The Barons’ War: King John - Outlaws: Beyond the Law
We conclude our tour of the retinue lists in The Barons’ War: King John by stepping out of castles and courts and into the shadows. The Outlaws return as the final faction in the book, familiar to many from the first edition Death and Taxes, but refreshed and reworked for second edition.
Medieval warfare is often framed as the business of kings and nobles, with armoured lords and their retainers trampling across the countryside in pursuit of power. Yet for many people living through King John’s reign, “justice” was something handed down by men who could be bribed, coerced or persuaded to favour their own friends. When grievances went unanswered, stepping outside the law could be the quickest route to revenge.
Knights themselves were not immune to this temptation. Personal vendettas, pursued with small bands of followers eager for plunder, were common. Royal justice, when it eventually arrived, was usually brutal, forcing offenders to submit and beg for mercy. The career of Fulk fitzWarin is a perfect example. Outraged when King John handed the disputed castle of Whittington in Shropshire to a Welsh rival, fitzWarin launched a violent campaign across the Marches in 1201. Hunted down by the justiciar Hubert de Burgh and cornered in Stanley Abbey, he survived only through the intervention of the archbishop of Canterbury, eventually reconciling with the king after years as an outlaw.
Violence was not confined to feuding nobles. Ordinary people paid the price for their lord’s allegiance, watching their homes burned and their livestock seized or slaughtered. While armed civilians stood little chance against professional soldiers in open battle, they were often quick to strike back when opportunity arose. After the baronial defeat at Lincoln in 1217, retreating rebels found themselves harried by angry peasants as they fled towards London, victims of grudges forged by years of hardship.
Lack of chivalric training did not mean a lack of skill or savagery. Sailors from the Cinque Ports, the East Anglian coast, and the ports of Normandy and Gascony had fearsome reputations. Used to the dangers of the sea, these maritime communities followed their own codes and nurtured long-standing rivalries. “Salvage” often meant seizing another ship by force. Eustace the Monk, the son of a vassal of the count of Boulogne, embodied this world. Serving King John from 1205 to 1212, he terrorised the Norman coast with his fleet before switching allegiance to Philip of France. His ships carried French troops to England in support of Prince Louis. At the naval battle of Sandwich in August 1217, Eustace’s flagship was captured. While his noble passengers were spared for ransom, Eustace himself was executed on the spot by English sailors. On land, similar ferocity was shown by the men of the Weald under William of Cassingham, whose relentless attacks helped break the French siege of Dover.
It is this chaotic, brutal world that the Outlaw retinue represents on the tabletop. A long-time favourite, the list returns in King John with updated rules for second edition. You will find the familiar cast of low-born malefactors: Outlaws, Outlaw Bowmen, Cutthroats and Bandits. Choosing this retinue forces an important decision. An Outlawed Noble as leader unlocks well-equipped Outlawed Serjeants and Traits that reward lightning strikes against enemy Commanders. A Wolfshead, by contrast, focuses on ambush, deception and the clever use of terrain to unnerve and isolate the foe.
In play, Outlaws are powerful but fragile. A carefully planned assault can overwhelm an enemy in moments, but a determined defence may see them break just as quickly. They reward boldness, timing and a willingness to gamble.
No outlaw tale would be complete without familiar legends, and King John also sees the return of Robin Hood, Maid Marian and the Merry Men, alongside Philippe Marc, the sheriff of Nottingham, and his deputy Eustace de Lowdham. Historically, Robin Hood probably belongs to the chaos of the Second Barons’ War and the early reign of Edward I, and may have roamed south Yorkshire rather than Nottinghamshire. But his association with King John is simply too strong to ignore. Robin and Marian can be taken as part of an Outlaw retinue, while the Merry Men can reinforce Command Groups or operate independently, giving the Outlaws extra punch.
They have been busy stealing from the rich. Perhaps, one day, they will start giving to the poor.
New to The Barons' War? Check out the Starter Box set here.
Previous articles about The Barons' War: King John book
The Barons’ War: King John – Bringing the Angevin World to the Tabletop
The Barons’ War: King John – Crowns in Conflict: England, France and the Angevin Struggle
The Barons’ War: King John - Scotland and Wales: Power on the Celtic Fringe
The Barons’ War: King John - Flanders and Poitiers: Allies, Ambition and the Collapse of Empire
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