Eston/The Falasan Campaign/Skirmish in Belegmon

Skirmish in Belegmon
Part of the Eston-Falasan War
Date Jan 25, 2007 Location Belegmon Weather Result After rounds, Clear Estonite victory Territorial changes Eston occupies the battlefield in Belegmon
Combatants
Attackers	Defenders
Eston	Falasan
Commanders
Beziel Vlakider	none
Strength
715 men, 11,500 CS	54 men, 1,100 CS
Formations
Casualties
low	heavy

Preparations

Simultaneously with the attack on Nazia, the REAF troops assaulted Belegmon, a wealthy Falasani province. The bulk of the Estonite invasion forces participated in this attack, facing only token resistance. The defenders had sizeable fortifications, but no troops to defend them. Beziel Vlakider, the Estonite field commander, positioned his archers up front to rain arrows on the handful of troops behind the motte and bailey. The infantry would then attack, scale the walls and take the fort, followed by the cavalry to mop up the remaining defenders.

Battle

The first shots were fired by the Estonite archers, killing more than a third of the defenders in one volley, as the infantry charged forward. But the archers would prove to be the decisive factor in the battle. Their second volley killed two dozen more defenders. By the time the infantry reached the motte, only eleven defenders stood to fight. Their bravery was commendable, however, as they managed to take down eight attackers before they were finally killed. But the battle was lost. The Estonites occupied the fortifications, and the Falasani fled to safer grounds, waiting for reinforcements.

Aftermath

Even though they had an immense military overweight, the Estonites were tricked by the Falasani after the battle. Under cover of night, wearing plain cloaks, a handful of them snuck into the empty fort. At dawn, the Estonites realised the deceit, and they found themselves shut out of the fort. Angered by the ruse, the Estonites retook the fort the next day, making sure that they would not be fooled again.