Kings Army

Lewes 1264 AD

A Warhammer Ancient Battles Army List based upon an adaptation of O Peronny’s unofficial
supplement ‘Armies of the Western Kingdoms 1100-1300’.

Based on the royal army brought to Lewes which charged the rebels in 1264, the following list
estimates the number, speculative composition and division of the army which fought for King
Henry III. This army has a striking percentage of cavalry massed in one ward except for the
bodyguards of the King and Richard of Cornwall leading the other two mainly infantry wards.
Marching under the ‘banner of the red dragon’, certain characters have high motivations to
destroy their enemy to decide the rule of England. Total numbers: 150 cavalry and 350 infantry
not including characters. All unit commanders except skirmishers have character leaders.

The army is divided into three wards: the left ward commanded by the King is divided into two
massed Mixed Order infantry wards; the middle ward is similarly divided into two tactical units
with skirmisher support; and the right ward is an all cavalry ward divided into three tactical
units. The Mixed Order and skirmishers comprise bow armed elements including crossbow but
in limited numbers in keeping with the pre-longbow era. The King’s and Richard’s bodyguard
are heavily armoured and are the only units to ride Warhorses other than all of the Characters.
The three tactical cavalry arms are led by Prince Edward (knights/sergeants at arms), John de
Warrene (Squires) and William de Valence (Sergeants/Men-at-arms).

Notes: Lists refer to my research into the knights and men of note present at the battle which in some instances
have been arbitrarily allocated a ward to spread the identifiable heraldry amongst the army. Small font references
in parenthesis are alternatively spelt or referred names. Unit commanders are in almost every instance known to
have been with or even commanded that ward.

Army General
King Henry III of England
King M4 WS6 BS5 S4 T4 W3 I6 A3 Ld9
Equipment: Shield, sword, heavy armour, lance, Warhorse with cloth barding.
Special Rules: Army General, Chivalric Honour, Ferocious Charge when mounted with his knights.

Army Standard
Banner of the Red Dragon (no quarter to the enemy!)
Henry de Bohun, Earl of Hereford
Earl M4 WS5 BS4 S4 T4 W3 I5 A3 Ld9
Equipment: Shield, sword, heavy armour, lance, Warhorse with cloth barding.
Special Rules: Chivalric Honour, Ferocious Charge when mounted with his knights.

Left Ward (1 body of Horse and 2 bodies of mixed order foot)

Horse
Noble Commanding: King Henry III of England (see Army General)
Duke’s Body Guard 10 Household Knights
Mounted Body Guard M8 WS4 BS3 S3 T4 W1 I4 A1 Ld8
Equipment: Lance, sword, heavy armour and shield on Warhorses with cloth
barding.
Special Rules: Drilled, Ferocious Charge and Stubborn if dismounted.
Lists: Robert de Tattershall (Tateshale), Roger de Someric (Somery), William de
Witton (Wilton) and William de Axmouth (Paymaster of the King’s Household).
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Foot
Noble Commanding Phillip Basset the Kings Justiciar
Baron M4 WS5 BS4 S4 T3 W2 I5 A2 Ld8
Equipment: Shield, sword, heavy armour, lance, Warhorse with cloth barding.
Special Rules: Chivalric Honour, Ferocious Charge when mounted with other
knights
Men-at-arms 75 Spear
Men-at arms M4 WS3 BS3 S3 T3 W1 I3 A1 Ld6
Equipment: Spear, hand weapons light armour and shield.
Special Rules: Mixed Order.
12 household crossbowmen
Men-at arms M4 WS3 BS3 S3 T3 W1 I3 A1 Ld6
Equipment: Light armour, hand weapons and crossbow.
Special Rules: Mixed Order.
This unit is bolstered by household foot and retainers from the household and
loyal knights.
Foot
Noble Commanding William Bardolf
Baron M4 WS5 BS4 S4 T3 W2 I5 A2 Ld8
Equipment: Shield, sword, heavy armour, lance, Warhorse with cloth barding.
Special Rules: Chivalric Honour, Ferocious Charge when mounted with other
knights
Men-at-arms 75 Spear
Militia M4 WS3 BS3 S3 T3 W1 I3 A1 Ld5
Equipment: Spear, hand weapons and shield. Bowmen have bow and no shield.
Special Rules: Mixed Order.
12 household bowmen
Men-at arms M4 WS3 BS3 S3 T3 W1 I3 A1 Ld6
Equipment: Light armour, hand weapons and bow.
Special Rules: Mixed Order.

Centre Ward (1 body of horse, 2 bodies of foot and skirmishers)

Horse
Noble Commanding Richard of Cornwall King of the Romans*
Earl M4 WS5 BS4 S4 T4 W3 I5 A3 Ld9
Equipment: Shield, sword, heavy armour, lance, Warhorse with cloth barding.
Special Rules: Chivalric Honour, Ferocious Charge when mounted with his
knights.
* Note: Whilst Richard was elected Holy Roman Emperor and King of the Romans, he is not leading
that army and his presence therefore does not warrant King status in WAB.
Duke’s Body Guard 10 Household Knights
Mounted Body Guard M8 WS4 BS3 S3 T4 W1 I4 A1 Ld8
Equipment: Lance, sword, heavy armour and shield on Warhorses with cloth
barding.
Special Rules: Drilled, Ferocious Charge and Stubborn if dismounted.
Lists: John de Comyn, Robert de Bruce, Henry de Percy and John Baliol.
Foot
Noble Commanding Henry of Almain (son of Richard)
Baron M4 WS5 BS4 S4 T3 W2 I5 A2 Ld8
Equipment: Shield, sword, heavy armour, lance, Warhorse with cloth barding.
Special Rules: Chivalric Honour, Ferocious Charge when mounted with other
knights
Militia 80 spear
Militia M4 WS3 BS3 S3 T3 W1 I3 A1 Ld5
Equipment: Spear, hand weapons and shield.
Foot
Noble Commanding John Fitzalan, Earl of Arundel
Earl M4 WS5 BS4 S4 T4 W3 I5 A3 Ld9
Equipment: Shield, sword, heavy armour, lance, Warhorse with cloth barding.
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Special Rules: Chivalric Honour, Ferocious Charge when mounted with other
knights
Soer-Chele 80 spear
(Scots Spear) Soer-Chele M5 WS3 BS3 S3 T3 W1 I3 A1 Ld5
Equipment: Spear, hand weapons and shield.
Special Rules: Warband, may use Shieldwall - see WAB Shieldwall rules.
These spearmen are lowland Scots, retainers and militia from north of the Tweed
brought by the loyal Scottish nobles who ride in the lists for Richard’s bodyguard.
Skirmishers
Militia 14 bow
Militia M4 WS3 BS3 S3 T3 W1 I3 A1 Ld5
Equipment: Bow and hand weapons.

Right Ward (3 bodies of horse)

Horse
Noble Commanding Prince Edward ‘Longshanks’ of England
Baron M4 WS5 BS4 S4 T3 W2 I5 A2 Ld8**
Equipment: Shield, sword, heavy armour, lance, Warhorse with cloth barding.
Special Rules: Chivalric Honour, Ferocious Charge when mounted with his
knights and is subject to ‘Hatred of the Londoners’ as is any unit he is attached
to.
** Note: Whilst first Prince of the realm, Edward is young at the battle of Lewes. Even though he had
been campaigning successfully prior to the battle, his performance on the day sheds doubt on his
development as a commander at this time, thus he is ranked a Baron for this list.
Knights/Sergeants 60 knights
Mounted Knights M8 WS4 BS3 S3 T3 W1 I4 A1 Ld7
Equipment: Lance, sword, heavy armour and shield. Mounts have cloth barding.
Special Rules: Ferocious Charge.
Lists: Prince Edmund ‘Crouchback’ of England***, Hugh Bigod (Bigot), Guy de
Lusignan, Roger Mortimer, Roger Leybourne (Leyburn), Hamond l’Estrange,
Reginald Fitzpiers, Alan de la Zouch, Fulk Fitzwarren, Adam of Jesmond,
Richard Foliot of Essex, …
*** Note: The list speculates that Prince Edmund was present, even though not mentioned as such,
given he was of age. Given his absence from the historical record, he is not accorded Character
status.
Horse
Noble Commanding John de Warren, Earl of Surrey
Earl M4 WS5 BS4 S4 T4 W3 I5 A3 Ld9
Equipment: Shield, sword, heavy armour, lance, Warhorse with cloth barding.
Special Rules: Chivalric Honour, Ferocious Charge when mounted with his
knights.
Squires 35 Squires
Mounted Squires M8 WS3 BS3 S3 T3 W1 I4 A1 Ld7
Equipment: Lance, sword, light armour and shield.
Special Rules: ‘Glory Seekers’ – Squires will automatically pursue retreating,
routing or FBIGO enemy units resulting from melee with them and must pass a
leadership test or pursue any other enemy unit retreating or in rout within 24”.
Horse
Noble Commanding William de Valence
Baron M4 WS5 BS4 S4 T3 W2 I5 A2 Ld8
Equipment: Shield, sword, heavy armour, lance, Warhorse with cloth barding.
Sergeants 35 Sergeants
Mounted Sergeants M8 WS3 BS3 S3 T3 W1 I3 A1 Ld6
Equipment: Thrusting spear, sword and shield.
Special Rules: ‘Glory Seekers’ – Squires will automatically pursue retreating,
routing or FBIGO enemy units resulting from melee with them and must pass a
leadership test or pursue any other enemy unit retreating or in rout within 24”.

The Sergeants and Squires represent the lower order and retinue cavalry
contingents provided through the Kings call to arms, largely supplied through the
feudal hosts. Lesser armed, they will have a tendency to follow the flow of battle
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chasing down routers or supporting he charge of the knights, hence the

compulsion provided through the Special Rule “Glory Seekers’.