The Campaign of John De Hastinge in Ireland - Introduction

For Lion Rampant I am working on an English Feudal army, whilst my erstwhile opponent Paul has been adding some models to his Saga Irish to give them Feudal leadership.  It did not take us long to come to an agreement that as the rules allow for flexible armies, and as we'll both be sticking to the same forces for at least the next few games.  It would be a good idea to turn these into a loose, narrative, campaign.

Now obviously when I say narrative, I guess as I'm running the blog, it'll mostly be narrated from my end, and I will have to ensure that bias doesn't slip in too much.  Though, where would we or our forebears be without propaganda?  The aim is to play maybe 6 games over the next few months, and to use different scenarios for each, keeping a record of glory points as we go.  The final battle will be a bloodbath with the previously accrued glory points offering some form of bonus to the leader; ultimately victory on that day will go with he who has the most glory, so long as he outlives his opponent!

And so, who will lead these bands of men?

John De Hastinge - Baron Bergavenny

The coat of Arms of  Hastinge

A long-time campaigner who fought in the wars in France, Scotland and Ireland, John was the archetypal hard fighting knight, with little of the chivalric about him (think more like the English in Braveheart than the English in Ivanhoe).  John lead a retinue under his colours of Or and Gules, comprising a few knights always for want of good horses, and infantry - drawn mainly from his Welsh homeland.

Seamus O'Reagan - Chieftain of Lisnaskea, Ui Neill

Little is known about this enigmatic character, who appears to be the leader of a troublesome clan on the border of Norman Ireland in the late 13th century.  What is known comes from the troubling records of petty feuds and a punitive campaign led by John De Hastinge in 1297.  Seamus led a personal warband of native Irishmen, mostly fighting without armour or footwear, but a great many with fearsome axes and a knowledge of the land second-to-none.

Thanks Wikipedia

For the King it would please that John eliminate the constant threat of raiding and ambush from the border lands, and if possible bring god and taxes to the heathens.  For Seamus his way of life and liberty was at stake.

Who would achieve the will of their god, let the records now be opened and their tales be told...