The Crusaders fielded a force composed mostly of infantry, leaving the bulk of their cavalry in reserve for some reason.
The Turks fielded a balanced army, taking a nice perch on top of a convenient hill. Note the long spearman wall with cavalry and Ghazi Infantry (fanatical axe-men) on the flanks, and archers positioned higher on the hill for greater range:
Undaunted by the Turks' advantageous position and elite Kwarazmiam Heavy Cavalry, Don Pedro de Nebrija spurs his Knights of Santiago forward for the glory of the Catholic Church:
The Spaniards close in on the hill:
And the Turcoman foot archers rain arrows down on the center of the Spanish line, killing dozens of Feudal Men-At-Arms and Order Foot Soldiers:
Meanwhile a unit of Kwarazmiams begins a flanking maneuver, hoping to attract the attention of the elite Order Foot Soldiers anchoring the Spanish left flank:
More dead bodies as Spanish archers (foolishly) begin to climb the hill in order to get a shot at the Turcomans as the rain begins to fall:
Kwarazmiams attempt to outflank the Spanish right:
Faced with charging into a set spear wall or standing around getting peppered with arrows and flanked by heavy cavalry, the Spanish army splits up:
The Turks rearrange their lines to compensate:
The Kwarazmiams have managed to get completely behind the Spanish army. Another unit draws the elite foot soldiers away from the main Turkish army:
The Spaniards are fractured, beset by all sides, and have just lost their general to Saracen spearmen:
The Crusaders' morale is flagging, but they attempt one last charge:
They are slaughtered and immediately rout:
The battle on the Spanish right flank is going no better, as a unit of men-at-arms are totally surrounded and about to be slaughtered:
Meanwhile the elite Order footmen have engaged the heavy cavalry and are holding their own:
And are about to receive some assistance from some spearmen (but notice the second unit of heavy cavalry approaching from behind:
This can only end badly for the Spanish:
And it does:
Well armoured polearm troops, meet some robed Turkish axe-wielding maniacs:
Who will win?
Robed maniacs: 10, Well-armoured polearms: 0
Well actually 15 to 0. Looks like someone forgot to tell those polearms that axemen 0wnz0rf armoured units. The maniacs walk calmly back to their lines as the polearms rout:
It's a long walk back, but they've got all the time in the world:
Some Spanish Jinettes (javelin cavalry) march toward the Turks. If they could only know what horrors awaited them there...
More Spanish reinforcements arrive:
The Kwarazmiams face a problem: The Jinettes are too fast!
So they'll do some fancy flanking:
Jinettes on the left as well!
They're getting away!
Or are they?
Nope, they're not. Get used to this.
Poor Jinettes, they're only one escape route, will they find it?
Yes, but is it too late?
Yes, yes it is.
More Spanish light cavalry probe the Turkish right. If only they were there when the Spanish all that infantry on the field.
The Turks calmly hold the hill while their cavalry is wiping the floor with Spanish dead:
Note the new Turkish cavalry unit on the field, Ghulam Heavy Cavalry. Not as powerful as the Kwarazmiams, but a touch faster. There are some light cavalry somewhere as well, mounted crossbowmen:
Some Spanish Jinettes want to help out their beleaguered friends. Watch your right flank!
Too late, the Ghulams have you:
And the Spanish flee, yet again. What are they, French?
Some archers arrive. Wrong place, wrong time:
Uh oh, the Kwarazmiams are busy with their usual killing but they're fatigued and some more spearmen are coming. Whatever will they do?
Retreat, obviously, while some light cavalry gallop over to assist.
Wait for it...
What, it's over already?
Mounted crossbowmen take aim at some men-at-arms.
They fire...
And the men-at-arms flee like little girls, while the crossbowmen chase them down:
Infantry approach, and cavalry prepares to smash them into little bits:
Time to die, little Spaniards!
These guys are well doomed:
And they flee like Frenchmen:
Bye bye Spanish crusade!
