“WRATHFUL AND RESOLUTE DID HE GIVE HIS ANSWER”

MUCH ADO ABOUT MALDON

Let me begin by stating the following: I am fully aware that no one has solicited my opinion on this particular subject or, for that matter, asked questions regarding my thoughts about other directly or indirectly related matters. However, speaking as a confirmed solo as well as non-traditional historical wargamer whose primary period or periods of interest - at least for the last 15 years or so - fall within the very broad timeline of 3000 BC/BCE and 1500 AD/CE, I think it would be appreciated, beneficial, educational, in addition to well received, if, within two to three weeks of the completion of Battle Day 2025, a report or summary was posted to https://www.soa.org.uk/joomla/battle-day. These three or four to six or seven paragraphs would form the second half of an “equation” or “formula.” The first part would comprise the Battle Pack, which is essentially a set of instructions for interested ancient and or medieval wargamers to refight the chosen historical engagement. Ideally, the format or template of this report or summary would be very similar to that provided for Battle Day 2019, when Telamon was reconstructed on 16 tabletops and the historical action was refought using 12 different sets of rules. The specific format and length of the Battle Pack would vary of course, but again, ideally, it would be very similar to the pre-event information provided for The Sambre, Chalons, or Paraetacene, to name only three of the 21 engagements selected for this annual and celebrated gathering. Further, I think it would be appreciated, beneficial, and educational if this “two-pronged approach or style” was consistently employed for future Battle Days. While I have the floor or attention of the chamber, as it were, I should also like to suggest that at the conclusion of Battle Day 2025, an announcement should be made regarding the historical engagements selected for Battle Day 2026 and 2027. This information should be communicated verbally, and then provided on printed cards or similar forms to all those in attendance, as well as broadcast across multiple blogs, wargaming sites, and social media platforms on that same day. The practice would continue with Battle Day 2027, which would see the contests chosen for the next two years announced. Anyway. 

Stipulating to the fact that Battle Day 2025 will not be held for at least ten months (this line was typed on the evening of 02 May 2024), and accepting that there has been no official announcement, at least not yet, confirming the selection of the 991 AD contest between Anglo-Saxons and Sea-Raiders as the historical engagement chosen for the next gathering hosted/sponsored by The Society of Ancients, I thought it might prove engaging or perhaps a welcome distraction from other concerns, to use the 2019 Battle Day Report as a kind of framework in order to imagine what Battle Day 2025 might be like.

It is fair to say that I would be surprised if not shocked (albeit pleasantly so) to find out that 16 tabletops were populated by various scales of Huscarls, Thegns, Fyrd, Hirdmen, Bondi and other tenth century troop types. I would hope that the selected venue was centrally located as well as provided sufficient room, plenty of natural sunlight, and the necessary amenities (i.e., food/snacks, facilities, parking, etc.) so that the overall experience of those fortunate enough to be in attendance was enjoyable if not very satisfying. My current prediction is that 8, 10, or perhaps even a dozen refights will be staged on various tabletops. This educated guess is subject to change, of course. 

I am not sure who will volunteer or be asked to present the pre-Battle Day lecture. If pressured to make three guesses, I would offer - in no particular order of preference - the following names: Simon MacDowall, Duncan Head, and Anthony Clipsom, though I believe this last gentleman’s main interest and acknowledged expertise might be a century or two later than the accepted date for Maldon. Then again, The Society might be fortunate enough to have an academic from a nearby university make the informal yet integral to the proceedings presentation. To be certain, whomever winds up speaking to the assembled participants will have plenty of material to sift and sort through when drawing up his (or her) notes and outline for said lecture. The following is a work-in-progress list of sources and related materials that were found (well . . . mostly stumbled upon) during my very amateur investigation and research into the history of the battle of Maldon. I have divided these various sources into an academic category and a wargaming category, understanding full well that there might be some crossover.

Academic 

> “The Maldon Poem” - a verse translation by Douglas B. Killings

Please see https://english.nsms.ox.ac.uk/oecoursepack/maldon/translations/killingsfull.htm

(Of course, there are other translations of this literary fragment available.) 

> https://penelope.uchicago.edu/~grout/encyclopaedia_romana/britannia/anglo-saxon/maldon/maldon.html

> https://www.csun.edu/~sk36711/WWW2/engl443/ASC991.html

> https://www.battlefieldstrust.com/resource-centre/battlepageview.asp?pageid=351&parentid=343

> https://www.academia.edu/Documents/in/The_Battle_of_Maldon

> https://www.jstor.org/stable/3679193

> https://www.amazon.com/Battle-Maldon-Peace-Tenth-Century-England/dp/1350134031

> https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Battle_of_Maldon.html?id=6ylbAAAAMAAJ

(Podcasts)

> The British History Podcast

Number 319 - The Battle of Maldon / June 20, 2019

> Dan Snow’s History Hit

England’s Great Viking Battle / August 10, 2021

> Gone Medieval Podcast

Battle of Maldon / December 12, 2022

> Battle of Maldon

Anglo-Saxon Aloud / December 7, 2007

(This offering was quite interesting. I could not help but imagine some club or group using it as 

the soundtrack for their scenario.)

Wargaming

> https://hereticalgaming.blogspot.com/2017/08/battle-of-maldon-991-ad-dba-refight.html

> https://nopaintingrequired.blogspot.com/search/label/Maldon%3A%20Something%20to%20Mull%20Over

> https://warhorseminiatures.com/category/battle-of-maldon/

> https://misternizz.wordpress.com/2009/12/02/mayhem-at-maldon-a-6mm-mini-campaign-as-a-movie/

> https://www.farfaraway.org/blog/2012/07/08/the-battle-of-maldorn-game-1/

> Historical Miniature Gamer Magazine #11 

(Not sure of the publication date of this Don Perrin concern. However, the table of contents does list an article titled “Mayhem at Maldon,” so this might be worth a look. More information is better, right?)

> Murray Dahm’s “The Battle of Maldon - A Dark Age Saga for Shield Wall” [HAIL CAESAR]

Please see https://www.warlordgames.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Battle-of-Maldon_Hail-Caesar-1.pdf

(The further reading section or page offers additional reference materials and scholarly sources.)

> The October 2011 issue of WARGAMES illustrated®

(The theme of this typically colorful issue is ‘Facing the Viking Scourge.’ Related articles include the following: “Warriors to War: Wargaming the Battle of Maldon with the Hail Caesar Rule Set,” by Rick Priestley; “The Challenge of Dark Age Gaming,” by Martin Gibbins; “Oh Lord, Deliver Us from the Fury of the Northmen! A Look at the New SAGA Game from Gripping Beast,” also by Rick Priestley, and then “How to Build . . . Anglo-Saxon Tents,” by Ryan Lavelle.) 

> The April 26, 2023 YouTube offered by 7th Son might be of interest to some folks. Please see “Battle of Maldon 991AD: Project Inception and Plan”

> Slingshot, The Journal of the Society of Ancients: “The Battle of Maldon,” by Ian Greenwood, which appeared in Issue 123 (January 1986), and “Maldon AD 991: Read the Poem & Fight the Battle,” by Philip Sabin, which appeared in Issue 181 (September 1995).

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These numerous links and sources might also be utilized by those planning to put on a game at Battle Day 2025. Of course, individuals or clubs/groups unable to be there due to geographic distance, logistics, and other insurmountable or simply too expensive reasons, might also avail themselves of these sources for their respective treatments of Maldon. I have no doubt that individuals more experienced in this historical period will have found and therefore utilize even more links and sources, or perhaps they will refer to a distilled and vetted list of just half a dozen links and sources.  

Returning to the framework of that previously referenced 2019 Report, it seems safe if not obvious to remark that there will be different interpretations of the historical engagement offered by participants. In no particular order, I wonder (well in advance, admittedly) how many games will feature some kind of representation of the pre-battle contest for the causeway? Here, I am referring to lines 74 to 85 of the poem wherein the brave defense made by Wulfstan, Aelfere and Maccus is described. As for the main engagement, I also wonder what size armies will be employed by those staging a reconstruction. Of course, there is the consideration of figure scale, but specifically, I am thinking about the relative strengths of the opposing forces. How many Vikings will be present and how will they be divided by troop type or class? How will they be organized? Who will be in command? The same questions can be applied to the Anglo-Saxon side. In conjunction with these concerns and questions, there is the small but important matter of terrain. I do not think any serious wargamer (to be distinguished from those wargamers who take themselves too seriously) would find fault with the tremendous aesthetic appeal of the Wyn Rodgers Gripping Beast demo table. However, I do not think that there will be many similar looking tables found at the future Battle Day. It occurs to me that the majority of the tabletops will not be L-shaped. It stands to reason that most of the tabletops will probably look more like those that were employed for the Hydaspes, Pharsalus, and Paraetacene Battle Days. Shifting to a quick question about the format or style of the refights, I wonder if any club or group will attempt a mini-campaign game on the day? Even though it is outside of the accepted and understood history, I wonder how participants would view a scenario wherein half of the Sea-Raiders occupying the small island got in their longships and proceeded to make an amphibious landing two or three miles away? In this counterfactual, could the invaders catch the assembled Saxons from the front as well as the flank and or rear? Would the commander(s) of the Fyrd and other warriors be able to divide their forces in order to handle or thwart the enemy’s plan?

Reviewing and reflecting on my wargaming past, a version of this historical engagement has been played using Armati (2nd Edition), IMPETVS (2008 Edition), L’Art de la Guerre (2014 or 3rd Edition), and To The Strongest! (Version 1.1 and the revisions or updates that were available at that time - the last months of 2017) Based on the available evidence, this battle can also be played using the Hail Caesar rules. At the start of this project, I considered staging refights of Maldon with the Tactica II rules as well as setting up a game using Triumph! or perhaps Grand Triumph! In fact, at one point, I contemplated a long-term as well as rather ambitious solo project of refighting Maldon seven times using this basketful of rules. I figured that I could complete this goal in approximately 42-45 weeks. (Six weeks would be set aside for each wargame. It seemed that this block of time would allow me to prepare, set up, play, and then draft a report that may or may not include a map or two.) This estimated time frame would allow me sufficient hours to type up and revise either a long post for my blog or a summary report for the sitting editor of Slingshot. Fortunately, prudence, along with realism, intervened, and the ambitious if not more than a little redundant idea was packed into a small nondescript box which was then placed on a high shelf out of my line of sight. Again, anyway. 

Reviewing the table contained within the 2019 Report where the games/rules and figure scales were listed alphabetically, and then taking a long look at the rules poll discussion thread started by ‘Imperial Dave’ (aka Dave Hollin) on the day after Christmas 2019, I thought I might attempt some predictions about the rules and game scales that will be staged for Battle Day 2025. On further reflection, perhaps a better phrasing would be: Here is an alphabetical list of refights that I hope to read about (as well as see some pictures of) by mid May or early June of 2025.

ADLG

Having some experience with these evidently popular and often used in competition rules, I think it would be nice to see them make a physical appearance at the designated Battle Day venue in 2025. I would imagine the 4th Edition set would be used, along with a few scenario special rules perhaps. I would also imagine that the opposing armies would be roughly similar at 200 points each. Then again, the staging individual or club might want to revise these totals to better match their interpretation of the existing evidence regarding the sizes of the opposing forces. The refight would probably be done with 15mm figures, but I could easily see 25/28mm figures being used. 

Ancient and Medieval Wargaming (Neil Thomas)

This set of rules makes an occasional appearance at the Battle Day event. Perhaps I should type “rare” instead. Based on what little I know about these rules, it seems that 6mm or 10mm figures work best with them. Given the comparatively small numbers involved at Maldon, as opposed to the sizes of the competing armies at Ilipa for example, or Chalons for another, I wonder if this refight would be presented with a 1 figure equals 1 fighting man scale. In the right hands, I think this treatment would be quite spectacular. 

Armati

It would be fair to remark that I have a lot of experience with these rules. (Note: Readers should not infer that by this level of experience I am an excellent Armati player-general.) It would also be fair to remark that Armati players are or an Armati faction is a fairly consistent presence at Battle Day. Typically, 15mm figures are or have been employed, and because the rules are comparatively simple and quick to play, the Armati tabletops often see two wargames completed on the day, even when the historical engagement has been much larger than Maldon. 

Comitatus

My hunch is that Simon MacDowall will be present at next year’s Battle Day. As these rules are the product of Simon’s respected intellect and are designed for the general historical period in which Maldon falls or fits, a refight featuring Comitatus and either 15mm or 25/28mm figures seems a pretty safe wager. If I recall correctly, a number of years ago, Simon used these rules to refight Chalons.

DBM / DBMM

As with Armati, these rules seem to be regulars (no troop type pun intended) at Battle Day events. I have some knowledge of these rules, but no actual playing experience. Reviewing the army lists found in Book 3 (D.B.M.), it appears that fielding 15mm or 25/28mm Middle Anglo-Saxons and Norse Viking and Leidang would not present any substantial challenges. Perhaps the stated unit/element scales could be amended to provide for a larger scenario, thus allowing the tabletop to be filled with miniatures.

FoG (Field of Glory)

I have the hardbound rule book and a couple of supplements, but that is about the extent of my experience with regard to wargaming with these rules. FoG has made a few appearances at Battle Day if memory serves. (The report which was published after Chalons was engaging and entertaining.) My guess is that a satisfying refight, perhaps even a couple of games - one in 15mm and the other in 25/28mm - might be possible with these rules. 

Hail Caesar

Based on the article written by Rick Priestley and the PDF provided by Murray Dahm, I would be surprised if there were only two refights of Maldon at Battle Day 2025 that employed these colorful rules. While I have read reports wherein 10mm and 15mm figures have been used, it seems to me that the better Hail Caesar scenarios usually feature 25/28mm figures. 

 

IMPETVS

Yet another set of rules in my “library” that falls under the broad category of “have a little bit of experience with, but certainly would not call myself a competent player.” With regard to Battle Day experience or presence, I think this set or rules is or may be tied with FoG. As I recall, the IMPETVS report produced after the Chalons Battle Day was also engaging and enjoyable. As for figure scale, well, I think that either 15mm or 25/28mm would serve very well. 

Mortem et Gloriam

As far as I am aware, this comparatively new set of rules has yet to make its debut at Battle Day. I wonder if Maldon will witness the “christening” of MeG? From what I have seen and read about these rules, it appears that they would be quite suitable (or suited) for a refight of a battle involving Huscarls, Fyrd, and Hirdmen. While a tabletop filled with 15mm figures would look just fine, I think a model engagement featuring 25/28mm figures would look even better with MeG.

Tactica II

I believe that I can claim a certain level of experience and knowledge with these rules. To be certain however, I am not as well versed as the accomplished Simon Watson and his usual group of player-generals. (For just a couple of examples of these splendid battles, please see https://groups.io/g/Tactica/topic/97752498?p=%2C%2C%2C20%2C0%2C0%2C0%3A%3Arecentpostdate%2C%2C%2C20%2C2%2C20%2C0&allview=1 and https://groups.io/g/Tactica/topic/104885122?p=%2C%2C%2C20%2C0%2C0%2C0%3A%3Arecentpostdate%2C%2C%2C20%2C2%2C0%2C0&allview=1.) Anyway, as mentioned above, I did consider setting up a Tactica II version of Maldon. I figured that the army lists provided in the spiral-bound rulebook would be viable, even if they were dated for 1066, exactly 75 years after the historical engagement was fought. I did wonder, though, what scenario rules might need to be drafted and or tested in order to stage a more satisfying scenario. To my knowledge, I do not think Tactica II has ever made a showing at a Battle Day event. However, I believe that these long in development and thoroughly play-tested rules have been employed for a few remote (not COVID related) Battle Days.  

To The Strongest!

Yet another set of rules that I can place under the “have some experience with using” column or category. As there were two TtS! games at Battle Day 2019, I think it would be nice to see two TtS! games at Battle Day 2025. I could see 6mm, 15mm or 25/28mm figures being employed in these refights. These scenarios would stand out at Battle Day 2025 if only for the fact that they required no dice or rulers/measuring tapes. 

Triumph!

These comparatively new and arguably if not admittedly derivative rules have never made a showing at an actual Battle Day event. I wonder if Maldon will see them make their debut? Based on my limited experience, these rules play fairly fast. If the armies are larger however (i.e., more models and units), than the game time increases accordingly. Even so, I could see two games of Grand Triumph! being played to completion on the day, with the player-generals switching sides or perhaps new player-generals rotating in after a brief lunch/tea and biscuits break. As with the previous sets of rules, either 15mm or 25/28mm figures would serve.

WRG (1st-6th, or 7th)

In one form or another, I think these “old school” rules have been a fairly consistent presence at Battle Day events. Why would Maldon be any different?  

Warhammer Ancients

At the risk of making a play on words, it might be suggested that I have an ancient history with these rules. From what I remember, reinforced by what I have read and viewed, I think these would make or provide for a fairly enjoyable refight of Maldon. Unlike other rule sets, I do think 25/28mm figures would be required. I wonder if even larger scale miniatures might be employed? I wonder what Maldon would look like if 54mm figures were used? 

Warlord - Advance Guard

I have zero knowledge of and even less experience with these rules. However, based on the title, I am going to guess that they might be suitable for staging a refight of Maldon. With regard to the scale of figures, I am going to default to either the 15mm or 25/28mm position. 

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Even though 16 sets of wargaming rules have been listed and “summarized,” I should like to reiterate my initial prediction that Battle Day 2025 will see between 8 and 12 games presented on variously sized tabletops. To be certain, the actual number of games might be more than 12, but I doubt that there will be more than 10 different sets of rules employed on the day. I sincerely hope that I am mistaken. I would gladly dine on that particular dish of crow. At the risk of extending this particular section, I wonder if any other ancient or medieval wargaming rules, specifically those sets published between 2020 and 2024, will make their debut appearance at Battle Day 2025?

Figuring that most game organizers will be using their own collections, I imagine that 15mm scale armies will be in the majority at Battle Day 2025. This is not to say, however, that 6mm, 10mm, and 25/28mm scales will not be represented. In terms of unit scale or figure to actual fighting man ratio, I have already mentioned the possibility of a 1-to-1 scale with a specific set of rules. Given the comparatively small numbers involved in this historical battle, I wonder if some organizers might revise their selected rules so that a 1:10 or even 1:5 figure scale can be used.

In drafting and then revising this post or article, I found myself returning to and rereading the concluding section of that WARGAMES illustrated® piece written by Martin Gibbins. The gentleman remarked: “I think we can say that we don’t actually want an accurate simulation of Dark Age warfare, as it would simply be too boring to play. That said, how well do current rules face up to the challenge of Dark Age gaming?” Even though Martin wrote/typed these words over a decade ago, I think they still ring true today. I also think that his premise and question will be the combined focus of those individuals who are putting on a game at Battle Day 2025 and of those who are commanding the miniature armies. While rereading this conclusion, I continued to wonder about the reported pre-battle contest for control of the causeway. I also reviewed the number of speeches made throughout the 300-plus lines of the existing poetic fragment. I wondered if these vocal moments might somehow be incorporated into the variety of games of Maldon that will eventually be staged. The perceived slow attrition rate or ebb and flow of shieldwall contests would certainly not be boring if the involved player-generals had to declaim or extemporize while they were rolling dice or resolving combats by some other method.  

As for the total number of attendees, I would guess somewhere between 45 and 60 people will show up on that late March or early April date. Given the comparatively simple nature of the contest (as opposed to staging Cynoscephalae for example) at least as represented with painted and based miniatures on an equally simple tabletop, I think the final number of participants will be closer to 45. To adapt a qualifying phrase often used in the analysis of political polling results: the margin of error here is plus or minus three. 

I am not certain when the tradition of awarding prizes at Battle Day began, but I do know that awards for the best game and best terrain have been pretty consistent for at least a decade if not longer. (I wonder if there has ever been a year when the same refight succeeding in taking home both prizes?) The number of spurious but equally subjective prizes seems to be dependent on historical context as well as other variables like discretionary funds available or additional sponsorship and supporters, etc. Anyway, the following is another work-in-progress list of possible spurious categories for Battle Day Maldon.

 

—The Best Byrhtnoth / awarded to the Saxon player-general who either refuses to die, dies very well, or produces the most pleasing improvised challenges, insults, or speeches during the course of a wargame.

—The Best Olaf Tryggvason / awarded to the Viking player-general who either refuses to die, dies very well, or produces the most pleasing improvised challenges, insults, or speeches during the course of a wargame.

—The Best Wulfstan / awarded to the player who is able to hold the causeway for the longest and against great odds, thus vexing a lot of Vikings. 

—The Best Godric / awarded to the player-commander who is able to “participate” in the contest and then secure a horse and make a rapid exit to safety. Within 48 hours, he will have engaged the tenth century equivalent of a public relations specialist or firm. 

—The Best Anglo-Saxon army / awarded to the most aesthetically pleasing presentation of Huscarls and Fyrd, etc. 

—The Best Viking army / awarded to the most aesthetically pleasing presentation of longship warriors.

—The Best Vignette / awarded to the game containing the most aesthetically pleasing, discussion provoking, or simply humorous small collection of models ever to grace a tabletop.

“Final” Comments

In a perfect wargaming world, or at least a version of it, a complete history of all of the Battle Days would be easily and readily available for those interested in reviewing, revisiting, or researching these annual gatherings of like-minded individuals. Each selection would be introduced and or analyzed by means of a Battle Pack. The moderate or great success of each Battle Day would be reported upon within two to three weeks of its scheduled calendar date. Ideally, this summary report would contain a list of the games played and rules used, information on the prizes awarded, details on the historical battles selected for the next two years, and 18 to 24 pictures of the proceedings. Of course, we don’t live in a perfect wargaming world. I think we can aspire to it however, or again, at least a version of it that has been reached by consensus. 

At the risk of trotting out an oft used cliche, change is constant, inevitable, and more often than not, is scary or at least uncomfortable until one adapts to the “new normal” or way of doing things. With the first pages of this post or article, it was not at all my intention to impinge upon, impugn, or otherwise interfere with the evolving Battle Day tradition. Neither did I seek to be critical of those in charge of organizing and running this signature annual event. In this day and age, however, I fear that excerpts or points of this post might be taken out of context, and that as a result, I might be subjected to the “slings and arrows” of those who feel slighted, wronged, or simply have quite a bit of free time on their hands. Then again, given that I am not on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter (to call it “X” just seems silly), and given the small if not laughably small number of followers and unimpressive total number of visits or whatever metric when compared to other wargaming blogs, these concerns or fears are likely unrealistic as well as unwarranted. 

In going over the first and second drafts of this effort, I was struck by the irony as well as by how very premature it is. Having refought the 991 battle of Maldon several times some six or seven years ago, I rather doubt that I will attempt to engage or entertain myself with a fifth or sixth reconstruction. As Battle Day 2025 will not take place for another 10 months, this post or article is extremely premature. (Then again, perhaps more than a few historical wargamers do begin thinking about how they might refight or participate in next year’s Battle Day well in advance. This might make for an interesting poll or survey.) In going over the early drafts of this project, I wondered about the correctness of using the format presented in the 2019 Battle Day Report. As I went through the sections of that five-plus-years-old information, I also wondered if I had accidentally complicated things by doing too much research. To be sure, having more information is better than having less, but does not there come a point when one says enough or OK - I think this is sufficient for my plan(s) or purpose(s)?

As I looked over the section wherein I offered admittedly amateur and subjective remarks about a number of rulebooks, I thought about the relationship of the tabletop terrain to the historical forces and known sources of information about the actual battle. From a primarily aesthetic point of view, it would be ideal to have a tabletop that looked like the one Rick Priestley and Darren Harding used in 2011. However, I don’t think this splendid model is an absolute requirement for an enjoyable and exciting wargame featuring Anglo-Saxons and Vikings. From that same perspective, it would also be ideal to have 28mm figures painted and based to a very high standard. If I close my eyes, I can almost picture an 18 by 8-foot table populated with miniatures at a 1:3 or 1:5 figure scale. From the more important perspective of play or playability, at least in my opinion, the choice of rules and possible scenario amendments to those rules are key. That Gibbins comment about “accurate simulation” and “degree of boredom” just won’t go away. Accepting that I have rather a long wait ahead of me, I will be interested to find out how demonstrably better historical wargamers approached this Battle Day. I confess that I am already eager to read the accounts of their experiences, of their challenges and successes.

It could be fairly said that this Maldon-oriented “essay” was born out of disappointment and frustration with regard to my current level of engagement with the hobby. That rather minor or essentially non-issue aside - compared to the significantly more serious things going on in the world, it is hoped that this post might generate further discussion about Battle Day Maldon and maybe even serve as a little inspiration or impetus to those who are straddling the proverbial shieldwall on whether or not to attend or otherwise participate in Battle Day 2025.