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The Last Crusade

The French in the Middle East, 1495

One of the stated reasons for the invasion of Naples by Charles VIII of France in 1494 was that he wished to use it as a spring board for a crusade to free Jerusalem. Daft, perhaps, but just supposing it worked - how would a French force deal with the Mamelukes, and vice versa. So here is a what-if scenario..

After the French invasion, the Italian states decide that the easiest way to rid themselves of this French King and his horrid artillery is to acceed in his desire to go on crusade. Accordingly, the Pope is prevailed upon to preach the crusade, and the Italian states provide shipping to transport the French and contingents of troops to fight. This whole lot lands up off the coast of Palestine, and starts to land.

Points to consider

• The Mameluke state is not very stable nor gunpowder armed
• The Ottomans are highly likely to regard this as being an invasion of their back yard.
• Some Anatolian Turkoman states still exist - whose side will they be on?
• Spain has just completed her conquest of Granada. Will she join the crusaders, or will Ferdinand be looking to secure his interests in Naples?

I leave this to you - I've not done this one yet!

The line up of forces is:

French with Italian allies, plus Italian naval support against Mameluke, possibly with Turkoman allies, with Ottomans and spanish in the wings waiting to pick up the pieces.