Battle of Thielt (1128)
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The Battle of Thielt (1128), also known as the Battle of Axpoel, was fought on June 21, 1128, between the forces of William Clito on one side and the forces of Thierry of Alsace. The battle resulted in victory for William Clito and defeat for Thierry of Alsace.[1]
Background[edit]
Prior to the battle, Thierry besieged the fortress of Fulk, a vassal of William Clito.[2] William carefully scouted the terrain in the area and Thierry's army.[3][4]
Battle[edit]
William's Tactical Deployment
William's reconnaissance led him to arrange his forces into three divisions of equal strength, but he placed one division behind a hill in reserve. This force was completely hidden from Thierry.[5][6][7][8]
Course of Events
William's first two divisions and all of Thierry's cavalry rode at each other and engaged in close combat. After some fierce fighting, William ordered a retreat with Thierry's cavalry in hot pursuit. However, once they crested the hill, William's reserve cavalry surprised Thierry's forces. William also gathered his knights, reformed, and charged again. Thus, Thierry's pursuit was quickly turned into a rout of his own forces.[9][10][11][12]
Notes[edit]
- ^ Accounts of the battle can be found in Verbruggen, J. F. The Art of Warfare in Western Europe During the Middle Ages: From the Eighth Century to 1340, (1997) p. 229-231; Marvin, Laurence W. "Thielt, Battle of". The Oxford Encyclopedia of Medieval Warfare and Military Technology; Marvin, Laurence W. "Medieval and Modern C2: Command and Control in the Field during Western Europe's Long Twelfth Century (1095-1225); Oman, Sir Charles. A History of the Art of War in the Middle Ages, (1898) p. 443-445.
- ^ Marvin, Laurence W. "Thielt, Battle of". The Oxford Encyclopedia of Medieval Warfare and Military Technology
- ^ Verbruggen, J. F. The Art of Warfare in Western Europe During the Middle Ages: From the Eighth Century to 1340, (1997) p. 229-231
- ^ Marvin, Laurence W. "Thielt, Battle of". The Oxford Encyclopedia of Medieval Warfare and Military Technology
- ^ Verbruggen, J. F. The Art of Warfare in Western Europe During the Middle Ages: From the Eighth Century to 1340, (1997) p. 229-231
- ^ Marvin, Laurence W. "Thielt, Battle of". The Oxford Encyclopedia of Medieval Warfare and Military Technology
- ^ Marvin, Laurence W. "Medieval and Modern C2: Command and Control in the Field during Western Europe's Long Twelfth Century (1095-1225)
- ^ Oman, Sir Charles. A History of the Art of War in the Middle Ages, (1898) p. 443-445.
- ^ Verbruggen, J. F. The Art of Warfare in Western Europe During the Middle Ages: From the Eighth Century to 1340, (1997) p. 229-231
- ^ Marvin, Laurence W. "Thielt, Battle of". The Oxford Encyclopedia of Medieval Warfare and Military Technology
- ^ Marvin, Laurence W. "Medieval and Modern C2: Command and Control in the Field during Western Europe's Long Twelfth Century (1095-1225)
- ^ Oman, Sir Charles. A History of the Art of War in the Middle Ages, (1898) p. 443-445.
Bibliography[edit]
Marvin, Laurence W. (2016) Medieval and Modern C2: Command and Control in the Field during Western Europe's Long Twelfth Century (1095–1225), War & Society, 35(3), 152–179, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/07292473.2016.1196921
Marvin, Laurence W. (2010) Thielt, Battle of, The Oxford Encyclopedia of Medieval Warfare and Military Technology, Oxford University Press
Oman, Sir Charles. (1898) A History of the Art of War in the Middle Ages, Routledge
Verbruggen, J. F. (1997:1954) The Art of Warfare in Western Europe During the Middle Ages: From the Eighth Century to 1340, The Boydell Press