The Siege of Dezell

Part of the Feuding of Zuergem

The feud, like many other battles occurring during the former fracture, would culminate in a change in military tactics throughout Juhnvechteya. Both the war of the Joran succession and the feud of Zuergem saw the wider use of bombards and cannons, rendering the traditional castles of Joraje and wider Juhnvechteya obsolete. The siege of Dezell is one such battle that encouraged the change in combat.

Corijn van Houregt’s army and alliance of nations (including Esell, Stijgen, Spielfen, Aasderborg, Haelingen, Zaag, Wiedda) advanced towards Zuergem hoping to take the city before winter. The garrison at Dezell posed a hinderance to the army’s movement, yet the fort was impregnable, with the marsh and rivers surrounding the city stopping all attempts at assaulting the city. Upon Houergt’s arrival, he established defensive lines along the Uur to protect the northern flank during the siege. His army would set up camps at ‘s-Heryenborg, Solzedel and Krozmallen, and arrays of heavy siege cannons. Despite this, the bombards proved ineffective, as any breach made in the walls could not be followed up with an assault. To counter this problem, Corijn ordered his men to build a dam on the Soel and diverted the stream that enters the marsh. Over the next few months the Khoorts continued their blockade and bombardment of the city until the bog was drained. During this time, Duke of Tanderland, Robard Muntz sent his army to the city to relieve it, and set up a camp north of the Uur. After 3 attempted sorties by the defenders, Houergt launched his army and the assortment of nobles (Van Kotzel, Stijgen and Surborg) through a breach in the southern walls. Following this there was a skirmish at the gates, culminating in a Khoortish victory. The Tandisch garrison held out in the streets and stopped the southern army from moving in for a day, whilst gathering what troops and barricades they could from inside the city.

2 days later, the western army broke through the walls and assaulted the city. The Tandisch garrison was outnumbered and surrendered the fort to the Khoorts. Despite this success, the siege had been costly for the Khoorts and with a well supplied Tandisch army, accompanied by a contingent of the Van Zuert’s men at arms, the battle was not yet won.

Out of supplies and low on morale, the Khoorts began to retreat to Iaper to the south and were forced to leave their spoils in Dezell. The pursuing Tandisch army met the crippled Khoorts in the fields north of Iaper where they met with reinforcements from Temme. Meanwhile, the Tandisch army marched southward, being nourished by fresh soldiers. They retook many villages and towns in their advance, demanding food and what supplies the villagers could spare. Upon reaching the outskirts of Iaper, they saw that the Khoorts had established 3 lines, with the Khoortish alliance to the left and the Temmisch army to the right. Behind these lines were the Grobbenditz mercenaries from Schirgen and the crossbowmen/reserve troops who would reinforce the front line. Finally the back of the two armies were cavalry and cannons, with the cavalry prepared to begin manoeuvres to pressure the flanks of the Tandisch armies and the bombards to break the enemies front line.

The Tandisch and Van Zuert army was organised into 3 sections, with the central column composed of the front line, backed up by bombardiers and reserve troops, whilst the left and right flanks were a mix of cavalry and men at arms.

With very little hesitation, the Khoortish bombards began to assault the enemy lines, and the battle begun. The Tandisch, despite having a marginal height advantage lacked sufficient bombards to weaken the Khoortish front lines, so relied on the use of their cavalry to penetrate the enemy flanks. The Khoortish tactics proved effective, as the linear Tandisch lines began to lose shape.

During the battle, a Stijgen horse would go loose after being shot by a crossbow bolt, crashing into the line of Khoortish bombards. It is assumed the loose gunpowder on the ground was ignited accidentally during the commotion, which caused a vast explosion at the Khoortish rear, throwing Corijn van Houergt off of his horse. The Khoortish army retreated despite their successes and the Tandisch did not pursue due to their lack of formation and disorganisation. The battle at Iaper proved the bombards uses both on forts (such as Dezell) and in the battle. Corijn would suffer fatal wounds and would succumb weeks later, leaving Noudt, his son to continue the campaign. Although the battle remained inconclusive, it would pave the way for the Khoorts to succeed at Almhun grove years later through a similar strategy.