Battle of Wilton Castle

The Battle of Wilton Castle was a battle in 1159 during the Emeronian Civil War.

## Commanders

### Attacking Leaders

General Cared Merwulf, Ducal Marshal Suse Eves, Marshal Oliver Mithil

### Defending Leaders

Marshal Eadwing, Marshal Sanna Mathangu, Marshal Ausan Barressian, Marshal Alryn Thundereye

## Units

### Attacking Units

4,000 Royal Footmen and Archers, 400 Royal Cavalry, 4,245 Emeron conscripts, 2,000 Emeron Footmen and Archers

### Defending Units

1,000 Antyoch Footmen and Archers, 2,450 Antyoch conscripts, 550 Tralpar Footmen and Archers, 3,385 Tralpar conscripts, 2,000 Forestwatch conscripts

## Results

### Victor

Antyoch

On the 14th of Unicorn, 1159 King Koris Woodbridge died. Rumors immediately surfaced that his long illness was the result of poisoning from Crown Princess Joycie or her husband Geoffry Ravenut, as a means to seize power.

Two months later an there was an assassination attempt on Queen Joycie and Duke Geoffry. The assassins were killed by the Emerald Knights, but the Crown claimed that the assassin slew Queen Mother Merey Woodbridge in the fighting and that they assassins were identified as having worked for Duke Riffin Etiamond and his wife, Joycie's younger sister and next in line for the Throne, Atril Woodbridge.

The Crown ordered both nobles arrested for Treason, but Duke Riffin and Princess Atril denied involvement and refused to travel to surrender themselves. The Crown responded by ordering Royal Marshal Sir Pirsym Julitt to rally the Royal Army and march on Antyoch and arrest Duke Riffin and Princess Atril.

## Pre-Battle

Sir Pirsym Julitt rallied an enormous army. In record time he had rallied over 10,000 men and sailed them across the Tribarc River, landing in Zoupland. Giles Ethialac, the Baron of Treebend, parlayed with Sir Pirsym and agreed to stands aside, allowing the army to land and move through his territory even though he was a vassal of Duke Riffin. Baron Giles declined to add his forces to the Royal Army however.

Meanwhile, Duke Riffin had massed all of his forces in Tralpar in or near Wilton Castle and placed Tralpar's warlord, General Sir Sigge Hartun, in command of the defense. Even with the limited time Sir Sigge held over 9,000 men at his disposal.

On the 26th of Lion, 1159, Royal forces arrived in Treebend and engaged in a few skirmishes with Antyochian troops while securing the area for a siege.

## Battle

On the 29th of Lion, 1159, Sir Pirsym Julitt launched a full attack. The defenders primarily used the castle and its fortifications to their advantage, though the Royal Army did have siege engines that pummeled the walls.

The battle was particularly bloody and raged for four days. Though technically Antyoch could claim victory as Sir Pirsym made the decision to pull back to Treebend when it looked like he would not have enough survivors to take Wilton Castle, in truth the battle was a draw as both sides had suffered such massive casualties as to be unable to fight for more than a few more days if the death rate remained consistent.

The Royal forces suffered the loss of 7,438 men, leaving them with only 3,207 in fighting shape, while Antyoch forces lost 7,446 men, leaving them with just under 2,000 at their disposal.

Among the dead was Ducal Marshal of Emeron Sues Eves on the side of the Royalists and Anyol Marshal Sanna Mathangu on the Antyoch side.