Battle of Neucasselle (1458)

The Battle of Neucasselle, fought on 14 Laevatio 1458, is widely regarded as one of the most important battles of the Gunpowder War. An army led by Adonis II of Rafia joined forces with the army of Captain-General Jehan Prégent. Both sides suffered heavy losses, including the Marquis of Aspenburg, who was killed leading a cavalry charge.

Background

The Rafian campaign in Pargentie had begun in the spring of 1454, when an army of 43,000 men crossed the border with Upper Pargentie, initially led by the Duke of Wendhoevel. The Rafians won sparse victories at Ide-de-la-Manche and Faucheaux, slowly being able to progress down to Montauban by summer 1455. As the Rafian strategy involved liberating and garrisoning towns with popular support to maintain a steady supply chain, the Imperial armies aimed to cut them off by retaking strategically positioned forts. As the war in Southern Pargentie grinded to a halt in a heavy attrition war, this provided the Imperials ample opportunity to execute their plans over the next few years of fighting, scoring victories at Royandant, Chirac, Salins, and Gibaire, pushing the Rafians back to Mélinne. Faced with this, Adonis chose to lead his army southwest to cut the Imperial forces off from the west, picking up Tridonian allies along the way. This force was ultimately led across the Sètre River at L'Órmion-sur-Sètre, 2.7 leagues northwest of Neucasselle, on 10 Laevatio 1458, where he encountered a small Imperial garrison, which was promptly routed. A detachment of light cavalry fled and rode to warn His Excellency the Colonel-General the Duke of Sáragga