Battle of Rafulvegg

In the Battle of Rafulvegg, fought on 1st August 1751 during the 1st Anzio-Pyrusian War, 4,200 Pyrusians defeated 4,200 Anzions into a panicked rout, who were attempting to cross the bridge over the River Mantus north of Nisloque.

## Prelude

On 8th May 1751, 8 days after the expiration of the ceasefire agreed the previous November, the Marshal Commander in Chief issued incredibly vague orders to his divisional commanders, while he was with the 3rd Division.

On 15th July 1751 the 3rd Cuirassiers crossed the border from J:12 and scouted J:11, meanwhile the 4th Cuirassiers did likewise from L:12 to L:11. Contemporaneously the 1st (Royal King's Own Lifeguard) Lancers (Light), supported by the 13th Foot (King's Own) Rifles, crossed the border from N:12 and scouted N:11. None of these formations encountered opposition, which appears to have convinced the Marshal Commander in Chief to start an invasion of Anzio.

On 17th July 1751 the 3rd Division of the Pyrusian Army, having received orders the same day, set out from Bugedqueed (where they were stationed) southwards to cross (the known to be defended) Pyro-Anzion border with the objective of capturing the Town of Dantalor. The same day they engaged in the Battle of Bugedqueed defeating the Anzions who withdrew westwards. After a weeks' rest and reorganisation the 3rd Division pursued the Anzions westward, defeating the Anzionz again at the Second Battle of Dantalor.

On 1st August 1751, in order to counteract their reverses in the east, the Anzion 1st Division was ordered to head north from the city of Nisloque, cross the River Mantus by the local bridge and defeat the Pyrusian forces opposing them.

## Battle

The battle was fought at the map coordinates of G:11. The forces of the 1st Division of the First Army of Pyrus were engaged by the Anzion 1st Division of the 1st Army of Anzio. The Anzion force was attempting to cross the bridge over the River Mantus near the city of Nisloque. The Pyrusian force held the hill and the forest as well as the 3rd Foot Musketeers garrisoning the bridge.

A regiment of Anzion Lancers crossed the bridge in column and was instantly shaken and then destroyed by a devastating fire from the defenders of the bridge.

A regiment of Foot Guards then crossed the bridge forming line on the Pyrusian side of the river. Meanwhile the 4th Foot Musketeers came under a damaging fire from some Anzion Artillery, the 4th Foot Musketeers retired behind the crest of the hill to avoid the Anzion Artillery fire.

In short order another two regiments of Anzion Infantry had now crossed the bridge and the 2nd Foot Musketeers were summoned from the safety of the forest to deliver a devastating volley into one of the Anzion Infantry regiments. At the same moment the Regiment of Anzion Foot Guards charged the 3rd Foot Musketeers. The mêlée was a long and bloody clash and the Anzion Guards eventually won the mêlée driving the 3rd Foot Musketeers into a rout.

However, the 1st Cuirassiers and 2nd Cuirassiers who had been under a telling fire now forced the Anzion Guards into square. As the Anzion Guards formed square, the Anzion General of the Army was wounded and the Anzion army disintegrated into a panicked rout.

## Aftermath

It is estimated that the Pyrusians lost 1,500 personnel killed and and wounded, while Anzion casualties were far greater, estimated at 2,300 personnel killed or wounded (55% losses).

The battle was a strategic and military victory for the Pyrusians and prevented an Anzion counter-invasion, but coming at a significant cost, ~36% of the 1st Division's strength.

The Kingdom of Anzio would capitulate with the signing of the Treaty of Horld a few days after the battle on 5th August 1751.