beating. the young conscript had begun to run from the field in order to save themselves and by 3pm 4000 men had deserted. Henry was still hoping to link up with duke Michael army but he had no idea where it was or if he had been intercepted. by 5am Henry decided to retreat from the battle field destroying everything he couldn't take with him.
Outcome
with the capture of molhim the road south was open for the northern isle forces to attack. the retreating army met duke Michael and his army as they were retreating and a fight broke out between count Henry and the 15 year old [Duke Michael Rastov which was broken up by coronal Fredrick von fryback who had been commander of a part of the left flank and had saved it from braking.
the cost to the imperial was staggering out of the 55000 men who took to the battlefield 12000 men were dead, wounded, captured or had deserted. out of the 6000 knights who took to the field little over 1000 marched with the army. entire generation of noble family second son, minor lords and seasoned soldiers had died.
Aftermath
the battle showed that knights were no longer useful and was the first lesson of the 18 years war and was one of the reasons for the beginning of the grand military revolution
Historical Significance
In Literature
the Molhim lament was written by a musician who had accompanied the army and speaks of the sight seen on the frozen field of molhim
Included under Conflict
Conflict Type
Battle
Battlefield Type
Land
Conflict Result
Northern isle victory they seized the road south
Belligerents
Strength
50000 men in total
55000 men in total
4000 troops of the ducal heligoland army (didn't arrive)
Casualties
6000 total
2000 dead
4000 wounded
12000 dead, wounded, captured and deserted
all 5 of the knightly order were completely destoryed less than 1000 retreated with the army
Augustus Von hellnetz died of his wounded after the battle
Objectives
Take molhim and gain the main road to the south.
hold the town of molhim and stop the advance of the northern isle army.
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