Charles VIII of France has battered his way through the Italian City-States, and has occupied Naples. A potent French army under Stewart converges on a patchwork defending force commanded by Ferdinand II, the refugee Neapolitan king. Can Ferdinand's soldiers quench the fire of the invaders, and relieve the city? The game was fought by the Gourmet Wargaming Club with 15mm figures, at Santa Rosa Prefecture. We used our Renaissance Fury adaptation of the Fire and Fury rule set. Scroll down and peruse the photos to see how the game turned out. Click here to download a PDF of the scenario with orders of battle.

The Seminara battlefield before troops are deployed.	The Neapolitan army of Ferdinand II holds positions behind the river as the French army under Stewart marches on in formation.	The French artillery park is deployed with light bow-armed skirmishers. The guns commence firing!	The League of Venice sends forward light cavalry armed with arquebuses, supported by Genovese crossbowmen. Their aim is to silence the guns. Ha, good luck!	The Neapolitan left wing, consisting of Calabrian infantry.
Calabrian light cavalry with arquebuses ride out to engage the French artillery line.	A good-sized pike block of the League of Venice.	The Neapolitan right flank consists of Spanish troops under di Cordoba. The Spanish and Calabrians are hampered by the use of pure pike formations that lack the support of integral firearms.	French forces move forward, and suddenly there are fewer light cavalry in front of the guns. Open ground can be a lonely place.	A closer look at the French right flank. Arquebus-armed infantry screen the advance of heavy cavalry.
A French pike and shot column trundles past the artillery.	Our chef in the midst of preparing a magnificent lunch.	The French right flank moves forward, with light bowmen moving in front.	Stradiot light cavalry (right) in French service meet horse arquebusiers.	French pike and shot columns are preceded by longbowmen. This is the bulk of the French left flank.
The centers meet with a blast of ball, arrow, and quarrel.	The battle lines, as seen from the Neapolitan left flank.	Genovese crossbowmen scurry out from the positions of the League of Venice to menace the French heavy cavalry. A short-lived menace, but they shot down a number of horses.	Missile troops continue their battles in the center.	A view from very end of the French right flank. They are beginning to maneuver to threaten the entire Calabrian contingent near the woods.
The splendid color of the French forces on the right.	The French left flank marches towards the river.	We are beginning to gather at the lunch table.	A fabulous bagel of massive proportions! But seriously, this is good bread.	Cucumber salad, polenta, and chicken breasts cooked in a delicious rustic sauce made with tomatoes, herbs, onions, and black olives.
The photographer barely mustered enough self-control to snap this photo. Seconds later, a slurping sound heralded the disappearance of every scrap of food on the plate.	The Genovese crossbowmen have just about been blasted out of existence by the French artillery.	Push of the pike on the French left flank. Will the river defense hold?	And the French push the Neapolitan left flank as well. Missile troops begins to needle the massed infantry.	A view of the center of the field, from the Neapolitan side of the river.
Bianchi's massive pike and shot column prepares for another push across the river to dislodge the Spanish.	French light missile troops maneuver in the woods to surround enemy cavalry.	The first French pikes splash across the river and hit the Calabrian position.	More French pikes crash into the Spanish heavy cavalry and send it packing.	Calabrian infantry break and run as the enemy pikemen hit the second defensive line. The French will certain force a crossing in front of the town very soon.
In the center, another huge French pike and shot column rams home.	The Spanish are outnumbered on the far right flank, and will soon have to give ground.	The battle ends prematurely, but the French are across the river in the center and at both flanks. Ferdinand II will certainly retreat. The only question will be whether he will lead a withdrawal or witness a rout.	The mystique of the Italian peninsula: food and war, sex and death. This is why we keep coming back. (And the patio gardens are nice, too.)