Historical Notes
The struggle between the house of Hohenstaufen and the papacy continued in the 13th century, with a succession of enemies raised by the papacy against King Manfred, all beaten off in due course. Pope Clement IV, newely elected in 1265, enlisted Charles of Anjou (the unscrupulous brother of St. Louis) and offered him the Sicilian crown to drive out the bastard son of Frederic II, even declaring the venture a "Crusade".
After a disastrous march through the Apennines trying to outflank Manfred's position at Capua, Charles' army is nearly out of supplies and exhausted by the march. To make matters worse, upon his egress from the treacherous mountains, Charles finds Manfred and his army
waiting in good order on the opposite bank of the swollen River Calore, in control of the only bridge crossing at Benevento. Charles is in a desperate situation, he knows his army can be starved out in a matter of days. But Manfred is impatient and decides to make an ill considered attack, pushing his forces across the Benevento bridge and into the plain beyond. Seeing this, Charles forms his forces into line and the battle begins.
Initial success by Manfred's Saracen archers is followed up by a quick charge of heavy German cavalry, who begin to get the better of their French adversaries. At this critical point, Charles charges into the battle with his second line and turns the tide of battle. Manfred is not quick enough in supporting the Germans and they soon falter and are decimated. So would follow all of Manfred's lines, each succumbing in turn to the better coordinated French forces. Manfred did not survive...
Pennant
Charles of Anjou
Command level 6 
War Council level 0
Standard
King Manfred
Command level 5
War Council level 0
Victory Conditions
7 Banners
Special Rules
The River Calore is impassable, it can only be crossed at the Benevento bridge.