Battle of the Kattino Valley

Belligerents|  Karostain Empire* Black Flag Army

Numbers| **30,400 men*** 28,900 infantry (45 bns)
* 1,500 cavalry (6 sqns)
* 2,700 cavalry (9 sqns)

The **Battle of the Kattino Valley**, also called the **Battle of the Royals** (*Batalha dos Realeza*), was the pivotal engagement of the Karostainian invasion of Lesovia (1786). It marked a high point in the fortunes and military prowess of the Kingdom of Lesovia.

The Karostainian invasion of was precipitated by King-Emperor Konrad's invitation to the Lesovians to make common cause against the Yugolski Empire in the context of the Ninety Years' War. However, King John Charles of Lesovia had initiated an improvement in relations, withdrawing penal forces from Marinta and decreasing his defensive posture in the Yugolski direction. Believing Karostain to be the greater and more present threat to his rule, he rejected all offers of an alliance.

Believing that this rejection signaled the Lesovians' intention to join with the Yugolski, King-Emperor Konrad assembled an army and invaded his neighbors. They were supported by collaborationist Kastelon peasants in western Lesovia and faced minimal resistance until stopped by a pitched army of the Lesovian King - representing almost all of his military forces - at Kattino. The battle was a significant gamble for both men.

Superior maneuvering, especially by general Rafael Dantes, allowed the Lesovian army to break the Karostainian lines and initiate a rout. Numerous imperial battalions were destroyed in the fighting, forcing Konrad back a great distance before he quickly dug in and sued for peace. A lasting border was drawn up between Karostain and Lesovia, allowing minor territorial concessions in exchange for an end to all further aggression. John Charles believed that he would be unable to support his regime if he maintained a constant state of war. Konrad needed peace quickly so he could turn his attention back to the Yugolski in the west, who had been raiding his coastline during the invasion of Lesovia.

The peace agreement that followed Kattino set the *status quo* for the succeeding decades, preventing Lesovia from entering the Ninety Years' War against Karostain. The peace treaty that followed solidified the Lesovio-Karostainian border, which has remained unchanged to this day.

1,965 Karostainian soldiers were killed during the battle, and at least 6,600 were wounded. 872 Lesovian soldiers were killed, and a further 1,800 were wounded during the battle.

## Order of battle

### Karostain Empire

* **Black Flag Army**, commanded by by Konrad, King-Emperor of Karostain and formed by the 1786 Writ of War against Lesovia. The standard was a black flag with the White Wheel of the Saints.
	+ **Royal-Imperial Infantry** (12 bns), generally better trained than other infantry forces of the army. This was the force that Konrad travelled with.
	+ **Royal-Imperial Cavalry** (6 sqns), consisting of cavalry squadrons drawn from Kalavalta, Hufaliol, Legarinia, and Reine, these were considered the best forces of the Black Flag Army, commanded by Eirk Padelmeister. They had broken through hasty Lesovian defenses the day prior, allowing quick access to the Kattino Valley.
	+ **Kalavalta Infantry** (10 bns), including two battalions of Hufaliolese grenadiers. Commanded by Fraderic, Prince of Kalavalta.
	+ **Inner Legarinia Infantry** (8 bns), consisting of infantry battalions from the Archduchy of Inner Legarinia (southern Siberoslavia). Commanded by Klaud Hosef, Prince of Inner Legarinia.
	+ **Frontier Infantry** (8 bns), consisting of infantry battalions from the Archduchy of Further Legarinia, Archduchy of Reine, and (in a much more limited capacity) both Dersochia and the Duchy of Regit. Commanded by Karl Libelli.
	+ **Supplicant Infantry** (6 bns), consisting of religiously-motivated volunteers and camp followers who accompanied the invasion out of zealous support for the King-Emperor and his supposed Saintly nature. They were not a new concept (such battalions existed as early as the reign of Kalrud I). These men were known to be particularly vicious and brutal in combat (making up for their minimal training), and some military historians view them as the precursor to the fanatical Krak Troops. Their role in the battle (and larger invasion) has been largely exaggerated by Karostainian historiographers, who label them paragons of Karostainian virtue and valor - despite marginal participation in the fighting. Commanded by Alber the Red.

* **Lesovian volunteers** (less than 1 bn), almost exclusively ethnic Kastelons, who assisted the army in breaching the Karostain-Lesovia border by passing information about troops movements at the outbreak of the invasion. They numbered around 300 and traveled in the backlines. Krasna communities were split in their support the invasion, which was increasingly characterized by its religious aspects.

### Kingdom of Lesovia

* **Lesovian Army**, commanded by John Charles, King of Lesovia
	+ **Royal Lostana Infantry** (12 bns)**,** drawn from the capital regions and some of the King's best and most loyal garrisons. John Charles travelled with this force.
	+ **Household Cavalry of the King** (9 sqns), considered markedly lower quality than the Karostainian mounted forces, but much more numerous. John Charles purged much of the landed gentry from the royal government when he took over, including a number of cavalry commanders from the House of Pavelo-Elzen. Thus, he faced Konrad with a poorly-reconstituted mounted force riddled with officer shortages. However, it was commanded by legendary general Rafael Dantes, better known by his mononym *Rafael*, who had wisely avoided direct confrontation with the enemy army until a trap could be sprung at Kattino Valley.
	+ **Alvencio Infantry** (10 bns), led by Agostinho of Alvencio, the Baron.
	+ **Basilsk Infantry** (8 bns), the steady center of the army, consisting of battalions from Basilsk, Madrisk, and (in a much more limited capacity) San Dragos. Commanded by Leonel, Baron of Basilsk.
	+ **Laansa Infantry** (4 bns), under-manned due to desertions, defections, and administrative issues (ghost soldiers).
	+ **Marinta Penal Infantry** (6 bns), consisting of battalions of prisoners from Marinta. This force had been recalled from the colony when it became clear that relations with the Yugolski Empire were to remain cordial, and an overseas military asset would not be needed to keep them in check. Helpfully, their reassignment put them in a good position to reinforce the royal army on its way to Kattino. This force was hardened, having seen experience defending Marinta from raids by neighboring countries in Merelaux. They were kept far from the King.

## Timeline

### Karostainian approach

Defenses near Kattino had been breached by the Royal-Imperial Cavalry under Eirk Padelmeister two days earlier. The probing cavalry forces garrisoned in the town opted to retreat rather than contest the poor ground. They rejoined John Charles' army on the other side of the Kattino Valley and marched toward the town.

The King-Emperor employed a traditional "wind-fan formation" during the battle, spreading his regular infantry in a semicircle in front of his heavy forces (in this case the royal-imperial infantry). The ends of the semicircle were also reinforced by Supplicants to prevent a flanking assault.

John Charles, with the advice of Rafael Dantes, prepared a "shield formation." He concentrated his infantry in tight, short lines (the "shield") while repeatedly advancing and withdrawing his cavalry on the flanks to bait the Karostainians into separating. The wind-fan was almost impregnable, but if it could be stretched into a line, buckled, or surged forward somewhat, it would be vulnerable to a flanking assault by Rafael's cavalry. The trick was to deceive the Karostainians with constant Lesovian cavalry feints so they would have no idea when the real charge would fall. But if it was a success, the charge could dismember the wind-fan and rout Konrad's regular infantry, exposing the heavy Royal-Imperial forces behind. Without their protecting semicircle, John Charles speculated that the core of Konrad's army would dissolve or flee in terror. Even if not, their weakened center would fall with enough attrition. Everything hinged on exposing it.