War of Polish Succession 1733. The Battle of Sobieszewo

[DintheDin]

The War of Polish Succession (1733-35).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_the_Polish_Succession
https://www.revolvy.com/page/War-of-the-Polish-Succession?cr=1

It was a major European war sparked by a Polish civil war after the death of Augustus II.
Elector Augustus the Strong of Saxony had become king in 1697, with the backing of Austria and Russia.
In 1705, during the Great Northern War, Charles XII of Sweden deposed Augustus and installed Stanisław I as king. After Charles' defeat by Russia at Poltava in 1709, Stanisław fled to France, and Augustus was restored. In 1725, Stanisław's daughter Maria married King Louis XV of France.

Stanisław Leszczyński
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanis%C5%82aw_Leszczy%C5%84ski
was one of the two claimants of the throne and When Augustus died in 1733, Stanisław sought to regain the Polish throne with the help of French support for his candidacy.
After travelling to Warsaw in disguise, he was elected king of Poland by an overwhelming majority of the Diet.
However, before his coronation, Russia and Austria, fearing Stanisław would unite Poland in the Swedish-French alliance, invaded the country to annul his election. Stanisław was once more deposed, and, under Russian pressure, a small minority in the Diet elected the Saxon elector Frederick Augustus II to the Polish throne as Augustus III.
Stanisław retreated to the city of Danzig (Gdańsk) to wait for French assistance, which did not come.

...and here our story starts:

The battle of Sobieszewo, 1733 (fiction)
A what-if situation

For months was brewing in my mind the idea to play a Polish Succession battle in Polish soil, but it is true that there happened some minor engagements, the main theaters of battle were in Germany and Italy.

The scenario:
1733. The Saxons and Russians are sieging Stanisław at Gdansk.
The Prince Eugene of Savoy had recommended to the Austrian emperor to have an aggressive stance against France, but failed.
While a war between France and Austria has not yet been declared (fiction), King Louis organises an expedition to aid his father-in-law:
A contingent of French troops, together with subsidized Bavarian troops lands near Gdansk to relieve the siege.

[DintheDin]

The battle of Sobieszewo

French a Bavarian troops disembark at Sobieszewo, a few miles from Gdansk.
Leszczinski with his retinue and some peasantry loyal to him joins them.
They meet Saxon infantry entrenched in front of a farm complex, their flanks protected by Polish Winged Hussars, Pancerni, Dragoons and Cossacks.

The battle was played with Honours of War rules, using the Marlburian playsheet.
Panos Pap took the Saxon-Polish and I played with Leszczynski and the Franco-Bavarians.

[DintheDin]

The supporters of Stanisław Leszczyński

The disposition of troops:
Stanisław set his camp near the sea.
The camp is defended by two units of peasants with polearms and one with obsolete muskets.
They have some old age heavy cannon.
The French hold the center, the front infantry rank of grenadiers.
To the right of the French, the Bavarian infantry. 
They came willy-nilly to this expedition, their commander dithering and they have already one hit to mark a degree of disorganization and unwillingness to fight.
The right wing is composed by two regiments of Bavarian cuirassiers and one inferior regiment of French Hussars.

An arrow near the bridge... Somebody is bound to come...

[DintheDin]

The supporters of Frederick Augustus II

The disposition of troops:

The Saxon-Polish had more cavalry on their left and right flanks, consisted of Winged Hussars, Pancerni, mounted and dismounted Polish Dragoons and Cossacks.
Four Saxon battalions were entrenched in the center with one medium field artillery battery and a howitzer battery. 

[DintheDin]

The command of the French army was given to Dindin d'Antoin, comte de Millefeuille.
We can see him conferring with his aide, Monsieur de Sangfroid.
We cannot tell much about his strategic wits.
And about his encyclopedic knowledge, neither.

[DintheDin]

We can say that Leszczynski's Polish show more determination and willingness to fight

[DintheDin]

French and Bavarians arrayed for battle

[DintheDin]

The Saxon-Polish order of battle

[DintheDin]

Victory conditions:
Franco-Bavarians: Break the enemy or make three out of four Saxon battalions retreat from their entrenchments.
Saxon-Polish: Break the enemy or take the Polish camp, or kill Leszczynski.

Rounds: 10

(On round 4, with a throw of 5+ enter two Swedish infantry battalions from the bridge. They will surely enter on round 6)

Some slight amendments were needed, to reflect the use of Winged Hussars and mounted fire.

[DintheDin]

On round two and Polish dismounted dragoons are attacking the camp.
More of them are clashing with the Winged Hussars of Leszczynski's retinue.

[DintheDin]

The French tactics are a fine example for any military book...

[DintheDin]

...they send their best grenadier battalions to attack the Saxon entrenchments.
They meet stiff resistance, especially by their commander, Pan von Pappchen who throws 4s and 5s seamlessly... 

[DintheDin]

Both flanks of the French infantry are threatened by cavalry.
Bavarian infantry and cavalry come forward.

[DintheDin]

Lesczynski's retinue of elite Winged Hussars falls on the Dragoons, supported by Pancerni.
They are unlucky. Although of better quality and with the battle odds favoring them, they receive 5 hits and die on the spot.
Their adversaries retreat with 4 hits to reform.

[DintheDin]

The French infantry fight, fight fight…
...and fall back to reform