Point of Divergence
OTL
After extensive strategic maneuvering, Conradin's larger army confronted Charles of Anjou's forces on the Palentine Plains near the town of Tagliacozzo, specifically close to Scurcola Marsicana. Both armies were organized into three divisions. The initial Hohenstaufen division, led by the Infante Henry of Castile, consisted of Spanish and Italian knights. The second division, commanded by Galvano Lancia, was primarily composed of Italians but included a contingent of German knights. The final division, led by Conradin himself and accompanied by his close friend Frederick I, Margrave of Baden, comprised the majority of the German knights.
On Charles' side, the first division, led by an unknown commander, consisted mostly of Italians with some Provençal knights. The second division, commanded by French Marshal Henri de Cousances, included the bulk of the French troops, mainly landless knights and men-at-arms seeking wealth. The third division, led by Charles and the experienced French crusader Erard of Valery (referred to as "Allardo di Valleri" by the Italians), was composed of seasoned French knights. Charles strategically concealed this third division behind a hill based on Valery's advice, intending to surprise the numerically superior Hohenstaufen forces.
Initially, Conradin's army dominated the battle, overwhelming Charles' first two divisions and forcing them to retreat. In the chaos, a man wearing Charles' armor and carrying the Angevin banner was killed by Henry of Castile, and the banner was captured. However, the Hohenstaufen forces were unaware that the slain man was Henri de Cousances, not Charles himself. Thinking they had won the battle, Conradin's forces dispersed—some chasing Charles' retreating divisions, others plundering the Angevin camp. Seizing the opportunity, Charles sprung his trap, unleashing his hidden elite reserves, which entered the fray and decimated Conradin's army. Despite initially fleeing to Rome, Conradin was later captured, imprisoned, and executed, marking the end of the Hohenstaufen's line.
POD
Initially, Conradin's army dominated the battle, overwhelming Charles' first two divisions and forcing them to retreat. In the chaos, a man wearing Charles' armor and carrying the Angevin banner was captured by Henry of Castille, and the banner was captured and they learned that the man was not Charles of Anjou but Henri de Cousances and decided to continue fighting against the Angevins until the Angevins would lose their own current army and they would also capture Charles of Anjou after they have defeated the army of the elite warriors that they deployed.
After extensive strategic maneuvering, Conradin's larger army confronted Charles of Anjou's forces on the Palentine Plains near the town of Tagliacozzo, specifically close to Scurcola Marsicana. Both armies were organized into three divisions. The initial Hohenstaufen division, led by the Infante Henry of Castile, consisted of Spanish and Italian knights. The second division, commanded by Galvano Lancia, was primarily composed of Italians but included a contingent of German knights. The final division, led by Conradin himself and accompanied by his close friend Frederick I, Margrave of Baden, comprised the majority of the German knights.
On Charles' side, the first division, led by an unknown commander, consisted mostly of Italians with some Provençal knights. The second division, commanded by French Marshal Henri de Cousances, included the bulk of the French troops, mainly landless knights and men-at-arms seeking wealth. The third division, led by Charles and the experienced French crusader Erard of Valery (referred to as "Allardo di Valleri" by the Italians), was composed of seasoned French knights. Charles strategically concealed this third division behind a hill based on Valery's advice, intending to surprise the numerically superior Hohenstaufen forces.
Initially, Conradin's army dominated the battle, overwhelming Charles' first two divisions and forcing them to retreat. In the chaos, a man wearing Charles' armor and carrying the Angevin banner was killed by Henry of Castile, and the banner was captured. However, the Hohenstaufen forces were unaware that the slain man was Henri de Cousances, not Charles himself. Thinking they had won the battle, Conradin's forces dispersed—some chasing Charles' retreating divisions, others plundering the Angevin camp. Seizing the opportunity, Charles sprung his trap, unleashing his hidden elite reserves, which entered the fray and decimated Conradin's army. Despite initially fleeing to Rome, Conradin was later captured, imprisoned, and executed, marking the end of the Hohenstaufen's line.
POD
Initially, Conradin's army dominated the battle, overwhelming Charles' first two divisions and forcing them to retreat. In the chaos, a man wearing Charles' armor and carrying the Angevin banner was captured by Henry of Castille, and the banner was captured and they learned that the man was not Charles of Anjou but Henri de Cousances and decided to continue fighting against the Angevins until the Angevins would lose their own current army and they would also capture Charles of Anjou after they have defeated the army of the elite warriors that they deployed.
