It is said in the seventh chapter of the Chronicles that Blassa de la Rey, son of Ruyter, was the first lord of the house to fight - and win - a major battle. Since his father was rather a peaceful spirit, Blassa pushed the borders of his legacy further and further, sometimes with diplomacy, most of the times by force. Being an adept of the idea that "the best defence is attack", Blassa crushed - at the end of his 13th ruling winter - a small religious rebellion inside the territories of the Ze`er, then moved his forces towards the east, without logistical support, with his communication lines unguarded and with absolute no protection behind him.
It was a reckless and adventurous expedition, only to be lightened by the speed in which the advance had been made. Reason for such conduct is not provided in the Chronicles, but based on various text analysis the most probable explanation is based on the fact that the only real threat came from the eastern tribes of nomad warriors, the Ulus, who were aiming at overwhelming the borders and stampede over the settlements in the eastern part of the desert. Basic strategy rules specify that against extremely mobile forces the best way of winning a battle is by moving faster than them. Deceit, intelligence and maneuvrability helped Blassa fall over the main corps of the Ulus hordes, camped in what was then called the White Valley of Halmun.
Again, strategy was considered since the beginning an important element in the ways House de la Rey understood to wage war, defensive or offensive. Lord Blassa split his army into 2 groups, one mounted, the other pedestrian soldiers, for mobility reasons. The cavalry was considered the strike force, and took a large detour so that they would fall behind the nomad ariergarde, camped at one end of the Valley, whilst the pedestrians - mostly archers and light swordsmen - set up an ambush at the other. Speed and surprise would bring a clear victory to Blassa.
The Ulus were not few in numbers, nor louzy warriors. The only problem: being nomads, riders, they chose as a camping site a valley, with only 2 opposed ways in. They were way too confident on their hypothetical safety, and the rumours Blassa himself spread that he was still fighting with the rebels in the Ze`erland helped excellently at relaxing the enemy. The valley was easy to defend, having only two access spaces, but for riders... born in the saddle, it was a little too difficult.
The strike began at one past midnight, with a full charge of the cavalry. The surprise-element worked like a miracle. The Ulus turned to run, but they fell right in the swords of the waiting pedestrians. It was a slaughter. It is said that the Valley, because of so much blood being spilled, turned red.
It was a reckless and adventurous expedition, only to be lightened by the speed in which the advance had been made. Reason for such conduct is not provided in the Chronicles, but based on various text analysis the most probable explanation is based on the fact that the only real threat came from the eastern tribes of nomad warriors, the Ulus, who were aiming at overwhelming the borders and stampede over the settlements in the eastern part of the desert. Basic strategy rules specify that against extremely mobile forces the best way of winning a battle is by moving faster than them. Deceit, intelligence and maneuvrability helped Blassa fall over the main corps of the Ulus hordes, camped in what was then called the White Valley of Halmun.
Again, strategy was considered since the beginning an important element in the ways House de la Rey understood to wage war, defensive or offensive. Lord Blassa split his army into 2 groups, one mounted, the other pedestrian soldiers, for mobility reasons. The cavalry was considered the strike force, and took a large detour so that they would fall behind the nomad ariergarde, camped at one end of the Valley, whilst the pedestrians - mostly archers and light swordsmen - set up an ambush at the other. Speed and surprise would bring a clear victory to Blassa.
The Ulus were not few in numbers, nor louzy warriors. The only problem: being nomads, riders, they chose as a camping site a valley, with only 2 opposed ways in. They were way too confident on their hypothetical safety, and the rumours Blassa himself spread that he was still fighting with the rebels in the Ze`erland helped excellently at relaxing the enemy. The valley was easy to defend, having only two access spaces, but for riders... born in the saddle, it was a little too difficult.
The strike began at one past midnight, with a full charge of the cavalry. The surprise-element worked like a miracle. The Ulus turned to run, but they fell right in the swords of the waiting pedestrians. It was a slaughter. It is said that the Valley, because of so much blood being spilled, turned red.
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