18th Century Wars of Absolutism: Land Campaigns I – Nish, Cuneo & Zondorf

This Book contains 3 standalone land campaign modules.

The Nish Campaign, 1737. Austrians v Ottoman Turks. This campaign is set in Serbia in the late summer of 1737 during the Austro-Russian-Turkish War of 1736-39. It attempts to re-create the invasion of Ottoman Serbia by a Habsburg Imperial army led by Marshal Count Friedrich von Seckendorf and its opposition by the Ottoman Grand Vizier Al Haji Mohammed who commanded the Ottoman Army on behalf of his master the Sultan.

The campaign ended in a disastrous failure for the Austrians following their defeats at the battle of Valjevo and the recapture of Nish by the Ottomans.

The campaign includes at least one siege against a medium fortress (Nish), the probability of two other sieges and unusually the probability of some fortresses being besieged, captured and then re-besieged and recaptured by the relieving forces.

Special features of this campaign include the fact that the invading army decimated by sickness and in particular malaria, eventually becomes the prey. They are pursued and virtually destroyed by an aggressive relief force led by the Grand Vizier and defeated at the battle of Valjevo.

It also pits a poorly trained and equipped European army against a basically irregular Asian army with a high proportion of cavalry.

The Cuneo Campaign, 1744. French and Spanish v Austrians and Sardinians. This campaign is set in north-western Italy in the summer of 1744 and is part of the wider conflict popularly known as the War of the Austrian Succession 1741-45. It attempts to re-create the Franco-Spanish (sometimes referred to as ‘Gallispan’) invasion of Piedmont, led by Prince Louis de’Conti which was opposed by Charles Emmanuel the King of Sardinia (Piedmont) with an Austro-Sardinian army who fought to protect his kingdom. Although victorious at the battle of Madonna dell’Olmo, the campaign ended with the Gallispans being forced to withdraw from Piedmont after torrential rain destroyed their siege works at Cuneo.

The campaign includes a potential siege or storming of a Weak Fortress, and a number of potential sieges against Weak and Medium Fortresses including the historical objectives of Demonte and Cuneo.

The Gallispan lines of supply across the Alps is an important and special feature of this campaign. The French objective was to capture an important fortress to be used as a base for the campaign planned for the following year. Another feature is the fortifications known as the Barricades built by Charles Emanuel to prevent the passage of enemy troops through the Stura Valley. The maneuvering and audacity of the Gallispan attack which resulted in the capturing of the fortifications was hailed as the feat of arms in Europe at the time.

The Zorndorf Campaign, 1758. Russians v Prussians. This campaign is set on Prussia’s eastern borders with Poland in the summer of 1758 and is part of the wider conflict popularly known as the Seven Years War 1756-63. It attempts to re-create the invasion into Prussia by a Russian army led by General Villim Fermor which was opposed by King Frederick II who personally commanded his own Prussian Army. The campaign ended after the bloody draw at Zorndorf with the Russians withdrawing from Prussia and Pomerania.

The campaign includes a potential siege or storming of a Basic Fortress, and a number of potential sieges against Weak Fortresses including the historical objective at Custrin/Kustrin (modern-day Kostrzyn).

Special features of this campaign include the fact that it has one army the Prussians, actively rushing to force a battle and destroy the enemy. A definite Napoleonic strategy and a far cry from the usual 18th C. maneuvers to capture fortresses or other possessions.

Each module contains its own:- • Historical Background. • An account of the historical campaign. • Campaign Map. • Programmed Events Table. • Chance Events Tables. • Army Lists.